chapter ⅵ

Michael leaned back in his chair, staring at the reports on his desk.

There was a club in his territory that had been making too much noise. At first, he brushed it off—just another strip joint running under the radar. But then, whispers started reaching him.

Girls going missing.Drugs being pushed without his permission.Money being stolen.

And worst of all—the owner, some scumbag named Ray, was letting the girls get used and thrown away like trash.

Michael clenched his jaw.

That wasn't happening on his watch.

"Javon," he called.

His right-hand man stepped into the room. "Yeah, boss?"

"Get the boys together. We're paying that club a visit tonight."

-

The moment Michael stepped inside the club, he knew something was off.

The air was thick with cigarette smoke, the stench of cheap liquor mixing with desperation. The girls moved mechanically, some avoiding eye contact, others flinching when men got too close.

This wasn't a business.

It was a prison.

Michael's eyes scanned the room until they landed on the owner—Ray. A fat, greasy man sitting in the VIP section with a cigar in one hand and a girl in his lap who looked like she wanted to disappear.

Michael adjusted his cuffs and nodded to Javon.

It was time to clean house.

-

After the club was cleared—Ray and his men either gone or crawling out the back door—Michael sat in the office, looking through the books.

Someone knocked.

The door opened, and a woman stepped inside.

Tall, poised, and with an aura of authority that demanded respect.

Kelly Rowland.

Michael had heard about her before. She wasn't just another dancer—she was the one the girls turned to for protection. The one who kept them safe when no one else would.

Kelly crossed her arms, studying him. "So, what now? You own us?"

Michael met her gaze. "No. I own the club. The girls? They're free to leave. Or stay—if they want to work for me under real protection."

Kelly let out a humorless laugh. "Protection? You're just another man trying to control us."

Michael leaned forward. "No. I'm the man who just stopped your boss from selling you out like cattle."

She didn't respond right away, but he saw the shift in her eyes.

She wanted to believe him.

"You expect me to trust you?" she asked.

Michael shrugged. "No. But I expect you to trust her."

He tilted his head toward the doorway.

Kelly turned—just as Giselle, Solange, and Aaliyah walked in.

And just like that, everything changed.

-

𝗀𝗂𝗌𝖾𝗅𝗅𝖾'𝗌 𝗉𝗈𝗏

The smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke clung to the walls, but there was something different in the air now. Something lighter. The fear that once clouded the girls' faces was fading.

Giselle stood in the center of the dressing room, surrounded by women who had been through hell. Some still seemed cautious, unsure of what to expect from her. Others looked at her with silent gratitude.

She cleared her throat. "Alright, ladies. First things first—y'all deserve better than this. Michael and I are making sure this place isn't just a club, but a real business. No more shady deals, no more abuse, and no more feeling like you don't have a choice."

A few of them exchanged glances.

Giselle softened her tone. "That means y'all need new things. You shouldn't have to work in torn-up clothes and old makeup. So, I'm taking all of you shopping."

Some of the girls' eyes lit up, but others hesitated.

"Shopping?" one girl asked, skeptical.

"Yes, shopping," Giselle said with a smile. "Clothes, shoes, makeup, whatever y'all need. And before any of you start worrying—this ain't charity. This is about giving y'all the dignity you deserve."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.

Kelly, who had been leaning against the wall watching, finally spoke. "I don't think anyone's ever done something like this for them."

"Well," Giselle turned to her. "There's a first time for everything."

-

After hours of shopping, Giselle sat across from Kelly in a small café. The other girls had gone off in groups to try on clothes and enjoy their freedom, leaving just the two of them.

Giselle sipped her coffee, studying the woman in front of her. Kelly had a quiet strength about her—she had clearly been looking out for those girls for a long time.

"You don't like strip clubs, do you?" Kelly asked suddenly.

Giselle blinked, caught off guard. "No, I don't," she admitted. "Never have."

Kelly smirked. "Then why are you here?"

Giselle set her cup down. "Because those girls deserve better. And so do you."

Kelly's smirk faded slightly.

