NOBODY

Chapter 8 // Dedicated to You

Atlantic City Weekend: The Arrival

The drive to Atlantic City was filled with equal parts excitement and laughter. Hustle had spared no expense, putting the women in a sleek, fully-loaded Cadillac Escalade. The black Cadillac Escalade was immaculate, every detail screaming luxury and comfort. The soft leather seats embraced the women as they lounged in the back, and the quiet hum of the engine felt like a lullaby. A massive sunroof stretched overhead, letting natural light pour in, and the sleek entertainment system whispered low music in the background.

Up front, their driver, a sharp-dressed man named Kevin, was focused on the road, his gloved hands gripping the steering wheel. Kevin had been briefed by Hustle personally: "No interruptions, keep the ride smooth, and let them feel like royalty." His professionalism was unmatched. He glanced in the rearview mirror now and then, but his eyes never lingered—he knew better than to involve himself in their conversations.

As Kevin steered the car effortlessly onto the highway, Sajadaa leaned back, her eyes flicking to Aaliyah, who was fiddling with her phone. A sly smile crept onto Sajadaa's lips before she dropped her question like a bomb.

"So, Aaliyah," she began, her tone casual but sharp enough to draw immediate attention, "are you going for Reef? 'Cause that switch-up was quick, and I'm not feelin' it."

Aaliyah's head snapped up, her expression shifting from surprise to defensiveness. "What? I'm not going for Reef," she said quickly, her tone firm. "I haven't even been around since the photo shoot. You know that."

Danny, sitting on the far end, rolled her eyes. "And that's the problem, Aaliyah," she said with a sharp laugh. "You pop in and out like you don't even know us half the time."

Aaliyah's lips tightened, and she went quiet for a moment, clearly trying to rein in her emotions. "Look," she said finally, her tone clipped, "I don't want Reef, okay? I don't need to throw myself at any man. I can get what I want, when I want it. So cut the bullshit."

Danny raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "Girl, relax. Nobody said you can't pull, but the way you've been acting lately? Nah, that ain't it. You disappeared, and now you're over here playin' musical chairs with whoever walks in the room."

"Musical chairs?" Aaliyah repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Please. If y'all were so pressed about me, maybe you should've said something sooner instead of throwing shade now."

Sajadaa shook her head, clearly irritated. "Alright, enough," she said firmly, cutting through the tension. "This is not where we need to be as a team. If this friendship and business are gonna work, there's gotta be communication, loyalty, and self-respect. Throwing yourself at every man who walks in ain't cool, disappearing without a word is even worse and us bickering back and forth ain't it. We all need to get it together. Let's just enjoy this trip, alright?"

The air in the car grew tense but quieted as Aaliyah crossed her arms and turned to stare out the window. Danny muttered something under her breath but let it drop, slumping back into her seat.

Sajadaa sighed and turned her attention to the passing scenery, but her mind wandered to heavier thoughts. The recent blow-up with her mother still lingered in the back of her mind, but more than that, she found herself worrying about Hustle. She couldn't help but question if she was holding him back.

She glanced at Kevin, who caught her eye briefly in the rearview mirror before returning his focus to the road. His calm professionalism was a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in her head.

Meanwhile, Danny tapped on her phone, breaking the silence with a soft laugh as she showed Sajadaa a meme. "This trip better be worth all this drama," she muttered, trying to lighten the mood.