Obsessive Temptation: A BWWM Romance Limited Edition Collection

by Peyton Banks

  I stare at him with mist in my eyes. I don't realize that I am midway through chomping on a breadstick I had picked up. Eating is almost like my own personal lifeline… I am such an emotional eater. I glance with envy around the restaurant at happy smiling couples dining in the intimate setting. Most whom are beautiful, slim women who are dining with their significant others.

  “Stanley I can’t believe that you would treat me like this. Have I ever meant anything to you? Anything at all?” I try to hold back my tears, but they slip treacherously from my eyes no matter how hard I try to blink them away.

  “Kassidy, we haven’t been working out for a long time. Maybe after you lose some weight we can try again. I do love you but— the sex is subpar at best between us these last few months.”

  “Stop lying, Stanley! You don’t love me. I was plump when you met me. You said you liked women with meat on their bones. You said—,”

  “Keep your damn voice under control. You don’t want to bring unwanted attention to yourself. For your information, Kassidy, I said that two years ago when you were a size ten. You hooked me, and you just let yourself go. I warned you when I asked you to marry me last Christmas that you needed to get your eating habits under control. I will even buy you a membership at the Knight & Knight Brothers Workout Facility where I have a membership if you want me to.”

  “Fuck you, Stanley. I hope you and your new lover are as miserable as you’ve made me,” I throw the breadstick I had been eating at him. It hits Stanley in the chest with a soft thump. I start to rise from my seat.

  “Oh, that’s very mature of you Kassidy. Why don’t you act like a mature thirty two year old woman? Jessica is the epitome of a classy, beautiful young woman who has her shit together both physically and mentally. AND, she’s only twenty two!”

  “Did you just say Jessica?”

  Suddenly Stanley goes rigid and silent.

  “Are you talking about Jessica Chambers? The new intern from your loan department?”

  “What if I am? Nothing will change things between us and we both know it.”

  “You’re damn right about that. I never want to see your sorry ass again!” I spit out and brush tears of frustration from my face.

  “I think that will be hard to do since we work together on a daily basis.”

  “We won’t be working together for very long asshole. I haven’t had a raise in God-knows-when anyway. It won’t be no hardship for me to move on as soon as I have another job lined up.” I say lashing out at him. I tug my dress down and smoothed the wrinkles from the clingy material. I had bought the dress especially for tonight. The sales clerk at Macy’s had convinced me to buy the dress when I was admiring it on the sales rack last weekend. Now, I felt like I could have worn a sack and it still wouldn’t have sufficed.

  “Hey Kassidy,” Stanley calls to me as I start to walk away.

  “What?” I grunt as I half turn to face him. A hopeful breath catches in my chest. Maybe he’s having a change of heart. Maybe he can love me unconditionally after all.

  “Don’t forget about my offer. I’ll make that gym membership happen for you. Just say the word.”

  My head whips around to face him so fast that my neck makes a cracking sound. I march over to the table and pick up my water glass and dump its contents over his head. “You will not make me feel less than what I really am. You are the one with the problem,” I hiss.

  Everyone in the restaurant looks our way. Whispering voices and some chuckles can be heard. Some are even pointing fingers our way. Stanley jumps up from his seat huffing. I spot two servers and what appears to be the manager heading our way.

  “Damn you, Kassidy! You are a fucking bitch,” he shouts.

  “That makes two of us!” I glare at him just as the three employees are upon us.

  “What seems to be the problem here? We can’t have—,” the manager starts to say, but I cut him off.

  “He’s the problem but now he’s someone else’s problem,” I reply pointing at Stanley. A mortified look crosses his face before I spin on my heels and flee the building.

  1

  Dirk

  I’m going over the Smidt contract and notice their numbers look off. This is a complete fuck up on their behalf that was completely avoidable if only they had taken the time to research all avenues and possibilities for the project… Shit! Fucking lazy employees who want to live in luxury but don’t want to work their asses off for the money like they should be. This shit won't fly if Smidt intends to continue doing business with N&D.

