Giselle "G" Rowe

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"Chin down some, yeah." I angle the phone to capture a few full body shots of Nadirah before taking two steps forward to get close ups.

She's wearing a burgundy dress that sweeps the floor and the highlight brushed onto her mahogany toned skin compliments the large golden encased portrait behind her. A couple of men slow their stride to compliment the beautiful woman posing in front of them and she of course, gives them a smug smile, used to go it.

They direct a brief nod my way, sweeping over my denim covered bottom and exposed cleavage greedily before flickering their gaze back to my face. I let Nadi do my makeup today. It looks good, albeit a lot heavier than I'm used to. The thick line of black ink applied to my waterline seems to be calling more attention to me, just as she had warned that it would. Bedroom eyes. That's how big mama would describe them.

I was a little disappointed in myself for not finishing the emerald green bodysuit that I've been working on because I wanted to show it off today, but I keep reminding myself that this was a last minute invite and that good things take time. I have to prioritize quality, always.

I'm just so excited over how much this garment will progress things for me. The fabric is rich in pigment and thick enough for the upcoming winter. The cut is sexy without revealing too much skin and the design is simple yet, detailed. It's all so perfect. On my body, it would've blended in with the rest of this artsy shit.

Deep green on brown skin with gold accessories.

Whew!

I've already been in contact with various vendors, scheduling meetings here and there to test out the grade of their work and I've been super immersed with reviewing different website layouts, ready for any bit of good news or increase in orders. I'm making things happen.

Nadi turns around and I snap photos of her backside, making sure to accentuate her ass in half of the shots by lowering the phone a bit.

"Okay, let me see!" She smiles, rushing over to scroll through her gallery. "Damn, G. You took over 200!"

"You wanted options, didn't you?"

"Giselle," Niko steps away from a group of artists and saunters over to us, throwing an arm over my shoulder in a firm hug. This cologne is light and slightly overpowered by the air of marijuana circling him. Not bad, but not as exhilarating as — well. "I'm so glad that you could make it."

"Hey, thanks for the invite. This is my best friend, Nadirah."

"Mack's shorty, I'm already knowin'." He chuckles, releasing me from his hold and grabbing one of his plaits.

"That's right." Nadi rolls her neck playfully before going back to review her pictures.

"So what do you think so far?" He motions around the room and the three of us slowly walk through the building again, admiring the many works of black artists, new and old, famous or underground, from all around the world.

The pieces range from the most colorful palettes, obviously conveying a specific emotion or image to the most mundane, abstract designs that are muddy and hard to decipher. Somehow, they all have their own appeal and array the otherwise white interior with a story. 

Malachi is standing beside his sculpture, beaming with pride and answering the small crowd of spectator's questions in front of him. He looks like your typical new-aged artist in the city, painted black nails, short locs, heavy boots, and many tattoos depicting vulgar, depressing quotes and images. Gloom and doom but on a good day.

I'm happy for him. Having your work showcased in such a magnificent way for the first time ever has got to feel good and for whatever reason, it brings me a feeling of satisfaction to see this stranger smile. His eyes tell me that he needed this.

I pray that I will be able to relate someday.

A woman with bohemian locs that reach well below her waist, nestles comfortably beside him. Her grill gleams with each shutter of the flashing cameras and her long nails are just as artistic as the paintings surrounding us. Her aura is the exact opposite of Malachi's. It's like she's the day and he's the night. She shines so brilliantly that anyone with a pulse could feel the heat and uses her glow to illuminate his soul, helping him fight the darkness attempting to engulf his life.

In other words, a gorgeous couple.

I recognize her immediately and she's even prettier in person. She rapidly shifts in her heels to strike a few more poses and Malachi snakes his arm around her waist affectionately. Once the small crowd gathered around them lowers their phones, we lock eyes and her eyebrows shoot up.

She moves towards me in an instant and I meet her halfway, breaking out into a grin. "Hey, it's Keyani, right?"

"The one and only." She purses her full lips, adjusting the YungYanni chain around her neck. "You bad as hell in person, girl."

"Thank you. I was just thinkin' the same thing about you."

