* * *
“Finally! Flower, where have you been? Everybody is looking for you. Mom and Dad are beside themselves, FADE and Ghadi are keeping it cool, but that’s them, and girl, Akchiro is cold as a glacier. He said that you texted to say that you were on your way. He looked mad as hell. Why didn’t you tell him where you were going? He was really worried when he got here, when you weren’t anywhere to be found. You told him you were coming straight here.” Willow gave her a look like, Now, you know better, before they rounded as they searched her face. “What’s wrong with you?” The concern that edged her voice made Flower try as best she could to school her expression. She was so close to breaking.
“Traffic was crazy,” she began, looking to see the rest of her family heading her way. “It’s okay. Just rushing to get here on time. Thank goodness, I made it.”
“My ass, I got you. You will tell me what’s going on later,” Willow muttered, giving her a hard look, then turned to face the family. “Look who made it, y’all, and right on time! Come on, guys. Traffic was crazy, but she made it. Let’s head on in.” She pulled Flower behind her, wedging herself between them, shielding her from knowing eyes as she ushered everyone to the attendant leading into the exchange where they would ring the bell. Flower made a mental note to special order her kid sister some of her favorite Blue Bell Ice Cream, Pralines and Cream—that stuff was five-star fantastic.
Flower could feel his eyes on her. She dared not look anywhere but right ahead as her sister pretended they were in deep discussion. She focused on keeping her cool and not stumbling. Her heels were high and her hem higher and she didn’t need to cause a riot by showing all these stock brokers her panties. That would not do. She almost gave in to a teary giggle. She felt so fragile at the moment but knew all she had to do was get through the moment.
“I just need to get through this.” She was an expert at this by this point. That’s how she got through the last year and a half. She freely admitted leaving Akchiro had devastated her then losing their child had literally near killed her, and the recovery had been more than hard. At the time she felt that it was insurmountable, but she had done it a little bit at a time by honoring her grief and her body. The guilt remained though, for many reasons, one being the man looking daggers at her now.
“You will, then you’ll tell me what’s going on.” Her sister cut her eyes to her. “Yes, I heard you. We are not doing a repeat of last year. You will not keep yourself bottled up until you make yourself unwell.”
Flower looked into Willow’s eyes and saw the deep concern and determination there. No, she’d done enough of that last year. She just should have waited for the doctor visit until another day, but Dr. Ahmed was leaving town to do pop-up clinics in rural areas and she needed to know if what she suspected was true and she didn’t have a month to wait.
They all lined up to go in. Her brothers first, along with Delightful and the twins. Then her parents, who squeezed Willow in at the behest of Akchiro, who fell back beside her.
“You’re avoiding me.” He was a wall beside her.
“No, I just hate being late…” She closed her eyes against the pun she’d unintentionally uttered. Turning her head away, she shook it in mortification.
“You made it in time, that’s what matters.” Flower glanced at him. Being unfailing polite was his thing; being kind when someone, no matter who, screwed up? Not so much. “This day is important to our families.” He nodded so that she could precede him.
Standing side by side with him and her brothers as they rang the bell should have been the best moment of her life. It would have been had the thoughts that her whole world was going to implode—as if a magnetic pulse had hit and taken down all technology on the planet—was not taking her every breath.
Chapter 19
“Ain’t no party like a CC party ’cause CC party don’t quitttt!” DJ Manic. Flower should have known her brothers would have gotten the top hip-hop DJ on the planet to host their Creative Chaos IPO launch party. She watched Akchiro take in the scene before them, trying to gauge his reaction. They’d not had time to speak, and she knew that this was not the time. She was determined to push through, at least until they got back to her apartment.
Celebrities of all stripes wanted to be on the biggest hip-hop and tech merger of all time as her brothers, the forever hype men, had claimed on business and entertainment TV, blogs, and live-casts all day. They exceeded their launch predictions within minutes and now they all were extremely wealthy people. Now she saw firsthand Akchiro’s genius. He had the ability to see potential then foster it in such a way that the recipient of his tutelage had no option but to succeed. Flower thought back to the dinner they’d attended that time and how those entrepreneurs clamored for an opportunity to work with him. As evidenced today, working with Akchiro guaranteed success.
They walked deeper into the venue, close but not touching. Everyone by now knew they were together. They also knew not to even bother approaching. There were standing orders of immediate takedown if anyone dared to intrude upon them without proper introduction.
The music pulsed around them as they were ushered to the VIP section where her brothers were holding court alongside Takashi and Riyu, who seemed to have adapted to life in the states quite well. Though they still had on their suits, they we more relaxed and laid-back than she had ever seen them. They laughed and mingled with models, rappers, athletes, actors, and even the Insta-famous. Aside from her brothers, they were easily the most popular men in the room. This was not lost on Akchiro; she watched as the muscle his jaw thrummed against his skin. “This will not serve them well when we return to Tokyo.”
Flower looked away, feeling pain slice through her at his cavalier statement. How easy he found their separation this time. Why not? she chided herself. He’d gotten what he came for: to have her at his beck and call, simultaneously building his wealth—his favorite pastime and setting right the humiliation he’d felt she served him. His only promise this time was that there was going to be a reckoning and though he’d done nothing to hurt her, his leaving would leave a wound that would not heal. She didn’t fool herself for a moment about what would happen if he decided he wanted this child. He would stop at nothing to claim what he believed was his.
