Close Quarters: A Novel (Zane Presents) (4 page)

He saw me admiring him and touched my cheek. “I missed you last week.”

“I couldn’t tell.”

“Your departure was so abrupt yesterday afternoon, I didn’t have a chance to tell you.”

My anger flared slightly at the thought of being excluded from the dedication ceremony. I pushed the negativity back where it came from. I didn’t want to fight with Ellis. He had just lost his father. Considering the circumstances, I needed to be more understanding. Maybe he did think he told me about the event. Surely, he had a lot on his mind lately. He had his mother and sister to look after and a business to run. Any issues I had with him concerning the weekend could wait.

I rubbed my hand on the back of his head. Ellis always wore a fresh Caesar haircut. I thought a diamond stud would give him a sexy edge, but he would never wear an earring. He considered it unprofessional and ghetto. His words, not mine.

“How was your conference?” he asked.

“Surprisingly interesting. Tons of information on new tax codes. How was your week?”

“Full of meetings. We’re launching a new drug trial next week and anything that could have gone wrong practically did. I’m expecting this week to be even more hectic. In fact, I have a few calls to make as soon as we get to the house.”

“Make your calls, Ellis, and then that’s it. No more work this evening. We are going to relax and enjoy each other’s company.”

“All right, beautiful. Do you want to dine out tonight?”

“Maybe we can grab a bite at Eden. We can get it to go, if you want.”

Eden was one of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately, Ellis didn’t share my sentiments. On rare occasions, he would humor me and take me to Eden, but he’d squawk the entire time.

He touched my face again. “If that’s what you want.”

Ellis was being way too accommodating; he knew he was in the doghouse.

• • •

I turned on the oven in Ellis’s kitchen and placed the aluminum pans of food from Eden inside to stay warm while he made his calls. I removed two dishes from the cabinet and set the small oak table that sat next to the fireplace. Yes, Ellis had a gas fireplace in his kitchen. I retrieved a bottle of Chardonnay from the wine rack in the corner and carried it to the island in the center of the kitchen. I uncorked the bottle and poured myself a glass. The aroma of chicken in rosemary butter wrapped itself around me and my stomach responded with a long grumble. The food was calling my name and I almost went to the oven for a little taste. I turned on the fireplace, dimmed the lights, and sat at the table sipping my wine.

Ellis entered the kitchen, talking on the phone. His voice echoed through the room, bouncing off the pots and pans suspended from the ceiling pot rack. He slipped my wineglass out of my hand and drank from it. I took that as my cue to pour myself another glass. He sat at the table and put his feet up in the chair while I carried the food from the oven to the table. Ellis continued
his conversation while I plated our dinner. I sat across from him with my elbows on the table and my hands folded beneath my chin. He gave me the signal that he’d be done in a second. After a few minutes passed, I draped my napkin over my lap and proceeded to dig into my food. Ellis spat out instructions to the poor soul on the other end of the phone. Every time I thought he was wrapping up his conversation, he addressed yet another concern. It was apparent he was unhappy with what he was hearing, and though he wasn’t quite yelling, he was dangerously close. Ellis got up from the table and left the kitchen with his wine.

I finished my dinner in silence, watching the flickering flame in the fireplace cast shadows across the kitchen. I washed the dishes, covered Ellis’s plate, and left it on the counter.

On my way upstairs, I heard him still conducting business in the study. I walked through his bedroom, directly into the bathroom to run water in the tub. I planned on a long, hot soak. I returned to the bedroom to get my facial scrub from my bag then closed the bathroom door behind me, undressed and immersed myself in the deep, triangular-shaped tub.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. Was this what I had to look forward to with Ellis? Always business first, family second. I’d spent nights waiting for Ellis to come home from the office and he never arrived. Waited for a call that I never received. We’d cancelled trips, rescheduled evening plans—all in the name of business. Sure, most women would kill to be where I was right then, in a relationship with one of the most successful African-American men in the country. But it was moments like these, moments having nothing to do with success, when you started to wonder. Was this the life I wanted? I cherished quiet time at home. Time spent enjoying and loving one another. I couldn’t really complain much. I was aware of Ellis’s lifestyle
before we became involved. I suppose, somewhere deep inside, I thought I’d come first. Foolish me.

