My feet moved but my brain hadn't caught up with it. Static.
I stood outside the building of the Garrison Holdings, stirred at it for a while and wondered what had just happened inside. The glass doors behind me reflected the city like nothing happened.
Malik is my dad's boss? He signs his paychecks?
I walked past a woman with a stroller, past someone trying to hand me a flyer. I didn't hear a thing. Not really. Just the sound of my own heartbeat like I'd sprinted instead of walked.
I made it down the street and turned the corner before I let myself breathe.
I didn't have the words for it. Not yet. But I knew I couldn't carry it alone. Not this time. Not this kind of storm.
Who'll be willing to carry this with me? Jordan? He'd misunderstand the whole thing.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled straight to the name: Rose 🌹
If there was anyone who'd get it without trying to fix me or shrink me, it was her.
One ring. Two. Three.
"Hey babe, what's up?" Rose's voice, light and soft, but alert.
"I need to see you," I said. Tensed. "Now."
There was a pause.
"Sera? You good?"
"No. I mean, I don't know. I don't even know how to explain it."
"You want me to come to you?"
"I'm already on my way."
"Okay. You'll meet me at the library. I'm there, waiting"
"Maybe we should meet at the cafeteria. Library is not for gists." I said, trying to sound funny, but it didn't just flow well.
"Okay"
"I'll be there in a jiffy"
"Okay," she said. "I got you."
And that was it. That's why Rose was my person. She never needed the full backstory to show up.
I didn't wait. I hopped a train like I was running from something, except I wasn't sure if I was running from them or myself.
By the time I reached campus, the sun had dipped low, streaking gold between the buildings. Students moved around like they were late for something or like they had nowhere to be.
Rose was right where she said she'd be, perched on the low stone wall like it was her throne.
She had her thick braids pulled up in a messy bun, dark lipstick on like armor, one hand scrolling through her phone, the other wrapped around a smoothie cup.
When she saw me, she didn't smile.
"You look like you just walked out of a telenovela."
I dropped my bag with a sigh and sat. "Girl…"
She tilted her head. "Talk to me."
"Okay, but you gotta let me finish. Don't say nothing till I'm done."
"That serious?"
"Worse."
"Hmmm. Alright. You have my ears"
And I did. I told her everything. From the surprise visit, to the second I stepped into Big G's office with his lunch bag, to the moment I locked eyes with Malik sitting at that boardroom table like he ran the damn place. Because apparently, he does.
I told her how my father said "Sera?" with the kind of confusion that punches holes through your chest. How Malik looked like he'd seen a ghost, and how I probably looked worse.
By the time I got to the part where I walked out without looking back, Rose's mouth was slightly open.
She let out a long, dramatic "Whew." Then blinked. "Hold on. Malik Malik? Like... the same Malik at the Student Creativity?"
I nodded. "Yup. That Malik."
"And he's... what? The CEO? Your dad's boss?"
"Apparently. And neither of us knew."
"Girl"
Rose blinked again, then let out a little laugh.
"Sera. What in the Tyler Perry plot twist is going on?"
I didn't laugh. I just looked at the floor.
"Wait wait wait, let me get this straight", she said slowly. "The man who was part of those that sponsored the creativity conference, who you said handed you his card like he was interested in your potentials, is your father's boss?"
I nodded again.
She leaned back like she needed physical distance from the information. "Oh, girl. This some grown woman mess. You living in a plot twist."
"I don't even know what to think," I said. "Nothing is making sense to me again. It's like the more I look, the less I see"
"And you can't tell Jordan?"
I sighed. "That's why I called you. I couldn't talk to him about this. He'd flip."
She gave me a long look. "And how you feel? About Malik?"
That was the part I wasn't ready to say out loud. So I just shrugged.
"Oh my God," she said, her voice turning sharp. "You like him? You ain't catching feelings or something. Are you?"
"What? No!" I said too fast. "I just… I just.. I don't know." I stammered like the words were heavy.
She gave me a suspicious look.
"Okay, maybe a little confused." I admitted. "He listens. He sees me. He believed in me before he even knew who I was."
"And Jordan doesn't?"
That made me pause.
"Jordan's been distracted," I said. "Lately it's like he's more into what we could be than what we actually are."
"That man worships the ground you walk on," Rose said flatly. "I've seen it. He loves you, believes in you, makes you smile. He's genuine."
"Hmmm" I muttered.
Rose didn't say anything for a moment. Then: "Sera, don't get this twisted. Malik is fine, yeah. But this? This is exactly the kinda mess that can get blurry real fast. I mean, look at it. He's powerful. He's older. He's got that mysterious energy. And he's your dad's boss, girl. That ain't just messy, it's dangerous."
Rose wasn't done.
"I'm not saying he's a bad guy, but power like that?" She leaned in. "It can sweet talk its way into places it don't belong. Just 'cause a man gives you space to talk doesn't mean he deserves your story."
I looked away, chewing the inside of my cheek. I knew she meant well, but it stung a little.
"You think I'm being naive?"
"I think you're being Sera. You lead with your heart. That's why we love you. But hearts don't come with smoke detectors. Sometimes the whole place burning and you still inside, writing poems."
"I just don't think he meant harm," I murmured.
Rose shook her head slowly. "You got a whole man. Jordan might be annoying as hell sometimes, but that boy got real love for you. Real. Broke-college-student love. Love that waited in line with you at 6 a.m. for open mic sign-ups."
"I know," I said, "but Malik? he listens to my ideas like they matter. He asks questions no one else does. It's not just attraction, Rose. It's like he sees where I'm trying to go."
Rose looked at me hard.
"And you think Jordan don't?"
I didn't answer.
"You know what I think?" she said, voice low now. "I think Malik sees potential. And maybe he really means well. But don't confuse investment with love. Just 'cause someone shows interest in your dream doesn't mean they fit in it."
That one landed in my chest.
Rose leaned back against the wall, picking at her nails. "Listen. You know me. I'll ride with you through whatever. But if you let a dude like Malik get close, just be sure it ain't 'cause you're craving what Jordan stopped giving. Be sure it's real. Not just… attention dressed in power."
I blinked. That part I hadn't thought about.
"What if I'm just… overwhelmed?" I said. "What if I'm reading into all this too deep?"
"Maybe you are," Rose said. "Or maybe your gut's trying to speak and you keep talking over it."
We sat quiet for a minute. A breeze blew across my arm, raised goosebumps.
"You need to talk to Jordan," she said.
"I know."
"And your dad."
"Rose, you know he'd lose his mind."
"He deserves to know. All of it."
I nodded, but my stomach turned. I wasn't ready. I didn't even know what the truth was yet.
I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing came out.
I was abruptly interrupted by a beep on my phone. I stared at it. Unknown number. Twice.
"Answer it," Rose said, already reading my hesitation.
I did.
"Hello?"
"Sera?"
His voice.
Malik.
I felt Rose's eyes snap to me, sharp and alert.
"You okay?" Rose whispered.
"It's him," I said under my breath.
Rose raised an eyebrow. "Already?"