You're Not Alone

by Shanade White

  “Here is the address to the restaurant I would like to take you to. If you want, I can have my chauffeur pick you up and take you there. Can we do two o’clock? I need to go home and catch a few winks. My head is killing me.”

  “Like I said, I will consider it. And if I do decide to come I will drive my own car.”

  The pain in Richard’s head subsided enough for him to muster a grin, matching her coy smile. Before he reached the door, he glanced back at the caramel beauty behind the desk and placed his hands on the knob. As the door swung open, she fired her parting statement. “I am sure there are some very pretty girls with new breasts more than willing to play bedside nurse.”

  He lingered at the door before shaking his head at the lawyer he had hired. She must be a killer in court.

  Chapter 6

  It was with no less than a Herculean effort that Kimberly waited until the last possible moment to take lunch. Yes, he was her boss, but men, white and black alike, needed to feel the risk of not getting what they wanted.

  There were words of caution ringing through her head as she started the engine of her little red sports car. Don’t be the easy black girl who slept with the man in charge. If this was indeed a touch of jungle fever, she would not be a willing participant in his fetish. Maybe the fantasy wasn’t one sided. Kimberly was secretly curious about how Richard would perform in bed. He was tall and had a slow saunter that made her believe his hips would be perfect for thrusting. Richard wore cologne that lingered when he left a room and Kimberly wanted to rub her face into his neck and stay there.

  Restaurant Bella was a small but upscale Italian eatery. In the center of a busy downtown shopping district, it attracted professionals and businessmen seeking good food and more importantly, privacy. Small, intimate booths separated by etched glass gave it a vintage feel, but the contemporary seats and polished tables brought it into the modern century.

  Of course, there was the average business man and then there was Richard Damask. Despite his humble demeanor, the dollars behind his name guaranteed almost royal treatment.

  “Ms. Walsh?” The hostess at the door asked, and Kimberly took a moment to figure out how she knew her name.

  Recovering after a split second, she responded, “Yes… Yes I am Ms. Walsh.”

  “Come with me, Mr. Damask is waiting for you in the reserved lounge.”

  Following behind the curt woman, Kimberly took in the ambiance of the place. Quaint and cozy. The right place to discuss company matters or to pursue love interests uninterrupted. Today was the day for the latter.

  From the café front, one could be deceived into thinking that the few scattered booths made up the entire dining space but that was not true. A door behind the last booth disappeared into a tiny hallway. It smelled of cigars and whiskey, but it was not stale. Alone on the staircase, the two trotted up a few steps, encountering another door.

  The Lounge, as it was called, was a small, softly lit room. The table had only two chairs. Next to a floor to ceiling window, those seated would enjoy a view of the skyline and the distant lake Cherish. Neutral colored drapes hung on either side ready to shut out the world if necessary, and Richard sat within inches of the switch that would control it all. A wine steward was the only other person in the room and they both turned to look at Kimberly and the hostess as they entered the room.

  “Good day, Mr. Damask, Ms. Walsh has decided to join you for lunch after all.”

  Alluding to Kimberly’s lateness drew daggers from her eyes, but before she could respond, the hostess disappeared to be borderline rude to other guests.

  “Good afternoon Richard, I was caught up with work at the office and my boss is quite demanding. I couldn’t just leave on a whim. I’m certain you understand.” It was ten minutes to three.

  The gleam in her eyes drew a deep rumbling laugh from Richard, who had unfolded from his chair to greet her. Looking incredibly more relaxed than earlier, he opened his arms for a hug, but then changed his mind and stuck out a friendly hand instead.

  He laughed at her dry humor and this tickled Kimberly’s fancy- in more ways than one. Above all things, a man with a sense of humor was very enticing. One point for Richard. He was ready to chat. Hair falling slightly over his left eye, he nervously smoothed it back into place and simply gazed at her.

  Transformed into a teenager, Kimberly resisted the blush rising on her caramel cheeks. Thanking God for her warm skin tone, she recovered and commented on his now relaxed aura.

