Chapter 9

Marshall POV

I stood poolside holding a chilled bottle of Red Bull, usual brooding manner, talking with some of the people I knew as the music played in the background.

It was Monica's Birthday and many of the Shady records family and her friends were all gathered at her place to celebrate.

"I don't know why you bother coming to these things man, you always so it about it" Denaun said rolling his eyes.

"Because when I don't leave my house all you fuckers complain"

"It's not healthy man, especially you being cooped up with your thoughts"

"I live just fine with myself"

"Crazy ass sel-" Denaun started to mumble when I put my hand up to stop him, distracted by the sight of Leila walking in, with some tall Joseph Sikora looking asshole.

She looked around and her eyes landed on me, a smirk spreading across her glossy nude lips as I stiffened and stood up straighter.

"Fuck" I groaned, looking back to Denaun who looked confused.

"Ain't that the woman that's caught Mon's husband?" He said now looking in Leila's direction "I read an article in the newspaper last week about a company that is doing the same"

"Yes and that's the same bitch, the article was about her company"

He squinted at me for a moment "Why you acting all weird?... well I mean even weirder"

"That's the bitch from the restaurant"

"Oh, the one that rejected you?"

I sighed and nodded.

"Damn..." He said and kissed his teeth "If I got rejected by that, I'd probably want to hang myself too"

"Oh fuck you" I grunted and rolled my eyes.

"From what I read about her in the article, she seemed to harbor a lot of hatred for men... yet she's here with a man"

I sniffed, trying to play it cool "whatever, He ain't shit"

As if, it's probably some John for the night.

I looked over in her direction again taking in her date.

She was standing with an intimidating bored and uninterested expression as one of the sound techs were talking to her.

My mouth went dry as she leaned up and whispered into knock off Joseph Sikora's ear and he laughed.

At this point, I was thinking about selling a kidney to have her whisper in my ear or spit in my fac-

What the fuck Marshall.

I blink as she walks to the pool, pulling off items of clothes, followed by Her date, and climbed into the pool, tattoo and all.

I turn around and face the other direction and pull at the collar of my shirt.

"You all good?" Denaun asked giving me a weird look.

"Did it just get hotter or what?"

He shook his head and laughed "Woman is under your skin"

"Aint no bitch gets under my skin, I don't give a shit, I am taking one of these others home, watch"

"Um...okay?"

I looked around spotting a young bimbo, I think I had seen her around before, can't remember where though.

I glared back at Denaum as I walked over to her.

"Sup"

"Hey" She said turning to me with a small smile.

"What's up, I'm Marshall, how you doing?"

"Celeste" She replied with a flirty smile "And I'm doing great now that I'm talking to you"

Better make sure I'm not about to shit where I eat.

"So how do you know Mon?"

"We went to college together" Celeste said and looked around "I know who you are and don't even know how to begin"

"Yeah baby, don't worry about that, what are you doing after this though?" I said, as her face lit up, then zoning back past her back to Leila who was sitting on the edge of the pool talking to knock off Joseph Sikora and a few other people.

"We can leave sooner if you want" she said running her and up my arm seductively.

I felt her move closer, moving my gaze back on her "Yeah?"

She nodded and bit her lip "I'm sure we can sneak off to a bathroom-"

Why was this so fucking easy with every other woman but fucking-

I looked back at Leila.

This is fucking with my head.

"Marshall?"

I looked back at Celeste, who's looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

"You seem otherwise, uninterested"

"Look Claire I-"

"Celeste" She said again, now looking annoyed "Look, maybe you should go hit on her instead, you've pretty much been glaring through me at her anyways" She finished and pointed over her shoulder in the direction of Leila.

"Fuck" I groaned as she turned and walked off shaking her head at me.

"Ain't no bitch gets under my skin" I hear Deanuns voice mock me from behind, Royce's cackle joining him.

I turned around, flipping them all off, and stormed off in the opposite direction, hearing them still laughing behind me.

------

"Just fuckin' do it already"

"I am, fuckin' chill man"

"I-"

"Hey man, what's up?" I said, probably too enthusiastically.

I hear Royce facepalm himself, then clear his throat "What's up brother, Royce, this is Marshall"

"Ay yo, Slim shady and Royce tha 5'9? Get the fuck out of here, man we use to fuck with you heavy back in the day" He said in a heavy Detroit drawl and then held out his hand "Alec"

Didn't expect that, he didn't look how he sounded.

We had kinda ambushed him as soon as Leila walked away to go help Monica in the kitchen.

"That's cool, always great to meet a fan man"

"Ain't seen you around brother, are you a friend of Mon's" Royce said chiming in casually.

"Awh Nah, I'm not from around this scene, I was asked to come with my cousin Leila, you know her?"

Cousin?

Royce chuckle which I was sure was out of glee.

"Oh I don't, but Marshalls had the pleasure of crossing paths"

I rolled my eyes.

Alec laughed "She do be doin' heads in my man, save your self the trauma and steer clear"

"Oh he ain't even been on the same level as her, don't worry" Royce chimed in, uninvited, a-fucking-gain.

I see Leila walking back out.

I had to move away from her cousin so it doesn't look suspicious.

"Whatever" I grunt as I turn to walk away tripping over the dog, slipping, and landing in the pool.

Swimming to the edge about to crawl out, I come face to face with a set of manicured feet.

My eyes travel up the legs of a woman, eyes falling on the "INFINITE" tattoo that had been keeping me up at night.

Fuck.

My heart sank into my stomach as I gulped hard, then continuing up the tiny, bikini clad body of Leila to her face looking down at me, who's head was tilted to one side, with a mischievously dangerous smirk on her lips as she squatted down in front of me, hands on her thighs.

"Guess you really can't walk on water, can you Rap God?"