DAYDREAM IIKENYA POVI drifted off to sleep and I don’t know when. But when I woke up, my phone was vibrating like crazy beneath my pillow. With a deep groan, I pulled it and mindlessly pressed accept, then slapped it onto my ear.“Kenya speaking,” I called out in a husky voice, my eyes drifting closed. “KENYA BROWN… whatever it is you’re doing you’re doing with the director, try doing it ten times more. You can’t believe what I’m seeing. Over one thousand orders of Forsaken copies? Have you checked your Amazon…” Celine prattled a mile an hour into my ear, and my still drowsy brain failed to grasp the meaning of her words. “What are you talking about?” I croaked into the phone, pulling myself up into a sitting position. My eyes landed on the clock on my nightstand and I almost burst out crying when I saw the time. Four in the morning and I was woken up for what? “Are you kidding me? Have you not checked your writer accounts? You’ve gained over fifty thousand followers just this y
CAT FIGHTKENYA POVCome eight and I was changed into a pair of palazzo pants, flat sandals, and an army green tank top tugged inside the pants. I had my groovy hair pulled and gelled on the top of my head in a bun, and black sunglasses hanging on my forehead, a lousy attempt to be incognito. It was nothing fancy and worth the Bentley, but I felt good. And I had this permanent smile on my face that refused to die down, no matter how bad I wanted it to!The time hit, and the car honked outside right on the clock. I was already alone, with Anna gone to work and Little Luc dropped at his school and off to work. She gushed about my life and how it was starting to be a dream for all the women in America, and that I should live it all up while it lasted. I tried apologizing for burdening her with all the caretaking work, but she flipped me off and told me I needed a break and just be. And I was even more gratified to have her in my life than ever before. She was doing more than she signed
Eye OpenerChapter 33: Eye Opener ROYAL POV I could barely hear or witness anything that happened over the pulse pounding in my ears the entire time. I don’t know what I feared the most between the idea of Kenya witnessing Luke and his cabal of snakes shredding me to pieces and demanding half of the money I managed to work for, or the simple fact that Luke found my weakness and was using it against me. I have no idea how he found out about Kenya, or how he even learned that she was one thing I valued more than money; yet here he was, making sure I rued the day I fucked that fake-assed bambolina he used to call a fiancee. But it was clear I underestimated him and his resources. During the entire hearing, I could barely focus on what was said, and my mind kept drifting to the entity sitting at the back of the courtroom. When our gazes collided, she’d looked confused, shocked to see me there; but something else had landed in her gaze. Realization. The acceptance that what I’d sai
Devil is a woman ROYAL POV The sun peeking through the grey curtains was what woke me the following morning. I was groggy, my head pounding from a merciless headache and my chest tight from all the hatred I kept inside. The last conversation with my lawyers came tumbling to the front of my mind; the conversation where I asked them to transfer bloody twenty-five million dollars to The Trods and cut ties with them. I tried to breathe through my nose and find positivity from everything, and when my mind raced over darkness involving blood and hellfire, I ripped from the bed. I jumped into the shower and flexed my achy muscles beneath the hot water, then exited feeling slightly better. I put on a pair of fresh sweat pants and the t-shirt, then thinned my eyes at the smell of fresh omelet and bacon resonating from the kitchen. For one, I had no maid because I preferred my privacy over everything else, and today was not a cleaning day. So whoever that was knew the schedule quite rig
Should Have Known Kenya POV Full two days passed and I decided to boycott my phone and avoid Luke like a plague of an ugly disease. His words haunted me every waking moment of the day, and I resented it when he started creeping into my dreams with a diamond ring and whatever shit he thought he was doing to my subconscious. The thoughts of him were troublesome enough during the day- especially the sex- but at night; they were plain cruel. I still didn’t know what to make of his confession, but hearing him say the words “collateral” and admitting to using me to get the upper hand at his feud with Carter… Yeah well, that made me want to punch a hole into the wall. That made me want to punch a hole into the wall. I may have been willing to get seduced and charmed by all his man-wits and play princess in his rotten fairy tale, but not after he used me to hurt Royal. That was damn low and reacting to his simple deep timbre was a blow to my ego. The man clearly wanted to deep his finger
Bad Habits ROYAL POV Awareness connected me to my front door as it closed with a soft click, and the air settled into the room with a haunting chill. My insides curled and twisted with regret and something like guilt, and I gnashed my teeth before running a hand through my hair, gripping the strands tight enough that my scalp stung just a bit. I was a dick. A fuckin' dick! Whatever just happened- even if it was cooked in the kitchens of hell to come to torment me- was not supposed to happen. There's no way in hell that was meant to happen! Heck, I knew I was never a saint who saved puppies from a burning building in my previous life, and I have done my fair share of evil in this life too, but that was literally too much. Not when I was in the process of trying to win her back. Kenya was not supposed to see me with Kimberly, especially half-naked with nothing but a pair of briefs on with clothes scattered around the living room. Not long ago I was begging her to let me in h
