Haywood Millionaire Series: Box Set Books 1-5

by Zi'ere

  My Bug was still beautiful. She had minimal scaring left from the accident. We had done everything we could do through cosmetic surgery to ensure that she was still flawless.

  Instead of gently nudging her, I pinched her nose.

  “Alright heifer, it’s time for you to get your ass up out of this bed. I’m tired as hell and I need a vacation!”

  11

  In response Zoey cracked on of her eyes open. When she recognized her identical twin staring her back in the face she started to smile. She then sat up in the bed versus raising the back of the bed to make it easier for her to sit up.

  “You’re the only hold up in this situation! I’ve been ready to go home. This bed is uncomfortable as hell and I am due any day now.” Zoey gave me much attitude.

  “Well Bug, the saga is over. The smoke has settled and it is now time to deliver a gut punch to their asses for the second time. Your big sis, the ever extravagant Diva that is on top of every-damn-thing that had to be taken care of, has done it all!”

  “Damn Laini, it has only been six months. Everything is done that quickly?” Zoey’s eyes widened, she could not control her facial expression.

  “For the second time in five minutes, listen to me well BUG! Everything is done. You can come home now baby mama.” I kissed her on the forehead.

  “Everything is done?” Zoey asked again just to be sure.

  I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face. I knew this day was coming but I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was going to be. I could not spend another day apart from my sister. In thirty four years we had never spent more than twenty-four hours away from the other. I had done everything I felt was necessary to make sure it was safe for her and my nephews to come home.

  Trying to recover my mini melt down, I blew a small breath of air onto my manicured nails. I then buffed the nails on the shoulder of my shirt. Wordless evidence that I had indeed handled business, I then brushed the imaginary dirt off my shoulders.

  “Damn, you are one cold ass broad!” Her words were serious but her smile told me she was excited. “Are you telling me I can get out of this bed and go back to living my life just like I was before?” She sat up on her elbows to look me up and down.

  “Bug, how you gonna wait until I get done with the plan then lose confidence in me?” I acted as if Zoey had hurt her feelings.

  Actually I was just as surprised as Zoey because I had been putting in work carrying a quadruple work load. I was stuck on the fact that Mekhi and Emani had actually tried to kill my sister. It had been months and I had been making heads roll ever since. Looking at Zoey, Laini was no doubt looking in the mirror. Dressed in a Purple Label silk black pajama top Bug was still beautiful. And still very pregnant, I did not want to leave that part out.

  “I didn’t mean it like that, I swear.” Bug was still the same bug she had always been.

  “Yea right! What I am going to do is send you and your baby daddy a bill for all of the services I have rendered for you while you laid on your ass for six months. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that part because it is coming! It’s being itemized at this very moment. When I come to pick you and your new team up tomorrow, I will have it ready for you! Trust!” I was kidding and serious at the same time.

  I wasn’t going to give her a bill. But, I was seriously exhausted.

  “Oh, I’m so happy I can go home! Is everything at the house completed?”

  “Look, when I said everything was done- I meant everything! How many different ways do I have to say ‘everything’? Todo! Tutto! Tout! Everything!” I was irritated with Zoey’s questions. “Ryan is on standby, all the paint is dry, all of the baby clothes have been washed, dried, and put away. There are two rocking chairs in front of the bay window.”

  “You are the best big sister a girl could ever pray for on her hands and knees. I love you so much Laini. I don’t know how I could ever show you the amount of love and sacrifice you have shown me. You are my angel in life.”

  Zoey started to cry.

  “Don’t start all that mushy stuff now. We still gotta roll up out of here, so we are not completely done yet.”

  Wiping her tears away, Zoey gave Laini confirmation in a head nod.

  “You’re right.”

  “Soooo, do you wanna wake up out of this coma today or tomorrow? I think you should wake up today so they can monitor you all night then we can plead with them to let you go when I come to visit in the morning. That should be enough time for them right?” I asked because I was very unsure of the process.

  I was willing to bet my last dime that Zoey was far more ready to go than I was ready to have her sharing a home with me again.

  12

  “What time is it?”

  “A little after nine babe.”

  “We can do this now if you want? I’m ready to eat and they don’t have Chinese food in this place.” Zoey rubbed her huge belly as she talked.

  “Ain’t nothing to it but to do it.” I gave her three diva snaps of her fingers.

  I watched as my professional actress for a twin lay back onto the bed in the same position she had been in when I had first come into the room. She relaxed and all movement of her eyeballs and eyelids had ceased.

  “I just want yo ass to know that I am never going to believe you when you say you are sick ever again! You are too damn good at this shit!”

  “Damn you got a potty mouth now! You’re gonna have to do something about that now that you are going to be an auntie. Can’t be using that language around kids you know!” She actually had the nerve to be in a good mood, playing with me.

  “Scare me like that again and you won’t have to worry about hearing my language no more because I am going to strangle your ass!”

