Page 33 of 10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace

“Where are you? When are you coming home, Stevie?” she sounded fed up listening to me tell her that I had fell for Menace.

Skyler knew him better than I did, so I wasn’t convinced that she believed me. He did seem out there at the warehouse, and a bit of a loose cannon. Every time he wanted to do something impulsive; I noticed he would rub his hands together.

Seven times.

I was so nervous that I watched his every move, counting each time he did it. One of the times, we made eye contact, and I was sure that he was going to kill me for watching him too hard.

“Soo, about that… I’m not coming home. He invited me to move in with him, and I think I’m going to do it.”

Skyler was full on choking now and I could actually hear someone hitting her back to help her stop. “Drink some water… Jesus,” I heard someone instruct her in the background.

“Pam… I am alright… Thanks,” she replied. “Moving in with him? You don’t even know him, Stevie? What were you doing… drugs?”

“He makes me feel so good, Skyler.” I yawned, wanting to shower and then climb into this bed to get some sleep.

“Well, I’m coming to see you at his house…I want to make sure you’re not being held against your will… do you need me to bring anything?”

I ran down everything I wanted her to bring before she told me to reach out to Alex and we ended the call.

Me: Alex… I’m alive. Will call soon.

Alex: Okay. Don’t do that again, Stevie. Was worried.

Me: sorry.

I grabbed my luggage and rummaged through what I had and found a pair of pajamas before walking into the massive bathroom. The glass encased shower was the star of the bathroom with a rain shower head.

Between the bamboo ceiling and travertine and glass shower, the bathroom was like a dream. I looked at the controls on the wall and smiled as I pressed whatever. When I discovered how tocontrol the temperature and make the glass frosted, I went over to the sink and unpacked my cosmetics bag that had my makeup and skincare along with my travel toothpaste all in one bag.

Looking in the mirror, I smiled at myself and then closed my eyes and said a prayer to my mother. I needed her to lead the way, show me what I was supposed to be doing. Tell me if this was the right move for me.

No matter if Skyler wanted to admit it or not, she was slowly building something – a family – when it came to her, Core, Jeffie, and Estella. She just needed to stop being stubborn and realize it.

I just wanted my own thing, too, so even if I had to fake it until I made it… I had no other choice but to become Menace Caselli’s wife.

Menace

She slept peacefully,her curly hair was freshly washed. I could smell the almond and rose shampoo and conditioner I kept in all the bathrooms in the house. She smacked her teeth like she was eating something and did a few small jumps as she slept.

Her chest slowly lifted up and then fell as she made small noises while she was asleep. There was no doubt that she was beautiful. I’ve had my fair share of women, some of what the world would consider the baddest, and it was this unique shorty that had me sitting in her room watching her sleep.

There was a part of me that wanted to slide into bed beside her and lay next to her. Shit was weird because I hated for anyone to touch me. I remember when I was fucking Kim and she strung her arms around my neck, I nearly head butted her for doing something so stupid and out of the norm for our situation.

Even thinking about the shit now had me wanting to call her, invite her over here, so I could headbutt the shit out of her for trying that shit with me. Wonder stirring from her sleep pulled me from my thoughts. A soft melody played from her phoneand her hand found its way to the night table as she blindly felt around for her glasses.

It was dark, a little after ten at night, and here I was showered and sitting in her room in my monogrammed robe. She took a little minute before she located her glasses and then rested them on her chest.

“Jesus, what did I get myself into?” she spoke out loud. “He’s not that bad… aside from the weird rules and full sanitizing mist to enter the house. You can live with that, right?”

“I’m not bad at all. You’re the one talking to yourself and then answering yourself, Wonder.” I made my presence known and she shot up in the bed, her wild hair all over her head.

Her curls were thick and full, perfect coils that framed her face. She quickly put her glasses on as she looked across the room at me sitting in the seating area. “Were you watching me sleep?”

“I was.”

My honesty caught her off guard. “Why are you sitting in the dark? I can’t even see you.” She finally found her words, while turning the lamp on next to her.

With the size of the room, the small light only illuminated the area she was in, leaving me in the dark.

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