And Then, There Was Fire.

thirty nine.

S A T U R D A Y

Trey threw his car in park after reaching the JW Marriott hotel, barely whispering the lyrics to the song on his radio. Pulling his sun visor down, he slid open the mirror to check his face once more; running his hands down his sideburns before smoothing his finger down his freshly trimmed mustache and beard.

"Got the shooters in the door like the pack in." He continued rapping Future's lyrics to himself, closing the visor as he tugged on his black satin tie to loosen it's grip on his neck.

Pulling his phone out, he noticed a recent text from Aubrey.

"Let me know if Lauren's alright. She still isn't answering me."

Trey sucked his teeth as he didn't hesitate to write him back. The nerve of him, he thought.

"Nigga, worry about your own immaculate." Trey replied to the text before turning his engine off and stepping out of his car.

Trey became annoyed with Aubrey's assumption that they were now civil, maybe friends even, since he gave him an unpleasant visit earlier in the week. Although the visit was more informing than Trey imagined, he still didn't like nor trust Aubrey.

Since that night, Kurisch instructed Trey to remain as low as possible so that Kurisch can determine a course of action. He thought Lauren would appreciate his text that he spoke to Aubrey and wants to see her, however, she ignored that message just as the many others he's been sending to her.

He was now in the middle of his 'few days of leaving her alone' before he was to attempt again. It became routine for him, sadly.

He walked through the parking lot of the grand hotel in the brisk breeze, slipping his phone into his pocket and his keys in the other. After maneuvering his way through the large, elegant lobby and to the ballroom on the fifth floor, his face beamed at the sight of Marlon.

"My man." Marlon cheesed brightly, stepping over to Trey from the table by the entrance holding a short glass of a dark drink.

Trey smirked as his hand met Marlon's into their handshake as his other hand remained in his pocket. "Surprise to see your ass here early."

Marlon kissed his teeth after snapping his fingers from their handshake. "Be late to a place giving me free liq?"

Trey laughed. "Where's Soph at?" He asked as he looked around at the large ballroom, surprised to see the room almost full as if the event didn't just start.

"Where you think?" He asked while turning to the side as Trey followed Marlon's line of sight across the large room, seeing Sophia at one of the mini bars waiting for her drink to be prepared. "Where's Ren at?"

He hated lying, as it made him feel weak. "She's not feeling good. Didn't want to drag her out of bed for this."

"Look look look look at this nigga." Marlon interrupted him, his voice low in a whisper which caused Trey to follow his eyes again. They watched a fellow fireman across the room as he walked on his cloud of arrogance with a woman on his arm. An artificial smile beamed on his ivory, yet tanned face as his light-colored eyes narrowed. His tailored suit formed to his muscular body, gripping around his biceps that the blonde model-like woman held onto.

"You already knew he was gonna show up." Trey stated as he nodded at Sophia who walked up with two glasses in her hand.

"Hey Trey!" He knew that tipsy voice, which meant Sophia was on her way too soon due to the open bar. "I saw you come in so I got your E&J." She boasted as she wore a long, dark blue gown that had one long sleeve.