Twenty-Three
You're sitting next to him right now? After he left you high and dry yesterday?
Unfortunately, I am. We’re on our way to a restaurant called The VP. It’s owned by Nix Malone and will be the location for the Golden Diamond pitch. My emotions are all over the place, Jaz.
I bet they are after all that asshole has put you through. I'm surprised you don't have whiplash from all of his back and forth shit. Since you guys are out of the building, let me go ahead and down this gallon of water and head to his office with a full bladder.
As much as that thought makes me happy, I could probably smell your piss from my office, so please don't. Thanks for having my back though.
If you want to thank me, go in there and knock that pitch out the park. Get the new account and show that asshole of a boss that there is nobody better than you in any way. You got this, Nia.
Thanks, girl. We just pulled up, so I guess that means it’s go time.
It’s all you, boo. Good luck!
Thanks!
I tuck my phone inside the small black purse that matches my outfit and wait for Rome to pull up the parking brake on his car. He shuts off the engine and silence screams in our ears. Awkwardness and tension come to life all around us and we don't even look at each other. After having sex in my office yesterday, I never imagined that this is how we would end up just twenty-four hours later. Even after another mind-warping orgasm, I'm still just as frustrated and confused as ever, and the worst part is that I have to sweep all of my emotions under the rug so that they don't distract me from what’s about to happen. Nix Malone is waiting for us inside.
Rome, dressed in a tight white and blue button-up and navy blue slacks, lets out a long exhale as he stares out the window at the restaurant to his left. Tension rests heavily in his shoulders and jaw, making him look even more stressed than he usually does. I wish I knew why he is the way he is, but if he doesn't want to open up to me, I sure as hell am not about to beg. He’s not begging for me, so I won't give him the pleasure of me pleading for him. I’m not desperate, although my worst days make me feel like it. No, I’m a businesswoman who any smart man would be lucky to have. So if Rome wants to be dumb, I won't get in his way.
“Are you ready?” he asks, not even bothering to look over at me.
I sigh. “I've been prepping this pitch for weeks now, Mr. Giovanni. I'm anxious because of who the client is, but that doesn't mean I'm not ready. Don't underestimate me.”
When Rome turns to face me, his jaw is so tight I don't expect the words to fit through his clenched teeth. Unfortunately, he manages to say, “I'm not underestimating you, Nia. I just want to make sure you're prepared to go in there and face this man. Also, I asked you not to call me that.”
“It’s not your job to worry about me,” I reply with a shrug, feigning nonchalance. “And I prefer to call you by your last name because it’s more professional. Clearly that’s the way we’re keeping it after everything that has happened, which is fine with me. I just need to make sure that the line between us is bold instead of translucent. That way, I can ensure I don't cross it. Now, if you're ready, I'd like to get going. Don't want to keep the potential client waiting.”
As Rome begins to speak again, I open the door and step out of the car. I hear him sigh as I slam it shut, but I don't care. Just as he's stepping out, I walk across the busy street, forcing him to jog to catch up. Once he’s standing next to me, he mutters something under his breath, but I ignore it and make my way inside.
“Good afternoon,” a man wearing a black tuxedo with a gold bow-tie greets us as soon as we’re inside.
I start to reply, but Rome cuts me off. “Good afternoon. Rome Giovanni and Nia Washington, here for a meeting with Mr. Nix Malone.”
The pale man’s smile slowly drops, revealing a much more sinister side as he steps behind a black podium and lifts a black phone to his ear. He stares at us without saying a word before hanging up, his smile returning in a flash.
“Mr. Malone is expecting you,” he says, just as jovially as when we first entered. “Right this way, please.” The host turns on his heel and begins walking into the dining area, and Rome and I follow.
The VP is much fancier than I expected. I’m not sure what I thought I’d see, but the elegant black and gold decor is quite beautiful. Black leather booths line the perimeter of the establishment, with circular tables scattered throughout the middle. Each table is covered with a white cloth and gold decorations. Even the salt and pepper shakers are golden and look extremely expensive. The customers dining today are all dressed well, lifting decorative crystal wine glasses to their lips and eating steaks that look like they were prepared by Gordon Ramsey. Clearly this place has done very well for itself, but the main dining area doesn't compare to the section Rome and I are led to.
