22. Nori McDaniel

I sat staring off into the distance, wondering how I’d gotten myself into the same situation from years ago, only worse. At least back then, money was free flowing, and I was young, had friends, and could do things. Now though, I was a mother to a young child, yet again, only this time my husband was a simple social worker making modest earnings that only afforded simple, occasional outings and possibly a non-name brand purse on my birthday.

“Hey, babe.” Brian walked into the living room where I sat. “Where is Blaire?”

“Shit.” I covered my face, remembering I never picked her up from school.

“Nori, are you fucking serious?” Brian grunted, tossing his tired ass briefcase to the floor. “Again?”

“I got busy…” I mumbled, letting my sentence trail off as I located my phone to see the school had called me several times.

“Busy with what, baby?” Brian sat next to me, throwing his arm around my shoulders.

One thing I did have better than what I used to have was a supportive partner. Brian understood me and was always sympathetic to my feelings.

He wasn’t like Prime, always reprimanding me and pointing out what I did wrong as if he were a saint. The whole time he was pointing the finger at me for not being attentive to him and Asif, he was fucking my best friend and then had the nerve to marry a bitch on me, pretending like it was just to help her son.

Every time I thought back to how dirty that nigga did me, it pissed me off. I regretted not being stronger, fighting back more, and allowing him to steamroll me, steal my son, and move on with a whole new life.

“Things around the house.” I stood up. “I’m gonna go pick her up.” I grabbed my purse from the nightstand and shoved my phone down into it.

“Alright. I um, I guess I’ll get some dinner started then.” Brian exhaled, clearly exhausted from working his ten-hour shift.

I often compared him to my ex and realized the only good thing about Prime was his looks and money. He wasn’t half the man Brian was, and he’d raised my son to be detached, dismissive, and selfish just like he’d been. I hated that man, maybe even more than his wife.

“Thanks, baby.” I kissed Brian’s face and hurried out to retrieve Blaire from school. I hoped that counselor didn’t try to step to me like she often did late parents, because I wasn’t in the right mood and might pop off on her ass.

I was much older than a lot of the parents of Blaire’s classmates, having given birth to Blaire at the ripe ass age of forty-five, so I think the staff cut me some slack because of it. They attributed my lateness to my age, not realizing I’d forgotten Asif several times, and I was much younger then.

On the way there, my phone rang, and I saw it was Asif, exciting me. I quickly answered, almost rear ending the car in front of me since my eyes were on my car’s screen.

“Hi, baby,” I said a little more excitedly than I’d planned.

“You busy this weekend?” He got right to business, and I wanted to suck my teeth. He was so much like his father, from his looks to his height, build, and personality. It was almost eerie, only difference being that Asif wore locs and not a simple fade like his father had back in the day.

“Nope, no. Why?”

“I want you to come have dinner with my parents.”

“Your parents?”

“That’s what I said.”

“I get that Lisara is a mother figure, Asif, but I carried you. She did none of the brunt work. She has six of her own sons. She cannot claim mine.”

“Can you come or not?”

“What time?”

“Friday, six thirty p.m. You remember the address?”

They still lived there?

“Ye-yeah, I do.”

“Aight. See you then.” He hung up before I could say goodbye, but I was deep within my thoughts anyway.

The more I learned of Prime’s current life, the more I hated him. Putting me away in an asylum for a decade was enough for me to want to kill him, but residing in the house I thought was mine and raising my son to treat me like some bitch off the street had me vexed.

When I got out of the asylum, I didn’t know how to feel or what to do. I had no job, no friends, and my one cousin who I used to be able to lean on was nowhere to be found. I was desolate and ended up going to a shelter to get on my feet.

While there, I met Brian. He was nice, a good listener, and didn’t judge me, so I felt compelled to tell him the truth about the life I had before. He agreed with me that Prime wasn’t a good man, and I was done wrong.

From there, he and I began a courtship that led to marriage and a surprise pregnancy, despite my age. I was happy, though, feeling like I had a fresh start, and my plan was to put my old life, including Asif, to the back of my mind, but I was always curious as to what he was up to.

I loved Asif, as much as I could, considering we had no real relationship, but I couldn’t lie and say I recently came around him because of it. I was perfectly fine forgetting about him and his newfound family, until I ran across an article announcing the new CEO of St. Thomas Financial. When I saw it was Asif, I knew I had to rekindle with him because he was about to be making a lot of money, and I needed help; my family needed help.

