The Best Thing He Never Knew He Needed (10 page)

The ding of the elevator
took him out of his trance. His mind was so wrapped up with
Sherita, he had forgotten he was in the elevator with Audrey, but
when he felt her reach for his hand, he snatched it away, looked at
her and said, “It was nice to meet you, Audrey, but I have to
go.”

Dejected, she said, “Is
something wrong?”

“
It’s business…something I
neglected to do earlier.”

“
Is it something I can
help you with?”

“
Thanks, but no. It’s just
a small fire I need to put out before it becomes a raging inferno,”
he said.

“
Okay, well thanks for the
drink.”

“
You’re welcome,” he said,
and after watching her step back inside of the elevator, he
continued down the hallway to his room, mumbling disappointment at
the realization of what was happening to him. Sherita wasn’t even
here, and the thought of her was doing a number on him. Making him
feel things he didn’t want to feel. Would it ever stop?

In his room, he undressed
quickly, stepping under a stream of lukewarm water, attempting to
put out the
fire
he’d just told Audrey about. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to
be working. He could still feel the heat of Sherita’s lips against
his. Her face against his. Out of frustration, he slapped the tiled
wall and shut off the water. He didn’t like this not one bit. No
woman could have this kind of control over his mind. He was
determined to get her out of his head, one way or
another.

CHAPTER 10

The next morning, Desmond
sat up with a frown on his face, reluctant to start the day with
thoughts of the woman he’d dreamed about. Again. Did he want
her
that
bad? So
much so she would invade his thoughts and dreams every time he
closed his eyes?

He yawned. Stretched.
Glanced at the clock. He quickly looked at it again, not believing
it was almost noon. He’d overslept. He didn’t have anything on the
schedule today, but he didn’t want to sleep in either. Extra sleep
was a waste of valuable time. There was always something to do,
even if it was something as simple as updating his calendar or
planning his next business trip.

First, he needed to check
his messages. Taking his cell phone from the nightstand, he noticed
several urgent text messages from Dante. Then again, everything was
urgent to Dante. As CEO of The Champion Corporation, his oldest
brother made sure to stay on top of everything. Since Desmond
hadn’t called to give him an update on Bell-Butler, he was certain
that was the reason for Dante’s text messages.

Dimitrius had tried
calling, too but didn’t bother leaving a voicemail or a
text.

Sitting on the edge of the
bed now, Desmond dialed Dante’s desk phone. Dante rarely took lunch
breaks, so Desmond was sure he’d be in his office.

“
Desmond, where have you
been, man,” Dante answered with irritation in his voice.

“
I was sleeping. What’s so
urgent, Dante?”

“
I need you on the next
flight to Asheville.”

“
Why? What’s going on?”
Desmond asked. He stood up and walked over to the windows in the
gray boxers he was wearing.

“
Let’s just say I got an
interesting visit from Victor Westwood yesterday.”

“
He actually came by
there?”

“
He did, so get dressed,
get on a flight and get here as fast as you can.”

“
And what about
Bell-Butler?”

“
We’ll worry about them if
and when they contact us. If need be, Kurt can take over this
account. Right now, I need you here, bro.”

“
Got it,” Desmond said.
“Let me throw on some clothes, and I’ll head straight for the
airport.”

“
Thanks, Des.
Later.”

Desmond set the phone back
onto the nightstand and blew a frustrated breath. It was only
Tuesday, and he was already going back to Asheville. So much for
his plan of getting Sherita out of his system.

* * *

Sherita had been home all
day today, frustrated with the process of uploading pictures to her
website’s portfolio page. If she was going to make photography her
only occupation, then she needed to make money at it – enough to
support herself and take care of her parents. Her father had gotten
laid off two years before retirement age, and her mother never had
a job. Now, all the money they had to live off of was the money her
father made working odd jobs and the money she would give
them.

Frustrated, she took a
break from her computer to stretch. After taking a bottle of water
from the refrigerator, she stepped out onto the balcony and
marveled at how beautiful the day was turning out to be.
Low-eighties. Bright sky. The laughter of children filled the
streets and something she hadn’t thought about in a long time had
floated its way inside of her mind. Her happily ever
after…

Her closest friends had
already married and started their lives with good, solid men. And
there she was, still single. Normally, she wouldn’t think about
things like this but thanks to her mother, Thane had been on her
mind. And then her mother said Thane might be her last chance at
happiness. How could she be happy with a conniving, serial cheater?
How could a relationship work when one party didn’t trust the
other? She definitely didn’t trust Thane. He’d broken her heart
once. He wouldn’t do it again.

Walking back inside, she
picked up her cell to call Emily when she saw another text from
Thane:

We need to talk. I’m
thinking about one day next week. Let me know what day is good for
you.

-T. P.

Just go away
already.
She shook her head and continued
with dialing Emily’s number.

“
Hey, girl,”
answered.

“
Hey. Are you at the store
today?”

“
I am.”

“
Would it be too much
trouble if I came over? I need to talk to you about
something.”

“
You know you don’t have
to ask to come and see me, Sherita. Come on over, girl.”

Sherita smiled. “Okay. I’ll
be there shortly. Thanks, Em.”

“
All right. See you in a
minute.”

CHAPTER 11

“
Hey, Rita,” Emily said,
looking at Sherita as she quietly walked in her office.

Sherita sat down, burying
her face in her hands.

Emily immediately jumped up
and stooped down in front of her. “Sherita, what’s
wrong?”

“
I…I don’t even know where
to begin,” she said tearfully. Honestly. She sniffled and after
removing her hands from her face, more tears rolled out of her
eyes.