  I'm already in a lousy mood because our assistant has decided she needs to spend more time with her husband and two kids. Haven't Nikolai and I been kind enough to her over the years? I guess not if she’s going to treat us like this... Especially when she takes days off work to care for her ill kids.

  I vow the next person we hire will be single as fuck and free to put N&D first and foremost. I was sitting at my desk deep in thought when I get loudly interrupted by a knock at the door. “Enter,” I direct.

  Nola opens my office door with a file in hand. “Sit,” I state with a nod to my head.

  She takes a seat in one of the cushiony seats across from my desk.

  “Dirk I'm sorry if you're disappointed in my decision—”

  “Are those the latest projections from the last quarter?” I ask her putting the contract aside.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good.” I tap the desk with my finger for her to place the file on my desk. “Now, what were you saying about disappointing me?”

  My assistant wrings her hands in her lap monetarily seeming at a loss for words. “I'm sorry if it seems as if I'm abandoning the company. I just need to spend more time with my family. I won't apologize for that. I grew up in a household never seeing my parents. When they weren't working they were traveling the world without my younger brother and I. I don't want that for my two girls, and my husband agrees. I've lined up someone with an impeccable background to interview for the job. I know you and Nikolai weren’t thrilled by the previous candidates, but I will assure you that you will like this one.”

  I know I've been an ass towards my assistant lately. The thing is I'm not big on goodbyes. Especially when it comes to a damn good employee. I take a deep breath and push my frustrations aside. “Nola you are invaluable to us. You will be missed. My annoyance with you leaving the company has been pure selfishness on my part, and that's putting it mildly.” I pause and reach inside a drawer to pull out an envelope. “For your loyal service at N&D, I want you to have this. If we can do anything for you in the future don't you dare hesitate to ask.

  “You've done enough. I can't—”

  “You can and you will,” I stand, walk around the desk and place the envelope in her hand. With trembling fingers, she opens it and looks inside.

  “Oh my God! This is a certified check for two hundred fifty thousand dollars!” Nola stands with tears misting her eyes and throws her arms around me. “Thank you.”

  My frustrations have wholly dissipated. I guess I'm not a complete asshole after all!

  “You deserve it,” I reply, returning her embrace with a grin on my face.

  Nikolai

  “Thanks for handling business for me while I was out of the office. I know how much you hate saying goodbye,” I say to Dirk.

  I’m sitting at my desk, and Dirk is pacing the floor in front of me. I’m the voice of reasoning this time around it seems. I appear laid back when I'm anything but calm and full of, composure. “Dirk, we had to see this coming. Nola warned us how her husband Brad felt with her last pregnancy. I’m just surprised she didn't put in her resignation sooner.”

  Dirk stops pacing, leans down and plant both hands across the desk.

  “Fuck man. Don't you think I realize that? I'm a selfish prick- so sue me.”

  I chuckle at Dirks foul mood. “Calm down man.”

  “I knew Nola's resignation was coming, but I don't want to go through another assistant. I do
n't give a single fuck about how great she is.”

  “Stop stressing out. I will personally handle the interview on tomorrow if you don’t want to.”

  “Just make sure she's as proficient if not more so as Nola.

  “Look, Dirk, I get that Nola has been with us since we started the business, but times have changed. It’s normal that she needs to do what's best for herself and her family.”

  “Dammit, you’re right,” Dirk says. “I just have to accept it and move on but fuck change all the same.”

  2

  Kassidy

  “Kassidy are you nervous about tomorrow?”

  I wrinkle my nose and shrug my shoulders before sitting up straighter on the couch. I glance at my friend Anita. Anita is tall with a lithe like figure, short red hair, and a razor sharp tongue that can cut anyone down to size. I guess that's why we get along so well. I also have a low tolerance for bull shit.