The host takes us to the back of the restaurant, where black and gold doors block off the VIP section of the establishment. We watch as he places a hand on each door and slides them apart, revealing a lavish room draped in gold and white. The walls are adorned with bright pictures of Philly lit up at night and housed in gaudy gold frames. There are lush green plants in each corner of the room, and a long table at the far end, at which a gargantuan figure sits in the furthest seat. When we walk in, he stands up and I feel a sudden urge to turn around and run back to the car.
“Rome Giovanni and Nia Washington,” the host says to Nix, extending his arm to guide us to the table.
“Thanks, Jeffrey,” Nix says in a voice so deep it makes the room rumble. The host nods, turns around, and walks out, closing the sliding doors behind him.
Nix Malone is larger than life. He has to be at least six-foot-four, and I'd be surprised if he weighs less than two-hundred-fifty pounds, but each pound is made of thick, round muscle that looks built to kill. His shoulders look like two globes next to his head, and his arms and chest stretch the short sleeves of his black button-up. The man is a bear standing on its back legs, waiting for someone to get close so he can pounce and tear flesh apart with his bare hands. His beard is thick and long but very well kept, as is his compact black hair that is highlighted by a wide part on one side. I can see tattoos of what look to be angels and demons clawing up both of his arms, but the stretched sleeves cover everything above the elbow. If there was an image in the dictionary next to the word gangster, it would be exactly what I'm looking at right now.
While I stand back with a racing heart, Rome steps forward with his hand extended.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Malone,” he says as Nix shakes his hand. “I’m Rome Giovanni, the owner of Sandcastle, and this is Nia Washington. She crafted today’s pitch for us.”
Nix’s eyes shift over to me, pinning me in place until he extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, Nia.”
I swallow my fear and step forward. It’s game time. “Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Malone. This is a beautiful restaurant. I've never been here, but it looks like I’ll have to make my way back for a nice dinner.”
Nix’s smile breaks through his iron demeanor. “Oh, absolutely you should. Tell your boyfriend or husband that he needs to take you out. A beautiful woman like you deserves to be treated to the absolute best, and The VP is exactly that.”
I giggle quietly. “I’ll be sure to tell him that once I finally meet him.”
“No husband or boyfriend?” Nix says, still holding onto my hand, but no longer shaking it. “I’m shocked to hear that. In that case, maybe I should treat you myself. Everything would be on the house.”
“Wow, on the house? I might have to take you up on that,” I reply with wide eyes.
I'm surprised by two things: how quickly Nix has unarmed me with his personality, and the brooding anger on Rome’s face as he watches us interact.
Nix chuckles before showing me to the seat closest to his, and we all sit down. He orders water from a server who comes from a hidden door somewhere in the back, and it is brought to us immediately. It’s clear that this section of The VP is not like the front. These servers are specific to the VIP section, and there is no waiting when Nix asks for something.
“Can I get either of you anything else while you're here?” Nix asks, eyeing us both.
“No, thank you,” Rome answers for us. “As this is a business meeting, I'd like to get right to it if that’s okay with you.”
I see a twitch in Nix’s eye as he looks at Rome, but his amiable demeanor doesn't change. “Ah, right down to business. Okay. I can get down with that. So, you want to be the company that helps Golden Diamond get its feet off the ground with your marketing and advertising. I've listened to three other pitches before today, and Sandcastle will be the last because I don't like dragging my feet. I'm a very busy man, and we need this ad campaign to begin soon so that people know exactly what’s coming and what to expect when it gets here. So, if you’d like to get right to it , then there’s no need to stretch it out. What’s your pitch?”
The ice in Nix’s voice nearly freezes me in place. As charming as he is, there is no denying that he clearly has a side of him that does not mess around. Now that the greeting is over, all smiles have vanished and we’re faced with a demeanor of cold steel. With Nix, business is business, and it's not a game to him.
I have to look over my shoulder to see Rome—which brings back far too many memories of how I did the same thing yesterday while he peppered my shoulder and neck with kisses—and he nods at me, my cue to begin. Each beat of my heart hits like a hammer striking a nail as I am engulfed by nerves. I've been preparing for this for a while, but nothing compares to being in the moment. I’m a woman sitting between two men, awaiting their judgment. Rome and I had sex just yesterday, and Nix looks at me like he would love to take Rome’s place today. They see me as a prize to be won, decoration to adorn their arm when they walk into a place as the center of attention. Well, I refuse to allow myself to be reduced to that. I'm a submissive when I choose to be, and even when I submit, I’m still a powerful woman that is not to be taken lightly.
