A Billionaire's Obsession 1 (BWWM Interracial Romance): Wanting Her (2 page)

CHAPTER 2

Renee excitedly runs in and out of shops, accumulating
items to create the best surprise dinner for her boyfriend of almost a year.
Renee and Ronald met in a study group near the end of the first semester, of
their senior year. Renee thought that Ronald wa
s so
charming that first night at their study group, in the basement of the
college's library. He was always cracking jokes during the study session, and
though a conscientious person herself, she thought that the distractions were
adorable. Ronald was del
ighted that he had found an
adoring fan in Renee.
An admirer who was available at his beck
and call to help accomplish better grades, graduate and put him up at her
apartment, rent free.

Renee has a knack for academics, and art. As a child she
was either
involved in an art project or reading a
good fictional book. She is an only child so she knew how to properly entertain
herself. Her friends were her dolls, stuff toys and her pet dog Chase. Chase
passed on from old age when Renee was 16. Once she hit high
school, Renee joined various clubs, even leading two of
them. There was just something about her where she had to maintain a full
schedule.

Renee finished her shopping, using most of her remaining
funds from her paid internship which she wrapped a week p
rior. She bounces up the staircase to her apartment on the
2nd floor of the three-story building. She stands in front the apartment door
fumbling for her keys, and drops some shopping bags to the floor. This does not
alter her mood one bit. She is eager to
get inside to
begin preparing a lavish meal for Ronald. Not too long after Renee finds the
keys, opens the door and rushes in. Two by Two she gets all the bags in. Renee
stands in the kitchen and begins to sort the items she bought when a strange
noise in
terrupts her. She stands still and listens
again.

"What?...Is that coming from the bedroom?" Renee
whispers to herself.

Renee is apprehensive. She moves toward the noise
delicately. She doesn't know whether it is a burglar rifling through her
things. Not
hing is more valuable to Renee as her top
of the line technological "toys" which she uses to harness her skills
as a graphic artist, and eventual animation professional - one of her goals.
Between part-time jobs, and gifts from her parents, and other famil
y members, Renee had acquired the best hardware to achieve
her dream of becoming the first high profile, and heavily sought after graphic
and animation wizard.

Renee reached back and grabbed the large umbrella near the
front door. As she neared the bedroo
m door,
perspiration drips down her forehead. Now the noises from the bedroom are
growing louder. Renee pushes the slightly opened door with the tip of the
umbrella to reveal her boyfriend, Ronald and her best friend, Olivia stark
naked, having a full sexu
al romp on her favorite grey
and white stripped sheets. The two are so engaged in their tryst that they
don't even recognize that Renee is standing at the door watching them with her
mouth gaped open, and her feet frozen in place. Olivia squeals while she
rides on-top of Ronald, and he responds to her exaggerated
gyrations with breathy, but deep howls. His head is completely slung back, and
pressed against the headboard. He then lifts his head, and begins to look into
Olivia's eyes when he notices the shado
w of Renee's
frame.

"Oh Shit!" Ronald exclaims, and leaps up, pushing
the dark brown, fully naked Olivia off of him, and on to the floor. Ronald
sprints after Renee who is now grabbing her large black tote-purse and
preparing to head out the door. When fa
ced with a
difficult situation, Renee most usually resorts to "Flight" instead
of "Fight". Ronald catches up with Renee, and grabs her by the wrist
before she is able to walk out. Renee tries to retrieve her hand from Ronald's
tight clasp, but with each at
tempt he tugs on her a
little harder.

"Where are you going?" Ronald asks Renee softly.

"Where am I going?" Renee spits back "Where
am I going?..You have no right to ask me anything right now Ronald!" She
says to him angrily, then surveys his naked and tone
d
caramel colored body. "To think I trusted you!" She blurts out, with
tears now streaming down her face. In between her tears, she notices Olivia
slowly approaching with just a T-shirt on, covering her body to her upper
thighs.

