If I have to (bwwm)

chapter 27

"Mrs. Gallo I may be many things but trash is not one of them." The entire room has become silent. If I pick up my head my tears will spill out. Not because of what that bitch said but, it was like she hit a button without knowing her impact.

"You know what I never understood?" I continued since I apparently had the floor that no one wanted to step on.
"I guess I never understood how someone could be so quick to judge. "

"Oh, so what you didn't judge me when you came into my home? When you got a glimpse of my lifestyle." Mrs. Gallo said finally joining me.

"See so goddamn quick to judge. What you don't think I own nice things. What it isn't possible that I've lived in homes twice this size!"

"Morgan calm down don't let her get to you. " Ali said.

"No Ali, it's clear that this woman thinks she knows everything," I said.

"Like I said I know enough about you. Enough to know that if I told you who my family is you'd take off running."

"Yolanda that's enough!"

"No Lance I refuse to have someone come into our lives with unknown intentions. So maybe if she knew us she might not come back. "

"Look lady like I told your son I don't scare easily." At this point, I'm full on mugging her, ready to snap.

"Well, little girl you should be."

Without warning, James gets up from his seat startling everyone but me.

"Morgan come on we're leaving." I can tell he's angry but there something that tells me he doesn't want Mrs. Gallo to continue.

I don't answer him. I remain still in my seat.

"See son she wants to hear all about us."

"Mom I swear to god if-

"James respect your mother. " his father interrupts.

"Tell you what Morgan why don't me and you have that talk now." She said in a fake sweet way.

She got up from the table and waited for me.

Once again everyone eyes were on me. Wondering would I really go with the same woman who had just disrespected me. I knew the answer and I'm sure James knew too. He grab me by the waist when I stood up.

I thought he would lead me to the door. Instead, he looks me straight in the eyes and asks me if I wanted him to join us. I shook my head no and he kissed my forehead. In that moment I swear I forgot we were in a room full of people.

As cliché as it is, it really felt like it was just us two in that room. He then looks over to his mom who was shooting daggers at us and told her she had ten minutes. He looks back at me and said when you come back we're leaving.

As I began to follow Mrs. Gallo upstairs she held her hand out for me. I looked at that woman like she had an ass for a head. Well, I guess in some ways she did.

Once we got upstairs she leads me to a huge double door room. It was at the furthest point of the hallway. When she took out a key and unlocked I started to panic. Why does she just walk around with a spare key?

When we were in the room I realize it was a huge office, equipped with all kinds of high tech stuff. Surveillance videos playing out everything that was happening in and out of the house.

Mrs. Gallo sat behind the desk while I looked around. There are huge portraits hanging all over the room. I stop when I come to the portrait of a young girl.
The girl looks like the female version of James.

"Her name was Irina. My only daughter, my third child."

"Was?"

"She died, um cancer."

"Oh, I sorr-

"Morgan I don't know you. And in my world its never a good idea to be around people you don't know. "

Feeling very uneasy about all of this. I decided to stay silent.

"Morgan my son he is fond of you, I can tell. And guessing from that little confrontation you don't know him too well. Oh, I know what its. Maybe he thinks that you won't accept his lifestyle."

"What's wrong with his lifestyle? So he owns a couple of nightclubs, so what."

"So what? Tell Morgan how long have you know Alixa Ortiz?"

"Too long," I said thinking out loud.

"So do you know her father does for a living? "

"Um yeah, he owns like twenty car and boat dealerships down in Miami. "

Mrs. Gallo looks me like I'm stupid and gives a small laugh.
There is nothing worse than someone trying to tell you something without saying anything at all. It's obvious she wants to say something so why won't she just spit it out.

Her laugh continued but it turned into a laugh filled with pity.

"Morgan I can tell you are a smart girl. A tough one. Since you are just as smitten with James as he is with you. I suggest you two have a long talk. And if I see you again I'll know one of two things. That the two of you talked or -

Suddenly James came in.
I guess our ten minutes are up.
"Morgan we're leaving." I notice how he never looked at his mom or around the room. He kept his eyes locked on mine.

"James don't worry the poor girl is to busy protecting her own secrets to ever worry about yours."

We left the party in silence. We didn't say goodbye we just left.
Like we were never there.

I fell asleep on the ride back to L.A. It was a long ride and I had too much on my mind. When I finally woke up I notice I wasn't in the car but in bed. Black sheets drape over me lulling me into sleep again.

For some reason, my bed is much bigger than usual. I'm almost asleep again when I shoot up and realize this isn't my bed.

I look around the large unfamiliar room and see that I'm alone. I must be at James house but why? Instead of me going look for him I decided to snoop around his stuff.

Not gonna lie when I imagine his place I didn't think It would be so neat. Not that I spend my time thinking of him.

I walk into his closet. Lets put it this way his closet is about the size of a New York apartment. I go into his dresser to find a t-shirt. God, I'm so over this dress.

I find a black with holes in it. I don't need to read the label to know its a yezzy shirt. So while looking for a t-shirt that doesn't cost half of my rent, I notice he has way too many black suits.

Who knew he wore so many suits. Half naked standing in his closet you would have thought I would look for another shirt. Nope, I grab his suit jacket and put on. Then I strut my ass down to the huge gold mirror.

Not gonna lie I look good. My fro has definitely grown due to the protective style. Although the jacket is too big from me it frames my body nicely.

"Six-inch heels she walked in the club like nobody's business. Godamn she murders everybody and I was her wit-

"Having fun?"

"Holy shit you scared me."
How the fuck did I not see him coming?

"Playing dress up?"

"Um yeah, I was looking for a t-shirt to change into. "

"And what was wrong with that one," he said nodding towards the yezzy shirt.

"Nothing besides the fact that's it probably cost you a fortune."

"Everything cost me a fortune but I make a fortune to spend a fortune. "

Then it's like those words triggered something. It made me remember what his mom Said tonight.

So walking up to him just my underwear and his suit jacket. I look him in the eyes and ask him. "What is it you aren't telling me?"

He leaned in closer and rested his hands on my hips. "Mory I could ask you the same thing."