5. Marcus

Iwould've driven back or slept in my car, but she invited me in to spend the night. Of course, she promised to sleep with her Daddy's shotgun and blow my balls off if I even walked past her door to get to the bathroom.

"I'll just piss out the window then, I guess."

"You'll flood the damn ocean with that thing," She snorted and laughed while smacking my shoulder like we were old friends, and we went our separate ways for the night.

I took a shower and got into bed naked because I don't sleep in underwear unless absolutely necessary, and sleeping in a tuxedo pants didn't sound like too much fun.

I had barely laid my head down on the pillow when my phone rang.

"Markie."

"Oh, hi gramps, shit, I forgot about you."

"What's new about that? So, I hear you left the party early."

"I did, yes."

"Any reason why?"

"Why are you so upset, old man?"

"Why do you say that I'm upset?"

"Because whenever you are, that high-brow British accent pops out."

"I see, well?"

"If you must know, I left to follow your future granddaughter-in-law."

"Who is she? Name, occupation, I'll have my people do the rest."

"Nope, we're not doing that this time."

"And why not?"

"Because I've got a feeling about her."

"Oh?"

"Yes, there's something else you should know. Her husband works for us, and he's having an affair with Melanie."

"Wait a minute, what? She's married?"

"Keep your nose outta my shit, old man, or I'll be on my plane back to the desert before sunrise."

"Okay-okay, calm down. I guess I'll see you…?"

"Whenever my girl's ready to head back to the city." I hung up before he could ride my ass to death and tried to settle down in the bed.

I smiled as I turned on my side away from the door. I'll have to teach my girl how to be a better sneak. She sounded like the stormtroopers coming down the damn hallway with her nosy self.

* * *

JUSTINE

* * *

I can't makeone lick of sense of the conversation I just overheard. ‘So why are you blushing?' Shut your ass up, Justice, I've had about enough of you.

‘Fine, I'll come back when he has you spread out like a roasted chicken.' I would bitch slap him if it wouldn't give me a headache. Thankfully, there was nothing left to stimulate him, so he went on his merry way for the night, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Did he really just say all that to his grandfather? His namesake? The man who owns half of everything in the state? The man who puts fear in my soon-to-be ex-husband's withered heart? And what did he mean by future granddaughter-in-law?

I fanned myself and went back to bed half sobered up. I'd heard his phone ring and thought it in my best interest to eavesdrop. I mean, anybody can fake an ID these days, and though he looks similar to the rare pictures I'd seen, that was a long time ago, and those pictures were of a younger version of him.

For all I know, he could be some serial killer that I let into my house. I thought it would take me forever to fall asleep, but I was out before my head touched the pillow.

When I woke up in the morning, it took me a second to remember where I was. Then, the smell of bacon and eggs reached me, and I sat up and headed for the bathroom and a much-needed shower.

When I came back out, there were bags with the name of an exclusive boutique sitting on the chair next to my bed. I don't recall seeing them there before; I would've noticed. There were so many of them they were falling off the chair. It's a big chair.

Out of curiosity, I opened one of the bags and pulled out the white pair of shorts that just felt rich. I've always wanted to try the things from that particular brand, but Paul always claimed it was too expensive even with his high-paying job, and since we had three kids to provide for, I always gave in.

Now I know he needed the money to pay for hotels and weekend getaways, along with a whole lot of other shit for his little girlfriend. I shrugged and pulled on the shorts over the French-cut silk panties and tried the bra I found in another bag. I paired the shorts with a Chanel top that I found in one of the other bags.

I walked down the stairs, and my stomach growled. He must've heard me coming because he turned as soon as I walked into the kitchen.

"Pretty, I was worried about the fit, but it's perfect. Breakfast will be ready soon."

He went back to cooking, and I sat at the table wondering what the hell chapter of my life this was.

I'd already done the happily ever after, married my dream guy. So why was this man ringing all my bells? ‘You know damn good and well why, Ms. Minaj. It's that anaconda you spent the whole night eyeing.'

‘Fuck off, Justice; I'm not going to tell you again.'

"Talking to your twin again?"

"How did you…"

"You squirm around a lot and get this look of concentration on your face when you two are conversing."

Well damn, now he's gone and done it. He"s the first adult to accept Justice and recognize when he was in attendance. Now that attention-seeking bitch is going to be putting his ass on display every chance he gets.

I've heard of some people calcifying their twin in the womb, but mine has to live in my head like a damn maniac that jumps out at you when you least expect it.

"Thanks for the clothes. How did you get them?"

"I had them delivered."

"You… you had them delivered. I know that store. They don't open until ten. What the hell time is it?" I looked at my watch because maybe I was mistaken. "Seven o' damn clock in the morning. How'd you do that?"

"You'll have to ask my Man Friday."

"Huh?"

"Carl, he's my driver, head of security, and everything else you can imagine."

"What does he have to do with it?"

"I don't know what he does. I just tell him what I need, and he gets it."

He popped a tomato in his mouth like this was normal. "Do you do that kind of thing often?"

"Yeah, why?" So he's the idiot kinda rich. The ones that have never seen the inside of a supermarket.

"I don't know, maybe because it's not fucking normal."

"I don't see why not. What say if I want to have my favorite steak at ten-thirty, but the place closed at ten? I'll show up anyway because a hefty tip always makes the pain go away. In fact, that's how I met one of my favorite people."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, Monique."

"Who's that?" Why do I feel jealous?

"She's my personal assistant. I walked into this restaurant one time, about ten minutes after the closing. Carl had a word with the manager and showed him this special card he uses that opens all doors to anyone in the Devereaux clan, and we were let in."

"This black woman in her early thirties and late twenties dropped the bread basket on the table and then lit into me. She called me an inconsiderate prick; she needed to get home to her son, and she wasn't about to keep her baby waiting because of some idiot cracker who didn't know how to tell time."

"She got fired on the spot, and I hired her."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. I like strong, opinionated people; when I hired her, she looked at me like I was crazy until she saw the name on the card I'd handed her. She's been with me ever since. That baby, as she called him when he was fifteen, is in his second year of Pre-Med, and he got to see the world at his age."

"How long ago was this?"

"Five years now, she's been running my life. You two will get along great."

"Who said we were ever going to meet?"

"I do! I say, did you think I was playing last night on the beach? Five minutes, that's all the time you're getting after your divorce. I've already scoped out the courthouse in your jurisdiction. It's a tie between The Bennet or The Waverly."

He"s a full-blown nut job.

"By the way, we need to come up with a strategy before the weekend is over."

"A strategy? For what?"

"Your divorce, of course. I can't have my woman being married to some other guy."

Looky here Justice, see what you brought home? When are you gonna stop picking these fucking freaks?