The Price of Passion

Wins & Losses

Giselle Pov: Ivy Park

"Have you seen Nicki?" Kelly asked while glancing into my office.

"Why?" I questioned, as I closed out my emails and shut my laptop, caught off guard by the nickname.

"We're heading out for lunch."

Although she was so opposed to dining out with me, she had no problem going with my cousin. "She should be taking some papers down to the fourth floor for me." I uttered with a clenched jaw.

Throughout the week, Onika managed to dodge me as much as possible, which was impressive given her role as my assistant. I could have been more thoughtful regarding her situation and emotions; it was wrong to take her with me I know. The pictures being plastered everywhere didn't help; I can only imagine how uncomfortable they made her feel.

"We're meeting her friend. I wouldn't dare try and talk to your woman, cuz. I was playing the other day." Kelly assured me.

"She doesn't belong to me." Ms. Maraj couldn't even stand being within ten feet of me. "Where are you planning to go?"

"I don't know, somewhere they suggested. You should come." She encouraged, raising her eyebrows playfully. "Consider it a work thing."

"Neither you nor her friend works here." I reminded. "Thanks, but I'd rather not impose. Could you ask Ms. Maraj to meet with me before you all leave?"

"Do you not have her phone number?"

"Yes," I stated plainly.

"I'll make sure she knows." My cousin shot me a questionable look before leaving.

For the third time this week, I watched my mother's contact appear on my phone screen. Realizing she would show up here if I ignored her again, I reached for my phone. "If it isn't my amazing mother." I began trying to butter her up immediately.

"Beyonce Giselle Knowles, if you ignore my calls one more time, I know something!" My mother shouted, forcing me to put the phone on speaker.

"I'm sorry, Ma, I've had a lot on my plate." I lied but only a little. In my defense, I was always working.

"Hush up. You can always find time for your mother and the people that you love, no matter how busy you are."

"You're right, I apologize." There was no use in arguing with Tina you would never win. I'm confident that's where I developed my excellent negotiation skills. "How have you been?"

"Worried, my child hasn't been answering her phone for three days. How are you, my dear?" Rolling my eyes, I heard a knock on the door.

"I'm good ma." I made sure she couldn't detect any trace of anything other than my well-being. "Just a second."

I called out for the person on the other side of the door to come in, when I noticed it was Onika, I motioned for her to hold on for a second. "Let's hold off on small talk until dinner this weekend. Why must I find out about your personal life through the Internet? You could've just told me that you were seeing someone."

"I'm not seeing anyone; whoever took those pictures misunderstood the situation." I sighed running my hands down my face.

"No, they had the right one. Now is the time for you to date; I won't let you overwork yourself. You're still young, you deserve some enjoyment. You won't find happiness through money, Giselle."

"Love you, ma. But I don't want to talk about this right now." I will wait until the time comes, but for now, I'm staying focused.

"This weekend. Love you too." she hung up.