Chapter 10

10

E lias

There was a twelve- or thirteen-hour time difference in China, so it was almost three in the morning while Neko and I were on our Zoom call. He usually did his best work late at night anyway, so he didn’t really care about the time difference. I didn’t want to worry him with anything pertaining to work while he was out living his best life, but he insisted on being kept in the loop.

While he was gone, we weren’t going to have any showcases or take on any new clients, but we were preparing for our company’s Thanksgiving party and Christmas auction. As Neko and I brainstormed ideas on how we could make this year’s events better, it was hard for me to maintain my focus.

Amanda had been trying my patience all weekend. She’d been going out, showing her ass and posting it on social media for me and the rest of the world to see. Since I always had her location, it took everything inside of me not to pull up on her. I felt like she needed that freedom though. She hadn’t been acting like herself lately, and I understood why. If it took a weekend of flirting and fun and getting under my skin to get her back to herself, I was cool with that. Just as long as she knew I was serious about what would happen if she had sex with anyone else.

“Aight, man. I’ma let you go,” I said, pulling my phone out and going to my and Amanda’s text thread. “I’ll get the team together to start planning the events and have them CC you on all finalized plans.”

“Aight, sounds good. Let me know if you can get a meeting secured with Doc. It would be a good look if he could come to the auction and see what we have to offer. That way when I get back and start working, it’ll be easier for me to bring him on as a client.”

“I’ll do my best. In the meantime, send me some talking points so I’ll make a good first impression.”

“Got you, brother.”

After ending the Zoom, I typed out my message to Amanda.

Me: Did you enjoy yourself this weekend?

EJ FINE ASS MAMA ??: I sure did. Did you? You seemed to have a lot of free time seeing as you watched all my stories and were on all my lives.

Me: Well, I knew the show was for me, so I wanted to make sure I tuned in.

EJ FINE ASS MAMA ??: ??Boy get off my phone!

Me: What you doing tonight?

EJ FINE ASS MAMA ??: The usual since my baby will be here. Why?

By usual, she meant getting a charcuterie board to indulge in while she drank wine and watched movies with our son. That was usually what they did every Monday, except he pigged out on popcorn or nachos. Instead of responding right away, I went to the website of the grazing restaurant she ordered from and got the appetizer board that was big enough for three people. I added on her favorite sweet wine and also scheduled a bouquet of roses to be delivered before returning to our text thread.

Me: I already ordered your board and wine. It’ll be there at five. Have fun.

Her dots bounced around for a while before a message finally came through.

EJ FINE ASS MAMA ??: What are you up to?

Me: You could just say thank you.

EJ FINE ASS MAMA ??: ??Thank you baby daddy.

Me: You’re welcome beautiful. Let me know if y’all need anything else.

EJ FINE ASS MAMA ??: Maybe just you.

Me: You really want me to come through?

EJ FINE ASS MAMA ??: If you want to.

“What’s got you smiling so hard?” At the sound of Fiona’s voice, I touched my face. I was cheesing hard as hell and didn’t even realize it. After sending Amanda a text letting her know I would come through after I left work, I set my phone down and gave Fiona my undivided attention.

“I’m glad you stopped by,” I deflected. “Can you set up some meetings for me?” I stood and extended the list of people I wanted her and our planning committee to reach out to for the party and auction. “Preferably for the next two weeks. We need to get things finalized for the Thanksgiving party as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir. Anything else?”

“That’ll be all, Fiona. Thank you.”

She gave me a curt smile and took a few backward steps. “Did you um…hear about the new restaurant that’s opening on the beach this weekend? Everyone’s talking about it. It’ll be the first soul food restaurant that isn’t in an unsavory neighborhood.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Even with her trying to delicately say it, everyone knew the best soul food was in the hood.

“Yeah, I heard about it. I was thinking about going.” As she stared at me, I realized she wanted me to continue. Since I hadn’t asked her out yet, now seemed to be as good of a time as any. At this point, I just wanted to get the shit over with. It felt more like an obligation than anything else. “Would you like to join me, Fiona?”

The cute squeal she released softened my heart. “I thought you’d never ask.”

“Saturday at six. How does that sound?”

“That sounds perfect.”

“Great. You’re staying with your parents, right?” She nodded. “Okay. I’ll pick you up around five thirty.”

“It’s a date.” She agreed seductively, shooting me a wink.

As she walked out, my eyes lowered to her ass. It wasn’t as big as Amanda’s, but it was enough for me to grip. With a sigh, I plopped down in my seat. I was going to have to stop comparing her to Amanda. But lately, she’d been the woman I used when it came to my standard—physically at least.

I wouldn’t deny Amanda lacked some morals and character traits I wanted in my wife, and that was why we couldn’t be together, but the things I loved about her were starting to matter to me more. Maybe it was because I knew there was a chance I’d be losing her soon. Whatever it was, I had to be careful. The last thing I wanted was to fall even harder for a woman that had proven time and time again that she was incapable of catching me.