Chapter 22: Whoop. Your. Ass

Alijah rolled over in bed with an irritated groan. Kieran’s phone was ringing again, and she was close to throwing it in his face for not answering it. She reached over to nudge him, only to discover he wasn’t there. Sitting up slowly, she stretched and looked at the clock. It was just a little after eight in the morning. She figured he was on the roof in his gym working out.

Removing the covers from her body, she climbed out of bed as his phone stopped ringing. Making her way into the bathroom, she turned on the shower allowing it to heat up while she went about washing her face and brushing her teeth. Stripping out of her clothes, she stepped into the shower.

After showering, Alijah went into her room and got dressed in black denim shorts and an olive-colored V-neck shirt. She threw her hair up into a messy bun before padding barefoot into the kitchen. She took out the bacon, eggs, and pancake mix for breakfast. She had just taken out the pans she needed when she heard Kieran’s phone ring again. She was tempted to go up to the roof to get him, thinking that it may have been business, but figured if it were, they would have called her work phone once they couldn’t get in touch with him.

She had just put on the bacon when she heard the front door open. Alijah turned as she heard him come into the kitchen. Sweat was glistening off his body as he walked over and kissed her softly on the lips.

“Did you have a good workout?” Alijah asked him as he pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

“It was fine. I enjoy working out more when I’m watching you,” he told her with a smirk.

Alijah flipped the bacon before grabbing a bowl for the pancake mix. “Why didn’t you wake me? I would have come with you.”

“I’m positive you needed your sleep, baby.”

Alijah rolled her eyes as she began to mix the batter. “Go take a shower. Breakfast should be ready in a few minutes,” she told him. “Oh, and your phone has been ringing almost nonstop.” She tacked on watching him nod before leaving the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, Alijah sat plates on the bar as Kieran walked down the hall. His hair was still wet from his shower. They sat down and ate, making small talk. Kieran reminded her of the party they were going to on Corey Wexler’s yacht tomorrow for Labor Day. Alijah had finally been able to get in touch with him and set up a meeting for the two. It had gone well, and the man had invited them to his party.

When they were done with breakfast, Kieran helped her load the dishwasher before going into the living room and turning on the television. Alijah had a lunch date with Lawrence for one o’clock and decided to kill time relaxing until then. She was sitting with her legs over Kieran’s lap as he lazily massaged her thigh when his phone rang again.

“Did you check your phone when you went to shower?” She questioned him.

He took his eyes from the television and glanced over at her. “No, I forgot.”

Removing her legs from his lap, Alijah got up and headed down the hall to his bedroom. She grabbed his phone off the bedside table and looked at the name that flashed across the screen right before it stopped ringing. When it did, she realized that he had nine missed calls and thirteen text messages from the same person.

Gritting her teeth, Alijah made her way back into the living room with his phone in hand. She walked in front of him, blocking his few of the television. She held his phone up in front of his face.

“Why has this woman been calling and texting you nonstop this morning?” She asked, showing him the missed calls and texts from Rebecca Blow.

Alijah watched as Kieran glanced at the phone before looking up at her. “I don’t know,” he responded.

Reaching out, he grabbed his phone and dropped it on the couch beside him before taking her hand and pulling her into his lap. Alijah sighed softly as his lips brushed against hers gently. When he pulled away, Alijah stared into his hazel eyes as he reached up and pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger.

Whatever he was about to say was cut off by his phone ringing again. Removing her chin from his fingers, Alijah looked down and saw that Rebecca was calling yet again. She groaned.

“What does she want?” She questioned.

Alijah watched as Kieran grabbed the phone, answered it, and placed it on speaker. “What do you want, Rebecca?” He questioned, eyes locked onto Alijah’s.

“Hello to you too, Kieran,” Came the response from the other end, causing Alijah to roll her eyes. “I was calling to discuss our child,” she then stated.

At her words, Alijah’s eyes went wide before she began to blink rapidly. Their child? She went to slide off his lap when he wrapped his free arm around her waist tightly, keeping her in place.

“We don’t have a child, Rebecca, and that’s not going to change.” Alijah listened to Kieran state, her jaw clenched.

“Kieran, this could work for-”

“No.” He butted in, cutting her off before hanging up the phone.

Alijah watched as he tossed it back beside him on the couch, resting his hand on her thigh. She took a deep breath before asking the question she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to.

“What was she talking about?”

For the next few minutes, Kieran recapped the conversation he and Rebecca had in his office over a month ago. When he finished, Alijah was still upset.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It wasn’t important.”

“Some woman you used to date asked you for your sperm, and it wasn’t important enough for you to tell me? I specifically asked you what she wanted to talk about, and you said it was a ‘proposition.’”

“You were already upset. I didn’t want to make it worse.”

