This Tender Melody

by Kianna Alexander

  She hadn’t considered that, but to her mind, it didn’t change a thing. “Well, Lina, it is what it is. Now that he’s back to enjoying his early retirement, he gets to avoid the whole situation while I’m forced to deal with it.”

  “No, he doesn’t. I just told you he’ll need to be in court, in case the judge has questions.” Lina fixed a serious gaze on her. “But why are you really giving him such a hard time?”

  “I told you. This whole thing is his fault.” She stood, going to the minifridge to get a soda. After popping the top on a can of ginger ale, she took a long sip. When she turned back around, she found Lina still staring her down. “What do you want from me?”

  “The truth, but I’m not about to get it today.” Lina shook her head and stood. “I’m going back to my office to prepare for the hearing. I’ll contact Darius. It’s my job as your legal counsel.” Gathering up her briefcase and purse, she started to walk out, but paused in the doorway. “And as your friend, it’s my job to tell you that if you let him go, you would be a damn fool.”

  Before Eve could swallow her drink and shout a retort, Lina was gone.

  Chapter 21

  Darius scanned the small courtroom, looking for an open seat. Only a few were left, near the back, as the room only held about twenty or so seats to begin with. Straightening his solid red tie and brushing a bit of lint from his black suit, he slipped down the back row to an empty chair.

  He’d received a call from Lina a little over a week ago, asking him to be present at the hearing on Phillip Gordon’s wrongful termination suit. He understood why his being there was important. What he didn’t get was why Lina had called him, instead of Eve. He knew she was frustrated and angry at being sued, anyone would be. Taking it all out on him, however, still seemed petty and downright unreasonable. Part of him had wanted to stay home and let her handle this alone, but he didn’t want her to go down in flames over this. In a way, their relationship had played a role in getting to this point, so he would shoulder some of the blame. He would not, however, accept complete responsibility.

  The past week and a half without her had been hell. He’d woken at night, expecting her to be cuddled up next to him, only to realize he was alone, hard and aching for her. Visions of her smiling face, her shapely body and the sound of her calling his name haunted his dreams. He’d had enough of being separated from her, and he planned to tell her that, as soon as this thing was over.

  After he took his seat, he glanced at the front of the room, where two tables faced a bench. It was the typical setup for a case not being heard by a jury—he’d seen enough court proceedings on television to know that. At the right table, he could see Eve and Lina talking in hushed tones. At the left table, Phillip Gordon and his lawyer were simply sitting, as if waiting for a show to begin. He couldn’t help noticing the smug-looking grin on Phillip’s face, and he truly wished he could get up and slap the taste right out of his mouth. Knowing that would probably result in assault charges, he sat back in his chair and waited for the proceedings to begin.

  A black-robed woman, with fiery red hair and pale skin, climbed up onto the seat at the bench. “I’ll hear the next case now.”

  The bailiff called out the case number and the particulars, then stepped back into the front corner of the room.

  “Counsel Faulkner, state your business.” The judge eyed the short, balding lawyer from her seat.

  “Your Honor, my client, Phillip Gordon, has been the victim of a grievous injustice. He was wrongfully and spitefully terminated from his position as chief operations officer at Franklin Technologies, Incorporated. All of this was due to the uncouth fraternization occurring between two board members, and Mr. Gordon would like to be duly compensated for his loss of income and mental anguish.”

  Darius snorted a laugh. As a few people turned back to look in his direction, he attempted to cover his gesture with a cough. He knew court proceedings were a serious matter, but he couldn’t have held back that laugh if he’d wanted to. Mental anguish? Uncouth fraternization? What was Gordon’s lawyer drinking before he showed up in court? It must have been some strong liquor, because he was just throwing around a bunch of big words over what was obviously a small matter.

  After Faulkner sat down, the judge gestured to Lina. “Counsel Smith-Todd, please.”

