WORST DAY EVER

Nyla studied her reflection in the mirror. She was ready. She had prepared for this day for the past week. Her newly manicured fingers smoothed out the gathers in her plum colored wrap dress. The fabric hugged all her curves without showing off too much of the goods. She was polished perfection.

Her naturally curly hair gave her an air of mystery. The plum color highlighted her caramel skin. She slipped into a pair of sling back heels and grabbed her shoulder bag. “You have to believe to achieve girl...so believe it.”

The pep talk was the cherry on her sundae. Nyla was taking the first step to creating the future she dreamed of. Sure it had taken her longer than she’d liked, but Nyla had finished college with degrees in fashion and business management. This position at Todd’s was just what she needed.

Todd’s was an old money, high fashion chain of department stores. Landing the job as assistant buyer would give her the access she needed to make a name for herself. It was a dream job and Nyla felt that by this point in her life she deserved for her dreams to come true.

The problem with being a young, independent fierce woman was that the bills kept climbing. So, the bus it was for today’s journey. Even taking public transportation, Nyla looked hot. Shading her eyes with a set of Jackie O inspired sunglasses; Nayla took a seat on the bus.

She didn’t want to have to rush to her appointment, so Nyla had left plenty of time. Even with morning rush hour, the bus moved with efficiency. Nayla mentally went through her check list. Resume...check. Letters of recommendation...check. Photos of styling projects...check. There was no one who deserved this job more. Nayla knew there was definitely no one who wanted it more.

The bus left her almost three blocks from the department store. The weather was beautiful. She strolled towards Todd’s at a leisurely pace. Up ahead there was a Starbucks. Perfect. Nothing sounds better right now than a pumpkin spice latte. Nayla was practically jumping with joy. This day was shaping up to be one of the greatest.

She could see the line from outside. Typical of this time of morning, everyone needed a caffeine fix to start their days. Nayla was left in the doorway as the line wound its way outside. Patience was never her strong suit, but the smell of freshly brewed coffee held her attention. The buzz of the power that these people dealt in was intoxicating.

Nayla was buzzing even without her latte fix. She checked her watch for the dozen time and prayed that this line would move faster. “Does everyone have to order for three dozen people back at the office?” Nayla complained under her breathe.

Don’t these people know how important today was? Nayla was beginning to reconsider her coffee choice when a tall man bumped her from behind. She stumbled to the side, caught off balance. Her eyes met with his wide shoulders and sandy brown hair. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts.

It took another one to stop her mouth from hanging open. Without seeing his face, Nayla already knew he was beautiful. Snap out of it girl! Nayla straightened up and reached out to tap his shoulder. There was no way that he was going to jump in line before her. Not today.

“Good morning Stella. Can I get my usual...Grande? You know what; you’d better make it two.” Mr. hot and rude spoke in a deep and melodic tone.

Nayla felt his words ripple through her. It was like a soft caress. But he still had pissed her off. No matter how hot he was, the man needed a lesson in manners. Lucky for him, she was going to make this short and sweet.

“Excuse me...excuse me sir.” Nayla pushed forward and grabbed his arm.

Mr. Rudeness spun on her and sent her off balance again. This whole ordeal was getting old. His long fingers reached out and held Nayla’s arm to steady her. The touch was electric. It shimmered through her entire body.

Nayla could feel her breath catch. What the hell is this about? They stared at each other for a moment in time. A moment that was ruined instantly by the barista Stella.

“Here you go Marcus. I’ll charge it to your account; I know you’re probably in a rush.” Stella’s saccharin sweet smile made Nayla want to claw her eyes out.

She bit back the sarcasm that burned in her mouth. Nayla could keep it together long enough to make it out of the damn coffee shop. Turning her attention back to Mr. Rudeness aka Marcus, Nayla raised an eyebrow to him.

His sandy brown hair was perfectly styled, revealing the palest hazel eyes she’d ever seen. Marcus smiled and Nayla could have sworn his perfect teeth sparkled. The damn things actually sparkled.

