“And?” I’ve never heard this before.
That’s what the fuck I get for paying Chesney’s firm to represent Zoey on the “L”. She thinks Chesney’s being generous with his pro bono. Hell fucking no. I’m paying him for each minute he signs or reviews a document on her behalf, because, of course, he didn’t defer her to a subordinate in his practice. No. That would be ‘too impersonal seeing they’ve developed a relationship over the years’ is how he phrased it. Relationship my ass. She got the biggest shark in the fucking pond…at my expense.
“And I turned her down—difficult decision considering her knowledge, balls and ambition, but I don’t involve my money where emotions take residence. In other words, Chesney asking me to invest in a business of a trusted friend’s ex when said trusted friend is a damn millionaire. I smelled drama.”
He sat back, taking another sip of his drink.
“Drama,” I scoff. “But you say marry her in the previous breath. No disrespect, my dude, but I only prefer business guidance from A.D. Jacobs, the mogul.”
“Shit. Don’t get it twisted, I can write four books on the drama of building a solid relationship with the woman you could swear was born to be yours, but ran at every turn. I kinda have.” There was a tentative pause. “Look, Stent, before we became friends I’d heard of your philandering and reckless ways. You’ve come a long way since those days. But trust when I say when you’re nearing forty years old, life becomes clearer and loneliness reaches a new plateau. Being a father has made you a new being, kid. You’ve been wearing it well. Still, at this age you need companionship. And if not being with his mother has been fucking with your head this long, you need to take the plunge and marry her.”
Azmir has this impermeable and calm way to his articulation and presentation. He speaks matters of the heart while lounging in a seven thousand dollar designer suit.
Smooth ass fucker.
“It ain’t that simple, Divine. I’ve put that girl at such fucking risk, doing the reckless shit you referenced earlier just to be in her world. Perpetrator shit. Neurotic shit. Just stupid shit. Shit that has come to light and now I may have lost the opportunity with her,” I mumble while staring off into the distance, tormented by the memories and realizations.
“Indeed.” Azmir chuckles. The dude rarely laughs. His smooth ass chuckles. “StentRo, you know how convoluted my lifestyle used to be…I’ve left it all behind; however, what you don’t know is she didn’t know. She learned about it after I selfishly snatched her ass off the market and purposely kept it from her.”
I feel my lips part in shock. This is some shit. Divine was the fucking king of L.A. on the low. Not everyone knew, but many suspected he had deep underworld dominion, too. I couldn’t tell for sure and never dared to inquire. His rationale is now making sense to me.
“If she’s worth you having, you’ll be worth forgiving. Fuck that. Go get her, duke,” he speaks adamantly with hard eyes that bore into mine.
There’s another knock at the door. I watch as Azmir’s eyes trail up to the guest behind me. This time his mouth drops. I turn to find a very pregnant and glowing woman.
“Baby,” he breathes out, almost whining the endearment. “What are you doing here?” He damn near leaps from his seat and rushes over to her.
“My husband is here!” she gives him a duh expression.