K-DOT
Two weeks passed, and things hadn't changed for Armani and K-Dot. The left side of the office was just a memory of her, her daisy's still on the corner of her desk in the turquoise vase, her name plate taunting him along with her scent that was stuck to the walls. He hadn't moved any of her belongings in hope that she'd come back, however she never did. He sat in his office, his playlist emerging from his speaker as he did payroll. He couldn't stop himself from glancing across the room, and in pure desperation he pulled out his phone. He searched for Armani's contact name, which he deliberately never changed.
Baby Girl 💍
I miss you, love.
Watching AHS just isnt the same lol ......
He stared at the message, next deleting it and trying again.
Baby Girl 💍
I fucked up, but you really killing a nigga.
"Nah" he said out loud.
He shook his head frustrated, and began to try one more time. Before he could finish, her name popped up showing that she was calling. He scrunched his brows, but didn't hesitate to answer.
"Hello?"
"Hey, its Mani" her voice sounded sexy as always, and he could hear the smile on her face. He hoped it was because of him.
"I know, Wassup?"
"I'm outside of the job, but the door is locked. I came to get my stuff"
"I'll be out in a second" he responded anxiously.
The two disconnected the call, and he nervously strolled to the door. He couldn't lie, his stomach felt queasy as hell, as he had been waiting for this moment for a short while. He didn't know what he was going to say to her, but he hoped they could squash the beef and move on.
"Hey" Armani waved, her demeanor sweet as always as she walked pass him and into the shop.
"Hey" he said back awkwardly.
She raised her brows, and began to saunter towards the office. The shop was quiet as it hadn't opened yet, it was Sunday, so it opened late and closed early. He followed behind her into the office, next closing the door behind them. Armani immediately started to gather her things in the box she brought with her, and K-Dot couldn't help but stare at her.
"K-Dot...the staring. Please" Armani laughed, trying her best to avoid eye contact. However K-Dot was looking good as hell in his navy blue dickies suit, the white thermal underneath the short sleeves, and his hat to the back in a boyish style. His slim gold link chain was peeking on his neckline from under his shirt, and he wore fresh buttas on his feet. Damn, why did she have to love a nigga in buttas. The sexual glare he had wasn't helping either as he played with the tooth pick in his mouth.
"Sorry, I just miss you" he said honestly, and she could hear the sincerity.
She looked over to him, and while she wanted to say it back she couldn't.
"So...how are you doing with the computers? I know you're an old man when it come to technology" she said putting her head back down.
"It's going good, I even managed to put up an ad for a job. I need another receptionist, unless you know, you needed a job" he shrugged, fishing.
"I have one" she said excitedly, "At a hair salon, as a shampoo girl. Ley got me in"
"Oh that's wassup" K-Dot smiled, "I'm happy for you"
"Thanks" she nodded, "For everything. You were the first person to believe in me"
"I still do believe in you, in us"
"K-Dot"
"Just listen to me" he stopped her, "Tell me what I gotta do, what I gotta say~"
"Can you go back in time and pull out?" She asked, with an eyebrow raised, "Because I'm not interested in being with someone who is raising a family with another woman. And besides, I saw those messages K-Dot. You told her you loved her and wanted to be a family"
"Yo, I did not. Here, I'll show you" K-Dot said handing her his phone.
"Boy, I am not tryna go through your phone" Armani flagged him.
K-Dot kept the phone in her reach, and like always curiosity got the best of her. She took the phone, and noted how he never changed his screen saver of the two of them at the concert. She smiled to herself, next going to Tiana's thread and reading their messages.
"Okay, so you could've deleted it" she shrugged, passing back the phone.
"Really Armani? Alright, what time did I send the message?" He asked, entertaining her.
"I don't know, why would I know that?"
The two battled looks, and K-Dot went to the next best option to try and plead his case. He meant to follow up on Tiana's scheme before, but due to his current heart ache he forgot all about it. He sat down at his computer, next pulling up the security cameras. He typed in the day of their argument, as for some odd reason he couldn't forget the date if he wanted to. Armani rolled her eyes, not sure what he was trying to prove but she didn't have time to play detective with him. She continued to pickup her things, when K-Dot suddenly exclaimed, "Told you, come look at this shit"
Armani tilted her head and K-Dot gestured her over. She walked over to his desk, gazing upon the screen as he played the video the day of their argument. They both watched as Armani stormed out first, then Tiana, next K-Dot. While in camera two K-Dot and Armani were arguing near the bathrooms, Tiana slithered her way back into K-Dot's office. He thanked himself for putting cameras in his office just recently, and was happy to prove his innocence when he witnessed Tiana picking up his phone and sending the message. Armani frowned her face up, and while in her heart she was lowkey happy, she had to say solid.
