7. Blythe
Chapter Seven
BLYTHE
No one at this point could get under my skin more than Pharaoh’s ass. It was like he tried on a daily to piss me off and he’s only been here two weeks. He was always around. Anywhere I was he just so happened to appear.
He had all the females in the office smitten.
They laughed and blushed at anything his ass would say no matter if it was funny or not.
That would only further piss me off. I did my best to avoid him all week and I thought I was in the clear until the knocks came at my door and he stood there looking every bit of the chocolate God he was. He knew it too with his arrogant ass.
After our back and forth for dominance I gave up and showed him my work.
I was proud of my clientele, and it was evident in my presentation.
He seemed really intrigued by what I had to say.
He asked questions and eventually he pulled his chair around the desk to my side to see my screen more clearly.
I haven’t been able to control my breathing since.
He smelled so fuckin’ good. It wasn’t just his cologne either he had a masculine smell.
Very fresh and woody on top of his expensive cologne smell.
It invaded my nostrils and sent a direct jolt down to my kitty every time he reached over me to ask about something on the screen.
Knocks sounded at the door pulling both of our attention to it.
“Come in.”
“Hey boss lady. I am heading out. Everything was submitted and I included you on the email responses. I also forwarded your phones. You need anything else before I go?” Autumn was speaking to me, but her gaze bounced between Pharaoh and me.
“No, that is all Autumn. Thank you so much.”
“Of course. See you Sunday.” She blew me a kiss before easing out the door. I winked and returned my attention to the screen. My alarm sounded alerting me it was almost six pm.
“Damn we been in here two hours.” Pharaoh reached up and stretched. My eyes scanned his body and fell on the print in his slacks. He loosened his tie and leaned his elbows on his knees. He looked comfortable with no intention to wrap this up.
“So, Mr. McCallum, we have covered a lot. And as you can see, I am committed to my work and this company. Are you ready to wrap this up or do you need more of my time and knowledge.” He chuckled and leaned back in his chair.
Instinctively I licked my lips scanning him from head to toe.
I didn’t understand how something so arrogant could be this damn fine.
“Blythe, sweetheart. Please call me Pharaoh.”
“Why?” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in my chair. I crossed my leg over my thigh and noticed his eyes trail my motion. He swallowed hard before looking back up at me.
“The battle for dominance is cute but honestly, I just want a laid-back team. Team being the operative word. That’s how I operate in St. Louis and the company is thriving.”
“We are thriving here too.” I cut his words off a little offended. We were doing damn good even with the titles drawn in the sand. He scratched his head and exhaled deep.
“You done?” He asked with his finger pointed in my direction. I threw up my hands in surrender.
“Like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted.” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms back over my chest. “Yes, the company runs well here but St. Louis runs slightly different. Only on paper is the roles titled. In person we are all equal. We work as a family. No stepping on toes, no they are beneath me shit. Just all working together for the good of the company.” I was impressed.
There was definitely a hierarchy here which is why I was fighting so hard for partner.
“Granted we have partners that work their asses off but inside the office we work together. We share ideas, buy coffee, make copies. Whatever. My dominance is for relationships. Not my office.” Hmm, so he is a dom. He naturally exuded it, but I wouldn’t dare ask.
“Impressive.” Was my only reply. We sat staring at each other trying to read each other’s expression. My phone ringing pulled my attention away.
“Yes, Autumn?” I spoke into the phone. Pharaoh diverted his attention and retrieved his phone from his pocket as a distraction.
“Is his fine ass still in your office?” He ran his hand down his head hearing her words clear as day. I turned down my volume and stood to close my blinds.
“Girl, bye.”
“Oh, shit he must be. Call me when you get in the car. I need to know what y’all been doing for hours.”
“Goodbye.”
“No B, for real don’t forget.”
“Okay, bye.” I hung up and walked over to my desk. I smoothed down my skirt to soothe some of the embarrassment.
“Is she your sister?” He asked looking up at me as he stuffed his phone back in his pocket.
“Who Autumn, no. But she might as well be.” I spoke trying not to reveal too much. “Do you have siblings? More McCallum’s I need to fight off to make partner here?” He shook his head laughing.
