Page 81 of The Plus One

She looked toward the flowers. “What if I fail?”

“I would never let you fail baby." I said walking over to her to kiss her on the forehead.

“That’s such a rich-person answer.”

I shrugged, “I'm finna connect you with my attorney and accountant,” I continued. “They can tell you what you need to do. And I ain't tryna hear you don't want me to make this happen for you. Cause you got two choices lemme do it or lemme beat your boss ass."

“That’s it?”

“Nah. We figure out how much you need, find you an office, and get your shit running.”

“You make everything sound easy.”

"I really don't I just put things in motion.”

She stared at me. “Why are you doing all this?”

“Because I love you.”

Her eyes softened. “You only told me that on the plane because I was sucking your dick.”

“Nah, the head made me say it out loud. I already felt that shit.”

Kema laughed and covered her face. I pulled her hands down and kissed her.

“I love you,” I repeated.

“I’m falling in love with you too.”

“I'll take that for now."

She rolled her eyes and pushed me in the chest. “Don’t start your shit."

I chuckled before grabbing a notebook from her desk. We spent the rest of her lunch making a list of everything she needed. By the time we finished, Kema looked excited instead of defeated. “I can really do this,” she said.

“Yeah you can baby."

I could’ve bought her a building today, but Kema didn’t need me taking over. She needed a plan and somebody in her corner. I could give her both.

Eighteen

Kema

Ace wasn’t playing. This man took my little-ass idea and ran with it. For the past few weeks, we’d been planning my business and everything else. His attorney helped me register the company, and his accountant was helping me figure out how much money I needed to get started.

I was sitting with Sisi and Serenity at lunch after quitting my job. My boss thought he was going to get free labor out of me, so I quit. Ace and Stephen packed up my office, and suddenly my boss found the money to pay me for training. Aht, aht. Motherfucker, too late.

I felt like Rochelle. I don't need this... My man got two jobs. Technically, Ace owned several businesses, but the message was the same. Serenity was scrolling on Flickstagram when a familiar voice came through her phone. “And that bitch was fucking Kel, and now she with his best friend, Ace. Homie-hopping ass.”

I looked at Sisi and Ren to make sure I heard her correctly. Serenity quickly turned down the volume. “Kema—”

“Turn it back up.”

“Kema, don’t.”

“Turn that shit up.” She slowly raised the volume on her phone so we could hear Tiana. She was live, talking to somebody off-camera. I signaled for the check and asked for to-go boxes. Since the bitch wanted to keep poking the bear, I was going to show her ass today.

I had just forgiven Kel and decided I was done letting these people disturb my peace, but apparently that notice hadn't reached everybody. Now Tiana had to get her ass beat for playing with me. Sierra grabbed my wrist. “Where are you going?”