“Our pitch for the Golden Diamond is simple,” I start after clearing my throat and sitting up straight. All playfulness is removed from my voice and thoughts of returning to The VP for dinner with Nix are erased. They aren't the only ones who can be all about their business. “The casino and hotel of your dreams is all about the most important person in the place—you. Now, when I say you, Mr. Malone, I don't mean you, the owner. I’m talking about you, the customer. When you walk into any other casino in Philly, the experience is set up to be shared by all in attendance. But at Golden Diamond, you are the king of the casino floor. Each and every amenity in the building is tailor made for your pleasure. Every server treats you like the owner. Every dealer looks at you like you’re the only one at the table. Every meal is cooked to your precise liking. Every arrival is fit for red carpet treatment.”
As Nix leans back in his seat, I focus on the words I crafted for this pitch with Jeremiah, repeating them from memory with the exact enthusiasm as the first time I spoke it in front of Rome and Sierra.
“The two thousand, top of the line slot machines are jaw-dropping, but they are nothing compared to winning your first jackpot. The one hundred TVs to watch games and track the bets you've made are awe-inspiring, but they dwindle in comparison to the feeling of watching your bet payout, making you the winner and center of attention as if standing in the middle of your own living room. There are thousands of luxurious rooms in the hotel, but the only one that matters is yours . In Golden Diamond, you are the monarch to which the rest of the world kneels.
“The world’s biggest acts will grace the grandiose stage and entertain the masses, but nothing is more exciting than your first experience in the grand hall, feeling up close and personal no matter which seat you choose. Fifteen fine dining restaurants await your arrival, ready to treat you with the utmost respect and care, serving you the most mouth-watering meals you've ever tasted. You are their number one customer and you will be treated as such every time you visit as if you were the owner, because you are the leader. You are the VIP. At Golden Diamond, you are royalty.”
I maintain eye contact with Nix as I finish, worried by hesitation as he stares back. He doesn't speak, choosing only to blink and keep me on the edge of my lavish black leather seat. While the wheels spin in his mind, I turn around to look at Rome, who only nods at me to let me know that it’s okay. We don't know Nix. We have no idea how he’ll respond to this, so all we can do is wait, while the pounding of my heart drowns out all other sounds until the moment Nix speaks.
His eyebrows raise and he blinks quickly as if in disbelief.
“Wow,” he exclaims, leaning forward in his chair. “You know what you're doing. I'm impressed.”
Relief floods my veins like a water hose as I finally exhale. My shoulders fall and a smile forms on my face like the sun coming from behind the clouds.
“Oh,” I say, grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you so much.”
“You're very welcome,” Nix replies. “That was the best pitch I've heard yet. Very passionate and knowledgeable. It helps that you're easy to look at, but the way you spoke took the focus off of that and put it squarely on your words. You're good. No wonder he chose you to deliver the pitch.”
Rome clears his throat before saying. “Umm, yes. She's our best.”
When I turn around to look at him, his face shows no emotion.
“Clearly,” Nix agrees.
“So, what are your thoughts, Mr. Malone?”
Nix licks his lips, eyeing me before looking at Rome. “Well, my first thought is that you're a very lucky man for having such a gorgeous, talented woman on your staff.” I hear Rome shift in his seat, but Nix continues without a care. “Secondly, I loved the way the pitch sounded and I think the idea of Sandcastle doing my ads and marketing sounds like a match made in heaven. But I do have a condition.”
I’m so excited by his words that I almost don't hear the part about a condition. Rome and I both sit up, anxious to hear the part that comes before we can celebrate a victory.
“What exactly is the condition?” Rome asks.
“I’ll sign on the dotted line right now as long as Miss Washington agrees to dinner with me tonight.” I gasp as Nix goes on, ignoring the look of shock on my face. “I'm not asking for anything sexual in exchange for my business, so don't think the worst. I simply would like the opportunity to take you out and show you a good time. No obligations beyond that, of course.”
