14: ONYX

"Hey, is everything good?" Sharla asks, stopping by my seat after everyone exits the conference room.

We're renting meeting space at the hotel we're staying at in Las Vegas. We head back home to Charleston in a couple of days, and the tension is building inside of me.

I'm not looking forward to returning. I'd suggested that MJ stay with her parents while I was gone since she was scared, but she said that would alert them that something was wrong. And yet, she refused to come to Vegas with me. I'm tired of the secrecy, the walking on eggshells; I'm tired of it all.

"Yes. Why?"

"You look a bit tense today. You were kind of short with our team, and that's not like you," Sharla says, eyeing me closely. "Did you not trust my judgment on the team that I picked out for this project, Onyx?"

Sharla's hugging her iPad close to her chest. She's wearing a silk, pink button down and a charcoal and white pinstriped skirt that hugs her body. The pink stilettos on her tiny feet bring her almost to eye level with me when I stand.

"I wasn't in the mood for excuses today. I pay everyone a handsome salary. They either do their job or find somewhere else to go. I can easily replace them if they can't do what they were hired to do."

Sharla doesn't say anything but just stares at me with those narrowed eyes.

"What?"

"I don't know. I'm just letting you get it all out."

When I don't say anything else, Sharla speaks up.

"The people that I selected for their individual roles on this team are damn good at what they do. I took time in handpicking each of them and vetting them. I ran them across you before I finalized their role and informed them of it. You were good with what I decided, as was Neha.

"Their ideas that they presented for how we move forward on this project were excellent. They've done their research, the numbers gel, and their suggestions and counsel kicked ass. The issues they pointed out weren't excuses but legitimate barriers that we need to find resolutions for if we want to move forward successfully on this project. You weren't focused in this meeting and missed much of what was said. The moment that that was recognized, you bit off everyone's head rather than owning up to your fault and apologizing for checking out on them.

"That's not the mark of a good leader, Onyx, and I personally know that you're better than that. So, whatever's bothering you, you need to deal with your shit before we convene for our next meeting in Charleston in a few days. I will not have them looking at me for an explanation that I cannot give because you decided to act like a jerk."

My shoulders slump and I sit my laptop and folders back on the table. Pressing my fingers onto the cold surface of the table on either side of the laptop, I exhale deeply.

"I'm sorry."

With a look of concern, she dips her head and meets my gaze. "I've always been a good listener, Onyx. What's really going on?"

"I don't want to burden you with my problems."

"You're not burdening me."

"I'm your boss. The last thing that I should be doing is bringing my problems to you."

"You tell everyone in this company that you have an open-door policy. That works two ways, you know. I'm here to listen if you just want to blow off steam, Nyx. You can't carry the world on your shoulders."

"Why not? They're broad enough," I joke, flexing my shoulders.

Shaking her head, she glares at me. "Always with the jokes. You know that's how you have always dealt with everything. Thought you'd have grown out of that by now," she says, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, and I thought you'd grow to butt out of people's business," I reply.

Sharla turns her lips down, lifts her eyebrows, and says, "Okay. I get the hint. My bad. Didn't mean to overstep the boundary line."

As she turns to walk to the door, I say, "Stop. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"Kind of taking it out on everyone. Whatever it is."

I massage my temples and remain quiet.

"Listen. All I'm saying is that even the president of the United States needs someone to listen. No matter how high you go to the top, you'll always need someone to have your back. Someone to hear you out even if you don't want their advice, but you just want to vent."

"You're right."

"I know this is far out there, but why don't you take a walk? It's past lunchtime."

Chuckling, I say, "Yeah, that does sound like a good idea. It always helps me to clear my mind."

"There you have it. Take a walk on the strip and you don't have to listen to me chatter on," she says, smiling broadly at me.

Sharla turns again and walks to the door.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"To the bar for a drink. I need to release the tension after that meeting."

"Why don't I join you? I notice that, like me you didn't eat anything in that meeting. I'll even splurge on a burger for you," I say, shining a grin on her.

We've been having lunch together at least two times a week for the last couple of months now. Sometimes, it's in my office during a working session, but there have been quite a few times when we will head out to grab a bite to eat at the park.

It's been different here in Vegas because we've been pulled in opposite directions.

