Almost Perfect: A BWWM Billionaire Single Parent Romance (3 page)

“
Yes…
yes… I would be more than pleased to accept your offer, thank
you.”

The
visitor, who was yet to introduce himself, shook her hand with vigor,
welcoming her to the family of Tabletop Industries, and she grinned
in circles while still contemplating what about this man was so
magnetic.

Following
his lead to the office in the corner, she reminded herself that it
probably wasn’t best to view your new boss in an attractive
light, and switched back to a business persona by the time they
reached the door.

*****

Was
he staring? Richard wondered this as he watched her lower half fill
out the chair and taper into a neat waist. He didn’t mean to
interject, but her smooth voice left him no option. He never
conducted interviews, but in this instance, he felt drawn to
interrupt Alvin’s process.

Why
would he offer a job to a woman they didn’t even do a
background check on? It was too late to consider these things now as
he had already spoken out of turn and the company would have to live
with any possible consequences.

Her
palms were smooth as Richard closed his fingers around hers in a
congratulatory handshake and he thought he saw the tiniest flame of
interest in her eyes as she accepted her new position.

What
was it about her? Her hair was in a neat braid behind her head and
though he was no expert, she didn’t seem to wear much make up.
Her round face and full lips were pretty without any alteration and
he secretly approved of this.

Kimberly’s
dress was a bit more flamboyant than the other female employees
usually wore, and he was intrigued by the prospect of adding a splash
of color to the pale landscape of Tabletop Industries. It wouldn’t
be appropriate for a new boss to stare at new employees’
breasts so he chose to focus on her sparkling brown eyes, keeping the
pert globes in his peripheral vision.

Casing
open the door of the recently cleaned and dusted office, Richard
stepped aside, allowing her to admire the envied view of the skyline,
while he enjoyed looking at her without interruption. She was
speaking and he had to put his carnal thoughts in his pocket to focus
on her conversation.

“
Thank
you so much for the opportunity sir. I assure you; you made a good
decision in hiring me. You never told me your name though.”

“
We
are glad to have you here Ms. Walsh, my name is Richard and I’m
the CEO.”

Another
slow handshake followed as boss and employee assessed each other,
both keeping thoughts that had nothing to do with business to
themselves.

The
matter of Mr. Swindley’s disappearance was troubling, even
though he had been replaced. Why would a man who had been with the
organization, almost from inception, suddenly up and leave? Richard
pondered this as he nibbled at the stale bagel on his counter.
Jasmine was with her mom this week and the cook was given the day
off. The fridge was full of options, but since the divorce, the smell
of bacon in the morning gave him bad memories and hence it was no
longer prepared in his family kitchen.

Thoughts
drifted from his business to his family life, or lack thereof and
then back to business. The lawsuit they were facing would not put
Tabletop in financial ruin, but it certainly would dent the company
image. Products were still being churned out at the factory and
flying off shelves, but when all the details were revealed in open
court it would surely impact their steady following of economy
customers who relied on them for affordable furnishings.

Tabletop
produced plastic and resin furniture that resembled the finest of
hand carved wooden tables, chairs and any other item usually made of
hardwood. The pieces usually snapped and locked together like
children’s blocks, but with much more security. Patents filed
in the US and most developed countries, secured their leadership
position in the marketplace and also satisfied the company mandate to
save trees with every furniture piece produced.

Richard
gazed at the clock on the wall, monogrammed with the company seal of
an oak tree with a chair carved into its trunk. The motto engraved
along the bottom said ‘Sitting in the present and standing for
the future.’ As he considered the timepiece also made of Eco
friendly resin from his factory, he wondered how long the pending
case would loom for. Fatigue from worrying about every aspect of his
life was becoming overwhelming and he was exhausted from the weight.

There
was a flutter in the kitchen, distracting Richard from his depressing
thoughts and his head snapped around, a blue jay had gotten lost en
route to his destination and after circling the kitchen several times
he settled for a perch on the stack of fruit near one of the many
open windows. Cocking his head to a side as if inspecting Richard,
the bird sang and cooed while his human audience looked on. As
Richard observed the small creature, it took flight, drifting to the
window sill glancing back before floating into the breeze that would
take it to his destination-if there was any. For a moment, Richard
wished he could join the bird on his adventures where he would no
longer have to worry about menial things like money and law suits. He
knew he couldn’t fly, but if he died, at least he wouldn’t
have to think about such earthly matters again.

*****

The
sleek, black entertainment cabinet was flung open and the iPod
connected. A selection of the loudest and most abrasive music was
chosen and Kimberly hosted a private party for one. A fourth glass of
wine down, she held no reservation in pouring another. Celebratory
drinks were in order and she would be the one to both celebrate and
drink on this momentous occasion.

The
quest of finding the ever elusive dream job was over and she was the
one with the prize. The package Tabletop offered her was one hundred
percent better than her last job and if the Human Resources Manager
and CEO were any indication of company culture, she would be joining
a warm corporate family.

Speaking
of family, Kimberly needed to call her aunt. Yes, she was an
independent modern woman in many ways, but the traditions of family
and upbringing dictated that she check in at least once a week with
her. An older woman, Audrey was still very active and appeared
combative to most who met her.

It
was this warrior spirit that helped her survive the civil unrests in
the south and then discrimination in New Jersey, where she now
resided with her youngest daughter, Maya and regal cat, Ebony.

