Taeja

36. Chapter 36

36

Cassedi moved the phone from her ear, and Taeja didn’t hesitate to go back over there. She sat between her mother’s legs. Cassedi resumed combing her hair, humming a song to herself.

“Are you okay?” Taeja asked hesitantly.

“Yes,” Cassedi said.

Taeja wasn’t moved. She opened her mouth to ask if Jerry said something antagonizing, and if Cassedi wanted her to call him and tell him some colorful words, but Cassedi spoke again.

“Tell me more about your relationship with Damon and Zain.”

Taeja smiled, her heart beating faster. “What about them?”

“Anything. You said you don’t live with Jerry anymore?”

“No.”

“So, you have an apartment? Or a house?”

“I live with Damon,” Taeja said. “Well, both of them. But we’re mostly at Damon’s house.”

“You’re okay with that?”

Taeja slightly bobbed her head, not wanting to disrupt Cassedi’s combing. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Taeja asked, wondering if Cassedi suddenly had a change of heart.

“I thought you would’ve wanted to live by yourself first. I remember you told me about wanting your independence, and now you have a job. Soon you’ll be off into the world all on your own.”

“Yeah, but I don’t understand why my independence means I can’t live with them. They treat me good, and I love living with them.”

“Hmm…” Cassedi trailed off. “When I met Jerry, within two years, I moved out of my dorm and we rented an apartment together. Mummy told me not to; she said I’d never lived on my own before, and if I wanted to move out of her house, I should live by myself first. I didn’t listen to her, I love…d your father, so I brushed off a lot of things, and it put me here. Of course, I don’t regret any of it, because I’d never have you — my biggest blessing. I’m happy you’re happy, and if you’re sure about this, don’t let me deter you. I just don’t want you to make the same mistakes that I did.”

Taeja pondered her mother’s words, then nodded. “I understand, Cassedi. I live by myself at my college loft, if that makes you feel any better.”

Cassedi stopped combing Taeja’s hair to give her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “It does, baby girl. Now turn around. Let me do the other side.”

“Let me call Miss Charm. You’re going to love her, I promise.”

A few days later, Taeja and her men were back home. She’d met her family on her mom’s side, and they’d warmed up to her after realizing she wasn’t like her father.

On the topic of her father, he’d been calling her nonstop since yesterday, but she refused to answer. Jerry barely gave her attention before Cassedi’s call. Why was he trying now?

Zain looked over his shoulder as Taeja sighed heavily. “You okay?”

“Not really,” she confessed, going back to the salad she was making.

“What’s wrong?” Turning to look at her, Zain gripped the counter behind him. His arm muscles flexed.

“I’m thinking about my dad.”

“What about him?”

“Do you think I should answer the next time he calls? ”

Zain shrugged. “You know how I feel about him.”

“I want a direct answer, Zain…”

He walked toward her. Stopping beside her, he kissed her forehead. “I can’t answer that for you.” He took the bottle from her hand and doused the salad in more dressing.

Taeja chuckled. “I’m trying to spend more time with you in the kitchen, and all you do is correct everything I do.”

“I’m helping you help me.” He smirked as she rolled her eyes. “Damon should be home from work soon.”

“Do you always cook for him?”

“Been cooking for him since we were little.”

“I bet he likes that.”

“He loves it. Should I set the table, or do you want to?”

Taeja blushed as she remembered what happened at that table. “I don’t think we should eat there—”

“Damon bought a new table.”

“Oh… I can’t wait for us to finish decorating our other house tomorrow.”

“You’re starting your internship tomorrow, yet that’s what’s on your mind?”

Taeja smiled. “Yes.”

Zain smirked, and at the same time, laughter drifted from the foyer. Taeja tipped and kissed him, then walked away to grab some plates. Zain watched as she walked off. She swayed her hips seductively, loving how riled up Zain got when she teased him. Just as she got done setting the table and Zain brought out some food, Damon entered the dining room. He looked great in his formal attire, briefcase in one hand, and phone in the other.

Damon walked toward Taeja and kissed her forehead before showing her the phone. “Look who wants to say hi.”

Taeja smiled at her mom. “Unu turn one piece of big friend, eeh?”

Cassedi chuckled. “I was just keeping his company while he drove home from work. I see that you’re going to have dinner, so I’ll go now—”

“A so late dem eat dinner? Mi cudn survive a foreign,” Wayne said from the background.

Cassedi rolled her eyes. “Yaa gwan like nobody tell yu seh dem want yu ina dem country.”

Zain placed the salad bowl on the table before walking toward them. He stood to the right of Taeja. “Night, Cassedi.”

Cassedi smiled. “Big chef Zain! Hope Taeja nuh stress yu.”

Zain smirked as Taeja gasped. He shook his head at Cassedi. “She was a good help,” he said, pausing as ZsaZsa’s face filled the screen with a bright smile. “Hey, ZsaZsa…”

ZsaZsa waved.

“You good?” Zain asked, and Taeja smiled at his attempt to make his voice softer.

As ZsaZsa nodded, Taeja’s smile widened. “Later, Cassedi. We ago eat before the food cold.”