"I don't judge anyone for what they do," Giselle continued. "But I do have a problem with people being forced into things. And from what I've seen, y'all didn't have much of a choice."

Kelly exhaled, looking down at her hands. "Yeah. We didn't."

Giselle reached over and placed a hand on hers. "That's gonna change."

Kelly looked up, and for the first time, Giselle saw something she hadn't expected—hope.

And just like that, she knew she had found a new sister in all of this.

-

Giselle stood at the entrance of the club, arms crossed, watching as the girls slowly started to embrace their newfound freedom. It had only been a few days, but the change was already visible—less fear in their eyes, more confidence in their steps.

She turned to Aaliyah. "You got this?"

Aaliyah smirked, flipping her braids over her shoulder. "Girl, please. I was born to run things."

Giselle chuckled. "Alright, boss lady. Keep an eye on them, make sure Kelly has everything she needs, and help the girls with their dancing routines. They still gotta make money, but at least now they'll be safe."

Aaliyah gave her a playful salute. "Consider it done."

With that settled, Giselle felt a weight lift from her shoulders. There was still a lot of work to do, but for now, she had other priorities—like her baby.

-

The doctor's office smelled like antiseptic and lavender, an odd mix that somehow made Giselle more nervous. She sat on the examination table, her hand tightly gripping Michael's.

"You ready for this?" he asked, his voice warm.

She let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Yeah."

The ultrasound technician smiled as she applied the gel to Giselle's belly. "Alright, let's take a look."

The screen flickered to life, and Giselle's heart skipped a beat at the sight of their baby. Small, fragile, yet already so full of life.

Michael leaned in closer, his eyes locked onto the screen. "Damn," he murmured, his voice filled with awe.

The technician moved the wand, smiling. "Do you want to know the gender?"

Michael and Giselle exchanged a look before saying in unison, "Yes."

The technician grinned. "Congratulations—it's a girl!"

Tears welled up in Giselle's eyes as she turned to Michael, who was speechless. Then, a slow smile spread across his face. "A girl," he whispered.

She nodded, unable to hold back a tear. "We're having a daughter, Michael."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, his voice thick with emotion. "She's gonna be perfect."

-

The moment they stepped out of the doctor's office, Michael pulled out his phone.

"You calling the family?" Giselle asked, wiping the gel residue off her belly.

Michael smirked. "Hell yeah."

One by one, they called everyone—Solange screamed so loud that Giselle had to pull the phone away from her ear, Marlon promised to be the best uncle, and Aaliyah was already talking about baby shopping. Even Katherine's voice was filled with joy, her excitement clear over the phone.

By the time they reached Havenhurst, Michael wrapped his arm around Giselle's waist. "Now we just gotta tell Prince."

Giselle smiled. "He's gonna be the best big brother."

-

Prince sat on the floor of his playroom, stacking his blocks into a wobbly tower. When he saw his parents walk in, he grinned. "Mommy! Daddy!"

Michael scooped him up effortlessly, kissing his cheek. "Hey, buddy. Mommy and I have something to tell you."

Prince's little face scrunched in curiosity. "What?"

Giselle knelt beside them, taking Prince's tiny hands. "You're gonna be a big brother."

Prince blinked. "Big brover?"

Michael nodded. "Yeah, kid. There's a baby in Mommy's tummy. A little sister for you."

Prince's eyes widened, and for a moment, he was silent. Then, suddenly, he gasped. "A baby? In Mommy's belly?"

Giselle giggled. "That's right."

Prince placed his small hands on her stomach, looking serious. "Hi, baby," he whispered.

Michael and Giselle exchanged a soft, loving glance. Their family was growing, and despite everything they had been through, this moment was pure.

Prince looked up at them. "Can I teach her how to build blocks?"

Michael laughed. "You can teach her whatever you want, little man."

Prince grinned, then leaned down and kissed Giselle's belly. "I love you, baby sister."

Giselle's heart swelled with love. No matter what happened, their little girl would be surrounded by so much love. And that was all that mattered.