"Renee, I am so..." Olivia
begins to tell Renee in an apologetic tone.

"No...NO!" Renee screams at Olivia. "You
don't get to talk to me right now."

"Ok, calm down Renee." Ronald says to Renee, and
draws in closer to her. Renee immediately jumps backward against the front
door.

"Do
n't touch me!" Renee
forcibly instructs Ronald. With tears cascading down her face, she inhales, and
exhales deeply. "When I return to
my
apartment, I expect to be the only
person in here with all your things gone, and the two of you out of here...and
out
of my life!"

"Oh come on Renee...Babe we can talk about this."
Ronald begins to plead with Renee. He had been staying with her, though they
were not officially living together. Renee paid the full rent, and was the only
person on the lease. Since college,
Ronald worked at
an insurance company as Claims Representative. He obtained the job via his
father's connections. Ronald's Dad is a very successful, real estate and
Insurance agent in the state. However, Ronald lost his job about a month ago.
Ronald was n
otorious for staying up late with his
roommate Cal, either playing video games, hosting other friends for poker
night, and beer pong or throwing random parties. As a result, Ronald was
repeatedly tardy for work, non-productive, and popular Dad or not, the
Insurance firm felt that he had to go. Now a month later,
although Renee thought he was out job hunting, as per a compromise he made with
his Dad to look for work on his own, while his parents paid his rent, he used
his girlfriend's apartment for a sexual
rendezvous
with her own best friend.

How long has this been going on?...I should have never
given Ronald a key!..He can be charming, but my
best friend
should have had my back, not fall for
him...Urgh!
These are among the thoughts racing throughout Renee'
s mind as she walks through her neighborhood, and into the
downtown area. Her thoughts are so loud that she can't even hear the traffic,
or truly see the many people busily walking about on the sidewalk, and in and
out of shops, and restaurants. Renee even
tually finds
a bookstore, and heads directly for the magazine section to locate the latest
Graphic Artist trade magazine. She is hoping that it will distract her. Renee
picks up the magazine, and sits on the cushioned bench provided for patrons to
inspect
the publications. She flips through the pages
without paying attention to their content. Tears begin to run down Renee's face
again, and stains the pages of the magazine on Renee's lap. Unable to control
her emotions, Renee jumps to her feet, searches for
the
first vacant checkout line, pays for the magazine with cash, and without
waiting for her change and receipt, she runs out the store.

Renee searches for a quiet place to run into until she can
compose herself. She eventually runs into the small, and qu
aint
Rustic Coffee Bean
shop. The sandwich, brew and pastry shop
is owned by a middled-aged couple who embraces musicians, poets, study groups,
church groups, parties, and others to gather and have a good time while
consuming their special homemade snacks
and
beverages. Renee tries to remain undetected. She runs directly into the Ladies'
Room, and finds a stall. Renee stands in the stall, leaning against the right
partition, then whips out her cell phone and dials her mother.

"Helloooo." Renee's mother, Pi
lar Wainwright sings, knowing it is her daughter on the
other end. Pilar hears Renee's soft sobbing. "Renee, honey, are you
crying?" her mother asks with grave concern. Overcome with emotion, Renee
is unable to speak. The high school Science and Math teach
er stops preparing dinner. "Renee, please tell me what
is going on. You're scaring me."

"Mom, um...Ronald...I found Ronald in bed
with..." Renee's sobs grow louder. "I found Ronald in bed with
Olivia." Renee finally spits out.

"Oh Baby! I am so sorry Renee
.
Where are you now?" Pilar asks immediately worried about her daughter's
current state of mind.

"I, uh, I had to get out of there. I took a walk, and
now I am at a coffee shop downtown...well, I am in a bathroom stall."
Renee explains to her mother.

"I s
ee. Honey, when are you
going home?" Pilar inquires.