  “I’m sorry Laini. After all this time I have been waiting for you to come alone, I could have picked a better way to surprise you. I am really sorry for scaring you.” She began to look half way ashamed of herself.

  I didn’t say a damn word to her. She needed to feel guilty. She’d had me worried sick. I knew the girl was good because she had faked being asleep for six solid months behind everyone’s back except mine. In reality, it really wasn’t a laughing matter. Zoey was about to officially wake up out of a coma that she had been in for over six months, according to medical and media reports. Having the media and Emani believe Zoey had been benched was a part of our master plan from the very beginning.

  13

  Living our lifestyle, I’ve seen and heard some strange things. I wasn’t prepared for the bomb she dropped on me. It changed everything. When I knew that Zoey had information on the evil plots around us, we both set plans in place to reclaim our position on the throne. Like usual, Emani was at the center of it all. From Mekhi’s relationship with Zoey strictly for the come up, to the whole catfish scheme with Tory, placing Yvette in the center of my personal and professional affairs, bringing the Agency financial ruins- so she thought, to lying to her sister and life- long friends. Emani was the puppet master of it all. I was unsure how these women, Mekhi included, figured I was such a marshmallow.

  I had a can of fix-it for all of their tricks, lies, and betrayal. I always knew Mekhi was an opportunist. I always knew Emani was greedy and evil. The situation with Yvette broke my heart. I had bought the house she was living in with her sister. All the while she was giving the stranger personal access to me. My heart was broken. For a short time, I began to question every relationship I had ever had with people that had worked beside me, the people I thought were true friends. I even began to doubt Liam. The ‘what if’s’ were driving me crazy.

  From that point five months ago, I put everyone around me up to a realness test. First person being tested had to be Liam. Because of the seizure scare, he was present when the doctor gave me orders about the stress in my life. A planned melt down would tell me if he was on my team for real. With tears, the ugly cry, and words that suggest that I had no one in the world without Zoey was all it took.
He suggested that I regain control of my business. Encouraging me to regain focus on my parent’s dreams was a solid foundation. There was no way I could let Purple Label crumble at the first sign of trouble. Next he insisted lean on him. I tried to back out of the relationship until I could get my business affairs in order. He wasn’t hearing that at all. Instead he was intent on cutting out the cancerous people in my life at all costs. It was time for him to put up or shut up.

  I was finally in a good space in a relationship which finally smelled, tasted, and looked true in my eyes. Of course I didn’t want Liam out of my bed every night but I would not choose him over Zoey. I would never jeopardize the relationship with my sister for a man ever again. I still wanted Liam to know that I was sensitive about his thoughts and feelings about the sleeping arrangements. Liam was new to my home but what he didn’t know was that at some point our household number would jump up to an extra three sometimes four bodies. I had the biggest home plus it made more sense to add on the space Zoey would need for privacy as well. Everything had been ordered, delivered, and put together for Zoey and the babies. The new wing was now complete. All of Zoey’s belongings from her condo had been moved in and all put away.

  I had even managed to sell the property and made a nice sized monetary flip. Even though it had been years since the two of us had shared a home, I was not going to miss out on a second of my nephew’s lives. And on top of that, add all the mess from Emani, Tory, and Mekhi- it would be unsafe for her to live alone. This is what our life had come to be again. We were identical twins. We had lived in the same bag in our mother’s womb for nine months together. We both decided alone, we would make it work. Even if we were to bump heads, each of us could go to her side of the house and live without seeing the other at all. I had to break the news to my man carefully.

  Liam held on to the top of my chair as I sat down on the cushion like the elegant woman that I am. After I was seated properly, having only a small amount of lap showing with my legs under the table with Liam seated across from me in the dimly lit restaurant, I began to get nervous. I ordered a glass of red wine, Liam ordered a ginger ale. Mr. Light and Bright did not drink. I looked at him and smiled at his integrity.

  “Babe, we are having dinner out tonight because I have some pretty important things I need to discuss with you.” I tried unsuccessfully to remain calm.

  14

  I screamed for the waiter to return with my glass of wine in my head.

  “I’m listening baby. Whatever it is, I promise you we will get through it together.” Liam held my eyes.

  He was sincere and telling the absolute truth.

  “You know that there has been a lot of construction on the house. You know that I have been on a war path to get the furnishings I needed for it. Well, the entire truth is that the other wing is for Zoey and my nephews to live at the house permanently.” I looked down at my hands in my lap.

  “Permanently as in indefinitely?” Liam asked

  “Indefinitely for sure right now, it will be the arrangement until another life changing event happens. Like if she gets married- decides to move or gets married and decides to continue to stay. There are no time limits. I wanted to know if that would be an environment you would be okay living in. I realize we are a new couple and the last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable.” I realized I was rambling so I waited for a response.

  It seemed as though time stood still, Liam didn’t respond for a few minutes. It might have been five but it felt like thirty minutes to me.