“Sorry about this. I’m late for a meeting and Stella here is the best. She’s always taking care of me. Why don’t you let me pick up your drink this morning? Come on, what are you having?”

All attention shifted to Nayla. Marcus and Stella waited for her response. If he was trying to make it all better, then Marcus was way off. This was pathetic. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve got it but you should realize that everyone is in a rush. No offense, but I have an appointment to make too.”

Marcus’ shock was quickly replaced with humor. His already perfect smile split open to allow the sexiest laugh Nayla had ever heard escape. It was everything and it ended too soon. Shaking his head in disbelief, Marcus turned and disappeared into the early morning traffic.

Nayla and most of the other female patrons watched him leave. The man really was pure eye candy. He’d knocked off some of Nayla’s high this morning, but she still had to admit it was worth it. The man was a treat for all to enjoy.

“So what are you having this morning?” Stella interrupted the hot daydream that Nayla was in the middle of.

She could feel her face flushed with embarrassment as she ordered her now forgotten latte. It didn’t hold the allure that it had when she’d first stepped in line. Nayla paid for the drink and wondered why she’d turned down his offer. A free drink wasn’t much, but it was the best offer she’d had in a while.

Nayla took a minute to adjust her dress and bag. The encounter with Marcus had left her unbalanced and she needed to refocus and get her mind back in the game. Slipping her sunglasses back on, Nayla strolled out of Starbucks. There was almost two blocks before the store to gain her composure. She waited on the corner for the traffic light to change. Her attention was once again on her watch.

That’s when it happened. The traffic light had turned yellow and the crowd on the curb was ready to charge forward. A sleek black Mercedes sped forward. It was intent on making the light and hit a pothole before Nayla.

Last night’s rain had left the street flooded in some areas. This was one of them. The Mercedes sent a shower of dirty water in Nayla’s direction. She could see it coming, but with the crowd behind her there was nowhere to go. Nothing was available to hide behind.

The cold water sprayed over her beautiful plum dress. The same dress that Nayla had splurged on to impress the executives at Todd’s. It was ruined now. There wasn’t enough time to dry off or change for that matter.

There were tears of despair forming in her eyes. No...this was not happening right now. Life could not let this happen to me. The light changed color and Nayla raced on with the rest of the morning commuters. The closer she got to Todd’s the more nervous she felt.

Nayla was losing control...fast. She was going to blow her chance if she couldn’t tamp down on her panic. Outside of the large department store, Nayla stopped by a trashcan near the corner. Juggling her coffee, bag and a couple of napkins; she tried to clean up as best she could.

Patting at her once perfect dress, Nayla cursed her size. There was too much fabric to clean up in such a short time. Nayla wasn’t paying attention to anything but her dress. She should have been though. Stepping back from the trashcan, Nayla tried to get a glimpse of her body in the department store window.

The best chance for a decent reflection was over by the corner, so Nayla made her way over. Again, she was lost in her own reflection and missed everything around her. Nayla turned to her right, trying to get a look at her behind in the glass.

Life has a funny sense of humor and it seemed to be focused solely on Nayla this morning. In the blink of an eye she was face to chest with a tall man. It happened so fast that she didn’t have time to protect her latte.

The hot liquid tickled down the front of her wrap dress. Nayla could feel it trailing between her big breasts. She didn’t dare open her eyes. It was the worst thing imaginable. This couldn’t be happening to her.

“Damn it, you should look at where you’re going. This isn’t a place to just hang around. It’s a busy corner.” The voice was sharp and angry.

Nayla didn’t want to believe it. She couldn’t imagine that the person who had destroyed her morning had struck once again. Even if she didn’t want to believe it, Nayla knew that voice belonged to none other than Marcus. One step back then another separated them.

Marcus finally came to the same realization. His harsh curse confirmed that he remembered Nayla as well. “Jesus, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I swear. I told you I was running late and what were you doing here on the corner?”

His words spilled out in a jumble. Nayla couldn’t form words to express what she felt. They stood there staring at each other. Marcus aka rudest man on earth actually looked worried by her silence. His mouth opened and closed multiple times. But nothing came out.