  “You look rested. I was concerned about you this morning, but I see you made a full recovery.” He rumbled again and addressed her concerned.

  “Thank you so much for worrying over me. Why would Madame Walsh care about her task master? It seems that you may secretly care for this evil person?”

  Kimberly could no longer contain the giggle bubbling in her tummy and it erupted at a higher pitch than she predicted. Doubling over, she was reduced to a girl again. The last time she laughed this much escaped her memory, but she was happy for the moment.

  Richard had stopped laughing a while ago and was now seriously focused on her lips. The tension grew and the sound of a clearing throat reminded Kimberly and Richard that they were not alone. Standing there was the wine steward in suspended animation waiting to pour Richard’s selection.

  Waving his hand in a gesture of permission, Richard instructed the tall, balding man to fill the waiting flutes. The liquid was bubbly and floral, new to Kimberly’s palette. The electricity in the room was evident and with the wine steward gone, they were now free to explore each other- conversationally of course.

  “I have taken the liberty of ordering the catch of the day if that’s alright with you. The food here is exquisite and the view is… well…” Sweeping his hand toward the window, he gestured to the grand buildings and sparking water. His focus, however, was on the view directly before him. What did she put on her skin that made it glow so softly? Was it as soft as it looked? Richard stroked the stem of his glass as his eyes roamed her body. Interrupted by her melodic voice, he straightened in his chair and pretended to listen. Tall and graceful, the building she was pointing to had caught her attention. It looked like Tabletop towers to her and she wanted to know if he agreed. Richard would have agreed to anything she said, but his better judgment knew her intelligence would be insulted by a casual response.

  Kimberly was one who commanded her partner to be fully present, and since Richard seemed interested in filling the vacant spot, he had to be on the top of his game.

  “That’s not our building. That’s the law office of Karin & Saw. We are on the other side. I didn’t think you had a weakness Ms. Walsh. It seems geography is something I will have to help you with.”

  Dark eyes enhanced by mascara and an emotion he couldn’t identify, Kimberly turned to look at Richard. He was more than correct about her wit and intelligence. With a simple question she took the vibe in the room to a whole new level.

  “Is that all you want to help me with Richard?”

  Her once eloquent boss was reduced to nerves as he searched for a response to a very plain question. She didn’t have time to waste and wanted the cards on the table.

  “No. It is not all I want to help you with.”

  “Do tell me of your intentions.”

  “I want to get to know you outside of work. There is something about you I find intriguing and I would like to explore the possibility of us being more than boss and employee. Is it something you would consider?”

  His voice was strong and convicted, but the constant rubbing of his palms over the thighs of his corduroy slacks gave away his lack of confidence where matters of the heart were concerned.

  Happy that she wasn’t the only person nervous about this situation, Kimberly maintained her serious face while Richard sold his pitch. When he was finished Kimberly took the reins.

  “Handling a woman like me may be a challenge. I’m opinionated and I take pride in my work. My career is my main focus at this
time and I enjoy time to myself. Oh, and let’s not forget -I am black.”

  Plain as day and without hesitation, the matter of race was on the table. It would have come up sooner or later. Leaning on the upholstered back of the dinner chair, Kimberly sipped the golden liquid and waited. She wanted him to acknowledge the issue. It would be a problem for her if he pretended to be color blind.

  “Well, if I were to respond to that, I would say I too am opinionated and I am currently married to my work. My business means everything to me and of course… I am white.”

  Situation deflected with a joke, they both cracked the thick air with laughter and silently decided that skin color wouldn’t be an issue -at least to them.

  Dating was a strange ritual and though humans were the inventors, they were yet to master the process. The age old dance of questions followed. In the case of boss and employee the process was the same. Richard asked about her family and she asked about his. Answering truthfully to all Kimberly asked, Richard ignored the little voice in the back of his head. It was saying, “What about Jasmine?” With much effort he turned the volume on his conscience down, and immersed himself in her stories of Auntie Audrey and her extended family. Kimberly’s history was colored by horrible events, but also comical ones. She chose only to share the ones on the lighter side.