  “The fact that you are even asking me about this blows my mind. Here I am your employee turned man, moving into your sprawling mansion, we haven’t discussed bills, who’s paying for what, what things are my responsibility in the house, and you are worried about whether or not I would be comfortable.” Liam sounded as if he was getting choked up.

  The waiter returned with the drinks.

  “I know this is going to sound ugly, but I have to say it anyway. I am so glad you had all those creeps in your past. Now it is time for you to see how a real man treats a queen. I love you Laini Jefferies, you have an identical twin- how can I not love her too? The two of you have me now. Listen to me, ‘we’ are about to be aunt and uncle, it’s not just you by yourself. You have a man beside you, behind you, and under you. My prayers are being answered right now babe. You just don’t know.” Liam stood and stretched himself over the table and placed a neat kiss on my lips.

  A shiver of electricity shot through my body.

  “So when is Zoey going to be released from the hospital?” He sat back in his seat with ease.

  “We are hoping they cut her loose tomorrow. I know you haven’t had a chance to see it, but her wing is absolutely beautiful. The nursery looks as if it is fit for royal newborns.”

  “They will be royal newborns, I know that and the world knows that. In years to come these kids will have the opportunity to do anything in the world they could ever imagine that they would want to do.”

  He had totally missed me giving him a night to make up his mind about our living space.

  “You’re right. With their mom’s fashion background and savvy business sense, they could very well build their own empires. I hadn’t thought about that yet. It changes everything as soon as those babies come out of the womb.” I sat back in my chair, holding my glass of wine.

  She was deep in thought at someday having child entrepreneurs

  “I apologize if you think I should have told you earlier but the truth is that I would have taken on caring for the twins if Zoey had not woken up. The doctors are saying it was the babies moving to get into position for birth that stimulated her brain enough to wake her.”

  “Everything is ok, pretty lady. I understand completely. So, I guess we should move on to the next must have conversation.”

  15

  “I’m listening.”

  My interest was intrigued.

  I was listening and curious of what he might ask.

  “Who is Zoey’s baby’s father?”

  I closed my eyes and let out a huge breath. That was the one question I was not prepared to answer.

  “When the time comes you will be formally introduced, I promise.”

  “I understand that but I need to do checks before he is even allowed on the property. With Mekhi disappearing into thin air, I now know that it can’t be him because of how you answered the question. The sooner I know, the smoother the process will be.”

  “Liam it’s complicated but more important than that, it just isn’t my truth to tell just yet. I’m sorry. I promise you will find out as soon as Zoey is ready to make the announcement.”

  “Dang, dude gotta be high profile then!”

  Liam began to get excited.

  All I could do was shake my head.

  “High profile means that he either has body guards himself or he is big enough to be his own bodyguard. I’m cool with that either way.” Liam took his job too seriously sometimes.

  “Is there anything else Sherlock Holmes?” Laini asked poking fun at him.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact there is.”

  “Let’s hear it sir.”

  “I understand that the way your financial situation is set up is that you don’t have one.” Neither of us could contain our laughs at Kevin Hart’s famous words.

  “Ha-ha-harty-har-har! Very funny Mr. Comedian.” I still had the giggles.

  “Seriously though, with us keeping our relationship strictly professional for years, we’ve never had to discuss incomes. Of course you know how much I am being paid by your corporation. But you don’t know anything about my background.” We held each other’s eyes as he talked.

  ‘Dear God, please don’t let this man tell me anything that I don’t want to hear.’

  My stomach quivered in nervousness.

  “Liam, your income doesn’t matter to me. All I need from you is not going to cost you five cents. I just need for you to be my partner in this thing we call life. E
very single thing on this earth that should be experienced between a couple in love is what I want to experience with you. I need a man who is going to tell me the truth, open my car door, profess his love for me, protect me, and provide me with more attention than a three year- old requires.” I smiled at him.

  ‘Please don’t make us about the money….please, please, please.’

  “That’s just it. I know how hard the tabloids and TMZ hit you in the blogs every day. I don’t want anyone to think that I am an opportunist or that I am mooching.”

  “Babe, why would you think that about me? You know I don’t give a damn what they write in the blogs!”

  “Sweetheart, the blogs are going to call us a power couple on Jay Z & Beyoncé status.”

  This time Liam sat back in his seat.

  “So, what are you saying?”

  I could feel my heart beating so fast I should have been afraid it was going to burst in my chest.

  16

  “Remember how I started driving you when we both were teenagers?”

  “Of course Liam, get to the point! You know I’m impatient!”

  He started to chuckle.

  “Well at the time it was my father’s transportation and protection service that your parents contracted to handle you as a client. When dad decided to retire early, his entire estate was handed down to me- his only child. While I have traveled all over the world with you, I have also been conducting business all over as well. We never talked money, but I can imagine you are pulling in middle hundred millions a year. You should know that, I paid Mr. Pollnitz in cash for that ring for one. I don’t know if he told you that already. Remind me to talk to you about the nature of you guys’ relationship later on. I’m real uncomfortable with how the dude looks when he talks about you. But, that’s another situation for another day.”