I wasn’t built to live this modest life Brian had built for us. I was born for shopping sprees, spending money like it grew on trees, and being able to go wherever I wanted, when I wanted. So that was when I decided to reach out to Asif, hoping to build a relationship where he would gradually start to help his mother out.

When I saw him in person, it was all but confirmed for me that he was getting a lot of money. While I may have been in my fifties now, I still had a keen eye when it came to scoping out rich niggas, and my son was one. No, he wasn’t flashy, but you could see it in his demeanor, the way he carried himself, the jewelry pieces he wore that weren’t ostentatious but classy, the kind you’d only recognize if you were a part of the elite.

I had once been a part of that circle, so I was able to pinpoint all the details. Even his cologne, while I didn’t recognize it, smelled expensive. I could tell by the notes of it, it was no less than five hundred dollars a bottle.

By saying that, as his mother, I deserved some of that cash he was bringing in. I may not have been the best mom, but I was still his mom at the end of the day.

Lisara had a damn rapper, actor, basketball player, and footballer for a son, not to mention that highfalutin ass lawyer, so she was reaping enough fucking benefits. I didn’t know what her other son did, but even if he was broke, it wouldn’t matter. She didn’t need to reap the ones that came with my kid.

“Hi, Mommy!” Blaire hopped into the car happily. “You’re late.”

“I know, B.” I huffed, pulling off and ignoring the counselor telling me to stop so she could have a word with me. Fuck her. Once Asif broke me off, Blaire would be in private school.

“Can we have pizza?”

“I don’t know. It depends if your father actually cooked or not.” I leaned on the door of this Honda CR-V, which I hated. I was supposed to be pushing a Range Rover like I used to. Fucking Prime.

Blaire talked and talked the whole way home, and I tried to be interested, but I just wasn’t. She was just as annoying as Asif was but maybe worse because she never stopped. At least when Asif was little, he would be quieter and withdrawn around me, which I appreciated. Blaire couldn’t read the fucking room and acted as if she and I were best friends.

After the asylum, I tried to change, tried to be different by living humbly and being a good mother, an attentive wife, but it was hard for me. It just wasn’t who I was. I was bougie, I wasn’t maternal, and I liked for my man to give me all his attention while only needing a little of mine. As bad as it sounded, it was true.

Brian was a low maintenance partner, which was perfect, whereas Prime was a high maintenance one. The former could thrive off a little attention, while the latter had to have more, with his needy ass. Every time I looked up, he was complaining about something, and had he been poorer, I would’ve left his ass.

By the time we got home, I could smell the spaghetti Brian had whipped up for the fifth time this week. I couldn’t complain, though, because I hadn’t cooked and hadn’t grocery shopped either.

“Ready to eat?” Brian smiled at the sight of Blaire, picking her up then kissing me.

Prime would’ve still had an attitude about me forgetting her at school, but not Brian. I loved him for that. If only he made more money.

“I’m so hungry!” Blaire screeched as we all sat down at the table, Brian serving us.

After eating a couple bites of the pasta, I said, “Asif invited me to dinner with his father and his stepmother.”

“Asif, my brother?” Blaire quizzed, and I nodded.

“Hmm, just you?” Brian stabbed at his food, clearly bothered.

“Yeah, he didn’t say anyone else. Don’t get upset. I’m sure he wants to get comfortable with me first, and then he can meet you two.”

“I understand.” Brian nodded.

“You know my son is the CEO of St. Thomas Financial.”

“You told me, Nori.” He bit his garlic bread, offering a fake smile to Blaire who made a corny, out of nowhere, joke.

“You’ve been saying how you wanted to work for yourself and start your own business. He can give you the money for that.”

“You think so?”

“Of course. He’s my son, and the bank gives loans all the time. I’m sure he can give his stepfather a nice hefty one with low interest and all that good stuff.” I smiled, watching Brian’s eyes sparkle a bit in interest.

“That would be amazing.”

“It would, and I can make it happen. I just have to get him comfortable with me, and then he can come over one night, and you can just ask him.

“Sounds like a plan.” Brian glowed, making me feel accomplished for once as I sat back some to continue eating this spaghetti that all of a sudden tasted like a gourmet meal.

