Chapter 14 #2
“Oh my God,” she whispered. I really can’t believe I’m here, it just doesn’t seem real. Thank you, baby.” She smiled, looking at me.
“It’s so pretty, Mommy,” Butterfly said, leaning into her mom as we moved through the streets of Paris trying to get to our hotel.
Jaz, Ashley, and Butterfly were staying at a different hotel thar was right next door to ours.
That way, we could still have our time and privacy.
There were things that we would do as a group, and things that Forever and I would do privately.
I smiled while watching her take it all in, and she loved the fact that she could do it with Butterfly.
They were taking selfies and making memories.
The excitement on her face was everything.
By the time we made it to the hotel, she was naming all the things she wanted to see and do.
I made sure that our Penthouse suite overlooked the Eiffel Tower, and the moment she saw it lit up in the distance, she gasped loudly.
“Legacy! Oh my God! You really outdid yourself. This view is so beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
She smiled before walking out onto the balcony.
Watching her looking over the city was something to see.
“Turn around, baby. I want to get this picture of you with the city of Paris as your background. I want to capture this moment so that I can later put it on a canvas.” She did as I asked, and I snapped the picture.
The doorbell sounded off and I went to go answer it.
It was housekeeping and they were coming to change the bedding.
“Baby, I could’ve done that,” Forever said, walking back inside.
“No, this is your time to live and relax. We just need to make sure she doesn’t steal my identity and start writing me letters.” I looked over at her and burst out laughing.
“Your ass got jokes.” She shook her head and smiled.
The next few days were some of the best I’d had in a long time.
We had dinner at upscale restaurants overlooking the city, drank wine while listening to live music, and spent hours walking through Paris hand in hand.
She loved everything about Paris from their museums, pastries, shopping, and the late-night river cruises.
We were at the Lock Bridge, one of the places on her bucket list. We had Butterfly with us and she was so excited.
Before we came here, we did some shopping and Butterfly had no problems shopping on my dime.
“It’s a lot of locks!” Butterfly shouted with her face frowned up.
Forever and I laughed at her because baby girl was confusion, and confusion was her.
“Yeah it is, but this is so romantic. There is a shop down there. Maybe we can go get some locks,” Forever said and then looked up at me.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a box.
“Here, I have something for you. Since I knew we were coming and I knew this was one of the things you wanted to do, so I have some special locks. I painted us on the locks and had our names engraved on them. It’s one of us, and then one of the three of us, and one of you and baby girl.
Tears fell from her eyes. “This is so beautiful and well thought out. I can’t believe you did this.” She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me long and hard.
“Ewwwww, not around the public.” Butterfly frowned.
We broke our kiss and chuckled. This little girl was too much. Together, we locked our locks onto the bridge and took some pictures. Later that day, we met up with Jaz and Ashley, and I took them bungee jumping. Forever was scared as hell, but she did it, and so did I.
Later that night awe went out for dinner. After dinner we visited the Eiffel Tower wrapped up in each other's arms. This entire experience with her has changed me and softened my hard exterior. I realized in that moment that I was falling in love, and I was already gone over this woman.
Tonight I had a meeting downstairs with Mr. Larke before tonight’s show. Aubrey was headed over to the gallery to make sure that my pieces arrived and were setup the way that I liked.
“Babe. I’m leaving to head downstairs.” I walked up behind her as she fixed her hair, standing at the bathroom sink while looking in the mirror.
“Okay, I’m going next door to meet with the girls, then we’re going to walk around and grab some lunch.”
“Cool. I’ll call you when I’m done.” I kissed her and headed out.
When I made it downstairs, Brian Larke was already seated in the lobby.
“Mr. Larke. I’m Legacy Porter, it’s nice to meet you.” I introduced myself and he stood to shake my hand.
“Likewise. Mr. Porter your work is amazing, and I wish that I would have caught on to you before now. I saw some of your pieces in New York, but it wasn’t until my daug— Excuse me, I think I know that young lady. Foreverrr!” He called out with a smile, jumping up from his seat to go greet my lady.
The fuck was going on? I got up and headed over there.
“Hey, Mr. B, what are you doing here?” Forever asked him, nervously looking from me to him.
