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Chapter 7// Business & Surprises

Sajada's POV

The sun was setting, casting a warm, orange glow through the living room windows. A soft breeze carried the scent of the evening air, and the peacefulness of the moment seemed to fill the space. I had been sitting quietly on the couch, Danny by my side, trying to gather my thoughts. My body still felt like it was recovering, but so much more than that, my heart felt heavy with everything that had happened.

The door opened, and Aaliyah walked in, her presence a calm breeze in the storm of my thoughts. Her smile was gentle, and I felt a weight lift just from the way she looked at me.

"Hey, girl," she said softly, her voice laced with concern. "How are you feeling?"

I managed a small smile, feeling grateful for her presence. "I'm doing better... just taking things one day at a time," I answered, my voice quiet. The truth was, I was doing better physically, but emotionally, it was still a struggle. There were so many things I hadn't had the time or energy to process.

Danny, who had been silent up until now, spoke up, her voice steady and practical. "We've been talking, and we need to figure out how to move forward. We can't keep waiting forever for things to settle down. We've got the business to think about."

Aaliyah nodded thoughtfully, her face serious. "Yeah, we can't let things fall apart while you're healing. We've been holding things down, but it's time to plan how we're going to move ahead."

I glanced between them, feeling like my world was still too fragile to dive back into the weight of it all. "I just... I don't know. I've been so focused on getting better, I haven't had a chance to think about the future much. But I can't let everything we've worked for slip away."

"Exactly," Danny said, her tone unwavering. "Once you're back on your feet, we need to be ready to hit the ground running. We've got plans for the clubs, investments, everything. We just need you to heal and then we're back in full swing."

The pressure was starting to build in my chest. It felt like the world was pushing me to move forward, and I didn't know if I could keep up. My mind felt like it was still wrapped in fog, and the thought of diving into business and financial decisions made my stomach twist.

Before I could say anything, the door creaked open again, and Hustle stepped in. His eyes scanned the room, and when they landed on me, he raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into that familiar, confident grin.

"Yo, y'all need to chill," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "I get it, you're talking about business, but y'all need to remember something. Sajada's not gonna have to worry about a thing right now. I got us." His words were calm, but there was an undeniable authority behind them as he locked eyes with Danny and Aaliyah.

Danny and Aaliyah exchanged a glance before looking back at Hustle, and I couldn't help but feel a knot form in my stomach. He was trying to protect me, but it felt like a weight I didn't want to accept.

"I know Sajada doesn't want any handouts," Hustle continued, glancing at me. "But I'm doing this because I know what she's going through. She doesn't need to worry about money right now."

Before I could protest, Hustle reached into his pockets and pulls out a stacks of cash, placing it on the coffee table with a thud. "Here's $10,000 for each of you," he said, looking directly at Danny and Aaliyah. "This is for the next few months. If y'all were really smart, you'd stay here, and not waste that money. Staying here means you won't have to spend any of it."

My eyes widened at the sight of the money. I wanted to protest, but the words stuck in my throat. The last thing I wanted was to feel like I was being handed things I didn't earn. I didn't want to feel like a burden, and Hustle's gesture, though kind, only made me feel weaker.