I don't know why my comments are disappearing 🤦🏾‍♀️

One Month Later

     "What the fuck is taking this bitch so long?!" Benji shook his head in embarrassment as Simone yelled at the fast food worker. The woman, who looked no older than eighteen, quaked with fear as she placed the hot food into the plastic bag. "Keep smilin' at my man and imma knock ya' two front teeth out!"

     "Here we go again." He mumbled, releasing a deep sigh. Everyday it was something new with Simone. She wanted to fight every bitch who smiled or stared at Benji too long for her liking. It was no secret that Benji Taylor was making paper, so women stuck to him like flies on shit.

     Benji wasn't interested in sticking his dick in every woman who shot him a wink. In fact, he wasn't really interested in Simone either. She was just a quick fuck who begged him to buy her a McDonalds burger before dropping her off in the projects.

     "Sorry for the wait." The woman forced a smile on her face, sliding the bag across the counter. She was afraid the woman would hop over the counter and whoop her ass.

"Yeah bitch—"

     "It's cool. I'm sorry 'bout that. Have a nice day." Benji finally intervened before yanking her out of the restaurant by her arm. "Get 'cho ass in the car!"

     He didn't like being embarrassed. Especially in public. Everyone who knew him, knew that he didn't like drama. He was quiet and laid back. He didn't get rowdy unless somebody really pissed him off. "You checkin' bitches like we exclusive and shit! You need to chill the fuck out for real!"

     He looked over at Simone as she folded her arms across her chest and pouted like a toddler. She knew it would be best for her to shut up or else her money train would soon come to a complete stop. He hated to admit that she was beautiful, but her attitude made her ugly as fuck. Even after two kids, her stomach was flat and her ass stuck out like a balloon.

     "I'm sorry baby. But these bitches know who you are and know you makin' paper. I'm not 'bout to let a bitch think she ca' have you!" She stated, rolling her neck to get her point across. She wasn't the type to sit back and stay quiet. No, that was for the weak. And Simone Bradford was far from weak.

     "That's the shit I'm talkin' about! We ain't together!" He chuckled softly. "My bad if I ever implied that we were! But this ain't that, shorty."

     She rolled her eyes as she watched the tall and beautiful buildings turn into small, vacant homes. Before she knew it, she was back in the Kingsland Projects. Crackheads sat on the corner, looking for their next fix while wannabe dope dealers stood in front of the crack-houses that lined the street. Simone was ready to get out of the horrible neighborhood and she hoped that Benji would be the one to sweep her off her feet and get her out of there.

     She thought she lucked up when she got pregnant by Raheem Atwood. He was makin' major paper in Crowne Heights. Or so she thought. After having his twins, she realized he wasn't nothing but a corner boy. Not even second-in-command. He was at the bottom of the fucking totem pole.

     "I'll see you tomorrow?" She hoped he would say yes. She needed another getaway from her neighborhood. She could easily find another sitter for her kids.

     "I'll hit you up." He replied, making her frown. He rarely called her phone. He made it clear that they were nothing more than just fuck buddies.

     Once she was away from the car, he drove off the street and headed back to his side of town.

     Noelle climbed out of her sleek gray Lexus RX 350 F-Sport before glancing up at her design agency, the Cream Agency. Her Amina Muaddi pumps connected with the uneven sidewalk as she wrapped her manicured nails around the shop's door handle which was customized into the letter 'C'.

     "Good morning beautiful!" Diamond yelled in her usual chipper tone whilst sitting comfortably in her leather swivel chair. Her Bohemian Locs fell down her back and were twisted into different shades of sandy brown and black. Noelle always admired the way Diamond styled her luscious locs and imagined herself wearing the particular style in the future.

     "I see you rockin' that Saint Laurent bag. Okaaaay I'm jealous!" Tai playfully rolled her eyes while scribbling something on their dry erase board. Standing at only five-feet, Tai wore a Balmain logo cropped t-shirt and Ambush bright purple high-waisted straight-leg trousers. Her raven colored hair fell down her back in loose waves and swayed from side to side with every movement she made. It was one thing Tai knew like the back of her hand and that was fashion. She was obsessed with expensive handbags and designer clothing.

     "I didn't buy it. Shawn bought it for my birthday last year."

     "I wish my brother would buy me a thousand dollar purse!" Jamir interjected while fixing himself a cup of coffee. "He won't even buy me a pair of pants! I'm so glad I have Jaylon!"

