“Oh, really?”
“That’s right. This is to be continued tomorrow. Same time, same place.”
Jerome smiled as he watched Erica gather their empty food containers and clear the table as the room began to fill with people. “So, you wanna have lunch with me tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yes, of course. And this time it’ll be my treat.”
Before Jerome could object, Erica shook her head and spoke in a lower tone. “It would be my pleasure.”
Despite the insecurities that had just crept into his mind, Erica’s comment made him want to lay her across his bed and show her what real pleasure was. But he controlled the thought and the urge because he could see that the other jurors were beginning to stare. He adjusted the seat of his pants, put on his game face, and prayed for strength.
Moments later, as Jerome stood behind Erica, preparing to walk back into the courtroom to resume the trial, he thought about the time he’d spent with her. It had been the most stimulating conversation he could ever remember having. Then he thought about tomorrow. It would be his turn to tell her all about himself. He would have to expose his life and answer her questions, just as she’d done for him.
He knew that conversations like the one they’d just had were important, because that was what people did at the start of a relationship in order to get to know each other. But as he settled into his seat beside her in the jury box, he wondered if she would be able to handle the life he’d lived, and he hoped she’d want to be a part of the one he was trying to build.
Chapter 13
Erica could hardly contain the electric buzz she felt from head to toe as she walked out of the courthouse with Jerome by her side. She’d enjoyed their lunch, and now their conversation was cruising on easy as they chatted about the beautiful, crisp afternoon and the cool weather that had descended on them in recent days. She wished they could talk the rest of the evening, but their day together was drawing to a quick close. He was headed to catch the train, and she was headed to catch a cab. She wanted to ask him where he was on his way to and if she could join him, but she knew it would be a completely outrageous question to ask and request to make, especially since she’d only just met the man.
“Are you heading to your boutique to do some work?” Jerome asked.
“Yeah, I need to check in since I’ve been gone all day. How about you?” She was glad he’d opened that door.
“There’s a project I’m working on that I have to finish tonight. Then I’m heading home after that.”
Erica wanted to ask him what kind of project he was working on and, for that matter, where he worked. He knew a lot about her, but she realized that aside from the fact that he was so handsome it was a sin and so sexy he made her panties wet, she didn’t know a thing about him.
The expression on her face must have conveyed her question, because before she could ask, Jerome answered.
“I work for the city during the day, and I do odd jobs on the side in the evenings and on weekends. I’m working toward starting my own business, too.”
“That’s fantastic, Jerome!” Erica said, smiling with deep interest. She wanted to know what kind of business he was trying to start and in what industry, but she sensed a hesitation in his tone, which told her he didn’t want to go into details beyond what he’d just revealed. So she decided to listen to her gut, and instead of launching into a million questions, she tilted her head to the side and told him, “I can’t wait to hear more about it over lunch tomorrow.”
“Good. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early this time.”
“Okay, see you.” She gave him a smile and turned to walk away.
“Oh, and, Erica?”
“Yes?”
“You smell like heaven.”
He was staring at her as if he could devour her whole, causing a tingling sensation between her legs. “Why thank you,” she said as she began to walk away. “My products must be doing their job.” She was pretty sure he was still standing there, watching her sashay down the sidewalk, and when she turned around, she saw that she was right. She smiled again and then practically skipped to the end of the street to hail a cab.
Erica looked out the backseat window as the car headed toward Opulence. Normally, she would have been clicking away on her phone or trying to estimate how much time the drive would take given the afternoon traffic. But today she wasn’t doing either, and it gave her a sense of relief. She sat back and enjoyed the ride as she thought about her day.
She was proud of the small changes she’d already begun to make, all because of the tiny promise she’d committed to last night and then reminded herself of this afternoon. She grinned from ear to ear as she thought about Jerome and the sweet gesture he’d made. It had only been a turkey sandwich and a small container of soup, but to her, it had tasted better than any meal she’d ever eaten at Vidalia.
As her cab approached the swank exterior of her boutique, she smiled to herself, knowing that once she walked through the door, her day would get even better. After talking with Jerome and hearing the encouraging things he’d said about her business, she knew that no matter what worries or headaches arose, everything would work out just fine.
“Hey, Ms. E,” LaWan said with a smile as Erica walked through the door.
Erica was glad to see LaWan, who was one of her best employees. She had hired the exuberant young woman a year ago and had promoted her to assistant manager just recently. Last Friday was the first day she’d called in sick since she’d been working there.
“How’re you feeling?” Erica asked. “I was worried about you when Cindy told me you called in sick last week. Is everything okay?”
LaWan waved her hand in the air as if shooing a fly. “I’m doing great. Actually, I was just a little exhausted. I woke up and could barely get out of bed.”
Erica stared at LaWan with concern. The pretty young woman’s eyes looked heavy, as though she hadn’t slept in days, and her light brown skin appeared ashen, void of its usual luminous glow. When she turned her head, Erica noticed that LaWan’s thick, Afro-like natural hair looked dry, lacking its normal high glossy shine.