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER…

I couldn’t take my eyes off the massive estate that Lisara now resided in with my ex. It had been heavily renovated with many additions. The homes that used to be on either side of it were gone, and now the St. Thomas home took up both areas.

My mouth hung open a bit as I pulled through the gates and went up to park on the roundabout driveway.

After parking, I checked my makeup and then grabbed my clutch purse before climbing out. I didn’t want them seeing what car I drove, but I had no choice, really. Not like we had money for me to rent a luxury vehicle. Dammit, I wanted Prime to think I had a new rich man, but he’d definitely see that wasn’t the case once he sighted my truck.

“Hey.” Asif answered the door moments after I rang the doorbell.

“Hi, baby. Still no hug?” I simpered up at him as I stepped inside.

Last time I saw him, he was a little boy, and now he was so tall I had to tilt my head back to look at him, even in heels. It was surreal.

“We in the dining hall.” He started toward it, and I followed, sighing dejectedly as I trailed behind him.

It would be harder than I thought getting close to him. He was much more shut off than his father had been. After a few attempts, Prime would eventually bend, but Asif was giving me nothing.

As I stepped into the room, I saw a table full of people, including Lisara, Prime, a beautiful young dark-skinned girl that looked exactly like Lisara with a sprinkle of Prime, especially in her amber and green eyes. Then there was another pretty brown-skinned woman there, too, with curly hair she had pinned back at the top while the rest hung down. She was beautiful but didn’t look like the other girl, so I surmised she may have been Asif’s girlfriend and not Lisara and Prime’s other child.

“Nori, you know my parents, but this is my little sister Banks.” Asif gestured to the young Lisara look alike.

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled at her, trying to ignore Prime.

He looked just as fine as he used to, only older, but it somehow added to his sexiness. It was only then did I realize I still loved him and was very much attracted to him. It made me hate Lisara’s ass even more. I just had to remind myself that outside of his looks and pockets, he was a zero out of ten.

“You too.” She gave a half-smile.

Going to sit down by the other woman, Asif said, “This is my girlfriend, Anastazia.”

“Nice to meet you, Nori. You can call me Stazi if you’d like.” The young girl stood, smiling, and reached to shake my hand. I obliged, feeling Lisara and Prime watch me like a hawk as I took my seat on the other side of Asif.

I noticed Asif and his girlfriend were quite close, sharing a quick kiss as a chef entered the room to bring everyone their meal of filet mignon, loaded mash potatoes, and maple parmesan green beans. It smelled amazing, and the garlic butter melting on top of my steak had my stomach growling ferociously. These were the meals I was used to.

“So Stazi, how long have you been with my son?” I asked once everyone began to eat.

She was beautiful, and I already didn’t like her. I could tell Asif was smitten with her, and it annoyed me for some reason. He couldn’t even hug me but couldn’t stop touching this girl since I’d gotten here. I could sense his possessiveness of her only ten minutes into the visit.

I never saw myself as one of those types of mothers, but I guess I was because seeing Asif with her brought about another type of jealousy, more than seeing that Prime was still married to Lisara. I’d decided right then that I didn’t like her for him, and I hoped he fucked her over.

“Some months now. We started up this year.” She nodded as his lips pressed to her shoulder, making her smile. I stifled a scoff.

“I see.” I put my wineglass to my lips, taking her in. “Is it serious?”

“It is,” Asif answered for her.

“You guys are pretty young. Do you think you should be so serious? When I was your age, Stazi, I wanted to hit the clubs and stuff still,” I commented, chuckling.

“When you was older too,” Prime mumbled, and I spotted Lisara elbowing him in response.

“I’m thirty, so I’m not interested in club hopping anymore,” Stazi replied, surprising me. I’d taken her to be around Asif’s age. She still was, but I pegged her to be maybe younger.

“Oh, I see. You like younger men?” I frowned a bit.

“Aight, we not here for you to interrogate Anastazia,” Asif interjected. “Don’t ask her shit else.”

My worst nightmare had come true and that was having to deal with two Primes.

“Thank you.” Prime scoffed, shaking his head as he scooped up some of his mashed potatoes.

“Oh, and what are we here for, Chianti ?” I shot a look at him, hoping he felt the imaginary daggers right in his chest. I’d been waiting for his bitch ass to address me.

“For you to explain where you been and what yo’ intentions are for showing up now,” he spat almost. “Not for all this petty shit and jealous ass questions.”

“Jealous?” I exclaimed.

