Page 25 of Terms of the Flight

I grabbed another chip from the bowl and turned my attention toward her date.

“So how did you meet Khaleya?”

He looked over at Khaleya like he hoped she would step in and save the day. But her ass liked this. So she continued to eat like nothing was happening.

“Oh, so it’s Khaleya now?” she asked.

I returned my attention to her and leaned back in my seat with a smirk. All she’d done was show a crack in her armor. I knew she was more fazed than she was letting on.

“Khaleya is on a date. My doll would have had her ass down in the hotel lobby by seven. Now back to you, how did y’all meet?”

Marcus rubbed the back of his neck and then released a breath.

“Man, I just came to be part of her social media post and free food. Shit, we just met. Have you ever seen her content?” he asked.

I knew of her content, but I hadn’t paid much attention. Shit, I thought she just dated all these dudes and ate different shit. I never thought it was a front, so she did a good job of selling it.

Marcus stood from the table.

“It was nice meeting you, beautiful, but I don’t need no bullshit for free food. Enjoy your meal.”

She smiled up at him and nodded.

“Sorry about all of this, Marcus. I’ll send you a gift card so you can try this place later. It was nice meeting you.”

Marcus reached out to touch her hand.

“I’ve been chilling since I got here, but don’t let this chill shit fool you. Say yo’ goodbyes and head the fuck out,” Myheir cut in.

Marcus held his hands up in surrender, then nodded in Khaleya’s direction before turning to leave. The moment he left, her smile dropped. There was that damn fire I looked forward to.

“I agreed to be your fake girlfriend, but I never agreed to be your puppet. I am a person with a business and a life. I am not on your payroll.” She hit the tabletop, causing others around us to stare.

She crossed her arms and settled back into her seat. If I was a weak-ass man, the glare she was giving would have had me shriveled up in my seat. I ran my tongue over my lower lip and rubbed my chin for a minute.

“First, take your tone down a few notches. I understand you’re upset, but if I talk to you respectfully, you sure as hell gone give me the same in return. Second, I never said you were a puppet, or that I was trying to control you. I just wanted to take you to dinner to further get to know you. And on that payroll comment, shit, you right—for now.” I smirked.

Not that I wasn’t taking her seriously, but she was indeed going to be on my payroll whether she liked it or not. I could also admit she wasn’t the only one who needed the other. This wouldn’t work without her. At least, I wasn’t interested in working with anyone but her. So I knew I needed to pull back on my ego.

“What makes you think I’m going to sign that damn contract now?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m hoping maybe your dream is bigger than dealing with me. I’m not a hard man to get along with. But I understand if you change your mind. Can I at least give you a ride back to the hotel? I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

I pushed my seat back to stand, but Khaleya held her hand up to stop me.

“Ugh, you’re here now. So you’re going to help me finish my video. I’m going to try to let my defenses down a bit more.”

“A bit?” I asked with a lift of my brow.

She reached into the bowl of chips, then pointed one at me.

“Don’t push it, Blackwell.”

I held my hands up in surrender with a smile, then reached into my jacket for my phone to text Dom.

Me: Change of plans. We’re eating here. Come back in an hour. But be close by in case of an emergency.

Dom: Yes, sir.