The Last Great Seduction

Chapter Twenty Three

Today was the big day. I had been working out and doing all that I could for this day. The house was a mess right now. My team had taken over and I felt like all eyes were on me. Today was the day of Shawn's event. Everything was going smoothly, so far. The children would actually be attending with us today, so Shawn helped pick out tuxedos for them. I was thankful that I didn't have to worry about that aspect. All I had to do was worry about my image.

I was donning a beautiful long silver dress with a black belt. I wasn't as comfortable with my stomach at this point, but Shawn was very encouraging with going to the gym with me and telling me that I was beautiful every single day. After the whole thing with Julian, we went on a small vacation. Shawn told me that I looked miserable and looked as if I needed to get out.

Everything about going to the beach was wonderful – until the paparazzi showed up. Of course I was bummed, but Shawn was always good at helping to simply ignore them.

"You ready, Bey?" Shawn asked as he looked in the mirror.

I laughed softly at the question. It was the same question that he asked me on "'03 Bonnie & Clyde". It was the first song that we did together. Even though back then, are relationship was just a bit of flirting.

"Let's go get 'em," I giggled after doing a final check of myself.

We all got inside of the limousine and drove to the event. I was nervous, like always, because I had to perform tonight. It was a concert to benefit, so that was more than helpful to comfort my nerves.

We all got out the limo and began walking the red carpet. It was like we were one big happy couple the way that we were taking pictures. It was our first time actually walking the red carpet together, and I was happy about that. I was dreading this moment, but it felt like the perfect time. We were coming out as a couple on our own terms.

"So Jay are you happy?"

Shawn smiled. "Of course, my brother and I worked hard on all of this. I'm glad to have the support of some amazing artists, like Bey."

"Rihanna recently passed and I want to say congrats on the baby," the reporter said with a smile.

"The what?" Shawn asked immediately after the question.

One thing I refused to be was embarrassed.

"She announced it already?! Wow! We thought she would have waited," I commented with a smile.

"You knew about this? We heard about the fight at the other event."

"Rumors, baby," I said with a smile and gave Julius the eye to swiftly get us away. He did just that. I was pissed off. I didn't want to walk the carpet anymore. I didn't want to smile for no damn cameras. I wasn't happy.

"Bey..." Shawn said once we made it backstage. You could say that I was walking fast, but I needed to get to a secluded area quickly.

My emotions were coming to me a bit too quickly as I turned into my dressing room.

"Can y'all leave?" I heard Shawn tell everyone.

Moments later, I heard the door shut, but I was too busy attempting to not cry.

"Bey, I promise you I didn't know."

I believed him. I knew that he had no clue about this. The way that he nearly choked up in the reporter's face was all telling.

"Why would she not tell you?" I asked Shawn after a while.

He let out a deep breath. "I don't know. But I do know that this event isn't the place. This isn't your problem, it's mine, Bey."

He was right, this wasn't my problem. But somehow, I felt otherwise. I wanted to be the first to have Shawn's child, and it was fucking me up that I wouldn't get that pleasure.

The event went smoothly, until right before I had to go on to perform. I was in my dressing room getting myself prepared when a soft knock alerted everyone. We looked over to see Rihanna and her friend, Melissa.

"Hey Bey," she said sweetly.

I didn't say anything to her. Hell, I wasn't even looking at the damn girl.

"I just talked to Ju, an he told me I could find you here."

"Excuse me?" I asked and immediately turned to face her.

"Did I say something wrong?" Rih asked me.

"You said you talked to my son!"

"Your son would have been my step son, what's the big deal?"

"Big deal?" I asked, visibly pissed. "The big deal is that 'would have been' doesn't mean a damn thing to me. He's not your child. Stay away from my child, and I can guarantee you, I'll stay away from yours."

"Oh. That's what this is about? You're mad that I'm pregnant with a child that I had with my, then, fiancé. Where they do that at, Bey?"

"Bye Rihanna," I said.

I had to think about Corey and Shawn right now. They don't deserve me whooping this girl's ass right now. Pregnant or not, I'd still tag Rihanna's ass.

"Why you such a mad ass bitch?"

The voice didn't ring in my head. I was a bit confused, honestly. But after looking at Melissa's mad ass friend, I nearly lost it.

Yes. I ran to get her, but was thankfully grabbed. "Stop and get on stage!" Corey yelled at me. I knew that I would be hearing about this later. After my performance, my dressing room had turned into a meeting.

"I can't believe I had to stage an intervention at an event like this," Corey said looking at Rihanna, myself, and Shawn.

"All of you are equally wrong for this shit," he continued.

"Honestly? I don't care. I don't want to be in her presence. I want her gone. I want to go. I have bigger damn issues that dealing with this bitch. You wanna have his baby? HAVE IT!" I was officially fed up with everything.

"Sit down Beyoncé!" Corey yelled at me. "We've already talked, so you know the deal. But you two? There WILL be communication!" He said, looking at Shawn and Rihanna.

"Why didn't you tell me before my event, Rihanna?"

Rihanna laughed softly. "You answer calls?"

"You could've told me, Rihanna," Shawn told her calmly.

"Why?! So you can get mad at me for ruining your picture perfect relationship?!" Rihanna shouted at Shawn.

"You HURT me Jay! You LEFT me to never look back. You USED me!" she yelled through her tears.

I couldn't take it. I simply left out of the room.

"You okay?" Julius asked me once we got into the hallway.

I sighed and nodded my head. "I'm ready to go."

"Where's Shawn?"

"He's catching a ride with Corey," I simply said.

In the limo, I was trying to be to myself. Daniel was laying on me, and I knew that he was sleepy now.

"I had fun," Julian said.

"Why?"

"I got to see Rihanna!" He said excitedly.

"Who was with you when you saw her?" I asked him curiously.

Julian shrugged. "It was just us."

"What did you two do?"

"We talked, mama."

"About?"

I could tell that he was getting annoyed, but I needed to know.

"Nothing."

I rolled my eyes and laid back in my seat. We arrived home after a while and I simply wanted to go to sleep. I told Julius that he could sleep in the guest room. I didn't see the harm in it.

I went to my bedroom with Daniel and went to sleep.

I don't think it was long before I heard pounding on my door.