“Hey, Flower! Girl, it’s good to see you!” Flower pasted on a smile that felt a little too brittle and turned as she entered the semicircle of the raised dais to find Marchellis lounging back on the cushions. “Wow, I see you brought your friend.” He stood then, amusement playing on his face as he looked between her and Akchiro and held out his hand. “We didn’t get introduced the last time we ran across each other in Tokyo. Marchellis.”
“Akchiro.” The cold words had Flower slanting her eyes up at him. He knew better. She knew he did, but he was still angry over something that happened over a year ago. That gave her pause. How would he then act when she told him about losing the baby and not telling him till now? A sickening dread bloomed in the pit of her stomach.
“What are y’all drinking?” He waved the bottle attendant over. “Flower, I know you love some rosé champagne…” He winked at her. She didn’t have to look at Akchiro to know this forwardness had him seething. Cultural differences aside, she had a notion that Marchellis loved fucking with Akchiro.
“How do you know what anybody likes?” Willow called from clear across the room, shooting daggers in Marchellis’s direction.
“Don’t worry about me, little girl.” His face hardened a fraction before he could cover it when turning back to them, “So what will it be?” Interesting.
“I’m good.” Flower waved him away, turning to track down her sister, who looked murderous for whatever reason. “I’ll be right back.”
“Hey, what’s going on with you two?” Flower asked as she approached her sister. Who looked as if she were about to explode.
“Woosahhh, I’m fine. He’s a lug-head, though.” Willow rolled her eyes at Marchellis, who seem to be charming Akchiro d
espite himself. “Now, you need tell me what’s been going on with you all day and even now? Seems like you would be happiest of all right now.” Willow looked pointedly at her.
“What do you mean? I’m not part of Creative Chaos anymore. Some people would say I’m the reason that the company had to get a whale anyway, that because of my shabby leadership, my brothers—the kings of hip-hop—had to get a venture capitalist to invest. An investment that wouldn’t have been needed had I not taken a sabbatical.” Maybe it was finding out that she was once again pregnant, maybe it was what she still faced with Akchiro. Flower didn’t know, but she felt the intensity of her failures harder now than when she’d lost her baby. She just wanted to be in her comfy bed, a wall of fluffiness surrounding her, with her iPad propped up in a way that it wouldn’t fall and smack her on the head as she read about alpha billionaires instead dating one in real life. The reality was a huge departure from in her favorite romances, though she had to give it to them—they wrote some crazy good stories.
“Yep, they could say all of that and they would be wrong.” Willow grabbed her shoulders and gave her a little shake then squeeze. “You worked from your hospital bed then your bed at home to get everything set for FADE’s return. You delayed your dreams for this family. This IPO happened because of you, Flower. Never doubt that. They know it. This night is a much because of you as it is about them.”
Flower heard the truth of her sister’s words. She had claimed those very facts to Akchiro as she defended herself when he arrived. She was proud of what she accomplished and though she had a lot to contend with when it came to her child, she would not let that cloud this huge accomplishment. She wouldn’t diminish her good work just because of other situations going awry in her life.
“Willow, you are the best.”
Flower smiled and hugged her sister close to her and giggled when she heard a muffled, “I know.” She gave Willow a playful shove and they looped arms, turning in time to see FADE drag Delightful with him to the stage DJ Manic occupied.
FADE tapped the mic, drawing everyone’s attention. “Ayyyye!!! Thank y’all for coming out!” He waved at the crowd, totally in his element. Their parents had said often there had never been a time when her brother was not ready to entertain people. He towered over his wife, hugging her close, nuzzling her to the oohs and aahs of the crowd. Delightful giggled and hugged him back. She was still the no-nonsense high achiever she’s always been, but FADE brought out the truth of her name and everyone could tell. They transformed each other. They were a testament of what love and even forgiveness could bring. They gave Flower hope.
“We have another announcement.” He paused for effect, looking around, catching every eye in the room, “Not only has Delightful come into my life and turned it into a whirlwind of adventure, she is blessing me with the greatest gift of all in December!” The crowd cheered. The sound reverberated all around them as he lifted his wife until he brought her up to his level and kissed her.
Flower clapped along with everyone around her, tears of joy streaming down her face. Tears that wouldn’t stop, not when her sister turned to her in alarm and even when she pulled her out of the crowd into a private lounge area and settled her on a big comfy couch she knew FADE had personally selected.
“Shh, shh, Flower, it’s going to be alright.” How had Delightful gotten there? She looked up to see herself surrounded by Willow, Bridget, Evangelina, Delightful’s sisters—Miracle and Lovie-Belle.
“Oh my goodness! Did I ruin your announcement?” Mortification made her words sound reedy and high. “Jeez!” She covered her face, knowing she looked a mess. “How long have we been in here?”
“Not long—”
“Twenty-five minutes, twenty-six, no, twenty-seven seconds to be exact,” Miracle chimed in, her eyes red-rimmed. Flower made sure to smile gently at her but not acknowledge that she too had been crying because any such attention would make her upset.