Alijah shook her head. “Were you considering her offer?”

Kieran scoffed, and Alijah didn’t miss the look of disbelief in his eyes. “I would rather have my dick fall off than have a child with that woman in any aspect.” Alijah nodded as Kieran leaned in and kissed her. “I apologize for not telling you, but I don’t tend to dwell on insignificant things and people. Rebecca and her proposal are both.”

Alijah shifted so that she was straddling him. She placed her hands over his shoulder and began to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. He started to run his hands up and down her waist before reaching around and grabbing her ass. She rolled her eyes at him as he began to rub it slowly.

“I’m having lunch today with Lawrence,” she informed him.

Kieran’s hands stopped moving, and he lifted an eyebrow. “Lawrence?”

Alijah smiled at him, leaning in and laying her head on his shoulder. “My friend Lawrence. The one that brought me back when you got mad that I stayed out all night.”

Kieran placed his hands on her waist and moved her back to look at him. “The one that kissed you in the elevator,” he stated.

“I told you he isn’t attracted to me that way.”

Kieran scoffed. “He’s a man with eyes. Enough said.”

Alijah smirked at him. “Are you jealous?”

He rolled his eyes at her. “Says the woman who was just grilling me a minute ago.”

“Touché. You can come with us if you’re worried.”

“No, I trust you. Just remember, I don’t share,” he told her, kissing her before moving her off his lap. “I have to go meet Cruz at his office. I’ll be back in a little while.”

With that, Alijah watched as he walked down the hall before turning her attention back to the television.

Kieran glanced around the yacht as he waited for his drink to be made. He wasn’t surprised at the number of people that were in attendance. He had expected nothing less from Corey Wexler. Though the party was supposed to be for pleasure, he knew that he would be proposing a few business deals to some of the people in attendance before the day was out.

As he continued to survey the area, his eyes fell on Alijah. She was over in the corner talking to two other women. She wore a high waist pink skirt with a white lace top. Her hair was up in a bun with tendrils framing her face. The outfit was simple, but Kieran thought she looked stunning. He also knew that he wasn’t the only one admiring her. Since they’d stepped foot on the boat, several men had stared at her, and he could all but see the envy in a lot of the women’s eyes.

Kieran retrieved his scotch on the rocks and a mimosa for Alijah, making his way to where the women were.

“You are hilarious, Alijah.” He heard one of the women speak as he stopped beside them. He handed Alijah her drink, and she thanked him before turning back to the women.

“Kieran, this is Layla Martinez and Gale Wexler. Gale is Corey’s wife, and Layla is the new COO of Phantom Technologies. She was just telling me how her company was about to start working on new cellphone concepts.” She introduced them, and Kieran didn’t miss the look she gave him. He had discussed with her his desire to produce and brand a line of cell phones a few weeks back. “Ladies, this is Kieran Cayman.”

“Nice to meet both of you.” Kieran greeted with a smile.

“You as well,” Layla spoke while Gale nodded along.

Kieran saw Nathaniel Golding as the crowd seemed to part a little at that moment.

“If you beautiful women will excuse, I’m going to go catch up with a business associate.” He kissed Alijah’s temple before nodding at the other two women and making his way toward Nathaniel. He would let Alijah work her magic in peace.

“Kieran.”

At the sound of his name, Kieran turned to find their host. He had been standing at the yacht’s railing, looking out over the water.

“Corey. Nice party.” Kieran stated after shaking the other man’s hand.

“Between you and me, it wouldn’t be quite as elegant if I had to throw it myself. I have Gale to thank for that. I’d be lost without that woman.” Corey told him.

Kieran laughed. “Tell me about it. Alijah keeps up with everything.”

“Ah, your assistant. She and my wife have been almost inseparable. Gale seems to have taken a liking to her.”

Kieran nodded. “It isn’t hard to do. She’s a phenomenal person,” he stated, looking over to where Alijah was still talking to Gale, but another woman had joined them in Layla’s absence. She must have felt him looking at her because she looked up, eyes locking with his, and smiled. Kieran smiled back and winked at her before turning his attention back to Corey.

The slightly older man was staring at Kieran with a contemplative look on his face. After a moment, he nodded to himself, and Kieran was utterly lost as to what had just happened.

The two men spoke about their upcoming joint business venture for the next ten minutes or so. After they finished their conversation, Corey excused himself to mingle with some of his other guests.

After he walked off, Kieran made his way over to where they were serving food. He grabbed a plate and put a few finger sandwiches and fruit on it. He then made his way over to where Alijah was sitting with Gale. He sat beside her and handed her the plate.

“Here, baby.”

“Thank you,” Alijah stated, taking the plate from him.

“If you two will excuse me, I’m going to find my husband and make sure he hasn’t hidden himself off somewhere,” Gale stated, smiling at them.

