Can I Get It

The Price of Love and the Weight of the Past

CHAPTER TWO
The Price of Love and the Weight of the Past

Eliza sat across from Keyshia Cole in the bright, airy conference room of Keyshia's private recording studio.

The walls were adorned with gold plaques, reminders of her success, and the room was filled with the faint scent of vanilla candles and the deep bass rumble of a song playing softly from the speakers.

Eliza loved these moments—moments that blurred the line between business and friendship. Being Keyshia's publicist had been a challenge, one she had gladly accepted years ago when she was first starting. Keyshia was wild, passionate, and sometimes reckless, but her loyalty was unwavering. And Eliza, for all her strength and ambition, valued loyalty above all else.

"So," Keyshia said with a smile that was both playful and mischievous as she leaned back in her chair, eyes glinting. "Tell me about the date, girl. I want all the details. Was he cute? Did he open the car door for you? Did he at least know how to order the right wine?"

Eliza laughed, the sound warm and genuine. It felt good to share these small victories with someone who understood. "It went well, Keyshia," she said, the corners of her lips curving into a smile as she remembered Arthur's easygoing manner, the way he made her feel like the most important person in the room. "He's smart, funny, and he listens. We're planning another one."

Keyshia raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Another date? He must've impressed you. Is he an athlete or something?"

Eliza shook her head, the glint in her eye sharp and confident. "No, Keyshia. He's just... regular. A 9 to 5 kind of guy. He's not in the industry or anything like that."

Keyshia's jaw dropped in exaggerated shock. "A 9 to 5 man? Eliza, are you serious? You know that's rare, right? Especially for someone like you. So, you make more than him, right?"

Eliza took a deep breath, the question hitting her with an unexpected wave of emotion. She hadn't thought about it in those terms. "That doesn't matter, Keyshia," she said, her voice steady. "I'm not dating for money. I'm dating for love."

There was a brief silence as Keyshia's expression softened. She knew Eliza's history—her successes, her struggles, her failed attempts at finding someone who could match her spirit without getting lost in the shadow of her achievements. Keyshia had seen it before: men who couldn't handle Eliza's independence, who were intimidated by her strength. But Eliza was different from most people; she didn't care about the trappings of wealth or status. She wanted something deeper.

"I want real love, Keyshia," Eliza continued, eyes distant for a moment as she thought about everything she had longed for but never found. "I don't care about his career or how much money he has. I've worked hard for everything I have, and I'm not afraid to be the provider. But I want someone who will stand by me, not behind me. Someone who will be there when things are tough, not just when everything's shiny and perfect."

Eliza's words hung in the air, heavy but beautiful, a testament to the kind of woman she was—proud, vulnerable, fierce. She didn't want to be the one always holding up the world; she wanted someone who could meet her where she was, someone who could love her without reservations, who would accept her heart even when it was guarded and wary.

Keyshia nodded, breaking the silence with a sharp laugh. "Do you, boo. But if he hurts you, I'll smash his windows," she said, her eyes twinkling with mock menace.

The two women burst out laughing, the sound echoing around the room, a reminder of the bond they shared.

Eliza's smile lingered as the laughter subsided, and for a moment, she felt the weight of her longing shift. It wasn't that she expected Arthur to be perfect—no one was. But she hoped he would be enough. Enough to show her that love could be uncomplicated, that it could exist without strings attached, without the doubts and insecurities that often came with it.

She wanted to find that rare, unguarded place where she could give her heart and trust that it would be returned in equal measure.

As the conversation turned back to Keyshia's career and upcoming projects, Eliza's mind wandered to Arthur. Their date had been simple: dinner at a restaurant, conversation flowing like they'd known each other for years. He had laughed at her stories, listened intently as she spoke, and offered glimpses of his life that were both familiar and refreshing. It had been a while since she'd felt that level of ease with someone. But she knew better than to rush into things; she needed to be sure.

Later that evening, as the city lights flickered like fireflies against the backdrop of the city's skyline, Eliza found herself staring out the window of her high-rise apartment, the glow of the city below a stark contrast to the uncertainty in her heart.

She thought about the patterns she had noticed over the years. Men who sought her out not for her laughter, her passion, or her unwavering spirit but for her accomplishments. Men who wanted the success but not the weight of it.

She wasn't asking for much—just someone who would see her for who she was beneath the headlines, beneath the designer clothes and the flashy cars.

Arthur didn't know what it was like to walk into a room and have everyone turn their heads, not out of admiration but out of judgment. He didn't know what it felt like to fight off whispers and raised eyebrows, to hold her breath when a scandal broke out and she knew the questions would come.

He was just an ordinary man, with an ordinary job and an unremarkable life by the standards of the Hollywood glitterati. And Eliza was drawn to that, to him, in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.

The soft buzz of her phone interrupted her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, a message from Arthur.

Hope you're having a good night. Can't wait for our next date. Let me know when you're free.

Eliza's heart softened. She typed a quick response, a simple, hopeful Me too. But beneath the smile she passed on, there was a sliver of doubt that tugged at her—one she was learning to acknowledge but not succumb to. She wanted to believe, to trust that this time would be different. That she wouldn't have to guard herself so fiercely. That she could show up, vulnerable and unafraid.

Eliza's phone buzzed again, this time with a notification from social media. She picked it up, curious, and found herself staring at a post that had already garnered thousands of likes and comments.

It was a clip of Ray J's interview from two days ago, where he had shared a story that put Eliza back in the headlines. The video showed Ray J recounting the night when Eliza and Teairra had gotten into that infamous fight. The scene was as chaotic as Ray J described it, with punches thrown and security scrambling to separate them.

Eliza's lips pressed together as she watched herself in the grainy footage, her movements fierce and unapologetic. It wasn't the first time she'd been the center of drama, but it was different now. Now, she was trying to build something real, and she couldn't shake the feeling that this might be the storm that could scare Arthur away.

Her phone pinged again, this time a text from Kayla: You good, girl? Saw the clip. Don't let them get to you.

Eliza stared at the message, a small smile tugging at her lips. Kayla always knew what to say. And maybe that was what Eliza needed to hear—she was more than the drama, more than the past. She was the architect of her future, and if Arthur was going to be a part of that, he'd have to see her for who she was now, not just for the fire she'd been in the past.

"Don't let them get to you," Eliza whispered to herself, a vow she made at that moment as she turned away from the screen.

She didn't know what the future would hold, but she knew one thing for certain: if she was going to take that leap into love, she'd have to do it without looking back. Without the weight of expectations and past mistakes. Without the doubt that tried to creep in and dim her hope.

Eliza wasn't just fighting for herself anymore; she was fighting for steady love, for a chance to find someone who would stand beside her, strong and unafraid. And this time, she hoped, it would be real.