Chapter 4 #2
We entered the lab as I spotted Kiana, my lab manager, standing over the mixing bowl.
“Kiana, this is my new assistant, Layne Grant. Ms. Grant, this is Kiana, the boss of the lab.”
Kiana smiled and reached out her gloved hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Grant.”
“You as well,” Layne replied, reciprocating Kiana’s greeting.
“I’m just showing her around.”
“Do your thing.” Kiana nodded, getting back to work.
I turned to Layne. “This is our daisy room. We keep separate rooms for different fragrances, to not let one scent overpower the other. Sometimes we’ll test mixing different fragrances, but for the most part, we try to keep it separate.”
“It smells wonderful in here. Like fresh scented flowers.”
“That’s the goal.” I winked, then opened the door for us to walk back out.
“It’s too many rooms to the lab, so we won’t explore them all.
Let me show you the ballroom.” We headed back to the elevators and took it up to the second floor.
It opened up to the huge ballroom that could host up to six hundred people, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a kitchen, and two restrooms.
“Wow! This is huge.”
“It is.”
“Do you have enough employees to fill this space for the anniversary?”
“Other companies we merged with will be in attendance as well as their employees. The guest list is upward three hundred people already.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Which reminds me, while you’re finding a caterer, be sure to look over the people who RSVP’d. You’ll need a headcount to give them.” She was typing inside of her iPad before I even finished my sentence. That made me smile.
“The tables and chairs have already been ordered; they’re just waiting on payment.”
“Handle it today. You have the card.”
“Gotcha.”
“I want to show you one last floor before we have to get back to work.”
“Okay.” She turned too quickly and crashed right into me, almost falling before I caught her by her waist. The closeness, the sweet scent of her perfume, and the rhythm in her heart had my lips on hers before I could think of what I was doing. Her lips were soft and tasted like vanilla wafers.
Her body tensed.
My lips had a mind of their own.
I slid my tongue across her bottom lip, and she captured it with her soft lips. Before either of us knew it, we were in a heated kiss as my hands grabbed two handfuls of her ass.
I knew it was soft. Fuck!
Obviously coming to the realization of what was happening, she hurriedly pulled away from me.
“I-we-we can’t. I’m so sorry.” She seemed to be panicking before I took her by the hands.
“Layne . . .” Her eyes came to me. “Breathe.” She let out a small breath. “Let me apologize. I didn’t mean for that to happen, but I couldn’t resist.”
“We can’t do this . . . It wouldn’t be right.”
“Why wouldn’t it?”
“Because the polic?—”
“That I can nix at any time. But I understand if you’re uncomfortable about this, so I want to apologize again. It won’t happen again. I promise.”
We were silent for a beat before she nodded. “Okay.”
“Come on. I have one more floor to show you before we head back to work.” I walked over, pressing the button to allow us back onto the car.
When we got on, I hit the button to the sixth floor and watched the numbers ascend.
We were silent the whole ride until we got off, and I explained our media department.
“This is where the ads, social media posts, and commercials are created.”
“You guys do your own commercials?”
“We do. My good friend, Donovan, is over the production. He does all of the commercials and ads while the ladies create the social media posts and ads.”
“Layne! Hey, girly!” Jennifer appeared from behind her desk and hurried over to Layne, giving her air kisses.
“Hey!”
“Hello, Mr. West.”
“Jennifer,” I replied.
She smiled and looked at Layne. “How are things going?”
“They’re going well. Just getting a small tour of the building while we have a small break.”
“You two know each other?” I asked.
“Yes. Jennifer is my best friend and the one that recommended the job to me.”
“So, you’re the culprit.”
“Sir?” Jen asked, confused.
I chuckled. “Nothing. We have to get back.”
“Okay. Call me later, Lay. Have a good day, Mr. West.”
“You as well, Jen,” I replied, escorting Layne back toward the elevators.
After the kiss we shared, I knew there was no turning back. I knew how skeptical she was, but the way she captured my tongue in her mouth told me she wanted the same thing. All I had to do was apply a little pressure, and she was going to fold.
Layne Grant was going to be mine, one way or another.
