ESCORTÉ

Uninvited

*That Same Night*
September 23, 2025
Onika Maraj POV

Instead of letting Beyoncé apologize and get the hell out, Lauren had welcomed her in and began asking her a million questions. Beyoncé and I
, however, sat on opposite sides of the room and it was clear there was still animosity and tension occupying my side. I really believe Lauren was trying to assist me in a way. She had expressed to me that she felt I never got the closure I needed because I left California abruptly. So, she said that if I had never spoken to Beyoncé again, I would never heal properly and carry those same trust issues into my next real relationship. She had a point, things had moved quickly. Getting into a blowout argument and leaving California the day after I lost my virginity was unexpected and heartbreaking. Saying that I would never speak to Beyoncé again might have been an overstatement. I would have eventually gotten my closure, just when I was ready. So, Beyoncé showing up to my house and taking away the time I needed from her did nothing but put more of a sour taste in my mouth. After about 30 minutes or so, I had completely stopped listening to the conversation they were having and walked off to my room.

Moments later, there was a knock on my door.

"Yes?" I called out, hoping it was Lo telling me she had gotten Beyoncé to leave.

"Can I talk to you?" A deep, southern voice projected from behind the door. I rolled my eyes and said nothing in my response. but then I heard my doorknob being twisted. I immediately jumped out of my bed and ran over because I knew I hadn't locked it. Before I could get to it though, she had already come in and closed it behind her, infuriating me. Countless boundaries crossed tonight and I couldn't take it anymore.

"Get the hell out of my room? Are you crazy? I'm setting clear boundaries and you're violating everyone of them!" I screamed, but at a level where I could still be respectful of Lauren and I's home.

"It's not like you're giving me a choice." She said simply, she seemed to have come down a bit from her drunken state and was back to her much more reserved personality.

"Oh you had a choice. What did you choose?" I tilted my head.

"I chose my mother and sister." She said to me and then a took a deep breath. It wasn't the response I had expected and it took me back. I didn't say anything because obviously it needed to be expounded on, so I waited for her to finish.

"My mom has been married to my dad for 47 years Onika. She's this close to getting out." She hovered her index finger over her thumb before she continued. "She's been cheated on, controlled, gaslighted, and manipulated for 47 years. She had nothing when she met him and he told her that if she left she would have nothing. It's the same for me and my sister, Solange. He will make sure we all leave with nothing. I'm so close to him signing the company over to me 100% Onika....I'm so close to freeing us. I have to do this one last thing because it's what he wants for me... Once I do it and the company is all mine, I can divorce her Onika..." She explained to me as I stood there in silence and shock.

"I could have left and chosen not to take over for him... I could have waited until Solange was ready to run the company, but it's not for her. She doesn't understand that he will tear her apart." She sighed, her stress levels seeming to increase.

I hadn't realized how bad it was becaushe refused to ever open up to me. I felt for her, I truly did, but it didn't change the fact that she was going to be a married woman. That wasn't fair to me, no matter the circumstances surrounding it.

"I don't know what to say.." I said.

She then sighed and placed her hand over her face. "Onika, I love you. I fell for you the first night. It was an instant connection. I'm going to do whatever it takes to be with you even if it's not right now."