Page 82 of 10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace

“Hmm, the opposite of you.”

He laughed. “Yeah… see you soon.”

“Safe flight. I’ve never been on a jet before.”

“Your future husband owns two… gotta make that happen for you.” I could hear him chewing something. “The fuck kind ofgum is this? I need the other kind… nah. I ain’t taking the fuck off until they find the shit I need… the popping in my ears fuck with me, Jeff.”

“Hey, relax… let them find the gum.”

He was quiet and I heard someone in the back say they found the gum he used. “Here you go, Mr. Caselli.”

“See.”

“You good luck, Wonder.”

“Might be. See you soon, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I smiled as I ended the call, then headed upstairs to change my clothes before his sisters arrived. My hands were sweating because I was so nervous to meet them. Maverick was a big presence, so I could only imagine his siblings being the same as he was, which scared me.

In the past, me and other women never got along because I was different. I never fit in, and I always felt like I was forcing myself to be someone that I wasn’t. Don’t get me started on how mean women could be.

Soon as they found out you weren’t like them, then you became a target. There were a few stylists at the shop that acted like that with me and Cindy had to put them in their places. I hated to even sound like this, but I just wanted people to like me.

Why couldn’t we bake cookies, watch anime, and drink iced coffees while forgetting about eating an actual meal?

“Hey, Kora is here.” Greene popped her head into my room, and I took a deep breath.

Sisters didn’t play with their brothers, so I was nervous about meeting her. Especially since she was a federal judge. What if she locked my ass up because she didn’t believe I wanted to be with her brother?

I mean, I couldn’t believe I wanted to be with him some days. Especially the days when he was in the dark, and then randomlymade his presence known. No warning, just a simple word and my soul leaving my body because I didn’t know he was even there.

“Okay.”

“Relax, they are going to love you. Just be you, Stevie… don’t be fake,” Greene advised and I took her advice before joining her downstairs.

“Leave it to Maverick to not even be here yet,” I heard her soft voice before she rounded the corner, and I saw her. “Listen, get me the files so I can look over them tonight,” she barked at whoever was on the phone.

As she rounded the corner, I couldn’t help but be amazed at her. She was small, had to be around 5’4, and she was petite. Her curly black hair didn’t have a hair out of place, and her pecan skin had not one blemish.

With her purse on her arm, she smiled when her eyes landed on me. “Stevie!”

“Hi Kora,” I bowed, and she stopped to look at me.

“Stevie, she’s a judge, not a damn princess,” Greene muttered.

Kora laughed as she came closer and hugged me. “It’s nice to finally meet you, but please don’t bow at me ever again. If anything, I should be bowing at you because you’re higher on the family’s pecking order… the future Mrs. Caselli.”

“Sorry.” I nervously laughed.

“The fact that you raced me, and I got caught up at security is the only reason you won.” A chocolate plus size women rounded the corner next.

She was dressed down in a sweatsuit and had a Chanel bag on her arm. Her black hair was clipped up with a claw clip, and she smiled when she saw me. “You are so damn pretty… your curls… Oh, the bawdy is tea… I’m glad he didn’t come with some stick figure like Kim… I’m Zoya.” She hugged me too.

“Thank you,” I blushed.

“Well, he never invites us over, so we know this had you written all over it.” Kora kissed her sister on the cheek, and they both turned their attention toward me.

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