Her eyes fluttered open as she felt the car come to a rest. She felt quite disoriented, and the sun that was blinding her eyes didn't quite help the matter at hand. With a sigh she looked to the side, where she found Hendrichs' eyes on her.
"What?" she asked, her voice groggy, and her eyes barely open. She could see the hint of a smile that sat on his face. And thus couldn't help but mirror it onto her own, "do I have something on my face?
"It's cute that you're worried about that, but nah I was just about to wake you up and ask if you wanted coffee or an energy drink? Or any snacks for that matter?" he took off his seat belt, slightly tilting his body so he could face her.
"I'm not worried, I just wanted to know," a small smile remained on her face as she playfully rolled her eyes too, "just get me some strawberry flavored water please, or tropical if that's not there, caffeine doesn't really go well with me at all,"
"You're one of those people who gets heart palpations from coffee I'm guessing?" he lifts an eyebrow up, amusement all over his face.
"Stop making fun of me please, it's a real life situation. Caffeine makes me sleepy, it causes me to have heart palpations, and my arms become red, I could die and you're sitting here laughing at me," she smiled, rolling her eyes yet again.
"You're gonna need to stop rolling your eyes at me ma'am, it's rude and I hear you. If I wanna kill ya, I'll just add caffeine," he sent a wink her way, before he opened the door and stepped out of the car heading into the express store.
She stepped out of the car herself, stretching her legs and arms, and also so she could catch some fresh air too. She could see that they were no longer in Chicago, and the time sat at eight a.m. on her wrist watch.
She couldn't believe that she had been asleep for the past five hours, but with the way she had been working, and having to wake up early, she felt like that rest was much needed.
She moved her neck from side to side, feeling relief with each crack that was released before she decided to take the window cleaner that sat besides the pump meter. She wanted to feel useful,so she cleaned up the windshield whilst she waited for him to come back.
She didn't know why, but once the awkwardness between them dissipated, it kind of felt like a normal thing between them. Yeah, she still felt very competitive when it came to anything that involved him, but she couldn't help but realize that outside of business, they seemed to gel quite well.
She took out her phone to find a text from him, a simple question asked really - but one that unsettled her nonetheless.
Hendrichs Hayes: Lays flavor? Please don't disappoint.
She did not know how to respond to this, because the text seemed so casual, and she felt like puking looking at it. Why had their dynamic shifted right down to normal? She didn't know if she was being toxic or not, but she had to admit that she liked to get on his nerves, to frustrate him, to be the reason he is fueled up by anger, and thus allow them to take shots at each other.
However, she also couldn't lie and say some peace was also nice - and maybe besides him having such a patriarchal mindset, maybe he wasn't that much of a bad person after all.
Thai Sweet Chilli, or the Balsamic Vinegar
ones. Thank you in advance 😌
She subconsciously bit her lip, a hint of a smile on her face as she got out of his thread, and decided to respond to Logan who was being silly yet again about the whole sharing a car with Hendrichs for approximately eleven hours.
She decided to send a voice message in return, to his message, she wanted him to hear her loud and clear cause a lot of things got lost in translation when it came to text messages.
"Yall are gonna have enough of
texting me about this ride.
It's a ride, that's it. He's preddy much
my Uber driver, stop going so
deep into it. Thanks, management,"
Satisfied with her response, she placed her phone back into her pocket but took it out realizing that she wanted to take a picture.
She looked to her side and realized there was a parked car there, and a man pumping gas into his car. He looked like he was in his mid-thirties too, his eye shape like that of an Asian man, even though he wore his brown skin to perfection.
The way he wore that suit, with his sleeves neatly folded -in this moment he deserved the title of a black king. Hence in her natural Shane demeanor, she decided to approach him.
"You know, from one fine person to the next, I just had to let you know that you are fine as hell," Shane complimented, a slight smirk dancing on her lips.
He slightly chuckled, his eyes almost fading into thin lines as a smirk of his own came into play, "Oh, I know Shane. You know that I know,"
She playfully rolled her eyes, slowly biting the edge of her bottom lip because she knew that, once upon a time, this used to be his weakness. And visibly so, he inhaled watching her but still shook his head because he probably knew what she was upto.
