by Allen, Sara
“Excuse me, but uppity types? You are an uppity type now, Ms. Kelly Johnson. You are not the same chick who grew up in Stop Six in Fort Worth. You are the CEO of one of the largest hotel chains in America, and you live in a mini mansion in Highland Park,” Sydney replied to her friend’s comment with laughter in her voice.
“Look, you know as well as I do that I will never be uppity. You can take the girl out of the hood…You know and all that whoopty woo…” Kelly said mockingly through laughter.
“Yeah, bestie, I know…”
“And all that whoopty woo….” both women, said laughing simultaneously.
Chapter 6
When Marco got a call at his home, he knew that it could only be a handful of people because almost nobody knew his home number.
“Marco, we have a potential client that wants to come in early tomorrow. I know this is important, and you needed to know about this ASAP,” Melissa said in a rush before Marco could get a word out.
“Okay, what’s so important about this person, Mel? Why the call to my house and not my cell?” Marco questioned.
Melissa took a breath and exhaled loudly into the phone.
She remained silent for a minute too long.
“Damn, Mel, what’s with all the theatrics today? Who the hell is the client?!” Marco shouted into the phone. He had never been a patient man, and today was no different.
“Don’t scream at me, Marco Luciano Bellomi! The new client is Sydney Hamilton….You know this could get real messy, and I know how you got a little thing for Ms. Sydney; that’s all!” Melissa shouted back.
Marco exhaled; his assistant was just too damn perceptive for her own good. “Mel, I’m not going to go into why you think I have a ‘little thing’ for Sydney Hamilton, but she is no longer under surveillance by our firm, and that’s something she won’t need to ever know,” Marco stated the last part slowly so that Melissa could catch his meaning.
“Fine. She doesn’t need to know. But what if she already knows and that’s why she wants to meet?” Mel asked.
“It will be fine. We both know I’m the best at what I do, and nobody knows that I’m following them unless I tell them. She doesn’t know anything….I’m sure it’s about something else entirely,” Marco responded confidently.
“All right… If you say so…She asked for a 6am meeting,” Mel reluctantly replied.
“I do say so. And 6am? Damn, that’s early, but I know the schedule she keeps, so no surprise there. I’ll see you in the AM,” Marco said.
“Sure thing,” Mel responded as she disconnected the call.
Marco didn’t know why Melissa was acting so concerned about the meeting. In all of the years he had been a private investigator, not once did a person of interest know that they were under surveillance, and not once since Melissa had worked with him did she seem so worked up about a potential client. But maybe it was the fact that in all of the years of them working together, this was the first time a person of interest became a client and all within the same month. Marco also never felt such a strong connection to someone he was conducting surveillance on. Never had he desired someone he had never officially met, so bad. He would find himself fantasizing about her luscious, plump, kissable lips and how they would feel against his own. He wondered if her hair was as soft as it looked and what sound she would make when he wrapped her hair around his hand and devoured her mouth.
Shit, Mel just might be right; this thing could get messy if I’m not careful.
***
Kelly had come through like she always did, and Sydney was on her way to a meeting with this elusive private investigator. Sydney tried to do her own research on this Marco Bellomi, but she could hardly find anything of substance. If she had to guess, he must’ve been very good at what he did because he was nearly a ghost. Any information she found led to a dead end. She couldn’t even find a picture, but with all that being said, if he was that good at not being found, then maybe he was just the right man for the job.
Sydney entered the opulent office. It wasn’t lavish in furnishings, but rich in colors that had water features throughout the space. The blend of burnt oranges, browns, yellows and reds made the office look like fall had exploded all over the space. The water fall background of the reception desk was the main attribute of the office upon entering. The receptionist was a small, mousy girl that looked to be in her early twenties. She had long, brunette hair and big, round, doe eyes that held every emotion in them. She smiled brightly at Sydney and showed her to the waiting area.
“Can I get you some coffee or water while you wait?” the receptionist asked.
“I would love some coffee. Two sugars, please,” Sydney replied with a bright smile of her own.
“Okay, great. Coming right up. Melissa should be done setting up the meeting room in a few minutes. Sorry for the wait.” The girl then smiled as she scurried away to get the coffee.
Sydney wasn’t waiting for very long when an attractive, black woman came from the back of the office. She had a bright red bob that stood out against her dark brown complexion. She had on a pencil skirt with a billowy blouse and shoes that Sydney would happily tackle her to the ground and wrestle her for.
“Hi, Ms. Hamilton. I’m Melissa. Mr. Bellomi’s executive assistant. I’m sorry we kept you waiting. The meeting room is right this way.” Melissa smiled as she extended her hand to Sydney.
Sydney stood and smiled back. The two women shook hands, and Sydney followed her to the meeting room. Upon entering the room, a large man sat at the end of the equally large conference table. He stood when he noticed the two women.
Sydney smiled, A gentleman. I like that.
“Hello, you must be Sydney Hamilton. I’m Marco Bellomi. It’s nice meeting you,” Marco said with an outstretched hand.
