10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace (Caselli Family Book 1)

I listened to my favorite Tems song as I painted with no direction. All I was doing was stroking the brush on the canvas while soaking up the energy of this studio. I’ve never had a studio, a dedicated space for my art. Maverick had housekeeping put my finished Lego sets up on display on the other side of the studio.

My favorite Caposcents incense burned in the distance as I hummed the song, feeling the words with my entire soul. Every time I listened to this song I related to it on a deeper level. The hair on my arms stood at attention, and my heart became tight because I had never related to a song so much.

With my eyes closed, I sang the song with my heart, sounding horrible, but feeling good. There were days when I sang this song and sounded horrible while feeling the same exact way. As I sat on the stool, crooning the words to Interference, my soul felt happy.

The sun was shining down on me from the glass roof, and I smiled when I looked up. Was this a sign from my mother? I’ve been asking her for a sign, something that told me that she was watching me, and I never got one.

As the sun was shining down on me, not blinding me, I felt this warmness, like a hug. “I feel you, Mommy,” I whispered, as I stuck the paint brush into my messy bun and continued to sing. In a way, I felt like she was telling me that I was going to be alright. The circumstances that landed me on Maverick’s radar may have started out bad, however, there was a reason I was here.

God had a reason for putting me in his path. It felt crazy even saying a man like Maverick needed me because he didn’t need anyone.

Except, I felt like he really did need me.

My phone pulled me from my thoughts, and I saw my grandmother’s name come across the screen. Sucking my teeth, I put the phone on speaker and pulled the brush back out of my hair to continue fucking around on this canvas.

“Hey Nanny, how are you?”

“Stevie, I know your cousin acts like her bitch of a mother… but I thought you were different. I haven’t heard from you at all, and then your father is telling me that you’re the reason he can’t come visit me.”

I looked at the phone confused. “I have nothing to do with what Raye does with himself, Nanny.”

“Raye?” she choked.

“Yes. I haven’t called him dad in quite some time. He’s Raye.” I felt the back of my head hurting because of this conversation.

She scoffed so loud that it could be mistaken for her spitting on the phone. “He’s your father, little girl. A damn good one, and he has done everything for you and your mother… do you understand me?”

“Yes.” Although I didn’t understand, it was better to keep the peace than to argue with her about something I knew more about.

Nanny only knew what her sons told her, and she thought they were both the perfect angels. They couldn’t do no wrong in her eyes, and she stood ten toes on that shit. “Good… don’t let that damn Skyler rub off on you. Went downhill when she went and had a baby as a baby her damn self.”

“Skyler is in college and works with the district attorney of New York… the first woman district attorney might I add. I think she’s doing pretty well for someone who had a baby young.”

“Stevie, baby, we know you’re not the best at thinking. Raye always said that you took a bit too long to speak or walk.” She chuckled, trying to make the insult seem light. “You got me getting off topic. I’m running low on groceries, so I need you to come by when you can to get this list and get me a few things to hold me over.”

“Um, Nanny, I don’t live as close anymore so I’m not sure I can come all the way over there.” I fidgeted with my feet on the stool.

She huffed into the phone. “Well, figure it out. I need some groceries, and my pain has been a lot. I would call your cousin, but she never answers the phone with her evil ass.”

“Skyler isn’t evil.”

“Let you tell it… when can I expect you?”

I looked at the time on my phone. “I can come by tomorrow.” I lied.

“Alright. See you then.”

I ended the call and slumped my shoulders forward feeling the stress of talking to that woman. It was a toxic relationship that we had, and I was smart enough to know that much. Skyler couldn’t understand why I continued to keep in contact with her with how hateful she was toward our mothers.

When my mother passed, and my father went on about his life, I wanted that feeling of family, even if it meant running errands for her, and never hearing thank you. I would sit and listen to her complain about everything and everyone.

Bitter.

“Old bitch not getting groceries from you.” I spun around in my stool, and Menace was leaned in the doorway with Greene standing beside him.

“Were you both standing there the entire time?”

“Jeffie emailed some options for venues and Yellow was going to get your opinion. I came in here to see you.”

I smiled, pushing a loose curl behind my ear. “Do I have a say in this wedding, Groomzilla?”

“Always.”

Greene flipped opened her iPad and had her pen ready. “Let’s get married at city hall.”

“You don’t get a say in the wedding.”

“Maverick,” I laughed.

“City Hall when I can give you the most beautiful wedding in the world. What kind of shit is that… that shit ain’t normal.”