"I am not sure Mom. I had to get out of the apartment
right away. I told Ronald, and Olivia that they better be gone by the time I
return. I can't even look at them, or my place right now." Renee tells h
er mother with animosity in her voice. 

"Ok Dear, I understand...I fully get it." Pilar
assures Renee. "How long have you been away from the apartment now?"
Pilar continues to ask.

Renee pauses to think for a moment. "Uh, I'm not
sure...Maybe an hour?" She informs her mother.

"Ok Sweetheart. Why don't you get on the train, and
come home tonight. I will have your father pick you up at the train
station." Pilar recommends.

The invita
tion sounds appealing
to Renee but she also needs to be at work early, and ready to for her first
assignment - an opportunity to impress Melaine. "I don't know Mom. I have
a presentation in the morning..." Renee begins.

"Presentation? Honey, is that fancy
firm making you jump through another hoop, before they give
you the job?" Pilar asks, slightly agitated. 

"Oh no Mom, I planned to tell you later...I had a
whole plan..." Renee says and begins to cry again.   

"Oh Sweetie! Renee, you can tell me later. Ple
ase just get home. I am cooking dinner. I will have your
Dad pick you up, and we will make sure that you get back there early. But you
shouldn't be alone right now." Pilar appeals to her young daughter.

Renee considers her mother's words, and knows that a
t least a hug from her mother will go a long way at that
very moment. Still, getting the job at BYWINSTON is the best thing that
happened to her that week, and she had to hold on to that.

"Mom, if you and Dad can really help me get here early
tomorrow, th
en I think that I will get on the
train." Renee barters with Pilar.

"Of course baby girl. Whatever it takes, just come
home." Pilar encourages Renee.

"Alright Mom. I am heading home." Renee responds.
"See you soon." Renee ends the conversation with her mot
her, and begins to return the phone to her tote bag when
she notices she has several missed calls. Renee is surprised to discover
numerous calls, voice mails, and text messages from both Ronald, and Olivia.
Feeling overwhelmed, Renee puts her phone away an
d
darts out of the coffee shop, and heads for the train station to be with her
parents for the night.

CHAPTER 3

The next day, Renee drives to work, using her mother's car.
She was raised in Oaktown, a ninety-minute drive from Trojan City, where she
now
works. Her apartment is 15 minutes outside the
city in Summersville. The train commute that morning, including transitions
would have been about 120 minutes. Therefore it is a huge help to Renee, that
her mother let her use her car. On the ride back, Rene
e
worked to focus on her presentation. She and her mother had a very long talk
about the Ronald, and Olivia debacle the night before. Renee cried as much as
she could, and analyzed where she believed things went wrong. Her mother sought
to comfort Renee, a
nd reassure her that what happened
is not a reflection of who she is, or any failure on her part. "It is just
the breakdown of character of two people whose integrity was tested, and
terribly failed." Pilar repeated this over, and over throughout their nig
ht time conversation.

The two women also stayed up pretty late the night before.
Following deep discussions about Ronald's betrayal, Pilar remained awake with
Renee to rehearse her presentation. Both Pilar, and Renee's Dad, Max
Wainwright, were thrilled t
hat their daughter had
obtained the new job, and the opportunity to grow in her field. Now Renee
rehearses her presentation out loud during her long drive. She recites her
talking points, and visualizes the design she created on her work computer.
About on
e hour into her ride, Renee opts for a mental
break. She puts on the radio, and listens to upbeat tunes very loudly, in order
to numb her brain from her pain - all while relaxing prior to the presentation.

Renee didn't want to think about Ronald, Olivia an
d the entire cheating fiasco for one second. While her
personal relationship had crashed, and burned her career appeared to be on the
upswing. The music is working - or so she believed. Renee convinced herself
that she is happy, ready to seize the day, and
conquer the presentation. She parks her Mom's silver sedan in the BYWINSTON
building - underground garage. She rides the elevator to her floor, with her
head held high and marches confidently to her desk. She walks past Marina's
desk.