  Lina stood and walked to the center of the room, directly in front of the bench. Her navy pantsuit, pulled-back hair and the set of her jaw conveyed her seriousness as well as her professionalism. “Your Honor, my client is the victim here. The victim of an embittered man and an overly litigious society. Eve Franklin is not the kind of person to terminate an employee based on petty, childish disagreements. Today, I’m going to prove that Mr. Gordon’s termination, while unfortunate, was simply part of a larger restructuring effort taking place at Franklin Technologies. It was a necessary process following the serious illness of the founder and CEO. I hope not to monopolize much of the court’s time today, as I’m sure you have cases to hear that have actual merit.” With a sly smile on her face, Lina strode back to the table and took her seat.

  Looking back to Faulkner and Gordon, Darius could see that the two old men were damn near breathing fire. Both of their faces displayed the fact that they did not like being put in their place, especially by a woman. He smiled to himself, silently giving Lina props as he continued to watch the proceedings.

  The rest of the hearing went by in a blur of legal talk and back-and-forth. Lina remained calm the entire time, but Faulkner continuously looked as if his head would explode at any moment. He didn’t know Lina that well, but seeing her in action in the courtroom left him impressed.

  The judge interjected in the middle of one of Faulkner’s drawn-out speeches. “Mr. Faulkner, please. I’ve heard enough.”

  Looking put out, Faulkner closed his mouth and sat.

  The judge continued. “I’m told Ms. Franklin didn’t do the actual firing. That was done by the acting CEO...” She looked down at a piece of paper in front of her. “Darius Winstead. Is he present?”

  Upon hearing his name, he stood. “Here I am, Your Honor.”

  “I’ve only one question for you, Mr. Winstead. What was your reasoning for firing Mr. Gordon?”

  He recalled the events of the day clearly, and didn’t hesitate in his answer. “Insubordination. Mr. Gordon was extremely disrespectful to both myself and Ms. Franklin. I reprimanded him twice before his dismissal. As a matter of fact, on the day in question, Mr. Gordon referred to me as ‘boy.’”

  A murmur of whispers went through the room. The judge banged her gavel to silence the din. “Thank you, Mr. Winstead.”

  He sat back down. He looked Eve’s way, and found her watching him. When their eyes met, hers fled. Even as she avoided his gaze, he smiled. Deep down, he knew she would come around.

  The judge cleared her throat. “Well, I’ve heard more than I care to hear on this case, so I’ll make my ruling now. Mr. Gordon, in the future, if you want to hold on to your job, don’t go around insulting your superiors. North Carolina is an at-will state, where either party can terminate employment for any reason, or no reason, at any time. The only exception is in cases that violate state or federal laws, or are discriminatory in nature. No such exception has occurred here, which I’m sure Counsel Faulkner would have known had he recently cracked a law book open.”

  Gordon’s lawyer looked properly chastised.

  The judge stood, banging her gavel. “Case dismissed.”

  Lina and Eve shared a hug, as Gordon shouted and raged at his attorney. Eventually, the two red-faced men made their way out of the room.

  As the room emptied, Darius watched Lina whisper something in Eve’s ear, then gather her things and slip out a door near the front of the courtroom. At that point, he and Eve were the only two people left standing in the room. He stood, eyes locked on hers, and str
olled in her direction.

  * * *

  Eve could see Darius coming her way, and looked around for an escape route. Having never been to this part of the courthouse before, she only knew one way out—the way she’d come in, which she’d have to pass him to get to. Seeing him, looking more handsome than he had any right to in a dark suit and red tie, made her think of the past nine nights she’d spent without him. He’d become a fixture in her world, a solid, steady, safe thing to cling to when life became storm tossed. Not speaking to him for so long had made her realize just how lonely she’d been before he’d stepped into the elevator car, and into her life.

  Sighing, she resigned herself to taking Lina’s whispered advice: she would stop running from him and deal with her feelings once and for all.

  He approached her, but stayed back a few steps, as if he thought she might slap him. “Eve.”

