18. Myraj
THREE DAYS LATER
“Monthly commissions have been paid out. If anyone has any discrepancies or questions, stop by my office after the meeting to discuss it. You guys did an amazing job last quarter. Let’s keep that same momentum up this quarter.
” I turned my attention away from the presentation on the wall monitor and back to my staff.
“Are we running any discounts this quarter?” Lincoln, one of my staff, asked.
“Yes, Evangeline is working on those, and she will have them ready . . .”
“At our staff meeting next week,” Evangeline answered when I looked to her.
“If anyone has any ideas for custom itineraries, don’t forget to submit those before the next meeting. In other news, I am pleased to announce that we have finalized a partnership with Skyways Airline.”
Everyone clapped and cheered at that news because it was a partnership that I had been working on for more than a year, and it meant a significant boost to our business. The airline would be referring clients to us, and their passengers would receive a discounted rate for booking through us.
“I will start working on promotional brochures and flyers for that, as well as creating promos for our website,” Jade volunteered.
“Good.”
“I have some ideas about that,” Evangeline declared.
“The floor is yours,” I stated with a nod.
Evangeline shared her thoughts about promotion, which spurred Jade’s creativity. I glanced down at my phone that had just buzzed while everyone brainstormed. I was surprised to see a message from Micaiah.
BOOK BAE:
Hey, I’m outside of your office. It’s locked, but cars are here.
ME:
We’re in a staff meeting.
BOOK BAE:
Send somebody to let me in.
ME:
Really?
BOOK BAE:
I gasped at the image he sent of himself. He looked dead ass serious, but delicious too.
ME:
One sec.
I leaned sideways toward my executive administrator who sat on my right. “I have a guest at the front door. Would you please let him in and direct him to my office?” I whispered.
“Sure.”
“Make sure that he has everything he needs.”
“Okay.”
I turned my attention back to the meeting, but I was intrigued as to why he dropped by without a notice. Anna returned after five minutes, but she didn’t give a hint or clue. A tiny smile danced on her lips, but she didn’t meet my eyes.
When the meeting concluded ten minutes later, I didn’t bother to hang around and make small talk like I normally did. I beelined to my office.
Three candles were lit on a conference table in the corner, and a bouquet of tulips sat in the center of the table beside two bags from The Peach Biscuit, an upscale breakfast, brunch, and lunch eatery. Micaiah’s phone played soft jazz music, creating a romantic atmosphere.
There was a large vase holding an arrangement of hibiscus on my desk along with a gift basket filled with cookies, an orange mug with my name engraved on it, scented candles, turtle candies, and a small stuffed white bear holding a heart that read I’m Unbearable Without U.
“Oh, that is so sweet!” I exclaimed, walking further into my office.
Micaiah sat in a chair across from my desk. He wore a pair of light blue jeans with a short-sleeved white silk shirt, and some tan leather loafers on his feet.
“I was in the area, and I wanted to check on you and see where you worked.”
“Are you impressed with what you’ve seen?”
“The outside could be more secure, but it’s clean and has an upbeat vibe. I like the atmosphere,” he stated, looking around.
My office was decorated in hues of creams, tans, and grays. There were large potted plants all over along with abstract paintings hanging on the walls. The tan and ivory marble floors sparkled throughout the offices.
“If I would have known that you were coming, I would have rescheduled the staff meeting.”
“No need. I brought you lunch because I was concerned that you didn’t eat.” He stood and busied himself with removing food from the bags and setting it out on the table. Everything smelled delicious, and my belly growled.
“If you called or told me you were coming, I would have informed you that I ordered lunch for the staff meeting.”
“Did you eat?”
“No. I didn’t have an appetite. I was focused on the meeting more than anything else.”
“And that’s why I have to make sure you eat.”
We sat down, prayed, and took our time eating. There was barely any talk, just moans of appreciation, mostly from me.
“Was it good?” he asked when we were finished.
“Mm-hmm. Are you sure you were just in the area?” I asked, grabbing our things and dropping them in the trash can.
“Yeah. Why?”
“I don’t know. This unexpected popping up just caught me off guard.”
“Real talk?” he asked as I stepped in the restroom in my office and washed my hands.
“Please.”
“Last night when we were on LiveTime, you didn’t seem like yourself. You seemed a little down and tired.”
“I’m fine. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
I walked back out of the restroom as he walked toward me.
He grabbed my hands in his. “I can’t help it. You’re carrying my princess.”
I couldn’t help the smile that broke out on my face, but deep inside, I wondered if all the attention on me would go away the moment that I gave birth. I was really falling for Micaiah, and I couldn’t hold back the tears that followed the smile.
“Hey, what’s with the tears?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s my hormones, but I keep thinking about the time we spent together last weekend.”
“It made you cry? I thought we had a beautiful time.”
“I did. I enjoyed meeting your family and our time together, but when I returned to my house, I couldn’t help but think about my future.
I don’t want to be alone, Micaiah. You said that we would share custody of our child, and while I’m willing to do that, I don’t want to.
I want a full family, complete with a husband and kids underneath the same roof.
I want to go to church and family events with my husband.
I don’t want to co-parent or share custody with anyone.
