ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱꜱɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴛ | ᴛᴀʀᴀꜱɪᴀ

ꜰᴏʀᴛʏ ꜱɪx

ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱɪᴀ ʙᴀʀʀɪɴᴏ
ꜱᴇᴘᴛᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 13, 2020

the night ended. we said our goodbyes. tab agreed to take laila for tonight, and taraji's dad was taken back to his home by one of my drivers. she and him would have their time tomorrow. this night was about me and her. but other than that tonight was successful, mostly for taraji. i wanted her to enjoy this and just live in the moment. the building was getting cleaned and taken care of while taraji and i stood outside. i had to wait until the owner arrived so they could get the keys back.

until then, we just sat outside of her new baby, "so, how you feeling?"

"i'm....i'm overwhelmed. i never had any of this, never saw myself with it, and not just the materialistic stuff but the love and the gentleness. i didn't think i was worthy of that until i held that little girl who's now ours. she's all i had for years until i met you.." she chuckled and wiped her eyes, "i know we started off on the wrong foot, but i'm happy i got to see the woman behind the big name. the cameras. the real and authentic you. i couldn't have asked for a better partner."

i hadn't cried all night, but taraji knew how to bring the tears out of me. i slid my hands in hers, "this is just the beginning. i wanna keep it how it is so you can never say how it used to be."

"i'm here with you. always will be."

we hugged one last time before the owner of the came and got the keys.

"hey, frank?"

"yes ma'am ms.barrino?" my driver answered.

"do me a favor and have taraji's car taken to the house."

"yes ma'am." he nodded and walked away with her keys.

we were gonna take the suv to the place i was taking her. the entire building was cleared along with the parking lot and now we were on our way to our destination.

once we got the the suite i could see taraji's mouth fall agape out of my peripheral vision.

"what are we doing here?"

i smiled softly, "just follow me."

the elevator ride was silent. i held her hand. her other fingers played with the locket i gave her earlier. their picture tucked inside. when the elevator opened, i stepped out first. taraji paused.

"tasia..."

i turned to face her fully. "just... come and see."

she followed slowly. the second she crossed the threshold, i heard her breath catch.

rose petals curved through the suite trailing from the doorway across the hardwood and down into the living room. soft r&b played from speakers. candles were everywhere. the flames danced in the glasses.

she turned in a slow circle, taking it all in. her voice was a whisper. "you did this? for me?"

a gave her a small nod. "but also for us."

i walked toward the bedroom. the petals continued in a trail leading to the bed. the biggest i could find, draped in white. champagne in a gold bucket. a soft silk robe folded neatly at the foot of the bed.

i turned back to her, heart pounding harder than it ever had.

"i know you've never rushed me and you never made me feel like i had to do anything i wasn't ready for. not once but tonight, i don't wanna wait anymore. i wanna give you a special something i've never given anyone."

she paused, scanning me,"tasia, are you sure? i don't need the alcohol talking to me."

i nodded, walking to her. "i had water in that cup, not alcohol. im in my right mind and i know what im saying. i want this and i trust you with me. with all of me."