"Now, why are you still willingly being Nadia's eyes Marcellus?" she moved her head to the side, still carefully watching his every facial expression because she truly wanted to know.
"Taz," he swiftly corrected, not answering her question and the arrogance oozing out of his skin.
"Taz, Marcellus, Raheem. Whatever name you feel like calling yourself, still doesn't answer my question," she twirled her fingers mindlessly in boredom, completely dismissing the so called authority he called himself wanting to have over her.
He looked at her with quite the amused look on his face, as he rested his elbow on top of his midnight blue BMW. A chuckle escaped his lips yet again, "You know," he paused as though he was gathering his thoughts.
"Nads had me under the impression that you were rattled and ready to go," he bit his lip, a smile itching to climb onto his face, "but just like the wind, you continue to surprise me Shanae. She was sure just the sight of me, would be just the motivation,"
"You know me, my mindset changes at a random. Now go report to your little side piece that I might just stick around," she gave off a smile as though she wasn't truly fazed.
"Not my side piece Shane," he chuckled yet again, quite enjoying the exchange between them.
"Oh right," she nodded dramatically, "you were only her side piece. But once again, information I didn't ask for Taz, Raheem, Marcellus,"
"I don't work for her anymore longer, by the way, but I'm sure you already knew that," he gave quite a seductive smile, and a look of amusement now became Shane.
"Right, cause I left you out of that report. I think you owe me your career Marcellus, Taz, Raheem," for a split second, a sad smile came forth on her face, and he tried to reach for her, but she moved just an inch away from her grasp, "just take my picture Taz, that's all I came here to ask for,"
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," he simply said, taking out his phone, and walking towards the black Merc. Shane opened Hendrichs' door, and just as though she hadn't come from having a heavy conversation, she smiled washing away all the thoughts from the time she once stayed in Chicago.
"What's your new number?" he lifted his eyebrow, quite aware that she changed it each year. Yes, he was hoping that this would be a chance for them to become friends at the very least. However, he also just wanted to send her picture.
"Nice try champ, just Airdrop it to me." she spoke, and then waited in silence as he dropped that picture to her phone.
"Thanks handsome, now at your big age, please request a transfer and leave that woman. You deserve a love that loves you back wholesomely. Unfortunately you won't get that from me anymore longer," she touched his cheek affectionately, before stepping right into the driver's seat of Hendrichs' car, and he closed the door for her.
"Goodbye Shane," he simply smirked, sending a wink her way before stepping right into his car, and driving away into the wind.
She closed her eyes, her heart twisting because she knew this was the official farewell. She knew she'd never see him quite again. Once upon a time, she called herself loving him but it wasn't love. It was a deep infatuation, with side of caring for him.
When their situationship first began, she knew it would never develop into a relationship because of how it was founded. On Deceit. On Passion. On Infidelity. Of course it would crumble. It was something that was bound to explode.
She sighed, trying to figure her life out. She'd just told Marcel to let Nadia know that she wasn't scared. However she knew Nadia wouldn't give a damn that she'd finally grown a pair of balls about the situation. Anytime she would hit Chicago again, she knew an arrest warrant could be waiting for her.
She almost jumped out of her skin as she was slightly startled by the door which had been opened. She couldn't help but to laugh at herself as touched her chest, letting out a breath and Hendrichs could only wear amusement yet again on his face.
"And then?" he lifted an eyebrow, questioning where she was seated.
"Oh yeah, I'm not tryna be involved in a car accident. So you can take the passenger, take a little nap, and let me drive the other half of the journey," she cheesed, imitating innocence such that Hendrichs could only laugh.
"Oh yeah, the audacity is high today. I know we just got friendly, but you're not pushing this whip," he twisted his neck, looking at her sideways but she remained in the seat.
