Nicole laughed, shaking her head as she watched Gabriel and Daniel fight over the pie.
"Relax, boys — there's plenty of pie to go around."
But her laughter was cut short as she glanced over her shoulder. The smile faded, replaced by a look of pleasant surprise.
"Oh! Woow, that's a shock. It's been a while since we've seen them. I didn't expect to see Mavis and Derrick here."
Robert's head snapped around rapidly— and his stomach dropped. The smile on his face faded instantly. Derrick was a man from his past, an old friend he'd hoped would stay just there…in the past.
There he was, near the corner of the ballroom, beneath the hanging banner that read "A Future Built on Discovery," stood Derrick Wills.
He hadn't changed much — just a little bigger and bald — but the shock wasn't seeing him at the event. It was that he was still alive, the life Derrick lead , Robert expected him to be either dead , in prison or far from here, but there he was alive and in the flesh.
Robert wanted to avoid them altogether, looking around at all possible hiding spots, but he was the centre of attention tonight. Slipping away unnoticed would be damn near impossible. While he silently panicked, Nicole, unaware of his inner dilemma, made the decision for him.
"Oh my God, Derrick and Mavis?" she shouted across the room ecstatically . "Is that really you?"
Her smile was wide and genuine. Unlike Robert, she had only good memories of the couple — especially Mavis, a bubbly woman who always had more jokes than a stand-up comic.
Mavis turned, and her face lit up.
"Nicole?! Oh my goodness, it's been forever!"
The two women practically ran into each other's arms, squealing with excitement.
"Mavis, you look so good! What gym have you been going to?"
"Oh, stop it — you're too kind. I don't even have time to hit the gym anymore, you know how it is. But you — this dress is stunning. Is it silk?"
"Yes, it is," Nicole giggled as Mavis ran a hand across the smooth black fabric of her gown.
"Derrick! It's been years," Nicole said, beaming, as she finally pulled away from Mavis.
"Feels like a lifetime," Derrick chuckled, extending his hand to Robert.
Robert shook it, but the contact sent a cold chill through his entire body. For the first time in years, he regretted not telling Nicole the truth about Derrick. But he couldn't. If he had, she would've told Mavis — and that would've caused Derrick to burn down everything. He wasn't the man to cross- a loose cannon on his best day.
"I've been trying to get Derrick to come to church with me," Mavis chimed in, throwing a playful glare at her husband. "But you know how it is. He keeps saying he's too busy."
"The life of an entrepreneur is busy one. You know how it goes," Derrick added with a shrug. "Always something going on." Mavis shot back. "Girl, tell me about it." Nicole sighed dramatically. "Robert's practically married to his lab. Every day it's 'the lab this, the lab that.' Sometimes I'm like, 'Hey, remember me? Your actual wife?' I don't think he does."
Nicole and Mavis burst into deep, contagious laughter — the kind that made a few heads turn. Both women, stunning in their own way, always drew attention. Formal occasion or not, they didn't care. Whenever they reunited, it was like two kindred spirits reconnecting.
Their husbands? Not so much.
Robert stood stiff beside Derrick, and the tension in his tone and posture made the reunion feel awkward.
Mavis seemed to notice and, with a grin, wrapped her arm around Nicole's shoulder.
"Alright, come on. Let's take the kids and leave the boys to talk," she said between giggles.
The two women headed off toward the dessert table, dragging Gabriel and Daniel along.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Robert's expression changed. The smile was gone. What replaced it was cold, cautious.
"Why are you here?"
Derrick raised an eyebrow. "Damn, Rob. Left your sense of humor behind when you left the streets, huh? It's a party. Lighten up. You look like you've seen a ghost."
His words came slow, smooth — the voice of a man who had power, who didn't need to rush. That voice pulled Robert back to memories he'd buried deep: street corners, sirens, blood, heat. A gun in his hand instead of a trophy.
He breathed in. Then out.
He wasn't that stupid kid that Derrick could pull the wool over his eyes anymore.
"Well, Derrick… if I'm being honest, I feel like I am looking at a ghost. I figured you'd be dead, in prison… or worse, with the life you led."
"Still dramatic, huh?" Derrick smirked. "What could possibly be worse than dead or locked up? Anyway, let's keep things friendly. You turned bougie and forget who you are — what you've done?"
