A Piece of Me (2 page)

“
Regardless.” He waved her
words away. “I am taking you to
Luce
, so make the
reservations.”

When her lips parted, he stopped her
and said, “Not taking no for an answer.”

She licked her lips. “What
I was going to say was, I still think that the
employees
,” she stressed the word.
“Still deserve a celebration, even if the executives
don’t.”

“
I agree. However, I’d like
to do something different, because just like you they gave up a lot
of personal and family time.”

She tapped her pen against her chin
for a moment, a sign she was rolling ideas around in her head.
“What about if you pay for a day at the theme park for them and
their families? Then afterwards reserve a restaurant by it where
they can gather for dinner.”

He considered it for a moment. There
was no way he could conceive of the stuffy board members going to
an amusement park, which meant that the thought of them wanting to
be at a restaurant filled with people’s children was definitely
something they’d steer clear of. “It’s perfect. Get that all set
up. While you’re taking care of our dinner plans,” he
added.

Rising, she said, “I’m on it,
boss.”

As she sashayed towards the
door, he watched how the plum colored
Armani
jacket and dress suit hugged
her body, showing off her narrow waist, round high ass and thick
thighs. Designer apparel had never been Amana’s thing, but the
clothing stipend he gave her each month forced her to shop at more
elite stores. There was nothing wrong with the off the rack suits
she’d always worn, but since she never allowed him to show his
gratitude for all she had done for him, he pressed his advantage in
this area. Telling her that since she now traveled so often with
him, she needed to dress close to his level of style, tailored
suits and custom-made accessories were his choice. Even though she
had caved and began to purchase more sophisticated clothing, she
would get them only at discount places such as
Off Saks
and
Nordstrom Rack
.

But, it didn’t matter where she got
them, because the chic suits always complimented her form. They
proclaimed every curve of the striking black woman who worked out
and took care of her body, which appeared firm and toned. Over the
last two years, she’d spent just as much time in the fitness center
as he did. Most mornings at five a.m., he’d find her stepping up on
the treadmill beside him, if she hadn’t beaten him
there.

When he began to feel the familiar
rise of his cock in his pants, he couldn’t help but be thankful
when she closed the door behind her, removing the view.

Over the last three months, his
reaction to Amana had become more intense. Mentally he attempted to
chalk it up to not having a woman in his life for over a year.
Before his accident, he’d maintained a vigorous sex life, so of
course the abstinence of any physical activity with a woman was
beginning to weigh on him. Since Amana was the only one around him
constantly, it made since that he’d be attracted to her.

His gut called him a liar. Since the
doctor had cleared him over eight months ago to have sex, he could
have picked up the phone and had a number of women in his bed. But
he hadn’t. He’d made one excuse after another for his celibacy,
mainly the fact that he’d been rebuilding his company and didn’t
have time to dedicate to a new relationship. That’s the one that
stuck, but it wasn’t even close to the truth. However, the truth
was outside of his reach and best to stay that way.

~YH~

“
I will not accept it. Take
it back.” Amana stood in the doorway of her condo with her arms
folded over her breast, arguing with the deliveryman.

“
Ma’am, I can’t return it;
it’s a one-way drop off.” The young delivery guy, a college student
most likely, held the white garment bag out to her, trying to get
her to take it.

Refusing to budge, Amana asked, “What
if I wasn’t home? Then you’d have to take it back.”

“
No, ma’am, I was paid
extra to wait if you weren’t here.”

“
What? That’s ridiculous,”
she raged. She knew who was responsible for demanding such actions,
just like she knew what was in the bag. Tonight was her dinner that
she refused to call a date, with her boss, Mr. Stephens. Knowing
him the way she did, and with all his other deliveries today, she
figured he’d gone to the length of buying her an evening gown for
tonight. First, he’d made her take the day off. At one, a masseuse
had shown up and then the hairstylist and manicurist had just left
an hour ago. This was too much. Besides, she’d already picked out a
dress from her closet, having accompanied him to many functions in
the last year. She had a nice collection. She didn’t need another
one.

She continued her tirade, “Look,
Brett.” She read his name tag on his dark blue uniform shirt. “This
might be your job, but I’m sure you have other things you want to
do on a Friday night than sit on my doorstep until I got
home.”

“
Yes, I do.” He beamed a
smile at her, one that most likely had all the college freshmen
fainting, as his eyes begged her to put him out of his misery and
take the bag. “I am supposed to pick up my girl friend in an hour
for her birthday.”

Amana realized she’d talked
herself into a trap.
Rats
! If she continued to hassle him
about the delivery, he’d be forced to remain here and miss out on
his own plans. “Fine, give it to me.”

His shoulders sagged with relief as he
passed the garment bag to her.

“
I’ll get your
tip.”

“
None needed, I was already
paid.” He walked backwards quickly towards the elevator as if he
were afraid she’d toss it back into his hands like a hot
potato.

“
Figures.” She closed the
door and headed back to her bedroom, where she was when the
doorbell sounded. In her room, she gazed at her bed and saw the
basic black crepe sheath with the wide scoop neck that barely
showed the tops of her shoulder and covered her to the knee. Simple
and elegant had been what she was going for tonight.

Removing the dress her boss had picked
out, she gasped, trapping her breath in her lungs. This dress was
purple, more like a majestic purple it was so vibrant in color. It
had a strapless satin bodice with shoulder straps that was made to
crisscross in the back, with two rhinestone clasps that would
fasten the straps below her shoulder blades and the center of her
back. Her back would be practically bare to the small of her back.
The skirt of the dress was more conservative, falling in two layers
of chiffon that almost swiped the floor when she pulled the dress
against her.

