Janet

Ryan's message replayed over and over in my mind so much so, that I hadn't noticed we were nearly to the club.

Toni pulled a small rose gold flask from her purse and took a couple of shots straight to the head. She knows that I don't like when she drinks and when I cut my eyes in her direction, she shrugged.

"What Janet?" She asked taking another sip.

"Toni can you please limit how much you drink tonight? I want to have a good time baby." I asked politely and reached for the flask.

She pulled her arm away and tucked it back into her purse. "I'm just pregaming baby." I gave her that look and she sighed. "Fine, okay I will only have a couple of drinks when we get there." She promised. But she always promised and I've known her long enough to know when she is just telling me what I want to hear. So I wasn't going to hold my breath.

Sitting my purse down on the seat next to me, I rolled my eyes, folded my arms and sat back. I already knew how this night was going to end. I glanced towards the front of the car to see Toni's driver looking back at us through the rear view with a of half scoff, half smirk on her face.

"Is there something funny?" I snapped, even catching myself off guard. Toni glared at me. "Excuse me for being blunt but I'm not understanding what the fuck is so funny about this."

Her response was surprisingly stern. "I wasn't laughing at your conversation, I just don't see anything wrong with Toni wanting to unwind tonight, especially as hard as she's been working lately. Don't you think she deserves it?"

"Excuse me, since when is "What Toni deserves" any business of yours?"

Toni was completely shocked and apologized. "I'm so sorry Kyle. Please excuse my girlfriend." She said cutting her eyes at me again. "Janet chill out baby, you don't have to be rude to her."

"I'm the one being rude? Her business is the road, not our conversation Toni." I couldn't believe how irritated I had become. Kyle didn't dare return her eyes to the back seat of the car but as we came to a stop at a red light, she briefly turned to face us. "She's right Toni, it's not my business nor my place."

"You should be referring to her, your boss, as Ms. Braxton." I herd myself say. She turned her focus to me.

"You're right Ms. Jackson, I've been extremely unprofessional today. I'm sorry." She said and quickly turned her focus back to the road after hearing an impatient honk from the truck behind them as the light turned green.

I focused on my twiddling fingers in my lap. My cheeks were a light shade of red now. I was embarrassed by how worked up I allowed myself to get.

Toni again broke the silence. "What is your deal tonight?" She asked in a whisper, her face was flushed and I could tell she was already being effected by the tiny flask she'd tucked away in her purse. "You say she is in our business but what about Preston?" She asked. I sat up in my seat defensively.

"What about him?"

"He is always meddling in your shit." She said once again revealing the flask. She open it and went to take another drink and I snatched it from her hands. "What is your problem tonight Janet?"

"How can you even compare Preston to someone you barely know? He is family and has been working for me for over 10 years. He's been here longer than you. Are you serious with this right now?" I threw the flask back in her direction and the car fell silent. It stayed that way until we arrived at our destination.

The Club

As we pulled up, I was started to feel anxious. I couldn't even look at Toni, so I focused towards the window, watching the crowd of people trying to get in and instantly regretted the decision to come here.

As much as I loved to go out dancing, I hated this club. The lines out front were the least of my worries because we would get right in.

Once inside the sea of people over takes you.

No one would even notice our faces in this place, even if we walked right through the crowd. The mesh of noise, people, musky fragrances and alcohol all seemed to come together to create a sort of chaos. Never dangerous, just hot, sweaty and very fucking overwhelming at times.

All that didn't matter anyways because I'd made up my mind. I wasn't getting out of this damn car.

Toni

Janet was angry now and I could tell she was fighting back her tears. I reached out for her hand and she pulled it away.

"Toni just don't, Okay?"

Letting my head fall into my hands, I tried to focus even though I was really starting to feel the alcohol. I glanced in her direction again. "Can we step outside the car and talk please Janet?"

Without looking at me or saying a word, Janet opened the car door and got out. Kyle was looking at me through the mirror again. "Thanks for picking us up. I'm sorry about the drama." I said.

"I got you anytime, Ms. Braxton." She turned to look at me. "Now go have some fun, as much as you want, don't let her rain on your parade." She winked. "I would come party with you but I promised to get you both home safely." She said jokingly.