“LaWan, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m not one hundred percent, but I feel a lot better than I did last week.”
“Maybe you need to go see your doctor.”
LaWan shook her head as she walked from behind the glass and granite counter. “I’m good, really. I’m off tomorrow, and I plan to spend all day in bed.” She smiled, shaking her head as a small giggle escaped her full lips.
Erica took careful inventory of LaWan’s appearance, from the smile wrapped around her mouth, down to her size seven feet, which shifted back and forth and couldn’t stay still. Erica knew exactly what her blushing employee was suffering from.
“Um, I think I know what your problem is.”
LaWan gave her a goofy grin. “You do?”
“How old are you again?”
“Twenty-four, but I’ve got a birthday coming next month.”
“All right, birthday girl. Make sure your new man lets you get some rest tomorrow.” Erica winked, knowing the deal.
“Damn, I’m busted.”
“I’ve been there, LaWan. But let me give you a little advice.”
The young girl widened her eyes eagerly. “Okay?”
“Don’t allow any man to let you lose your focus. And, for heaven’s sake, don’t allow him to have you dragging in here looking like you just rolled out of bed sideways,” Erica said, walking over to LaWan, adjusting the collar of her white shirt, which didn’t look as if it had been ironed. “Come with me.”
Erica took LaWan by the hand and led her back around to the counter. She reached into one of the cabinets and removed a small bottle of coconut-scented jojoba oil. She rubbed a quarter-size dollop in the palms of her hands and then into LaWan’s unruly hair, finger combing it as she went along.
“I think the world of you,” Erica conti
nued, “but you know my policy and my standards. Part of Opulence’s image lies not only in the products we sell, but in the people who sell them. You know my business motto, right?”
“Yes, Ms. E. Perception is reality.”
“That’s right, honey. So please don’t come in here lookin’ all jacked up again.”
And as if on cue, Erica lit up with a radiant smile and walked over to a group of customers to greet them.
After selling four sets of shower gels, body scrubs, and creamy lotions to the enthusiastic group of customers she’d just greeted, Erica walked down the small, narrow hall toward the back of her boutique. She peeked into the break room and saw Christopher’s head buried in a thick novel. He’d been avoiding her for the past few weeks because he’d heard about the product design fiasco.
Her first thought was to say something to him about his trifling friend Pierre, who hadn’t followed through on his business commitment, but she quickly aborted the idea. She knew it wasn’t Christopher’s fault. It was hers. Plus, she was afraid Christopher might burst into tears if she spoke the words that were sitting on the edge of her tongue. She didn’t want to deal with sobbing, since her afternoon had been going so well.
So instead of getting both of them worked up into a small frenzy, she walked a few more steps down the hall to her office and flipped on the light. Unlike most small retail stores, which housed one common area, serving as both an office and a break room space for all the employees, Erica had made sure, as with most other things, that Opulence was different from the rest.
The moderate-size break room was outfitted with a microwave, refrigerator, and sink, along with an art deco style dining table and high-back chairs. The potted plants, soft lighting, sage-green-colored walls, and large zebra-print rug gave it an elegant feel. And Erica’s small, but very chic office continued the lavish look with its ruby-red-colored walls, golden bronze accents, and framed pictures of vintage perfume and lotion bottles.
Erica sat behind her desk to dig through the mountain load of work that awaited her. She hadn’t looked at her e-mail since lunchtime today, so she braced herself as she turned on her computer.
She quickly scanned her in-box and saw an e-mail from Pierre. She leaned forward in her chair and opened it.
Hello Erica,
I apologize for getting back to you at such a late date. I had a family emergency that required my immediate attention. I know my personal crisis in no way excuses my lack of professionalism, and I am truly sorry. I have attached a design that I came up with that I hope you will find satisfactory, and captures the look and feel of your wonderful new product. Again, my sincere apologies.
Best,
Pierre St. James
Erica wanted to be understanding, because she knew how important family was. If anything ever happened to her mother, father, brother, or Ashley, she knew she wouldn’t hesitate to drop everything at Opulence in order to take care of them. But at the same time, she was still annoyed that two full weeks had gone by without Pierre taking so much as a quick minute to respond to her dozens of e-mail and phone messages.
She clicked on the paper clip to open the attached file and had to blink twice when she saw the design. After carefully perusing Pierre’s portfolio of work, she’d known that he was talented, but she had had no idea he was a genius! The new graphic he had designed was absolutely brilliant. He’d taken the concept she had given him, listened to her vision, sampled the product, and created an elegant, sophisticated art design that captured not only the richness of Paradise, but also the very essence of Opulence’s brand.
Erica was so ecstatic she let out a loud, whopping scream that bounced off the walls and down the hall. She rose from behind her desk and went down to the break room.
“Christopher!” she called out.
Christopher jumped backward and dropped his book, looking startled and afraid at the sound of Erica’s voice. “I apologize for the way things have turned out with Pierre. I just don’t know what to say.”