Kieran grabbed a grape off the plate and popped it into his mouth as Gale walked off. He then picked up a strawberry and held it up to Alijah’s lips. She bit into it, and Kieran ate the rest.

“So, Layla and I are having lunch next week,” she informed him when she’d finished chewing. “I’m going to see if I can schedule a meeting for you with her. I think her company would be the best to have your phones made through.”

Kieran smiled at her before taking her face between his hands and kissing her.

“What would I do without you? Hell, what did I do before you got here?” He questioned.

Alijah pretended to think about it. “You’d fail miserably. You were barely making it,” she finished with a smile.

When Alijah finished eating her food, Kieran took her hand and led her to one of the rails. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as they looked out over the water.

“It’s gorgeous,” Alijah stated, leaning back into his chest.

“You’re gorgeous,” Kieran responded, leaning down to kiss her neck.

The two stood in silence for several minutes, just looking out over the water. It was peaceful, and Kieran felt relaxed, but he often did when he had Alijah in his arms. However, that peace was broken after a while.

“Hello, Kieran.” Kieran clenched his jaw, he knew that voice, and he wished he could throw her overboard.

Kieran turned to see Rebecca standing there. He felt Alijah tense in his arms as he watched Rebecca’s attention slide from him to Alijah.

“What do you want, Rebecca?” Kieran questioned.

“Can’t I just come and greet a close, old friend?” She questioned.

“You greeted me. Now, bye, Rebecca.” With that, Kieran released Alijah, taking her hand and leading her away.

“I don’t like that woman,” Alijah stated when he pulled her onto a couch beside him.

“She’s irrelevant,” Kieran told her.

“She better be,” Alijah responded before turning to an approaching Gale and smiling.

Alijah was sitting with Gale discussing their mutual love of art. She learned that the older woman had gone to school and minored in fine arts. While Alijah loved to paint, Gale enjoyed sculpting. She was looking at pictures of Gale’s sculptures when her intuition began to tingle.

Looking up, she scanned the yacht, and her eyes fell on Kieran, who had gone to speak with a few other men. Except, Rebecca had just sauntered over to them. Alijah excused herself from Gale for a moment. She made her way toward them as the other men began to walk away. It was just Kieran and Rebecca left, and the blonde had just taken a step closer to Kieran when Alijah slid between them with her back to Rebecca. She wrapped her arms around Kieran’s neck.

“I’ve been looking for you, baby,” Alijah told him. She could see Kieran biting the inside of his jaw, and she knew he was trying not to smirk.

Kieran placed his hands on her hips. “You found me, gorgeous.”

“Come up to the top deck with me. I haven’t seen it yet.” Alijah told him. She took his hand and led him away without acknowledging the other woman.

There were fewer people on the top deck of the boat. Alijah led them through the people and over to the railing where they could overlook the part of the deck they had just left. From where she stood, she could see Rebecca. Turning her attention to Kieran, she found that his eyes were on her, and his face housed a smirk.

“What?” She questioned.

“It’s cute when you get all possessive,” he told her.

Alijah rolled her eyes at him. “Oh, be quiet.”

For the next half an hour, they stayed on the top deck, mingling with the few people there before they decided to go. They had been there for a few hours, and Kieran had a video conference in an hour and a half. They had just made it to the bottom when Alijah excused herself to the ladies’ room before they left.

She had just finished taking care of business and washing her hands when she opened the door and saw Rebecca leaning against the wall.

“I see Kieran has started bringing his playthings out in public.” The blonde spoke, a malicious smile on her face. “And you’re his secretary, the hired helped. There’s no mystery to how you got your job. You’re just like the rest of those trashy young things out for his money.”

Alijah stared at the woman for a moment. The first thought that popped into her head was to smack the taste out of that bitch’s mouth, but a few people were standing around, and Alijah was not about to let this tall hoe bring her out of character. So, instead, she put on a smile and took a step toward her.

“I’m guessing that makes you an old messy hoe out for his money...and sperm,” Alijah stated, smile still in place. It turned genuine when Rebecca seemed to be taken aback by the fact that she knew that. “Before you ask, you desperate bitch, yes, he told me about it because we are in a relationship. Unlike you, I see him other than when I’m on my back. Which I’m sure is how you see all of the men you’re involved with.”

“You little-”

“Careful, Becky.” Alijah began cutting her off. “The only reason I haven’t put you on your ass is due to these people and the fact that I have more class than to embarrass my man like that. However, make no mistake,” Alijah continued taking a step closer to the taller woman. “When I see you out and about, and I’m sure I will see you, I’m going to whoop. Your. Ass.” With that, Alijah took a step back and observed as Rebecca swallowed. Turning her back, she threw out, “Have a great day.” Before walking back to where she had left Kieran waiting for her.