Chapter Thirty-two
“I have to leave town for a few weeks.”
This is what Vaughn told Korie in the middle of dinner.
“What? Why?”
“I have a business deal that I'm trying to close in Germany.”
“Germany? What the hell is in Germany?”
“Just another merger that I'm working on.”
“Exactly what kind of merger? I mean, what the hell is in Germany?” Korie asked.
“Beer.”
“Beer?”
Korie was confused. She placed her hands on her hip. She came to see Vaughn to talk to him. She went there to possibly break up with him. Or to solidify what they were doing. She didn't know exactly what she was doing. She got dressed and went outside where his driver was waiting to pick her up. Her plan was to talk to him at dinner. Her plan was to weigh the cons of being with him versus being with Darren. When they sat down to eat he kissed her and the first thing that came out of his mouth was that he had to leave the country and go to Germany.
“So how long will you be over there?” she asked.
“A week. Maybe two.”
He seemed both depressed and frustrated at the same time. He was so visibly upset that she decided to put off talking to him about their relationship, at least right now. Right now he needed her to be understanding. Right now he needed her to be patient.
“Is there anything else wrong?” She placed her hand over his to comfort him.
“Well, yes and no. The therapist that I introduced you to at the fund-raiser thinks that he no longer needs to see me. He says that I'm fine and the stress that I've been dealing with is normal for a man in my position.”
“That's a good thing, right?” Korie was relieved to know that Darren would no longer be seeing Vaughn as his client.
“It is. But the brother is good. I mean, talking to him put me at peace. Talking to him sometimes helped me to keep things in perspective.”
“Are you worried about making a mistake?”
“No, no, nothing like that. It's just that having him on my payroll gave me a sense of security.”
“Did he say why he made that decision now?”
“Yes. He said that I didn't need to second -guess myself anymore. He said that it was time. I know that this is going to sound crazy, but I feel . . . depressed a little that I won't be meeting with him.” Vaughn laughed and smiled. “It's almost like breaking up with someone. That's what it feels like. Isn't that crazy?”
Korie's heart skipped a beat as he made the comment. Strangely enough, she knew exactly what it was like to break up with Darren. She knew exactly what it was that Vaughn was feeling. Darren had that effect on people. There was no way she could bring up her relationship with Vaughn now. If she did, it would be like two people breaking up with him in the same day; two people who shared the same bed and the same embrace just hours ago.
Korie could still feel him inside of her. She could still smell his scent. Vivid memories of her and Darren in a passionate embrace burned in her head. She enjoyed their passion this morning; she even enjoyed him biting her. She allowed her thoughts to distract her. She was in a slight daze as she remembered this morning. She let out a soft sigh. As she thought about this morning she could tell that she was moist.
“Honey? Honey, are you okay?”
Snapping out of her trance, Korie tried to pay attention to Vaughn, her boyfriend. Her ex had to wait. She tried desperately to push thoughts of both Darren and this morning out of her head.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. So, two weeks, huh?”
“Yeah. Do you want to go with me?”
“Uh, no. I can't. I have a ton of work to do. I have a host of new clients that I need to see and I am working on quite a few projects over the next two weeks. You should go alone. We could use the break.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
That came out wrong. All wrong, she thought.
“I mean, if you go . . . you'll miss me more and things will be just that much better when you get back. Besides, when couples spend too much time together, that's when things get boring or routine.” She thought quickly on her feet.
“I could never tire of you.” He placed his hands on hers lovingly and smiled at her.
This was why she liked him. This is why she might even love him. He constantly complimented her. He constantly validated her. He never shied away from telling her how he felt. He never took her for granted. He never let her down.
Things were still new, however. They had only been dating a number of months. It'd been great, but Korie began to wonder if she could she truly love a man she had only known a short time. She then wondered if it were possible to love two men.
“So what are you going to do again? I mean, what's with the beer?”
Vaughn began cutting up his steak. He smiled when she asked. He loved it that she was so inquisitive. Had she been anyone else he would be wondering about insider secrets or a competitor trying to pump information from him. Vaughn never told anyone outside of Brandon what he was thinking. It was one of the things that kept him on top. He knew that Korie asked because she cared.
“Well, Germany actually makes about five thousand brands of beer.”
“Wow”
“Yeah, and I'm thinking about buying a number of companies.”
“And bringing their brands to America?”
“No. Actually, I just want to own the companies.”
“Why?”
“To monopolize a part of the beer market. I would allow them to continue to be competitive against one another, but the few I would buy would all be under the same umbrella.”
“Again, why?” Korie was trying to understand Vaughn's rationale.
“Just to make more money. It would be like buying both Coke and Pepsi here in the U.S.”
“Instead of having a Coke customer or a Pepsi customer, you would have both.”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm. Sounds easy enough.” Korie began eating her food.
“Not exactly. The Germans are not exactly fond of Americans taking over their companies and they are less likely to like the fact that a black man will be the sole proprietor.”
“So how do you handle that?”
“No one knows me in Germany. No one knows that DeVaughn Harris is black. So, I'm going over there with Brandon and we're going to take one of our staff over to pitch the proposal.”
“Let me guess. That person will be white?”
“And German.”