"Thanks Kyle and please, call me Toni. I really don't mind." My words made her smile.

"Have a great time boss, I'll be here when you need me." She said as I stepped out and closed the door.

Janet was standing near the rear of the car leaning back again the truck. I approached her slowly. "Baby? I'm sorry, I over stepped my boundaries talking shit about Preston."

"You're damn right you did and then this!" She snapped, snatched the flask from my hand. "You know that I don't like it when you drink Toni. All you ever want to do is party. Grow up already!"

Her words began to get to me and I felt myself getting angry. Before I could stop it words we're spilling out. "At least I still know how to go out and have a good time. You don't ever want to go out with me anymore."

"Because when we do you make a fool of yourself every time! You need to stop drinking Toni before it gets to the point where you can't control it." She raised her voice enough to get a few stares from the like at the door.

"You know fine, take your ass home then. I will have a good time by my damn self."

"Toni, I don't want to leave here without you." She said, pleading with her eyes. "Please can we just go home and talk about this? Please, I'm sorry for getting upset baby."

Janet stepped in closer to me. Her warm hand touched my face and she looked at me and smiled slightly. I cuffed her hand with my own for a moment and then returned it to her side. I was angry and I'm sure the liquor wasn't helping.

I walked around the car, to the driver side and opened the door for Kyle. She looked a bit confused but got out anyway. Janet just stood there and watched me.

"What's up?" Kyle asked taking turns looking at me and then back at Janet again.

"My girlfriend here apparently doesn't like to have fun anymore. Or maybe she just forgot how to." I said hearing my own words starting to slur. Janet threw the empty flask at my feet.

"Fuck you Toni! Go have your damn fun, but don't expect me to be here when you sober up." She said looking at me with tears streaming down her cheeks.

I took Kyle's hand. "Come party with me. I will call us a cab later." As I started walk I
noticed very quickly that Kyle wouldn't follow.
"You coming?"

She looked at Janet, sadness filled her eyes. "Nah Toni, I can't do that. But by all means, go have some fun. I will get Ms. Jackson home and then I will be back for you. I promise." She said.

"Fine, I'll party by myself." 

Destruction is where I was headed and I'd known that the second I took that first drink. My pride wouldn't let me face Janet, so I turned and headed towards the club doors. The bouncer noticed my face, smiled and let me right in.

He lead me right to the VIP where I was surrounded by beautiful woman and unlimited amounts of alcohol. I was already past my limit but the more I drank, the better I was starting to feel. The more I drank the less I thought about Janet.

Janet

She'd really done it. Toni walked away from me, disappearing inside and leaving me standing there looking like a damn fool. What did I have to do to make her choose me for once?

Kyle walked over to me, and hesitantly put her hand on my shoulder. I moved away from her touch, my embarrassed eyes focused on the ground. "Can you just please take me home?" She nodded and without saying anything and opened the car door for me. "Thank you."

I sobbed in the back seat, trying to ignore Ryan's eyes as they glanced back and for from me and the road. My first thought was to text Gil. I could use his company so badly, but it was so late. Besides we had brunch plans tomorrow anyways.

She was still looking at me.

"If you'd stop looking at me like a wounded animal, I may be able to stop feeling like one." I said finally.

"I'm so sorry Ms. Jackson. I just feel so bad. I feel like this is all my fault. I didn't mean to start anything between you two." Kyle rambled on for a moment. I saw tears swelling in her eyes and I began to feel bad.

"Kyle, this is not entirely your fault. It would've come to this without any help from you." I realized how insincere my apology sounded and thought I should stop while I was a head. Glancing towards the window, I noticed that we were passing the same building for the second time. "Kyle are we going in circles?"

"You never told me where you lived." She said glancing back at me. We both started to laugh uncontrollably. It was a much needed laugh. "Where should I take you?"

I looked down at my phone. Should I just call Gil and stay the night with him? I scrolled back past Ryan's number, seeing the preview of her last message, seeing her address.

"Do you know how to get to Pasadena?" I asked, my heart being to pound. What the hell was I doing?