“Look, I’m really sorry. It wasn’t intentional. I’ve got to go, but if there’s anything I can do...” Marcus let the words drift off. The truth was he had no clue what he could do or what was happening between them.

Through the whole catastrophic experience, Nayla remained silent. There was less than forty five minutes until her interview and she was a complete and utter mess. The scent of the latte clogged her nostrils. The stickiness between her breasts was getting cold.

She tossed her semi-crushed coffee cup into the trashcan and walked past Marcus. He yelled after her, but she ignored his calls. Nyla practically ran into Todd’s. She’d hung around the store; searching for inspiration and secretly wishing that she’d get to work here one day enough. Knowing where the ladies room was, Nayla headed in that direction.

In the restroom the reality hit home. Nayla looked at her reflection and felt the tears well. She’d been so confident, so excited this morning. Just hours ago, Nayla had believed that she was in control of her future. Now she was a hot mess. Covered in a mixture of muddy water and pumpkin spice latte, Nayla was in no position to have this interview. It was the worst scenario she could think of.

Snapping into action; Nayla deposited her bag on the counter and grabbed a handful of paper towels. She dampened some and began to clean up. Loosening her dress, Nayla wiped down her breasts and chest. Then she placed all her focus on rescuing her dress.

Dabbing away on the plum material, Nayla silently prayed that this would work. Dab...dab...dab. Please God, please just give me a break. Nayla worked quickly, just how she’d been taught by all those fashionistas. She scurried over to the wall mounted dryer and tried to maneuver her body around so that it hit all the wet places.

Another check of the time showed her that she had less than fifteen minutes before the interview. Nayla prided herself in being on time, hell she was usually early. This wasn’t going to be the day that changed her reputation. Nayla wouldn’t let that happen.

Hitting the button on the dryer continuously, Nayla prayed that she would be fairly dry for the interview. Time was up and so Nayla took another look in the mirror. She forced a smile, but the fact was she was a hot mess. The confidence and pride she’d felt hours ago was gone. She’d washed them away with the remnants of her latte and filthy rain water. A fresh coat of lip gloss and a spritz of perfume was the best she could do now.

Nayla couldn’t look anyone in the eye as she made her way to the executive floors above the store. She’d prayed for the opportunity to make an impression on the big wigs at Todd’s and now she was bound to make an impression all right. The elevator deposited her in a large waiting area. In the center of the bright space was a square desk that looked more like a command center than a check in.

“Good morning. Nayla Robinson here for a ten AM appointment with Rory August.” Nayla gave her best smile and stood tall. Her pride wouldn’t let her do anything less.

The receptionist took in Nayla from head to toe. The skinny bitch even took in a deep breath. Nayla panicked and wondered what she smelled like, but didn’t let it show. She was not going to give this girl the satisfaction.

“You can have a seat over there. She’ll be out in a moment.” The skinny witch pointed to the right and dismissed Nayla at once. She went back to whatever the hell it was she was doing in the command center.

Nayla made her way over to the assigned space and sat impatiently. Rory August was notorious in the industry. The small woman was fierce, vein and most of all a control freak. It had to be her way or no way...always.

At five to ten a thin red haired woman appeared through the smoked glass doors. She didn’t come fully into the waiting area, only stood outside of the doors and searched the space. “Miss Robinson?” that was the extent of woman’s verbalization.

Nayla bounded to her feet and grabbed her bag. Moving quickly in the woman’s direction, he answered. “Yes, yes I’m Nayla Robinson. Mrs. August?” Nayla made it to her and held out her hand.

Once more she was visually inspected and had to fight to remain still and not cover up. “Rory August...no Mrs. Attached. Follow me please.” The small woman had a firm handshake. The hold was strong and quick.

They walked silently through a long maze of a hallway. A sharp right led them to a bright, sunlight filled room. Rory’s office was pristine. All white and muted greys; the space screamed luxury and class.

“Have a seat so we can get started.” Rory invited Nayla to take one of the slipper chairs before her desk.