I folded my arms. “This entire thing isn’t normal. We’re not normal, Maverick… why plan this crazy wedding when half the people I don’t know, and the half you do know, you don’t wanna talk to.”

He was considering what I was saying because he didn’t have a rebuttal. I was slowly learning the many dealings of Menace Caselli. “He’s listening,” Greene answered for him.

“Nothing about this is traditional. I don’t even have an engagement ring. Why not do things our way, Mavie?”

He continued staring at me, making me second guess the idea to get married in city hall. “Give me another reason.”

“My mom isn’t here. I would want to do all those wedding things with her… have her brush my hair, help me with my dress, and make me feel seen on that special day.” I looked up into his eyes, the tears threatening to fall.

Every girl dreamed of getting married to the man of their dreams. While I wasn’t sure Maverick was the man of my dreams, a wedding was going to happen between us. A wedding that came with having those you love the most right by your side, and I only had two people on my side. My mother wasn’t here to give me something borrowed, blue, or new. She wasn’t here to sit in the front and dab her eyes as she watched me get married.

There wouldn’t be a celebratory toast where she told stories about how crazy I was as a child. I would never have those moments and having to go through a wedding, not being able to have those moments felt cruel and like a punishment.

Maverick abandoned the doorway and walked over toward me. He pulled me off the stool and hugged me. Put his arms around me and squeezed me as I squeezed him back, needing a hug like this.

Despite him initiating the hug, he was still a little stiff, but these were baby steps. The fact that he wanted to comfort me meant a lot to me. “Turn yo’ ass around, Magenta.”

She quickly turned around, and he held my face kissing my lips, and grabbing my ass. “Thank you,” I said when we finally broke away from our kiss.

“For what?”

“The hug. You don’t like hugs, and you hugged me.”

“I don’t like hugs, but I like hugging you.” He kissed me on the neck and then turned to leave. “You not giving her ass no groceries. Wonder, the disrespect don’t fly with Caselli’s.”

“I’m not a Caselli yet.”

He winked. “You wanna be, right? At city hall you said.”

I smiled. “Really?”

“I’m going to sit in the sauna… inform Jeffie of the changes, Chartreuse.”

Greene rolled her eyes and laughed, because he never got her name right, and he never used the same color, either. I sat back down and looked at the canvas, while Greene came over and sat down.

“Do you do private coaching?”

“What?”

“That man doesn’t have a heart. I mean, I was almost sure he didn’t have one, and you got him walking around whistling and smiling. He asked me how I was doing and said my name right.”

“He did?”

“Well, he called me Emerald, but it was in the green family so I’m going to take that as a win. Then, he offered me some of his smoothie… poured me the rest he had in the blender. Gross by the way.” She gagged.

“Maybe he’s just feeling happier these days, Blue?” I teased her, pulling on one of her curls while we both laughed.

Greene placed her iPad down. “You are the reason he’s feeling happier these days. Now, maybe you can give me some tips on talking to Beans.”

“Ah, you have a crush on Beans?”

Beans didn’t come around the house often, other than when he had to talk to Maverick about something. I did notice the few times that he came over that Greene would be fixing her hair or trying to do something to keep busy.

“I wouldn’t say a crush…”

“Then what would you call it?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. How do I even approach him?”

“Greene, have you met me? I didn’t exactly have a bunch of men beating down my door. I’m someone that would still have a man circle yes or no to ask if he liked me. Be yourself, because clearly that is how you attract the real men.”

She smiled. “Thanks, Stevie.”

Once I finished in the studio, I went upstairs to shower before changing into some biker shorts and a flowy crop top. Since I never got the chance to read on the beach, I planned on reading by the pool.

Flashes of Menace staring into my eyes while he tasted me bombarded my mental and forced me to cross my legs because my girl was throbbing. After he finished tasting me, I thought he would want to have sex with me. I wasn’t thinking about my virginity at the moment, just wanting him to continue to make me feel good, and I wanted to make him feel good, too.

Even now, he hasn’t tried anything other than wanting me in his arms at night. Nothing was happening and according to him, he needed an heir, so shouldn’t we have been having sex? It wasn’t like he was waiting until we were married because neither of us were traditional at all.

As I paced in front of the kitchen counter, I abandoned my thoughts for lunch and went downstairs to where he was in the sauna. I couldn’t have these internal thoughts. How would he know? Menace was a person you had to be literal with, he didn’t catch hints and things that you would throw his way.

When I made it to the sauna, he was sitting inside with his head back. “Stevie, you can do this… just ask him what’s up? Say… what my pussy not good enough for you? No… don’t say that… just ask… nigga, is it because I’m a virgin? Are you scared?” I shook off the intrusive thoughts telling me to bust up in there with conflict.