Sydney had to take a deep breath and attempt to get herself together. She was there for business, but at the sight of this big, overpowering man with all this masculinity, Sydney thought she would drool all over herself and then jump the man right where he stood. His voice was a deep baritone and it was silky smooth like a warm liquid washing over her. His eyes were a bright hazel that stood out against his smooth olive skin. His hair was long, but not shaggy, and his face had a five o’clock shadow that was sexy as hell. She could tell that his arms were massive under his blue tailored suit; the muscle bulged and jumped with his every move. His crisp, white dress shirt had two buttons undone. It looked as if he were getting off work instead of just getting there. But Sydney wouldn’t complain because his massive chest looked strong under that shirt.
Marco gave a bright smile at the look on Sydney’s face. It was good to know that that asshole Murray wasn’t the only type that Sydney found attractive. Marco cleared his throat to snap Sydney out of her daze and looked down at his outstretched hand.
Sydney’s dark, mocha complexion turned a hint of red as she cleared her own throat seemingly to collect herself, and she reached for Marco’s hand. At the touch of their hands, both Sydney and Marco felt an electric current that literally shocked them. Sydney snatched her hand back from Marco’s and looked down at his hand.
She giggled awkwardly. “Sorry, I don’t mean to seem rude, but you zapped me.”
Marco’s face now held a smirk. He felt it too; that electric current just proved that they indeed had a spark between them. “Yeah…I felt it too. I guess I’m just electrifying.”
Melissa cleared her throat as she entered the room. She raised an eyebrow at both Marco and Sydney as they stood gazing at each other with Sydney blushing and Marco smirking mischievously. “Uuumm, here’s your coffee, Ms. Hamilton.”
“Oh, thanks, Melissa. I appreciate it. I’m not myself without my morning cup,” Sydney rambled nervously.
“No problem. Do you guys need anything else?” Melissa questioned as she smirked at Marco.
“No, Mel, that will be all for now. Thank you,” Marco responded to his know it all assistant.
Mel smiled knowingly at
the two and left the room. Marco showed Sydney to the seat closest to his, and she sat exhaling another deep breath.
“So you gave me very limited information, Ms. Hamilton. What is it that I can do for you?” Marco asked. He tried to remain professional, but he couldn’t keep his eyes from devouring her petite curvy body. She wore a form fitting, light blue dress that caressed her body in all the right places. He wanted to prop her up on the conference table and slide the dress up slowly, revealing her smooth, chocolate skin.
Marco cleared his throat as Sydney began talking, trying hard to focus on what she was saying.
“I have a client who is married to a very prestigious businessman in the Dallas area. She wants out of the marriage, but she doesn’t want his money. She only wants sole custody of the couple’s only child.” Sydney took a deep breath, trying to slow her racing heartbeat. She needed to focus on her client, not the sexy man in front of her with the smoldering, hazel eyes.
“She doesn’t want any of his money?” Marco inquired, his interest piqued.
“No, she just wants him to leave her and the child alone. She doesn’t even want child support. All she wants is to leave her husband and start over fresh,” Sydney stated fervently.
“May I ask why she wants to leave her husband?”
“That’s what I need you for, Mr. Bellomi. I need you to find any evidence of anything that would absolve the prenuptial agreement. I don’t care if it’s infidelity, illegal gambling, or even if the bastard cheated on his taxes; as long as there is proof and we can get my client away from this man,” Sydney said with a sneer.
Marco smiled. “You can call me Marco, and yes, I will take your case, and find what you need.”
Sydney smiled in return. “Great. Then I guess that means we are a team. And you can call me Sydney…Marco.”
Marco liked the sound of his name coming out of Sydney’s beautiful mouth. He also liked the words “I need you” coming from that same mouth. He was in deep trouble on this one.
Chapter 7
After Marco agreed to take the case, Sydney gave him all the information on Megan and Thomas Moore that she had, except for the abuse. She wanted to see if Marco could find any trace of Thomas having an abusive past without bringing it up. Plus, Megan had vehemently stated that she didn’t want anyone else knowing of the abuse because her husband would definitely make it that much harder for her. As long as they found proof of the man he really was without her having to press charges or throw around abuse allegations, then she would be satisfied. Besides, like in many circles, especially theirs, her abuse allegations wouldn’t be fact; it would simply be allegations, and she would be made out to be the villain.
Sydney didn’t like withholding information, especially some that could possibly help move the case faster, but she would never go against her client’s wishes, so she didn’t tell Marco. Now it had been three days since the meeting with Marco Bellomi, and Sydney came to quickly realize that she liked saying Marco’s name and talking to him. Even though all of their conversations had been about business, she could tell he was an easy-going guy that was highly intelligent. He was also a man with swagger and confidence. He was a man that liked control and knew exactly what he wanted, and he got it. But it was his deep voice that did something to her. The way he laughed or the simple way he said her name. It was like he was caressing her with his voice. She started to look forward to their daily check-ins. Sydney started to imagine what it would be like for Marco to whisper all the naughty things he would do to her in her ear. She also realized that the attraction between the two of them was something that she’d never experienced before; just the sound of his voice would make her panties moist. She started having erotic dreams about Marco the same night after meeting him. She felt herself heat up at the thought of her dreams coming to life. His sensual lips were almost too pretty to be on a man. His bedroom eyes sparkled with mischief. And those arms…. Damn, those arms… she could only hope to be wrapped up in a strong pair of arms like that one day.
