by D. Camille
“Yeah...okay.” She replied, opening her lids and bringing the glass to her lips.
He waited while she took a sip, then another.
“It’s good.” Bliss told him. “Different…”
“That’s why I made it for you. You seem different...just like the drink.”
Bliss smiled. “You think I’m a black rose?”
“Yeah, I think you have those thorns to protect all that beauty…”
Eric was called away to serve another customer and Bliss called her sister. After getting her voicemail, Bliss’ became angry, and texted her again. She also texted Drea and the other girls. When no one answered, she downed her drink and smacked it on the counter.
“Damn it!”
“Hey, don’t break the glasses. The owner doesn’t like that.” Eric came over to her.
“I’m sorry. If it’s chipped, I’ll replace it.” Bliss told him.
“What’s up? What’s going on?”
Bliss looked at him. “My girls are standing me up.”
He frowned. “Why would they do that?”
“Because I’ve done it to them for months…” Bliss looked down into her glass. “Not on purpose though...I was working.”
“So they’re paying you back?”
“I think so.”
“Damn, that’s cold.” He told her. “Let me get you another…”
She looked up. “I should just go.”
He leaned closer. “Since you don’t have to meet anybody, why don’t you stay and keep me company?”
“I should probably go get some work done. I have a new potential client tomorrow and I need to be ready.” She hedged, knowing damn well she wanted to stay.
Eric began making her another drink. “You take your work very seriously?” he asked.
“I can’t mess up people’s money...or my own.” Bliss replied.
“I understand that. I’m sure your clients appreciate it.”
She smiled. “I make sure they’re happy.”
He placed another drink in front of her.
“Tell me how you do that?”
Bliss sipped the glass. “What? Make my clients happy?”
“Yeah…”
Moving her head from side to side for a moment, she answered, “I find out what their needs and goals are, then I help them leverage their money to get there.”
“Do you have a lot of clients?”
“Right now around thirty-five. I need to get to fifty though…” She kept drinking.
“What happens at fifty?”
Bliss smiled secretively. “Magic, baby…”
“Well, damn…”
“For real,” Bliss told him, over the rim. “Real ass magic.”
“So you’re looking for new clients?”
She nodded. “Always, but it’s difficult to find them.”
“Why is that?”
“I only accept ten million dollar and above portfolios.”
Eric whistled. “You’re a baller.”
“I put in that work.” Bliss said firmly.
“Would you take me as a client?” he asked.
Bliss paused. “What else do you do besides bartend?”
“I’m back in school, finishing up classes in Business and Finance.”
“That’s great.” Bliss told him. “Especially if you want to be any kind of entrepreneur,”
“Yeah, I thought so, too…”
“How old are you?” Bliss asked.
He smiled. “Thirty-two.” Then he stared at her. “May I ask the same?”
“Thirty-four.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed that.” He replied. “But black don’t crack, so…”
Bliss laughed and he froze. Looking at him, she froze too.
“What happened?” she asked.
“You laughed…”
“It was funny.”
He leaned on the bar and looked into her eyes. “You laughed and this whole room lit up.”
Bliss lifted her glass. “I think you’ve been drinking your own supply.”
“Nah, not on the job.”
She leaned in. “So you want to be my client?”
“I asked if you’d take me on.”
“You got ten mil stashed?”
He held her gaze. “Actually, I do.”
Bliss blinked. “What?”
“Is your name Bliss?” he asked.
“How do you know my name?” Bliss asked concerned.
“We should talk in private.” Eric replied.
She frowned. “No, you should tell me how the hell you know me, because I don’t know you…” She looked him over for a moment. “I would remember that, for sure.”
“I don’t know you, Bliss. We’ve never met before...I would remember that for sure, too.” He gave her the same once over.
“Then how do you know my name?” she pressed.
“You have to be Bliss Marshall.” He told her. “There’s only one black woman who works over at J.P.”
Bliss nodded. “Okay...that’s true. Now, how do you know who works at J.P.?”
“I’ve checked into it.”
“Why?”
Eric paused. “We definitely should talk in private.” He looked around at the other drinkers.
Bliss looked at the people sitting close by and agreed.
“I’ve got time for it.” Bliss told him firmly.
“In the meantime, why don’t I get you some dinner?”
She held his gaze. “Thank you, Eric.”
He smiled. “That’s not my name. I’m filling in for him tonight.”
“What’s your name?” Bliss asked and held her breath.
“Rome McIntyre.”
“Oh, shit…” Bliss breathed, putting a hand to her head.
Chapter 2
A little while after dinner, Bliss sat waiting for Rome to finish up for the night. She’d watched how he’d managed the bar, making drinks and engaging people. To be simply filling in for this Eric person, he did an amazing job.
While making a drink, he looked over at her and she heated up automatically.
