Page 84 of 10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace

“You paint?” They all nearly screamed when I revealed that I painted.

I looked at them strange. “Yeah… Maverick set up a studio for me.”

Kora was now really interested. “He allows you to paint in his house, Stevie?”

“I’m in the pool house… that’s my studio.”

“And he allows you to use actual paint?” Landon had to make sure what I was saying was what he was actually hearing.

“Yes, why are you both acting like this is something amazing?”

“’Cause that man doesn’t like anything that is a mess and seeing that he set up a studio for you speaks volumes. I have to admit, that is really cute. I want a man that’s gonna set me a studio up.”

“Nah, you would rather one who gonna set a daycare up for you,” Landon snickered, as he leaned back on the couch.

Corleon came outside with a drink and sat down beside me. “Feels weird having all of you in the same place… how’s work, Kora?”

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Tiring. I will say, you are spinning the hell out of this Amante case, Zoya. I have to keep hiding my smile because I am so damn proud.”

“This case has been something else… I haven’t slept good for months.” She sighed, as she looked at her phone.

“Homie?” Core asked.

“None of your business, Corleon.”

He nodded his head and finished his drink. “Yeah, it’s that nigga.”

Landon looked over his sister’s shoulder. “I think you doing that shit to piss Menace off… not knowing you gonna take that man away from his kids.”

“My business is my own. I don’t get involved in either of your business, so mind your fucking business,” she snapped.

We all sat out enjoying drinks and the little tapas that Lupita prepared for us. She was having a time serving more than just me and Menace.

“Can we see the studio? I love art… who is your favorite artist?”

I jumped at the chance to show off my studio. In this short time, it had become my pride and joy. “Faith Ringgold.”

Kora gasped. “I love her pieces… listen, I have an ex that owns a gallery. When this trial is over and I have more time, we should do dinner and stop by there.”

I got excited at the thought of going out to dinner and spending the evening looking at art. “Seriously?”

“You’re going to be our sister-in-law… I’m not into the arts, but when you want to shop, we can go and max that card of my brother’s out.”

“Shit don’t max out… no limit, hater,” I turned and saw Maverick coming from inside the house.

He was wearing an all-black suit with the neck of his collar loosened. On the lapel of his suit, he had a gold CH pin clippedon it, and he wore a pair of Tom Ford dress shoes. How was it possible for him to look this good, even with a scowl on his face.

Somebody had pissed him off.

Even as he walked over here, I could smell his cologne. He always smelled like Oud Wood by Tom Ford. I noticed he never wore any other scent but that one, and he had a stockpile of it inside his closet.

“Did your ears pop?” I asked.

He bent down and kissed me on the lips, removing that stubborn curl from out my face. His siblings gasped hard. “Why the fuck y’all in my business anyway?”

I blushed as I kissed him back. “Do you wanna shower and stuff before dinner?” He nodded and looked at Zoya, Landon, and Kora before going back into the house. “Well, who wants to see my studio?”

“He came out here to greet only you… kissed you,” Zoya pretended to faint on the couch, while Landon fanned her.

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