Cool air and barely tepid water awoke me. Ellis was leaning against the granite bathroom countertop, looking down at me. The door was open, allowing a chill to circulate through the room.

“Can you close the door? The warmth is escaping.”

Ellis did what I asked. “I apologize for spending so much time on the phone, but it couldn’t be helped.” He unfolded my towel and held it open for me.

I stepped out of the tub, taking the towel out of Ellis’s hands and wrapping it around my body. “You’re apologizing an awful lot lately.”

Ellis pulled his sweater over his head. I went to the sink and began brushing my teeth, watching him in the mirror.

He unbuckled his belt and stepped out of his slacks. “Lina, I explained earlier the importance of this coming week.”

I rinsed toothpaste from my mouth. “Yeah, you did.” I walked past Ellis and into the bedroom.

“You’re upset.” He followed close behind me. “Would you have preferred for me to shirk my duties and ignore my responsibility?”

“Of course not, Ellis.” I sat on the edge of the bed, massaging cocoa butter into my skin.

“There are always last-minute problems before a drug trial.”

I went to the dresser drawer and removed my silk chemise. “I understand that.”

“Then act like it, Lina. I’m going to take a shower.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Ellis had already closed the bathroom door behind him. I grabbed my robe and stomped out of the bedroom. I mumbled to myself all the way downstairs to the theater room. I went into the control booth and inserted my favorite DVD.

Ellis’s home theater could seat up to twenty-five people. Five rows of luxurious, smoky-gray recliners, each with a console for cups and snacks, were arranged in true movie theater fashion—albeit more stylishly cozy. Each row was set on its own platform, descending into the room. I went down the stairs, sliding my toes through the plush carpet, and curled up in the center seat in the middle row.

The opening scene from
The Color Purple
displayed across the sixteen-foot movie screen. It should be illegal to view movies at home any other way. I was engrossed in the movie, moved by two sisters being painfully torn apart, when soft lips touched the back of my neck. I turned and Ellis was standing behind my seat wearing black pajama bottoms, tied at the waist with a drawstring. His broad chest was bare. Droplets of water clung to the soft patch of hair between his pecs. I turned back to the screen. Ellis’s hands moved to the back of my head and began removing the pins holding my bun in place. My hair spilled across my shoulders. Ellis massaged my scalp, running his fingers from the roots to the tips of my strands. Upset or not, his touch felt good. My shoulders relaxed and my head moved along with his probing fingers.

He walked around the seats and sat in the recliner beside mine, extending his hand to me. No words, not a smile in sight. The intensity in his radiating gaze said it all—he was a man not to be denied. I slid my hand into his and went to him. Ellis pulled me down on his lap, positioning my legs across his own. He buried his face in my neck, kissing gently down to my shoulder. His hand moved up my thigh, underneath my chemise. I felt him stiffen against my leg. Ellis’s mouth wandered lower to my breasts. I leaned back, soothed by the sensation of his lips on my skin. I reached for the drawstring on his pajamas, moving to my knees to straddle him.

Ellis stilled my hand. “Not in here. Let’s go up to the bedroom.”

“I want you right here,” I whispered, “right now.”

Ellis stood, taking me with him, and led me up the stairs . . . snapping me out of the mood.

M
onday morning. My meeting was a slam-dunk, but I had not expected anything less. Mr. Donner had been perched at the conference table, accepting accolades from my client as if he was the mastermind behind the catchphrase:
AromatheraPad . . .turning necessity into once-a-month essential therapy
.

I was distracted by a tap on my door. Kai stuck her head in before strutting into my office. She stood front and center on the other side of my desk. I gave her a once-over. Fitted white shirt with French cuffs and just enough buttons undone, tucked neatly into a black wool skirt that stopped several inches above the knees, revealing legs as long as the horizon.