“Damn, Kris was right. It’s been too long,” Bliss said to herself, rubbing the back of her neck. “Because Rome Mcintyre is doing it all for me tonight…”
At closing time, Rome wished everyone a goodnight, then turned to Bliss.
“You know what, I think I should just go home.” Bliss told him. “We have a meeting scheduled in the afternoon.”
Rome looked at her. “You stayed all this time, to dip out now? You scared?”
Bliss frowned. “I’m not afraid of anything. I’m a goddess.”
“Oooh...I like that.” He came to stand in front of her. “So, let’s talk, goddess.”
“Fine, you want to meet me outside after you punch out?”
Rome shook his head. “Nah, I don’t punch out, baby.”
“Oh, you’re salary?” Bliss looked around. “What exactly do you do here?”
“I own it.”
She blinked. “You own Regalia?”
He nodded. “And Regal, and Royal…”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No, that’s why I made an appointment to see you.”
“Why the hell are you bartending at your own place?”
Rome laughed. “Would I bartend somewhere else?”
“I feel like I’m the butt of a joke that everyone knows but me…” Bliss grabbed her bag angrily, and Rome placed a light hand on her arm.
“There’s no joke.” He promised. “At least not one that I know…”
She stared at him. “Do you know my sister?”
“What’s her name?”
“Kris Marshall.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Andrea or Brandy?”
Rome shook his head. “They don’t ring a bell.”
“So you haven’t spoken to any of them?” Bliss questioned.
“Should I?” Rome asked slowly.
Bliss sighed. “I’m trying to figure out
what the hell is happening here.”
“Let’s go to my office, and we can talk.”
She stared up at him for a minute, then agreed, “Okay…”
Rome then led her to the back into a very nicely furnished space. Inside, he offered her a seat on the leather sofa and Bliss made herself comfortable.
“You know a lot of people saw you with me tonight, so if you try to kill me, there are witnesses.” Bliss told him as he took a chair.
“I’m not trying to kill you Bliss. I need a money manager.”
She smiled softly. “It wouldn’t be easy.”
“I don’t think you’d go down without a fight.”
“I’m from a long line of warriors...male and female.” Bliss shared.
“You’ve studied your history?”
“My cousin has,” Bliss replied. “He’s a Khemetic history teacher, and we’re all distant relatives of Benjamin Banneker.”
Rome looked impressed. “Damn, that’s what’s up. I don’t even know who my daddy was…”
Bliss looked at him. “How did you build all this?”
“I think I should only tell you that if I’m your client.”
“Confidentiality issues?”
He nodded and sat back.
“Do you know Nikki?” Bliss questioned.
“Yes, I do know her.”
“Is she your personal referral?” Bliss lifted a brow.
Rome shook his head. “We have a mutual acquaintance in common.”
Bliss sat back. “Your woman?”
He smiled. “No...not anymore.”
“Is there something between you and Nikki?” Bliss asked.
“No, but are you asking for business purposes?
“What other purpose would I be asking for?”
He shrugged. “Personal.”
“I don’t mix the two. Never have…”
Rome leaned forward. “There’s always a first time.”
“It’s not a good practice.”
“So how do you want me?” Rome questioned softly.
“Excuse me?”
He stood. “Do you want me as a client...or as a man?”
Bliss watched him walk over to stand in front of where she sat. Looking at his broad frame and handsome face, the decision was difficult.
“I don’t want to make that choice.” Bliss told him and he took the seat next to her.
“Nikki told me about some of your other special clients.” Rome shared.
“What did she tell you?”
He put an arm along the back of the sofa. “That you specialize in those who may not have started out on the right side of the law.”
Bliss looked around. “Is all this legit?”
“All the books are clean.”
“Is this the source of all your income?”
“It is now.”
Bliss held his gaze. “Let me tell you how I feel about this.”
“I’m listening.”
“The very company that I’m employed with earned much of its initial wealth from the slave trade, along with many other Fortune 500 Wall Street firms.”
Rome looked surprised. “What?”
“Yes, they would allow slaves to be used as collateral on loans, and if the owners defaulted, the bank would take ownership of the slaves. Then in 1711, New York City officials sanctioned a human marketplace on Wall St. and Pearl. They collected sales tax when the slaves were bought and sold, building the generational wealth that makes them the elite and prestigious institutions they’re considered to be today.”
“That’s messed up.” Rome shook his head.
“So I give no fucks about where your money came from.” Bliss told him. “I care about where you’re taking it.”
“Meaning?”
“I steer my clients toward black businesses, talent and investments. That’s the only reason I haven’t surpassed my fifty yet...”
“I guess everybody isn’t down with that.”
“No, they aren’t, but my objective isn’t to make more money for whites off the backs of blacks.” Bliss said adamantly.
“I guess that has to make you work much harder to achieve your mark.”
Bliss sighed. “It does...and it comes at a price.”
“Missing nights out with your girls?”