"Well....still. That doesn't change the fact that you guys are having a baby together" Armani folded her arms, "And clearly, she's going to the extreme to keep you"
"But now you see, I wasn't playing you. I want you" he said, grabbing her arm, "And if you give me another chance, and we do it the right way I'll set her straight"
Armani didn't respond, just stared at him for a long minute. He leaned in to kiss her and to his surprise she didn't reject him, allowing him to press against her lips, but only for a moment as he didn't want to get too greedy.
"Please, just think about it" he told her. Again she didn't speak, just nodded.
He let her go, and watched as she continued to gather her things. Once she was done, the two awkwardly said their goodbyes, and K-Dot went to walk her to the door but she insisted he didn't.
"Why not?" He asked, quick on her heels.
"Just, because" she said shaking her head.
K-Dot raised his eyebrow, now fully interested into what she was trying to hide. She gave him a warning with her eyes and like always he ignored it, opening up the shop door. She reluctantly walked out, and he watched as the all Black BMW pulled up. The window rolled down, and the light skin man waved her over. K-Dot clinched his jaw, but didn't say anything.
"K-Dot ~"
"Its cool" he told her, "Have a good day"
She could tell that he was mad, hell steaming. He turned away, and she knew it was best to just leave before the two began to argue. K-Dot on the other hand just closed himself in the office, deciding maybe he didn't want things back to normal after all.
ARMANI
Armani climbed into the BMW, her heart pounding as she looked back at the shop door. Everything inside of her wanted to hop out and go back into the shop in efforts to confess her love for K-Dot, and apologize for being a stubborn fool. However she knew she couldn't, one because he looked like he hated her after seeing Sage pull up, as if he knew she was full of shit.
How could she bring herself to forgive a man who had hurt her time and time again, but not one who hadn't done anything but lift her up. She knew she was wrong, but loving K-Dot was scary. Scarier than loving Sage because he was predictable, and Armani was so used to his shenanigans that now she had no reaction to them. After their talk in the car, she decided the two could start off as friends. Sage wanted more, but for the sake of getting on her good side he obliged.
"Uh-un boy, I told you. Friends" Armani said stopping Sage's lips from touching hers.
He sucked his teeth, and flagged her, "Man I ain't doing this shit for too much longer. Its been two weeks and you ain't show a nigga no love"
"Because, you need to show me that you care about my company, not just sex" she told him, as if he would ever be able to accomplish that.
"I been with yo ass for more than a year, you think I don't enjoy your company Armani?" He asked.
"On and off for a year, be correct" She added, "And you like a lot of people's company, that's why we are where we are"
"Man, whatever. Where am I taking you again?" He said as he continued to drive.
"To my brother's house, I'll tell you the way"
Since Christmas was only a week away, her and Ley were going to the mall to do last minute shopping. Just as thanksgiving, Nico was throwing this year's Christmas party. Armani knew most likely K-Dot would be there, and deep down was a little excited to see him. She was currently still trying to sort out her feelings, but knew she had to decide soon because if she knew K-Dot, he wouldn't be single for long.
After a short ride, Sage pulled up to Ron's and parked his car out front. Armani grabbed her things, and gave him a kiss on the cheek before hoping out of the car. He watched her stroll inside of the building, next pulling off and going about his day. Armani on the other hand made her way up to the fifth floor to be welcomed by Ley right away as always.
"Heyyy boo" she exclaimed as the two fell into a hug.
"Hey, I missed you. Ron been keeping you hostage, huh" Armani said moving into the apartment.
"Hell yeah, I kept her away from yo ass. Tryna steal my girl" he said coming from the bedroom with his gym bag.
"Don't like a little competition huh?" Armani smirked.
"Aw, don't fight over me guys its more to go around" Ley joked, "Have a good day, babe"
Ron kissed her on her forehead, and then grabbed his house keys.
"Be careful with my car, and Nico probably drop me off back home like six" he told her as he opened the front door.
"Okay, well I'll be here. Text me what you want for dinner"
"Surprise me"
He gave her a wink before going about his day, and Armani couldn't help but smile at the couple's exchange.