I motioned for her to take a seat in one of the chairs across from me. Instead she sauntered over to the sofa and sat, slowly crossing her legs. I was captivated by the way her foot arched in her four-inch heels and imagined things that I had no business thinking about. I went around to the front of my desk and sat on the corner.

Kai smiled. “Malik, I’m impressed.”

I fought the urge to smile back at her. “And why is that?”

“Don’t be coy, Malik. You know you were
the man
in the meeting this morning.”

Kai Cooper, the finest woman at the agency, giving me my props. Other account execs had come to examine my flow, trying to figure out why my ad acceptance rate was the best in the agency—hoping to steal my magic. That morning was the first time Kai ever sat in on one of my client meetings.

I nodded. “I appreciate the compliment.”

“I was thinking maybe we could go for drinks after work today.”

Damn. I
was
the man. Kai had every suit at the agency tripping over themselves, trying to get to her. Hot didn’t begin to describe this woman. Chic pixie cut, Bambi-like eyes, skin as smooth as melted milk chocolate, tight body with a luscious ass . . .made me lick my lips. And to top it all off, she was intelligent and could hold her own with the big boys.

Unlike my other colleagues, I didn’t sweat Kai. It wasn’t my style. I preferred to let the ladies come to me and it seemed like it was finally my day.

“Drinks would be cool. How about we meet in the lobby at five-thirty? We can go to Topaz if you’re interested in grabbing a bite to eat.”

Kai got up and smoothed her skirt down. She came over to me and began straightening my already perfect tie. “I’ll be waiting downstairs at five-thirty on the dot,” she said in a hushed tone. She trailed her manicured nails down the front of my suit jacket while rubbing her thigh against my leg.

My assistant buzzed on the intercom. I cleared my throat. “Yes, Renee.”

“Your eleven o’clock is here.”

“Send him in.”

Kai stepped away from me and put her business face back on. As my appointment walked in, she commented on her way out, “Keep up the good work, Mr. Denton.”

I spent the majority of the afternoon on the phone with my boys bragging about my plans for the evening. Bets were made as to whether I could get Kai to come home with me that night. I accepted and was in the process of hatching a plan when my boss called me to his office.

After fifteen minutes of listening to Mr. Donner ramble on about the importance of teamwork, I interrupted him. “You’re absolutely right. In order for Newport and Donner to reach the next level, we need to be more aggressive and support one another in our efforts.”

Donner shifted in his chair. “I’m glad we’re on the same page, Malik.”

I hated the way he pronounced my name. He said it so that the “Mal” rhymed with “Al.” It didn’t matter that I had corrected him a million times; he called me what he wanted. Donner patted his gray comb-over and rearranged his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “I want you to partner with Kai Cooper on a new project.”

Finally, he had said something interesting. “What type of account will we be working on?”

“We’ll all meet tomorrow morning at nine to discuss the particulars. Block at least two hours on your calendar.”

“I anticipate hearing the details.” I headed to the door.

“By the way, you did a great job this morning. I’m expecting bigger and better things from you. Don’t disappoint me.”

“I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”

I strode down the hall, speculating on the magnitude of the assignment I was about to receive. I was certain of only one thing—it had to be good for Donner to pair me with Kai. I couldn’t say if it was the short skirts or talent, but she managed to secure the best clients. Our pairing ensured that I was about
to get away from the trash heap accounts I kept getting stuck with. I’d wait to see how the project turned out and then gauge the quality of my next account before deciding exactly when to branch out on my own, if at all. Maybe both Newport and Donner were finally taking notice of my worth.

T
he hostess led us through the dimly lit restaurant to an isolated booth in the corner. Smooth jazz filtering through the speakers, mingled with the low hum of conversations. Kai scooted into the velvety red, crescent-shaped booth and I slid in after her. I unbuttoned my suit jacket and reclined against the seat, placing one arm on the backrest.

Kai slinked a little closer to me. “I don’t know why we haven’t met for drinks sooner,” she said.

She could pretend she didn’t know, but I was fully aware. Until that morning, I hadn’t registered on Kai’s radar. She considered me a guppy in the shark tank, measured by the quality of accounts I was given. All of that was about to change. I would make sure of it.