The rest of the workday flowed well for a change.
I finished all my meetings in record time, was able to get another deep meditation in, and made sure Amerie’s and Layne’s cars got delivered.
I felt nervous about her reaction once she got home to find the truck at her house.
I didn’t want her to feel as if accepting anything from me was giving anyone the wrong idea.
It was fuck these people for me.
But I knew she didn’t want a reputation of her fucking her way to the top, so I was disguising it as a company car to ease her mind.
Brian had been in the same boat as Layne when he first started working here.
We actually did have a 2023 Altima company car that he drove, but I wanted Layne to have her own car, .
. . a 2024 Maserati Modena. I knew I went overboard, but I didn’t know how to do anything small.
My phone rang, displaying my mother’s number across the screen. Ever since Amerie hipped her on how to use her new iPhone, all she did was FaceTime me.
I propped my phone up on the computer so I could finish signing off on some paperwork, seeing her face pop up on the screen. “’Sup, Ma?”
“’ Sup, Ma ,” she mocked. “Is that how you answer a phone?”
“I apologize, beautiful. How are you?”
She smiled. “Can’t complain. Did you get it?”
“I did.”
“Ahh, she’s going to be so excited!” I chuckled. My moms was a real life valley girl.
“You know your dad is going to pay you back, right?”
“I don’t need to be compensated. It’s a graduation gift from me.”
“Yeah, but you do enough for the little spoiled princess. She goes to you because she’s impatient.”
“I’m already knowing,” I replied, placing the papers in my briefcase just as Layne poked her head through the door.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Yeah. Ma, I gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow at the ceremony.”
“Okay, Son. Talk to you later. I love you!”
“I love you more.” I ended the call then stood.
“I’m sorry for interrupting. I didn’t know you were on a call.”
“It’s fine. Would you mind reminding me of where we’re going again?”
“Bar hopping to score some entertainment for the party.”
“Oh, . . . right.” I had forgotten that quickly after all the meetings I had that I would accompany her to look for a band to play at the party.
“Let’s roll.” I grabbed my briefcase and jacket as we headed out of the door.
I made sure to lock up and relieve Liz as I escorted Layne out of the building to my ride.
“A Maserati . . . I like!” She observed as I opened the passenger door for her. The sleek black-on-black ride was my pride and joy.
Damn. Maybe I should have gotten her a Tesla.
Our matching cars were going to be a dead giveaway, because my ass wasn’t thinking.
“Thank you.” I closed her door then hopped inside, pulling out of the parking garage.
Our first stop was Aretha’s Jazz Cafè . We watched a few talents grace the stage, but most of them were poets or played an instrument. Nonetheless, the band was pretty dope. After their set, we spoke with the leader of the band, and he agreed to do the party, which was a plus.
After leaving there, we headed over to Essence Bar & Grill .
As soon as we walked in, the vibe instantly captured us.
I saw Layne bobbing her head to the woman on stage, playing the guitar and singing a melody that captured even my attention.
People were swaying to the beat and snapping their fingers.
Laughs and jovial moods swam around the room as a host walked over to us.
“Hello! Welcome to Essence . Just two today?”
“Yes,” Layne answered, smiling. I stared at her profile wondering if she’d let her hair down and just vibe.
I didn’t want to see her in professional mode since we weren’t in a professional setting.
I wanted to see how she acted outside of the office.
I wanted her to not think of this as work—although it was—but to just live in the moment.
The hostess led us to a table in the center of the room, and I pulled out Layne’s chair for her.
“A server will be right with you,” the hostess said then walked away.
“This is one of the places I googled. Every review I read gave four and five stars and even said they have occasional celebrities grace the stage.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Mm-hmm,” she replied, still smiling. And I loved it.
“That’ll be huge if we get a celeb to do the party.”
“It would.” The server approached our table and smiled.
“Hi, welcome to Essence . I’m Dena. Can I start you all off with something to drink?”
“I’ll take Hennessy straight up, and whatever the lady’s having.”
“I’ll take a Pepsi.”
I chuckled lightly. “Layne?”
“Yeah?”
