Chapter 28

Leila POV

I checked my phone again, glaring at the delivered notification under my picture message.

I knew he'd seen it.

It didn't surprise me that the technology illiterate asshole probably doesn't realise that I knew he'd opened it and seen it.

Two fucking days.

I was beginning to think maybe the asshole was blind.

I slammed my phone down on the table in front of me, making Laura jump.

Who exactly does he think he is ignoring me like that.

"Leila, what the hell?"

"He's ignoring me"

She looked at me confused as she topped up our wine glasses.

"Who?"

"Marshall, I sent him a-" I paused for a moment "A tasteful picture"

She snorts "I thought you weren't interested in him?"

"I'm not but he's fun to play with"

Laura pulled a face, her eyebrows shooting up.

"Only you would take one of the meanest men in the whole rap industry, who is bursting with mommy issues, resentment for women and misogyny, and sit there, telling me, he's fun to play with"

I shrug "Is there a point behind that whole statement?"

"You really think a man can't destroy you?"

"They can't if I won't let them"

"Baby girl, it's not a matter of letting him, if he wants to do so he will, regardless if you let him or not, he is not some politician with a wife at home and a dozen side chicks" Laura said with picking up her glass.

"I know you're worried but I got this, he's harmless"

She threw me a tight-lipped expression, eyes fixed on me, her disapproval evident this time.

Usually, when Laura was silent I was definitely doing something wrong.

This time I'm not taking any chances.

"Trust me, Laura, this will play out just the way I want it"

"I feel like as a fan, you're still grossly underestimating the man, like your disdain for him has made you forgot what he's capable of, at the end of the day Alec and Trick and whoever else you know can be coming for him on your behalf and it's still gonna mean shit to him, because he's gonna want to see you burn at the stake and laugh about your demise" Laura said, waving her hand matter of factly "We were at the concert where he sang a song about his killing his wife, murdering a blow-up doll dressed like her while she stood in the crowd watching"

"You're being dramatic, that was when he was hyped up on drugs all the time-"

"You're being very naive to think that wasn't his personality magnified by the drugs" She said with a sigh "I love the guy, he's sweet, caring, treated Travis and I with nothing but respect, and treated Travis like family when he worked there, even now, but I wouldn't think twice the damage he would do to both our careers if we crossed him"

I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes sitting back in my seat as Laura waved the waiter to bring us two more drinks over "You're acting like I don't know how to handle a man when he throws a tantrum"

Inside I was kinda getting miffed that she would underestimate me like that.

He was as complicated as everyone thinks he was.

"No, I know you can handle a man, without a doubt, but Marshall isn't just any man, So I'm warning you" She said pointing at me "He's still a weapon Leila, and do not forget that, you can use a spear as a walking stick but that will not change its nature"

"Fine, whatever, I'll be careful not to hurt his ego"

---

I sat at the guard house at the gates as they checked my identification and called through my arrival.

"Ma'am, Mr Mathers said that he's busy" The Gaurd said sheepishly holding my ID.

"Excuse me?" I said fuming, having already sat there for 20 minutes.

First he ignores me now this?

"We'll see about that"

I get out of my car and pull my phone out and hit his name, it rings a few times and his stupid smug face fills the screen, I hear music in the background and I notice he is sweaty and in a tank top, and by the looks of it he's jogging on his machine.

"Too busy doing what?"

"Leila" He says, smirk oozing with a mix of pleasure and arrogance "Appreciate the pic the other night, by the way, I had a blast with it"

"Wha, so you have the audacity to jack off over a picture of my body but not let me fuckin' in? And no thank you?"

"Thanks, for the nut I guess?" He says, wiping his face, holding back a laugh.

"Let me in asshole"

"Is that the way you always invite yourself over peoples houses?"

I frown, his behaviour ticking me off.

"Fine" I say with a huff and a mischievous smile creeps across my lips "Hate to waste it, might as well share with the guards..."

He stops jogging looking confused as I bring the phone up so that my body is in full view, pulling my jacket open, showing the lace cups of the outfit, or lack off that's hiding under it.

I see the guards cleaning their necks to get a better look at what I'm wearing, but before I manage to go any further Marshall speaks.

"Stop, Leila, Fuck sakes" he grunts in frustration, frantically waving in the camera  "DON'T fucking look at her, just, Let her through, give her the goddamn house number"

I smile as he hangs up,  I pull the shoulder of my jacket back on and go and get in my car, driving through as the gates open, happy with myself.

Leila 1, Marshall 0

Laura had no fucking idea what she was talking about.

I drive the roads until I get to the house the guards gave me the number of, park in front of the main entrance and get out, walking up to the door that is illuminated by the moon.

The door opens before I get to it and Marshall's hand grabs me by my belt and drags me inside, slamming the door behind me.

"Why are you like this?" He said, eyes dark and raking over my body, his hand yanks on the belt hard, making it come undone, exposing the skirt and bodysuit underneath instead of the lingerie I had insinuated, and he snorted amusingly "I knew it was a trick"

I grinned "Well, had to call you bluff somehow didn't I?"

He rolls his eyes, standing there in silk basketball shorts, with his arms crossed over his chest in a fitted tank top, his tattooed biceps defined and large, sweat making his skin dewy and glisten in the light of the entrance hallway.

The smell of sweat mixed with his cologne hits my senses, giving me a feeling of nostalgia, causing my brain to momentarily shut down and reboot itself.

"What do you want Leila?"

"I came to check on you" I said as a smile tugged at his lips, and he raised his eyebrow "You never did reply"

"Why would I reply?" He said leaning in, a cunning smile spreading across his lips as he licked them, backing me into the wall and pressing his hand flat against it next to my head "When I knew you would come running, looking for my validation"

"I am not looking for validation" I sneer, pulling myself together as I felt my knees weaken due to the small amount of space between our bodies "who- who do you think you are?"

He leaned back pulling his tank top off, revealing his toned body underneath, making me momentarily involuntarily bite my lip.

"Then why are you here then? Coz I'm gonna be honest" He said reaching down and pulling his silk shorts down, leaving him in his boxers, the bottom oh his stomach meeting his pelvis that was barely coveted showing off his clearly perfected adonis belt, like the arrow pointing to the stars "Your help in the shower would be appreciated, I'll even give you the honour of holding my dick"

I was in a daze.

The feeling of being here before with him was overwhelming.

I was frozen in place, unable to talk.

His eyes locked on mine, dark and daring with the flicker of the wickedly delicious grin that was plastered on his lips and as he looks down at me, disgustingly and unapologetically making my body react.

"I'll wait" I said, finally managing to find the words, scolding myself for being so weak.

"Suit yourself" He purrs seductively, his Detroit accent thick and slow, just like I remember, lazily shrugging, as he turns and walks towards the stairs, his half-naked body disappearing up them.

Leaving me standing there, panic rising to my chest, my heart thudding against my ribcage as realized Laura was absolutely right.

He made my heart pound with distrust and my mind cloud with bewilderment.

He would surely destroy me again.

Hell always felt like home to me anyway.

It made me feel alive, and that's what excited me.