Nayla had rehearsed it all. She thought she was ready for any questions that might be tossed her way. Arguments had been prepared for anything that might have impeded Rory’s choice. All that preparation was for nothing.

Every word that left Rory’s mouth served to push Nayla farther and farther away. All of her remarks hit too close to home. The words reverberated in her skull. Nayla sat there on her best behavior, playing the part of the calm and civilized business woman. Inside was a totally different story.

Nayla’s stomach was tied in knots. She actually felt faint by the end of the interview. It was a task to keep focused on the conversation. Nayla may not have liked what she was hearing, but any information would help her improve for the next time.

“Todd’s has a long legacy of style and appearance. Here at Todd’s we don’t just sell clothing and accessories, we sell a lifestyle...a mindset. You have very good qualifications but I don’t think that you fit into the Todd’s vision. Please understand that what we sell happens from the minute a shopper peeks at out window. That’s the tease, when they walk through the front doors, the seduction continues. At this point in your career, I don’t think that you would fit into the kind of seduction we practice hear.”

Rory August was a bully. Plain and simple. Her gift was that the insults were masked in expensive perfume, silk and lace. Even knowing that, Nayla couldn’t bear to hear anymore.

Rising to her feet, Nayla ended the interview and took back control. There would be plenty of time later for a break down. “Thank you so much for the opportunity. I appreciate your time and advice and hope that we can do business in the future.”

Nayla’s actions stunned Rory, but she recovered quickly and offered to walk her back to the waiting area. Nayla declined the offer. She could feel the tears forming as the walls of Todd’s began to close in on her. She raced past the maze of offices back to where she’d begun. Pulling herself together before facing the skinny gate keeper at reception, Nayla held her head up high as she waited for the elevator.

Her mind was distracted and her heart was broken. That’s the excuse that Nayla was giving for not acknowledging the man in the elevator. She’d stepped into the elevator and hit the lobby button. Nayla closed her eyes as she slumped against the cool mirrored wall. Nayla’s mind was filled with all the self-doubt she normally kept at bay.

A cough startled her. Nayla swung around and found Marcus in all his sexiness. He leaned against the back wall of the elevator with his arms crossed. The steel grey suit strained against his bulk. Nayla fought back a groan.

“You?” the word came out as a bark. Nayla had had enough of this man today. Life was somehow punishing her.

Mr. Rude aka Marcus cocked his head and ate up her appearance from head to toe. “Me...you don’t look so happy right now. Do you want to talk about it over another cup of coffee?” he unleashed that megawatt smile in her direction.

How dare he? “How dare you? Do you have any idea what you’ve done to me today? Do you?” Nayla had lost all sense of propriety and politeness. She was out of control.

Marcus straightened his large form and took a step towards her. Nayla watched as his brows furrowed. She’d done it now. Mr. Hotness was turning into his evil twin. She took a step back for every one Marcus took forward.

Marcus stopped and opened his mouth to speak but instead a loud groan filled the elevator. The sound was followed by a drop and thump. Nayla reached out and grabbed the wall beside her. She could feel her stomach drop and her knees tremble.

His features transformed once more. The anger Marcus had just seconds ago vanished and was replaced by concern. Marcus closed the gap between them and held onto Nayla’s shoulders. With a slight shake, he got her attention.

“Are you okay? Talk to me sugar...tell me something.” He searched her face and waited for Nayla to respond.

Nayla couldn’t form the words to tell him she was fine, just slightly terrified. She could feel the tremble in her body that had nothing to do with their current predicament. The heat from Marcus’ fingertips singed her skin through the fabric of her ruined dress. Blinking wildly, Nayla tried to find her voice.

The lights in the elevator cab blinked off and then a set of emergency lights with an amber hue came on. They were left in virtual darkness. Instinctively, Nayla took a step closer to Marcus. She wasn’t necessarily afraid of the dark, but combined with the height this wasn’t the way she wanted to die. Even if that meant her last moments on earth would be with the deliciously fine Marcus.

