The Skin I’m In

Chapter One

Jamal

“That should do it for the paperwork,” Jennifer, the Human Resources representative, told me as she tucked the stack of sheets into her briefcase.

I’d filled out and signed so many papers, I probably killed a poor redwood.

“If you follow me to the conference room, I’ll get Geo to show you around the office. ”

I stood up from my seat, my legs aching from sitting so long.

It felt as if I’d been filling out paperwork for days, even though it had probably only been a couple of hours.

But any discomfort or negative thoughts disappeared when we made our way down a carpeted hallway and approached a long glass wall.

Through it, I could see dozens of people tucked behind cubicles, working with their heads ducked down as they typed furiously.

But it wasn’t until Jennifer opened the door leading into the large room that the sound of clacking keys and ringing telephones hit my ears.

It made my heart race. This is what I had been working towards for so long; what I’d been dreaming of for most of my lifetime.

After twenty-four years of struggling through life, trying to scrape up enough money to get by, I was now living my dream, having accepted a job at the wealth management firm of Smith they were busy with their own workloads and deadlines.

We reached yet another glass wall; rather, an enclosed room within the room, surrounded by all glass walls. I loved the open design and floor plan, and that everyone could easily be seen; there was nothing to hide, and everyone was equal.

Jennifer held open the door with one hand, ushering me inside with the other. I passed her and took a seat at the elongated table in the center of the space. Without a word, she left me alone, allowing the door to close behind her.

I was exposed but comfortable; anyone could see inside, but nobody seemed to notice.

They were all working diligently. I tapped my fingers against the wooden tabletop, imagining I’d have countless meetings around it.

I couldn’t wait to get started. As soon as Geo ‘showed me around’, I hoped to hit the ground running.

I hadn’t met Geo yet, but I assumed he was one of the more senior members of the staff, since he had the responsibility of training me. So I was surprised when I saw a young man approaching - a gorgeous young man.

His skin was fair and creamy, the exact opposite of my dark brown complexion.

Even his hair was so platinum blond it was almost white, but it didn’t wash him out.

The light color only highlighted his piercing blue eyes.

He was exactly the type of man I was attracted to - the type I’d tried to hide from all my life.

He walked into the room, and he did a double take when his gaze landed on me. I was used to it; I could be an intimidating figure. I stood up to greet him, and his pretty eyes widened as he raked them up and down my body.

He was on the tall side, yet my six-foot-four frame still towered over him. My frame was nearly double the width of his slim shoulders and hips. I offered my hand and greeted, “It’s nice to meet you, Geo. I’m Jamal.”

Geo was still and silent for a moment before he cleared his throat and muttered, “I’m sorry.

I wasn’t expecting you to be…” his words trailed off, but I didn’t need to hear them to understand; I’d heard them many times before.

He shook his head as if realizing what he’d said out loud before extending his hand, but I quickly retracted mine.

Though convinced I already knew the answer, I asked through gritted teeth, “Would this have anything to do with the color of my skin?”

Geo swallowed hard. “That’s definitely part of it.”

If I weren’t so pissed off, I might respect his forwardness. Most people I’d encountered were backhanded with their racism. Geo let his prejudice flag fly. “I think we need to march right back down to Human Resources and talk to Jennifer. This is unacceptable.”

Instead of arguing with me as I imagined he would, Geo hung his head with a guilty look on his face.

I almost felt badly for him. Almost. “You’re right,” he said quietly.

“That was unacceptable, and I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.

Just because I find you attractive doesn’t mean I should act like some slack-jawed high schooler. I should be more professional and-”

“Wait, what?” I snapped too loudly when I processed his words. Geo opened and closed his mouth a few times, appearing as confused as I felt. “You find me attractive?”

His cheeks flushed the cutest shade of pink. “Isn’t…that why you wanted to take me to HR?”

He wasn’t judging the color of my skin; he was drooling over it. “I thought you had a problem with a man of my race being in this office.”

Geo lurched backwards as if my words had physically smacked him.

“Of course not! I just think you’re hot!

” His eyes widened and his hand covered his mouth as he muttered, “For fuck’s sake,” under his breath.

At the curse word, he winced and his hand moved up to rub his temple. “Just take me to Jennifer.”

I gave a loud belly laugh. I didn’t mean to poke fun at his plight, but I couldn’t help it; the man was adorably awkward in the best way. Geo peeked up at me from under his pinched brows. “You aren’t mad?”

“Trust me, there are much worse things than being called hot,” I chuckled, though Geo wasn’t laughing. His hurt expression suggested he knew exactly what I meant.

“Has it happened to you a lot?”

I usually didn’t divulge much when it came to the prejudices I’d faced. I didn’t like to think about it, and most people didn’t want to hear about it either. But something in Geo’s soft gaze and the hitch in his voice told me he actually cared about my answer.

“I grew up on the wrong side of town, and it seems that gave everyone certain ideas about me, even if we’d never met.

Shop owners would watch me carefully when I walked through the aisles, and women would clutch their purses when we passed on the sidewalk.

Hell, some still do, though it happens less.

” I ran a hand down the lapel of my suit jacket.

People in public seemed to be more at ease when I was in my professional attire.

“I’m sorry it happens to you at all,” Geo offered quietly, and I gave him a tight smile.

His face turned intense when he added, “If anyone here tries to give you shit, you come and tell me.” I had to bite my lip to keep my smile from spreading.

The man was smaller and objectively weaker than I, but he was ready to protect me, and it was so damn cute.

