THREADED

quiet when Banks w

is blazer onto the arm of the couc

ink, amber liquid catching the city l

ouch, resting the

hit him all

ki

were clutchi

th hitched befor

caution...

m most was how she walk

No giggle

am

leaned his head back, staring at

the sound of the

" came the teasing voice of Toju, his l

move. "I'm no

ked in, grabbing his o

or anything unless it has p

m a look. "I

r. "...And she's no

gnored

kis

lifted. "O

alked

le

t out laughing

nd then left. Didn't say her name.

his head in

y a woman who doesn't even k

muttered. "She j

ifle his grin. "Bro, I should throw

wled. "I'

tresses, heiresses, all climbing over themselves for a wink fr

his neck, jaw tightenin

brow. "Defin

't answer

ying to be sexy. She didn't even speak like

fading. "So, what now? You gonna pretend

littering skyline. "I tho

didn'

tated.

u repeated,

llow your pride in boardrooms every da

d his eyes. "

ouched something real, and you d

He just reached fo

ward, placing h

man about it. Reach out. Don't be the guy who lets the best thin

red into

's boss. I could

en you do-don't talk business. Don

a breath, sl

chase. Not conq

bout it," he

the shoulder. "Nah

ame like

er of beads spilling into trays-everything that usual

tudio, sketchpad open, pencil in

cu

began to draw a line. But instead of a sleeve cur

d the penc

e kiss, the garden, the man with

rowned herself in two seasons of a French fashi

er workspace, everything came

s for the sleeve detailing?" her manag

ed. "Yes. No

glanced at

r earlier," Ola

sked, her voice l

wa added, a litt

together. "Just... fol

and left her

is disconnect. This wasn't who sh

ervised every stitch and que

t t

she was movi

he kn

ike a teenager. Like a reckl

r mind: "Women who are too forw

Easy. One of those party girls

se the way his hands had rested on her

n't want to

flamed at

the main studio where Olama and two

Amara?" s

alled-said she'd be here

The model.

keep her face straight? Would Amara bri

someone who shared blood w

er usual whirlwind of beaut

it was stunning-bold crimson, stru

ve made Ke

't even look A

treated to her office, watching from

ocked. "Ma, Olama says we need

ment," Kemfon call

pause. "Are

le

lied. "Just

t was her chest. That ache of wanti

enough. She packed up

l have done amazing," she

e never left work for

ne quest

ra at the p

Kem? You look like you'r

tight smile. "Just

head. "You sure

s heart

he said t

kidding. You're to

ath and opened her c

iss feel like she fell of