  Anita and my appearance is as different as night and day. I'm short, measuring in at only five feet and three inches tall, black hair styled in a chin length bob, dark brown eyes, a size twelve at most and smooth, warm, cinnamon-colored skin; whereas she is five feet and nine inches tall, vivid red hair, blue eyes, a size two, and pale ivory skin. She is mostly cheerful with a positive outlook on life. Her pouty lips and sugary tone will turn sharp as a knife if someone gets on her bad side. However, she’s a loyal friend and I love her like a sister.

  “Um, to be honest, yes. I'm a thirty two year old single woman going for an interview for a job with women who are at least ten years younger than me. Plus, I will be competing for the coveted assistant position at a renowned company. I just pray my skill set will nail me the job at N&D Inc.”

  Anita chuckles and takes a drink from her wine glass before speaking. “What? Are you seriously worried about not being able to compete with some twenty-two year old fresh out of college?”

  “I am.”

  “Well, have you thought of doing more with your life than being someone’s assistant Kass? You have so much potential. You could go back to college and finish that Master degree in business you’re always talking about.”

  “Anita, do you know how many student loans I’m still paying for? I need this job, can you support me on this?”

  Anita grins. “Of course I can support you. I’m your best friend, aren’t I?”

  “Of course you are, but I also know how opinionated you can be!”

  “Would you have me any other way?” Anita replies with a great big sigh.

  “You know damn well I wouldn’t,” I lean over and give her a reassuring pat on the arm.

  “If you get the job, we will have to celebrate.”

  “Yes! That’s an awesome plan!” I say to Anita with great hope that we will have something to celebrate.

  3

  THE NEXT MORNING

  Kassidy

  I’m nervous as hell about this interview. I give myself a quick glance in the mirror to see the image of a professional business woman in a two-piece conservative skirt and matching jacket looking back at me. I take big breaths knowing I need to get a move on if I want to make my appointment on time. I grab my handbag and keys and head out the door. Looking at my hooptie of a car I moan in disgust.

  “It’s a steal,” the salesman told me six months ago when I purchased it. It’s a 2014 Honda Civic. I used my life savings of ten thousand dollars to pay for it, plus I took out a loan to pay the rest of the twenty thousand dollars that I owed. It was spotless, and it was my favorite color; a teal blue. It even came with upgraded leather seats and a sound system. It was a one owner car, and the old lady who had it before me really took remarkable care of it. The interior still smells new to this day. The salesman even showed me all the maintenance records and the car only had 40,000 miles on it.

  Yeah, it’s a real steal. Not! I got ripped off because now it’s sounding like an old clunker. I purchased as is and now there’s no way I can take it back.

  I look over at my rundown, not-so-modern apartment building and swear to move in a more swanky place if I get the new job. The faded moss green paint on the walls has definitely seen better days. At least the neighbors are friendly. I wave at old Mrs. Lee when I see her peeping out her window. She waves back before letting her faded flower curtains fall back into place.

  “Thank you, Jesus!” I say aloud when the engine finally fires up. I ease out my parking spot and reverse out into the busy highway.

  As I left my neighborhood, I navigate onto the interstate. This way will shorten my distance to N&D. I drive along in the busy highway praying my car doesn’t let me down along the way. The further I get into the city, the buildings become more frequent and the crowd of people more dense.

  I already know I need to turn right at the next stoplight. I hate navigating around the city, I think to myself. I start to weave my way down the street that will take me to the N&D building.

  It’s a forty-five minute commute from my neighborhood into the city of Seattle. I will never get use to the magnificence of this building. ‘N&D Inc’ is extravagant, even on the outside. It’s tall and the building towers above all the others. It’s huge columns of concrete and covered in glass. There’s a sharp contrast to the city where N&D rests.

  A silvery gray Mercedes S600 shoots past me to secure the parking spot I am about to enter. My middle finger is about to shoot up when I think better of it. I don’t want to jeopardize my interview in case I run into the person again. The unsmiling woman slides out of her car, barely giving me a. sneering glance.

