Page 62 of Mister President

“We’re hanging out. We don’t have a title yet, but he made it clear he wants to be with me.”

“For real, for real?” Tamar hopped in her seat.

“For real, for real,” I confirmed with a squeal.

“Yay! I’m so happy for you, cuz!” Felicity leaned across the table to hug me. “I know you’ve been wanting your family back together for a while.”

“I haveeee, and I swear I’m going to do right this time. I’m taking my time though. On the off chance he just in his feelings, I wanna make sure this is what he wants. I don’t want to get my hopes up and he decides he wants someone else.”

“I feel you,” Tamar said. “But if he’s saying he wants to be with you, I really don’t think you have to worry about that.”

“Better safe than sorry though,” Felicity said, and I nodded my agreement. “We gotta celebrate now. I’m finna get a bottle of Moet so we can turn up!”

And that was exactly what we did. Two bottles of champagne later, we walked sideways out of the club after showing our asses—literally. I couldn’t tell you how many men I’d danced with and on, but it was a vibe. Even with the liquor flowing in me, I was on my best behavior and didn’t get too wild. I didn’t want to do anything to make Elias think I wasn’t worthy of his trust.

As we headed out to the town car, I felt my arm being pulled.

“Aye, shawty. Ain’t yo’ name Stacked?”

My eyes rolled as I pulled my arm away from the man. Stacked used to be my stripper name, and the last thing I wanted to deal with was an old customer, or a man who wanted to be one.

“No,” I replied, trying to walk away again.

He sucked his teeth and grabbed me again. “You ain’t gotta lie, man. I know you. I used to watch yo’ ass literally every weekend.”

“If you knew, why did you ask?” I pulled away again. That time, Felicity pulled me behind her.

He looked from her and Tamar to me before chuckling. “These your bodyguards?”

“Is,” Tamar replied. “What you gon’ do about it?”

“Man, say. I’ll thump your little ass on the head and knock you the fuck out. Move so I can talk to Stacked.”

“Let’s just go, y’all. We’ve had a good night,” I said, grabbing their hands and turning toward the car.

“So you gon’ act like I ain’t talking to you?” He grabbed me again and pulled me into his chest. “I couldn’t afford you in the club, but it ain’t shit stopping me from having you now.”

“Let her go!” Tamar yelled as Felicity tried to grab him, but he shoved her so hard she hit her head on the concrete.

Tamar swung at him, but he ducked it and punched the side of her face.

I elbowed him and reached for my .22 in my purse, hoping I didn’t have to use it.

“Bitch, you gon’ give me this pussy. I been waiting on yo’ ass for years.”

“Help!” I yelled as he grabbed me around my waist and ripped my dress from the back. People looked, but no one came in my direction. “Jacob!” I yelled, hoping he’d hear me since my driver clearly wasn’t looking through the tinted windows.

The man pushed me onto the ground and straddled me. Tamar groggily crawled over to him as Jacob hopped out of the car. The second my panties ripped I kicked him in the face. Tamar took advantage and jumped on his back, but he pulled her forward and slammed her on the ground. When I saw the man lift his fist to Tamar again, I shot. His body toppled over before he turned, and I shot again. Scrambling to his feet, he ran away as Jacob neared. Pushing him away, I demanded he check on my cousin since she was unconscious.

Now that he’d run away, bystanders started to come over. I rolled my eyes and lay flat on the concrete as I fought to regulate my breathing, refusing to believe this man was about to try and rape me.

36

Elias

A Few Miles Away

Not even beingat the strip club could take my mind off Amanda. The only ass I wanted to see shaking was hers. Still, this was where West and David wanted to go after we left the lounge, so I obliged. I wasn’t in the mood to be throwing money and shit, so when the girls came to our section, I shooed them away. All I could do was think about how good things had been between me and Mandy. Regardless of how much I enjoyed my time with the guys, I couldn’t wait to get back to my girl.

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