“What the fuck is all that, Yani?”
“Uhm, ever since I signed with a company, they send me over gifts every other week for appreciation. It’s just a thank you for being a part of the team thing.”
He nodded but stood and made his way to inspect them in the process. In this moment, I was thankful for Paxton no longer sending cards with his purchases. I knew who they were from, so he didn’t have to make it known.
“They send you jewelry as a gift as well?”
He held up a box with anger etched across it. He was furious and I could tell by the way his jaws tightened. This was new to me. Paxton never blessed me with something so special and valuable. I guess me telling him I loved him kicked up his affection by several notches. I sported a screwed-up look to let him know I was genuinely confused.
When I reached him, he tossed the long velvet box onto my desk and walked off. I couldn’t even open it before he started tripping out. However, when I did, I realized why.
Paxton gifted me with a beautiful diamond necklace that glistened no matter how you held it. This necklace was now the most expensive thing I owned. Guilt was eating me alive.
“That’s not from no damn company, Yani. Ain’t no way they giving you shit like that as no fuckin’ thank you. Who you been fuckin’ with, Yani?”
I would never reveal to him anything about Paxton. He was off limits, and he didn’t need to know who was winning me over. Paxton had become my soft spot and held a place in my heart now.
“Trust if this isn’t from the company then I have no clue as to who this could be from from. Stop tripping and let’s finish eating.”
“Nah, I’m good. I’ll see you when you get home. Hopefully, you’ll have an answer for me by then.”
“Trust don’t do that. I can’t control what they send.”
“I’m not a fool, Yani. I’ll see you later like I said.”
He walked out not bothering to clean up his mess. He was upset but I on the other hand was jumping with joy ready to cry a river from Paxton draping me in diamonds.
I loved Trust, I really did, but Paxton… that man was everything I wanted. He was proving why he was the better choice more and more. I wasn’t even upset that Trust left. He was just now getting back on my good side.
“Knock, knock, Yani.”
“What’s up, Brina?”
“We’re on lunch so I’m asking as a friend and not an employee. What the hell are you doing?”
I whipped my head around in her direction feeling offended as hell. “Excuse me?”
“Paxton is the better choice and you’re steady entertaining a man that creates another family while having one with you. Why are you doing him like that? He’s good to you.”
She motioned to everything she brought in, and I couldn’t help but take in what she said. She was absolutely correct about everything. Paxton was a good man and spoiled me without me asking. I didn’t have to second guess his words the way I did Trust.
Trust was earning back my trust while Paxton had all of it already. I didn’t know who I wanted to be with more because I was exploring options and loving the game I was indulged in.
“Sabrina, you need to stay in your place.”
“I won’t because apparently Dawn and nem ain’t doing their jobs. Why are you back with him for real, Yani?”
“Because of everything we been through. I guess I’m back to see if he’s really changed.”
“It’s clear that you’re still dealing with Paxton so how are you going to juggle both of them?”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m only sexual with Paxton. Trust won’t be getting my cookies until I can trust him and even then, I might not give them up.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Yani. I’m not speaking on it anymore though.”
She excused herself and I was left to think on what we had just discussed. I was comfortable when I shouldn’t have been. Paxton and I didn’t have a title but that didn’t excuse how I maneuvered when it came to him. I asked him to not see other women and here I was in a relationship with my ex. I couldn’t even live by my own request.
For the next few hours, I engaged in a distraction that was needed. Work didn’t allow me to focus on either of the men that I was splitting my time with. I was so torn between the two that I truly just wanted to call it quits with both and just be to myself. That way I could avoid hurting them both.