Luke POV I stood in the living room of my condo overlooking the Nashville skyline, with Smokey whiskey sloshing painfully into my stomach. Regret was hot and thick inside of me, making me question every single thing that had happened. Things were going exactly how I wanted them to go; Carter was losing, and I was winning. It was all supposed to be a glorious feeling of triumph, knowing that I was squashing the bug beneath my foot and refusing it a chance to grow its wings. Yet a part of me was whining about the missing piece that was suddenly lacking from me. A bigger part to be exact. It was as if the whole thing was just a twisted game that hurt even the innocent, and it made bile rise and settle in my throat. The look Kenya gave me as she turned to leave, my harsh words at her and the betrayal in her voice; knocked some sense into my thick skull, and I found myself wondering if this whole revenge thing was worth it. I hated to admit it; it was starting to feel pointless… Fut
Confused KENYA POV The following day, I woke up with a stat. As always, Anna took care of Luc and I made it my mission to push yesterday to the farthest corner of my mind. With my resolutions cemented in place, I showered, and chose the sexiest yet classiest outfit for the day before leaving the house with my head held up high. I went to the address Celine sent to my phone last night after I had asked her further about the auditions, playing good music, and feeling pretty good about life. I arrived at the center after a good hour, to find cars already parked and the hall bustling. I went to the receptionist and informed them of the purpose of my visit before being escorted into the farthest rooms where the auditions were held. The small receptionist smiled at me before leaving. I was about to enter through the slightly opened door when muffled voices filtered through. “Glad the hearing went on smoothly. We gained more than we anticipated.” “Touche’. I didn’t think it would
Chapter 49ROYAL POVThe door to my front door creaked open, and I looked up expectantly to see who it was. My heart leaped into my throat at the idea of Kenya hitting me in the face with a surprise visit. I knew the chances of that happening were slim to none, and Kenya had the manners of an aristocrat to last her days that she wouldn't just butt into someone's house without knocking. And after what happened, I seriously doubted she'd ever step foot here. But a man can dream. All hope frizzled into a big flop when Kimberly came waltzing into the living room dressed in a shiny black evening gown, her blonde hair styled into some curls and red lipstick coating her lips. “I thought I told you to never step a foot here?” I growled from my seated position, staring at her with a defeated expression. I did not have the energy to deal with her or either of her shenanigans at the moment. She beamed at me before dropping the suit bag she’d had on her shoulder onto the couch, then walked to
Chapter 49: Overpass GraffitiEDEN POV The evening came and the girls were glammed as hell. Anna stood dressed in a black gown that hugged her bodice tight, pooling around her waist, her hair pulled in a tight ponytail that revealed her sharp jawline and perfect face. Her feet were clamped in black and silver Steve Madden heels, and the makeup just put everything in place. Little Luc had a white button-up shirt, black jeans, and cute white and blue Jordans. His look was complemented by sunglasses, and I died a little from his look.“Will you blame me if I were to shoot my shot at him? The man is for keeps.” Anna came spilling into my bedroom before coming to a rocking halt, her mouth dropping to the floor. “Okay?” I said twilling around and facing. “Bitch…” Her eyes roamed my entire form, glammed in a black evening gown that clung to my body like it was made to sit on me. The bodice was a corset, and from the bust was a soft material that split on my right high thigh, revealing
Chapter 47: Paradise IVKENYA POVYears ago, I used to find bliss in quite a few things. One of those being a rolled-up dollar bill and white powder in a club drumming with loud music…Meaningless sex…Recklessness. That felt like ages ago. Being a mom modeled you in quite a different way you started to view the world differently. Lately, ever since Little Luc dropped from the sky with his wings tugged on his hack, my happiness has come from simple, simple things. Be it a stroll in the park, the sound of his little laugh, and sleeping next to Anna at night. That plus pouring my heart into the keyboard and typing down the musings of my brain. Life was peaceful the way it was, and yes; there were shitty bumps here and there, but I would choose this life over everything else.“Are you done brooding over that loser and ready to get back to living?” My gaze narrowed at Anna who was curled on the couch with a book in her hand. For a reader like her, she sure hated fiction and focused on