"I didn't know y'all knew each other, that's crazy. Me and Yanna got a song on the way." Niko gently placed his hand on the small of my back and my heart rate increases as memories of last night flash through my head.

"This shit so wet for me" June's thrusts are coming fast and hard now, his body growing more rigid behind my own. He applies more pressure to my back, keeping my body in place with his left hand. "You like that shit, huh?"

He slaps my asscheek with his right palm, unsatisfied with just my whimpers and picks up the pace. "Let me hear it."

Another slap.

"Yes!" I breathe, relishing in the feeling of his balls slapping my clitoral hood, his warm hands gripping me so tightly, and the rasp in his voice.

"Yes what?" June demands, cracking down on my other asscheek with even more force. His movements are getting sloppy and I can hear the attempt to keep his words clear and steady. "Tell me."

"I love this shit!" I cry out as the final slap lands on my asscheek and he releases.

"That's good!" I smile, looking between Niko and Keyani and both their eyebrows furrow in shock.

"A nigga gettin' shot?"

"What? Naw, I meant the song."

Jesus Christ.

"Giselle, we been off dat for like a minute now." Niko chuckles, shaking his head and I bite the inside of my cheeks, feeling the embarrassment sink in. Nadi can't even save me from it, too busy wrapped up in conversation with a friend of hers that I'm unfamiliar with.

Lord, somebody prolly dead and what am I thinkin' bout?

I halfway listen to Niko and Keyani, choosing to look through the photos that Nadi snapped of me earlier. It's been a while since I've posted anything nonbusiness related so this will be a nice, carefree change. I've just narrowed down my selection to under ten when the two of them slap hands.

"Well, aight then. I'm finna go take my man out for a celebratory dinner. Giselle, I might have to hit you up for some more shit. You real dope, shawty."

"Girl, please do. Thank you so much. It was so nice seeing you in person."

If all the people that I've mailed things off to are as dope as she is, I hope I run into them too.

"So, what are you doin' after this? I wanna go get some food." Niko tucks his top lip between his teeth and peers down at me.

"Oh, me and Nadi was finna go do that anyway. What did you have in mind?"

"Come on now." He smirks and narrows his eyes like there's some unspoken thing that I'm not getting.

"What?" I shrug, unable to keep a straight face.

Ion like indirect niggas. Say what you mean.

"You know I meant just the two of us."

I don't know why I feel guilty, but it's right on brand for me. Relationship or not, I've always been the type to show loyalty to whomever I'm intimate with. A decision that has left me feeling stupid before, I can't lie but it's who I am.

And it's not like we'll even be doing anything besides just eating, but I can't lead him on knowing that I'd really rather not be there. I got enough money to feed myself anyway and enough respect for him to just let him know what it is.

"Damn, okay." Niko's expression changes briefly, reading over my sympathetic smile and my guilt deepens. "I mean, it's coo."

"Just come with us." I try to soften the blow, but he just shakes his head, rubbing his jawline and taking a step back.

"I'm good on that, but preciate it ."

"Dang, you don't like me, Niko?" Nadirah clutches her invisible pearls, feigning disappointment and he cracks a small smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "You straight, lil Mack."

"I'll see y'all around." He shrugs, looking towards the exit. "Giselle, I'm always here if you change yo' mind though."

"Okay." Is all I manage to voice before he leaves.

I would have preferred if he had an attitude or somethin'. Got me feelin' like the bad guy.

"Damn, G." Nadi smirks, cutting her eyes over to me after the door shuts behind Niko. "Dicked down by a fine nigga last night and asked on a date by another fine nigga the next damn day. And they both got money? I ain't never had that ever happen to me. I'm tryna see what that be like."

"Aight, Day-Day." I laugh because she has a point. I ain't never had no motion like this. "Whatchu wanna eat?"

"A big Mack."

"Corny." I sigh, heading outside with Nadirah giggling behind me. The chilly air seeps through my open jacket and I have to bite my lips to conceal a goofy smile.

I'm just mad that I didn't think of the joke first.

-

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Is Niko growing on y'all? Think Giselle should give him a chance? Vote <3