Chapter Twelve
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Cardi The Model

"Cardi, once again thank you for doing this for me," Matty said.

The make-up artist quickly finished, and she rose to get up.

"You're welcome," Cardi said.

"Now, remember that these photographs of you will be sold at my gala tonight and I'll give a cut in the profits of your photos that are sold, okay," Matty said.

Cardi nodded.

"Okay, cool," Cardi said.

Matty and Cardi walked on set and Cardi stood on the x on the floor Matty got behind the camera and started giving her instructions.

Cardi started posing, and for a couple of minutes, the snapping sound of the camera and the music playing were the only things that could be heard.

"Good, good. Amazing." Matty said.

He continued to direct her into various positions.

She continued, for who knows how long, Matty working away as Cardi ran back and forth, changing outfits.

After about an hour or so passed, Matty had finally decided that he had enough photos.

"Okay, we are done," Matty said.

Cardi sighed and ran back to the dressing room to change.

"Thank you, God," Cardi said to herself.

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"Cardi!" Ahn squealed as Cardi picked him up.

"Hey, big boy," Cardi said, kissing his cheek.

Ahn giggled.

Zhan walked down the stairs and smiled at the two of them.

"Cardi, you're here," Zhan said.

"Yeah, I just came to pick up Ahn. I'm taking him to my mother's house." Cardi said.

Zhan nodded and sighed.

"Look, Cardi, I'm sorry about kissing you. I know you're already in an uncomfortable place between my drama with Maddox and I do appreciate you for looking after Ahn for me." Zhan said.

Cardi nodded.

"Thank you but why can't you two just squash y'all petty beef? Ahn's mother isn't with Maddox, anymore." Cardi said.

"Yeah, but the reminder of what she did is with him," Zhan said.

"What do you mean?" Cardi asked.

Zhan reached over and covered Ahn's ears.

"Ahn's mother is Alanna's mother too," Zhan answered.

Cardi rolled her eyes.

"Are you serious?" Cardi asked.

"Yes," Zhan replied.

"But why is Ahn in the same preschool as Alanna? He's a year younger." Cardi asked.

"He's smart," Zhan answered.

"How long do you intend on keeping this from Ahn?" Cardi asked.

"I don't know," Zhan replied.

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"Hello?" Cardi answered the phone.

"Cardi, I'm sending you a check and a little extra," Matty said into the phone.

"Why?" Cardi asked.

"The gala. . . All of your pictures sold and the buyer even paid double to get all of them." Matty answered.

"What? Really? That's good, right?" Cardi asked.

"It's more than good. Once you see the check, you might just have a heart attack." Matty replied.

Cardi watched as Maddox and Axel entered the house with semi-huge boxes.

"Okay, Matty, I have to call you later," Cardi said, curious about what was in the boxes.

"Okay," Matty said, ending the call.

Cardi put her phone down and stared at Maddox.

"What's in the boxes?" Cardi asked.

"Open them," Maddox answered.

Cardi gave him a look then walked over to the boxes and tried to open the first one she reached.

"Is this a picture frame?" Cardi asked as Axel helped her pull out the frame.

Cardi removed the tape and bubble wrap to reveal a picture of herself.

"Oh God! You're the buyer that paid double." Cardi said as she looked at the picture.

Axel laughed.

"You should have seen him, Cardi when he saw your pictures at the gala. He went crazy like no why is she doing this? Some guy tried to buy them but Maddox paid double the amount for all of your pictures even the ones that didn't make it on the wall of that gala." Axel said.

Cardi shook her head. She walked over to Maddox and hugged him. Maddox wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Thank you, I was lowkey nervous about a creep buying my photos." She said.

Jean who was passing through the hallway, stopped once he saw Cardi and Maddox hugging and quickly pulled out his phone and took a picture of the two hugging.

"Quiava is going to have a heart attack. I love it." Jean said.

Cardi pulled away but Maddox hadn't let go of her waist.

Cardi looked up at him.

"What?" Cardi asked.

Maddox leaned towards her and kissed her.

"Oh shit," Jean said, taking another picture.

"This is the best day ever," Axel said.

Cardi gasped which gave Maddox the access to stick his tongue in her mouth.

"Let me go call my girlfriend since y'all are about to have sex in the living room!" Axel exclaimed, walking up the stairs.

