Page 161 of Invisible Bars
The wine glass in her hand trembled just enough to be dramatic.
I brought Naji closer and laced my fingers with hers in front of everybody.
“Yes…married.As in committed, as in ’til death do us part, as in she carries my name, my protection, and my future,” I clarified. “You understand contracts, Giselle; you should get this one. And whether you like it or not, she’s not going anywhere. This is just one of those realities you just gon’ have to swallow.”
My father’s reaction?
He cut into his steak like he was legally obligated to ignore nonsense. Not even a pause in his chewing—just nodded at the meat like,“You’re still the only one making sense.”
Paris?
Her eyes were wide like that was the most live-action mess she’d ever seen—and she wanted front-row seats for the sequel.
Naji?
She stood ramrod straight, smile flickering like a busted neon and fingers tapping her thigh like she was entering a cheat code to disappear.
But Giselle?She was spiraling.
She gasped—sharp and offended, like someone had slapped her with a wet Chanel scarf.
Dessign raised her glass. “Whew! Finally, not the scandal of the family. Cheers to that.”
She sipped slow, like that was premium cable drama and she paid extra for the no-ads version.
“Robert, do you not hear your son?!” Giselle questioned my father. “He just said he was married?! And Dessign, how are you so calm?!”
“Because I knew,”Dessign replied with a casual shrug, leaning back. “And you might wanna stop before your contour melts. You’re getting shiny.”
“You knew?!” Giselle shrilled in anger. “What about you, Robert?!”
He casually dabbed his mouth with his napkin, unbothered.
“Guilty. Figured you’d find out eventually—just hoped it wouldn’t be while we still had company.” Then took a sip of water. “Shame too… dinner was just getting good.”
Giselle’s eyes fleeted like she was surrounded by traitors.
“Y’all knew?! And nobody bothered to tell me?!”
She spun toward me, arms flying.
“And you really ran off and married…her?!” Giselle tossed her hand toward Naji like she was an unwanted raffle prize,then continued ranting. “I didn’t make enough place settings for this! I didn’t expect extras?—”
“You invited guests I didn’t expect either,” I countered, eyes cutting toward Paris and her parents.
Giselle’s head snapped in my direction.
“That’s different!” she barked. “They’re family associates! You—” she gasped—“You blindsided me! And what’s worse… you brought her here, knowing how I value image! Yes, she’s beautiful… but it’s clear she has some type of mental issue! Do you have any idea what people will think when they see her sitting at my table? When they hear her name attached to this family? It makes us look weak, undisciplined—like we’ll let just anyone in!”
Giselle’s mouth dropped open like her soul tried to exit, and she froze once she realized she’d just admitted that in front of Paris’s entire family.
But it was too late.
Paris’s mom was already clutching her pearls—like,actualpearls— and blinking like she was trying to wake up from a weird dream. Her husband was leaned back, probably thinking,This is why we eat at home.
Naji’s tic popped out, right on time.
“Dinner lie T-bones! Shitty T-bones crawls!”
