Page 51 of Play Hard
When he opened his mouth to speak, I held up a hand to stop him.
“I’m not finished,” I said, this time narrowing my gaze at him. “I don’t need your approval of where I live or work, or who I’m romantically involved with. All of those choices belong to me.” I took a breath to steady the erratic beat of my heart. “Now, I’m gonna tell you just like I told Sawyer, if you can’t talk to me like I’m one of the children you honestly care about and like the adult that I am, we don’t have to talk again.”
There was a beat of silence while my father simmered like a volcano about to erupt. That unfortunate result was interrupted by a quick knock, then the opening of my door.
NOAH
This was the second time I was interrupting Serra dealing with a man who didn’t have her best interests at heart. I walked into the lobby of Agbara Agency admiring its cream, black, and white modern aesthetic. From its sleek leather and marble furnishings to the Black art—whether paintings or the bronze sculptors of historic Black sports figures—it looked like money and dreams were made here. I loved that it was Black woman owned and run, that gave an extra air of Boss Bitch vibes that I could appreciate. My former agent’s office hadn’t looked anything like this, and I’d never felt as comfortable in his office as I automatically did here. And that was saying something since I’d sworn off big cities a while ago.
The receptionist had directed me up a short winding staircase to the second level where I was greeted by anotherwoman. There was obvious less enthusiasm to her, “Good afternoon. How may I help you?” than the woman from downstairs.
“I’m here to see Serra Ward.”
The woman whose platinum and black braids were pulled into a bun at the top of her head, arched a brow.
“Serra. Ward,” I repeated since staring back at me had been her only response.
“Right. Yes.” She cleared her throat. “Is this business or personal? She didn’t have any meetings on her schedule this afternoon.”
I slipped my hand into my front pant pocket. Then I nodded. “Yeah, this is a surprise visit.”
“Another one,” she grumbled.
And something about the way she rolled her eyes skyward then began angrily punching the keys on her computer keyboard put me on high alert.
“Who else came to visit her today?”
In the two months since Serra and I had been back together, this was the first time I’d come to her office. While I’d met Freddie over a Zoom meeting Serra had taken while she was at my place, I didn’t know anyone else who were a part of Serra’s life here. So this woman wasn’t quick to respond to me and I didn’t blame her. It was her job to make sure only people who were supposed to be in Serra’s office were allowed back there. She had no idea that just six days ago, I’d spent a weekend inside each one of Serra’s holes. On any other day that recollection would’ve had me getting hard and hating our long-distance relationship a little more, but the woman’s continued silence had me all the way on guard.
“I’m her boyfriend, Noah,” I said. “Which way is her office?”
Her eyes widened this time as she pointed down a short hallway. I almost ran to the door not knowing what to expect but feeling compelled to get there fast, to get to her, to…save her.
Not again.I sent up the silent prayer as I came to her door. Touching my hand to the knob, I took a steadying breath and heard yelling. A man was yelling.
“You’re just like your mother,” was what he said, and I froze.
Was this man her father? I didn’t know how I knew, I just did. He could’ve been someone else who’d known her mother, but something in his tone… No, it wasn’t just that, it was her silence. Serra would never remain silent while someone else spoke to her this way. Only someone she held a deep reverence for could say these things to her and she not shoot back.
Until she did.
The pride that bloomed through me made up for the creepiness of eavesdropping on this private conversation.
“I don’t need your approval of where I live or work, or who I’m romantically involved with.”
That last part…who I’m romantically involved with…sent my heart soaring.
Me, she was talking about me. Us. The relationship we’d just decided to jump all in on and all I could think about was how much time we’d lost. How we could’ve been this happy and together so many years ago if they hadn’t interfered. Irritated now, I knocked on the door. Then said fuck it, and opened it.
She was standing behind her desk, looking as beautiful as always. She’d mentioned her work office being decorated in white and she wasn’t lying. From the plush rug on the floor to the leather love seat covered in pillows that looked like clouds and the glass topped desk, I don’t know how she could breathe in this place let alone work without fearing getting something dirty.
Amidst all this pure and pristine décor was a man dressed in black. Not all black. He’d turned so that he was halfway facingme, and I could see the white shirt and gray tie breaking up the darkness of the suit. But there was nothing that would change the complete look of fury on his face.
“When you knock, it’s customary to wait for someone to answer before coming in,” the man said in a deep baritone voice.
This could go a couple of ways—the good way or the bad way, basically.
I’d come here unannounced because I missed the hell out of my lady. I missed her in my bed, sitting at my bar, cooking in my kitchen, riding me in the middle of the night. I missed her scent, her smile, the way she separated her plain M&Ms by color before eating. Every fuckin’ minute of every day, I’d missed her and I was tired of that shit. So I’d jumped in my truck and took the almost eight-hour drive here. With that thought, I decided to try for the good way.