"I knew that you were in a mood, and something warned me that I would lose my meal if I indulged. I had a feeling you were going to behave shitty today, so I opted to skip the meal."

"Even more reason why you should grab a bite to eat with me now."

"Well, when you put it like that, I can't turn down that offer, especially since I still have my job after giving you a piece of my mind," she giggles.

"Barely," I tease back. "I'll pay for lunch as my way of apology. How about that?"

"Perfect! Give me a second to take my laptop and things back to my room."

"Okay. Meet me downstairs in the lobby."

"See you in ten?"

"Make it five," I correct.

"Okay, sir," she says, mockingly saluting me.

I head to my suite and put my items away, only taking my phone. After I leave my room I head to the elevators and dial Meadow on my way down.

"Hey."

"Hi," she says in a tired voice.

"You busy?" I ask.

"No."

"Have you been doing okay? Feeling safe?"

"I'm okay, I guess. I just got up."

Frowning, I look at my watch. "MJ, it's a little after two. You took a nap?"

I can hear her talking through her yawn. "No. I've just...I don't know, I'm tired. I've been sleeping all day. Might be coming down with something."

"Why don't you make an appointment to see your doctor?"

"No, Onyx. I'll be fine. I just need to take some vitamins, drink some juice, and eat some soup. I'll be fine."

"Are you going to visit your parents today still?"

"No, I'll probably go this weekend."

"You've been saying that for the last four weeks, MJ. You haven't seen your parents in a month. They're going to know something's wrong soon," I say, stepping off the elevator and into the lobby.

I see Sharla standing by the restaurant doors, looking in my direction. She smiles brightly at me, waves happily, and walks toward me.

I give her a slight head nod and a smile that's barely there.

"...anyway."

"What was that? I didn't catch it."

"I said that my parents are about to go on a cruise, so I doubt they'll be missing me anyway."

"Well, go see them before they leave."

"I'll go tomorrow."

"All right, MJ. Get out of the house today. Do something to make yourself feel better. Maybe shopping?" I ask hopefully.

"I don't need anything."

"Fine. How about I send Dani over to check on you."

"No, O. I said I'll be fine."

"Okay. Look, I gotta go. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Sure, Onyx."

I end the call just as I come to stand in front of Sharla.

"You changed shoes. Those flats took your height down by six inches, didn't they?"

She laughs.

"I forgot you were a little shorty."

"Just because the rest of us aren't peering down from the treetops doesn't mean we're short."

Laughing, I reply, "Oh, you've got jokes now."

We stroll through the lobby and to the restaurant and bar. We grab a table, and I listen intently while Sharla reflects on our memories of growing up in Charleston. She tells me about her mother and what she's up to now with the man she finally married a few years ago.

I listen intently as she transitions from that to telling me that her stepson is coming for a visit in a couple of weeks. She's excited about his visit.

"What about his father?"

"My ex?"

"Yeah. Is he coming?"

"No. It's just Jose and his friends, Nick and Basil."

"Are they staying with you?"

"No. They've got an Airbnb. He just wants to make sure that he spends some time with me before he returns. I promised to cook for them while they're here at least once."

"That's cool. It's hard to imagine you as a mother figure, though."

"Why's that?"

"You're so damn cool with the interns. You're more like the hip auntie than the mama."

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Well, Jose's friends might disagree with you."

"Why's that?"

She rocks her head from side to side. "He had a word with a couple of them because they referred to me as a MILF."

"What?" I ask, laughing in disbelief.

"Yeah."

"How old did you say they were again?"

"Just shy of twenty."

"The fuck is wrong with these knuckleheads these days?"

"Oh, don't tell me that you didn't see a woman or two that was someone's mother that you thought were fine."

"Oh, I'm sure I did but I didn't step to my boys about their moms. Had mad respect for them, and they had the same for me."

"I can see that."

I look her up and down.

"What?"

Shaking my head, I say, "Nothing."

"No, it was something."

"No. It wasn't."

"Nyx, you gave me the look."

"What look?"

"Like you were checking me out."

I shake my head and start chuckling. Holding my hands up, I reply, "Guilty as charged."

"You were checking for me?" she asks, sounding pleased.