"Good morning Marin
a."
Renee says in a chipper tone. 

Marina is standing, busily sorting documents, and stacking
them in her arms to take into Melaine's office. She looks up at Renee.
"You're early?" She tells Renee sarcastically. "I hope this
means you're ready for your pr
esentation."
Marina spits out, and turns around to head into Melaine's office.

Renee initially falls for Marina's intimidation techniques,
for about 2 seconds. Her stomach does a cartwheel, and her heart begins to
race. She walks a few more paces toward h
er desk,
then her pep talk with her mother - from the night before - fills her mind.
Consequently,
a
broad smile covers her face.

"You don't get to crush my spirit today Marina
Marquis...not today!" Renee mumbles under her breath and plops down at her
des
k.

About thirty minutes later, Marina is standing over Renee's
cubicle with her left arm outstretched, and her palm facing upward.

"Melaine is ready for you." She tells Renee in a
dry tone.

Renee looks up at Marina with her eyes wide open,
astonished.
"Now?"

"Yes, right now." Marina repeats firmly.

"Um...the appointment you gave me is for 10:00 am. It
is...um, 9:15 am." Renee reminds Marina.

"I know what time it is Ms. Wainwright!" Marina
snaps back, then takes a deep breath. "If you want to do well he
re, you will have to learn to be flexible." She
advises Renee, in a less aggressive tone.  

"Yes, I um...understand." Renee responds
sheepishly.

"Bueno! I presume you've already emailed me your
designs?" Marina asks authoritatively.

"Yes, I sent them to y
ou
yesterday." Renee confirms.

"Okay then. Follow me!" Marina instructs.

Renee's stomach does somersaults, and backflips as she
follows Marina to the meeting room. The presentation is being held in the a
smaller conference room, than the one where Renee'
s
interview was conducted. Melaine customarily uses this room for meetings with
her design team, and for presentations with new, and returning clients. When
Renee enters the meeting space, she immediately observes the unique design
covering the walls. She
assumes that Melaine had a
hand in the layout, and her hunch is soon confirmed.

"I'm either stuck in this room, or in my office, so
Colin allowed me to put my stamp on it. Do you like it?" Melaine says as
she bursts through the doors a few seconds behind
Marina,
and Renee.

"Um, yes. It looks great." Renee answers, feeling
caught off-guard.

"'Great'? 'Great', Renee? You're a graphic artist, and
the best description you can come up with is, 'Great'?" Melaine admonishes
Renee. "Let's try this again. Renee, wh
at do you
think about the layout of this room?"

"Well, um...the colors complement one another
accurately, and they are bold and vibrant. Also, the opposing shapes within the
design on the walls provide a 3-D effect. Therefore, transporting the space
into t
he future..." Renee rambles on.

"Ok...enough...enough." Melaine interrupts Renee.
"You are on the right path. Now let's see how you do with your own
design." Melaine tells Renee, who hasn't had a moment to breathe since she
walked into the room. Renee inh
ales, then exhales.
Okay, let's do this.
She
thinks, and sets herself up at the
front of the room. Renee speedily acquaints herself with the presentation
equipment, then launches into her spill. She stutters at the start, completely
thrown off by the two p
air of eyes glued to her every
move. Renee soon sighs, clears her throat, and begins.  

All of a sudden, about five minutes in, Renee, and the
ladies are joined by surprise guests. Head honcho, Colin Winston saunters into
the meeting. "Good morning all!"
He
announces. "What do we have here?" Colin asks Melaine pointing at
Renee.

"This is my newest recruit. We're reviewing her
first..." Melaine says before she is rudely interrupted.

"What? How is this relevant to what we discussed
yesterday Melaine?" Colin
barks. "We should
be using our time to dominate television ads, TV show graphic opens, and the
full television production design spectrum." Colin continues. "We
talked about this!"