Emily grabbed a box of
Kleenex from her desk, then was right back in front of Sherita,
attempting to comfort her. “Rita, talk to me. What’s bothering
you?”

Sherita shook her head.
“Gosh, I can’t believe I’m actually crying. I’m so
stupid.”

“
No, you’re not stupid,
you’re human, now talk to me.”

Sherita dabbed her eyes. “I
was home alone thinking about how almost everyone I know is either
married or getting married, and I’m still single and I’ve been
single for four years. Four years, Emily.”

“
Oh no, Sherita. Did our
conversation on Friday bring this on? If it did, I am so
sorry.”

“
No, well that was a part
of it. Then, yesterday, I got a phone call from my mother, telling
me that Thane was in town. She proceeds to tell me he has changed,
and I should date him again because I didn’t have any other
prospects.” Sherita dabbed her eyes. “I must be a total loser if my
own mother thinks I can’t get a man.”

“
You know that’s not true,
Sherita.”

“
I do…still I don’t want
to hear it, especially when I feel like I’m the woman no one
wants.”

“
Rita, there’s somebody
for everybody, and like you said, you’re only
twenty-six.”

“
According to my mother,
I’m twenty-six with
no
prospects
. It’s like she was telling me to
go ahead and get back with Thane because he was my only
hope.”

“
Nonsense.”

“
That’s what I thought
initially, but what if my mom is right?” she said in a teary
whimper. “Maybe I should just get back with Thane, marry him and
have his babies. At least then, I can fit in with you and Melanie
again.”

“
Sherita, now you’re
talking crazy.”

“
No, I’m not. I see how
you two have moved on with your fabulous lives, and don’t get me
wrong Emily. I’m happy for you both. I just don’t know why a man
has never wanted me that way…so much so that he’d go through great
lengths to get me like Dante did to get you. And you have Ezra…you
have your family. Pretty soon, more babies will come and then your
lives will totally revolve around your family…not your single
friend who just can’t seem to get or keep a man.”

Emily sighed and dabbed her
eyes. “Sherita, I try to include you in almost everything we
do.”

“
I know, because you don’t
want me to be left out. I get it, but you shouldn’t have to do
that, Emily. As a matter of fact, don’t do it anymore,
okay.”

“
Sherita—”

“
No, I’m serious. I don’t
think I’m going to be here much longer, anyway.”

“
What are you saying?”
Emily asked, paling slightly. “You’re moving?”

“
I’ve been thinking about
it.”

Emily swallowed hard and
failed to catch the tear that slid out of her eye. With a shaky,
trembling voice, she said, “I know this is selfish of me to ask,
but what about Ezra? What about Grace? What about me? You’re like a
sister to me, Sherita. I don’t want you to go.”

“
I know, but—” Sherita
took a breath. “There are more job offers for me near the coast,
and it would help a lot if I lived there already...” Sherita
sighed. “Listen, I’m going to go. I’m sorry I upset you. I didn’t
mean to. I just wanted to talk…to get some things off of my
chest.”

Emily stood up.

Sherita joined her. “Well,
thanks for listening.”

“
This isn’t over. I’m
coming by your place when I close the boutique.”

Sherita shook her head.
“No. You don’t have to. You have to get home to Ezra, and when you
do, give him a kiss for me. Okay?”

“
I’m coming over,
Sherita,” Emily said, taking a step closer to her friend, pulling
her into an embrace. “And listen…I don’t care what your mother
says…if you don’t want to be with Thane, or whatever his name is,
then don’t settle for something you don’t want. What kind of name
is
Thane
anyway?”

The women laughed together,
teary-eyed and all.

Sherita dabbed her eyes
again and said, “I’m a mess. Let me get out of here.”

“
Okay, and don’t
forget…I’m coming over.”

If Emily said she was
coming over, then she was coming over. She’d always been a loyal
friend, something Sherita appreciated about her. So instead of
offering up any defiance, Sherita shot a half smile, then headed
for the door, leaving the boutique.

CHAPTER 12

Dante paced the floor with
his hands buried in the pockets of his pants, waiting for Desmond.
It was already six in the evening. He should’ve been there by now.
What was the hold up?

Dimitrius called Melanie to
inform her that he was still at the office, waiting for Desmond to
arrive.

Dante left a message for
Emily since he couldn’t reach her. Then he called the nanny to
check on Ezra.

Dimitrius looked at his
watch. “Dante, maybe we should just do this tomorrow morning…start
fresh on Wednesday with a clean slate. You know how moody Desmond
gets after traveling.”

Dante smirked. “Desmond
has been
moody
a
lot lately, but I doubt it has anything to do with
travel.”

“
Oh, yeah…Sherita.”
Dimitrius grinned.

Dante thought quietly for a
moment, then said, “Our brother has some deeply rooted issues he
needs to resolve, and he’s going to need our help. So we’ll just
have to suffer through his mood swings for now. This is too
important to wait until tomorrow. He needs to hear this
now.”

“
Hear what?” Desmond said,
stepping into Dante’s office, taking a seat next to
Dimitrius.

“
You’re here. Finally.”
Dimitrius scowled.

“
Slight flight delay,”
Desmond responded. “Now what’s going on so I can get out of here?
I’m ready to crash.”

“
Well,” Dante said,
walking over to the door, closing it. Even though the workday ended
at five, there was a good amount of people who hung around until
six, and he needed to keep this information strictly confidential.
“So, as I told you both already, I met with Victor Westwood
yesterday.”