“Oh my goodness.” Banks shielded her eyes in exasperation.

“Why would I be jealous of my son’s girlfriend?” I continued on.

“’Cause that’s how you operate, Nori.” Prime chuckled. “You jealous of any woman prettier than you and in the same room as you.”

“Watch out, son. He may wanna fuck Miss Stazi, because he ain’t never satisfied with what he got!” I snapped.

“Bitch, you and me are not the same!” Lisara chimed in, and I noticed Banks take out her phone to record what was about to ensue on the low.

“Aye, y’all chill the fuck out! We not here for this shit, Nori!” Asif barked, voice thundering over the room and quieting everyone down with authority.

“You’re right, baby. We all got questions, like why the hell you told him about my connection to Sarika, Chianti! You just couldn’t wait to make him hate me!” I shouted.

“I ain’t have to make him do shit! You made the shit easy on yo’ fucking own, Nori!” Lisara placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder to calm him. It worked, as he shut his eyes, taking a deep breath. “The kids asked what happened to her, and we kept shit real. Wasn’t nobody trying to maim you, aight? Like I said, Asif got his own impression of you, courtesy of yo ’ actions.”

“Okay, well, Asif, since you’d like to know what happened back then, did they tell you Lisara only married your father to use his insurance for her kid? She didn’t even love him; she just married him for his money and his connections, and he fell for the shit,” I ranted.

“Okay, you need to leave.” Lisara stood up. “You’re not about to be in my house talking crazy, not unless you’re ready to back it up, and we know you’re not.”

“Fine.” I got up. “Asif, I just don’t want you believing their little fairy tale love they act like they have. The shit was built on lies and disloyalty. She broke up our family, and he let her.”

“Nah, my pops was loyal to you, too loyal, and if he fucked around on you, it was because you pushed him to do the shit,” Asif stated calmly, making his girlfriend look at him. It was nice to see she didn’t like his comment.

Tearing up for some reason, I said, “No. I gave that man everything, even shit I didn’t want myself. I took care of him when he was sick and carried his child at the same time, and that nigga repaid me by fucking my best friend consistently and then leaving me for another woman.”

I saw shock register on Asif’s face, realizing Prime had forgotten to mention him fucking Tangie in the midst of his storytelling of what happened way back when.

Scooting back in his chair and standing, Asif replied, “You gotta go.”

Walking toward him, I begged, “Baby, please do not let this and them tear us apart and make you cut me out. I love you, and I am sorry for how I was back then. I?—”

“You gotta go,” he repeated, looking down into my face, seemingly unmoved by my tears and pleas.

I nodded, giving Lisara and Prime one more look before storming out. I didn’t even get to finish my food, which I was pissed about.

Leaving the house, I hurried to my car, wanting to get the fuck out of there and not wanting them to see my vehicle.

Tonight had gone nothing like I expected, my emotions pouring out and ruining it all. I tried to remain tranquil, but seeing Prime and imagining he and his wife poisoning Asif with their narrative made me act out.

I cried the entire drive home. Not just because I felt all the emotions of back in the day, but because I didn’t know if I’d ruined things with Asif or not, and I wanted the money and lifestyle he could possibly give me.

“How did it go?” Brian asked as soon as I entered the bedroom of our somewhat quiet home.

Plopping down on the edge of the bed, I shook my head. “Very bad. Me and his father got into an argument.”

“About what?” Brian’s brows furrowed as he sat up, cutting on the bedside lamp.

“Just him! He did me so fucking wrong and ruined my fucking life but acts like I’m the worst person in the world! No other bitch would’ve stayed with him while he was sick, but I did!” I screamed, making Brian shut the door so I wouldn’t awaken Blaire. “I was young and had my whole life ahead of me but chose to play nurse to a nigga who eventually dogged me out! I carried his child when I didn’t even want one! I endured his bad attitude while he was sick and depressed, the lack of sex, damn near being a single mother because he was too weak to do shit, and I could go on all fucking day! Yet, after all that, he left me for the first bitch he saw a future with!

“You know how many niggas were trying to get at me while he was laid up in bed, half his fucking leg chopped off, and ill? Plenty!” I roared so loudly Brian jumped a bit. “Rich niggas, fine niggas, but I stayed down!” I broke into tears, dropping my face into my hands as my body shook while I listened to Brian get out of the bed.