"I love ya'll" she fawned, "You got my brother all sweet and shit"
"Girl, he's a hand full. But you ready to go?" She asked, grabbing Ron's keys.
The two were hitting up a few malls to get the rest of their Christmas shopping done, as well as finding outfits for Nico's party. Armani nodded, and the friends were out of the apartment seconds later.
....................
"Okay what about this? It's festive, but not ugly festive" Ley said, showing off the olive green dress from the rack.
Armani checked it out, and then scrunched her lip, "Mhh, nah its definitely ugly festive"
"I'm trying it huh?" Ley chuckled, "I just don't know what to wear, ya'll family is so damn big and everybody got money. It's hard to keep up with ya'll asses"
"Girl, just be yourself. I haven't heard a bad thing about you, so trust me you're in"
"Well then let's go to another store, because I'm not finding anything that screams me in here" she said scanning the store once more.
Armani agreed, since she wasn't exactly finding anything either. She put back the shirt she had in her hand, and the two sauntered back out into the mall.
"So, are you getting anything for K-Dot?" Ley smiled, raising her brow.
"I already did" Armani said bashfully, "Well, I been got it before our argument. It's a keyboard"
"Bitch he play piano? You ain't say that"
"He used to. Doesn't really talk about it" she shrugged, "But I saw an old one in his room one day so I decided to get him a new one. I just don't know when or if I should give it to him"
"You should" Ley smiled as the two continued to walk pass each store, checking out the windows to see if anything caught their eye. Armani began to think about the gift in her head, wondering if it could be a peace offering. While she wasn't exactly sure if being romantically involved was good for them, she at least wanted to be his friend. She missed him, and she realized that every time she called herself hanging out with Sage. It just wasn't the same as when she was with K-Dot, as the two would always sit in his apartment and binge watch netflix, his head rested in her lap as they ate junk food and went back and forth with funny commentary. Now, she didn't even want to watch tv without him. Armani was deep into her thoughts, but quickly jumped out when she spotted someone familiar in the Baby Gap.
"Girl, am I tripping or is that Tiana?" Armani said, eyeing the mixed girl that shopped through the rack. She was noticeably pretty, and her bump had actually started to grow, telling everyone she actually was pregnant. Armani scrunched up her face in jealousy, only to quickly change her expression to pure shock; Tiana was all smiles as an older White man sauntered up to her, next bending down and kissing her as he cradled her belly.
"Bitchhhhh, do you see this?" Ley asked snapping her neck towards Armani, who was already storming on her way into the store.
Not wanting to miss this, Ley ran to catch up behind her.
"You lying bitch!" Armani spat, approaching Tiana.
Her eyes widened, as guilty was plastered on her face.
"Yeah thats right, we caught yo ass red handed!" Ley backed her up.
"Excuse me, do we know you two young women?" The white man asked, fixing his tie nervously.
"I don't know, ask the mother of your child" Armani smirked, grilling Tiana with her eyes.
"I don't have any idea who they are Michael, clearly they have me confused with someone else" she chuckled uneasily.
"Oh no, we know you thotiana" Ley snarled.
"K-Dot knows you too, as that is your baby father correct? You know K-Dot right?" Armani asked rhetorically.
"About yay high, slim, owns a car shop?" Ley added.
"Oh wait, I forgot she calls him Kayan. Does Kayan
know, you're out here with this rich white man. Nigga is old enough to be your dad"
"Now thats enough, I will call mall security if you two do not stop harassing my fiancé" the man said flustered.
"Finance?!" Ley and Armani shrieked at the same time, and Tiana's face turned a flushed red.
The two doubled over in laughter, and in pure embarrassment Tiana began to speed walk out of the store. The man followed after her, and Armani wouldn't believe the story if she wasn't there to see it herself.
"Girl, I cannot believe that shit" Ley continued to laugh as they exited the store.
"Me either, that bitch is truly psycho" Armani shook her head.
"I know K-Dot will be relieved as hell. Girl you need to get your man back and tell your brothers" Ley told her, "If Ron has something to say I'll be the one to shut him up"
Armani's eyes widened, as she was so caught up in the drama she forgot to call K-Dot. She took out her phone and began to dial him, but was disappointed when his phone went to voicemail.
"I guess its dead" she shrugged, "But I'm definitely telling his ass asap"
"As you should"
Armani smiled to herself, and while she was sure K-Dot would be slightly hurt by the news, at least the two finally had a chance to be together. She just hoped it wasn't too late.