Taking one last deep breath, I opened the sauna door, and my hair immediately puffed up. “How are you sitting in here? Are you the damn devil or something?”

Maverick opened his eyes. “Nah, I know one though.”

“Why don’t you wanna have sex with me, Maverick? Did you not say we need to produce an heir, no?”

He leaned up while licking his lips, looking so damn good that I had to look away. “Who says I didn’t, Wonder?”

“Then why don’t you?”

“You a virgin, right?”

“Yes,” I mumbled while folding my arms, avoiding eye contact with him because now I felt foolish. I should have busted up in here guns blazing like I originally had planned. “What does that⁠—”

“Which means you ain’t never took dick before, correct?”

“Yes, but I’m still not understa⁠—”

My words were cut short when he removed himself from the bench with no shirt on. How was I supposed to focus when he was in front of me looking this good? He licked his thumb and wiped the side of my face, which I assumed was paint on my cheek. Then, he lifted my chin with his finger and stared into my eyes.

“A woman losing her virginity is a very special moment for her, I heard. I take that seriously, Wonder. I’ve had pussy before, and this ain’t that for me… you’re going to be my wife. This is going to be your first time. I’m not about to rob you of your first time… can’t do that to you.”

My breath vanished for a second as he spoke to me. “Well, alright, I’m going to go read.” I stumbled toward the door, not knowing what else to say.

“Wonder?”

“Yeah?”

“With those little ass shorts on, no doubt if the situation was different, I would have sat you on this dick right now.”

I let out an inward squeal and quickly left while he laughed at me. His lips as he spoke, his lashes as they swept down as he stared at me had every part of my body heated. I used my book and fanned myself as I thought about Maverick Caselli.

My book of choice didn’t make it any better because Miss Jenesequa was known for her spicy novels, and her novel I Got You was no different. I needed to take a cold shower, and I had just finished taking a shower.

Jesus, I need a rose.

A cold shower.

And to not share Maverick’s bed tonight.

Maverick promised me that he would ask his siblings to come over for a family brunch. With everyone’s schedule, we agreed on a dinner. I spent the morning with Lupita making sure everything was good. Well, who was I kidding? I watched as she obsessed over what needed to be right for Maverick.

The dining table was set, and I kept going in there checking to make sure it was perfect. They had been here more times than I have, so they were used to everything. Maverick had business to handle, and he went out of town for two days.

As he crossed my mind, I smiled when his name came across my screen. “Wonder, we taking off now… be there in an hour.”

“Your sisters texted and said they are on their way. I’m not sure about your brother though… he didn’t confirm if he is coming or not.”

“That nigga don’t ever stick to a schedule.”

“Hmm, the opposite of you.”

He laughed. “Yeah… see you soon.”

“Safe flight. I’ve never been on a jet before.”

“Your future husband owns two… gotta make that happen for you.” I could hear him chewing something. “The fuck kind of gum is this? I need the other kind… nah. I ain’t taking the fuck off until they find the shit I need… the popping in my ears fuck with me, Jeff.”

“Hey, relax… let them find the gum.”

He was quiet and I heard someone in the back say they found the gum he used. “Here you go, Mr. Caselli.”

“See.”

“You good luck, Wonder.”

“Might be. See you soon, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I smiled as I ended the call, then headed upstairs to change my clothes before his sisters arrived. My hands were sweating because I was so nervous to meet them. Maverick was a big presence, so I could only imagine his siblings being the same as he was, which scared me.

In the past, me and other women never got along because I was different. I never fit in, and I always felt like I was forcing myself to be someone that I wasn’t. Don’t get me started on how mean women could be.

Soon as they found out you weren’t like them, then you became a target. There were a few stylists at the shop that acted like that with me and Cindy had to put them in their places. I hated to even sound like this, but I just wanted people to like me.

Why couldn’t we bake cookies, watch anime, and drink iced coffees while forgetting about eating an actual meal?

“Hey, Kora is here.” Greene popped her head into my room, and I took a deep breath.

Sisters didn’t play with their brothers, so I was nervous about meeting her. Especially since she was a federal judge. What if she locked my ass up because she didn’t believe I wanted to be with her brother?

I mean, I couldn’t believe I wanted to be with him some days. Especially the days when he was in the dark, and then randomly made his presence known. No warning, just a simple word and my soul leaving my body because I didn’t know he was even there.

“Okay.”

“Relax, they are going to love you. Just be you, Stevie… don’t be fake,” Greene advised and I took her advice before joining her downstairs.

