Wayne went to Shayla’s house to plan a date with Tamara, but Shayla saw an opportunity for her own benefit Read More
💔 The Deal Behind the Date — Shayla’s Secret Offer
The sun was slipping low behind Atlanta’s skyline when Wayne pulled up in front of Shayla’s apartment.
He sat there for a moment, engine still running, hands gripping the steering wheel. He hated asking anyone for help — but tonight wasn’t about pride.
Tonight was about Tamara.
He sighed and muttered to himself, “Come on, Wayne. It’s just a little advice. Ain’t no harm in that.”
He rang the doorbell. Seconds later, Shayla opened the door, wearing a silk robe and her signature smirk.
“Well, well… look who finally decided to visit me,” she said, leaning on the doorframe.
“Wayne, the man who thinks he can charm any woman in Atlanta.”
Wayne chuckled awkwardly. “Don’t start, Shayla. I came for help, not jokes.”
She tilted her head. “Help? From me? That’s new. You usually act like I’m the last person you’d ask.”
“Yeah, well,” he sighed, stepping in. “Tamara’s been acting distant lately. I just… I need this date to go right. You got good taste — I figured you’d know how to set the mood.”
Shayla crossed her arms, pretending to think. “Tamara, huh? That woman doesn’t fall for just flowers and candlelight. She wants class — luxury.”
“That’s why I came to you,” Wayne admitted. “You know the high-end stuff. I just want everything perfect.”
Shayla smiled faintly. “Perfect always comes with a price, Wayne.”
Scene 2 — The Offer
Wayne sat on the couch while Shayla poured herself a glass of wine. The apartment was neat but small — a reminder of how much her life had changed since Anthony.
She turned, eyes softer now. “You know… people think I got it all together. But they don’t know what I’ve been through.”
Wayne frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She sat down beside him, sighing deeply. “Anthony left me with nothing but rules, restrictions, and regrets. Then Iman came — promised me the world — and he left too. Now it’s just me and my son, Kai. And this little apartment.”
Wayne nodded quietly. He wasn’t used to seeing Shayla like this — vulnerable, almost broken.
“That’s rough, Shay,” he said softly. “But you still standing. You strong.”
She smiled weakly. “Strong doesn’t pay the bills, Wayne.”
Then, her tone shifted — calculated but calm. “You said you wanted Tamara to fall for you, right?”
“Yeah,” Wayne said slowly.
“Then let me make it happen,” she said, leaning closer. “I can plan the whole night — the look, the vibe, even the words. Tamara will be yours.”
Wayne raised a brow. “And what do you want in return?”
Shayla looked at him for a long moment before answering. “A house.”
Scene 3 — The Deal
Wayne blinked. “A what?”
“A house,” she repeated, steady and serious. “Not for me — for Kai. He deserves a real home. You’re always helping people, Wayne. Help me too.”
Wayne laughed nervously. “You gotta be kidding. You want me to buy you a house just so you can set up one date?”
“Not just a date,” Shayla said firmly. “An opportunity. You get Tamara, and I get security for my son. Fair trade.”
He rubbed his forehead. “Shayla, that ain’t how I work. I help people because I want to, not for deals.”
She leaned back, sipping her wine. “Then maybe you don’t want Tamara bad enough.”
Wayne’s jaw tightened. “Don’t play me like that.”
“I’m not playing,” she said quietly. “I’m surviving. You got options, Wayne. I don’t.”
For a long time, neither spoke. Only the sound of the ticking clock filled the room.
Then Shayla placed her hand gently on his arm. “Look… I’m not asking for a mansion. Just something small — a home for me and Kai. You do that, and I’ll make Tamara yours before the weekend.”
Wayne looked down at her hand, then at her eyes — filled with a strange mix of desperation and determination.
“Shayla…” he whispered. “You don’t gotta sell your soul like this.”
She smiled sadly. “Soul’s already been sold, baby. I’m just trying to buy it back.”
Scene 4 — The Choice
Wayne stood up, pacing the room. His thoughts were racing — this wasn’t how he planned the night to go.
“You know,” he said finally, “I came here thinking you’d just tell me what color candles to buy. Now you talking about houses.”
“Because that’s real life,” Shayla replied. “Candles melt. Homes last.”
He stared at her for a long moment. She looked beautiful but tired, clever but wounded.
“You ever think,” Wayne said softly, “that maybe if you stopped scheming, good things would come to you?”
“You ever think,” she shot back, “that maybe good things only come to people who already got them?”
That hit him harder than he expected. He sighed and looked around the apartment again — the peeling wallpaper, the flickering lamp, the faint sound of Kai’s laughter from the next room.
Maybe she wasn’t lying. Maybe she really needed this.
But was it right?
“Shayla, I’ll think about it,” he said finally. “I ain’t promising nothing yet.”
She stood too, stepping closer. “You think too long, and someone else might catch Tamara first.”
Wayne smirked. “You forget who you talking to?”
“Oh, I know exactly who I’m talking to,” Shayla said, her voice low. “The man who wants control but hates confrontation. You want the win, but you don’t like the fight.”
He laughed softly. “And you love both.”
“Damn right,” she said with a wink.
Scene 5 — The Goodbye
As Wayne reached for the door, Shayla called out behind him.
“Wayne… if you do decide to help me — I won’t forget it.”
He turned, studying her expression — part gratitude, part manipulation.
“You already planning your next move, ain’t you?” he asked.
She smiled, almost innocently. “A woman like me always has to.”
He nodded slowly. “You’re dangerous, Shayla.”
“Only when I need to be.”
Wayne chuckled under his breath and walked out, shaking his head.
Scene 6 — Later That Night
Shayla closed the door behind him, her smile fading instantly. She leaned against the wall, exhaling deeply.
“You’ll come around, Wayne,” she whispered to herself. “They always do.”
Then she glanced at a photo of her son on the table.
“Mama’s gonna fix everything, baby. Just a little longer.”
Scene 7 — The Setup Begins
Outside, Wayne sat in his car, staring through the windshield. The city lights flickered in his eyes.
He grabbed his phone and scrolled through his contacts — pausing over Tamara’s name.
Then, instead of calling her, he set the phone down and muttered, “I ain’t no fool, Shayla. But I ain’t heartless either.”
Somewhere inside, he knew — whatever came next, Shayla’s story and his were about to get tangled in ways neither of them expected.
Because in a world full of players and pretenders…
Even the best intentions can turn into the worst deals.
To be continued… 🔥
Next: “The House, the Promise, and the Heartbreak.”
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