“Baby, calm down. It’s okay.” He sat next to me and rubbed my back.

“It’s not okay.” I sniffled. “They’re living in the lap of luxury, happy, and enjoying life while I’m…” I didn’t finish the sentence, realizing how it probably came off as a slap in the face to Brian. “He even said my son’s girlfriend was prettier than me. It’s like he never loved me.” I sniffled.

He was silent, still rubbing me before he asked, “Do you still love him? Prime?”

“No.” I shook my head, half lying. I did love him, hence why I was still so hurt, but I hated Prime too. The sight of his face made my heart beat fast, but it also made me angry. It was an unexplainable emotion. “I hate him,” I said, telling only half the truth yet again.

Brian said nothing, just kept soothing me as I laid my head on him. They deserved nothing, but if they were gonna have a nice life, so was I.

While Blaire was at school and Brian at work, I decided to make a little trip back to my old home. As I sat outside of the gate, across the way, I spotted Lisara and Banks climbing into her car then pulling off.

Call me jealous if you wanted, but I just didn’t get the hype with her. She was a whore who had two kids by the time she was nineteen years old, then proceeded to have four more and, honestly, wasn’t that cute when you really looked at her.

Once she was gone, I drove up to the gate and hit the buzzer. Moments later, the voice I hated and loved at the same time came through.

“Nori, what’s up?” Prime quizzed in a tired tone like he was over seeing me and being in my presence.

“Can we have a conversation? I think it’s overdue.”

“You gon’ act like you got some fucking sense?”

Wanting to curse him out for talking to me like a child, I decided against it and instead said, “Yes.”

Seconds passed before the gate came open, and I was able to pull through. So much for me being able to hide my car from him.

As soon as I parked, the door opened, and Prime emerged. He was in sweats and a T-shirt yet somehow looked good enough to sop up with a biscuit, like always, even in his fifties.

“Hi.” I gave him a lazy wave as he came closer. He said nothing, so I continued. “I want to apologize, first, for how I acted that night.”

“’Preciate that.” He looked around over my head before focusing back on me, hands in his pockets.

“Random, but Asif is literally you.” I smirked and was elated to see a slight tug at the corner of his lips.

Stroking his beard, he said, “He is. Sometimes I hate I raised a little me, ’cause that nigga be talking shit.”

We chuckled in unison.

“Oh my gosh. I wish I could witness that one time,” I spoke truthfully because Prime was always poking his chest out, so it would be cool to see someone he wouldn’t dream of hurting, do it to him.

“Nigga told me the other day ‘nigga, I make the rules. I ain’t taking suggestions at the moment.’” We chortled. “Couldn’t do shit but respect it. I used to be on that shit with my father, too, so I guess it’s my karma.”

“It is.” I nodded, remembering how Prime used to check his dad often. Glancing down to my feet nervously, I sighed. “I’m gonna be honest, Chianti. I’m still pretty bothered by how everything went down. I know I wasn’t the best girlfriend in the world, but you did me dirty.”

His jaw clenched a bit before he said, “I did, but only after years and years of trying to work with you, love. You couldn’t do the simplest shit but expected the most.”

“Maybe because I did a lot for you, stuck around through a very hard time you probably don’t wanna remember.”

“Which is why I stayed with you as long as I did, Nori. Had you not rode for me during that difficult ass time, I would’ve been stopped fucking with you.”

“And you don’t have to always say things to make me feel bad like saying Asif’s girlfriend was prettier than me. What was that for?”

“You were interrogating her and being rude as fuck because you were jealous, Nori. I ain’t been with you for a long time, but I know you, and you still the same person. I didn’t mean to make the shit sound petty, but it’s true that when you in the same room as a pretty girl, you get catty, jealous, and be trying to upstage or embarrass ’em.”

“I guess.” I disagreed, even though I was jealous of Anastazia for some reason. “I don’t like her for our son.”

“Well I do like her for him. You don’t like her because he loves her, and you can see it and you envious.” Prime hit the nail on the head. “He yo’ son, barely, not ya man.”

I shook my head to tell him he was wrong, though I knew he was right.

“So you don’t have any feelings for me anymore?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“Even after all this time, you’re happy with her?”

“Very much so.”

“You haven’t even asked about my life, Chianti.”

