Chapter Four
JAMESON
After showering, we met back in the kitchen, I made coffee and had a mug out for Brielle because I wasn’t sure how she liked it. But I watched as she doctored it up.
Her mocha hair was in a messy type bun with a few hairs hanging down in the front. She was wearing a pencil skirt, a dressy blouse that was tucked in, and some high heels. Her body was killer, and with the overall package, she was very attractive.
“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing. You ready to go?” I asked, handing her a mug of coffee.
“Yep.”
She grabbed her laptop case, and her purse, and we were off.
“Meet you there?” she asked once we got downstairs.
“I can drive us both. No need to waste gas.”
I wasn’t sure what was worse, walking several blocks to work or sitting in traffic. Most days, I opted to sit in traffic so I could prolong the time I had to stay at Titan.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It’ll be quicker and more efficient.”
“Okay, then I’m ready when you are.”
“You arrived on time, I see,” my mother noted when we got to the office. She smiled at Brielle in approval of whatever she was doing to get me to cooperate. But I was merely entertaining her to get her off my ass. For now, I had to play the part.
We headed straight to the meeting room, Brielle was on my left, Mom sat at one end, while another colleague sat at the other end. I never took up space at either end, but I’m here on time, my hangover was almost cured from whatever juice Brielle made, and I even dressed the part. It actually looks like I give a shit.
Mom smiled and stood once everyone was seated. “We have some exciting news. Tamryn, do you want to go over what it is?”
Mom sat back down while Tamryn stood. “As you all know, we have been working hard on keeping this company as a known household name. We were able to get on the list last minute, but we have been invited to the Night of Dreams Charity Gala. Here is a pamphlet all about the charity. The gala is next Saturday, and I expect everyone to attend if you can make it to support the company. Also, this charity means a lot to me personally because the charity gives back to local communities. As Titan Enterprises, we have made a sizeable donation of fifty thousand dollars. Thank you.” Tamryn took her seat as the next person was up to speak about how the company was doing with the stock market, along with other important information.
After the meeting, I was heading back to the office while Brielle hung back to talk to my mom.
“Jameson,” I heard my name called from behind me and knew that voice by heart.
“Hi Tamryn,” I said, trying not to roll my eyes.
“Since the gala is next week, I was wondering if you would want to go together.”
“He’d love to,” Brielle said for me.
“I would?”
“Perfect, pick me up at six thirty?” she asked.
“Uh, sure.”
“Perfect.” She walked to her office, leaving me scowling at Brielle.
“What?” she smiled as we entered my office.
“I can speak for myself,” I told her sternly.
“What was your answer going to be, then? Huh?”
I chuckled. “I was going to turn her down gently.”
Brielle grinned. “As I suspected, you were going to. Did you two have a thing in the past?”
I rubbed the stubble on my chin. “I don’t think there is anything I despise more than attending another fucking gala.”
“Why?” Brielle asked.
“Because that’s all my parents did when I was a kid. If I wasn’t with a nanny, I was being dragged to some type of an event.”
“Well, I’m sure it’ll be better with Tamryn attending with you. And if you are taking over the company, you should attend. You took care of that for me.”
“Yeah, I have absolutely no clue what I’m going to wear,” she said aloud. “I need to call my bestie to see if she can help me.”
Brielle took her phone out of her purse and walked toward the door of my office but didn’t walk all the way out.
I could only hear one end of the conversation, and it didn’t sound like it was going well. When she hung up, I put my focus on the computer screen in front of me when Brielle came back and sat down.
“Didn’t sound like that went well,” I commented.
“Uh. Yeah. My best friend had a family emergency so she can’t come with me. It’s fine. I’m capable of finding something myself.”
“Or…” I couldn’t believe I was going to offer this.
“Yeah?”
“I could go with you.”
“Oh, I would not want you to waste an afternoon being bored. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
“You could always ask Tamryn to go with you,” I told her sarcastically.
Brielle cocked her head at me, giving me a knowing look. “I’d rather suffer alone.”
“We’ll go after work,” I told her.
She opened her mouth to argue, then clamped her lips shut.
***
After work, I drove a short drive to get downtown and parked in front of a shop.
“Jameson, you do realize I am not rich, right? I can’t afford anything here.”
“Let’s go in and look,” I insisted.
Brielle huffed, and we headed inside. This shop was high-end, and well known among the high-class clientele. I had called earlier to ask if they could close the shop while we were there, and of course, they agreed.
“Good evening, Mr. Titan.” She then looked at Brielle offering her hand. “You must be Ms. Delaney. I’m Heather, and I’ll be assisting you.” Brielle smiled and shook Heather’s hand.
“I went ahead and pulled a couple pieces, I wasn’t sure of your style, but they are inside the first dressing room. And I’ll be right outside here if you need any assistance.”
I think seven minutes passed before Brielle pulled back the dressing room curtain to reveal the first dress. It was a floor-length shimmery, black dress. But I scrunched my nose at it. “It looks like something my mother would wear.”
“I’m not fond of it either, but I like the back,” she said as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“Next,” I told her.
She came back out and showed off the dress she was wearing, and it looked stunning on her. This was a peacock green color, A-line scoop, satin dress, black lace was around the edge of the bottom of the dress, and the top had black lace over the gorgeous green color. And the back was longer than the front.
“That is the dress,” I told her as she looked in the mirror.
“I tried it on for shits and giggles. I can’t afford it. But I do love it.”
Then she disappeared back into the dressing room. Then when she appeared again, she was wearing a form-fitted black dress that had a high slit. “Now this one, I can afford.”
I knew I could offer to pay for the other dress, but I also knew there was no way she would accept that. So I let her do her thing.
“Well?” she asked, looking over her shoulder.
“It’s nice.”
“It’s nice? That doesn’t sound convincing at all.”
“No, it looks good. But I like the other one better.”
“Well, duh. I do too.” She scoffed and headed back to the dressing room, then emerging with only the one she said she could afford.