     The Cream Agency was owned and operated by black designers. Noelle created the agency after realizing how talented she and her best friends were. The agency consists of design and marketing— with Noelle being a Creative Director, Tai being an Interior Designer, Diamond being a Marketing Consultant and Jamir putting the icing on the cake as an Event Planner. Noelle was truly living the dream.

     "I don't need my brother. I have my fiancé and he buys me whatever I want." Tai never failed to remind them of her better half, Ray. They were inseparable. He gifted her with anything she wanted because he knew it would be hell if he didn't. "Speaking of, I think I found the perfect venue! I scheduled a walkthrough with the owner this evening! I really hope this is the one!"

     "I hope so too. I'm coming as well. I need to make sure this venue is big enough for all of the decorations you ordered." Jamir shook his head. He wasn't mad at Tai. It was her first and hopefully last wedding and she wanted it to be perfect. Her father offered to pay for everything and there was no budget for his princess.

     "Um, Noellie and I are coming as well! And I need to see a list of Ray's line brothers that are coming to this wedding. Are they single?" Diamond questioned. She was itching to find a man to call her own....for one night. While they went back and forth about Tai's dream wedding, a delivery driver entered their store, wearing brown Dickies short-sleeve coveralls and carrying a large box.

     "Good morning ladies! Is there a—" he paused, glancing down at the name written in cursive on the box. "Noelle Carter here?"

Noelle frowned in confusion. "That's me."

     She assumed it was the custom diamanté candle holders she ordered for one of her clients a few weeks ago. The candle holders were one of the last touches to her client's product release party. The candle holders were sold out everywhere just as she expected it to be since diamanté pieces were the hottest thing out now. So she called in a favor from one of her favorite furniture designers, Jackeé Brown. Noelle signed her name on the clipboard the delivery driver gave her. He thanked her before leaving. "So, what is it? I'm curious."

     She peeled off the white lid, revealing a dozen blue roses dusted in glitter. They were stunning. "Maybe it's from my Nana. Then again, these don't look like they're from the flower shop."

     Her grandmother owned a flower shop and would send flowers to her grandchildren whenever she thought about them....which was all the time. But these flowers were different from the tulips and sunflowers her Nana sent.

     "Oh my God those are gorgeous!" Tai cooed while approaching her desk. "Who are they from?"

     Diamond took it upon herself to search for a note. To her surprise, she found it taped to the lid. "Saw these flowers and instantly thought of you. Signed, Benji." The note read. "Oooooh I see you and Benji are gettin' real close."

     Noelle blushed while gently running her fingertips through the bouquet. After only a month of spending time together, she didn't expect to be sent flowers. She didn't mind, honestly. It made her feel good knowing he thought of her.

     "Yes, we've been spending time together." The smile never left her face as she sat down at her desk. Jamir and Tai followed closely behind her. "Who is this Benji and why haven't we heard about him? How come Diamond knows and not us?"

     "Because me and Benji grew up together." Diamond added, twisting her neck and playfully rolling her eyes. "Besides, Noellie loves me more than y'all."

     "Whatever. Tell us about this Benji and why he's sendin' you four hundred dollar flowers from Venus et Fleur." Tai said, wanting to hear about every little juicy detail in her best friend's love life.

     "Well he—" Noelle paused once her began phone vibrating on her desk. Benji's name appeared on the screen making Tai squeal like a pig. "Answer!"

     She playfully rolled her eyes once she noticed how nosey they were. After pressing her finger on the Answer button, she placed the phone on her ear. "Hello?"

     "What 'chu doing Noelle?" Benji questioned, making her smile. His deep voice gave her chills, even inside a warm room. "At work waiting on a package for one of my clients. What are you doing?" She replied before glancing up at her nosey best friends who were eavesdropping on the call. She took it upon herself to walk outside where she could talk in private.

"If you busy I ca' call you back-"

     "No, I actually needed a break from my nosey best friends."

     "I'm glad you said that because I was actually calling to see if you wanted to have lunch with me today Elle? Around two?"

     She laughed at the cute nickname. "Sure. I mean I have a meeting at one-forty five but it won't take long."

     "Alright Boss Lady. I'll send you the address and let you get back to work." She was smiling so hard her cheeks were starting to burn. "Alright. See you later."

Part Two is next 🥰

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