“Because I don’t care, Nori. You wanna build something with Asif. Long as he okay with the shit, then cool. But we not about to be cool. My wife wouldn’t be comfortable with the shit, and frankly, I don’t desire to have any type of relationship with you. You came through here like a fucking hurricane, spewing shit that’s causing a rift between me and my fucking kid, all because you a jealous ass person. And I don’t want jealous muthafuckas in my life.”

I wanted to ask about the rift he mentioned but decided against it. It kind of made me happy though. I would love for Asif to hate his father the way he hated me.

“You know what, fuck you!” I barked just as I heard a car drive up.

When I turned around, I saw Lisara climbing out, anger written all over her face.

“I’m so happy I forgot my wallet. I knew your ass would come back by here.” She started toward me.

“Lis!” Prime gripped her quickly before she could touch me.

“I see you’re still that same ghetto bitch you’ve always been, Lisara Murray. Money couldn’t change that, huh?” Seeing Prime had a good grip on her, I said, “Don’t worry. I already fucked him before you could get back here.”

I turned to switch off, putting an extra oomph in my step, just before a dizzying blow was delivered to the back of my head. Upon turning around, I spotted Lisara, realizing Prime’s ass let her go, and the fight began.

“Get her, Mommy!” Banks shouted out the window of the truck.

It was right then I decided I didn’t like that little bitch either as I fought for my life. Fighting Lisara in that hotel parking lot almost twenty years ago was a struggle, but going toe to toe with her ass as an elderly woman was life threatening.

After too many hits to the side of my face, mouth, and nose, I was finally given relief when I heard Prime say, “Aight. That’s enough, baby.”

“It’s Lisara St. Thomas , bitch,” she just had to say.

“You snuck me you, ugly bitch!” I barked, head throbbing. I was expecting to see Mario coins all over the driveway with how hard she was hammering my head.

“Don’t talk shit and turn your back, ugly bitch!” Lisara shouted.

“My mama is beautiful, ho!” Banks barked.

“Banks!” Prime growled, making her recede back into the car with a scared expression.

“Sorry, Daddy.”

“You’ll be pregnant soon, just like your mama was at your age, ho !” I shouted to Banks and darted off, already knowing Lisara was gonna get loose from Prime and try me.

When I got to the gate, I remembered I’d driven through, and my car was back up the hill. Not only that, I couldn’t get out. I felt like a star in a slasher film as I slowly turned around to see Lisara on my ass, delivering several hard blows to me while yanking on my hair as I tried to wiggle from her. Had I known I wasn’t able to get out, I wouldn’t have made the comment about Banks, because this bitch was mad. I could tell by how hard and intentional the hits were.

I did my best, though, swinging back on her, but it did nothing because all I hit was air mainly. A few times, I felt my punches land somewhere, though I wasn’t sure of the exact location because my eyes were closed, but they weren’t hard enough to deter Lisara.

Again, Prime saved me, and I couldn’t be more thankful as I palmed my throbbing scalp with one hand and my bleeding mouth with the other.

“Ugly!” I heard Banks yell just before her father chided her again, to which she apologized yet again in that whiny only-for-my-daddy voice, and he fell for it.

I hadn’t been around the father daughter duo long, but it was clear Prime had a soft spot for his only girl.

“I just wanna get my car.” I winced, raising my hand to point behind Prime who was still holding Lisara.

“I’m not gonna hit her ass as long as she doesn’t say anything else,” she told him.

Thankfully, he didn’t listen as he nodded for me to get my car. I sprinted, no matter how much my head was throbbing, and didn’t stop until I got to my truck. I hopped in, locking the door immediately before I even started it up.

Just before I pulled off, Banks stuck her tongue out at me with a frown just before it dissipated, as her father neared her mother’s car where she was. She put on a bright, innocent smile for him, just before he placed a kiss on her cheek. How she deserved a kiss from him after her behavior was mind-blowing to me.

Paying her no mind because I knew her parents wouldn’t let me fight her, and I wasn’t about to go for another round with Lisara, I sped around the roundabout and right toward the gate. As soon as it opened, I peeled off, embarrassed, humiliated, and pissed.

However, there was still hope that Asif would deal with me and eventually start breaking me off. Maybe he would start to welcome me into his life enough for me to get rid of Anastazia, too, or at least convince him to break her heart so she’d leave him.

Asif seemed to be a bit more headstrong than his father ever was, though, so I knew it would take time for all that, but I was ready and willing as long as he stayed rich.