Erica let out a sigh and shook her head. A twenty-two-year-old man shouldn’t be acting like a frightened child, she thought as she looked at Christopher fumbling to pick his book up off the floor. She wanted to tell him to get a grip and grow some balls, but at the moment she was too happy to be irritated.
“Pierre just sent me the design, and it’s so completely fantastic, I’m speechless!”
Relief washed over Christopher’s angular face as a smile slowly came to his lips. He closed his eyes and raised his head toward the ceiling and said, “Thank God he came through!”
“Not only did Pierre come through, but he also set a gold standard. I’m going to send the file over to our supplier right now. They can do a rush order that will get the new jars here by the end of the week.”
“That’s fabulous, Erica.” Christopher stood, leaving his book on the table as he walked over to her. “We should celebrate.”
“We will once Fashion Week is over.”
“And speaking of Fashion Week!” Christopher smiled wide with excitement, adjusting his sterling silver cuff links as he spoke.
“You’re not on my list for Fashion Week, Christopher.”
“But . . .”
“Sorry, but that’s final.”
Erica knew he’d been angling to go, but there was no way she was going to let him tag along. The fashion world was beautiful, but it was also full of hard-core ugly attitudes. All it would take was for one bitchy designer to yell at him and Christopher would be shaking in his black loafers. Erica was nice, but she was also firm, and right now she didn’t have time to deal with whining, because she had to e-mail the design file to her supplier. She reached over for a Kleenex, told Christopher to grab ahold of himself, and then marched back to her office.
As she sat behind her desk and pressed the send button, Erica thought about Jerome. He was right. Pierre had come through. She wished she could pick up the phone and share her good news or enjoy the moment with him over a delicious meal. Instead, she quietly celebrated all alone in the confines of her beautifully decorated office.
Now she knew exactly what Ashley had meant about having someone to share her success with, and it made her think about the classic line that Billy Dee Williams had delivered to Diana Ross in the 1970s movie Mahogany. “Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with.”
Two hours later, Erica called it a day and headed home. She walked one block to the parking garage down the street and slid into her car, letting out a relaxing yawn as she settled into the plush leather seat. After taking cabs to and from downtown to avoid the headache of trying to find a place to park her vehicle on the crowded streets, she was glad to be behind the wheel, headed home.
As she rode down the street, listening to Audra McDonald’s Tony Award–winning voice piped through her car’s sound system, her mind fell on Jerome again. She wondered what he would think about her taste in music, movies, books, food, and life in general. It was obvious to her that they came from different backgrounds, but that was also one of the things about him that she found appealing, and she was looking forward to stepping into his world.
Chapter 14
When Erica finally arrived home, she went straight to her bedroom, undressed, pulled on her soft terry-cloth robe, and then walked back downstairs to make a hot cup of herbal tea before she called Ashley.
“Hey, girlie,” Ashley answered in a playful voice on the first ring. “What’cha up to?”
“I just got home. How about you?”
“I’m in Baltimore. I had a late meeting with a client, and now I’m in my car, headed home. I’m glad you called to keep me company on my ride back. How did your first day of court go?”
“It was great!” Erica said, taking a small sip of tea as she walked back upstairs to her bedroom. “And I can’t wait to get back tomorrow.”
“Hold up. Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend, Erica Stanford?”
Erica let out a laugh. “I kn
ow, right? Who would’ve thought I’d be anxiously awaiting another day of jury duty?”
“Not me, that’s for sure. What brought about your change of heart?”
Erica quickly told Ashley about Jerome. She started with seeing him for the first time last week and went up to their impromptu lunch today. “Ash, this man is so handsome and sexy and . . . mmm, girl! I could just gobble him up!”
“Thank goodness! It’s about time you met someone who piques your interest. See, I told you jury duty might be more fascinating than you thought. And a fine-ass man definitely raises things up a notch.”
“Not only is he fine, but he’s kind and thoughtful. He has this reserved strength and rugged edge that just make me want to melt.”
“You’re such a hopeless romantic.”
“I know. Always have been and always will be.”
Erica had always loved fairy tales. Growing up, she and Ashley could never watch the same movies together. Erica’s choice always involved princesses and enchanted kingdoms, whereas Ashley’s involved car chases and explosions. But that was one of the things that made their friendship click into place like building blocks. Erica’s softness smoothed out Ashley’s sharp edge. And Ashley’s pragmatism saved Erica from floating into the clouds.
Ashley chuckled. “He sounds really nice, Erica. And I have to admit, I’ve never heard you sound so geeked up over a guy you just met.”
“I guess it’s because I’ve never met anyone quite like him,” Erica said. “Jerome is the first man who has ever really listened to me. With most of the guys I’ve dated, it’s always been about their résumés, who they know, what clubs or organizations they’re members of, what kind of house they live in and car they drive. But with him it’s different. We spent our entire lunch break with me as the center of attention.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. He made me feel so special. He wanted to know everything about me . . . all about my life, my business, and my family and friends.”
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