Page 52 of Rich and Rotten

“It’s not even like that. Even if he does join me, do you expect me to forget everything for the sake of a meal?”

“Never said that. All I’m saying is you need to get out how you feel so that man can fuck you all up and through that hotel.”

Bloom quickly covered her mouth and glanced around. Once she made sure Nazira was nowhere in earshot, she chuckled.

“I am not having sex with that man.”

“Your man.”

“Girl, bye.”

Bloom chuckled and then sighed. “As much as you want to believe that the feelings aren’t there, they are. The minute you saw him, those feelings came back.”

“It really sounds like you want me to ignore the past and just jump his bones, Bloom.” I brushed out my curls, made a side part, and sprayed some mist to keep the flyaways down.

“If you are so over him and this is water under the bridge, why are you so angry?”

I blankly stared at her through the screen. “I can be angry and not have feelings. Maybe you should try it.”

“Pass me those chips, Emmy!” she hollered, and I saw her grab a bag of chips from someone out of the camera’s view. “Girl, I don’t catch feelings. Feelings end with you angry and hurt. I don’t aspire to be either.”

Since ending things with her boyfriend, who worked at the club, Bloom had no attachment to men or relationships. She was perfectly fine messing around, as long as there were no strings attached. I used to chalk it up to her free-spirited vibe and her not wanting any children.

Bloom was the eccentric, rich auntie who let the kids do whatever they wanted. At times, I couldn’t tell who was watching who when she was with Nazira.

“Anyway, kiss my baby for me.”

“Pop-Pop, what are you doing here?” I heard Nazira say in the background.

Bloom looked over her shoulder.

“My godfather is there?” I asked.

“Apparently so. I think Aja is in the car. Want to talk to him?”

I fixed my stubborn eyebrow. “No. I had emailed him yesterday. We have lunch plans when I’m back home. Kiss my baby for me and tell her that I love her.”

“Will do.”

I didn’t need to ask what she was going to get into. Whenever she didn’t have to watch Nazira, she usually went ghost for a few days and reappeared with the craziest stories.

My stomach growled loud enough for me to put some pep in my step. I quickly slipped into the golden silk dress waiting on the chair for me. The fabric caressed my body as it slid down, hugging every curve and draping perfectly. Golden against my skin, it highlighted every warm undertone, making me look like I’d been dipped in the sun. I looked like a thick Emmy award, and I couldn’t be mad about it.

To break up all the gold, I applied a bold red lipstick, the color popping against my skin. Before giving myself a quick lookover, I grabbed my red Brandon Blackwood clutch, the perfect little accessory to tie it all together.

Staring at myself in the mirror one last time, I smoothed my hands down my hips and left the bedroom for the main living area. When I entered the kitchen, I saw roses on the counter with a card. I looked around, waiting for him to coolly make his appearance. Fumbling with the envelope, I read the note.

I don’t need to see you to know you look beautiful. Come downstairs, dinner awaits…

Nazir.

I sniffed the roses before heading to the door, where security held it open for me. If Nazir couldn’t be with me, he was going to make sure someone else was there to protect me. I took the elevator down to the lobby, and my heart fluttered. Why the hell was I so nervous? I shouldn’t have been nervous because this wasn’t a date. For all I knew, he had a table reserved just for me.

The elevator opened, and I stepped out into the nearly empty lobby. Across the lobby, I spotted him sitting by the water fountain. I would say we spotted each other at the same time, but I was almost certain he saw me the moment I stepped out of the elevator.

I tried to walk to him, but he waved his finger no, leaving me to wait in the middle of the lobby. The minute he stood up, I took in his entire appearance. He was dressed in all black, wearing a short-sleeve fitted button-down shirt and matching black pants. On his feet, he had on a pair of designer sneakers.

His scent greeted me before he did, and I stood there trying to play it cool, pretending I never loved this man once upon a time. Who was I kidding? Had I ever stopped loving him? Maybe there was some truth in what Bloom had said. Maybe the reason I was so angry was because the feelings never truly left. They had been buried deep and only surfaced when he came near. When he finally approached me, he bit down on the corner of his lips as he examined me.