“Leave it to Maverick to not even be here yet,” I heard her soft voice before she rounded the corner, and I saw her. “Listen, get me the files so I can look over them tonight,” she barked at whoever was on the phone.

As she rounded the corner, I couldn’t help but be amazed at her. She was small, had to be around 5’4, and she was petite. Her curly black hair didn’t have a hair out of place, and her pecan skin had not one blemish.

With her purse on her arm, she smiled when her eyes landed on me. “Stevie!”

“Hi Kora,” I bowed, and she stopped to look at me.

“Stevie, she’s a judge, not a damn princess,” Greene muttered.

Kora laughed as she came closer and hugged me. “It’s nice to finally meet you, but please don’t bow at me ever again. If anything, I should be bowing at you because you’re higher on the family’s pecking order… the future Mrs. Caselli.”

“Sorry.” I nervously laughed.

“The fact that you raced me, and I got caught up at security is the only reason you won.” A chocolate plus size women rounded the corner next.

She was dressed down in a sweatsuit and had a Chanel bag on her arm. Her black hair was clipped up with a claw clip, and she smiled when she saw me. “You are so damn pretty… your curls… Oh, the bawdy is tea… I’m glad he didn’t come with some stick figure like Kim… I’m Zoya.” She hugged me too.

“Thank you,” I blushed.

“Well, he never invites us over, so we know this had you written all over it.” Kora kissed her sister on the cheek, and they both turned their attention toward me.

“I really wanted to meet you guys. He talks about you all the time, and I wanted to put a face to the people.”

Zoya laughed. “No, he doesn’t… Stevie, you don’t have to lie to us. My brother doesn’t mention us at all, and the feeling is very much mutual.”

“Stop being like that, Zoya.” Kora pinched her sister and then turned her attention back to us. “Did Landon say that he was going to come?”

“He never replied to the text message, so probably not.”

I was hoping that everyone could show up so I could meet them all at the same time. “He’s going to show up… we haven’t had a family dinner…” Corleon walked into the living area. He kissed Kora and Zoya on the forehead before giving me one, too.

“Ever,” Kora finished his sentence.

“I knew when I got the message from his phone that it wasn’t his doing. Menace don’t ever invite us over here.”

“You don’t ever come,” Corleon corrected her.

Zoya shrugged and went into the fridge that was actually in the kitchen. “Do you blame me? Look at his fridge… I don’t know if I want to take a drink or a picture because who has a fridge this perfect.”

“He called not too long ago and should be here soon,” I told them, as Zoya decided on if she wanted to take a drink. “Please take a drink.”

She laughed. “Let me know if you need legal representation. It cannot be easy living here with him.”

“Oh stop… Maverick isn’t that bad.”

I noticed both sisters called him by different names. While Kora referred to him as Maverick, it was Zoya that called him Menace. “Why do you call him Menace?”

“’Cause he is one.”

Lupita made us some drinks as we sat outside while she finished getting the table together. “Are you sure that you want to marry him?” Kora looked more concerned than judging me.

It was like she wanted this to work so bad for Maverick and me. I could feel her softness and how genuine she felt when she asked the question.

“You can run now before locking that down,” Zoya added while accepting a drink from Lupita.

I laughed. “He’s not all bad, you know… I’m learning there is a different side to him,” I defended. “So, not too much on him.”

Kora smiled at me. “Defending him already. I like you already. Maverick has always had to be strong… he’s always been different, too, which doesn’t come off well with people.”

I fixed my glasses. “I am different, too, so I guess we have that in common. I don’t always say the right things, and I’m not the most polished person… so I can understand his quirks.”

“He’s misunderstood. Maverick loves hard, he just has a problem showing it.” She crossed her legs. “When we lost our parents, he never cried… There was three of us and he had to step up and make sure we were all good, even though he was still a kid himself.”

Zoya remained quiet while her sister spoke. “He took me to visit them.”

“And you’re still here?”

I couldn’t help but to laugh at the way I tried to run away. “It helped me understand him a little bit more. Have you visited?”

“No,” Zoya quickly added.

“I never go inside… can’t bring myself to do that. I place flowers outside and spend a little time with them.”

“You should look inside the next time you go. If you ever doubt how your brother feels, that will show you exactly how he feels,” I told them both.

“Is Menace dying?” I had met Landon a few times because he and Skyler were friends. It wasn’t until I was seeing him right here and now knowing what his brother looked like that I was stunned by how much they resembled each other.

Landon was Maverick’s younger twin, as if he could be his father. “Hey Stevie… I’m happy to see you alive and shit.”

