Chapter Fourteen #3
He laughed, “Baby girl, I own one suit. I belong in the gym that is where I thrive. I feel like a fish out of water at these events myself, that’s why Brick usually handles these types of things when it comes to our company. I’m just the mascot,” he said solemnly.
“You are more than that. She may handle the business side of things but if you weren’t in the field doing the grunt work, she wouldn’t have a gym to manage.
I’m willing to bet that 98 percent of the members that are there, are there because of you,” I assured him.
He smiled at me and his eyes shone brightly.
“So, let’s be uncomfortable and navigate this space together,” he offered.
I smiled and nodded at him as I placed my hand in his and he guided me towards the front door. The photographers began taking pictures as guests walked inside.
“Oh no, they’re taking pictures, I wasn’t mentally prepared for paparazzi.” I whispered nervously.
“They’re just local bloggers, not TMZ. These pictures will probably just be on the Mayor’s website or his IG page. They won’t be all over the world. Besides, you look absolutely stunning. Smile at them the way you smile at me and the lenses will melt like I do.” He smirked.
Smiling, I squeezed his hands tighter, and he leaned down and whispered in my ear, “There you go.”
The cameras immediately started clicking.
“Over here!” One photographer shouted.
“Look this way!” Another one waved.
I immediately started walking away, but Cozart held me in place, and turned towards the camera smiling. Following his lead, I turned to look at them and smiled as well. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer as we posed for the pictures. His hand rested gently around my waist.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
“Beautiful!” One photographer yelled out.
“One more!” Another one demanded.
I turned to look up at him, and he looked down at me as one last flash went off. He pulled me towards the front door and I giggled nervously.
“We survived,” I cheered dramatically.
“I almost didn’t you were eating me up out there.
I had to start smiling with my eyes like Tyra Banks taught me how to do, I’m not going on the Mayor’s page and letting the people eat me up in the comments saying how good you look and how you are with me because of charity,” Cozart said under his breath causing me to laugh hysterically.
“You had no business learning how to ‘Smize,’ what were you doing watching America’s next top Model?” I asked him between breaths.
“My twin sister wanted a sister, so she bullied me into watching it with her. Then we had to play America’s Next Top Model, and I had to pretend to take her pictures,” he spat causing me to laugh under my breath.
“There it is again,” he grinned.
“What?”
“That laugh.”
“You are obsessed with my laugh.”
“I am.”
The honesty in his voice stole the joke right out of my mouth.
Before I could think of something witty to say, a woman’s voice interrupted us.
“Cozart!”
We both turned and my boss stood a few feet away from us looking like a supermodel.
Thinner than a wafer in a shimmering gold gown, Phomoria Crenley looked like a goddess.
The bitch had no waist, like she had eaten hopes and dreams for breakfast. She crossed the room with confidence that could only come from someone who knew she was beautiful.
Her dress hugged every curve, diamonds sparkled around her neck, and she smiled directly at Cozart like she already knew the answer to whatever question she planned to ask.
She hugged him too long for it to be friendly and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
Afterall, she was my boss, Cozart was her client, the client that I had turned her on to.
“Cozart Walker,” she purred. “You clean up very nicely.”
He smiled politely. “Good to see you, Phomoria congrats again on the nomination tonight,” he nodded his head towards her. Her eyes slid to me before returning to him.
“Ny’Airy sweetie I’m so glad you could make it,” she smiled at me fakely, leaned over and air kissed me like we were in Paris instead of in ratchet ass Buckhead Atlanta. There wasn’t jealousy in her voice, but there were definitely some curiosity and competition.
“Are you two here together?” she asked me with a fake gleaming smile.
Before I could answer Cozart did, “Yes Ny’Airy is my date,” he said causing my stomach to do that flutter thing again.
“Isn’t that the most adorable thing,” she said while smiling at Cozart like a female dog in heat.
It was bad enough all of the women in the gym wanted him, even my boss wanted him.
It was his fault for being so damn attractive.
I looked at Phomoria who was staring at him, then looked over at him, and he was staring at me with the same look that she was giving him.
“Well, I won’t keep you two,” she smiled. “Enjoy yourselves.”
“Congratulations again,” Cozart said.
“Thank you.”
She walked away with effortless confidence, but something told me she wasn’t nearly as unbothered as she pretended to be.