“Goodnight.” Cassedi hung up.

Damon exited the dining room to wash his hands. Taeja sat, and Zain sat across from her. When Damon returned, he sat beside Taeja. Taeja prayed over the food, and they chatted until the food disappeared.

“Ready for tomorrow?” Damon asked.

Taeja smiled. “I went shopping with Liyah earlier, and I got a bunch of professional clothes. I hope I don’t disappoint anyone.”

“You won’t,” Damon assured, smiling. “Did you decide if you’re leaving after work tomorrow?”

“Mago leave bright and early pon Monday. Remember, I told you I’m gonna start decorating tomorrow.”

“Oh, right,” Damon said.

Zain chuckled. “You and your memory.”

Damon rolled his eyes. “I don’t have a bad memory. I just have a lot on my mind right now.”

“The dinner next Saturday?” Taeja asked, and Damon nodded. “It’ll be fine. You’ve gone to many dinners before. I’m sure it won’t be different.”

“It’s his first time announcing a video game launch,” Zain said.

“Everything ago alright, Damon. Stop stress yu big head. ”

Moving the glass of fruit juice from his mouth, Damon snickered. “I know you’re not talking.”

“Exactly,” Zain co-signed.

Taeja gasped, reaching out to kick Zain beneath the table. He grabbed her before she could, and he smirked when she wiggled her foot free. “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“I’m with my brother on this one,” Zain said, and Damon grinned.

Taeja glared at Damon. “Mi naa bother be yu date to the dinner. And you’re not getting any of the chocolate cake I helped Zain make.”

Watching Damon’s grin fade, Zain scoffed. “You gonna let her threaten you?”

“Shut up, Zain, before mi nuh bother mek yu train mi. I know how much joy you get out of seeing me catch short of breath when I run with you.” Smirking as Zain’s bravado vanished, Taeja innocently batted her eyelashes at Damon. “You were saying?”

Damon cleared his throat. “Are you sure you don’t want to get a transfer to the office that’s closer to your college? It’d be easier than traveling back and forth every Thursday and Sunday. I have an associate at the office who I trust to help you as much as Gavin would.”

“It’s fine, babe. It’s just a two-hour ride. I can do it,” Taeja said.

“I heard that you’re a terrible driver.”

Taeja glared at Zain, who looked down at his empty plate. Rolling her eyes, she looked at Damon. “I know how to drive, and I finally picked up my car from the body shop. It’s at Zain’s house, and I’m driving whether unu like it or not.”

“Hmm…” Damon hummed, unmoved.

“Damon, if I work at that office, I won’t have a reason to come to the city, and that means seeing you guys less than I’m already going to.”

The brothers glanced at each other, then settled their focus on her.

“We just want to ensure you’re not doing more than you can handle in your last semester,” Damon said.

“If mi cya handle it, hack—”

“No,” Damon interrupted, making Taeja sigh. Pushing the plate away, Damon patted his belly. “Where’s the cake? ”

Taeja took the napkin off her lap, placing it on her plate. “I’ll go get—” A burp escaped her mouth. Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

Zain smirked. “Why? Could be louder, but that was good.”

“I didn’t know I could do that,” she mumbled, wishing the floor would swallow her.

Damon grinned. “You can join our competitions now.”

“No, Damon. Unu too sickening.” She hissed her teeth and grabbed the plates, heading to the kitchen and rolling her eyes as laughter erupted from behind her.

Taeja’s first day as Gavin’s apprentice was going better than she expected. Before she started working, he made her reread every point of her contract and what he expected of her. Since then, he had her shadowing him, making him coffees, and sanitizing her hands before entering his office.

Currently, she was in a boardroom with Damon and his video game team. Standing close to Gavin and keeping a keen eye on what notes he made, Taeja couldn’t help glancing at Damon every so often.

He was always well-spoken, but in work mode, Damon was a beast. Was it normal for her to be aroused by her man using terms she wasn’t familiar with?

“That will be all for today.” Damon turned off the screen behind him. Grabbing his jacket off the back of the chair at the head of the desk, he shrugged it on. While buttoning up, his eyes drifted around the room, landing on all his teammates but evading Taeja. “Cavaughn, get your intern to forward me the minutes of today’s meeting. Gavin, review the beta version as soon as possible. I need it on my desk no later than four p.m. today.”

“Yes, boss,” Gavin said, looking over his shoulder at Taeja. “Set a reminder for fifteen hundred hours. We will review the demo together.”

Taeja nodded and made a note in her book.

“I’ll get to work on it, boss,” Cavaughn said and started walking toward the door. She smiled at Taeja as she passed by.

Damon looked at Gavin. “My office. ”

Gavin nodded and stood, and Taeja moved to follow them. Gavin held up a hand. “This is a private meeting. Go to my office and work on the coding program I introduced you to this morning.”

“Okay.” Taeja glanced at Damon, who still refused to look at her. Resisting the urge to sigh, she headed to Gavin’s office while sanitizing her hands. She entered the office and sat on the chair. She worked for an hour, finding all the faults in the sequence. “Gavin thinks I’m stupid,” she grumbled as she grabbed her phone. She smiled at a text from Zain. Earlier, she’d snuck him a text, asking what he was up to.