I don’t want to be alone some weekends while my child visits her father. ”
The tears wouldn’t stop welling up, and Micaiah grabbed a handful of tissue and wiped my face.
“I made my princess a promise. I won’t let a single tear fall from your eyes, so that means I need to do whatever makes you happy.” He grabbed my hands and pulled me into his big, strong arms. I felt at home as he held me close and smothered my face with kisses.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. You’re too beautiful to be doing all that crying.”
“I’m sorry. It must be your princess that has me all emotional, and now I know I look a hot mess.”
“You’re even more beautiful.”
“I’m not. I feel like a slob most of the time, and I’m so big and bloated; there’s nothing beautiful about me.”
Micaiah’s jaw clenched, and he gripped my face in his hands. “Quit talking crazy. I’ve never seen a woman more beautiful than you are.”
He kissed me deeply until I moaned, and my nipples hardened underneath his kiss. I could feel his arousal pressing through his pants and against my thigh.
“Were you really on this side of town?” I asked as he pulled back and led me to the couch.
“I was,” he answered, sitting on the other end of the couch and lifting my feet into his lap.
“I told my staff to come by my office if they had questions about some of the things we discussed in the meeting. I don’t think this will be a good look.”
“I think it could be a very good look. It would show the men how to pamper their women and the women what they should expect from their man, but they’re not gonna see it.”
“How do you know they won’t?”
“I told Anna to make sure that no one came back while I was here.”
“You think she’s going to listen to you?”
“I know she will. I gave her a couple of Benjamins for her time.”
“Micaiah! You can’t be bribing my staff.”
“Let’s just say that she’s willing to do anything to make sure her boss is happy and her needs are tended to.”
“Oh my gosh! Micaiah, what did you tell that girl?” No wonder Anna wouldn’t meet my gaze and was smiling when she returned to the meeting.
“Just that I came to relieve your stress and make your day,” he replied, grinning widely.
I sank down on the couch because I wasn’t sure how I would face her again after this. I forgot all about that, though, as he got more intense with my foot massage.
“Mm. That feels so good.” I moaned as he pressed his thumb on a particular spot on the sole of my foot.
“Keep moaning like that, and anyone passing by your door will be certain that everything you think they’re thinking is true.”
“Damn,” I moaned, throwing my arm over my eyes.
My baby kicked, causing me to rub my belly.
Micaiah released my foot and moved to my side.
“Hey, gorgeous. You’re not forgotten about in there either.
I was just making sure your mommy is all good out here.
What about you? How are you feeling in there?
Daddy wants—whoa. We’ve got a soccer player in there,” he declared, laughing.
She had just kicked his hand as he was talking to her.
“I think she likes the sound of your voice.”
He looked up at me with those beautiful brown eyes that made me melt. They were light against his dark skin, and I wondered if our baby would have eyes like his.
“I think I can’t wait to meet her.”
“We need to discuss names for her,” I stated.
“Do you have any in mind?”
“I’ve got several.”
“How about we discuss them tonight over dinner—my place. I’m cooking for you.”
“You do so much for me already, Micaiah. Let me cook for you.”
“I want you resting and off your feet, Myraj.”
“I am fully capable of cooking a meal.”
“I believe that, but I said what I said.”
I giggled. “What am I gonna do with you? You’re gonna have me so spoiled when this is over.”
“This will never be over.” His declaration was firm as he stared into my eyes. After several seconds, I looked away and cleared my throat.
He stood and walked to the bags that he had unpacked earlier and removed a black satin bag from within one of them. I swung my legs to the floor and waited until he returned and sat beside me on the couch.
“What’s that?” I asked, recognizing the Mauricio Brothers Jewelers bag.
He slid out a black velvet square box. When he opened the box, there was a platinum lace diamond infinity band. It was gorgeous, and while I knew that it wasn’t an engagement ring, I knew that its meaning was very special.
“You and I have had a road paved with heartache, but we still managed to cling to the belief that romance was out there. This is my promise to you that I will always be loyal to you, devoted to making you happy, and exclusive to you and no other woman.”
“I’m not sure that I’m following you, Micaiah.”
“You ran from me once before, and I let you run. Clearly, this baby has started the race again, one that neither of us can outrun. You make me happy, Myraj, and you mean the world to me. I want more than just co-parenting; I want a relationship with you. This ring is my commitment to an exclusive relationship with you. Will you be my woman, Myraj?”
I giggled. “You’re so sweet, baby. I will be yours exclusively.”
He cupped the side of my face and kissed me passionately and intimately. If the baby hadn’t chosen that moment to kick, I probably would have spread my legs for him. Micaiah felt it, too, and he moved back and laughed.
“I think she agrees that we’re making the right move.”
I laughed, but the tears instantly started again.
I knew that my position on marriage had changed, and yet, his hadn’t.
I couldn’t fault him for it, because it took me a while to find my new beliefs.
I wanted more with this beautiful man than I ever wanted with anyone.
Yet, I could be patient until he gave me all of him.
The fact that he was making the move that he was, spoke a lot on his feelings for me. I was motivated to accept what he offered because I knew, in time, that the world would rotate at the right place so our hearts and desires would be completely aligned.