He laughed. “I’m always traveling abroad, you know that. Is Jaz here with you?” He asked her.
“Yes, she is. She’s staying at another hotel. I’m here with my friend, Legacy Porter,” she told him, and that friend shit rubbed me the wrong way.
“Oh, yes. I was wondering why Mr. Porter was standing here.” He laughed, but I’m still trying to find out how they know each other.
“You two know each other?” I asked.
“Of course, she’s the reason you’re here. Well, her and my daughter Jaz. But listen, Forever, tell Jazmine I would like to have dinner with you both before you all leave. She should’ve said she was coming,” he said to her.
“Okay, I’ll let her know.” She smiled and then looked over at me.
“Legacy. I just wanted to meet up with you to let you know about the details of Na?ve Lafite. He’s a very reserved person and very particular.
I’m sure he’s going to want to meet with you at the event or right after.
Here is a little bit about him in this folder.
It’s always best to know what you’re walking into. ” He handed me the paperwork.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” I nodded. I wasn’t even concentrating on this meeting anymore. I needed to know from Forever what the fuck was he talking about. We spoke for a few more minutes and he left.
“What is he talking about, Forever?” I asked, pulling her to the side.
“Ummm. I didn’t know that he was the reason you were here.
Remember you never gave me any details on this trip.
When I was writing the letters, I wanted to help in some kind of way.
I didn’t know if you needed help or not, I just wanted to do something special for you.
I knew that Jaz’s dad was into this, and I asked her to talk to him and show him the paintings I had taken pictures of.
She did, and he said that he would reach out.
But I guess he didn’t tell Jaz that he reached out and invited you to Paris.
Because if she would’ve known that, Jaz wouldn’t be here.
She loves her family, but she tries to deal with them from a distance.
I’m sorry but it wasn’t to do anything to hurt you,” she said, and my heart was beating fast as hell.
Even when she didn’t know me, she was still trying to make things better for me.
“Awww; thank you, beautiful. But one thing we gotta talk about and that’s that friend shit. This is more than a friendship; you mine, and as long as we got that agreement then we good.” I wasn’t playing about that with her.
“But you know how I feel.” She sighed.
“It’s going to be whatever it’s going to be. I can’t let go, baby. Let’s not talk about that. My meeting is over so let’s go have lunch with the girls.” I grabbed her hand and we left out.
A couple of days later, we were on our way back home. Paris was everything that we wanted it to be. The exhibit went well, and I sold my first painting for a million dollars. And I’m doing a piece for Na?ve Lafite. Life was good.
Two Weeks Later
Forever and I were waiting on Zelly to come pick us up.
Today was Sunday and my family dinner. We were at my parents’ house last night, and my mom fell in love with her.
My dad, not so much. He was just being an asshole, but he had one time to disrespect her and that was his ass.
I looked up at Forever when she walked into the room, and she looked good as fuck.
The jumper she had on had that ass sitting up.
“You look good as fuck, baby.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my lap.
“Thank you, baby. I got this when we went to Cali.” She smiled.
Hearing her mention Cali had me smiling at the thought of that trip.
That was a trip that we took just me, her, and Butterfly and we had the best time.
I watched my girls go from store to store holding hands on Rodeo drive.
They shopped ’til they dropped and had the time of their lives.
I looked at the time on my phone, and just as I was about to call Z, my gate sounded off.
I got up from the couch and walked over to the security pad to see who it was.
“Is that her?” Forever asked, walking over to me.
“Nah, Zelly has a code to enter the gates. She would never use the buzzer. It’s some white dude.”
“Yeah, what’s up? What you need?” I asked.
“Yes, sir. I’m looking for Legacy Porter. My name is Attorney Jack Cason, and this is Avante Blake with me. We need to discuss Cedrick Blake’s Will with you, sir.” The moment he mentioned a will, my interest piqued, and I wanted to hear what he had to say.
“Come on in.”
Just as I opened the gate, Zelly and Rome pulled in behind them.
Perfect timing. The made their way up the driveway, and instead of letting them inside my house, I decided to step outside and handle this shit face-to-face. I wasn’t really into strangers walking in my shit. By the time they got out the car, Zelly and Rome had already came to stand beside me.