It was a month after the incident and everyone took their test and now Khari was sitting his office anticipating the moments for his phone to ring, it was the moment he found out if he would be a parent or not. He spoke to his father about it and he basically told him to prepare for whatever was to come and then he hit him upside the head for being so irresponsible. If there was one thing Jean disagreed with was when his sons screwed any women in the city because they're hormones were ragging especially without protection. Khari bit down on his thumb, anxious for the results, he knew if the child was to be his he'd have to step up, even though he wasn't ready to become a father yet he wasn't going to be a deadbeat, he refused. No matter if his baby's mother and him weren't on good terms, he believed that the child shouldn't have to suffer because of the parents immaturity. Kiara opened the office door peaking her head in the door. "Heyyy, whatcha doin?" She asked. The two have created a friendship and it was comforting to know that they both had someone to bother at work. Khari started picking Kiara up at the train stop by the job so she wouldn't have to walk and Darien would pick her up from work when he could.

"You know what I'm doing? Did Troy get the results back? Matter fact give his number I'll talk to him myself." Khari demanded.

"No, he didn't and no." Kiara said sitting across from him. The room grew silent and next the phone rang. Khari reached for it and immediately answered. "Francois publishing.... yes this is he.....Mhm......mhm....thank you, have a nice day." Khari hung up the phone and sighed, slouching in his office chair.

"Well?" Kiara asked.

"I'm not the father.." he began. Kiara slouched in her seat, scared for her best friends call of how shook he was going to be. Troy loves kids, always wanted them but not now, Troy wasn't even fully matured yet in Kiara's eyes. But knowing he would be a father would mature him, but she was just scared of the reaction and what he'd might do. Kiara's phone began to ring, she answered it hearing Troys voice crack.

"I'm, I'm not the dad." Troy said. Kiara's jaw dropped.

"What you mean? Then who is?" Kiara asked

"What you mean, what I mean? Isn't Khari?"

"Khari just got the call and they said no to him too."

"Too?" Khari shouted. "That whore!" Khari shouted louder.

"Khari, relax, breathe." Kiara began to calm him down, seeing his fist ball up. "Troy I'll talk to you when I get off. I'll call you back." Hanging up Kiara grabbed his hand and told him to breathe in and out. She witnessed that Khari has been on edge more lately and she could tell that it wasn't just because of a baby. "What's been going on? You've been stressed like hell recently. Talk to me." Khari looked up at her seeing that she was giving him all her attention.

"This, these damn people at this job pissing me off, this months issue is stressing me the hell out, it seems like you and Armani are the only ones doing some damn work around here. Then I got shit going on with." He began. "That's not important, the company is annoying me." He said.

"I understand, being a rich, CEO of a company must be stressful. Take a break. Close early and let's go out tonight, me, you, Armani and Troy. Especially you and Troy, y'all need a break. You've been working hard, Troy has been stressing about Julia and school. Let's go out tonight."

"Nah, I got too much to do."

"Exactly, did you not just hear what I just said? I'll tell Armani to let everyone know." She said grabbing the office phone to call Armani. "Kia-." Khari started "Shush." Kiara demanded. "We'll be dismissed at 5:20. Troy and I will meet you at your place at 7. Send me your address, Armani will be driving. Thank you. Have a nice day." She sang as she skipped out of the office. Khari sighed in disbelief. Did she just end their day like that? How dare she? He thought. He finished up whatever work he started and grabbed his belongings.

It was now 6:30 and Khari was getting ready for his night out with his friends, he invited Leo to tag along, he hasn't spent time with his childhood friend in a while due to them both being busy and tonight he was for certain they would have a good time. Khari dressed himself in a black hoodie, black joggers and orange bomber jacket with his new Jordan 1's, adding his chain with a diamond golden cross and his gold rope bracelet. He looked in his mirror brushing his waves. I need a shape up.

He thought to himself. His phone buzzed beside him showing Kiara's name appear across it.

📸

🤦🏾‍♂️I'mmy

With that Khari grabbed his keys and headed out, following the directions that were given to him. 20 minutes passed and he pulled up to Kiara's apartment building. He was surprised, he thought she'd live further but she lived right in Manhattan near him. He shot a text to her and 5 minutes later Kiara, Armani and Troy walked out. Kiara got in the front while Armani and Troy sat in the back.

Khari looked over Kiara, seeing the outfit she was wearing, it took him by shock, she looked beautiful. She had a grey ribbed sweater that had a red strip going across, jeans and thigh high red boots, she paired her red coat with it as well and of course some of her favorite necklaces, Khari realized it was her favorite because she always wore it, she'd pair it with others but would never change the one butterfly necklace. He assumed it had some form of sentimental value to it.

"You look great." He complimented.

"Thank you, not too bad yourself." She returned.

"So Armani, how the hell did your car break down?" Khari asked pulling off.

"Yo, deadass don't know." She replied.