“Thank you, Miracle.” Flower then turned to everyone assembled. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to us, we are your family. You need to tell us what happened and what’s going on with you.” Willow’s voice was kind but held an unmovable firmness that compelled her to answer. She felt herself sliding back to that dark place she dared not look at and knew the only way to avoid it was to be open about what was going on.
“I’m pregnant, almost twelve weeks. That’s where I was this morning. I s-suspected…but I had to know. You guys know how wonky my cycle is. I have been on it, like really religious about it since Akchiro’s been back. The first few months, it was regular, then just light spotting since. I chalked that up to starting the pill. Then when I missed this month…I kinda knew…I don’t know what I was thinking. Like, again? How am I going to go through this again?” Sobs racked her body, and Delightful and Willow wrapped her in a cocoon of comfort and love.
“And when FADE made his announcement, it triggered all of those hard emotions that you’ve been struggling with all day—pregnancy causes intense emotions. You should also be aware of that, Delightful.” Miracle rubbed gentle circles on Flower’s back as she continued in her matter-of-fact way, “Whatever you decide, we are here for you.”
“What do you mean whatever she decides?” Bridget stood back, bristling at the group.
“Umm, this is not about you,” Evangelina griped, “How you can be progressive on everything but this, I’ll never understand. And she does have options. Last time she was five weeks.”
“That’s not the same thing,” Lovie-Belle chided.
“Well, actually, an abortion is an abortion no matter the circumstance, there are—” Flower looked up as Miracle trailed off mid-dissertation of what she’d assured Flower many times before that a miscarriage was a spontaneous abortion and she shouldn’t be alarmed that it was on her medical chart. Looking past the bowed heads around her, Flower followed her friend’s shocked gaze.
Her stomach dropped. Akchiro stood several feet inside the room—seething. He emanated such rage, Flower gasped. Her friends turned and looked at him. She could see him through a narrow opening. He stepped forward, everything about him rippling menace. His jaw was clenched so hard she thought he was in risk of breaking it.
“You need to leave.” Delightful stepped away from everyone else.
“Flower.” Akchiro spoke her name in Japanese. His eyes searched and found hers. The betrayal he felt radiated straight into her like a dagger as he speared her with his stare.
“Leave.” They stood before him like T’Challa’s royal guard, unflinching in their support of her.
Akchiro bowed before them with rigid precision, his eyes never leaving hers as he came back to his full height.
“Flower, I am coming back for you and our child.” His words were like shards of glass, cutting and sharp. And one thing was crystal clear. There would be no forgiveness this time.
Chapter 20
She looked out into the pink of the dawn, bringing in the new day with the gentleness of a mother’s kiss upon the brow of a sleeping child. It wouldn’t be long before this city that she’d called home from the time she was twelve would be running around crashing into things and making loud noises just like a small, rambunctious child. That thought brought more pain, because who was she kidding? She’d messed things up just like a kid that had thrown her finger paint everywhere while she danced and played without a thought to the world. Thoughtless. That is what beat at her temple all night as she tossed and turned.
Their souls were linked. That’s why she knew exactly how he felt standing there. Betrayed, abandoned, bereft. She’d done that to him. And she knew without a doubt, he would never forgive her. Had seen people killed for doing to him what she’d done. He was ruthless, tireless, and honorable. He had never harmed her. Not even when he found her. He’d only claimed her as his. She saw that now. She saw what it cost him. She’d read the stories in the Tokyo press about him giving face, running after an American and a Black one no less. Y
et, he had never spoken a word of recrimination to her for it. And her response was not to trust him.
Her eyes felt puffy and gritty as she rubbed them. She knew she was going to look a sight today. Her friends were going come over and hole up in her apartment until they were satisfied that she was fine. She knew she never would be. Not now. Maybe when the baby came. Though she wasn’t fooling herself about therapy. After last night, it was a must. Pushing things down and away only made them loom larger than necessary. And she needed to be a complete person for her little one.
After having taken care of her morning ritual, she grabbed her throw and looked for her laptop. Not being able to find it, she went to hole up on her sofa the rest of the day. She might as well binge watch one of the hundreds of shows she never got a chance to see on a regular basis.
She’d just settled down with her coffee, clicked the remote, and started scrolling through her choices when her doorbell rang.
“Girl, you are early—” Her words stuck in her throat when she saw Bao standing there.
“Bao—” Her heart hammered. Bao never came to her door for any reason. The only reason, per their pervious association, would be if there were a life-threatening emergency.
“Mr. Takeda needs you, Ms. Carrington.” He bowed deeply in response to her, his Japanese deliberate as always since she’d told him hers was rusty.
“Give me a moment to get dressed.” She left him there and hurried back to her room. Stepping into jeans then stepping back out because she didn’t like the way they hugged her tummy. She rummaged through her closet and found a navy-blue jersey knit Vera Wang dress she’d gotten from Target and pulled it over her head. Grabbing her purse and keys, she followed Bao, her heart beating out of her chest.
Lotus Flower Bomb: The Mogul Series Book Two Page 17