No words are spoken for the next ten seconds while Nix stares at me, and Rome and I glare back. The lavish VIP area suddenly feels like a sauna with the temperature and humidity turned all the way up, sending sweat seeping through my pores.
What the hell did he just say? Please tell me that he’s kidding. But even if he is, it’s a terrible way to joke, and I’m suddenly disgusted by how brash he is. Nix is clearly unafraid of consequences, and his fearlessness has made him disrespectful. The charm and charisma that I saw earlier are now shrouded in darkness, his true colors floating to the surface like oil in water.
“Are you being serious right now?” Rome asks.
Nix grins. “Do I strike you as an unserious person?”
Fuck. I swallow hard as the two of them glare at each other—two predators ready to fight over their right to a kill. I hate it. It makes me feel like nothing more than meat for them to eat, and I have worked too hard to be thought so lowly of. I want to snap. I want to stand up and yell across the table with a pointed finger that I will not be treated this way, but my fear of everything I know about Nix Malone keeps me silent. So, Rome speaks for me.
“Wow,” he begins. “Out of all the things I expected could happen with this meeting, disrespect on this level wasn't one of them.”
“Disrespect?” Nix says. “She's a single woman who has never eaten at my restaurant. Don't be so dramatic, Rome.”
“Dramatic?” Rome fires back. “You've disrespected my company and my … employee. It’s not something I’ll stand for, Mr. Malone. While I am aware of your reputation in this city, truthfully … I don't give a fuck. I won't allow you or any other man to disrespect Nia. She is worth more than just being some girl for you to wine and dine with your money and fast life. Much, much more. So if agreeing to dinner is what is required for us to win your account, then you can fucking keep it.”
“You speak for her?” Nix asks with a tilted head.
“Nia is fully capable of speaking for herself, but when a man of your stature and notoriety offends her, I will gladly come to her defense. So, this meeting is over. There is nothing left for us to discuss.”
Rome gets up from his seat, and in absolute astonishment, I follow his lead. Nix doesn't say a word as we turn around and head for the sliding door, and I can’t believe Rome is willing to give up this account for me. Another boss might have suggested I go through with the dinner in order to secure the money that comes with an agreement this large, but Nix just flushed it all down the drain for me. If he doesn't care for me at all, he has a very funny way of showing it. All I can do is shake my head in confusion as we reach the doors and Rome slides them open.
“Wait,” Nix yells from across the room.
When we turn around Nix is walking toward us with a scowl on his face. He glares at Rome, who doesn't budge, digging his feet into the floor and holding his ground against one of the most terrifying men in the city.
“You're a fucking bold one,” Nix says. “You said that you're aware of my reputation, which means you know I could close these doors and make you disappear without a trace. No one would ever know where you went. They would say it was like you evaporated into thin air … and yet … you're ready to go to war for her. I'm not sure how I didn't see it when you walked in, but I got it now. I understand and I commend your tenacity. I would do the same if I had someone like her.”
Rome and I stare at each other, neither of us aware of how to respond. Hell, I don't even know what Nix is talking about. What did he not see when we walked in that is so clear now?
“I apologize for my contempt,” Nix says, nodding to both Rome and me. “I hope that you won't allow my coarseness to stand in the way of us doing business together. If you're able to move past it, I'd love to sign on with your company.”
My heart hammers with nervous excitement as Rome looks at me, waiting for me to accept Nix’s apology. Even now he’s willing to forgo it all if I’m too offended to work with Nix.
“Absolutely,” I say with a smile and nod. “Water under the bridge.”
Nix smiles as he extends his hand to Rome. “Good.”
Rome shakes his hand and the deal is secured when I do, too. Joy explodes in my heart as I realize what just happened. We got the Golden Diamond account—the biggest in Sandcastle’s history. Rome and I did it together, and he just stood up to a known criminal and gangster for me.
I don't want to feel anything for him. After he left me a sweaty mess in my office yesterday, I told myself that he was too confused to feel anything for me, therefore I shouldn't let myself have any feelings about him. I convinced myself that he only wanted me for sex and nothing more, and told myself that I was a fool for giving it to him. I came here today with no intention whatsoever of submitting to him ever again. I was done. But when a man literally risks his life to protect you when he doesn't have to, it changes things.
Yeah, I’m screwed.