He tilted his head.
"What'd your mom used to tell us? Ahh yes... 'People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.' Ring a bell or should I go further…Robert?"
Robert swallowed hard. He hated that Derrick still had this effect on him. The man couldn't drag him down without dragging himself too — but Derrick was reckless enough not to care. And that made him dangerous.
He reached for his collar, trying to loosen it, suddenly aware of the sweat gathering on his neck.
"Relax, man. You're way too tense. It's your big night. Look at you — the big-time scientist. Who would've thought little Rob from back in the day would go all the way legit?"
Robert didn't take the bait.
"Cut the crap, Derrick. What do you want? You being here ain't a coincidence, and we both know you didn't come to toast my success."
Derrick shrugged. "Smart, as always. I'm here… for business."
"You're not going to find any here."
"You'd be surprised. My boss comes with a proposition."
"Your boss?" Robert raised a brow. "There's someone out there more dangerous than you? May God help us all — including you."
Derrick chuckled. "Cute. Still praying for me? That's sweet. But yeah, he's the real deal. And we've got bigger business to discuss."
"I'm surprised you're not running your own show by now. Whatever happened to 'owning the city' like you used to say?"
"Who said I don't run this city, everything goes through me", "Derrick grinned. "But enough of the back and forth and the underhanded digs. My boss has connections you wouldn't believe."
"Well, I don't want to hear it. Anyone more dangerous than you needs to stay far away from me and my family."
"I'm telling you anyway," Derrick said.
"If I walk away right now, would that stop you?"
"Maybe for tonight. But I'll keep coming back until you finally listen."
Robert sighed, feeling like he'd boarded a pirate ship and couldn't jump off.
"Alright. Go on then."
Derrick leaned in. "My boss wants to go into business with you."
Robert blinked. "I don't make or sell drugs, Derrick. I'm not about that life. This isn't Breaking Bad."
Derrick laughed. "Please. Don't flatter yourself. We already got a chemist. Ivy League like you — smart as hell. You wouldn't even make the cut to cook for us."
Robert rolled his eyes. "Then what's this about?"
"He wants to launder money through your lab."
Robert's eyes widened. "What?!"
His voice rose, drawing a few stares. Derrick gave him a hard look, motioning for him to lower his voice.
"Are you insane?" Robert shouted under his breath through gritted teeth. "I don't know what lies you fed your boss, but I'm not about that life. I never will be , not now not ever, you got the wrong guy."
"Calm down. People are watching," Derrick said, keeping his voice even. But Robert didn't care. His mind was racing.
"I built this life to protect my family. And you think I'd throw that away?"
"You're being hasty," Derrick replied. "He'll fund your research, pay you triple what you make now. You won't have to worry about investors breathing down your neck or begging for grants. You just report the money as legit funding, and funnel a bit out through companies we control. My wife says you're working on something big — something that needs backing. I'm your guy."
Robert stared at him in disbelief.
"Thanks, but no thanks. This award? It's a step in the right direction. It's gonna open doors for me I never thought possible , the doors I was dreamed of walking through as a kid. I'll get the funding I need — the right way."
Derrick sighed. "You're making a mistake. This could be a win-win."
"I'm sure. And speaking of your wife — she's a good woman. You should think about giving her a stable life. You know it'd break her heart if she found out."
Derrick's face darkened. "Is that a threat?"
His hand slid into his pocket, and Robert's eyes followed the motion. Tension snapped through him. No way was Derrick unarmed.
"It's not a threat," Robert said quietly. "Just a reminder. I know you care about her. But you're not acting like it."
After a moment, Derrick slowly pulled his hand out — empty — and forced a smile.
"Well, thank you for your concern. But I know how to protect my wife."
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek black business card.
"I respect your decision. But hey, life happens. If things ever go sideways… and you change your mind… give me a call."
"I won't."
"Take it anyway. Just in case this whole science thing doesn't pan out, and you find yourself needing a little extra cash…"
Robert grabbed the card reluctantly and shoved it into his jacket pocket like it was on fire.
"It won't come to that," he said coldly.
"Time will tell," Derrick said, smiling as he turned.
Together, they walked back toward their wives. On the surface, everything was smooth. But beneath Robert's polished shoes, the ground had just started to shift.