The Backup

Chapter 19

Resolution

It was time for another check up and ironically, Dr. Jordan was sick, so Mariah had to do the check up for Rihanna's squad. Of course her and Rihanna did not get along at all, therefore they didn't even speak or make eye contact.

"How was the dinner?" Mariah asked the younger ones.

"Our mentor looked so hot, I see why Beyoncé chose her over you." Willow remarked earning a slap on the back of her head by China.

Mariah decided to ignore the statement that had escaped the young girl's mouth. Rihanna of course had a little teasing smirk after the comment made by China. As Mariah continues to check Normani, she noticed that she had a little mark on her neck.

"What's this?" Mariah examined, catching everyone's attention.

"What is what?" Rihanna observed first.

"Is that a-" Gabriella gasped, seeing what everyone else is seeing.

"No way!" Willow clamped her hand over her mouth with a laugh.

"Don't tell me that's from Ella." Rihanna shakes her head in disappointment.

"Or Dinah." Gabriella continued.

"Or worse, Rameer." China pulled a disgusted look and Normani huffs.

"No, no and no. It's my beauty mark and despite it's appearance, I didn't feel like wearing the full covering uniform today." Normani explained and it was convincing enough for them to ignore it.

Once Mariah had finish checking out the children, it finally gave Mariah an excuse to talk to Rihanna.

"Beyoncé seems distant." Mariah mentions and Rihanna rose an eyebrow.

"What does that have to do with me?" She swallowed the venom threatening to spill through her lips at the older woman.

"You see, I think you're responsible." Mariah tells her and Rihanna inhaled deeply.

"Or maybe she just doesn't like you." She stated and Mariah laughs.

"She likes me enough to have me around." Mariah shrugs and Rihanna just gives her a fake smile.

"Right..." She trailed off.

"I mean maybe she is getting tired of you." Mariah feemed and Rihanna reframed herself from speaking, especially after what happened just a few hours before breakfast.

"Mhm." Rihanna hummed as a reply, Normani snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Chocolate?" She looked up at the taller woman.

"I don't have any." Rihanna sighed and Normani gave her a pout. "Don't look at me like that." Rihanna tried to look away but Normani pouted even more.

"You promised." She now turned on the puppy eyes and Rihanna gave in.

"Fine, let's go get some, I need to get away from Mariah anyways." Rihanna ushered them off and Normani mood immediately lighten up simultaneously, they motioned their way out of the gym and to the nearest vending machine, there they hear two people arguing.

Normani just wanted her chocolate so she ignored them but Rihanna immediately recognized who it was. Before she could even speak, she sees Chris shoving his way towards her. Usually she'll try to run but she froze, seeing the man who turned her life to absolute shit making his way towards her with no intent to halt and with pent up regression. Before he does reach her, he resolved onto the floor with his arm behind his back and Normani being the one to force him in that position.

"Ge-" Before Chris can speak, Normani presses his arm more into her.

"I'm speaking." Normani hushed him. "Good boy, who are you and why were you about to touch my mentor?" Normani wondered.

"Mentor? H-" Chris was about to laugh but groaned when he felt his head now being pushed into the ground.

"Answer my questions." Normani tells him innocently.

"Normani." Beyoncé appeared and Rihanna gaze immediately fell onto the bruise on Beyoncé lip.

"Oh my God Beyoncé." Rihanna checks the bruise.

"I'm fine." Beyoncé grabbed Rihanna's hand and turned back to Normani.

"Get off of me w-" Chris managed to get out but Normani yanked hard on his ear like a child.

"Don't test me sir, I can get someone much stronger than me to break this arm clean. Now be a good boy and answer my question...unless you're Chris. I heard you've done some bad things, especially to my little brother and my mentor."

"Normani let him go." Beyoncé stipulated and Normani turned to gaze at the head of the organization.

"Why? He's trespassing on private property shouldn't we call the police?" Normani wondered and Beyoncé sighed.

"Yes but he also is a father and...use to work here." She reveals and Normani eyes widened.

She slowly let go and he gets up with a snare, but before he spoke, Normani immediately cuts him off.

"I know that you're not use to women disowning you, but I'm never scared of a man so bring it on little boy." Normani bit into her chocolate and Rihanna shakes her head.

"Why are you here Chris?" Beyoncé questioned.

"To see my son, I haven't seen him and I am still required to care for him." Chris crossed his arms.

"I offered you a way to defeat that requirement." Rihanna tells him and his eyes land on her.

"It may not seem like it, but I love that boy." Chris stepped forward which caused Rihanna to step slightly behind Beyoncé.

"Then why? Why do what you do?" Beyoncé asks him and he went silent.

"Maybe he didn't have a good parental figure." Normani spoke up and they all look at her. "I mean, maybe that's why me and Rocky are not so unhappy with life even though we have or had a shitty parent or parents. In simple words, you need help sir." She finishes her chocolate happily.

Everyone was quiet, she truly did not care about the man standing in front of her despite him being twice her size. But as her father always told her while he loaded a weapon, you can't be afraid of someone you don't know, trust your survival instincts. 'Who is this girl?' Chris thought. He saw that same look in Rihanna's eyes when she birthed Rocky as of right now when she stares at Normani, this girl must've been real special and he never met anyone like her when he worked in the facility.