“That...and missing having someone in my life,” Bliss said quietly. “But it’s the choice I made…”
“Sometimes it’s necessary to get to where you want to go.” Rome agreed.
She looked at him. “Right.”
“So, if you’re pulling in all these ten million dollar folios, why work at J.P. with their history?” He asked.
“It’s all a part of my plan.”
He looked confused. “The one that makes magic?”
“Real ass magic…”
Rome smiled. “You’re a badass.”
“I’m thinking that I’m not the only one in this room.” Bliss said, watching him. “I feel some badass vibes coming from you.”
“Maybe a few…” He shrugged.
They both chuckled, then looked at one another.
“Do you feel any other vibes?” Rome asked softly.
Bliss held his gaze. “Yes.”
“I didn’t know who you were when you walked in, but I knew that I wouldn’t let you leave without finding out.” Rome told her.
“So you started serving me Black Roses?”
“That was the beginning.” He agreed.
Bliss laughed. “I should’ve known that you weren’t Eric. That little vest really couldn’t hold all that.”
“It was the only one available.” Rome joined her in laughter. “Plus, I wouldn’t wear one with my real name.”
“Do people know you own this place?”
He shook his head. “No. They just think I’m in Management.”
Bliss watched him. “That’s for a reason.”
“Isn’t everything?”
“Most of the time.” She agreed.
“There’s a reason why you came in here tonight and I was covering the bar.”
“Because my sister is an ass, and I’m going to make sure that she knows it.” Bliss frowned.
“Yeah, she was wrong for that.”
Bliss met his gaze. “Are you still coming for your appointment tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’ve told you. I need a Private Wealth Manager.”
“I’m going to have to vet you.”
Rome nodded. “You won’t find any problems.”
“You’ve taken care of them?”
“I knew I’d have to, before hiring someone who can look into my finances.”
“These businesses are in your name?” Bliss questioned.
“Yep. Romeo McIntyre.”
Bliss frowned. “Romeo?”
He shrugged. “Talk to my Momma about that.”
“She knew from the start, huh?” Bliss teased.
“Did your parents know, too?”
She smirked. “I think they named me Bliss just hoping that’s what I’d be.” Bliss answered. “Many say that I’m the opposite.”
“Hmmm...I’ll have to form my own opinion about that.”
“You said I looked mean as hell walking in.”
“You did...but then I saw you laugh.”
Bliss paused. “And what does that mean?”
“That’s the bliss…”
“Okay, Romeo…”
He smiled. “So I’ll see the work Bliss tomorrow?”
“You might not even recognize me.” She told him, then relayed her elevator story.
“He was trying to get on, and he works with you?” Rome asked.
Bliss nodded. “Yes, as if seeing me like this sparked his slave master lust.”
Rome looked at her. “I mean you are the whole package.”
“Thank you.”
“You already know.”
“I do, but it’s also nice to hear it. Especially from a fine ass Negus.”
He lifted a brow.
“A Black King.” Bliss told him.
“Alright…a sister for the culture.”
Bliss toyed with her earring. “Always...but I have to navigate these two worlds and it’s not always a walk in the park.”
“I’ve had to navigate two worlds, as well. Where I had to be one person that I didn’t want to be, and then the person I was trying to become, to create the life I wanted for myself and those around me.”
She stared at him. “So, you feel me.”
“I felt you, when I first looked at you, Bliss.”
“You keep dropping me that line.”
“And waiting for you to pick it up, baby…”
They held each other’s gaze in the quiet office.
“You have to pick one, Rome. Business or pleasure…”
He shook his head. “I don’t have to pick a damn thing. I can have it all and I want it.”
Bliss looked away as his words did something to her insides.
“You’re not my client yet,” Bliss whispered.
“Use whatever rationale you need,” Rome told her. “Because, I know you want it all, too…”
Bliss’ mind raced, knowing that he’d spoken truth. She had been honest when she’d told him that she’d never slept with a client. She didn’t muddy the waters with sex and money, but Rome was doing something to her that no man had done before. He navigated her thorns like an expert horticulturist.
Turning back to his dark gaze, Bliss licked her lips. “I should go…”
“Let me walk you to your car.” Rome waited until she stood, then got to his feet.
With her bag in hand, Bliss waited while Rome grabbed his keys and shut off the lights. He locked the door to the office, then led her out to the parking lot. When he saw her ride, he whistled.
“Nice whip…”
Bliss kept walking. “All part of the presentation.”
When they reached her car, she turned to him. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the office.”
“I will be there.”
Bliss stepped closer to him, and he looked down at her. Reaching up she touched his face, and traced his jaw.
“You’re so damn handsome.” She said quietly.
Rome locked a strong arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Lowering his mouth to hers, he covered her lips, until they parted. After a moment, Bliss moaned and he looked into her face.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“My place…” Bliss pressed closer and resumed the fiery kiss he’d started.
******
Bliss looked over at the man in her passenger seat.