"Cmon, let me do something nice since you're spending all this money on me," she leaned into her shoulder, a small smile resting on her face, "you and I both know you haven't slept a wink, so I'll be nice -this one time,"
He sighed. As much as he wanted to tough it out, and drive the rest of the way, he couldn't lie and say he didn't just make this stop for the gas, but for some rest and fresh air to keep him awake. As much as his pride didn't want him to, he found himself asking her a very important question.
"Where's your license?" he lifted his perfectly arched eyebrow yet again, this man took care of his face as though he were a woman. There's not a single blemish on it, neither was there anything but imperfection.
"Is this you saying yes?" she asked excitedly, forgetting that she was a gangsta' for a few seconds, before she wiped her smile away.
"Oh my days, the excitement," he laughed, resting his hand just above her door, "show me your license Shane before I change my mind, this is Lena's car, so she'll have my throat if a single scratch comes about,"
"I think it's cute, the relationship you have with Lena," she cooed, such that he could only roll his eyes because he knew that she was teasing him.
"Shane," he said her name, a warning sounding in his tone. He followed that up with a stern look, slightly losing his patience. Simply put, he was not impressed by her antics.
"Okay Mr. Pain In The Ass," she groaned, taking out the cover of her phone so she could show him what he had asked for, "take the fun out of everything," she mumbled yet he heard her and disregarded it.
He simply handed her the flavored water she'd asked for, and her chosen flavored Lays. A jumbo pack at that, not just the small size.
"Thank you I guess," she gave him a smile, and he playfully rolled his eyes, a hint of a smile coming out too.
"Thank you I guess," he imitated, handing her his things so she could put them on the passengers side. He closed the door, a smile still on his face as he went to the pump to start loading the gas.
Shane bit her lip excitedly as she adjusted the rear view mirror, and the side mirrors to her liking. She could tell that this was on of the latest versions with the way everything was just to fancy looking.
She quickly adjusted her seat toward the front. Of course he had the seat way back because of his long legs, and even though she wasn't of short height, she still needed to feel the paddles close to her. She put her seat belt on, and laid back in the seat, waiting to start the journey.
She couldn't believe that he was letting her drive, but she was complaining at all. It had been a while since she drove an actual car since she liked the freedom of a bike, but she couldn't lie and say she wasn't excited to try this once again.
She looked into the side rear view mirror, and watched him as he stood rested up against the car. He had his eyes closed, and in this moment you could once again see the weight on his shoulders. He was carrying a lot on him, and she couldn't help but feel for him because she knew that feeling quite too well.
She'd learnt to pick up on the energy of those she wanted to read, just from the time she liked to spend to herself. It's a skill she liked to brag about to herself in the mirror, that she'd mastered it all.
It really wasn't that hard, all you had to do was pay attention and listen to people. However, with life people got so self-consumed that they hardly had time to check on the next person.
She let the window down, letting her elbow rest where the door kissed the window. Letting her head out, "Ayo hot stuff, stop looking so sad. You'll lose your edge,"
Immediately a smirk came onto his face, his eyes opening up, "I definitely knew you found me hot,"
"Sir, I was just trying to cheer you up, and looks like I achieved that," she leaned back into the car, a laugh escaping her lips as she closed her eyes.
"It's okay to find me attractive," she heard his voice so close by, that she quickly opened up her eyes and glanced at him.
"I'm not here to give you words of affirmation sir, I was clearly lying,"
"So, if I do this. No reaction?" he asked, leaning close into her space, but paused not getting into her space.
This time, she didn't falter. Instead, she simply smirked leaning closer, her face barely leaving space between them.
"Now what?" their eyes remained connected at such close proximity, her breath a bit heavy as she had placed a challenge on his table. Both their orbs moved from side to side, matching each stride. And for the first time, Hendrichs himself faltered, closing his eyes cause she'd served a good ball.
"Don't play with fire," he simply said, moving slightly aback so as to give himself space to think.
Shane simply chuckled, quite satisfied "It's been quite too many times that you caught me slipping. Nice to know I have some sort of effect on you too,"
His heart felt heavy for some reason, but instead of leaving it be, instead of walking away, he decided to throw a heavy one Shane's way.
