by Charae Lewis
“You must be Asia? I'm Braylon,” he said as he held his hand out.
Asia shook his hand. “Yes. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too. I see you’ve met my wife,” he said wrapping his arm around Kellan.
“Yes, I have.”
Braylon then turned to the man who was standing next to him. “This here is my boy Sheek. He’s the president of the label. Sheek, this is Asia, the photographer.”
Asia could feel her heart skip a beat as Sheek looked into her eyes. He had to be one of the most handsome men she’d ever encountered. He stood at six feet even with dark chocolate skin. His fade was decorated in deep waves and a freshly trimmed goatee. Sheek possessed dark bedroom eyes that almost put Asia under a spell, and his lips were nice and full. His ripped arms were adorned with an array of tattoos.
“Nice to meet you, Asia,” he greeted her with a handshake.
Asia smiled brightly. “It’s nice to meet you as well.”
“So are you ready? I want her to have like a sultry look, but not too sexy aight,” Braylon requested.
“You always trying to run some shit,” Kellan kidded and rolled her eyes.
“When you a boss that’s what you do. Now get to work,” he said and slapped her ass.
Asia chuckled, picked up her camera and went to work. She had taken so many pictures that she’d lost count. Not only was Asia nervous because this particular shoot could catapult her career, but she could feel Sheek’s eyes on her the entire time. If it had been months before, Asia would’ve had no problem pouncing on Sheek. But now that she was married, she had to coach herself to look and not touch. Plus she couldn’t see anyone taking her away from Dinero’s crazy ass.
After hours of nonstop working, Asia was finally wrapping up her equipment. She hoped that Braylon and Sheek would be pleased with the photos that she’d taken. Just as Asia was putting her camera away, Sheek walked over to her.
“You did good. Do you have a card?” he asked.
“Ah, yeah.” Asia dug into her purse and gave him a card.
Sheek looked at the card and nodded his head. “Aight Asia, I’ll be contacting you soon for future sessions,” he assured her and then licked his lips.
Asia could feel her body temperature rise to a dangerous level as she watched his tongue swipe across his lips. Bitch get it together before Dinero whoop your ass, she coached herself.
“Okay, great. I’ll be looking forward to your call.”
Asia grabbed her belongings and shot out of the warehouse. She felt bad that she was even attracted to someone other than her husband. Asia couldn’t deny that Sheek was one fine ass man, but the only man that held the key to heart was Dinero.
****
Cadence sat nervously at the table as she waited for Dinero. They were meeting at a small restaurant near the lakefront. When she got the text from Dinero, she couldn’t contain her excitement. Since it had been weeks since they’d last seen each other at the club, Cadence thought that he may have forgotten about her. She made sure to put on something sexy. She sported a low-cut bodysuit that showcased her full breasts, distressed jeans, and nude open toe heels. She was so nervous that she ordered herself a drink to calm her nerves. Cadence looked back at the door and spotted Dinero walking in.
Butterflies danced in her stomach as the hostess walked him over to the table. He looked better than ever. Dinero donned an Atlanta Braves baseball jersey, blue jeans and black Jordan’s. A black snapback cap sat backward on his head as his dreads hung loosely. Dinero walked over to Cadence as she stood to her feet. She hugged him tightly while becoming intoxicated by his cologne. Cadence reluctantly let go where they both sat in their seats.
Dinero looked over at her, and Cadence swore she felt a chill run throughout her body. It felt as though he was looking into her soul with his bedroom eyes.
“What's good, Cadence? Tell me what I wanna hear,” he said and sat back into his seat.
Cadence took a deep breath and counted to ten. She had rehearsed what she would say to Dinero when he asked about her disappearance. But now that he was sitting in front of her, Cadence had drawn a blank.
“So you wanna know why I disappeared right?”
“That’s why I'm here,” Dinero shot.
Cadence cleared her throat. “Well, my mom got into some trouble, and we had to move away. She made me lose all contact with anyone in Milwaukee, including you. I wanted to call you several times and explain, but my mom forbade me to.”
Dinero gave her an uninterested look and then looked out of the window. Cadence wondered what was going through his head with the news she’d revealed.
“So all of these years your mama scared you into not calling at me? Cadence, you're full of shit! Come with a better story,” he snapped at her.
“I'm not full of shit. I'm telling you the truth,” she argued.
“Cadence, how old are you?”
“I'm twenty- seven. Why?”
“My point exactly! You're grown as a bitch, and you come to me with that lame ass excuse. Does your mama run your life like that? Bitch bye,” Dinero quipped and stood from his seat.
Cadence frantically stood from her chair and grabbed his arm. Dinero glared at her, and she hurried and released him from her grasp.
“Look, I'm sorry I grabbed you, but please hear me out. Don’t go,” she begged.
Dinero cut his eyes at her and then hesitantly sat back in his seat. His jaws clenched as he gave Cadence a death stare.
