chapter 4
996 Words
We follow Clinton Woods past another bouncer and to the VIP room upstairs. Amanda stops short, staring at a small group lounging on black couches.
"Holy s**t!" She exclaimed
"What is it?" Curse words are like a second language for Amanda
"Your baby daddy is here." She informs me.
My eyes travel to the group in the lounge and my heart skips a beat. Thick black hair. Olive skin. A slightly crooked nose that enhanced rather than detracted from his ruggedly masculine charm.
My future husband was devastation poured into a suit. Not handsome by conventional means, but so powerful and compelling his presence swallowed every molecule of oxygen in the room like a black hole consuming a newborn star.
There were genetically good-looking men, and there was him. "There's Alexander Wilson in the flesh" I whispered
I held on to Amanda as Clinton walked ahead "We should go, Amanda. I don't think I'm ready to meet him this way." I tell her after I'm sure Clinton is out of earshot.
"Hi, ladies, don't be shy. Come over!"
"We're fine thank you!" I responded.
"What? But we've come so far already. Just ignore him okay, I doubt he even knows who you are yet." Amanda assured.
She's somewhat right. I exhale and nod "Okay let's go."
I hesitate a little and Amanda's hands slip from mine as she walks off to where Clinton is standing. I do the opposite and stick to the shadows. My face is barely seen as the color changing lights do little to illuminate my face.
I look to where Alexander is and see him on his phone.
"Come on out, little lady. I wanna see your face." An unrecognizable voice says.
I turn around to face the owner of the voice. "Little lady? Do better." I retort
"Ah! You've got a smart mouth, I like you. I'm Matthew." He points to Alexander "This is Alexander. The rest are unimportant." He says jokingly.
"Nice to meet you." I replied. Alexander places his phone on the table and lifts his face to mine.
His brows furrow, "Do I know you? What's your name?" Alexander asks
"My name is none of your business" I snapped unintentionally.
"You look like someone I know, that's all."
"No, I doubt that. We've never met." I reply hastily
"Are you sure..?" He asks again. Persistent much.
"No. we've never met," I replied. With a final look in my direction, he shakes his head and looks away, finally dropping it.
"I wonder what that was all about." Clinton says before turning back to Amanda "I don't think I got your names." He smiles
"We never said our names."
"Well, you must have reminded him of someone." Matthew added.
"I doubt that." I tell him
"Alexander is, ah, very persistent. Trust me, he'll find out how he knows you."
Well, I know him but he doesn't know me. But Matthew doesn't need to know that. "So, you've known him for a long time then" I ask, changing the topic
"We're in the amen business and social circle" he replies
"So, you're what? Frenemies?" The word leaves my mouth before I can control it.
Way to go, Khloe. Who even says the word frenemy anymore?
Matthew chuckles and shakes his head. "Yeah, I guess. We both drive hard and always go after what we want. And now he is going after a contract I was supposed to get". Matthew said looking a tad bit disappointed.
Must have been an important contract.
"Sorry about that, bro." Clinton laughed
"Whatever. By the way, you really need to stop the Wilson family from coming here" Matthew said facing Clinton.
I ignore their banter and focus on Alexander who was now on his phone again.
"Bro, they pay me a s**t ton of money," Clinton responded. "I know you got beef with the Wilson, but I don't." Clinton turns back to Amanda and Matthew scoffs.
"Can you believe him?" Matthew asks me turning in my direction
"I can, it's business. you may not like the Wilson family but he has a club to run." I tell him honestly
He sighs, "You're right. Clinton has worked really hard. He deserves this." he smiles. "I knew I liked you. Thanks for making me see the reason. It's nice being told the truth and not what I want to hear"
"My pleasure" I smiled "And I'm sorry about you losing that contract."
"Thanks, but between me and you, I don't think it's a good idea." I wanted to laugh, instead I nodded.
Minutes ago he sounded like he really wanted that contract.
"So, tell me what's with you and Alexander? Apart from the contract" I added.
"The East plaza project is something I've been working on for ages. It's a huge real estate project development that's currently under bid. I've never wanted something so badly." He replied.
Thought he said it was a bad deal?
"I'm sorry once again. My name is Emily by the way." I said trying to drift the topic somewhere else.
"Emily, nice to meet you."
"You too Matthew." I look around the club, admiring it.
"So, you guys come here often?" I ask Matthew
"Yeah, when we want to blow off steam."
Our conversation is cut short when the sound of Alexander's phone ringing fills our section. He checks it, mutters an excuse and walks out to take his call.
I follow him with my eyes for what seems like a minute, before looking away.
Few minutes later, Alexander appears with an evident scowl on his face. "We're going to have to cut this party short" Alexander says, loud enough for everyone in our section to hear.
"But we are just getting started." Clinton chuckles
"I don't care. Make sure the ladies get home safely" Alexander commands.
"It's okay," I smile." We can take an uber–"
"No, Khloe Adams. You're coming with me, "he tells me in that same authoritative tone.
- Writer