"As long as you're finally admitting to yourself that this guy over here, sometimes gets you weak in the knees," he didn't wait around for her response before walking away. Shane quickly closed the window, which stroked his ego quite well.
●●●
The journey continued, both quiet and in their own songs. Hendrichs was the one who was in charge of the music, though he was in and out of sleep. He couldn't fully allow himself to trust Shane when it came to her driving skills. If he was being honest, he just couldn't let go of the control he needed to feel over every situation.
"You know you're gonna need to change right, before we get to Amaru's crib. Out of respect," he mentioned out of the blue as he selected his Chris Brown Playlist, not the current music Chris Brown but the early 2000s Chris Brown.
"I wanna fight you, but I know you're low-key right. I'm just not Shane unless I'm showing some skin," she responded without looking at him. She was really glad that they had left the whole attraction thing behind, and chosen to not speak on it further.
"So I've figured," he sighed, closing his eyes since he didn't feel like wearing his sunglasses.
Again, silence became them as With You started playing, and Shane couldn't help but smile because she too liked Chris' old music so much. It had so much meaning, and truly he would touch your soul with the way he sang.
"Why Lena's car?" Shane asked, for some reason wanting to attempt to make conversation. She might as well get to know the person just a little bit.
"So I can drive Amaru and his main family to the service, and burial site. I don't have a black car, and I'm trying to help reduce the costs for him," he responded, his eyes still closed.
The further confirmed what she had somewhat gathered about him, that besides being an ass, for the people he cared for, he did the most for them.
"Shanae Love Daniels, huh?" he smirked, teasing her because he knew why she was being difficult about showing him her license, "so why Shane?"
"Cause Shane gets me opportunities than Shanae. Let's face it, unless the job requirement is to cater for minorities like women of color, a man is gonna get the job, but let's not get into that. I know how you feel about women and workplaces,"
He chuckled at her remark, "Firstly, I think women should definitely fill up spaces in employment. Just in my industry, and in the fire department. I don't quite support it, but you're right we won't get into it,"
"And secondly?" Shane immediately responded, completely ignoring his statement because she didn't want to be receptive to it.
"I think your parents gave you a beautiful name, if you're trying to make a point, use it with pride," he commented, as she quickly glanced his way, meeting his sincere eyes.
"Who are you and where is Hendrichs Hayes?" Shane scoffed, again, not wanting to be receptive to the compliment.
"I'm just tired of the animosity. Like I said before, I'm turning thirty. At some point it has to get old," he closed his eyes yet again, and Shane analyzed his face. She could tell that he was being serious.
"I cant lie, I hate to like this side of you." she barely whispered, but he heard it just like she had intended for him to.
"And I hate to find you attractive Shanae, but such is life." he admitted, so unbotherer, again, his eyes still closed.
"You-,"
"You heard me," he interrupted her, ignoring her question completely, "why do you think I've kept you around this long?"
"Stop," she immediately said, not liking the feeling that surrounded her heart as he poured out these confessions.
"Why do you think I offered you this ride?" he pressed on, his eyes still closed. She felt like all the oxygen in the car had left, and she was struggling to breath. So she opened the window, letting the air hit her face.
And as though the universe was playing some sick joke on her, one of her favorite songs by Chris Brown started playing -and she just felt like choking because he added some bass to it.
It's you, and me. Moving at the speed
of light into eternity.
tonight, is the night, to join me in the
middle of ecstacy. Feel the melody,
And the rhythm of music around you,
Around you.
I'ma take you there. I'ma take you there.
So don't be scared, I'm right here, baby.
We can go anywhere, go anywhere, but
First it's your chance, take my hand,
Come with me.
He smiled, again his eyes still closed because she had chosen to sing along to the song instead of take him on. And this was just him playing games. If he actually had feelings for her, and wanted to pursue her, oh she'd remain tongue-tied because he knew just how much of a lady's man he was.
He however, pressed on the heart next to the song, not only because it was a gem he liked but because she liked it too.
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finally updated.
Shane and Marcel's conversation?
thoughts on the whole chapter?
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thank you for reading, pls vote and comment, do share too.