“Okay, listen. My mom set someone up to be robbed, and he came after her. That’s the reason why we moved all the way to Mississippi. I didn’t want to risk anything happening to my mother, so I did as I was told and forgot about everyone in Milwaukee. The thing is that I never got over you, and I missed you terribly. I know what you're saying and yeah I could’ve called you, but I had to look out for my mama even though she put me in that fucked up position. I regret every day that I didn’t reach out to you. Can you forgive me?” Cadence asked as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
Dinero released a deep breath and then leaned forward on the table. “So you're saying your mama is a shady bitch, huh?”
Cadence smacked her lips not liking that he was disrespecting her mom. “Don’t say it like that.”
“Say it like what?” he questioned then chuckled. “Your mama is a shady bitch. Setting people up to be robbed is shady in my eyes. I hope you didn’t pick up on that behavior.”
“No I didn’t,” she spat and then wiped her eyes. “Can you forgive me, though?”
“Listen, I was pissed when you left me because you just left without a trace. For years, I wondered where the fuck you were but then eventually I got over it. I'm just not buying that bullshit ass story you tried to sell me but fuck it,” he shrugged.
“It’s not a story, Dinero. It’s the truth,” she stressed.
“Yeah, aight,” he replied dismissively.
The waiter came over and took their orders. After that was done, Cadence waited patiently to resume their conversation as Dinero texted on his phone.
“So how has your family been? I see that you and your brothers are still thick as thieves,” she said and then took a sip of her drink.
“Everybody is good.”
“What about you? You told me that you have a girlfriend at the club. Are you guys serious?” Cadence asked hoping that they weren’t.
Dinero smirked and then said, “I don’t have a girlfriend. I actually have a wife.”
Cadence could feel all of the air being sucked out of her lungs. Her heart was literally breaking as she looked into Dinero’s eyes. She was hoping that he told her that it was all a joke, but he didn’t. Cadence could feel tears gather on the brim of her eyes.
Dinero gave her screw face. “What the fuck you about to cry for?” he hissed.
Cadence grabbed the napkin off the table and wiped away the tears that were threatening to spill at any second. “I just wasn’t expecting you to t
ell me that you were married, Dinero.”
“Well, I am. I hope you don’t think I was waiting around on your ass for all of these years,” he scoffed.
“Of course not! Damn, I didn’t expect you to say that you had a wife. How long have you been married?”
Dinero shrugged. “I don’t know shit. Almost like a month.”
“So you just got married? Do you love her?” she asked not really ready for the answer.
“Yeah I love her, Cadence. Why would I marry someone that I didn’t love?”
Cadence felt like dying at that very moment. Her dreams had been crushed, and she didn’t know what to do. Dinero was her everything, the love of her life, and to know that he was officially taken caused an ache to reside in the center of her chest.
Dinero softened his face hating that he’d caused her to cry. “Girl, stop acting soft,” he kidded to lighten the mood.
Cadence managed to crack a smile through her tears. He always had a way of making her laugh. “You're still ignorant,” she replied giggling.
“So you're back in the Mil for good?” he asked in attempt to change the conversation.
Cadence shrugged. “I guess so… Dinero, I still love you,” she revealed.
Dinero swiped his hands over his face. He could tell by the look on her face when he told her that he was married that she still harbored feelings for him. He didn’t know how to respond to her revelation.
“I don’t know what you expect me to say to that. I think we should just leave whatever we shared in the past. Plus, that shit was like ten years ago.”
“It’s easier said than done. I can’t help the way I feel, Dinero. I've loved you since I was seventeen, and the feeling has never left,” she spoke solemnly.
“But I'm married now.”
“Do you honestly love her the way that you loved me?”
Dinero smacked his lips. “I said I love her. Shit, that should be enough for you. Don’t ask me no more of that dumb shit,” he snapped.
“Okay, okay,” she said and held her hands in surrender. “I'm sorry. I was out of line.”
The waiter returned with their food, and they began to eat in silence. Cadence didn’t know what to say, and she didn’t want to set Dinero off again. She didn’t have much an appetite since her emotions were all over the place. Cadence desperately wished that Dinero’s relationship status was different. She was already apprehensive about interfering with his relationship and now that he had confirmed that he was married, she didn’t know if she could fight for him. The truth had smacked Cadence in her face with the fact that he belonged to someone else.
After eating, Dinero paid for their meal, and they both walked outside. Cadence turned to him hoping that this wouldn’t be the last time that they saw each other.
“Will I see you again?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I can’t make you any promises.”
Cadence nodded, understanding his situation. “Well okay. I guess I’ll see you whenever.”
Dinero gave her a hug and then walked to his car. Cadence watched as he pulled off wondering where she would go from here. She was hurt by his news and wished for things to be different. Cadence got inside of her car and cried herself all the way home.
****
Later that night, Asia was sound asleep when she felt Dinero crawling into the bed. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that he was lying on top of her. Without saying a word, Dinero reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. He opened it and pulled out a ring. Asia couldn’t take her eyes away from the five-carat diamond ring that stared her in the face. Dinero handed it to her, and she looked at it and then smiled.
“Look on the inside of the band,” he instructed her.
Asia looked and saw that he had My Soo Yung engraved on the band.
“Aww babe, you're so sweet. I love it,” she cooed and then kissed his lips.