I wasn’t sure how to answer, so instead, I held out my hand and suggested, “Let’s start over. My name is Jamal. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Geo,” he replied, gently wrapping his fingers around mine. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

“I’ve never heard that name before. I like it.”

Geo beamed and explained, “Technically, my name is George, but I hate it, so I started going by Geo. My parents hate that, so it made it even better.”

I was instantly curious about his story, but considering our less than stellar meeting, I wanted to tread lightly, so I ignored my burning questions and changed the subject. “How long have you been with the company?”

“A couple of years,” he replied, bouncing his head back and forth.

“I’m impressed. Training people after only a short time? Most people don’t move up within a company so quickly.”

“Oh, I don’t train people,” he replied with a chuckle. “That would be a disaster. I don’t know a spreadsheet from a bedsheet. I’m more of a ‘transfer phones, brew coffee, make sure there is paper in the copier’ kind of guy. I leave all the important work to you brainiacs.”

“Hey, you do important work too,” I insisted.

“A company needs every last one of its employees. My mom worked in a hospital for over half her life. She always said that each position was as important as the next; that if there weren’t people working in environmental services to clean the operating rooms, surgeons couldn't perform procedures.”

“I’ve never thought of it like that,” Geo beamed. “She sounds like a very smart lady.”

“She was,” I answered with a grin, though his faded away.

“I’m sorry.” I’m not sure what he saw in my expression, but he gathered, “Recently?”

I nodded. It was the best I could do; I knew if I said any more, I’d be blubbering all over myself, and that was not the first impression I wanted to make at my new job.

I didn’t even realize Geo was still holding my hand from our initial handshake until he enclosed his other palm around me.

His touch was warm and comforting. It was the first touch from a man that didn’t have me looking over my shoulder for prying, judgmental eyes.

I didn’t flinch or fight it. Geo’s touch was…

natural. It made me feel like this was exactly where I was supposed to be, which was a thrilling but dangerous thing.

“I’m sure she is so proud of you,” he offered sincerely, and my throat squeezed and burned.

I had to clear it twice before answering, “Thank you,” in a quiet voice. I needed to get the attention off of me, and I wanted to make Geo feel good as well, and to remind him of his importance, so I told him, “I’m sure yours is as well.”

His loud snort of laughter caught me off guard. “Sorry.” He regrettably let go of my hand as he explained, “But no, that ship has sailed. And then their ship sailed.” He laughed again at the joke I didn’t understand. “But you don’t want to hear about that.”

Geo was wrong; I definitely wanted to hear about it. I was intrigued to learn everything I could about him. But if he didn’t want to speak on it, I wouldn't push. And perhaps this wasn’t the best place for that conversation.

“Anyway, I better show you around before Jennifer comes back and chews my ass.” The words caused completely irrational flashes of both protectiveness in wanting to keep him from harm, and jealousy of anyone having anything to do with his ass. I was in dangerous territory indeed.

Geo started for the door, but I stepped ahead of him to open it.

He smiled and walked through before me. I want to go on record saying I did not take the opportunity to check out his aforementioned ass.

Which is a damn shame, because I did not notice how firm and round it was, or the way it swished beneath his khakis.

Geo showed me around the room, introducing me to several of my coworkers, who each gave a friendly smile or quick words of welcome before returning to their work. He pointed out the restrooms, break room, copier, and coffee pot before leading me to an empty cubicle.

“This is where you’ll sit.” He pointed to a folder on my desk and added, “In there, you’ll find your username and temporary password to get into the computer system.

It will prompt you to change it after you log in for the first time.

Jerry will be your preceptor.” Geo nodded to a portly, grumpy-looking man standing next to a water cooler in the corner before leaning in closer to me.

“He looks like a hardass, but here’s a pro tip; ask him about his dogs.

He breeds Dachshunds, and anyone who brings them up in conversation is golden. ”

“Dachshunds, huh? He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who likes wieners.

” Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have told the inappropriate joke; I was trying to make a great impression.

But I instinctively trusted Geo, and I also wanted to make him laugh.

The melodious sound tickled my eardrums as he playfully slapped my shoulder.

“Thank you for the tip. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course,” he smiled brightly. “If there’s anything else I can help you with, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be right over there.”

He jutted his chin towards a desk not far from my own.

It was turned sideways, so that it was facing the room full of employees.

Instead of being closed up in a cubicle and covered in paperwork, it was open and inviting, decorated with knick-knacks, plants, and candy dishes.

It matched Geo’s bright and bubbly personality.

An idea popped into my mind. It was a terrible idea, and my better judgement screamed at me to not say it out loud. But keeping the words from my lips was like trying to stop a freight train.

“There is one thing,” I began, and Geo stood up straighter, appearing eager to help. “I’m not familiar with the area; where is the best place to grab lunch?”

“Gabby’s,” he answered without hesitation. “It’s only a couple of blocks away, so you can just walk and not have to worry about traffic. I go there a few times a week.”

“Would you like to join me for lunch there today?” It was not a bright idea to get involved with anyone at work.

I knew that as well as I knew my own name.

I’d worked so hard to land here, and I could risk it all with one little lunch invitation.

But did that stop me? No. Maybe I wasn’t as smart as my degree would suggest. Or perhaps the enchanting draw of Geo made my logical brain stop working.

I wanted to know more about this beautiful man if he’d give me the chance.

His pretty smile grew wider and mine instinctively matched his. “I’d love to.”

“Great.”

At that moment, Jerry approached my desk, still wearing a scowl. But thanks to Geo, hopefully I had the key to unlock some friendliness from that man as well. And speaking of Geo, if I wasn’t mistaken, he added a little swish in his step when he turned around and headed back to his desk.