  I circle the parking deck once more. The parking decks are full of 2019 model cars. My mouth twists into a pout as I park my car between a BMW and a Lexus SUV. I switch off the ignition and hear another loud clunking sound. Damn, this car is a lemon for sure. I wonder how many people got a bad deal beside me, or am I the only fool that judged a used car by its appearance? I should have taken Anita’s advice and test drove it to a reliable mechanic.

  Getting out of my car, the morning air kisses against my cheeks. Seattle's busy traffic of blaring horns and fast paced business men and women causes my heart to pump. My heels click across the parking lot leading to the white marble of the large lobby. I move with a rhythm that keeps pace with my fast-paced heartbeat. The inside of my hands become sweaty. I dare not rub them on my skirt to leave a telling imprint of my nervousness on my clothes.

  A security guard is the first person I encounter. I notice a man dressed in all black at the front of the main entrance near the elevator that the email said I was destined to get on. His name-tag reads ‘Branson’.

  The size of his bulky body makes me gulp and I notice a gun is strapped to his side. Anyone with any common sense, which nowadays is almost nobody, wouldn’t dare to try anything with this man on guard.

  “Name and I.D please.” his black eyes clashes with my brown ones. Branson’s skin is darkly tanned. I become disarmed when his stern face suddenly flashes a white smile.

  “Erm, my name is Kassidy Davis and I’m here for an interview for the assistant’s position for Mister Pierce and Mister Hawkings,” I reply sliding my ID across the security counter. My nervousness only increases after the guard gives me a visitors pass and I stroll to the elevator. I breathe deeply to try and calm my nerves. I want this job in a bad way. I need it to better my circumstances in life. I know deep down I have to try even if I fail. At least I won’t have to see that asshole Stanley’s face day in and day out. Good riddance to him!

  I don't know how or why I stupidly fell in love with a buffoon like him. I will not give in and say it's my fault he did what he did. The things he did is on him and him alone. I much rather being by myself, without a man, than to be tied to a man who didn't respect and love me unconditionally.

  I need to focus and get on my game face for the assistant’s job I'm interviewing for. I cannot mess this up.

  Continuing my inner pep talk, my breath catches in my throat when I step onto the elevator. I send up a quick prayer
that I will get the job. The elevator made a ping and the doors began to open . I step out at the smoky-glass entrance that houses N&D executive Incorporated offices. I notice right away the company’s name is emblazoned in golden metallic writing across the double doors. I'm feeling overwhelmed as I stare at the array of professionally dressed young women sitting around the waiting area. I suddenly feel like I really need to go shopping. Maybe Anita and my other friends can get together for a shopping expedition at our local thrift store soon.

  I take in another deep breath. I check in with the receptionist, a nicely dressed white woman with a friendly smile plastered to her face.

  My skin flushes against my dark tone as I make my way to the receptionist desk. “Hi my name is Kassidy Davis, and I'm here for the interview.

  “Hi Kassidy, welcome to N&D. Let me check to see who I need to direct you to,” the receptionist taps her keys over the keyboard before she speaks again. “Oh yes, you're supposed to see Nola, the administrative assistant to Nikolai and Dirk. Go down the hall to your right, and her office is the first one on the left,” she directs me. “Good luck,” the receptionist adds.

  4

  Kassidy

  The tapping sounds of my heels drumming against the marbled flooring accompanies me as I walked off the elevator toward the assistant’s desk. I notice the walls are covered with brown and beige toned paint and beautiful artwork hang from the walls. There are two large sections of offices across from each other and between them a smaller cubicle where an pleasant faced woman stand up to greet me. I feel a wave of nervousness hit me in the pit of my belly.

  “Hello welcome to the to the offices of N&D Incorporated. My name is Nola.” The woman with short brown hair and somewhat thin lips greets me with an welcoming smile. Nola extend her hand toward me. “And you are?”