-the opening

Eden

So far, everything has been going great. More people came than expected, and everyone is smiling and complimenting me. This is the best night ever, but there's one person missing.

"Have you seen Chris yet?" I asked Felix

"No, sorry boo" he sighed "Maybe he has a good reason for being late"

"He better. Can you mingle with the crowd while I go call him?" I asked

"Sure thing" he nodded "I saw a fine ass gentleman walk in not too long ago"

"Thanks, Fe" I chuckled

With that, I walked off and went into my office, closing the door. I pulled my phone from my purse and dialed Chris's number

"Please pick up" I said, putting it to my ear

It rang a few more times before going to voicemail.

"Ugh" I sat the phone on my desk

Where the hell could he be? My phone buzzed and I quickly checked it. I had a video from an unknown number. I opened it and turned up the volume

* 30 minutes later

"Eden, what you doing in this office? This is your big night." Felix came in the office "Why you crying? What's wrong?" He sat his champagne glass down

"Look at this" I wiped my eyes, trying to get myself together

I pressed play on the video and turned it towards him

"You in here watching-" He cut his sentence short, dropping his jaw

The video I showed him was of Chris and Candice having sex.

"Baby cakes" Felix hugged me

"He cheated on me..." I said weakly, crying some more

"Shh. It's gonna be ok, it's gonna be alright." He rubbed my back

I spent a few minutes crying, processing what had happened.

"You wanna cut this event short?" He asked

I wiped my eyes "No"

"You sure? I mean you just got some pretty bad news"

"I'm positive" I sniffled, blowing my nose "I'm not gonna let this ruin my night. I've been waiting on this moment since a little girl, I've come too far just to have my important night ruined"

"I'm here for that" he raised his champagne glass "You can cry later. Fuck that nigga"

"That's right. Think you can touch up my makeup?" I stood up

"Thank goodness I always keep an emergency makeup kit" he smiled, standing up

*1 hour later

Despite what happened, I'm managing to enjoy myself. Of course I'm still hurt, but I can cry whenever. Tonight is just for me.

"This is the most beautiful photography studio I have ever seen. My daughter and I will be enrolling in classes first thing Monday morning" a woman said to me

"Thank you, I'm glad you like it" I smiled

"It has so much color, normally they're all boring and dull."

"Yeah, I wanted to try something different" I said

"Eden!" I heard Chris's voice

"You need to leave" then I heard Felix's

"Excuse me for a second" I sat my water down and rushed over to them

"Why are you yelling?" I asked Chris

"My bad baby, Felix's buggin'."

"Ain't nobody buggin'. You need to go before you get your face stomped in, fucking cheater" Felix said

"Cheater?" Chris chuckled "Baby get yo friend"

"How dare you come in here acting like everything is ok?" I asked, folding my arms

"What you talking about?" He asked

"Let him through Felix, I got this" I said "Let's go to the office" I said to Chris, not wanting to cause a scene

"Call me if you need me" Felix said

Once we reached the office, I closed and locked the door.

"Ohh, you wanted some alone time" Chris smirked, about to wrap his arms around my waist

I scoffed and pushed him away "Nigga please, after the stunt you pulled? You're fucking single"

"Stunt? Single? Where is all this coming from?" He asked "I know I'm a lil late, but that ain't no reason to break up with me" He chuckled

"And then you're gonna sit there and act like you don't know what I'm taking about!" I raised my voice

The event is pretty loud, so nobody should be able to hear us.

"Because I don't! What the hell"

"This" I tossed him my phone

I sat at the desk and watched him while he watched the video.

"What the fuck" he scrunched his face up in confusion, stopping the video

"Exactly, what the fuck. How could you do that to me?!" I stood back up

"That's not me" he shook his head

"Oh please." I scoffed "Unless you got an identical twin that neither one of us know about, that's your dumb ass"

"E, I'm telling you-"

"A bunch of lies, you're telling me a bunch of lies." I pushed his forehead, making his head jerk back a little

"You better chill the fuck out" he warned

"You better chill the fuck out" I mocked him

"At least let me try to explain" he touched my arm

"If you didn't do anything, what you trying to explain? Fucking liar" I jerked away from him

"Because you clearly don't believe me" he mugged me

"It's you in the damn video! I see your face and all!" I cried, getting angrier

"Please don't cry" his face softened

"I don't know if you were drunk or what. Not that any of that matters" I tried to calm myself down "What matters is, you fucked another girl"

"Baby-"

"I don't wanna hear it." I breathed "Now you can either get out or I'll have security escort you out"

"Tuh, you know I ain't worried about no damn security." He stood up "But I'll respect your wishes" he said before leaving

Once the door was closed, I broke down again. I know I said I wouldn't let this ruin my night, but it hurts.
It hurts to know that the person you deeply care about can do you so dirty.

Chris

Once I left Eden's event, I headed to Candice's crib. This has to be her doing because I don't remember sleeping with her.

"Open up" I knocked on her door

"Who is it?" she asked

I smacked my teeth "Chris"

The door flew open almost immediately after that "Hey boss" she smiled

"Cut the bullshit, I know what you did" I walked in her apartment and closed the door

"What are you talking about?"

"You must've drugged me, fucked me, recorded it, and sent it to my girlfriend"

"Chris" she chuckled "Why would I do something like that?"

"Why wouldn't you? You sprung ass bitch" I pushed her against a wall and gripped her throat

She tried to gasp for air, hitting my arm so I could let go

"Stop fucking lying!" I said through gritted teeth "You know what the hell you did! All signs point to you" I tightened my grip "If I lose my girl over this, you a dead bitch" I let her throat go and she dropped to the ground, gasping for air

"I sacrificed-" she coughed "Everything for you! I killed my brother—just for you!"

"Quan got killed doing a drop" I smacked my teeth

"No" she cleared her throat "I did it...I did it so I could get closer to you"

"The fuck?"

"He was next in line to run the warehouse on 54th. I wanted to be your top girl!" she cried at my feet

"Why'd you leave after?" I asked out of curiosity

"The police started questioning me, so I moved until the heat went away from me" she sniffled

"Crazy bitch" I tried to pry her off my leg

"I love you! I'd die for you" she smiled

"Bitch, get off me" I kicked her in the face

"I love you!" she hollered as I left out

Thoughts?

-Carlisha ❤️