𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝐓𝐖𝐎

𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀
𝐓𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘
𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇
𝐋𝐘𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄, 𝐁𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐇𝐐

"And that's a plan. I'll be happy to show you the house this week. Let's say Friday afternoon around 3:30?" I say over the phone, and when my client confirmed, I marked it on my calendar.

"Lovely, I'll see you then, Mrs. Wood. Have a good day." I say, putting the phone down. Ever since my party, the phones have been ringing off the hook, and a lot of them were investors.

I was used to my phone being busy since I opened up different offices around the country, mostly in big cities. However, this was insanity. Since I came in this morning, it's been call after call, and while I was grateful, I haven't even taken a break for my lunch.

"Good morning, beautiful!" Vivienne slides open the door to my office, holding a cup of matcha and a cup of coffee. She was wearing a cream colored suit with a white undershirt, and her hair was pin straight with not a hair out of place.

Vivienne was my personal assistant, but she was also a close friend. She travels with me, helps me plan meetings, and brings a chipper mood wherever she goes.

"Hi, lovely. How are you?" I ask, taking the coffee she handed me. She sat down and opened up her Coach bag, pulling out a magazine.

"I'm so glad you asked. This morning, I got two very interesting phone calls. One was from an investor in Nashville, which, by the way, has an amazing property sale price. Houses down there sell like crazy, and he wants you to come down and talk about opening up an office in Nashville." She said, placing the small stack of papers and the magazine on my desk.

I was in shock. I knew that I wanted to expand, but for someone to want to invest in me opening another office? That was an absolute dream!

"Wait, what's the other news? You said you got two phone calls." I say, clicking open my email on my iMac.

Flipping her hair over her shoulder, Vivi gave me a smug smile. "Oh, nothing too important. Just got you an interview for Fortune." She shrugged, and I felt my jaw drop to fucking hell.

"Like, the Fortune? Fortune 500 fortune?" I ask, and she nods excitedly.

"Yeah, they said they want to write a section on up and coming businesswomen for their September magazine, and they invited you! Isn't that great? A pay raise will be good compensation." She shimmies her shoulders, and I feel like I could jump across the desk and hug her.

"I'll make sure I'll include it in your bonus. Thank you so much." I fan my eyes to keep from crying, and she clicks out cups together in a toast.

And just when I think nothing could dampen my mood, in walked my boyfriend. Zyair. Vivi must've felt my shift in attitude, cause she immediately turned and looked behind her.

"Ahem, like I was saying. They want you to fly out to do the interview in late July, so let me know what date to give them so I can adjust your schedule. Oh, and as for Nashville, he says he wants you to come as soon as you're available. You have a free week at the end of the month, do you wanna go then? Maybe take a trip?" She asks, subtly rolling her eyes as she heard Zy close the office door.

My eyes dart between them, mostly because Zy had this dark look on his face. Vivi and Zy were once cool, but when Zy grew his sudden attitude problem about Vivi going on my work trips with me and not him, they stopped getting along. That, and Vivi thinks that Zy is a horrible man.

"Yeah, that works. We can go from Nashville and make a pit stop in Texas on our way back. Leave a day or two early." I say, fidgeting with my hands under the desk.

"Amina. I need to talk to you." Zy chimed in, and Vivi gave me a look before she stood up.

"Sure. Thanks Vivi, I'll talk to you in a moment." I nod in her direction, and she lets out a huff but leaves without objection.

When she shut the door, I pick up my iPad. Zy has been my boyfriend for four years, and I liked to think we were in love. However, maybe a year ago, shit started going so south with him, I assumed he was migrating.

"Can you tell me why you didn't answer any of my phone calls?" He asked, standing over my desk.

"I've been here, Zy. I've been busy with work all day, I still haven't checked my cell phone or gone to lunch." I explain, but he swipes the stack of papers off my desk, and I watch them float to the floor.

"Man, shut all the shit up, Amina. What nigga you have in here?" He demanded, and I push my chair back, trying to get away from his reach.

"I didn't have nobody in here, Zy. What the fuck is your problem?" I ask, and he laughs.

"You think I'm stupid? You don't answer your phone all day but when I get here you gossiping with that bitch and talking about a trip? You going to see a nigga?"

He walked around my desk and I stood up, but he grabbed my wrist and pushed me back down onto the chair.

"Zy, stop, don't do this here." I plead, but he grabs my face and squeezes, digging the tips of his fingers into my skin.

"Shut the fuck up, Amina. Bring your ass straight home, I got something for you." He warns me, pushing my head back and storming out of my office.

I gently rub my face, feeling the pain throb from where he grabbed me. I give myself a moment to breathe before I pick up the papers and put them away neatly, returning my office to normal like he was never here.

I didn't wanna think about what was gonna happen when I got home. I really didn't want to know, I just hoped he would forget about it by the time I get there.

I took my lunch twenty minutes after he left and sat in my truck. I hid in the trunk and laid under the spare blanket I keep. I used my hour to cry, scream, and do whatever before I fixed my makeup and went back to work like nothing happened.