Bodyguard (YN x Beyonce)

Part Forty

The air in the elevator was thick enough to choke on. Solange slammed her palm on the emergency stop, the sudden jolt making everyone stumble slightly.

"Why can't you move on from YN?" she demanded, her tone sharp enough to cut glass.

I dragged a hand down my face, already feeling the headache building. Please, God, let this end fast.

Gabby crossed her arms, chin tilting up. "I'm not doing this here."

Solange's eyes narrowed, her tone sharp as a knife. "You already did, though."

Gabby's eyes flashed, frustration and hurt mixing together. "I'm not trying to make it a thing," she said, her voice sharper now. "I just... I needed closure. I wanted to understand, that's all. I'm not trying to come between anyone."

Solange's glare didn't soften. "Her getting married wasn't enough closure for you? Or what about when she had kids?"

Solange folds her arms, giving Gabby that look that already makes my stomach tighten because I know she's far from done.

Gabby's voice is soft when she speaks... too soft for this room, too soft for this moment.

"I'm not trying to cause problems." she says. "I just... I'll always love YN. But I understand that it's done."

My throat goes tight. Not guilt... just that heavy pressure of something that used to matter, standing in front of me like a ghost.

Before I can even figure out what to say, Solange steps in like she's been waiting for her cue.

"But it's been done." she says, eyebrows raised like she's genuinely confused. "So, I'm really not understanding why you thought it would ever be something again."

Gabby blinks, taken aback.

"I didn't... I wasn't trying to rekindle anything."

Solange tilts her head. "So, you just wanted to keep a little emotional back door open? For what? Hard times? Bored nights? Girl, no."

Gabby stiffens, embarrassed. "It wasn't like that."

"Then what was it like?" Solange presses. "Because from where I'm standing, it looked like you were hoping for a version of YN that doesn't exist anymore. She's married. A wife. A mother. And you standing here talking about love like it's a free trial you wanna renew."

Gabby's voice cracks. "I wasn't trying to disrespect their marriage."

Solange folds her arms. "Intent doesn't erase impact."

Jay scoffs under his breath, but Solange glares him silent.

Solange's eyes swept the small elevator, then flicks back to Jay with unmistakable intensity. "They are happily married." she said, her voice low and deadly serious. "There is nothing and no one that can ruin that."

Jay raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "If everyone's so happy, then what's the problem?"

I turned toward him, exasperated. "What's your problem?"

Solange's glare snapped back to him. "Shut up."

Gabby let out a sigh, frustration evident. "Can we just... drop it and move on? Please?"

Before anyone can answer, Jay mutters under his breath, loud enough for everyone to hear, "I told you it would be like this."

My head snaps toward him. "What is your issue? And why are you coaching her?"

He raises his brows in fake shock, hand over his chest like I accused him of a crime. "Coaching?"

"Yeah, coaching." I fire back, stepping toward Jay. "You getting into her head and putting her up to this bullshit."