Page 179 of Tarek

“But Tarek didn’t give you any, and that’s so unfair.” I tap the quarters. “I don’t want you to feel left out. Here is fifty cents. There is a gumball machine in the CVS across the street. Get yourself a necklace.”

“Why, I should slap you,” Melody cries.

“Again, I don’t fight with hoes,” I say meeting her glare. “Especially unskilled ones.”

Turning I head for the exit. Don’t let them see. Don’t let this pain show. But my feet feel like they’re dragging through cement and my vision blur. The panic I’ve been holding in is clawing at my chest. The second I turn the corner, out of their line of sight, the tears come.

I need to get out of here. The smart thing would be to talk to Tarek, to demand an explanation. But I can’t. Not yet. I need to see it for myself, before he charms me over.

I knew it. I knew none of this was 100%. My stomach twists. I stop placing my hand on my back for balance as I hurry toward the front stairs of the building.

Maybe I can call an Uber.

“Penelope? Are you okay?” I freeze. Dax steps beside me with a look of concern on his face. “Are you okay? Where is Tarek?”

I flinch when he calls Tarek’s name. “I am leaving.”

“Okay? How?” He steers me gently to the side near huge mahogany doors.

My fingers tremble. I am spiraling. “I need your car to get home.”

Dax pushes up his glasses. “I have a driver, but let me call Tarek?—”

“No. Forget it, I can get an Uber.” I turn to leave, and I almost stumble.

“Whoa, whoa. Okay, let me get my driver,” Dax says as he takes out his phone and makes a call.

Within minutes, Dax has me warm and comfortable in the back of a limo.

I don’t know why I am upset, but I just need to see if those women were telling me the truth.

* * *

TAREK

“It’s an absolute pleasure. Thank you for coming,” I say shaking an investors hand as they walk away.

Rhet hands me a glass of champagne. “The night was a success.”

“Cheers. It was.” I take a sip and glance toward Penny’s table and I realize its empty.

“Zeeta? Do you know where Pen is?” I ask. I have the first inkling of unease.

With her arms still around Rhet she looks back. “Most likely she went to the bathroom. Which is where I’m heading. Excuse me, gentlemen.”

“You okay?” Rhet asks her softly.

She tiptoes and kisses him. “Be right back.”

We watch her walk away.

“Once she’s back, I think I’ll take her home to rest,” Rhet says.

Before I could respond, Cole strolls up with two women on his arms.

“Gentlemen allow me to introduce Ari and Khadijah,” he says shooting me a sly smile that make my stomach dip. What is he up to?

“Hi Tarek,” Ari waves, she has a cute pink pixie cut. She looks like a life size doll.

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