Maybe if I’m lucky I can be wrapped up in his arms one day.
Sydney laughed at her school girl thoughts. She was a woman that was nearly thirty years old, and she was daydreaming about a man.
Sydney sighed. I have absolutely no time to be daydreaming about a man…No matter how big and fine he is… and how much I want to consume his entire body… Shit, I’m off track again!
A knock at Sydney’s office door brought her out of her reverie.
“Come in,” Sydney called.
Sydney’s assistant, Rose, stuck her head in the door. “Syd, you have a …uh…visitor. I tried to stop him, but he is very insistent. I can call security if you need me to.”
What the hell? Nobody but Bradford, Sydney thought as she exhaled and stood from her chair.
“No, it’s okay, Rose. You can let Bradford in. If I need to, I can have him escorted off the premises myself. You can send him in,” Sydney said her frustration written all over her pretty face.
“How did you know it was him?” Rose asked, her confusion evident in her green eyes.
Sydney simply smiled. “It’s a gift.”
“Okay. I’ll go and get him.” Rose shrugged as she left the office.
Sydney knew it was Bradford because although it had been almost three weeks since their break-up, Bradford had just started back up with the messages and the nonstop calling. Sydney thought about taking Kelly up on calling her cousins to beat his ass if he kept this shit up. She just couldn’t figure out what reason Bradford would have for the constant contact. When she really thought about it, neither of them were into each other like a real couple should’ve been. They’d never slept together. Neither had ever expressed that they more than liked each other. Hell, they had never even said that they cared about one another.
Sydney was suddenly realizing that she was in a middle school type relationship at nearly thirty years old!
Sydney shook her head, clearing her thoughts as Bradford barged in her office. He had on a gray suit, a light blue dress shirt, and some Italian leather shoes. His reddish blonde hair was parted on the side, and his blue eyes had a menacing look in them.
“Sydney…..” Bradford started, then broke off.
“Bradford, why are you here? I have nothing else to say to you, and you for damn sure don’t have anything to say to me,” Sydney stated as she stood from her chair, and walked from behind her desk.
“Sydney, I recently learned that you have a client in which a friend of mine has a vested interest in. He wants to make this little misunderstanding go away before the media catches wind of what’s going on. We both know that neither of the parties involved need this to get out. Besides, this is someone’s marital problems. You shouldn’t have your nose in other people’s business. Who are you anyway to be giving advice about marriage? It’s not like you have ever been married,” Bradford replied in a smug tone.
Sydney was furious. How could this man, her ex of all people, come in her office and tell her what her business should be?
Sydney’s back was ramrod straight as she narrowed her eyes at Bradford, “Listen to me, because I’m going to say this one time and one time only; you don’t know shit about my business or who I give advice to. You think you can bring your smug, sniveling little ass in my office, and I’m supposed to what? Hop to whatever you tell me to do?” Sydney began to chuckle a psychotic sound that made Bradford step back and take a good look at Sydney. This was not the same woman he had spent seven months with. It was not the same woman that he easily controlled and walked over. No, this was a totally different Sydney.
Sydney’s laugh died down as she leaned against the front of her desk. She took a good, long look at Bradford. This was the first time that she had been face-to-face with him since their breakup. At that moment, she didn’t know what she ever saw in this little weasel of a man. Having the long conversations with her parents helped her realize that she needed to stop living for everyone else around her and start liv
ing for herself. She knew people pleasing would be a hard habit for her to break, but in the last month she was really starting to find herself. Volunteering at Haley’s House also helped her see that living for others could lead you down a path of destruction, and if these women that had been through so much in life could be strong, then, by God, so could she.
“Since you obviously don’t think my advice is worth taking, let me tell you a fact…If you ever show up to my office again spouting stupid bullshit, you will regret every foul word that leaves your lips. That is a promise, my friend.”
Bradford regained his composure and walked closer to Sydney. He was now directly in front of her, and she could feel his hot breath on her cheek. Sydney couldn’t step back because Bradford had her trapped between his body and her large cherry oak wood desk. He placed his arms on either side of Sydney and leaned down so that their eyes met. If anyone saw them and the position they were in, they looked extremely intimate, but they were far from lovers, and Bradford was using his bigger size to try to intimidate Sydney.
Bending down to look directly into her eyes, Bradford said, “I can promise you, Sydney, if you don’t get your client to back down, and if you don’t keep your nose out of this, it will be you that will have regrets. Now I’m not sure where all this sass came from, but I suggest you remember who I am. I have very powerful people on my side, and I am doing you a favor by giving you fair warning. Next time I won’t be so nice.” Bradford leaned in and with his right hand ran it down her now flushed face; he tried kissing her, but she turned her head and smacked his hand away from her face.
Sydney tried stepping around Bradford, but he grabbed her arm before she could move.
“Let go of me,” Sydney said in a low voice. Her self-defense training was about to be put to the test because she was not about to get manhandled by this ass.