His arms wound around nail’s body easily. Marcus pulled her closer and rubbed her back in a firm but calming motion. “Sugar its okay. We’ve been having some problems with these old elevators lately, but I thought we’d gotten all the kinks out. They’ll have us out of here before you know it.” Nayla felt, more than heard him talk. The sound reverberated through her starting with all the places she was now plastered against his lean, muscled body.

Nayla’s voice was still on sabbatical, so she nodded that she understood what he’d said. The calming rubbing of his hands lulled her into a state where she could actually think. They may have been stuck in a darkened elevator, but in her mind lights were going on all over.

We’ve been having trouble? The sexy idiot worked for Todd’s, the same Todd’s that had kicked my behind and crushed my dreams. The very same department store that was now trying to kill me by plunging me to my death. He was behind it all. The jerk!

“You jerk!” Nayla’s harsh whisper cut through the silence in the elevator. She pushed away from his hold until her body was plastered against the closed doors. “You did this...you’ve done all of this.” Nayla was so mad. She had discovered a new level of fury in meeting Marcus.

He did it; Marcus placed the last straw on her already tired body. His laughter was deep and loud. No matter how good it sounded or what it made her feel, she was still pissed. “Sugar I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about, but I can promise you that I didn’t get us stuck in this elevator. Why don’t you have a seat and try to relax...”

Nayla cut him off. “Sugar? Who do you think you are? I am not your sugar or anyone else’s for that matter. You ruined my life. You did this!” hysteria was staking over. It wasn’t a good look for her and she knew it. The problem was she couldn’t help it. The gate was open and she was running wild.

A beeping began in the elevator and the panic rose to new heights within Nayla. Marcus on the other hand was relaxed. He moved over to a panel near the opposite corner and popped open a small door. She watched him pull out an old fashioned corded phone. His words soothed her even though she had no clue what he was talking about.

Marcus brought his attention back to Nayla. “That was the maintenance department. They know we’re in here, but it looks like it will be a while before they get things moving. There’s a lot of technical lingo, but I have a feeling that you really don’t care. Now can we get back to what set you off since we’re stuck together for the foreseeable future?”

Her knees gave out and so did her resolve. Nayla sunk to the floor, her back sliding down the closed elevator doors. It was dark enough that she shouldn’t have worried about her appearance, but the random glimpses of his eyes made her want to look good.

“Nayla...my name is Nayla and you single handedly ruined my life today.” She could hear how pathetic she sounded, but didn’t care anymore. Marcus came closer and removed his suit jacket. He mirrored her position and sat beside her. She felt the warm of his body beside her. It caused a shiver that he noticed.

Without any suggestion, Marcus grabbed his discarded jacket and laid it over her bare legs. Nayla was angry; she was downright furious but was already feeling the thaw. Marcus wasn’t to blame for everything. He hadn’t helped but he wasn’t the only one to blame. “Thank you.”

“So...Nayla, want to tell me about it?”

One deep breath after another had Nayla searching for courage. “I had an interview for the associate buyer position. I’ve been obsessed with this store my whole life. Todd’s is what made me chose what I do for a living. I was walking tall when you came into my life today. After that...well after that it all kind of fell apart.”

Marcus remained silent, thankfully. He gave her the space to think and share what she wanted. “You busted up my caffeine fix in the morning, and then some idiot in a black Mercedes sped through a light and drenched me in gross street puddle water. That’s what I was doing on the corner outside. I was trying to clean up. Then you came round the bend and blew that all to hell.”

Nayla was exhausted. She let herself lean against him and her head found its home on Marcus’ broad shoulder. There it was all out and she hadn’t died. Nothing catastrophic had occurred. Tomorrow she would get back into the game and start the search for her next opportunity.

“I’m sorry.” Marcus whispered into her riotous curls. “There’s no way I would have wanted to do any of that to someone like you. Someone with an insane smile or cinnamon sugar skin. So you see Sugar, I never meant to be a dumb man.” He chuckled at the end and reached for her hand.

Nayla watched Marcus toy with her fingers. In the dark of the elevator, Nayla could see the difference in their skin tones. So different but still so nice she stared at them.

