Money Over Everything

Money Power Respect

Moette

"You've been quiet all night," I noted as we sped down the empty Brooklyn streets. "I'm not sure who homegirl was but she brought you out of character."

"Nik has that effect on people," Savant replied, hips lips forming a thin line.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

He shook his head. "It won't fix anything."

The car filled with an uncomfortable silence that Savant replaced with the radio. Loud rap music blasted through the Tesla, shaking my seats and pounding my ears with its heavy beats. Savant didn't seem to notice; he bopped his head to the Future song without a care in the world. He may have wanted to be unbothered about Nik but this headache was proof that she still held a place in his heart, whether positive or negative I would soon have to find out. I had almost blocked out the music and fell asleep when the car jerked to a stop.

"Nice building," I said as we parked in front of a Downtown Brooklyn skyscraper. "How long have you been staying here?"

"Six months," he replied absently, stepping out of the car and slamming the door shut.

I waited for him to come around the car and open my door for me like he did for our first date, but I might as well had waited for paint to dry. He was halfway up the drive when I opened my own damn door, slamming it shut and doing my best to catch up. Savant barely spared me a glance when I reached his side. He inclined his head at the doorman, who might've thought he was alone if not for me staring at him like I wanted to beat his ass. My bad mood persisted, anger radiating from me as we took the elevator up to the penthouse. Savant didn't notice, simply stepping off the elevator and expecting me to follow along like a lap dog. No sooner had we stepped into the apartment did I lose my cool.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about your ex that broke your heart?" I asked, slamming the door to knock Savant out of whatever trance he was in. "Because whether or not you want to admit it, she's still on your mind."

Savant disappeared down the hall, leaving me standing there talking to myself. I stood there, fighting back tears, as I stepped deeper into the apartment. It was either go home to Poochie, with that smirk on her face all through dinner, or come home with a preoccupied Savant. Tonight made me realize it was time to have a third option: have my own damn house to go home to.

"Hmmm..." I said, noticing some pictures in the floor to ceiling wall unit.

I ran my hand over the butter soft black leather sofa, picturing Nik and Savant sitting on it as they watched the 68-inch television in front of them. It was hard to picture her troublemaking ass sitting there watching a movie, or cooking in that big ass kitchen I passed, but I could picture her making him happy at one point in time. For that reason alone I wasn't the least bit surprised to find her in a picture with Savant and his family. She was sitting in his lap, kissing his cheek as him, Golden, a guy that had to be his brother, and a couple that was the perfect mix of them.

"The only reason I still got that picture up is because it's one of the last one I ever took with my brother."

I nearly jumped out of my skin at the arrival of Savant. He was dressed in nothing a pair of gray sweats, two glasses of red wine in his hand. I know he didn't think a refreshment and his dick print would make everything all right between the two of us. I went back to admiring the pictures, this time focusing on one of him, Golden, and his brother at what appeared to be a military graduation. His brother was dressed in an immaculate Army uniform, wedged between a smiling Golden and Savant. This was a younger Savant, one that didn't look so wrecked like he did tonight.