“I bet you do.” I took a sip of my drink and did my best not to look at him immediately.
When I glanced over, he already had his gaze pointed in my direction. He smiled, shook his head, and looked back at the road. I didn’t say anything. I just took another drink from my cup and looked out the window.
When we got to Allison’s office, my nerves came back. Drix hopped out without a word. I sat in my seat for a little longerwhile I tried to beat my nerves down. Drix looked back at me. I took a few deep breaths.
He circled his truck and yanked the door open.
“You gon’ get out?” he asked.
“Yeah. I just… nerves,” I finished lamely.
“Man, nobody is going to shred your contract over this shit.”
“You sure about that?”
“If yo’ shit is fire, you gon’ always find work in this community. Just know that.” He nudged his head toward the building. “Come on. Let’s do this.”
I took another deep breath then nodded.
Drix helped me out. We grabbed all the things I’d ordered and made a slow walk to the building. We stood silently in the elevator the entire ride, and when we got to the second from the top floor, Allison's receptionist looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“Hey. I’m here for?—”
She cut me off. “Allison and the team are ready for you in the boardroom.”
“Thanks,” I deadpanned.
I adjusted my posture to stand straight and led Drix to the boardroom. When I pushed the door open, I saw Allison sitting at the head of the table with Retta and Charm on either side of her while a beautiful woman and Rome sat at the other end of the table across from each other.
“Hey,” I said awkwardly.
“Happy to have you join us.” Allison gave me a smile that let me know I was on the fucking chopping block, but I pretended not to notice.
I handed everyone their usual drinks and set the food I’d gotten in the center. Rome immediately reached for a sandwich.
I sat beside Charm who reached for my hand as soon as I was settled and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Drix sat at the other head of the table. He nudged his head to the seat on his right side. Rome and who I assumed was his manager climbed up and moved to his side. He didn’t look at either of them. His eyes were focused on Allison instead.
“Alright. Let us hear it.” He leaned back in his seat, looking both slightly uninterested and larger than life.
“Well, whatever happened before the club is making the rounds on Skroll,” Allison stated.
“But,” Drix’s manager quickly inserted. “The post about being married has somewhat made it a little less of a big deal.”
“A little less of a big deal?” Allison repeated and scoffed. “This shit could?—”
Drix cut her off. “Ay, watch yo’ tone when you speak to my sister.”
My eyes jumped back to the woman beside him. Now that he’d said it, they resembled each other. All three of them—Drix, Rome and their sister—had the same deep brown skin. She didn’t have light brown eyes like the men, however she looked younger than both of them. Her hair was cut into an above shoulder bob with beautiful bangs that framed her face. She wore a dainty necklace that resembled the smaller chains Rome and Drix wore.
Allison swallowed.
“Well, anyway.” His sister cleared her throat. “Allison and I spoke on the phone this morning and we wanted to run an idea by both of you.”
“Alright,” Drix said. “Let’s hear it.”
“Hear me all the way out before you comment,” she said quietly. Drix nodded once and she continued. “Well, I looked into it and it turns out your marriage is legal. The two of you are officially married, and even though Skroll is in an uproar right now, we believe there’s still a chance we can fix all of this. Drix, you have a reputation of being a hardhead and womanizer witha short temper. What better way to show you respect women than by not only being married but proving you’re a loving and devoted husband? Women love a man who is hard on the outside and sweet on the inside for the right woman. It sells fantasy.”