  It was just a single word, but her name on his lips was one of the most pleasant sounds she’d ever heard. “Darius.”

  He watched her, his gaze intense. “Don’t you have something to say to me?”

  She rolled her eyes, then pursed her lips. “Would Olivia apologize to you?”

  He leaned back a bit, his hand to his heart. “Ouch.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “If you don’t like the sound of that, think about how I felt being compared to her.”

  He cast his eyes down for a moment, then held her gaze with a sincerity that touched her. “You’re right. I never should have said that, and I’m sorry.” His eyes now held genuine remorse. “Can you forgive me?”

  She inhaled deeply. “If you can forgive me. I should never have blown up at you about the lawsuit. I was just so pissed off about the whole thing.”

  He came closer, reaching for her. She went into his arms without hesitation. His warm breath on the lobe of her ear, he whispered, “I forgive you, my love.”

  His words sent heat flooding through her veins, and her knees buckled beneath her. Forgetting that they were in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, standing before the judge’s bench, she raised her chin to his kiss and let herself be swept away. His lips were hot, forceful and tantalizing as he kissed away the loneliness she’d felt in the previous days.

  Only the loud clearing of someone’s throat made him break the contact.

  Turning around, she saw the bailiff, arms folded, standing in the doorway near the bench. “Take it outside, kids. We’ve got other cases to hear.”

  Heat rushing to her cheeks, she picked up her purse from the table and gestured to Darius with her index finger. “You heard the man. Let’s get out of here.”

  He chuckled. “After you.”

  She grabbed his hand, and pulled him down the aisle and through the door at the rear of the room.

  Outside, she let him lead her to his car. The ride to his house was the longest, hottest trip she’d ever taken. As he navigated the city streets with his left hand, he kept his right hand on her. His fingertips slipped beneath the hem of her tan skirt, stroking the delicate flesh of her thigh. She lay back in the seat, breathless with desire for him, as he brushed his knuckle against the damp spot on her panties. By the time they arrived at his town house, she was moist, pulsing and on the verge of orgasm. The man was good with his hands in a way that blew her mind.

  Getting into his place was a frenzy of kissing, fiddling for the keyhole and pushing their way inside, all while locked together. They parted momentarily to avoid stepping on Chance as they made a beeline for the bedroom.

  He pressed her against the wall, and she could feel his hardness jutting between her thighs. He was ready, and so was she. She put up no protest as he removed her jacket, blouse and bra, tossing them to the floor. Then he stripped her skirt and panties down her hips, leaving her naked except for her thigh-high panty hose and beige pumps.

  He stopped for a moment, staring at her with hot, glittering eyes. Running his hands over her hard, pulsing nipples, he stepped back for a moment to grab a condom from his nightstand. As she watched, still leaning against the wall, he snatched off his clothes and sheathed his manhood with the protection.

  He lifted her into his arms, still pressing her back against the wall, and kissed her with such intensity, she trembled. Her legs wrapped around his waist on their own, as if they were always meant to be there. As the kiss deepened, their tongues mating and dancing in an age-old rhythm, he tilted her hips and plunged inside her, drawing a long moan from her throat.

  Time stood still, and the world slipped away, as he filled her again and again, his powerful hips rocking back and forth. She could hear her own moans of pleasure echoing in her head, as well as his heavy breathing, as he took her to a place only lovers could reach. His mouth left hers to place kisses on her brow, her eyes and her neck. When he drew a nipple into his hot mouth and suckled, she came, crying and twisting against him as waves of ecstasy shook her to her very core.

  He continued his sweet torture, driving into her until his own release grabbed him. He then groaned her name aloud, grinding his hips until she felt he would permanently pin her to the wall.

  When she came back to full awareness, he was laying her down on his bed, the mattress giving beneath their combined weight. She wanted to kiss him, to tell him how much she loved him, but before the words could be formed, she slipped into a sated sleep.

  Chapter 22

  Adjusting the hem of her midnight blue cocktail dress for a final time, Eve walked into the Blue. The lure of the Gents’ live music always seemed to draw a lot of people.

