Chapter 4
Layne was going to make me lock in on her fine ass.
I was never one to believe in that love at first sight bullshit, but this was definitely one of those moments of realization that I liked her .
. . a lot. It had only been twenty-nine hours since I met her, and already, I was thinking about our future.
I could tell she was nervous and trying to create boundaries between us, by bringing up the policy I put in place when we finally got down to business.
But this was my company, so it was my rules, my way.
I knew I said I would never mix business with pleasure after the bullshit my cousin put us through, but clearly, Ms. Grant was doing shit to me to make me want to end that stupid ass policy.
By the time the anniversary party arose, I knew Layne would be mine.
The shit she said about those zodiac signs was really interesting. I wasn’t into that type of shit. I just believed some people acted the same, some didn’t. She broke it down to where I felt like she knew exactly who I was.
Maybe because she was the same sign as me, so she was familiar with my energy.
As I waited for her to return to my office to go over the rest of the plans for the anniversary party, I called Emani to run an idea by her.
“House of beauty, number one cutie, how can I assist you?”
I shook my head. This girl.
“You really need to stop answering the phone like that. It’s played out, sis.”
“Boy, what the fuck you want?” she asked, imitating Big Worm from Friday . That pulled a laugh from me.
“Are you busy?”
“Not at the present moment. I’m about to go do some sniff tests in the lab in about ten minutes, so I have that amount of time for you.”
“I got a question.”
“Shoot.”
“You think I’ll be doing too much if I got Layne a car?” The line was so silent for a good twenty seconds that I had to pull the phone away from my ear to make sure she was still there. “E?”
“I heard you. I’m just trying to register your words. They sounded like gibberish. Say that again for me.” I could hear the humor in her voice.
“E, stop playing. I’m being serious.”
“I know you are, which is quite waggish to me. The girl has only been working for you for thirty-six hours, and already you’re talking about buying her a car?”
“It’s not what you think . . .” I started, but Emani knew me too well. She knew why I was asking.
“The lies. It’s exactly what I think, so don’t try to cover it up by lying to yourself. Although, I can see why you’re so smitten. She is a baddie.”
“Aye, I’ma need you to chill on this one. You already fucked around with the last assistant I had, which is why I’m in this predicament now. You didn’t follow the no dating employees rule.”
Emani chuckled, but I didn’t find shit funny. “Avery, please. You in this predicament because of your tender dick ass cousin. That shit doesn’t apply to me. I didn’t even touch that heffa. She was bat shit crazy. That’s why you fired her.”
“Whatever. You didn’t answer my question.”
“Why do you think she needs a car, friend? It is a bit much for someone who works for you . . . Did you hit that or something? She does look like she has some fairy dust down there. That pussy probably tastes like Skittles.”
“E! The fuck, sis?”
“My bad, my bad. Damn, calm down. No one’s going to fuck your pretty little assistant.”
“Yeah, okay. And no, I didn’t hit. She told me she catches Ubers, and you know some days, I keep late nights. I offered to take her home last night, and she declined. I just want to make sure she can get to work and home safely.”
“Sure you do. Listen, if you’re feeling that generous and hadn’t even smelled the pussy yet, then I say go for it. Just make sure Amerie’s car is being transported right along with hers.”
“I really don’t like you. I don’t even see how we’re even friends, bruh.”
“Because you love me, and we run a business together. Not to mention, I was around since I had to teach you how to tie your shoelaces and keep your secret about you wetting the bed.”
“Aye, E?”
“What?”
“Eat a dick.”
“I’d rather eat some pussy . . . preferably Ms. Grant’s.” I hung up. I didn’t know why I even called her ass. Ultimately, I knew getting Layne the car would probably scare her off, but I could disguise it as a company car.
The knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts as I told Layne to enter.
She strutted inside my office with a model’s stride that had me watching how graceful she was. The white ensemble she wore made her almost appear angelic. She smiled at me, and I felt my heart skip a beat.
“Got my new note-taker all set up, and I’m ready whenever you are.”
I shook from my haze and got down to business. “So, the catering company that usually caters these events, bailed at the last minute. Supposedly, their stoves went out, and it’ll take anywhere from ten to fifteen business days for their new stoves to come in. That’s too close to the event.
“I need you to call around to see if you can hire the best caterers. I know it’s short notice, so tell them I can double the price if they can get us on the date. We usually do light finger-foods and a simple meal, but I want to change the menu up a bit this year.”