“Well, thanks I am happy to be alive, too,” I laughed, as he took a seat next to Zoya, all three of them stared at me. “What? Is there paint in my hair?”

“You paint?” They all nearly screamed when I revealed that I painted.

I looked at them strange. “Yeah… Maverick set up a studio for me.”

Kora was now really interested. “He allows you to paint in his house, Stevie?”

“I’m in the pool house… that’s my studio.”

“And he allows you to use actual paint?” Landon had to make sure what I was saying was what he was actually hearing.

“Yes, why are you both acting like this is something amazing?”

“’Cause that man doesn’t like anything that is a mess and seeing that he set up a studio for you speaks volumes. I have to admit, that is really cute. I want a man that’s gonna set me a studio up.”

“Nah, you would rather one who gonna set a daycare up for you,” Landon snickered, as he leaned back on the couch.

Corleon came outside with a drink and sat down beside me. “Feels weird having all of you in the same place… how’s work, Kora?”

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Tiring. I will say, you are spinning the hell out of this Amante case, Zoya. I have to keep hiding my smile because I am so damn proud.”

“This case has been something else… I haven’t slept good for months.” She sighed, as she looked at her phone.

“Homie?” Core asked.

“None of your business, Corleon.”

He nodded his head and finished his drink. “Yeah, it’s that nigga.”

Landon looked over his sister’s shoulder. “I think you doing that shit to piss Menace off… not knowing you gonna take that man away from his kids.”

“My business is my own. I don’t get involved in either of your business, so mind your fucking business,” she snapped.

We all sat out enjoying drinks and the little tapas that Lupita prepared for us. She was having a time serving more than just me and Menace.

“Can we see the studio? I love art… who is your favorite artist?”

I jumped at the chance to show off my studio. In this short time, it had become my pride and joy. “Faith Ringgold.”

Kora gasped. “I love her pieces… listen, I have an ex that owns a gallery. When this trial is over and I have more time, we should do dinner and stop by there.”

I got excited at the thought of going out to dinner and spending the evening looking at art. “Seriously?”

“You’re going to be our sister-in-law… I’m not into the arts, but when you want to shop, we can go and max that card of my brother’s out.”

“Shit don’t max out… no limit, hater,” I turned and saw Maverick coming from inside the house.

He was wearing an all-black suit with the neck of his collar loosened. On the lapel of his suit, he had a gold CH pin clipped on it, and he wore a pair of Tom Ford dress shoes. How was it possible for him to look this good, even with a scowl on his face.

Somebody had pissed him off.

Even as he walked over here, I could smell his cologne. He always smelled like Oud Wood by Tom Ford. I noticed he never wore any other scent but that one, and he had a stockpile of it inside his closet.

“Did your ears pop?” I asked.

He bent down and kissed me on the lips, removing that stubborn curl from out my face. His siblings gasped hard. “Why the fuck y’all in my business anyway?”

I blushed as I kissed him back. “Do you wanna shower and stuff before dinner?” He nodded and looked at Zoya, Landon, and Kora before going back into the house. “Well, who wants to see my studio?”

“He came out here to greet only you… kissed you,” Zoya pretended to faint on the couch, while Landon fanned her.

“Both of you need to grow up.” Kora laughed.

I showed them my studio. Me and Kora were hung up on talking about different artists and our favorite pieces, while Landon had grabbed a paint brush and started to paint on a blank canvas. Zoya was on her phone and very uninterested in what we were doing.

“Would you date a man that’s in prison, Stevie?” she asked, as she took a seat on the stool, and watched me.

“I’m about to marry a man that wanted to kill me, so I’m not the best person to give this kind of advice.”

“Very true,” she giggled.

Kora leaned on the counter. “Is this about Gerald? Why don’t you just go and see him… you know that you want to.”

“It’s not as easy though. If Sigel finds out, then that’s issues that I don’t want to have.” She groaned. “Is it so wrong to know how he’s doing… I do have that ticket he never paid.”

“His days are numbered anyway,” Landon tossed over his shoulder.

“Are they?” I asked.

“Who knows when it comes to Menace… I know one thing; I can’t be with him for the long haul. How can I be with someone I can’t even bring around my family?”

“And he has a lot of children, too,” Kora reminded her.

“I don’t even deal with the kids.”

Kora sighed. “Doesn’t matter. You need to stop trying to piss Maverick off. We both know the only reason you choose these guys is because you know it pisses him off that he can’t control you.”

“Helps me sleep at night.” She smirked.

“Dinner should be ready… I’m starving,” I switched the subject as we headed back into the house to eat.