“Isn't that dishonest?”
“It's business.” Vaughn smiled at Korie.
“So when do you leave?” she asked.
“Tonight.”
“Tonight?” Korie was surprised and upset at the same time. This was very little notice.
“Yeah. I have to strike while the iron is hot.”
“So when will you be leaving?”
Vaughn gave her a look as if he didn't want to answer. He gave her a half smile.
“Vaughn?”
“Uh . . . I'll be going as soon as we're done with dinner.”
For such a powerful man, Vaughn seemed nervous to tell her. As usual, Korie understood. She was more understanding than she had ever been with Darren when he had business to take care of. She didn't see, however, that the two men were very much alike when it came to business. She didn't see how their lives paralleled one another.
“Okay. Will you call me?”
Vaughn smiled. He smiled and was happy that he found a woman who was secure in her relationship, a woman who was understanding and supportive when it came to his business.
“I'll call you every day.”
“Okay.”
The two finished their meal and talked until it was time to go. Vaughn had his driver take Korie back home. Vaughn had a second driver take him to the airport.
Â
Â
Korie came home. She was deep in thought as she walked down the hallway to her apartment. She was upset that Vaughn just sprang his leaving on her with very little notice. By the same token she was happy that he would be gone. It would give her time to think. Vaughn could offer her the world. What woman wouldn't want that? She would be a fool to walk away from Vaughn and all his millions.
Still, she could live the simple life with Darren. They would work for everything they wanted, but they wouldn't have to work hard, and they would be in love. They could pick up right where they left off. The first thing that Korie wanted to do when she walked in was to sit down in a hot bath and think for a while. All she wanted to do was have a glass of wine, maybe a hit or two from a joint, and sit in silence in the living room and think about the dilemma she was in. It was a good problem to have; two successful black men who both wanted to give her the world. Most women would be jealous that she had one successful black man. She had two. She fumbled for her keys in her purse as she reached her door.
I care deeply for both men. I want both men, but I can only have one. Vaughn is the logical choice, but Darren is not making this easy. Why did he have to show up at my place this morning looking all good? Why did he have to do that? Twenty-four hours ago I was sure what it is that I wanted. Now I don't have a clue. Darren is not making this easy . . . not at all.
Korie opened her door and was immediately hit with the scent of fresh flowers and vanilla.
“What theâ?”
She opened the door and the apartment was dark. Candles were lit everywhere. Each one had the scent of vanilla.
A Y-shaped path of roses was on her carpeted floor. One path led to the bathroom and the other to her bedroom. Music began to play softly.
Korie could smell him.
She could smell his Chrome cologne. The music began to play louder. There was fresh fruit on the dining room table and a bouquet of orange roses on the cocktail table. Orange roses symbolized passion. Back in the day, if she came home to orange roses, it meant that she and Darren were going to go at itâhard.
She shook her head. She was smiling, but she shook her head.
He had some nerve.
He always did.
She took off her shoes as she always did and noticed that his were next to where she just dropped hers. She followed the path slowly and noticed that his jeans were on the couch. His shirt was on the floor by the bathroom. She looked in the bathroom first. There he had her bath drawn. In it were bubbles and more rose petals. Candles were all over the bathroom. By the tub was an ashtray with a neatly rolled joint in it.
She looked in the bedroom and he was on top of the bed. He had on black silk boxers and white socks. He was looking just as good now as he was this morning when he came unannounced.
What is it with brothers and socks in bed? she thought while smiling.
Other than that, he wasn't sporting anything else but his twelve-pack and a smile. His hands were behind his head and he was lying there as if he were king.
“Hey babe,” he said. He was all smiles, all teeth.
“Hey babe, my ass. How did you get in my house?” she said playfully.
“You never changed the locks.”
He held up his keys. They were the same keys from when they lived together more than five years ago.
“Hmm. Something told me to have the locks changed.” She held back a smile.
“You can't mean that,” he said smoothly.
He got up from the bed and walked slowly to her, holding her shoulders and kissing her deeply on the mouth. He kissed her passionately while running his fingers through her hair. His hands found her backside and she felt his passion against her. He felt her warmth as well. He undressed her as they kissed. He took each item and tossed them into the bedroom. As she stood there naked, he kissed her shoulders, her neck, and down her midsection. He then took her hand and guided her to the bath.
The water was just right.
The candles gave her a peaceful glow.
The herb was Jamaican. It was top shelf.
The white wine was her favorite brand.
She relaxed in the tub. When she was done relaxing, he bathed her. He gave her a sponge bath.
The warm water was relaxing and it caressed her body. He washed every inch of her. He was sure to give special attention to her special places. He held her hand and guided her out of the tub. He kissed her everywhere as he dried her off. Each place the towel touched, he kissed.
He guided her to the bedroom, but not before finding a bottle of body lotion to give her a massage. He laid her on her stomach on the bed, then placed the warm lotion in his hands and slowly and vigorously gave her a full body massage. The scent was country apple. As the music played, Korie found herself resting more peacefully than she had in years. She was caught between a pleasant rest and an intoxicating high. She didn't know if it was his touch, the wine, the herb or certainly all three. She did know this; she didn't want it to end.