I had been here in this estate through all of it—the eliminations, the drama, the fake smiles from women who swore they didn’t care but were watching every little thing he did. I stood through it, even when I wanted to snap, even when I did actually snap, even when I wanted to walk away. And now I was down to the last stretch, and the idea that I might not be the one he chose made my heart ache. I didn’t want to think about what it would feel like to lose, but the thought kept creeping in no matter how hard I pushed it back.
If Pressure didn’t choose me, I didn’t know what I would do. I wasn’t the type to fall apart over a man, but this wasn’t just about a man. This was abouthim. There was a difference. From the moment me and Pressure crossed that boundary, I knew I wanted him. Not because of the title or the lifestyle, but because of the way he carried himself, and how he could make a whole room feel different just by walking in. That kind of presence wasn’t something you found every day.
I told myself I had what it took to be the woman by his side. I could handle his world, I could handle the pressure that came with his name, and I could handle him. I wasn’t here to play safe, and I wasn’t here to play small. But lately, shit had shifted. It wasn’t just me in his ear. It wasn’t just me catching his attention.
Pluto had become a real problem.
I didn’t want to admit it, but she had. Somewhere between her quiet moments and the way she carried herself like she wasn’t trying too hard… I knew she had gotten ahold of his heart. I saw it in the way he looked at her sometimes, like he was trying to decide if she would make a good wife. That bothered me, because I knew how men like him thought. If they couldn’t figure you out, they chased behind you. And once the chase began, it becomes hard to pull them away.
No matter what he felt for me—and I knew he felt something—I could tell he had feelings for Pluto too. I didn’t know how deep it went, and maybe I didn’t want to, but I could feel it. If he chose her over me, I honestly didn’t know how I would react. Part of me wanted to believe I would take it like a woman and walk away with my head high, but the other part… the other part didn’t even want to picture that reality.
I rolled over, staring at the ceiling, my mind flipping between memories of us and the uncertainty of what was coming next. I thought about the way his hands felt on me, the way his voice dropped when he was speaking just to me and how he mademe feel like I belonged here with him. That wasn’t something I wanted to give up, and it sure as hell wasn’t something I wanted to see given to somebody else.
I worked too hard to stand out in this house, and I wasn’t about to fade into the background now. I knew who I was, and I knew what I brought to the table. Pressure could feel that too because I saw it every time his eyes lingered on me, and when he let that small smirk pull at his mouth like he was remembering something only we shared.
Still, the uncertainty was sitting heavy on me. The closer we got to the end, the more real it became that feelings weren’t enough on their own. He had to make a choice, and when he did, I needed him to remember every moment we had, every way I’d been there and every reason I was still standing when most of the others were gone.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the strength I had and the connection we built instead of the thought that right now, Pluto was in his room. If I let myself think too hard about that, I would lose the calm I was fighting to keep.
Tomorrow was another day. Another chance to remind Pressure why I should be the last woman here. But tonight, all I could do was lay here, breathe, and make peace with the fact that the only thing standing between me and everything I wanted was his decision. And I had no control over which way he would go.
Trill-Land, Jungle Estate
Now that I was down to four women, shit was gettin’ real and I could feel it in a different way. Yesterday I took Pluto’s virginity, and ever since, I been walkin’ around with this mix of feeling’ I don’t usually let creep in. She told me she didn’t care if I sent her home after that, but I ain’t stupid. I knew what it meant for a woman to give a man somethin’ like that, and it’s not just about the act. That’s some shit you can’t put a price tag on, ‘cause it’s worth more than any gift I could buy her. I wasn’t the type of nigga to sit around feelin’ guilty about some shit, but I could feel it sittin’ in the back of my mind like an uninvited guest.
And still… that pussy was so damn good and tight, it had a nigga replayin’ it in my head like a highlight reel. Pluto’s pussywas soft, warm and gripped my shit like a fist. It was the type of shit that make you remember exactly how she sounded, how her body moved, how she looked right before she came. I was tryin’ not to get stuck on the shit, but a nigga would be lyin’ if I said it wasn’t still on my mind.
I shook the thoughts off ‘cause I had moves to make. It wasn’t just about Pluto. I still had Zaniyah and Toni Roc in the runnin’, and I wasn’t about to half-step when it came to showin’ them I saw them too. I left my room and went up to their rooms. I knocked once before pushin’ into Zaniyah’s room. She was still under the covers, her hair all over the place, lookin’ like she wasn’t ready for the day.
“Get up,” I told her. “I got the glam team downstairs waitin’ on you.”
She sat up quick, the sleep leavin’ her face. “For real?”
“Yeah. You gettin’ styled up, hair done, nails done—the whole thing. We steppin’ out later, so get ready.”
Her eyes lit up and she grinned like she was already picturin’ herself walkin’ in somewhere turnin’ heads. “Okay, say less.”
I left her room and went across the hall to Toni Roc’s. She was up, but still in her robe.
“What’s up, big dawg?” she said with a smile.
“What’s up is you need to get up and get movin’. You gettin’ ya hair, nails, outfits, all that shit done. You steppin’ out with me tonight, and I’m not playin’ about it.”
Toni’s smile got bigger. “Oh, we outside tonight? Bet. Lemme get my shit together.”
By the time I went downstairs, the stylists was already unpackin’ their kits and settin’ up stations in the livin’ area. My barber was on the way, and I had the nail techs pullin’ up right after. If we was gon’ step out, we was gon’ do it right. I wasn’t about to have my women walkin’ anywhere lookin’ anything less than perfect.
I checked my phone and hit my barber.Yo, you still on time?
Yeah, pulling up in twenty,he said.
Bet.
When he got there, I sat in one of the chairs by the windows and let him get to work while the stylists worked on Zaniyah and Toni. I could hear them laughin’ and talkin’ with the glam team, the vibe already pickin’ up. Zaniyah was in one chair gettin’ her hair pressed and curled, while Toni was gettin’ her wig laid just right. The nail techs came in not long after, settin’ up their tables, and I watched as both of them picked colors.
Once my cut was clean and sharp, I went upstairs to shower. The water was hot, the steam fillin’ the room while I washed away the day so far. When I stepped out, I already had my outfit laid out—black tailored slacks, a silk button-up with the top few buttons left undone to show the ink across my chest, and my freshest designer loafers. Then, I threw on my pieces—heavy chains, rings, and a watch that caught the light with every move. Then I hit myself with a couple sprays of Clive Christian No. 1, the scent settlin’ warm on my skin.
When I came back downstairs, they was both ready, and the sight of them had me bitin’ my lip without even thinkin’ about it. Zaniyah’s hair fell in soft curls down her back, her nails sparklin’ as she adjusted her dress. Toni’s makeup was flawless, her lips glossed just right, and her fit hugged every curve.
