Page 57 of Save Room for Us

“You have a good day, Milan.” I tried to move around her, but she blocked my basket.

As badly as I wanted to ram her with it, I knew Bashar would have my head. He meant business when he said I couldn’t be out here fighting. It was almost like he knew people would be testing me out in public when he gave me the warning.

“What would the prosecutor think if I came to her and confirmed you have been having an affair. ’Cause see, I remember you looking at Asif well before you shot your husband, Stazi. Now as soon as he’s laid up in the hospital, comatose, you and Asif are all of a sudden like this.” She held up her middle and pointer finger, intertwined.

“Do what you want, bitch, but you still won’t have him. I could die tonight, and he still wouldn’t pick you. He’d choosesomeone else. You’re too airheaded and focused on the wrong things in life to understand that you and Asif are not equally yoked. Why would a man as smart, handsome, ambitious, tenacious, and rich as he, settle for you?”

“Settle? Do you see me, ho!” She waved up and down her frame. “You’rethe one he would be settling for!”

“See?” I asked. “That’s what I mean. Looks wise, you are definitely a sight for sore eyes, but you have nothing else to offer. You want to lock a man of Asif’s caliber down, you’re gonna have to do more than wear clothes from the toddler section, a bear weave, and caked on makeup.”

Milan eyed me, lips slightly parted in shock. Though I was purposely verbally assaulting her because I couldn’t do it physically, what I was saying was true.

She was a beautiful girl, but after being around Asif and talking to him, she was too shallow and immature, which probably turned a man like him off. Physically, they were a good match, but once she opened her mouth and he his, you started to wonder how she even made her way into his life.

“Fuck you, bitch. Karma is gonna get you for stealing a taken man.” She was seething.

“Bad word!” Sophie bucked her eyes at Milan, making the latter glance down at her briefly.

“You just be happy I can’t do what I want, or you’d be limping away in them yeast infection causing shorts instead of being able to do that little stank walk you think people enjoy.” I hurriedly pushed the basket past her, and she was too shell-shocked to even attempt to block me.

“Whore!” She shouted at my back.

“Whore!” Sophie screamed back in delight, giggling and rocking exaggeratedly as she waited for me to join her like I usually would when she did that laugh.

“That’s a bad word too, baby.” I kissed her forehead, and she nodded.

Milan had me on edge as I checked out and loaded my baby, plus items, into my vehicle. Unable to think about anything else, I ventured to Bashar’s law office all the way in Beverly Hills.

An hour later, due to LA traffic, I was inside of the building, approaching his secretary, with a sleeping Sophie in her stroller.

“Hi, can I see Bashar?”

“Mr. Compton? Do you have an appointment?” she quizzed, and I remembered to be more formal by not using his first name.

“I don’t, but can you see if I can come in his office right quick? Tell him it’s Anastazia Chase.”

“I could, but he told me not to do that.”

I didn’t know if she was a bimbo or trying to be smart. She came off like she was slow but then like she had an attitude, so I couldn’t be sure.

“Please. It’s important.”

“I—oh wait, Chase. Like his old nanny?—”

“Hiswife’smaiden name.”

“Yes, his wife.” She reddened, embarrassed. “Sorry. Give me one second.”

I listened to her call, and then next thing I knew, Bashar had appeared at the entrance of his office, looking confused.

I pushed Sophie over while thanking Ashlee in the midst.

“You aight?” he asked, shutting the door behind me.

“You remember Milan?” I got right to it, no preamble necessary.

“Milan? Oh, that girl that be with Asif sometimes.” He nodded, sitting down.

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