Chapter 20
Kennedi
“Are you sure that you’re okay?” Bryson asked over the phone when I called from the office the next morning. We had both woken up at five this morning and were gone by seven after a morning of leisurely lovemaking.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I guess it’s time to face the music. I wish they had told me before I left. I could have at least prepared something and spoken from a Zoom call. There was no way that I could have wowed them without a presentation.”
“Baby, you might doubt your skills, but I don’t. I know that you could have walked up in that boardroom and spoken from your heart and blown their minds. You have it all inside of you, Kenni.”
“I know. But I just wanted to enjoy those last few hours before it was time to face reality. If I didn’t get that promotion, I’m going to be very disappointed, Bryse.
I don’t even have an idea of where I would want to go from here, but now that you’ve planted that idea in my head, I know that I can’t go back there. ”
“And you don’t have to. We’ll figure something out together. Like I said before, even if we have to create your magazine.”
“I don’t have the knowledge or backing to do that, baby.”
“We’ll hire to your weaknesses.”
“I love you so much. How could I have ever been a fool to give up on you? You complete me, Bryson.”
“And I’m incomplete without you, girl.”
A knock sounded at my door, causing me to sigh into the phone. “Okay. It’s time. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“You’ve got this, girl. No matter what, I’m proud of you.”
“I love you, Bryse.”
“And I love you too, Kenni.”
I ended the call and set my cellphone on my desk. “Come in,” I called.
The door swung open, and Carolyn and Milicent walked in. Milicent wore her usual stern face, and Carolyn’s face was expressionless as normal. I wished that I could get a bead on them one way or the other, but I was uncertain if they were bringing bad news or good.
“How are you feeling today?” Milicent asked, taking a seat.
I laughed nervously. “I’m not sure. It could go either way depending on what you’re here to tell me.”
“We’re not going to beat around the bush,” Carolyn declared, sitting beside Milicent. “I was disappointed that you were not at the board meeting.”
“Carolyn, while I would have loved the chance to do that, I didn’t have much time to prepare. You all knew that I was going out of town for a much-needed vacation.”
“We did, but I also think that you prioritized it wrong, Kenni. You knew that you were up for promotion, and to leave town or go on vacation at a time like that doesn’t substantiate the qualities we were looking for in a leader to replace Milicent.”
I glanced from Carolyn to Milicent, and I couldn’t get a read on either of them.
“I would have loved to have been here to present my ideas to them, Carolyn. And while I understand that I won’t always have time and things will have to be done on the fly, I’ve made a great career out of doing just that these last few years.
I have had to think on the fly for the Cole, Miner, Dior, and Valentino campaigns when Milicent was sick, injured, and had to leave town at the last minute to take care of her mother.
“I have done an amazing job of thinking on the fly and pulling this company out of a bind. If given the opportunity, I will continue to do that. But I will not continue sacrificing my life for the sake of this company without reward. No, scratch that. I will not sacrifice my life for this company. I will make this company a priority in my life, but I also need rest. And without those things, neither I nor anyone else can be at their best and give this magazine the top-tier service and dedication it needs. So, I’m sorry that I didn’t meet the board’s qualifications, but I don’t regret my decision not to be here yesterday. ”
Milicent glanced at Caroline and declared, “I told you she’s got heart.”
Caroline smiled for the first time. “Kennedi, congratulations. The promotion is yours. Both the board and I voted for you.”
My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. I was truly shocked. “Wait, . . . what? You took me through all of that for what?”
Carolyn laughed. “I wanted to see if you had what it took to stand up to me. If you can stand up to me, something Milicent has had to do on occasion, then I know that you can stand up for this magazine, and it warms my heart.”
They both stood and extended their hands. “Congratulations,” they stated.
I shook their hands and dropped back into my chair when they left. I picked up my cell phone and dialed Bryson, who wasn’t scheduled to be in court.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?”
“On the way to meet a new client. Why?”
“Do you want to go out to dinner this evening?”
“Sure, baby. Any particular reason?”
“I thought you deserved to be the first person to go out with the new fashion editor for Black Glamour Magazine,” I squealed.
