Page 107 of 10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace

Me and Skyler smiled at Kora taking her in. “You are the most beautiful doll I have ever seen. Do you like candy, Stellie?”

Estella’s eyes widened as she shook her head. “Yes.”

Kora stood up and held her hand out. Estella held her hand as she welcomed us into her condo, which was beautiful. It was full of Black art, and contemporary furniture. It was massive, and cozy all at the same time with huge floor to ceiling windows that showed the entire city.

How she ever got anything done was beyond me because the view was enough to keep me stuck all day. Her heels clicked on the bamboo wooden floors as she showed us around and pointed out certain pieces to me.

I took in her space, pictures of her in college and on vacations. There were a few pictures of her in different countries with a White man. He was pretty consistent all throughout her home with the different pictures of him. Kora’s home was night and day to her brother’s home. It was warm, inviting and lived in.

You could piece her life together by the pictures and different things within her home. When it came to Maverick’s home, you didn’t know who lived there because there weren’t pictures anywhere. As nice as his home was, it wasn’t all that inviting because the art was there, however, there weren’t that many pieces around.

“Your home is so damn fire,” Skyler said, as she took everything in while Kora led us to the kitchen and dining area.

Kora smiled. “Thank you. I spent a lot of time trying to make it my own. These luxury condos are hard to make your own because they are so sterile.”

“You’ve done an amazing job with it, too. Doesn’t feel like one of those places at all. Core’s condo in the city feels exactly like that.”

“I believe he only sleeps there when he’s not at Bruster Manor,” she looked down at Estella. “Can I pick you up, Sweetie?”

Estella looked at her mother, and Skyler gave her a nod. “Yes, please.”

Kora was so tickled by her and put her on the stool. She went around the counter and grabbed some candy from a dish on the back counter. “We can sit in the living room until Zoya gets here. She finished in court not too long ago,” she led us to the living room, and we both sat down.

“Have she and Maverick spoken?”

Kora hopped from the couch. “Let me get you guys a drink.” I watched as she walked around the counter. “They won’t speak, and it has always been like that. For years I would try, and it would be useless. Neither of them think they are wrong, and both go at it every time.”

“Do you think she would come to our ceremony?”

Kora looked at me shocked. “Ceremony? What happened to the wedding?”

I sighed. “I don’t want a big drawn-out wedding. My mom is no longer living, and I always imagined her being there to see me get married… doesn’t feel right.”

Skyler rubbed my leg. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the wedding of your dreams, Stevie.”

“Yes, I agree. My mom isn’t here either, but I want to walk down the aisle to my forever one day. Right now, the pickings are slim, and every man is always intimidated when he finds out what I do.”

“As your sister-in-law, I will be there to hold your dress and do whatever you need. For me, I don’t want to have a huge wedding with people I don’t know.”

“I can respect your decision. When are you both thinking about doing it?”

I looked down at my shoe. “Your brother said tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Kora nearly hollered.

“Look, I just found out today, too.”

She smiled. “And you want to marry my brother… I know that this was a deal between the two of you. For Mav, this isn’t a deal anymore, that man is in love with you. Might be obsessed, so I would be careful marrying his nutty ass.”

“Baby, it takes a special someone to be with a man like Menace. You know he called me slow?”

“You are acting a bit slow, Skyler,” I snorted.

“Whatever. Worry about stealing grapes while your man is counting them.” Both she and Kora fell out laughing when the door chimed.

“I’m going to need both of you to calm it down on Maverick.” I gave them both the stink eye while Kora went to get the door.

Skyler finished her drink. “Are you really ready to be his wife?”

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