Jean quickly walked away, smirking.

"About time," Jean said.

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"Hey, Samaria, isn't that your boyfriend?" One of Samaria's friends asked, pointing to the boy eating with some girl.

Nettie looked at Samaria and she could see her about to start crying.

Samaria had called Nettie, earlier to go to the mall with her and her friends. She wanted Nettie to help her pick out a new wardrobe.

Nettie sighed.

"Okay, let's not start crying 'cause then I have to go beat up two underage teens. Tia's baby doesn't need to be crying over a loser." Nettie said as she pulled Samaria into a hug.

"I gave him my virginity. He said that if we didn't have sex he would break up with me." Samaria said.

Nettie saw red and next thing you know, she was walking up to the table with Samaria and her friends following behind her.

She looked at the boy and he looked at Samaria and didn't seem fazed by her presence.

"How old are you?" Nettie asked the boy.

"Eighteen." He answered.

Nettie nodded then picked up his drink and poured it over his head.

"Tell your mom or aunts, hell even grandma to pull up on me 'cause they raised a bitch ass nigga." Nettie said.

The boy stood up, angry.

"What the fuck is your problem, bitch?" He asked.

"Boys like you are my problem," Nettie answered.

The girl at the table stood up and ran away.

The boy raised his hand to slap Nettie but some guy grabbed his arm.

"I know you weren't about to hit a woman?" The man asked.

The boy shook his head no.

"Uncle Rocco," Samaria said.

Rocco looked at Samaria.

"Why are you crying, Samaria?" Rocco asked.

"That's her boyfriend. He was cheating on her." Nettie answered.

Rocco glared at the boy.

"Oh, we're gonna on a walk." He said, jacking the boy up.

"Uncle Rocco, it's not worth it," Samaria said as she started pulling on his arm.

"Nah, no one hurts my niece and gets away with it. I got a body bag with your name on it." Rocco said to the boy.

"Auntie Nene, help me," Samaria said, pleading.

Nettie wanted to let Rocco kill the boy but she knew he wasn't worth it.

"Rocco let the boy go." She said as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

Rocco dropped the boy and he fell to the ground.

"Stay the hell away from my niece next time they won't be able to save your sorry ass. Get lost!" Rocco yelled at the boy.

Nettie sighed.

"Okay, let's get you girls home. We can do some shopping some other time." Nettie said.

Rocco looked Nettie up and down then smiled.

"So, what happened to all that shit you said in the DMS?" Rocco asked Nettie as they walked towards the mall's exit.

Nettie rolled her eyes.

"Boy bye," Nettie said.

Rocco laughed and put his arm on her shoulder.

"Now that I've seen you in person, mi sirenita, you're stuck with me," Rocco said.

Nettie sucked her teeth.

"My little mermaid?" She asked.

"Yes." He answered.

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"He did what?!" Cardi exclaimed.

"Calm down, Cardi. Samaria made me promise not to tell you or Maddox 'cause she said y'all would act like this." Nettie said, smiling at how overprotective her sister was over the kids.

"Nobody messes with my babies and gets away with it. I'm gonna send Jonjon and them to jump him." Cardi said.

"I would stop you but I like that idea," Nettie said.

"I knew I ain't like that boy once I saw his rat face," Cardi said.

"Not rat face," Nettie said, laughing.

"Yes, girl. He was not cute enough for Samaria." Cardi said.

"Cardi, why are your lips swollen?" Nettie asked.

"Allergic reaction," Cardi answered.

Nettie stared at her.

Cardi looked away.

"Bitch who the fuck have you been kissing?!" Nettie exclaimed.

"Girl, look at these pictures, Matty took of me," Cardi said, changing the subject.

Nettie rolled her eyes and laughed but let her change the subject.

Nettie looked at the pictures that were hanging around the room.

"These look good but I thought you said it was eight pictures?" Nettie asked.

"Huh?" Cardi replied, counting the frames. "One is missing." She said.

"Where is it?" Nettie asked.

"It's in Maddox's office," Jean answered, walking by.

Cardi groaned.

"Oh girl, he wants you," Nettie said.

"Too bad I don't want him," Cardi said.

"But you guys were kissing earlier," Jean said, passing through once again.

Nettie squealed.

"I knew it!" Nettie exclaimed.

"Jean!" Cardi yelled.