  Lies were not always as straightforward as speaking people think. Sometimes it was omission that changed the course of things and this situation proved to be no different.

  Jasmine was precious to him and she knew no other woman with Richard than her mother. He consoled himself with the idea that things wouldn’t work out with Kimberly anyway because they never did. If things never got off the ground there would be no harm done and if they got together, then Jasmine would be addressed accordingly. Kimberly’s heart was tender. Surely, a small child would warm her heart and all would be well. Unfortunately, there were no guarantees in life and crossed fingers were sometimes all the protection that could be called upon.

  No billionaire wants to hear the story of a girl who was orphaned and often neglected. Besides, if he did, what could really be done about the past? This was a passing obsession Kimberly told herself. Her past and the truth of her life were of no consequence in this situation. Nothing would become of this little distraction, she assured herself. Richard would soon move on and she would be left with the only person she deemed reliable-herself.

  Afternoon turned to early evening and long after the food was cleared from the table, Kimberly and Richard stood admiring the lights in the city as they popped on one by one. He was in the midst of his favorite pastime, staring at her from behind, when she spun around only to be met with a broad taut torso.

  His towering height was lowered to bring them face to face and before logical thinking could intervene; Richard pressed his lips gently on hers. Her soft, sweet clouds tasted like cotton candy, melting as the taste hit his tongue leaving him longing for more.

  Kimberly yielded but then pulled away quickly. The lady her granny taught her to be was yelling loudly in her head, “You don’t know this man Kimberly Natalie Walsh. You are not an over eager slut. Take your time.” She didn’t want to obey and the arch in her back as she searched for the whisper of a kiss, betrayed her thoughts. A body untouched for a long while reacts much more quickly than any other and she was in heat.

  Finally, good morals and common sense took over and Kimberly opened her eyes to meet the blue pools of desire washing over her body. He was searching her. From head to toe he inspected her, eyes darting quickly and the spark now officially was stroked enough to incinerate the room.

  Ducking under the arm Richard had propped on the window, Kimberly narrowly escaped the second kiss currently on the way. It would not have been as gentle. He was apologizing. In no way did he want to make her feel any discomfort, but the woman’s magnetism was maddening.

  When Richard regained composure Kimberly was gathering her purse and cell phone from the table. Try as he might, he was unable to interpret her face. Was she upset? Did he cross the line? Jesus, he didn’t want to scare her away.

  “I’m going to be leaving now Mr. Damask. See you tomorrow.” With those words Kimberly closed the door and Richard was left still trying to find the words necessary to make a sentence. In a quiet room, he stood cursing the blown opportunity and wondering what he should have done differently.

  *****

  The air conditioner was turned on in the small sports car, not to cool the atmosphere, but rather, the internal heat that suddenly emanated from the crevice between Kimberly’s legs. For a split second, she almost yielded. No machine could measure the effort it took to separate her body from that of Richard Damask. Probably it was his height, but there was something about him that drew her in. His eyes were pained but a flame of resilience simmered there that made her want to know more about him.

  Protruding and rigid, his erection didn’t go without notice and only by forcing her fingers closed around a slip of tissue, did Kimberly stop herself from reaching out and stroking it. Beads of perspiration trickled down her brow as the engine of her car stirred to life and Kimberly laughed at the irony. As Richard turned the key of her heart and other places, so did she spark the engine of her vehicle. Pulling off from her parked spot only after the valet knocked on the window, she wondered if Richard preferred automatic or stick shift.

