Diamonds in the Rough: VOL. I

five

"What the hell did you do to my client?" Monica snapped at her brother as he held up a bag of food. Andre frowned as he snatched the bag back.

"What the fuck is you talking about? How would I even know one of your fucking clients?"

"You didn't see her." Monica motioned to where Kianna was disappearing into the elevator. Monica watched as Andre and Kianna made eye contact. Kianna was quick to look away. Her brother shoved the bag into her hand and rushed towards the doors. "Andre." Monica yelled.

She realized where she was and quickly pulled herself together following after her brother. Andre got to the elevators just as the doors were closing. He smashed his finger against the down button and they begin to open again. Kianna stared at him as they opened.

"You lied to my sister."

"She didn't tell me anything about you." Monica fussed stepping in front of her brother. "Relax Dre."

"I'm not even on shit. You start snapping at me." He mugged her. Monica rolled her eyes and looked back to Kianna.

"I'm sorry about my brother. He's not as mean as he looks I promise."

Kianna pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I know." She mumbled. Monica folded her arms looking between the two of them.

"Anybody going to fill me in on what that's supposed to mean?"

"Does it affect me coming to see you?" Kianna whispered.

"It could. People might see it as a conflict of interest that you two know each other. I mean if you know each other romantically." Monica looked to her brother tilting her head.

"I kissed him." Kianna spoke making her head whip back in her direction. "He doesn't acknowledge it though. We don't actually know each other. I work at his hotel." Kianna explained. "Sorry. I wouldn't have talked to you if I knew he was your brother. I don't want to cause any problems."

"You're not a problem Kianna." Andre spoke. "It was nothing. A peck on the cheek for me walking her to her car." Monica looked to her brother again. She noticed how Kianna looked at him but decided to let it go. Her brother didn't cover for too many people. But something about Kianna had him protecting her.

"If you don't mind me being his sister, I don't mind being your therapist. And you don't have to worry about me telling him shit about you." Monica looked back to Kianna. "The choice is yours. I do look forward to hearing from you." She smiled before turning to her brother.

"Thank you for bringing me lunch." She punched his shoulder and he scoffed. He wrapped an arm around her to hug her and then stepped onto the elevator with Kianna. She stepped over to the corner and leaned against it. The doors slid shut with only the two of them.

"Why'd you lie to her?" Kianna whispered. Andre had thought he had made up her voice in his head. But when he looked over to her she was staring at him. "Your sister, about the kiss. How come you lied?"

"Because you was already having a rough time that night. I know how my sister gets. Once she start liking her clients she get to acting like they apart of our family or something."

"This was my first time seeing her. She didn't seem like she was going to treat me that way."

"Stick with her and she will. She done invited plenty of her clients over to my mom's for dinner and shit." He shrugged. "You been struggling with whatever got you running away every time you see me. The kiss wasn't nothing."

Kianna chewed on her bottom lip. Andre looked to the lights, the doors opened and Kianna went to step off. "You eat today?" Andre's voice had her stopping. She looked back to him.