Sold To Kehlani

Chapter 1

Aj: "Aaliyah, come on, get up. Mom and Dad need you downstairs for a family meeting."

I dragged myself out of bed, went through my usual morning routine, and headed downstairs. When I got there, my mom and stepdad were deep in conversation with someone. I walked into the living room and saw a drop-dead gorgeous woman talking to them. Clearing my throat, I waited for them to notice me.

Ericka: "Aaliyah, this is Kehlani. Kehlani, meet Aaliyah."

Kehlani: "Hey."

Aaliyah: "Hi."

Daryl: "So, Liyah, you're going to be moving into her house."

I stared at my stepdad like he’d lost his mind.

After some heated arguments with my parents, I made my way upstairs to pack my bags, trying to wrap my head around everything that was happening. Once I had everything ready, I went back down and followed Kehlani to her car. I slid into the passenger seat and gave her a small smile, hoping it would show I was ready, even though I still felt uncertain about all of this.

We drove all the way to the airport, boarded the plane, and sat through a 6-hour-and-13-minute flight. After landing, we grabbed my bags and headed to valet, where Kehlani got her car from some random guy.

The drive to her house was quiet, and when we finally arrived, I sank into the couch, unsure of what to do next. Everything felt so unreal.

Kehlani: "So, I'm going to lay down the rules."

I sat up a little straighter, realizing that whatever came next was serious.

Kehlani: "Rule number one: You have to do everything I tell you, no questions asked.

Rule number two: If you misbehave, your punishment will be... well, either I’ll have to give you pleasure, or you’ll have to do the same for me."

I blinked, trying to process what I just heard, my heart racing. This was definitely not what I expected.

Aaliyah: "Okay..."

I nodded, though my mind was spinning. This was intense, and I wasn't sure what I had just gotten myself into.

I headed upstairs to find my room, still trying to wrap my head around everything. The house was massive, and as I walked down the hallway, I wondered what my new life here would really be like.

4 MINUTES LATER>>>>

Kehlani: "Hey, get up."

I groaned softly, not ready to move, but I knew I had to listen. I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes, wondering what she wanted now.

When I looked up, I saw Kehlani holding a little girl in her arms. I blinked in surprise, not expecting to see a child with her. The girl clung to her, looking at me with curious eyes.

Kehlani handed the little girl to me, and I held her gently as she smiled up at me.

Kehlani: "I'm going to the store. Take care of your daughter."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. My daughter? I thought, completely stunned. This was my first day here, and now I was suddenly responsible for this little girl? Even though she wasn’t my actual daughter, I nodded, still processing everything. I’d take care of her while her mom was gone, but I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into.

As I cradled Adeya in my arms, I could feel her warmth against me, and it hit me just how tiny she was. Her big brown eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her little fingers curled around my shirt as if she was trying to get a better grip.

I gently set her down on the floor, watching as she wobbled a bit before regaining her balance. She giggled, her laughter echoing in the spacious room, and it brought a smile to my face. I knelt down to her level, trying to connect with her, and asked, “Hey there, Adeya! Do you want to play?”

She nodded enthusiastically, pointing toward a pile of colorful toys in the corner of the room. I led her over, and we began sorting through them. There were stuffed animals, building blocks, and a few books. Adeya’s eyes lit up when she spotted a fluffy teddy bear, and she grabbed it, hugging it tightly to her chest.

I decided to read her a story, hoping it would keep her entertained while I figured out this unexpected responsibility. We settled onto the floor, and I opened a brightly illustrated picture book. Adeya listened intently, occasionally pointing at the pictures and asking questions in her adorable toddler babble.

As we read, I found myself getting lost in her innocence and charm. Every little giggle and smile made my heart swell. After the story, we played with the building blocks, stacking them high and laughing when they toppled over.

When Adeya started to get restless, I remembered Kehlani had mentioned snacks earlier. I guided her to the kitchen, where I searched for something simple. I found some fruit, cut it up into bite-sized pieces, and placed it in a bowl. She clapped her hands with delight when I set it down in front of her.

While she munched on the fruit, I kept a watchful eye, wanting to make sure she was safe and happy. I realized that, despite my initial shock at being responsible for her, taking care of Adeya was actually kind of nice. It felt good to see her smile, and I was starting to enjoy the moment.

After her snack, we headed back to the living room, where I pulled out some crayons and paper. I set them in front of her and encouraged her to draw. Adeya scribbled happily, her concentration evident as she focused on creating her masterpiece. I joined her, drawing simple shapes and animals, and she would look over at me with excitement, wanting to show me what she had made.

Time passed quickly, and I began to feel a sense of ease in my new role. Even though Kehlani had thrust this responsibility on me so suddenly, I found myself caring for Adeya more than I had anticipated. In that moment, I realized that maybe this unexpected turn in my life wasn’t so bad after all.

10 MINUTES LATER>>>>

It was midnight, and the house was quiet except for the soft sound of Adeya's breathing as she slept soundly in my bed.i was just about to close my eyes when I heard the front door creak open and shut. Curiosity got the better of me, and I quietly got out of bed, making my way downstairs to see who it was.

As I reached the bottom step, I saw Kehlani stumbling in,clearly having had too much to drink. She bumped into the wall, trying to regain her balance, and I rushed over to help her with the grocery bags and her bag as well.

"Aaliyah," she exclaimed, her voice a little slurred as she stumbled towards me. Then , without warning, she kissed me passionately.

I pushed her away, my heart racing. "What the hell? I'm 18, and you're--"

Kehlani interrupted, leaning against the wall for support. "I'm 29, but age ain't nothing but a number, baby." Her words were heavily slurred, making it hard to take her seriously.

Feeling a mix of confusion and concern, I took a deep breath and decided to help her instead of arguing. I guided her up the stairs, making sure she didn't fall. Once we reached her room , I helped her out of her clothes, carefully avoiding any awkwardness, and slipped her into a comfortable pair of pajamas. I tucked her into bed, making sure she was cozy and warm.

After making sure she was settled, I headed back to my room to do my nighttime routine. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, trying to shake off the weirdness of the night. Once I finished, I climbed into bed beside Adeya, pulling the covers around us.

As I lay there, the events of the evening replayed in my mind. It was all so surreal, and I felt a mix of anxiety and uncertainty about what tomorrow might bring. But for now, I focused on the calmness of the moment, listening to Adeya's soft breaths as I drifted off to sleep.

I know some of y'all is excited for this to be republished and rewritten...I read my old book and I was cringing so bad because I didn't know how to ease in to the relationships of my characters.

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