Dinero rolled over and got comfortable on his side of the bed. Asia slipped the ring on her finger falling in love again and again with the beautiful piece of jewelry.
“Wait a minute. Where is yours?” she asked.
With his eyes closed, Dinero lifted his hand and showed her the matching band that rested on his finger.
“You better have that shit on,” she quipped.
“Shut up before I take this shit off.”
Asia rolled her eyes. “You ain't that crazy. You didn’t even ask how my shoot went.”
“Because you made me mad,” Dinero said and then looked at her. “How did it go?”
“It went really well,” she beamed. “The president of the label even took my card for possible future bookings.”
“Straight? So you really like taking pictures of people?” he asked.
“Yes, I love it. I may take some pictures for you if you're nice,” she teased.
“Some naked ones?” he asked excitedly.
“Maybe. We’ll see how your difficult ass acts.”
Dinero smacked his lips. “You do know that your ass ain't a joy to be around all the time. Cry baby ass.”
“Whatever. You say I cry too much because I don’t let your ass get over on me. You should be glad you got a woman who you can’t run over,” she argued.
“And you should be glad that I don’t slap the shit out of you.”
“Dinero, your threats do not scare me,” she said and laid her head on his chest. “Tell me a bedtime story,” she requested and laughed.
“Aight, once upon a time, there was this girl named Asia. She was irritating as fuck, and she almost made her husband whoop her ass…”
Asia popped her lips and then hit Dinero on the chest.
“What,” he laughed. “I was just getting to the good part.”
“I guess I set myself up for that ignorant shit you were about to say.”
Asia laid back down on his chest and listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Even though Dinero was a pain in the ass, Asia felt safe with him. No one understood her love for him, and they didn’t have to. Besides his reckless mouth, Dinero was good to her. He did sweet things that no one knew about, and Asia preferred to keep it that way.
Chapter Seven
Dinero sat in the lobby of his car wash with Keith and his two workers, Meesha and Terri. They were talking shit to each other like always. Meesha and Terri were young college students who Dinero had given jobs when they were just in high school. Whenever Dinero or his brothers had a problem with any female, they would call Meesha and Terri to get the job done.
“So Dinero, have you thought about that raise?” Meesha asked with a sneaky grin on her face.
“Yeah I thought about it,” he replied.
“Okay and?” Terri asked excitedly.
“And y’all can raise y’all asses right on out of here. Y’all don’t do shit no way,” he fussed.
Meesha smacked her lips. “You ain't shit,” she joked.
Keith laughed. “Dinero, you gotta be the worst person to work for.”
“He is,” Terri added.
“Man, please. I'm the best boss ever,” he gloated.
Dinero could feel his phone vibrate in his pocket. He took it out and saw that his father was calling so he answered.
“What's up, Pops?”
“So you get married and try to keep it from your old man, huh?” Dom asked with laughter in his voice.
Dinero chuckled. “It ain't even like that, Pops. I know Kiyan big mouth ass told you.”
“Yeah, he did. What kind of shit was you drinking in Vegas? Please let me know so I won’t go near it.”
“I was drinking a lot and plus I popped a pill. I'm never doing that shit again,” Dinero declared.
Dom chuckled. “See I told you about that new shit. All you need to do is stick to weed.”
“I am, but I think I’ll try out this marriage shit to see how it goes. Hopefully, I can stick with it.”
“Son, marriage ain't no joke. That shit is a never ending job. Good luck.”
Dinero
sighed. “Damn Pops, you scaring me.”
“I ain't trying to scare you. I'm just preparing you. Shit, I was married for twenty-five years, and you see how that ended.”
“Yeah, I know, but I love her so I’ma try to stick it out.”
“Damn, my sons are turning into family men. Bring her by soon so I can talk with her. I only met her once, and that was when Big was shot.”
“Aight, I’ll do that.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later,” Dom said and hung up.
As soon as Dinero hung up from his call, Meesha said, “I know you didn’t say you got married?”
“Hell yeah and I still ain't met his wife,” Keith instigated.
“Is it that pretty girl that came up here that one day?” Terri asked.
“Yeah, it’s her,” Dinero responded.
Meesha shook her head. “She don’t even understand what she got herself into,” she joked.
“Meesha, keep on talking slick. I’m gonna suspend your nappy neck ass,” Dinero warned.
Meesha twisted her lips. “I ain't going nowhere.”
In the middle of their spat, the door swung open. Asia walked in looking like a million bucks wearing a yellow pea coat, denim shirt with distressed jeans. Her brown, high heel boots completed her chic look. Asia’s hair was styled in wand curls that framed her face perfectly. Dinero smiled as she walked up to the desk.
“I don’t have to pay for car washes anymore, do I?” she asked and giggled.
Dinero smiled at her goofy demeanor. “Hell yeah, you do. Pull out that credit card.”
“Girl, please tell me why you married him? Like for real?” Meesha asked Asia causing them to laugh.
“I don’t even know. I wish I could tell you,” Asia said with a giggle.
“Come over here, Asia,” Dinero requested.
Asia walked over, and Dinero threw his arm over her shoulder.
“I want you to meet my nigga, Keith. Keith, this is Asia aka Soo Yung,” he joked.