King of Queens (a Nas Story)

FORTY SIX

Nasir | September 1996

My new chain that I had just purchased from New York City's Diamond District was heavy as fuck. A huge medallion that was gold and attached to a golden Cuban Link. The QB carved in bold font was a statement. It was to let the world know where the fuck it was going down at. Where it all started.

I put the Queensboro Bridge over the lettering to make it more official. Leaning over the counter, I stared at Gia who was wearing a custom necklace that she had commissioned herself. A small Mercedes logo that was blacked out and chipped in VVS diamonds. An ode to her pops.

Gia's gaze was fixed on the diamond rings displayed in the counter I was leaning over. AZ and Stacy were shopping for themselves as they walked around the establishment. I inched closer to my girl as I watched her look at the different cuts and grades that shone in front of her.

"See anything you like?" The store clerk asked Gia. Gia pointed at the Emerald cut diamond with a smile on her face. "May I see this one, please?" Gia said so sweetly and professionally. I smiled at my baby as the clerk unlocked the display case to show her the diamond.

"This is a GIA Certified Emerald cut VVS diamond. The carat size you're looking at is about five carats." The female clerk said as she placed the diamond in front of Gia.

"Baby, this is it!" Gia said with the brightest smile I had ever seen on her in a while.

"That's the one you want?" I asked her as I glued my gaze to the diamond the clerk was presenting to her. Gia shook her head excitedly without saying much of a word. I laughed at shorty.

"Can my wife try this one on?" I asked the clerk. Gia turned her head quickly at the word 'wife'. I locked eyes with her and licked my lips. "Are you for real?" Gia asked me in shock as the clerk went to the back of the store to get the ring for my baby.

I could hear Stacy and AZ laughing at something behind us as they held champagne flutes in their hands. The clerk came out with the ring in a blue velvet box and opened it slowly. The diamond refracted every ray of light from the lights above our heads.

Gia stuck her hand out to try the ring on. It fit her finger perfectly. She separated her fingers and moved her wrist in a circular motion. I looked at how beautiful she looked right now. Her extensions were straight and touching her lower back. Her bangs covered her temples and forehead.

She was sporting a Fendi bucket hat over her new hairstyle. A white crop top that was short sleeve and exposed her navel ring. Brown baggy sweats matched her hat and clung to her hips. Shorty had style, always. It was even more elevated the moment she became a model. Sometimes, she'll style me before I leave the crib.

I was stuck, just staring at my girl. She was more beautiful right now with that ring on her hand. Not saying she wasn't before, but shorty was glowing brighter than ever the longer I got lost in her presence.

"Happy wife, happy life they say." The store clerk smiled at me before fixing her gaze back to Gia.

"What you think, baby?" Gia turned her pretty face towards me as she asked me my thoughts on the diamond ring.

"Happy wife, happy life." I said back to the clerk as I reached in the pocket of my denim to hand her my credit card.

Gia took the ring off and placed it in the blue velvet box as the second clerk packed it away for us. The main clerk took my card and ran it with a smile before handing it back to me.

"You're one lucky woman, Miss Gia." The clerk said with a smile as she handed me the copy of receipts to sign. I stopped the second clerk from packing the ring away. "Can I see the ring again?" I asked the clerk after signing off on the purchase.