“You know if I had known I would have helped you out this morning. I’m a pretty big deal around here.” Marcus laughed at himself. He felt her sit up straight and continued quickly. “I’m not saying I would have gotten you the job, but I might have given you a new dress.”

He released her hand and stared straight at her. “I’m glad that the interview went badly for you. If you had gotten the job, then I wouldn’t be able to ask you out for dinner. We never would have gotten the chance to get to know each other.”

Nayla was shocked buy his words. She should’ve been offended that he was glad her dream job had evaporated, but she wasn’t. Marcus wanted to take her out to dinner. “Why?”

“Why what Nayla? You’re a beautiful and smart woman; I want to get to know you. Actually I want to know everything about you. But I’ll settle for dinner to start with.” Marcus made his point by leaning in and pressing his lips to hers. The kiss was firm but gentle.

Hunger flamed inside her. Nayla wanted more. Her hand came up to cup his cheek and the feel of slight stubble made her belly clench. Images of that stubble rubbing against her breasts, her stomach became too much. Nayla groaned into the kiss, the sound swallowed by Marcus.

Marcus broke the kiss. “Damn sugar, do you have any idea how crazy you make me. I’m going to fix this. You’re going to have dinner with me tonight and I will make it all better.” His words were more a growl than anything else.

Nayla felt playful and alive. “Promise?”

“Damn straight I promise. You tell me where I can find you and I’ll be there at seven.” The moment was broken by the elevator lights blinking back on. They stared at each other in the bright light. “Do you know you smell like pumpkin spice and taste like sin?”

The elevator began it’s decent. The ride remained silent. There was nothing left to say. The heat between them spoke volumes. When the doors opened, Marcus led Nayla out with his hand firmly on her back. They strode past security and the maintenance engineers. He waved them all off.

“Where is your car at?” Marcus and Nayla were out on the sidewalk in the full glare of the sun.

Nayla laughed off the question. “I didn’t drive here today. I’m okay now and I guess I’ll see you later?” It came out more as a question rather than a response.

Marcus walked away from her and stepped off the curb. With a loud whistle he hailed a cab for her. As he leaned in the window to speak with the cabbie, he waved her over. “Take the lady where...?” Marcus still didn’t know where she lived.

Nayla quickly gave the address to both Marcus and the cab driver. She was amazed when he handed the driver a few bills. “Go and rest, I’ll see you soon Sugar.”

The ride felt like it took no more than a blink of an eye. The shower she took didn’t register. Nayla was on cloud nine and the dream of a night out with Marcus had her heart beating double time. She had no clue what he had planned, so choosing an outfit took longer than she would have liked.

The end result was a deep teal sheath dress with a low neckline. High heeled ankle booties in black leather matched her black leather jacket. Nayla felt strong, sexy and empowered. How could Marcus do this to her with nothing but the thought of being near him?

At seven on the dot a knock sounded at her door. Nayla opened to a smiling Marcus holding two cups of Starbucks. She couldn’t help but laugh at his silliness. “I thought we could both need a boost before we started the night.”

Nayla pulled the cover off of hers and inhaled the delicious aroma of pumpkin. “You cheated and bought the same thing you spilled this morning. No originality.” It was a tease and Marcus took the bait.

“I wanted to replace that one and I couldn’t help but think of this scent for the rest of the day. I figured I could learn what other flavors you like later. Besides, this is congratulatory coffee. I happen to be great friends with the executive buyer over at Palms; I called and told him that we let a star slip through our fingers. You Sugar have an interview in two days.”

Nayla lost all interest in the cup and set it down. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the man before her. Without any warning, she bolted into his arms. Marcus held her just as tightly as she held him.

“Marcus...I think that I may just love your rude ass. Thank you, for everything. This has turned out to be the best day of my life.” Nayla sealed her sentiment with a kiss that started out sweet and soon set them both on fire.

Their lips meshed and their tongues tangled. Nayla felt lightheaded with the power of her feelings for this man. With hands now roaming over each other, Nayla thought what was the big deal about dinner anyway?