LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR (REMASTERED)

DOUBLE TROUBLE

2 Months Later

Damn, this year has flown by with the quickness. It's already me and Cookie's first anniversary and we'll be celebrating Laylah's second birthday in two more months.

Years ago when we were married, things were great in our relationship, that struggle love hits different, but this time around it almost feels surreal. Trying to accept my impending death, analyzing my boys to see who was most worthy of the throne, and a disrupted hostile takeover from a prison cell. 

Hell, I didn't think that I'd have her back in my life this soon, let alone another child together but fate works in mysterious ways and I ain't even gonna complain about the hand I've been dealt.

Inching upright within my seat, I took a gulp from my drink while my thoughts continue to swirl, the solitude of my home office the setting cause I just wrapped a business call.

Scanning the various pictures of our family scattered about, Cookie has been acting a little strange lately, but tonight she's been all smiles for the most part.

Currently in the midst of the party that the boys put together for us at the house, dinner went off without a hitch for once, which I know pleased my love. I've already made plans for a surprise trip to Rio so we can celebrate our anniversary in style over the weekend and we're scheduled to leave tomorrow.

We've only got about twenty people over, so things aren't too hectic, plus the way she's been snuggled underneath my side like a second skin lets me know how happy she truly is. Hard to most, Cookie Lyon is a big softy at heart, especially when she feels secure.

I was sitting in the family room when I got a call from Delphine about some complications she was having with one of the venues out on her tour, so I took a brief leave of absence from the festivities and snuck away to my office to take care of it, other wise I'd still be cuddled beside my one.

Dre and Michelle have scheduled their wedding for March next year, the date's rapidly approaching, and Cookie has been thoroughly involved in helping the planner with the arrangements.  I chuckled cause she's so excited, especially since she couldn't be there for his first wedding.

Jamal and I have managed to move past our differences, he's putting the finishing touches on his new album and it's shaping up to be another smash hit. Dubbed "The Black & White Album," it's produced by me and his mother, and is some of his best work in my opinion.

Hakeem and Tianna recently won an ASA for their song "Starlight," a collaboration off her third album and their duet "All Night" with his new artist Latina artist Laura was also nominated, so to say I'm beyond proud of the both of them is an understatement.

Propping my elbows along my desk, I scooped my ringing phone up then began to bark orders towards the venue promoter on the other end, his ass is thick headed and it's irking my nerves.

I scoffed then shut my eyes for a second and took the rest of my drink to the head. My eyes slowly opened and as I turned my head back towards my office door my heart danced, Cooks prancing my way with a smile along her face, a small box in her hands.

It's beautifully wrapped, no doubt she did it herself because she's always been good at that sort of stuff, I thought to myself as she glided into the room, closing the distance between us quickly. I wrapped up my conversation with the promoter as she approached, stood by my side with her arm extended across the top of my chair and I looked up into her eyes.

"I'm sorry about that my love. Delphine was having some issues out on the road, so I had to take care of it. Ever since her first album on Empire went double platinum people have been trying to book her left and right, was I gone that long." I muttered.