When Amora Banks lands in Atlanta she expects to have the normal college experience. She has her girls, a love interest, and a set plan of how everything will go for the next four years. But, when she meets Derek Streeter, a mysterious college senio...
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"Kingston I told you about this shit before. You know how I like my money to be handled so do it right," Derek huffed. I stood in the doorway of his office at the club waiting for him to finish scolding King. King was done with the whole street life after Rod shot him. At least he was done working for Rod but when he died and Derek took over he decided to stay. He didnt know Derek and Damon were the ones who killed Rodney though. He just knew D had more loyalty than Rodney ever did.
I elbowed King playfully as he walked past me earning a small smile from him before I entered the office all the way.
"Whatchu up here for," Derek smiled and I pushed his chair back, sitting in his lap. I kissed him before laying my head on his shoulder, getting comfortable.
"Missed you," I said, simply. "And every time I try to talk to you at home you're too busy trying to get in my pants to listen,"
"You like it though," he joked.
"Can we have a serious talk for a second," I said seriously.
"In my office mamas?" he asked and I rolled my eyes. This was the only place I could get him to sit down for more than five seconds and hold a conversation. Him running everything meant all his free time was out the window basically.
"There's nowhere else I can get you alone for more than a few minutes" I said, sucking my teeth.
"Fine," he spoke, a hint of annoyance in his voice. Normally I'd check him for it but I decided to let it slide because what I wanted to talk about was important to me. I twisted my ring around my finger slowly and thought of ways to say what I was thinking in the least hurtful way I could.
"I've been thinking, since you're always so busy here at the club or running traps or making deals, a wedding doesn't really have a place in our lives right now," I started.
"You don't want to get married now?" he asked, lifting me to my feet. I leaned on the desk and eyed the ground, not wanting to see his angry face.
"I want to get married just...just not right now," I said the last part quietly. He pushed his chair out some and leaned back, putting his hands behind his head.
"Man, we been engaged for a week and you come in here with that bullshit? I know I ain't the perfect nigga but what the fuck else do you want from me?" I took a moment to regain some of my composure before I cussed him out right then and there.
"Giving me a ring doesn't show commitment or change. I need more if we're really going to go through with this," I said, choosing my words as carefully as possible.
"So now you don't think I'm committed to you?" I guess I didn't choose them careful enough.
"I know you're not out here cheating or nothing but commitment is more than not cheating. You put this club and the 'business' over me consistently. If we're going to get married I need to see that I matter more than a strip club or some drugs," He was quiet for a long time which worried me. Derek never ran out of things to say especially in an argument.
"I feel like I do all I can do for you and it's never enough. You're always asking for more but I don't have any more to give, Amora," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm trying to balance you and my business, it's not easy,"
"I didn't want this though! I wanted you out of this life. Two years I've put up with this. With you! I suggested getting rid of Rodney so we could have a fresh start somewhere and what do you do? Kill the nigga to take his place," his eyes got big and I wondered if my words really struck him. When I heard crying behind me I knew someone had overheard. I turned around slowly, seeing Bianca standing there. I never even heard the door open.
"You! You killed him! And you knew this whole time!" she screamed. I tried approaching her but she backed up, hitting the door. "Some kind of friend you are. No wonder you weren't around when he passed,"
"Bianca, listen, it's not what you think," I said, trying to calm her down.
"No save it Amora. I don't want anymore lies or fake love from either of you. You're both dead to me," she said before storming out. I started at the empty doorway for a second trying to process what had just happened. We had kept that secret for two years and an engagement and quiet door is all it took for it come crashing down.
Derek swiped some of the stuff off his desk and yelled.
"Fuck!" he said.
"It's just Bianca why are you worried?" I asked. I knew our friendship with her was over but Derek wasn't the type to care about a friendship.
"Her and Rod had ties to every nigga in here. If she tells them what went down, some will respect me and others won't. I don't have time worrying about niggas starting shit thinking they can go against me," he plopped down hard in his chair and massaged his head. "This is why we don't talk about personal shit at my fucking club Amora. This is my job, now look. I gotta turn my head when I enter a room cuz I don't know who still fucks with me and who doesn't," he said, dramatically.
"I don't think Bianca is the revenge type. I doubt she'll tell people to try to turn them against you," I offered some advice I thought was pretty sound.
"It's not about revenge. She could get sad and tell someone and it start shit. All I know is I'm cutting niggas off now. The less people the less I got to worry about," he nodded as if he was coming up with the plan as he spoke.
"What's that even mean?" I asked.
"We're starting from the ground up," he said. I came to talk about us finding more time for each other and getting our relationship in a good place for marriage but instead I started the opposite. If Derek was starting from the ground up that only meant more work.
I watched for a moment as he typed away on his phone until I finally slid my ring off, carefully set it on the edge of his desk, and walked out. ************************************************* Well that engagement didn't last long. If you were Bianca what would you have done in that situation? And should Derek give into what Amora wants or do you think he's been doing enough as is?