Melaine sighs, shakes her head, and looks at Colin as
though he's a spoile
d kid having a temper tantrum,
while Marina stares at her shoes. It appears that Colin Winston even makes the
intimidating Marina nervous. Colin then turns his attention to Renee.
"What is that?" Colin asks Renee, looking at her presentation on the
72 inch
flat screen, hoisted up on the wall. Before
Renee can formulate one word, "Looks like we're retreating to the 70s.
This is 2015!" Colin yells, then turns and walks out the room.

Renee is breathing heavily, and uncontrollably. She
immediately wonders wheth
er Colin's comment means she
will be fired.

"Welcome to BYWINSTON Renee. If you haven't realized
it yet, that was
the
Colin Winston, the company's founder - himself."
Melaine notices Renee's rapid breathing, stands up and walks over to her.
"Hey...Renee,
don't let him throw you off. He
always has a new big vision, and expects the result the instant it leaves his
mouth." Melaine explains. "This exercise is aimed at getting you
comfortable with presenting in front of clients. Let's continue."

Renee continues
with her
presentation while Melaine regularly interjects, critiques, and corrects her
demonstration. Following the hour long session, Melaine stands to her feet.

"That will do for today Renee. It was a good
beginning. There is still work to do to refine
you,
and your work further but we will end here for now." Melaine lectures
Renee. "You will join us today at 3:00 pm for a meeting with the other
designers. Return to your desk. Marina will deliver all the materials you need
to get up-to-date with our curr
ent clients, and the
process from conception to presentation, and sealing the deal." Melaine
dictates.

Melaine, and Marina walk out of the meeting room, but not
before Marina looks back at Renee and shoots her a formidable look. Renee
immediately quivers,
then collects herself, and
hustles off to her desk to await the details, she was told to expect, from
Marina.

***

Renee is perusing the data she was provided when Amanda
Chen walks up to her cubicle.

Amanda is a seasoned graphic artist, and interior
designer. She is 29 years old, and has been with BYWINSTON
for three and one-half years.

"So you've been initiated I see." Amanda tells
Renee, leaning over her cubicle. 

"Um, initiated?" Renee asks looking up -
surprised by the interruption.

"Yeah Melain
e takes everyone
through that "baptism by fire" when they first start working
here." The woman dressed in all black, with black nail polish, and long
wavy black hair with shaved sides tells Renee. "But
I heard
you had Colin walk in on yours. What
was that
like?"

Renee has a quick mental flashback about the experience,
and her heart rate elevates once again. "It was...um...it was pretty
horrifying." Renee admits to Amanda.

"I can only imagine. I've seen him make a newbie cry,
and quit - and it was guy." Aman
da informs
Renee, then chuckles.

Renee becomes concerned. She worries that she may have
bitten off more than she can chew. She read up about the overwhelming success
of the savvy company, and had learned that Colin was a playboy, and direct with
the media.
However, before working at BYWINSTON, she
previously interpreted his candor as comical, and entertaining but now - face
to face with the handsome billionaire, as his employee - she personally notes
that he possesses a nasty bark, and grows concerned about
his bite.

"Don't worry too much newbie." Amanda encourages
Renee. "I've survived, and you can too. Just remain focused on your
creativity. Talk to Melaine
lots about what you're doing - and thinking - as it
pertains to creativity, and you'll be fine on th
e
work front." Amanda continues to educate Renee. "As for Colin's wild
eyes for the ladies, you don't have to worry. It doesn't look like you're his
type." Amanda concludes.

Renee is noticeably taken aback.
"I'm not his type?" What is
she trying to say? I
s it because I'm Black."
Renee begins to think just when Amanda
cuts into her thoughts.

"He likes girls like those over there." Amanda
says, and points to a pool of women dressed in short dresses, and skirts with
low cut necklines. "I'm not his type eithe
r."
The almost punk-rock styled woman tells Renee, who now looks down at her own
attire, then back at their "sexy" co-workers.