The thought of how she would look in
the dress and what her boss would think of her in the dress made
her hands tremble. Laying it down beside her other one, she took a
few shallow breaths trying to relax. This was too much, her mind
screamed.

Butterflies were going wild
inside of her. Placing a hand on her stomach she attempted to calm
them and herself.
This was not a
date
.
This is just
a thank you
. She reminded herself.
Everything he’d done for her today was just like everything else
he’d given her or attempted to give her through the year, a show of
gratitude. Why her body was acting like it was more, she refused to
examine.

Walking away from the dress, she went
into the bathroom to shower and put on her make-up. She knew what
the problem was. Why her emotions always went haywire when she was
alone. Because she had nothing else in her life but work. And Mr.
Neal Stephens.

Her job and boss had become her world
in the last two years and in the last year, since his near death
experience, it had begun to feel like the only reason she did
anything was for her boss. When Kevin, her husband and best friend,
had still been alive, it had been a lot easier to separate work
from life. Or so she had been able to convince herself. In the last
days Kevin had been battling with cancer, he’d been open with her,
telling her things about herself she had not wanted to hear and
definitely didn’t desire to face.

Regardless of the truth of Kevin’s
words, his death had nearly crushed her. She’d lost her best
friend, a man she’d known since college. If it hadn’t been for the
support of her boss, she may never have recovered and gone on. Mr.
Stephens had been the first person she called, and he’d rushed to
the hospital and had allowed her to cry in his arms. For once, Neal
Stephens took care of arrangements for her, when normally it was
the other way around. He’d taken her home, tucked her in bed and
then proceeded to call her and Kevin’s families and set up the
funeral arrangements. So, all the things she’d done for Neal in the
last year had only been a repayment, her own thanks.

After she’d showered and put on her
makeup, she returned to the room and slipped into the dress her
boss had gotten her. Even though her mind had objected and told her
to go with her own clothes, he could buy things, but he couldn’t
make her wear it.

However, she wasn’t trying to offend
her boss. No, that wouldn’t go well at all. Not for what she
ultimately wanted. Tonight, they would be away from the office and
she would use the personal time to discuss something important with
him. Something that would help her life gain perspective. Now that
the company was in the black again, she could step back and focus
her energy and emotions towards something else.

Next, she slipped into her silver
sandals. They were the ones that she’d planned to wear with her
black dress, but still looked great with the new one. As she stood
and admired herself in the mirror, she put in a pair of diamond
studs and a simple diamond tennis bracelet. They were the last
things Kevin had given her. She couldn’t help but marvel at their
beauty as she stared at herself. The gift was exquisite, but not
what she had wanted from him.

However, the man who had never
hesitated in giving her anything had refused her the one thing she
wanted most of all. But, she couldn’t fault Kevin; she knew he had
his reasons.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her
silver clutch and headed out the door. If one man had left her
empty handed, then she would see to it that another man
didn’t.

Chapter 2

Neal watched Amana step from her car
and hand the valet her key before the restaurant, at the bottom of
The Hearst Tower. Meeting her at the curb, Neal allowed his eyes to
roam her from the top of her perfectly coiffed hair, swept up off
her shoulders to the natural colored paint on her toes. His
imagination of how the dress would look on her when he’d purchased
it was nothing compared to the reality of seeing her sexy body
encased in it. The purple material against her brown skin with
amazing.

“
You look lovely tonight.”
If this was a real date, he would have leaned in and kissed her on
the lips, or at least the cheek. Not to mention, picked her up from
her place, but Amana was adamant that she would drive herself.
Besides, this wasn’t a date. Now, if he could get his body to
comprehend that information, instead of heating his blood, it would
be great.

“
Thank you, Mr. Stephens. I
must say you look rather dashing yourself in the all black suit,
the purple handkerchief was a nice touch.” She smiled and the
gorgeous plum colored lipstick made her lips more
inviting.

Not a
date
. Clearing his throat, he held his bent
arm out to her. “Shall we go in?”

She slid her delicate, long fingers
around the bend of his elbow. His feet took one step after another,
but most of his focus was on the warmth of her touch that seared
him through his coat and shirt. If this was a date, he would have
reached his free hand across his body and covered hers, but it
wasn’t a date. So, he shoved his free hand deep into his trouser
pocket and removed the temptation.

Once inside they were immediately
shown to their table in one of the private dining rooms. After
seating Amana, he claimed his own chair. The wine waiter was two
steps behind the maître d'. Neal took the wine list and ordered a
bottle of Ornellaia. Promptly after the first wine waiter left,
their server showed, filled their water glasses and handed them a
menu and departed.

“
This place is wonderful.”
Amana commented as she looked around at the décor of the room as
well as what she could see through the open door.

The server had asked if they wanted
the door closed, but Neal had given them permission to leave it
open. Another reminder to him that this was not a date, just him
taking his personal assistant out for a fine meal to thank
her.

“
I’ve been here a few times
for different reasons and it still impresses me. The food is
excellent and the staff courteous.” The wine arrived, after he
tested and approved it, the waiter filled each of their glasses to
the respectable level and walked away leaving the wine in a bucket
beside the table.

Amana tasted her wine and marveled,
“This is really good. I’m always afraid to order wine, because I
think I’m going to select the wrong thing.”