  Sidestepping and maneuvering, she made her way to her usual table, a few feet in front of the stage. Lina already waited there, waving wildly, as if Eve didn’t see her.

  She slid into the seat next to Lina. “Okay, what’s going on? I know you know something.”

  Lina cut her a sly look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Lighten up and enjoy yourself. We’re all celebrating your victory, so just go with it.” Patting Eve on the shoulder, Lina turned back to the stage.

  Knowing she wasn’t going to get any more information out of her friend, Eve sighed and took a look around her. To her surprise, other familiar faces occupied tables nearby. Mimi and Irvin sat at one, and oddly enough, some of the other staff members from FTI were sprinkled through the club’s interior.

  Assuming Lina was being honest, they were all there to celebrate the dismissal of Phillip Gordon’s lawsuit. Shrugging, she focused her attention ahead.

  The announcer stepped out onto the stage and grabbed the microphone from the stand. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Blue Lounge’s Wednesday Night Jazz Flight. We hope you enjoy the jazzy sounds of Charlotte’s own Queen City Gents.” He paused as applause filled the air.

  As the announcer left the stage, the heavy blue curtain rose to reveal the band. The house lights dropped, and the stage lights illuminated the four men, stationed behind their respective instruments.

  She watched them for a moment before she realized they wore tuxedos and silver bow ties. This is going to be some party. She smiled to herself at all the fuss everyone made over her.

  Rashad spoke into the microphone sitting atop the grand piano. “That’s right, y’all. The Gents are in the house, and it’s a party!” His fingers glided over the keys, playing the opening notes of a song. His eyes met hers. “Eve, we’re glad to see you doing your thing.”

  The band launched into a rousing, upbeat set. They flowed easily through classics by the Duke and Ira Gershwin. Then Marco got to show off as they moved into some songs made popular by contemporary smooth jazz saxophonist Eric Darius.

  The space between the tables came alive with swaying bodies dancing to the music. Even Louise and Irvin hit the floor, and Eve couldn’t hide her surprise as she watched them cut a rug together. She hadn’t initially noticed her mother’s presence
, and seeing Louise so carefree made Eve smile.

  “Wow. Mom’s got rhythm!” Eve giggled at the sight.

  Louise shouted, “Of course I do!”

  Lina was also amused by the sight. “Whoa! Go on with your bad self, Louise!”

  Eve laughed out loud, feeling a peace in her heart that she hadn’t felt in weeks. Here, surrounded by the sounds of good music, and enjoying the company of the people she loved, everything seemed right. The pain of losing her father would probably be with her for the rest of her life, but having people like Lina and her mother around her lessened it.

  As the set drew to a close, Eve watched the band take their bows. They left the stage quietly, but to her surprise, Darius remained. He stood alone as the blue curtain lowered, illuminated by a single spotlight.

  His eyes locked with hers, he began to speak. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to say a few words about the lady in my life, Ms. Eve Franklin.”

  Eve could feel hot tears cascading down her cheeks. Looking at her mother, she saw her crying, as well.

  He continued talking, but now he made his way off the stage and toward the table where she sat. The spotlight followed him. “No other woman ever filled my life with such love and happiness. Now I want to return the favor, by spending the rest of my life making her glad she’s alive.”

  He stopped at her table, and knelt before her seat. Glancing at Lina, who wore a wide grin, she turned back to look into his eyes, and saw all the affection displayed in them.

  He reached into his jacket pocket, and produced a small blue box. Opening it, he revealed a huge princess cut diamond on a yellow gold band. “Eve Yoruba Franklin, will you be my wife?”

  Her eyes so full of water she could barely see, she nodded briskly. When he continued to wait for a response, she shouted, “Yes!”

  The room erupted into wild applause and cheering as he slid the ring onto her finger. Gathering her into his arms, he stood her up. And right there, in front of everyone, he kissed her as if to brand her his forever.