“Congratulations, baby! I knew that you had what it took to do it. I’m so damn proud of you.”
“Thank you, baby. I can’t wait to see you tonight.”
“Me either. I love you, Kenni.”
“I love you more, Bryse.”
For the first time in a long while, I felt like everything would be okay.
“Where are we, baby?”
“I thought you deserved to have a night out to celebrate yourself,” Bryson replied, helping me out of the car.
He blindfolded me no sooner than I got in the car at home after work.
He’d bought me a red satin slip dress and beautiful heels to match.
I had been so surprised to see it hanging in the closet after he had me shower and groom myself.
Once he’d told me to get dressed, I found the dress hanging in my closet, where I could not miss it.
He’d brought me an emerald necklace and emerald and diamond earrings.
“Watch your step, baby,” he warned.
We took a few steps before I heard a door open. Bryson led me into a cozy interior that was warm and redolent with the aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin spice. We walked for a while longer, and he greeted a few people.
I tried to use the sounds around me as clues but failed miserably. By the time that I was seated, he removed my blindfold. I was shocked to see that he had brought me to Lady Chablis, a five-star restaurant that took an act of congress to get into.
We were seated near an outdoor fireplace, and on the table was a large bouquet of red roses. A warm blanket was placed on the seat beside me, and he removed it to lay it on my lap.
“Thank you so much, Bryse. How did you get in here?”
“Some of those clients that you don’t care for include Chablis.”
“I had no idea you did work for her.”
He nodded, but didn’t go into explanation, the same way he was with all his clients.
“Why did you bring me here?”
He reached across the table and took my hand in his.
“I wanted to show you how much I appreciate you, and I wanted to honor you tonight. You’ve worked hard for that promotion, and you deserve it.
I understand that you’re going to be busy the next few months becoming acclimated to your new position.
Kenni, I just want you to know that I’ve got your back. ”
“I know that you do, baby. I love you more than words can say, and I know that only time will tell, but trust me when I say that you will always be first in my life.”
“I trust you, sweetheart.”
We ordered our meal, were served a red wine, and just sat together watching the stars sparkle in the sky. Bryson wrapped his arm around my chair when we were finished.
“I can’t believe that I almost lost a good thing,” he whispered.
“Only to yourself.”
He chuckled lightly. “No matter who I lost you to, it would have been devastating.”
I leaned into him and then linked our fingers together. “I will love and honor you forever, Bryse.”
“I know that you will. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Do you remember Sloan Remington?”
“The tall dark-skinned lawyer with the deep dimples and the loud laugh?”
“One and the same. I’ve been thinking about bringing her into the firm. How do you feel about that?”
My head jerked sideways as I stared at him. “I can’t believe you’re asking my opinion.”
“This is me operating differently.”
“She’s brilliant, sharp, charming, and no one ever sees her coming. I think that she’ll be an amazing addition to your firm. But why are you asking me, and why now?”
“I want to start bringing my decisions and thoughts to you before I make any major changes in my life, baby. Bringing Sloan on will ease my workload, and it will also decrease the number of criminal clients that I take on.”
“How’s that?” I asked before sipping my wine.
“She represents that same type of clientele, but she wants to go deeper. I know that she’s got what it takes.”
“Does that mean you’ll be in a little less danger?”
Bryson laughed. “Yes, baby. Less danger, more time with you, and the ability to focus on us.”
“I like that a lot. I say bring her on.”
We were quiet for a while before he asked me, “Whatever happened to that Lawrence dude? The designer?”
“I told Milicent back then what happened, and she said that she wasn’t interested in working with him.
She was thankful that we never got a chance to sign the contract.
When he approached her later about it, she told him that we would never be interested in working with anyone who would harass one of our staff and any other person, for that matter.
He tried to make up some lie, but she didn’t buy it. ”
“Good for her, and good for you.” He kissed my forehead, and we relaxed against one another for the rest of the evening. “You still mad at me about that night?”
“I haven’t been mad about that in a long time. I love that you come to my rescue. I may not have loved it then, but I love it now.”
He leaned down and kissed my lips.