I’m with Tsion.

Thought you said you’re going out of town?

I said I was thinking about it.

Oh… Will you be back for dinner tonight? Or should I start cooking without you?

I’ll try, but start without me. You know how Damon is.

LOL! Leff mi man alone.

Yeah, whatever.

Is your friend still coming over?

To help me decorate? Yeah.

What? You changed your mind about her helping?

Taeja furrowed her brows as the typing bubble popped up on the screen. She understood how he felt about his space, but she hoped he didn’t change his mind about Liyah helping. Liyah knew the exact vision she had; Taeja couldn’t bring it to life without her best friend.

It’s fine. Just didn’t want you to be alone with all those moving men.

If dem try touch me, mi open up mi market mouth and scream dung the place.

Plus, I don’t think they’d be bold enough to mess with your girlfriend.

You think I just go around killing people, huh?

Well…

How’s work going? You get off soon, right?

Yeah. I’ll tell you all about my first day later.

Bye. I love you!

Later, Taeja.

She looked up from the phone as the door opened and Gavin entered. Taeja jumped to her feet as his eyes widened. “There was nowhere else for me to sit—”

“I told you to wait until I get a desk for you.” Gavin grabbed a disinfectant bottle and sprayed the chair.

Taeja coughed. “Sorry, Gavin.”

“It is fine…” He returned the bottle to its original position, then pushed his glasses further up his face as he looked at her. “Are you finished?” he asked, and Taeja nodded. Gavin’s eyes widened. “What? It is a complex program.”

Taeja shrugged. “It’s not. I did it in my sophomore year.”

“I think I might have underestimated what the boss said about you.”

“What did he say? ”

“That you are conflicted about a career, but you are fairly good at everything you have assisted him with,” Gavin said, and Taeja smiled at the back-handed compliment. “I will find a more rigorous program for you to handle. The boss needs you in his office. Be back here as soon as he is finished. You have been very punctual today. Please continue to appease me.”

Taeja nodded. “I won’t disappoint you, Gavin,” she promised, pausing at the door as Gavin called out to her.

“Do you know where I can purchase a bouquet of tulips?” Gavin cleared his throat before pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “My supplier is out of the country.”

Taeja shook her head. “I don’t, but I’ll ask my best friend.”

“No,” he rushed out. “I will figure it out. Please keep this conversation between us.”

Her brows crinkled, but she nodded before going to Damon’s office. She chuckled at Damon, who stood before a coffee machine, watching as the black liquid poured into a disposable cup. “Boss?”

“Don’t,” Damon said. “I’m Damon or daddy when we’re alone.”

Taeja sat atop his desk, throwing one leg over the next. “Well, you barely paid me any attention today.”

“I’m keeping things professional.” Damon sipped from his coffee as he walked toward her. He placed the cup atop the desk, parted her legs, and stood between them. Resting his hands on her waist, he licked his bottom lip. “Do you think I haven’t noticed how you’ve been looking at me all day, gorgeous?”

Taeja shrugged. “Never would’ve guessed, honestly.”

“Don’t be like that. We’re at work, baby. If I look at you for too long, I’ll get horny and distracted.”

Taeja sighed. “I know. Sorry. I don’t want to be a distraction to you or myself, so maybe we should avoid each other until we’re at home.”

Damon chuckled. “That won’t work. Gavin only works on this floor. How’s it going, by the way?”

“Good, so far.” Taeja reached for his belt. “Can we have a quickie?”

He chuckled, seizing her hands. “You’re horny? Right now? ”

“I’ve been horny all day,” she said, freeing her hands to trail them up his chest. She locked her arms around his neck and smiled at him. “You have no idea how wet my pussy gets seeing you walking around in a suit and ordering everyone around. Especially when you’re saying things I don’t understand.”

“How wet?”

Taeja took one of his hands in hers. She spread her legs wider, trailing his hand between her legs and stopping at her mound. An uneven breath passed her lips as Damon cupped her pussy. “This is how wet you make me, Damon.”

Damon smirked, pressing his thumb against her panty, and rubbing it in small circles. “Can’t have you walking around all day with your pussy throbbing, can we?”

“No, so fuck me.”

Damon shook his head, falling to his knees. He pulled her closer to the edge and tugged her panty off in one swift movement. “I’m going to eat your pussy,” he said. “Until your legs are shaking and you’re begging me to stop. You owe me five orgasms. Get to counting.”

With one hand grabbing his head and the other cupping one of her breasts, Taeja’s eyes locked onto the ceiling. She bit into her bottom lip to stifle her breathy moans.

Damon’s tongue working inside her was magical. How was he this good? Every time with him was better than the last.

Despite knowing the walls weren’t soundproof, Taeja wouldn’t be able to keep quiet for long.

The only thing on her mind was giving her man what he wanted. Time and time again.

So, she got to counting. Tightening her legs around him as her first orgasm took control and made her back arch off the desk. “One, daddy…”