Page 169 of Rose
“Mazi and Sin,” he muttered. “I’m supposed to be getting fitted for tonight...”
Then, with no hesitation, he silenced it and tossed the phone aside.
“You’re more important right now, Allure. You were saying?”
Ahzii opened her mouth to speak, but—
CRASH!
A loud bang echoed from the back, followed by Taylor’s voice, panicked and loud. “Ahzii! We need you!”
Ahzii groaned, tension and frustration wringing her face. “Of course,” she muttered under her breath.
“It’s okay,” she sighed, turning back to Savior. “I’ll tell you tonight. After the showcase.”
“You’re sure?” he asked, already rising to his feet with her.
“Yes, baby. I promise.” She closed the food container and started toward the back, but he grabbed her wrist gently, pulling her into him one last time.
“Will I see you later, Allure?”
She nodded, eyes flickering up to his. “Always.”
Her voice was soft. Shaky. But full of something real. Something that couldn’t be shaken by the past.
He kissed her—slow, deep—and she kissed him back harder, desperate to say everything she couldn’t speak aloud yet.
His phone buzzed again, the sound cutting through their moment. They pulled apart.
Savior glanced at the screen. “Sincere,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“I’ll be ready,” she replied.
He paused at the door, eyes falling once more on the bouquet of unfamiliar roses. Something in his expression shifted—suspicion, unease—but he didn’t press her.
“Proud of you, Allure,” he said instead.
She smiled faintly. “Thank you, baby.”
He lingered for one last second before heading out.
And as Ahzii rushed to the back to handle the chaos, her heart still beat against that folded note in her pocket. The words refused to leave her.
???
The black Escalade carrying only her and Savior pulled up quietly behind the first. That one held the noise—Kyre, A’Mazi, Bianca, Aunt Marley, Sincere, Taylor, Sarai, and Chris. This one carried peace. And right now, peace was all she could handle.
Because inside, Ahzii was unraveling.
Not from the pressure of tonight’s showcase, but from the weight of the note still haunting every inch of her soul.
Still, she was stunning. A red bodycon dress hugged her curves and stopped just above her knees, paired with gold heels that shimmered as the city lights kissed the pavement. Her pixie cut was razor-sharp, framing her delicate features. Gold jewelry graced her wrists and neck, including the Van Cleef bracelet Savior had gifted her for her birthday. Her light makeup glowed softly under the car’s interior lighting, elegant, effortless.
Savior sat beside her, crisp in a black designer suit and red tie. His lineup was sharp, his aura calm. A gold and red rose lapel pin bloomed on his chest, matching hers. He looked over at her just as she exhaled toward the window, eyes watching the line of people wrapping around the restaurant entrance.
Even though the sight warmed her heart, the nerves refused to leave.
Savior seemed to sense it. His hand gently rested on top of hers. “Allure... you good?”
