Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“You’re not weak.”
“Yes,” she said. “I am.”
“No, you’re not. You’re strong, Kierra. And fuck him for making you feel anything but that. Fuck him for getting in your head and making you doubt the brilliant mind and person that you are. You deserve more.”
She stood in front of me with tears flooding her eyes. Her lips parted, but no words fell from them. I saw the heartache in her eyes, and I hated that it lived there. If I could, I’d swallow up all her pain and take it on as my own. Eyes like hers didn’t deserve to have such a broken look. Eyes like hers deserved to smile as much as her lips could. They deserved to sparkle with joy and an unattainable type of peace. She deserved more.
“Kierra, you feel like the whole fucking galaxy wrapped up in one human being. I’m not saying that to convince you to want me over Henry. Fuck me in this situation. Fuck everyone else in this current moment. I’m telling you this because I need you to feel how I feel for you. I need you to look into the mirror and know that you are the whole fucking universe wrapped in one. And you deserve better than anything that man can give you. So again, right now, how can I help you?”
She lowered her head lowered and tears rolled down her cheeks. “Get everyone to leave? I don’t want to deal with anyone right now. I don’t have the energy.”
“You got it.” I moved closer to her. And closer. And closer. So close that I could lean in to whisper against her ear. “Whatever you need from me, I’ll do. Whenever you need me, call me. No matter what. I’ll always answer.”
***
I ushered everyone out of the house, making sure no one lingered too long other than Ava and Tamera.
“Is she okay?” Tamera asked about her daughter-in-law. “Did Henry do something?”
I smiled even though I wanted to tell her how shitty her son had been. But Ava was in earshot. Then again, it probably didn’t look good that I slammed my fist against her father’s jawline. “She’ll be okay. If you can keep an eye on her, that would be great.”
“Of course,” Tamera said. “Always. I’ll go check on her now.”
Oddly enough, I believed her. She didn’t seem much like her son at all.
I looked over at Ava, who looked so distraught. That broke my heart, too. I didn’t know my heart could break so many times for two women in my life. “I’m sorry, kid.”
“Are you okay?” she asked me, wide-eyed with concern.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m sorry about what I did. That was uncalled for.”
“Did you do it to protect her?” she asked.
I nodded. “I did.”
She darted toward me and pulled me into a hug. I held on to her tightly, wishing I could take away any hurt that was residing in her, too. “Thank you, Boss Man.”
She then headed outside toward the backyard to check on her mom.
I went out the front door and started in the direction of my car.
“Gabriel! Gabriel! Wait up!” Ramona said, darting over to my car as I opened my driver’s door. I took a deep breath and released it through my gritted teeth as I slammed my door closed.
I turned to face her as she stood there combing her hair behind her ears.
I didn’t say a word.
That was until she began to speak again.
“Gabriel, I’m—”
“You’re fired.”
Her eyes bugged out. “What?”
“You heard me. You’re fired.”
“What? I… You can’t fire me. This isn’t a work event.”
I gestured toward her in frustration. “You were fucking our client at our other client’s birthday party, Ramona!” I whisper-shouted, bewildered by her comment.
“But I was off the clock,” she mentioned, shaking her head, seemingly stunned. She seemed shocked that I was pissed off. Shocked that I was raging from the fact. “You can’t fire me because of what I do in my private life.”
“Private life,” I huffed. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m confused as to why you’re so angry. Are you…jealous?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
She bit her bottom lip and shrugged. “Are you mad that another man wanted me? That you lost your chance?” The wild appearance of my eyes must’ve given her a big reality check, because she followed it up with, “Okay, it’s not that.”
I took two steps toward her. “Ramona, you fucked a married man at his wife’s birthday party. What the actual fuck were you thinking?”
“He…” She shook her head, looking as confused as ever. “He said they were more like roommates.”
“Who the hell cares what he said? Take him out of the equation. What makes you think that’s okay? How would you like it if someone fucked your husband at your birthday party?” She wasn’t an idiot. Ramona was way too intelligent to be acting the way she had been, and it was pissing me off that she’d do something so cruel and heartless. “Damn, Ramona. You’re supposed to be better than this.”