“Yes, I have siblings. A brother who is an anesthesiologist and a sister who is a nurse. I think your position is secure baby girl.” I cleared my throat and crossed my legs at the ankles. Thank God I was leaning on this desk, or his words and sexy ass tone would have made me stumble.
“Nice.” The room grew silent. I didn’t know what else to say. Holding conversation was new for me. It was always business with me. This, this was playful and getting to know you stuff. Shit I for damn sure have never done.
“So, tell me about Ms. Blythe. Do you have siblings? Big brothers? Little sisters?” My eyes bugged and my body stiffened at his question and mentioning of a big brother.
My chest felt tight and my thoughts betrayed me.
I tried not to think of my brother. I buried my thoughts of him deep but the mention of him brought him right to the surface.
My mind drifted to a dark place and like any other time I thought of him it enraged me.
“I’m sorry Blythe, I should have protected you.”
“It’s okay Brayden, I don’t hate you. Just please don’t do this.”
“I have to.”
“Blythe, Blythe. You good.” Pharaoh reached over and touched my shoulder. I jumped up from the desk and accidentally forced the wheels of the chair to move into the wall. It made a loud thud on impact.
“Get out!” I stared him in the face and pointed to the door.
“Nah, what the fuck. You good?” He asked standing and walking towards me. I backed up to avoid him touching me.
“Just get the fuck out.” Closing my eyes I continued to point, I was panting and damn near ready to hyperventilate. Shuffling could be heard in the room before his footsteps sounded and got further and further away. The door closed gently and I broke down in tears.
I tried for so long not to think about my brother and the decisions he made but truthfully, I thought about him a lot.
I thought of everything and everyone in my past. Life was so fucked up for me for so many reasons.
My childhood created my cold heart. I am sure I looked like an idiot in front of Pharaoh.
He probably thought I was crazy for spazzing, but he made me feel without even realizing it.
No one asked about my life, no one cared.
He seemed interested, like he wanted to know me. This was all too much.
I gathered my things and raced out of the door.
I needed air fast. I felt like the walls and my past was closing in on me and I wasn’t strong enough to deal with it.
Slipping off my heels, I took the stairs.
I didn’t have time to wait for the elevator.
I didn’t want to risk running into anyone or worse him.
I didn’t want to be pitied; I just wanted to be alone for a minute to gain my composure.
My phone blaring on my stand pulled me out of my thoughts. My brother’s words were on repeat in my mind. His eyes watching me, not saying a word just watching, with pools of tears in the corners. Flashbacks played in my head on repeat, and I allowed myself to fall into the memories.
My body was covered in sweat and my shoulder and arm felt like I was training for the men’s weightlifting competition.
“Please!” The man strapped to my X cross begged. I couldn’t tell you what he was pleading for or how long he had been begging. I blacked out and took my anger out on his body.
I received a message on my Dom phone from the Senator’s son when I rushed out of my office to get home.
Anger fueled my mind and I accepted the request to strap his ass to anything and torture him like he was a bad boy.
I needed to gain my control back from the thoughts of all the terrible men in my life.
Taking it out on him, I chained him to the X and whipped him until I blacked out.
My phone rang again and I dropped the whip and made my way to it.
“Yea?” I all but yelled once I swiped the screen to answer.
“Umm, hey. You okay? You been swinging for like twenty minutes now.” Autumn tenderly spoke in the receiver.
I shook my head no, knowing she could see me on the camera.
I didn’t want to speak the words. I know saying it out loud would cause my tears to fall.
“I’m on my way.” I hung up and made my way back to the light skinned figure strapped down laying still as if he was seconds from death.
I didn’t have sympathy for him. He was among the men that I hated.
His father was helping him cover up rape allegations.
The rumors were that he lured in a sixteen-year-old girl and when she got scared and said how old she was he took it.
She’s pregnant now and hiding out. They wanted to get rid of the baby before the truth came out and he got charged.
They tried to pay her off, but she was refusing and I didn’t blame her.
She deserved justice. The marks on his body were me getting revenge for every young girl that wanted justice and couldn’t get it because muthafuckas like him with daddies’ money.