Page 39 of Are You Going to Love Me

“All this seems overdue to me,” Eden shared, ending the recording. “You want me to airdrop this to you?”

Maximus frowned, prompting Eden to hold her hand out. “I don’t know nothing about that.”

“Unlock it. I don’t want to go through your shit or nothing like that.”

Maximus punched in a series of numbers and willingly handed it over. Eden hit his messaging app and dropped the recording into his inbox. “That easy, huh?”

“Technology is a beautiful thing,” she replied, as her alarm sounded off. “I have to get to hair and makeup. See you on set.”

“See you.”

Eden stood, offering him a soft smile. Just like the other night, his presence was magnetic, threatening to keep her glued to his side. Escaping that magnetic aura was necessary to keepher mind from wandering. Her feet trekked down the hall, recalling how she traipsed these halls cloaked in nothing but desperation.

“Eden,” Mama called her name from her office.

Her steps faltered. Eden hadn’t seen her since the day she delivered the money to clear her and Staysha’s debt. She hadn’t looked back either. In the hustle and bustle of the last four years, she’d even forgotten about Mama’s deal.

Walking into her office again brought back that feeling in the pit of her stomach. The feeling that Maximus’ presence eased and nearly erased. Eden’s eyes traced over the changes of the dimly lit office. All traces of Poppi and what she built by grit, blood, sweat, and tears were gone.

“Mama,” Eden rumbled.

Mama sat in her chair, heavier than Eden remembered. There was a look of detest in her eyes. If Eden were sure, she would call it jealousy.

“When you walked in here all those years ago, in that sweat suit with that money in your hand, I was sure your ass was going to be right back here a few months later. Guess it took years.”

“Yeah, because of a show, not necessarily because I’m out on my ass.”

Mama scoffed at the comment. “According to the blogs, all your tricking caught up with you, had you stayed a little while longer I would have taught you to grab them muthafuckas by the balls and demand your shit.”

“I’m sure it’ll work out. One way or another.”

“And when it doesn’t...you know the number. Oh, and before I forget. I found myself in some legal trouble a few years back and had to use that money.”

If Eden were counting on that or believed Mama fully, she would have had a different reaction. The years in the spotlight taught her one thing – indifference. Mama couldn’t get areaction out of her, and that was going to kill her more than knowing that Eden had and was still actively putting her and her sister in a position to win. And it didn’t have anything to do with hitting licks, tricking men out of their money, or running packs.

“I wasn’t expecting anything else from you if we’re being honest. Poppi’s money was never a backup plan for me. There was no backup plan, which is why we’re working as hard as we are. We got a one-way ticket out, and we don’t plan on coming back. This...” Eden circled her finger around the space. “Was never a place I was supposed to get comfortable in. Comfort kills.”

That last statement was Poppi’s words. It was tattooed on the inside of her arm, serving as a reminder that setbacks came when comfort started to set in. Eden was comfortable standing in Natavia’s shadow, now the light was on her, and she had to be Poppi’s wildest dream.

Mama huffed. “Got your ass in Midtown and you think you’re better than us? You not even a Cashmere Lakes bitch.”

“Yet,” Eden corrected with a smirk. “I’m not a Cashmere Lakes bitch,yet. It was good seeing you, Mama. I got to be at hair and makeup, you be good.”

“Aht,” Mama called as Eden pivoted on her feet. “Watch your tone or I’ll be on that ass for the money I should’ve charged you.”

“Excuse me?” Eden spun back around and looked at Mama in pure disgust. “Are we talkin’ extortion of your niece? Listen, you might run Trae Way, but I know who made Trae Way. If anyone around here should be doing the extortion, it’s the one who took care of your mother.”

“Oh, the little timid bitch found a backbone.”

“I didn’t find what I had, I just remembered who I am.”

With that, Eden strolled out of the office and to her trailer.

seventeen

. . .

This wasthe first time he was both honored and plagued by the view of Eden walking away from him. It was equal parts majestic and damning. There was a need – a pull to be in her space and not exit. He didn’t understand it. He’d told himself all this was about his career, finally taking steps that weren’t lateral to his growth. If Eden had presented herself in any other fashion, he would have deemed her a distraction,

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