Page 8 of Terms of the Flight

I shook my head at the thought as my driver opened my door for me to step out. I looked around, then made my way inside. Warm maple tones with gold accents were all throughout the building. I loved a neutral, and you could clearly see that the moment you stepped inside.

“Welcome, Mr. Blackwell,” one of the lead associates called out.

I nodded in her direction as she practically fucked me with her eyes. I made a beeline for the elevator and waited for it to come down. The moment I stepped inside, I scanned my badge, which took me up to my office. I had fifteen minutes before my boy showed up.

The moment I stepped onto my floor, it brought me directly into my office. I made my way over to my desk, and just as I expected, an email was waiting for me, letting me know that the meeting room was all set up for my consultation.

After I checked a few emails, I made my way down to the third floor, and Jace was waiting with a wide smile as he stood to dap me up. Jace was the wide receiver for the Straton Bay Renegades. We’d met in college and stayed friends. Now he was getting married.

“What’s up, Heir!”

“Man, shit. I still can’t believe yo’ ass the first one getting married. I’m still trying to imagine the playboy from college showing the fuck out.”

“You ain’t never lied. It was supposed to be you first. You know yo’ family don’t play about lineage and shit.”

I shook my head as I led him over to the seating in front of the large screen with the different display rings on the table.

“My pops been on my head about it too. According to him, I better not be the first Blackwell to bring a bastard child into the family.”

Jace cracked up at my expense.

“I mean, he not wrong. After that bullshit with?—”

“Don’t even say her name in my shit.”

Jace kissed his teeth and took the seat across from me.

I didn’t even play like that, but Jace loved to bring her ass up since his wife was practically her best friend.

“You do know you’re getting ready to see her in just a few months, right?” he asked.

I shrugged. “Yeah, well, it hasn’t happened yet.”

“Mhm, you know I hate to be the one that brings her ass up. But you’re my boy, and I don’t want you caught off guard. You know she’s bringing a plus one, right? You sure you don’t have someone you can bring with you?” he asked.

I pulled the tray of rings closer to me, so I could pull out the examples that were closest to what he wanted to do.

“You do know I’m not in competition with her, right? I don’t need to have someone because she does.”

Jace nodded, then chuckled. “Yeah, aight, I don’t know who you trying to fool. But not only is she bringing a plus one—supposedly it’s the same dude she left you for, and now they’re preparing to get married. It’s not a good look if you come with nobody, especially after that shit she hit you with.”

I hated how right he was. But who the fuck was I going to bring? I had a couple females I fucked with every now and again, but they damn sure weren’t the type you brought to a wedding. Not to mention, I didn’t want them confused, thinking it meant more than what it actually was.

“I hear you. Put me down for a plus one. Now, do you want to get your ring and shit straight, or do you want to continue to gossip like a bitch?” I asked with a smirk and a lift of my brow.

Jace nudged my shoulder and smiled.

No longer talking about Voldemort, I went through the presentation and showed him how I intended to make the rings match the vibe he wanted. By the end of the meeting, we’dlocked in his designs, and I planned to make sure they were ready to go before his wedding. I would be personally making sure they were ready to be turned in.

With a date.

I stoodin front of Blackwell Bank, the downtown branch.

It was one of the most well-known banks in our area. It was Black-owned and known for being advocates for small Black companies. Which is the reason I scheduled a meeting with the loan department here.

I closed my eyes briefly and said a silent prayer that everything I’d been working for would work itself out. All I needed was for them to approve this loan, so I could get the warehouse space to take Stamped by Khaleya bigger. My audience had been wanting more. But my living room and bedroom could only handle but so many orders.

“Ma’am, can we help you?” I heard a soft voice ask.