"Just assessing what the fellas said."

"And?"

"I see what they see. You're definitely MILF material."

"All I'm missing is the baby."

"You too?"

"Me too, what?" she asks, frowning.

"Trying to have a baby."

"That's somewhere down there on my bucket list. I mean, my biological clock is ticking, but I'm in no rush. If it happens, then it happens. If not, I'll adopt. It'll come in time."

"Why can't every woman adopt that mentality?"

"Every woman wasn't built the same way. We all have different journeys. Is that what had you snapping on everyone today?"

Scoffing, I reply, "That's just the tip of the iceberg."

After we give our orders, Sharla turns her lips down and reaches up and rubs up and down my arm. "Sorry, Nyx."

"It's all good. Things will work out one way or another. Sometimes, I just want to get off the merry-go-round."

"You can't do that. You've got to keep riding."

"Maybe I'm on the wrong mare."

She looks at me with a look of concern, and something more blazes in her eyes. We hold eye contact for several seconds, and I feel as if there's so much that we're not saying at this moment.

I break the stare as the waiter approaches us. I turn to order our food. After I've finished ordering, we change the subject to something much more comfortable, spreadsheets, budgets, and proposals until we return to the hotel.

Once we're back inside, we go our separate ways. I'm lost in data on my computer when I hear a knock at my door. Setting my laptop aside, I go to the door and peer out the peephole.

"Hey," I greet Sharla as I open the door wider for her to enter my room. "What's up?" I ask when she turns to face me.

She follows me inside as I head to the bar and prepare a drink.

"I just wanted to thank you for believing in me enough to not only put me in charge of convening a team but to bring me on this trip with you."

"I know that it's only been a little over two months since you've been on staff, but you genuinely earned it. Executive leadership is impressed with your progress."

"I'm glad. I also want to tell you that I enjoy our lunchtimes together. I think that I'd started taking them for granted until we came out here. I've seldom seen you since we've been in Vegas, and that downstairs..." she says, jabbing her finger at the floor. "Brought it all back, and how much I appreciate it. I know you could be doing a million other things, but I wanted you to know that it means a lot to me."

"So do I, Shar. You have no idea how refreshing it is to have open conversations the way that we do again. Someone to bounce my ideas off, and you don't think that I'm going overboard."

"Well, you accept a lot of my suggestions, too, so that feels good. Not to be taken for granted. Thanks," she says, reaching out to take my hand and squeeze it.

Rather than squeezing her hand back or letting it go, I stand still as she steps closer to me. I take the drink from Sharla's other hand as her hands go to my chest, and she stares up at me openly.

"Please," she whispers.

"Shar," I groan.

"Onyx, I missed you," she says huskily.

She tips up and presses her lips against mine. Softly brushing them, when I stiffen, she says, "Shh...just feel."

"Just be in the moment?" I ask, repeating something she often said to me when we were together all those years ago. Whenever I would get busy planning or too deep in my head, she would tell me to relax and be in the moment.

"Mm-hmm," she purrs softly against my lips.

My arms wrap around her waist, and I pull her hard against me, my erection growing as she opens her mouth to let me in.

The kiss is smooth, sultry, and all tongues and moans.

When we pull apart, I groan, "Fuck," resting my forehead against hers. "I'm sorry, Shar. I shouldn't have."

"It's okay. You did nothing but what we've both wanted for a while now."

Staring into her eyes, I say, "I have no right."

"Maybe not. I think...it was only a matter of time. We never got closure, Nyx. Never had a chance to sit down and talk about what happened between us. What we lost."

"I can't sit and have that conversation with you. I'm married now, and going down that road is trouble."

"Obviously, not going down that road is troublesome too."

"We have to stop this game we've been playing. Acting like we haven't been dangerously flirting with fire every time we..."

"I know," she says softly, with tears framing her eyes. "It's just so hard for me not to want you. To touch you."

"For me, too."

"I didn't mean to come up here and try to take advantage of you," Sharla says teasingly.

I smirk and shake my head. "I think you'd better head back to your room before I do something that I might regret."

"Both of us," she agrees.

I watch as she walks out of my room, closing the door behind her.

I groan, already regretting kissing her because I know deep in my soul that the kiss was just the beginning.