This
was Aunt Audrey’s hundredth cat and each one bore the same
name. They were the Albino looking variety with pink eyes and almost
transparent skin. Maya hated it and paused mid cuss word to answer
the phone.

“
Hey
Maya, what’s up? It’s Kimberly.”

“
Yo
Cuz, what’s good in the high rise? How are the folk treating
you over there?”

“
Everything
is great! I got a new job today, where is your mom?”

Maya
didn’t like people to know Audrey was her mother because she
was conceived late in life by a pastor delivering words of comfort
after the passing of Audrey’s husband-or so it was rumored. The
neighborhood was rife with gossip after Maya was born and as she grew
up, she was haunted by questions about her questionable paternity.
Audrey abruptly put a stop to all queries after she bitch slapped the
nosy neighbor who dared utter in public that the girl was a bastard
and ill conceived. The street brawl turned violent when plant pots
and garden fixtures were thrown and the neighbor left the battle
missing a few teeth.

It
was after that they moved to New Jersey and subsequently all fights,
street brawls and brash behavior were put to one side and seventy
five year old Audrey finally became a lady.

Her
voice could be mistaken for a man’s but Kimberly knew well it
was her when a gruff voice barked hello into the phone.

“
Aunt
Audrey! How are you, it’s Kimberly.”

“
Hey
darlin, this is the second time you called this week, is everything
ok?”

“
More
than ok auntie, I got a new job today.”

“
I
didn’t know you were looking! Congrats honey. Any word on a
husband? This one here isn’t giving me any grand babies and my
time in the world is measured. Y’all gonna let me die without
seeing the next generation?”

Kimberly
had anticipated the question, or demand as it often sounded and the
same answer was there, ready to fire back at the old woman.

“
I
am not ready yet auntie, I can’t be tied down to a man and
children right now. I have a career and that’s all I wanna
focus on right now. But soon auntie, real soon.”

“
Been
hearing that same song for years now girl. Don’t be distracted
from the things that really matter in life child. When poor Ali
passed it was the most devastating thing, but I would never have made
it without hearing him and seeing him every day. Love is important
sweetheart. Don’t you lose sight of that when you are raking in
the money. You hear me girl?”

Aunt
Audrey’s tone was more solemn than usual and this concerned
Kimberly a great deal. Watching her toes wiggle in the strands of the
colorful modern carpet, she waited in silence to be sure the old
woman was done with her words of wisdom. A raspy cough punctuated
Audrey’s words and she rested for a while before continuing.

“
Anyway,
enough rambling from someone old enough to remember Nixon. Where is
this new job and are they paying you better than the last place?”

She
was old and this allowed Audrey to ask questions that would be
considered rude by the average person.

“
Yes
ma’am, they are good people and the benefits are decent. I
think it’s a good fit for me. I start in the morning.”

“
Well
best of luck to you and I hope you are blessed with every good thing
that you desire. Keep your eyes out for a good God fearing man. I
want to see you happy Kim. We love you.”

“
I
love you guys too auntie. Look out for the wire transfer on Monday.”

“
Alright
honey. Bye.”

The
line went dead in Kimberley’s ear as she ran the conversation
through her head. When the screeching tone pounded in her ear, she
clicked the off button but didn’t move.

So
much pressure all around to be married and have children. She didn’t
mind the husband so much, but was apprehensive of the children that
came along with the institution of marriage. Her mother was horrible.
Even though Kimberly was raised by other women who were strong and
mostly morally upright, the fear that she would end up treating any
children she bore the way her mother did her, haunted Kimberly’s
thoughts every time the subject came up.

Crack
and booze were the staples that held the loose fabric of Camilla’s
life together. Yes, she needed to mind Kimberly but the pimp didn’t
care if one had children or not- money had to be made. Prostitution
was conducted in the daytime at many elite places in America, but
Camilla’s trade was plied at night on the dark dangerous
streets and often, Kimberly was left alone.

Her
mother didn’t prepare dinner and with a tummy growling, an
ambitious Kimberly decided to cook the one box of Mac and cheese in
the otherwise empty cupboard. The salt shaker on the counter sang as
she added the salt and after the artificial orange cheese was stirred
into the soupy pasta, she was satisfied that she had done an
excellent job.

Jeopardy
was on. The show intrigued Kimberly because there were a few black
people who had made it to the finals and this proved to her that not
all of her kind were as stupid as the media made them out to be.

The
smoke was faint at first, but then billowed through the small door of
the greasy kitchen door and drifted into the dining room, enveloping
the ugly, floral Formica chairs. On her last forkful, Kimberly lifted
her head to see the curls of smoke enveloping her head and instantly
went into a panic. Should she call 911? Should she try to turn off
the stove? Where was the door?

As
it turns out, all options would be closed to young Kimberly as the
room became more filled with white and gray clouds. It ended up on
the ten o’clock news. The fire fighters descending from a tenth
story window of semi neglected apartment building, a rag of a girl
flopped over his shoulder.

Six
months would elapse before Granny Jenna would gain custody of her and
try to fix what Kimberly’s cracked out mother had permanently
damaged. It would be another six months before Camilla would commit
suicide committing Granny Jenna to a lifetime of remorse. She had
failed in her mission to raise a good child.