Page 67 of Heavy Is The Crown

Satisfied, Krys replied, “Good.”

And just like that the game just got deeper.

Chapter 16

The mid-morning sun hung high over Trinity Bay as Krys stepped out of her Porsche Macan, adjusting her sunglasses before locking the doors.

The smell of fresh-cut grass and distant car exhaust filled the air as she walked across the lot of E. Davis Estates, one of her higher-end rental properties. The three-story townhomes were lined with modern brick, black trim, and neatly manicured hedges.

She didn’t slow her pace as she reached the leasing office; not even when she sensed Kenyatta walking up beside her, moving like he had all the time in the world.

“Damn, you really be on the go like this every day?” Kenyatta asked, his tone laced with amusement.

Krys shot him a glance, barely breaking stride. “You expected something different?”

Kenyatta shrugged. “I dunno. Just didn’t think you was the type to pull up on site like this. Thought you’d be in your fancy office, letting other people handle it.”

Krys pulled open the door to the leasing office. “That’s how people lose money.”

As soon as they stepped in, Krys was immediately in her element.

The leasing manager, Monique, looked up from her desk, eyebrows raised. “Didn’t expect to see you today, Boss Lady.”

Krys waved a hand, already moving toward the desk. “Just checking in. I want to go over the late rent accounts. Who do we need to handle this week?”

Monique pulled up a spreadsheet. “We got about six late payments; three already set up extensions, two waiting on response, and one…well…”

Monique sighed. Krys knew what that meant.

“Which unit?”

“Townhome 214. Mr. Parker. Two months behind.”

Krys exhaled sharply, her expression unreadable. “Alright,” she said coolly. “Call him. If he doesn’t answer, I’ll handle it myself.”

Monique gave a knowing nod and scribbled a note.

Kenyatta watched all of this silently. He could see it with more clarity now; Krys wasn’t satisfied with just owning anything; she had to run it, control it. And not in the detached rich-girl way he had assumed.

No.

She was in the trenches, handling tenants, managers, finances; all of it. She was a real boss, and in his eyes, that shit was attractive.

**********

After reviewing updates with Monique, Krys led Kenyatta on a walk-through of the property, pointing out details; landscaping maintenance, unit renovations, plans for future upgrades.

She spoke with ease and confidence, completely in her zone.

Kenyatta walked beside her, hands in his pockets, just taking her in. He wasn’t used to women like this. Women who didn’t just talk about being independent and successful; they actually were.

She moved sharp, direct, powerful; but even through all that he saw something else: a glimpse of softness. It was in the way she gently touched the leaves of a hibiscus bush as she passed it, checking for overgrowth. It was in the way she smiled slightly when a tenant’s little boy ran past, kicking a soccer ball. It was in the way she rolled her eyes playfully when one of her older tenants stopped her for a brief conversation about his new rescue dog.

Kenyatta noticed it all. And he realized something: If she was this passionate about her business, how passionate would she be about a man?

He let the thought sit for a second before speaking. “You ever slow down?”

Krys raised a brow. “What?”

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