“I know what I want, Phileigh, and I intend to apply the necessary pressure to get it. I want to get to know you, Phileigh Cheese, baby or not. Can you allow me the rest of the week to do so?

The rest of the week was pushing it. I was going to have to cancel clients and bribe the shit out of Lolo, but as I gazed at Kellon, I couldn’t shut out the part of my conscience screaming at me to say yes.

“Yes. I’ll join you in New York.” I gave in.

“Good girl.” Kellon leaned in and kissed me on the forehead. Who knew a forehead kiss could make my pussy leak? “Get some rest, Phileigh Cheese. We got an early morning.”

He gave me one more kiss on the forehead before standing up and walking out the door.

“Okay,” was all I could say as I sank into the bed, listening to him exit the room. Just then, my phone chimed with a notification from a money app. I glanced down, and my eyes bulged.

KB26 sent you $10,000.

I didn’t even get a chance to grasp it before another notification sounded from a different name.

Warhawkskb sent you $10,000.

My mouth dropped. He was paying me without even receiving the service. I thought briefly about sending it back, but quickly changed my mind. Everything about this was too much too fast, and I should have been pumping the brakes, but it seemed like I was already in too deep.

Chapter 8

“You like this girl, don’t you?” my mother acknowledged as she entered my dressing room at the Brittani Shepard Show.

I had been waiting for her to pull me aside since she found out Phileigh was joining us in New York. With Phileigh out in the studio audience, I guess this was the perfect chance for her ass to be nosy.

“I do,” I said, speaking my truth. “She’s… different.”

I glanced at my mom through the mirror, awaiting her reply. My mom was strict about who I dated. She was quick to call out a red flag on every girl I’d ever called myself seeing. I was intrigued to know what she thought about Phileigh.

“Hmm,” was all she said in response, but I knew there was more.

There was always more with Charlie Barnes. Ma didn’t have a man, so she always poked her nose in my business. Sometimes, it was annoying as fuck. Other times, I welcomed the intrusion.

“I think I might want to get to know her better,” I continued.