“Have a drink with me. You’re off the clock.”
“Technically, I’m not.”
“I’m telling you, you are. Let your hair down, . . . literally and figuratively.”
“I’m not a big drinker.”
“Then allow me to order for you. She’ll have a strawberry margarita.”
The server chuckled. “Sugar or salt around the rim?”
“Sweet or salty?” I asked Layne.
“Uh, sweet is fine.”
“Okay. And did you still want that Pepsi?”
“Yes, and a order of hot wings, please.”
“Six, nine, or twelve?”
“Nine is fine.”
“Make that two,” I added.
“Alrighty. Be right back with your drinks, and I’ll have those hot wings out to you soon.” She walked away as I looked at Layne. Her eyes caught mine, and she smiled bashfully.
“What?” she asked.
“May I?” I asked, pointing to her bun.
“Um, s-sure.” I reached over, unraveling her hair from the holder and watching it fall past her shoulders. I handed her the holder as she ran her fingers through her tresses.
She was even more stunning.
“Now, relax. Tonight, I’m not your boss. Just think of this as two friends hanging out, trying to find talent for a party.”
“I just want to keep this profess?—”
“Layne, you’ve sold me on your professionalism already. You can continue to do that inside of Aromatique , but outside of there, I want you to be you.”
She giggled. “Is this a setup?”
“Not in the slightest . . . I want to talk about that kiss earlier.”
“Mr.—”
“Avery. My name is Avery tonight.”
She stared at me for a moment before she gave a soft smile.
“Avery, we don’t have to discuss that. It was a mistake, and I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Was it?”
“I didn’t mean to kiss you back. That was very inappropriate and very unprofessional.”
“If you say that word one more time.” We both chuckled.
“Fine.”
“Are you single?”
“You shouldn’t be asking me that.”
“Why not? I’m not your boss.”
“I’m not doing this with you, sir.” She giggled.
Our drinks arrived just as a round of applause serenaded the building.
I took a sip of my drink while the host announced another talent to the stage.
He was a young guy, maybe mid-twenties, with a tone of the late Al Green.
Ironically, he sang “What A Wonderful Thing Love Is” by him.
I watched as some of the crowd began to stand and dance along to the song.
I looked over and saw Layne taking gulps of the margarita and laughed.
“Slow down, mama.”
She covered her mouth, seemingly embarrassed. “I’m sorry . . . But this is really good.”
“I know. It’ll also sneak up on you, so take it easy.” She nodded.
I shrugged off my jacket, rolled up my sleeves, then tossed my drink back and stood. “Come on, let’s dance.”
“W-what?”
“Let’s dance.”
“Avery—”
I leaned down in her ear and whispered, “When I said let your hair down, I meant that. Don’t think about shit else, Ms. Grant.
Allow this to be a night of fun, possibilities, and opportunities.
Now, may I have this dance?” I extended my palm to her, and she reluctantly accepted.
I walked her to the front of the stage where the dance floor was and blended us into the crowd of lovers and friends.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and took her hand. We began to rock slowly to the music while staring into each other’s eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” I said.
That bashful smile drew up on her face. “Thank you. I have to be honest with you . . . Since you’re not my boss, and it’s clear that you’re interested in me beyond being your assistant . . .”
“Damn, you got me.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I pulled your card.”
“I’m glad you did. This makes whatever you’re about to say a little easier for me.”
“This is new for me . . . I’ve never been out with a guy of your caliber. I won’t pretend that it doesn’t make me nervous. I know tonight you say you aren’t my boss, but if we take it there, I can no longer be your assistant.”
“That won’t work for me.” I shook my head.
“Then we shouldn’t do this.”
“Listen. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I know that I like you . . . a lot. And if I’m reading you correctly, I believe you like me too.”
“I do.”
“Then who gives a damn about what people think? In just two days, I felt more intrigued by you than I have with any woman I’ve ever dated.
I don’t know about you, Ms. Grant, but I think I’d like to explore whatever this is.
” The song came to an end, and the applause sounded again. She looked away then back at me.
“Food’s ready.” She walked away, leaving me wondering if I was moving too fast.