“Got it. I know of two places that are really good. They do stay booked, but I know someone who knows someone, so I can see if they can squeeze us in.”
“I need a guarantee on these places.”
“I got you.”
“Here’s a list of decorators the last assistant was able to gather. Check out their websites, and choose the best one,” I told her, handing her the list. “Did Natalie send over the photos I requested?”
“Yes, sir. She sent them around ten last night.”
“Good. Do a follow-up with Seth Weisman on our meeting today as well.”
“Already done. I sent a courtesy call right after I ordered your mother and grandmother’s flowers. He’s still on to meet with you via Zoom.”
I licked my lips and sat back in my chair. I swear I didn’t want to scare Layne off, but her efficiency was turning me the fuck on. Not to mention her overall aura was heightening senses inside of me that I had never felt before.
I tore my eyes away from her as I reached inside my desk, sliding her an envelope.
“There is a fifteen-thousand dollar limit on that credit card. Do as you please to celebrate our big five. See if you could even get us some live entertainment.”
“That’ll be so cool. Will the event be held here?”
“Yes. In our ballroom.”
“I need to explore this place one day. It’s so big.”
“I can show you around. I have some time to spare before my next meeting.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Come on.” I pushed back from my desk and stood, walking around to her side.
She stood, and I held out my hand to help her down the incline, even though she didn’t need my help.
I just wanted some physical contact with her.
She paused for a beat before taking my hand.
The softness of her dainty palm inside of mine caused a jolt of electricity to run through my chest. I knew she felt it, too, when her eyes closed momentarily before they locked in on mine.
When she was safely on leveled ground, I slid my thumb over her knuckles lightly, then released her hand. I opened the door, extending my arm for her to walk out first . . . And my eyes were glued to her round ass.
I hope that ass is real .
It looked real. I knew it wasn’t a BBL because she still had a slight pudge around her mid-section that I wanted to put my forehead on.
“Liz, forward all calls to my cell until I return.”
“Will do, sir.” I pressed the elevator button, and we stepped on.
“I saw the A.W. Financial Group building next door. Do you own that too?”
“I do. It’s our accounting firm headquarters that I own with my cousin Denver. He’s our accountant.”
“Oh, yes. I met him this morning.”
I frowned slightly. “You did?”
“Yes. He gave me his card and wanted to take me to lunch. I totally forgot to call him.”
“Don’t.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t call him. Not to tell you what to do or anything, but he’s my cousin . . . You wouldn’t want to go down that road. Trust me.”
Yeah, I was hating. Not because I had already put claims on her, but I knew my cousin, so I was protecting her from the potential bullshit.
He was a womanizer and a narcissist. We bumped heads a lot because the nigga’s ego was the size of the Earth, and he swore he was God’s gift to women.
There had been too many times I had to save him from a woman knocking his block off. I couldn’t let him do Layne that way.
Not on my watch.
“And why not? He doesn’t work here, so it doesn’t go against the policy.” She smiled mischievously. I didn’t like that shit. “I mean, I wasn’t going to call. But since you mentioned him, I wanted to inform you that I’d already met him,” she continued.
“I knew eventually, you would,” was all I could say.
Chill out, nigga. She’s not yours .
The elevator stopped on the first floor as I allowed her to step off first.
“This level is where the lab is. It’s where we cook our crack and shit.”
“Huh? Crack?”
“Yeah. We don’t only sell perfumes and colognes. We sell dope too. The perfumes and colognes are a front.” When I heard her heels stop clacking behind me, I turned to find a worried look on her face as I laughed. “I’m fucking with you, love.”
“Oh! Do not scare me like that.”
“Why would you be scared?” I quizzed.
“Let’s just say I had a traumatic experience in my teen years. I say no to being around drugs ever again.”
“Oh, really? Let me find out you was cooking in the kitchen, Ms. Grant.” I laughed.
“I don’t even know what that means, but the only thing I cook are meals, not dope.”
“You know how to cook?”
She nodded. “So good that my family always appoints me to cook majority of the food on holidays.” She beamed.
“You’re going to have to let me be the judge of one of your meals. Come on.” I waved her on to distract her from dwelling on what I said. I noticed she tended to overthink and overreact sometimes, and I’d only known her for a day and a half.