Page 31 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming
“If you’re here to threaten Lyric?—”
“Relax, I’m here to let you both know that this little situation”—he gestures between the two of them—“can be put to a stop as easy as your angel investing, if you make the wrong decision. Ms. Fuqua can find herself out of work just as much as you. You would hate to be the cause of that, wouldn’t you?”
“Do not threaten her.” Ranson seethes. His words are calm, but they’re laced with venom.
“So, this is actually real? Even better.” Morris smirks. “Either tell Shandola and Lee to look for money elsewhere or your girlfriend will find herself starting an Only Fans.” Morrislooks at Lyric. “She pretty enough, I’m sure she’ll get lots of subscribers.”
A second passes before Ranson has his hand around Morris’s throat. He slams him up against a wall. Hard. So hard the door opens, and two big niggas come into the office.
“It’s okay,” Lyric tells them. “Roc, Pete, this is Ranson. Ranson, this is Roc and Pete. They work for Big Head.”
Ranson looks at them. “Tell Big Head I got this.”
The two men nod and exit.
Ranson turns back to Morris, who looks terrified.
Fucking, shit-talking weasel.
“Apologize to Ms. Fuqua,” Ranson orders.
“Let go of me,” Morris croaks.
“Apologize,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Sorry.”
“To her, motherfucker,” Ranson shouts.
Morris looks at Lyric and says, “Sorry, Ms. Fuqua.”
Ranson lets go of him and says, “Tell my father that going after Lyric was too far. I will be giving Lee his money. He can do with that what he wishes.”
Morris gets up and straightens himself out before leaving in a huff.
“I’m sorry, Lyric?—”
Before Ranson knows it, her lips are on his. He pulls her closer and moves his mouth to her ear. “If you’re not careful, I will fuck you in this office.”
She giggles and says, “I was going to invite you anyway, but you definitely earned yourself an invite to my Uncle Doc’s house this weekend.”
“Word? What’s happening at Uncle Doc’s?”
“The Fuqua family fish fry.”
Ranson’s eyes light up. “I get to meet your family and have some good home cooking? I’m down.”
“Are you scared about what your dad will do?”
“A little, but you shouldn’t be. You let me worry about that.”
7
LYRIC
Just like their visit to the food festival, Lyric drives Ranson’s car. And just like then, she knows where she’s going and wants him to relax.
He told her not to worry about his dad, and that he would take care of everything. Even though she trusts Ranson already, she doesn’t trust his dad. She wants to make sure all their ducks are in a row. Things have been quiet, but just like with children, things are never good when the rich and entitled go silent. It usually means there’s a storm brewing. Lyric has been plotting and planning herself. She’s looking forward to unveiling her plan, but this weekend is a break from all the Hamilton family drama. It’s time for some from her family. Except Lyric’s family drama is more in the vein of roasting and shit-talking.