  *****

  3 am and no sleep planned to visit Richard for the second night in a row. Kimberly was an apparition, a vapor and just as quickly as she made her presence know, she misted away. Her lips were sweeter than he imagined and found his tongue passing over the spot on his lips where she left her essence. Probably if she was in a more comfortable setting she would have permitted him to sample more of her. Would it be out of place to call an employee at this hour? A glance at the clock revealed it was 3:20 and he decided not to dial her digits. As his mind cast back to the way her breasts pressed into his chest, Richard felt his blood pressure rise once again. The other head on his anatomy rose as well, much to Richard’s frustration. There would be no sleep without release and for the first time in a long while, Richard was forced to take himself in hand.

  Chapter 7

  The attorneys for the injured woman were coming in today. At 8 am two short, unrefined gentlemen walked into the office of Kimberly Walsh and in minutes, left a bitter taste in her mouth. Money hounds by nature, they had simply picked up the scent of money and their client was the poor uninformed individual chosen for their prey.

  Mr. Lawrence was bald, wormy looking and poorly spoken. His words came out in short bursts similar to a stammer and determining what he meant to say was a challenge. The other gentleman didn’t offer much by way of interpretation as she simply nodded and echoed the last words of his comrade.

  “Mrs. Thomas has been significantly affected by the negligence of your client and we will be asking for no less than five hundred thousand dollars in damages. Personal and financial loss will also be considered on the final tally of what we feel she is rightfully owed.”

  Before Kimberly could retort to the ridiculous allegations and settlement proposal, Richard burst in without knocking and promptly took a seat on Kimberly’s side of the desk. Though a gentleman, Richard had little patience for people who sought to take advantage of others -regardless of social and financial status.

  His tirade was loud and getting louder when a vibrating sound on the desk drew everyone’s attention. Rejecting the call and silencing the phone Kimberly nodded for Richard to continue. In less than 15 seconds it began to ring again and this time Kimberly took note of the phone number. Aunt Audrey never called during the day when she was at work and Kimberly had already made her weekly phone call.

  Excusing herself, Kimberly left the men on a verge of explosion and stepped into the hallway and swiped the screen to the right.

  “Hi Auntie, what’s up?”

  There was no immediate response from the other end of the line only sobs.

&nbs
p; “Auntie, why are you crying? What’s wrong?”

  Fear pricked the back of her throat and the tips of her ears grew hot as the voice on the other end of the phone spoke.

  “This is Maya. My mom just passed.”

  “What are you talking about? I spoke to her just a few days ago and she was fine! Are you sure?”

  “It was lung cancer Kimberly. She didn’t want me to tell you, but it’s been a while now. She went into the hospital last night but they called an hour ago to say she wasn’t looking good. I am here now. She died in my arms.”

  Kimberly had no idea she was screaming. The frantic footsteps on the floor soon reached her side and Richard joined her on the floor where she sat, cell phone tossed aside.

  “Kimberly! What’s wrong? Kimberly talk to me. What’s happening?”

  The tears and screaming continued there on the floor of her new workplace, and one by one coworkers gathered, concern on the faces of the men, tears in the eyes of the women. The two lawyers emerged from the office.

  “Mr. Damask, are we going to be continuing this meeting today?”

  Richard addressed his answer to Kimberly’s secretary who was trying to feed her a glass of water.

  “Call security and get these two fucking idiots out of here. NOW!”

  The lawyers never waited for their personal escort out of building. They were at the exit in a matter of minutes. After ten minutes if weeping and wailing, Kimberly allowed Richard to help her to her feet. Trembling with tear stained cheeks, she looked into his worried eyes and said. “My aunt is dead Richard… she’s dead. Oh my God, Richard, she’s dead.”

  Addressing the concerned crowd, he issued a directive. “Please leave us alone. We need some privacy.”

  Feet shuffled and papers were taken to other work spaces in compliance with the boss’s orders. Before the hall was completely empty, Richard pulled a sobbing Kimberly to his chest and stroked her hair in an effort to calm her. He couldn’t take away the pain, but he could certainly try. For an hour, they sat uninterrupted. Kimberly sobbed and stopped and then started her crying again. Her makeup stained the shoulder of his tan jacket and her tears soaked his shirt. Richard didn’t care.