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.”