Or so I thought.
Now, I sat in a foreign car with the partition up because Jah was all over me. While I wanted to savor his touch and kisses, I couldn’t. My eyes were glued to the window. I was literally in awe. Words couldn’t begin to capture the energy and luxury of this rich city.
“Jah. Wow,” I breathed through a kiss as his hands groped my breasts.
He leaned back, smirking like he owned the world. “Welcome to Monaco, lover. My home away from Mulholland Falls.”
“Here?” I stammered. “You’ve beenhereall this time?”
“Yeah.” Another smirk. “Why do you sound so shocked?”
“Everything is so… luxurious here. It’s beautiful, it’s grand, it’s-”
“The mecca for people with money,” he cut in. “And they love Black women over here. You know, out of every three people, at least one is a millionaire?”
“Wow, I can tell. Everyone looks so... happy.”
“Let’s make a toast,” he said, handing me a flute of champagne.
“A toast to what?”
“Love, happiness, forgiveness... and Crème De La Crimson.”
We clinked glasses and took a sip, then suddenly, a call came through on Jahsir’s phone. I gladly tuned him out, slipping right back into the moment, taking in everything outside the car.
The road into Monaco curved along tall cliffs. I kept my eyes on the sea as it opened up beside us, which glittered and sparkled like it had nothing else to do. It was clearly the center of attention. I leaned my elbow against the door and rested my chin on my hand, trying to play it cool. But inside? I was overly excited. I didn’t know what the city had waiting for me. Rooftop bars? Quiet alleys with musicians playing soft jazz music? I spotted a few high-end stores tucked behind palm trees as we drove. I was ready. Ready to step into something different.
And Jahsir.
The thought of him made my stomach twist, but in a good way. He spoiled me, but I could feel the tension brewing between us, just under the surface. I felt something. I didn’t quite know what it was yet.
Then we rounded a bend, and a villa came into view. Sleek, white, practically glowing against the sparkling water. It looked like something out of a movie. But before I could soak it all in, a small, sharp pinch tugged at my chest.
Scarlett.
I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to ruin the moment. But her absence had followed me all the way here. It wasn’t anxiety, exactly. Maybe it was mommy guilt? A part of me still felt like I owed her an explanation, starting with why I came and what I was doing here. She wasn’t even one yet, and she wouldn’t understand what a vacation was. We’d be gone for a week.Would she remember me when I got back? What if she preferred Ms. Jemma over?—
“We have a party to go to.”
“Party?” I asked, grateful that Jahsir had unknowingly pulled me back from spiraling.
“Yes. I told you I wanted to share my dream with you.”
“Ooh! Now I’m even more excited. What should I wear? You think I can get away with wearing Akira around these millionaires?”
“You could show up in a garbage bag and still be the sexiest and best dressed one there.”
“Oh, stop!” I blushed. “Can we go shopping? Please?”
“Say less.”
After a coupleof hours of shopping, I felt like new money. Like I needed to change my name or something. Instead ofCrimson, folks would need to call meCrimsooon, stretching out the “O”. I belonged in a room with oil paintings, ice sculptures and champagne waterfalls. I felt like I needed to create a fake accent or something. This environment literally called for an energetic but mature personality. Monaco was bringing me alive.
We arrived at a mansion, and I meanmansion. Not the kind that people post on social media for aesthetics. This had to be generational wealth. This was old money. Spend millions on a painting, guest house the size of a three-story home, money, trust fund, I can afford a small island kind of money. I could tell, and I wasn’t even inside yet.
The gates opened slowly, and we made our way up the driveway, which was another indication of wealth. The driveway was so long I wondered if we were going to another country.Jahsir glanced at me and grinned, watching me behave like a kid in a candy store.
“We’ve been up and out all day. Are you still with me, Crimsooon?” he teased me.