Lunatic ROYAL POV I shut the door harder than I should have, ran a hand through my hair, and tried to ease a calming breath into my lungs. I unbuttoned my suit jacket and then pranced into the coffee shop, nodding to a few acquaintances who waved and greeted me. My muscles were heavy with liquid resentment that bubbled in my chest, the venom lapping in my mouth as I tried to go over my speech for the umpteenth time. I was going to keep this as humanly civil as I can. No fists, or losing my cool. But that wasn’t a promise. I was this close to losing every single strand of control inside of me and doing something that would either end with me dead or behind bars, and I had no nerve to even care! Hell, even right now, I could see myself gravitating to the sweet murder that threatened to yank at my sanity with every passing second. I was escorted to my seat where I dropped and ordered a glass of water. Coffee would make my heart palpitate, and anything with alcohol would send me
He’s for keeps KENYA POV We sat around the small dining table and shortly fell into comfortable chat. The guys were sitting on one side, with Luke in front of me and Frank in front of Anna. The dude had my leg trapped in his and still managed to keep a straight face. The food was mouth-watering, the spices a mixture of chili and salt, What warmed my heart, even more, was my little guy who seemed to have found his solace and comfort zone in Luke’s arms. The entire time, he remained glued to his lap, unmoving as he helped him to eat his dinner. The way he cradled his small chest with his giant hand, occasionally pulling him closer whenever he started to slip off. The way he fed him his dinner before scooping his own fork and stuffing it into his mouth. Hell… If he so much as asked me to lick his feet right now, I fucking would. And mind you, I hated feet! “Why didn’t you mention you were acquainted with Luke Donovan?” Frank asked the same question he did when first laid his eyes
PARADISE II KENYA POV “You uncultured swine!” I smacked Anna’s arm, frowning at her beautiful face. She looked like the woman everyone with a vagina aspiered to be. Long black, shiny hair pulled in a tight bun on top of her head, a black dress that hugged her perfect latino body, revealing that plump ass no amount of plastic surgery could afford. Her skin almost glowed in the dark, happiness radiating hot from her. She was happy; and that humbled me to docileness. Nothing hit harder than seeing the person you loved and cared for looking so care-free; especially when you knew the shit she went through. Anna may have been with me through all hell and rain, but that didn't mean she didn't have her own problems to worry about. And the fact that she was always with me at the simply drop of a hat always had me speechless. Just what did I do in my previous life to deserve such a golden angel guarding me? “Hey. That hurts.” She screamed massaging the reddening skin on her arm. “It s
PARADISE II Chapter 44 I have met the president before; and had a one-on-one conversation with Pope Francis. My dad attended a luncheon with Queen Elizabeth and his entire family; had us tagging along… I had no trouble looking them in the eye, answering their questions, and bombarding them with ones of my own. Yet seated in the driver’s seat as we whooshed through the evening traffic to Kenya’s house; to meet his son had me wetting my pants. Almost! It was as though I was coming face to face with Messiah on judgment day and I was going to be chowed off for the grave sins I have committed in all my lives- past and present. “You don’t have to be so tense. Tonight’s gonna be actually fun.” Kenya’s hand landed on my arm, and heat seared through the thin material of my dress shirt. The heat shot straight to my groin and my balls clenched. I eased a breath down my throat and nodded nervously. “Why the sudden change of heart?” I asked. The last time we talked about me meeting Luc,
Paradise Kenya POV "When did you know that you were actually in love with Miss Brown?" the interviewer asked and the cameras turned to our seated forms. Luke had my hand clutched in his, and I visibly tensed. His thumb came to massage my hand in reassurance. I was all jittery and antsy, yet all it took him was to look at me and brush his thumb against my hand and I felt ready to conquer the world! “It’s actually not long ago.” True. “To be exact, it was around a month ago. I did something that made her look at me like I was the worst person in the entire world, and that had me thinking twice.” Not sure about that, but I’ll tick it as true! “I was always fascinated by the way she mixed up words and created these vivid images that made her stories come to life in my head whenever I read them, which is why I proposed to work with her and adapt her stories into movies. I was a fan of hers way before she even knew my name-" SWOON! "It was strictly business at first, but the more I spen
KENYA POV Not gonna lie, there were those times I wished I had a mom; or a sister. And while I was more than blessed to have Anna in my life - since she was the literal fusion of both-, there were times I needed someone with the same DNA running through our blood. Times like this one when I was supposed to take life into my own hands and make life-changing decisions that would alter everything I had ever known. And while I valued Anna’s thoughts and opinions the most- since she was the saner one of us- more than I did mine, I wish there was someone… Just someone. These thoughts nagged me as I sat on my vanity brushing through my hair. I pulled it into the back bun and gelled it on the sides so it clung to my skull. The hairstyle was every black woman's go-to. There was no going wrong with this one. Like ever. I had a simple outfit on; a black body-con dress with black heeled sandals. The earrings were silver, and so were the rings dawning my hands. I had a small wristwatch that ju