Khari looked in his mirror seeing Troy in the back looking out the window. "Wassup man, you good back there?" Khari asked

"I'm straight. Ya wheels nice." Troy complimented. "Good looks." Khari thanked. The car ride to the venue was filled with laughter and sing-a-longs. Once they pulled up to the club Khari told everyone to stay in the car while he talked to the Valet. He handed his keys off and gestured everyone to come. Once they walked in they were greeted by Leo.

"Y'all, this my homie Leo, Leo, these my friends, Kiara. Armani and Troy. You got the section?"

"Duh nigga. Come on." Armani and Troy followed behind Leo, Khari began walking behind but realized Kiara was just standing in the middle of the entry way. She looked scared shitless and sadly for Khari he knew why. He remembered that this was the club he found her about to get raped by her ex. He walked up to her holding her hand. "Come on, I got you." Kiara looked up at him in confusion but didn't question what he was talking about. She grabbed his hand and walked behind him through the crowd and to the section. Kiara sat on the couch in the section while, everyone socialized and Khari ordered bottles. When he was finished he turned seeing everyone else having fun, other than Kiara.

"You good?" He asked sitting beside her, he knew she wasn't okay. He just didn't want her to know that he knew.

"Yeah, I'm cool. Ima, um, I'll be right back." Kiara stood, next walking away from their section and towards the restroom. Khari watched over her as she walked through the crowded dance floor of people and into the restroom.

As he waited for Kiara to return he occupied his time with some shots, talking to Troy and getting some women over to the section for him and Troy. Leo was having a blast with Armani and gave her all of his attention. As women flooded into their section Khari and Troy danced with as many as they could, talked to as many as they could and even got as many numbers as they wanted. A couple minutes passed and Kiara still didn't return. Khari gently moved the girl he was dancing with out his way and looked down at the club main floor to search for Kiara. He caught her walking out of the bathroom , wiping her face and walking towards the entrance as if she was leaving. He tapped Troy and Leo, telling them he'll be right back. Rushing down to the entrance and outside he spotted Kiara standing against the wall as a light skinned man tried to talk to her, she let him down easy but he kept forcing. Khari grew frustrated watching it occur so he stormed over to her, but changed his demeanor once reaching her. Once he got closer he could tell the man was obviously under the influence. His body was tilted and he slurred his words.

"Hey baby, what you doing out here? I was looking for you." Khari said wrapping his hand around her waist pulling Kiara closer to him.

"Huh?" Kiara asked in confusion.

"This ya dude?" The man scoffed, looking Khari up and down next letting out a small laugh. He spotted the jewelry on Khari then looked at Kiara once more. "You too beautiful to be bought baby girl."

Khari's nostrils began to flair and his fist became balled up. Kiara peeped and grabbed his hand. "Let's go." She said walking off with Khari's hand in hers, pulling him away.

"Ya ass probably a prostitute anyway, don't nobody want that loose shit!" He yelled after them.

Khari let go of Kiara's hand and darted over to him, taking his fist and knocking him clean out onto the concrete.

"Khari!" Kiara yelled shockingly running over and grabbing him, next getting the valet to get their car. They got in and drove off.

"You just had to let your temper get to you huh?" Kiara asked folding her arms across her chest.

"What? I punched him for you! Least you can say is thank you!" Khari said stopping at the red light.

"Thank you? Boy, you just had to let it go, ion know why you got all protective, you could've just gotten Troy."

"Well I didn't, I handled it Kiara! So stop trippin' and let me just take you home."

"Whatever." She scoffed.

"What was you even out there for anyway?"

"I needed some air." She said as she adjusted herself in her seat. Khari kept silent and continued driving to her apartment. He informed Leo what happened and he said he could take Troy and Armani home.

As they pulled up in front of Kiara's apartment building, she gathered her things and began to get out.

"Wait." Khari began, grabbing onto her coat, pulling her back into the car. "I'm sorry, I just ain't wanna see you get hurt."

"I understand, but I don't need you punching on niggas to protect me." Kiara spoke out. Khari looked over her and asked. "When we first walked into the club, why were you so scared?" The question took Kiara into surprise, she wasn't expecting that, she didn't expect a lot of things that occurred that night.

"What you mean?" She shyly asked, playing with her fingers next looking up at Khari, receiving a knowing look from him. "I had a moment in that club, I'm not comfortable sharing." She said.

"Respect." Khari said. "Thank you for taking me out. I needed it. With all this bullshit going on, I really do appreciate it." He thanked.

"No problem, sorry that you didn't get the full experience. But I'm happy I could help." She said. "I'll see Monday. Good night. Let me know when you get home." She said before getting out of the car and walking into her apartment building. Khari watched her walk in, making sure she got in safe.

He sighed and smiled before starting the car up and pulling off. He didn't know what it was but he knew he wanted to spend more time with Kiara and get to know more than just her being his employee.

Once he reached his home he took out his phone and pressed Kiara's name.

.

📸

📸

Damn, a boyfriend. Khari thought. He locked his phone and threw it onto the bed. He grabbed his towel and walked to the bathroom. He turned on the shower and thought; looks like I'll have to wait my turn...