Page 227 of Invisible Bars
“Deep sea dolphins—oooh!”
I flinched at my own sudden exclamation.
“What I wastryingto say is… we finally did it.”
"Did what?” she asked, a playful smirk dancing across her lips, her eyebrows raised knowingly.
“You know… did it.” My voice dropped to barely above a whisper.
I pressed my thumb hard against my palm, hoping to control the nervous tic I felt crawling up my throat.
Dessign's expression shifted instantly, a mixture of surprise and amusement washing over her face.
“Ugh! Naji! Sis, I’m glad you experienced some soul-swinging dick or whatever, but let’s not forget he’s my brother. Iabsolutely do not need those visuals! My brain is still recovering from a childhood filled with accidentally walking in on stuff.”
We burst into laughter. Doing so eased the tension I had built up inside.
“Besides, I’ve already heard enough from girls who’ve been there… Aaliyah being one of them.” She rolled her eyes theatrically. “You just joined the choir, sis.”
Her wink was playful, injecting a lightness into the air.
I giggled. “I… I wasn’t about to go intodetails! I was just letting you know it happened.”
And just like that, I felt lighter than I had all night; as if my earlier embarrassment had evaporated, leaving only warmth and camaraderie behind—wine stain and all.
Chapter Thirty-Five
IMANIO “GATEZ”
The hallway outside of the ballroom was dim and quiet, padded with plush carpet and soft and expensive lighting. But there was nothing soft about my steps as I approached Aaliyah.
She stood near the double doors, phone in hand, probably refreshing her Instagram story for reactions. Aaliyah must’ve felt my presence because she turned around smiling too easily.
“Well hello there, CEO? I noticed yourwifeleaving. I hope it wasn’t about that little accident?—”
I stepped forward so fast her breath caught.
“You think that shit was cute?” I gritted.
Her smile faded.
“You think spilling wine on a custom silk gown was anaccident? You leaned over a woman you don’t even know—who ain’t never said a word to you—and youjust so happenedto fumble your glass?”
“Itwasan accident!” she snapped, then tried to recover her tone. “I promise. I tripped a little. The carpet?—”
“Don’t insult my intelligence, Aaliyah.”
I didn’t raise my voice—I didn’t have to.
“Look, I’ma say this in theharshestway possible so youfinallyget it.”
I stepped forward just slightly.
“Aaliyah, you were never anything but a few forgettable nights. We didn’t date. We didn’t talk. We didn’t buildshit. You were a distraction—a placeholder. Noise in a season I barely remember and don’t care to revisit.”
Her eyes lost their shine, like the truth had finally hit bone… but I didn’t stop there.
“And now you show up tomyevent, looking for attention like an unpaid intern, and try to humiliatemy wifein a room full of investors? For what—clout? A quote tweet? A few gossip blogs to remember you exist?”
