Free The Trophy Wife by Ashley, JaQuavis

auditorium and smiled when he noticed that the stage lights were illuminated on his little girl. He smiled as he watched London instruct his daughter on her form. London held Jada’s waist, and they dipped their hips in unison. Kalil clapped slowly as he climbed the steps to the stage.
    â€œDaddy! Look what Ms. London taught me.” Jada danced around the stage.
    Kalil tried to focus on his daughter, but he couldn’t keep his eyes off London. He could tell that she was embarrassed, because she refused to look his way. He approached her and stood silently as he waited for her to say something.
    â€œThank you for yesterday.” She kept her eyes focused on the CD case that she had in her shaking hands.
    Kalil lifted her face so that he could look her in the eye. “You good?”
    London nodded. “Yes, I’m good.”
    â€œDid he hurt you when you went home?”
    London looked at him. She didn’t understand why he was so determined to help her out. “Why do you care?” she asked him, her brow wrinkled in confusion.
    â€œI don’t know. I just do.”
    He brushed her swoop bang out of her face and caressed her neck softly with his rough hands, sending goose bumps up and down her spine.
    â€œLet me take you out?”
    London raised an eyebrow. “Out?”
    â€œYeah, out. I want to get to know you.” He noticed the skeptical look on her face and quickly added, “As friends, of course.” He looked down at her, his stare warm and full of concern. He frowned because of the black eye. It seemed so out of place on her gorgeous face.
    London couldn’t help but stare back into his bedroom eyes. His lips were perfect, and she could imagine herself kissing him.
    â€œI can’t.”
    â€œOkay.” Kalil nodded his head. He understood why she turned him down. He knew that she had a lot on her mind and that her situation wasn’t as easy as his. She was married and, even worse, in an abusive relationship. Kalil would be patient. Her husband obviously didn’t appreciate what he had. Kalil would wait until she was tired of being mistreated and would then show her how she deserved to be taken care of.
    He touched the side of her face that was black and blue then leaned into her and whispered, “You deserve better.”
    With that he grabbed his daughter’s hand and walked down the steps as he prepared to exit the room. Before he reached the door he heard her call his name.
    â€œKalil?”
    He stopped walking and turned to face her. “Are you better?” she asked him, her shaky voice echoing through the large room.
    â€œFor you, I would be,” he replied and then left the room.
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    From that day forward, Kalil made it a point to pick Jada up from school every day. He told himself that he was doing it for his baby girl, but truthfully a part of him wanted to check on London. He was attracted to her, and even though she was married, it didn’t stop him from wanting to see her.
    Every day he would watch as she taught her class. He told himself that he was there to show Jada his support, but he often found himself spending more time watching London than his daughter. He was infatuated by her style. Her smile was gorgeous, and when she danced, he saw a passion in her that was inspiring. Each day he would watch as London’s bruises healed, but he always noticed when a new one would appear. He noticed everything about her, and he could tell that silently she liked the attention he was giving her.
    â€œWhy do you show up here every day?” she asked him one day as she gave the girls time to warm up by themselves.
    â€œWhat? You don’t want me to?” Kalil sat low in one of the auditorium seats.
    London smiled and shook her head. “You have to stop this. I can’t allow myself to start this with you,” she stated seriously. Her voice was full of concern as she stood with one hand planted firmly on