29. Christmas Break
CHRISTMAS brEAK
K andi
I swung my feet back and forth as I sat at the counter, watching Kayn mold the salmon he had just chopped into burgers.
He added peppers, onions, seven different seasonings, and smoked gouda to the salmon after he chopped it and ground it.
My stomach groaned as I watched him. There was nothing sexier than a man who could cook.
Add to that the man was a grumpy multi-millionaire and your boss, and it was downright sinfully yummy.
“You’ve been silent over there for too long. What’s on your pretty little mind, Kandi?” he asked with a glance over his shoulder.
“I’ve been thinking a lot, and I know we’ve had this conversation more times than I can count in my head, but I keep coming back to it.”
“About you working for me?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t, in good faith, remain on your payroll.”
He set the salmon patty down and walked to the sink. “Why not?” he asked as he washed his hands.
“Because I know that I won’t be able to hide my feelings, Kayn. And people will see that I love you whenever we interact. And if I’m honest, I don’t think you’ll be able to hide your feelings either.”
“Good,” he stated as he walked back toward me. He dropped a kiss on my lips and declared, “I ain’t never been in the business of hiding shit from nobody. And in case you hadn’t noticed, I own the business, so I don’t owe nan nigga an explanation about what I do.”
“That’s just it, Kayn. You don’t. But I don’t want people thinking that I screwed my way into my position or that I’m still laying on my back to keep it. Or worse yet that I crawled up under the desk to suck off the CEO.”
He smirked, and I knew that I wasn’t getting anywhere with him.
“Sounds like a good idea to me. Shit, we need to try that out as soon as we get back.”
I had convinced Kayn to take the rest of the holidays off and spend them with me. He had planned to return to the office the day after Christmas.
“No. That’s just it. I don’t want to have that reputation. I want to work hard for what I get.”
“Baby, you do.”
“Yes, but I don’t want anyone to think otherwise. That’s not a reputation I want to have.”
“So, what are you saying? Still thinking about switching departments?”
“No.”
“Then what?” Kayn’s face scrunched up, and he looked extremely unhappy.
“I want to start my own business and be my own boss.”
The irritation on his face morphed into confusion and then into thoughtfulness as the muscles in his face slowly relaxed and the furrow in his brow disappeared.
“Okay. I’m listening.”
“I wasn’t lying to your aunt when I claimed to be your life coach. I’ve always been excellent at organizing people and helping them to accomplish their goals. When we think about my past jobs, I’ve been a personal assistant twice, once to a business professional and the other to a local celebrity.
“Both of those jobs were extremely demanding, and they relied on me to not just run errands but also to help them plan their goals and create tasks to help them accomplish them. I was doing the same thing when I was an HR administrator. I organized every part of our department, from orientation to the new hire process. I’m good at what I do. ”
“I know that. You came in and turned my entire office around in a matter of days and did what no one else was able to accomplish. So, where is all this leading to?”
“Do you know how I was able to help you get organized?”
Kayn shook his head.
“I asked the right questions, and I listened. From the day you called me into your office and read off a list of things that needed to happen, I recalled everything and how passionate or dispassionate you were about every item. That’s what I want to gift my clients, the ability to hear them, work with them to identify their goals and passions, and empower them and help them create a strategy to accomplish their goals and passions. ”
“Who are these clients?”
“Executive leadership at various businesses.”
A slow smile formed on his face.
“Damn. I can see that for you. You’d be hella great at that, Kandi.”
“I know. I will stay in my position with you for up to two months to get someone else hired and trained. But during that time, I’ll be working on my own business goals and objectives to get started so that I can have a smooth launch when I leave your company.”
“Damn, baby,” he stated, pulling me to the edge of the stool. Kayn wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled my neck. “I’m already missing you, and your ass ain’t left yet.”
I giggled and pushed him away. “You’ll have me on the weekends.”
His expression turned serious as he scowled at me. “The weekends aren’t enough, Kandi.”
“Then I’m sure we can work out something more. I’ll be available to you, baby. But in the meantime, I have to figure out funding and how to connect with my client base. I’ve already put together a pitch and a marketing plan to share with some of my former employers.”
“Don’t worry about the funding. I’ve got you covered, and as for clients, I have some connections that I’ll send to you.”
“No, Kayn. I don’t want you to do that. This is my responsibility, and I can handle it.”
“I want to do this, baby. Let me support you.”
“Kayn, if I rely on you, then how will I know if I’m really capable of making this happen? Besides, I want to be financially secure and stable.”
He brushed his lips over mine and stared into my eyes.
“And you can still be all of that with my support. Listen, I don’t know how you’re looking at this, but you’re mine.
And as long as you’re my woman, I’ll always support you and make sure that you’re good.
I will give you everything to make sure that you’re successful. ”
“I don’t want you to feel like I’m using you.”
“Why would I ever feel that way, Kandi? You’re not using me. Consider me a private investor.”
I hesitated and thought about it for a moment.
“On one condition, Kayn.”
“What’s that?” he asked, tugging my T-shirt down and kissing my shoulder.
“You let me repay you when I’m financially able to.”
He pulled away and mugged me. “Hell no!”
“What? Why not?”
“Because, as a man, it’s my responsibility to take care of my woman and make sure that she wants for nothing.
You’ve got your ways of taking care of me and making sure that I’m good, now let me do what I need to so that I can make sure that you’re good.
This is the one thing that I’ve always wanted: someone to love and someone who would love me back.
I wanted to be responsible for another soul and protect them.
You give me that, Kandi. Everything that I’ve been running from and needing all at the same time, I found in you.
Don’t fight me on this, baby. I promise you’ll lose every time. ”
My heart melted as I looked into Kayn’s eyes. He had always been so independent and focused on protecting himself. For the first time in a long time, he was connected to someone else, and he wanted to be able to be there for me. And I wanted that for him too.
I sighed, hooked my hands behind his neck, and massaged the outer parts of his neck.
“Fine. You win, Mr. Kayn.”
His lips turned up into a gentle smile. Kayn winked at me and replied, “Nah, girl. We both win.”
Kayn pressed into my lips and slowly took his time kissing me thoroughly and conveying how much I meant to him.