Mask

Chapter 6

“So, did you like it?” He asked, still with a hint of cockiness in his voice and his gaze.

Again, I tried to look away, because him asking me if I liked anything, automatically put me back in that dark room in Miami. Did I like it? Hell yeah, it was the best night of my life and I really would love to do it again anytime today would be nice. I thought, “Yes, it was very thorough and I can honestly say that if my father hears your proposal, he would be impressed,” I said flattering his ego, while at the same time, struggling to keep my legs on my side of the table and crossed.

“Thanks, that means a lot coming from you” he said, instantly sending my heart and mind into overdrive.

He said I mean a lot to him. I thought. “You’re welcome. Now your five minutes are up, and I should be going,” I said, not meaning it but I still grabbed my purse off the table. I didn’t want to leave, at least not without him.

“Not going to stay and wait on my boss?” He asked, sounding a lot less worried than before. If anything, I would say he was upset that I was leaving or at least that’s what I wanted to believe.

“I have no reason to stay and I have a lot of work back at the office to do,” I said, as firmly as I could without giving myself away, and again avoiding his hypnotic gaze.

“What about to keep me from getting into trouble?” He said, in what sounded like a flirtatious tone.

My eyes snapped towards his, and a smile spread across my face, as i said “why would you get in trouble? You did your job. Your boss should be thrilled,” I said, happy he wanted me to keep him company while hoping it wasn’t to impress that douche he called a boss.

“Normally that would be the case; however, if I leave this place without him seeing you, I'd be punished,” he said, sounding serious but I could tell there was a hidden motive or at least I hoped there was.

I frowned, “then he should have been here 20 minutes ago. Taking off his frustration on his employees is petty.”

“Agreed but since he is your boyfriend…”

“Boyfriend?” I asked, disgusted at the thought of DeAndre telling anyone especially Jeremih that he was my boyfriend. “He is not my boyfriend or anywhere close to being.” With the way I said that, I half expected him to beg for forgiveness or at least look concern. But he didn't, instead he just smiled that prefect smile at me as if expecting those words to come out of my mouth. Instantly I felt embarrassed and ready to crawl under the table for my outburst.

“I figured it was a lie,” he said, licking his lips.

“Then why did you bring it up?” I asked suddenly feeling stupid.

“Curiosity got the better of me. I apologize for putting you on the spot,” he said, feigning sincerity, but I decided to let it go, the last thing I wanted to do was talk about DeAndre.

“You're a puzzle Mr. Davis,” I said, smiling back at him.

“Not really. I'm an open book. Ask me anything,” he said.

“Okay why are you an assistant when you are so good at Accounting and Marketing?”

He sat back, his smile dimmed a little and I suddenly felt like an asshole for asking such a personal question, “Fase is one of the top accounting companies in the world and everyone has to start somewhere.”

“How long have you worked at Fase?”

“Five years. Started out in the marketing department then my second year there I was “promoted” to the position of assistant to the assistant of Finance,” he said, using quotes around the word promoted.

“So, they saw your potential, and hid it?” I asked taking a sip of my water.

He shrugged, “That could be it or I willingly became his assistant to meet you,” he said now staring at me with those lustful gray eyes and I almost choked on my water.

Does he remember me? I thought, then shook my head and said, “Yeah, I doubt that, good try though,” I said, playing with my straw and trying to sound nonchalant.

He laughed; his cool demeanor gone. “Okay maybe you're right, but when you have student loans to payback and an aging mother to take care of, you go where the money is until you can find something better,” he explained.

“And have you been looking for something better?” I asked. Like me? I thought.

“Not really, right now I'm looking for a raise,” he said more to the table than me.

“Well we have a finance department at our company I'm sure if you were leading it we wouldn't really need Fase,” I offered.

“Is that your way of asking to see me again?” He asked as he very causally leaned back in his chair one elbow propped up on the table and he brought his finger to his lips.

I watched the movement very carefully, with my eyes resting on his lips, I could feel my cheeks reddening and I was sure I would need a new change of panties by the time I left there, since the ones I was wearing were completely soaked. “Yeah, you are very talented. We need someone like you to take Thorton to the next level,” I said, as calmly as I could and again averting my gaze to what used to be a glass of water.

“I'll have to think about it,” he said, reverting back to the employee tone, but his eyes and his stance stayed the same. I was the one that was supposed to be in control, but when it came to him it was the other way around.

“I understand but if you change your mind,” I said, as I reached in my purse and grabbed my brother’s business card. I was tempted to give him mine, but at the last moment decided against it, despite how I felt, I didn’t want to come off as needy, even though I really needed him.

His smile faded when he saw the name, “Akuma Kahananui? I am pronouncing it right, right? He asked, seemingly disappointed.

“Yes, that’s my brother. You can talk to him and tell him I recommended you,” I said, enjoying his reaction. Though it was still unclear if he remembered me, just knowing that he was attracted to me made me happy.

“So talk to your brother and not you?” he asked, amused.

“Of course, that is his department and he is always looking for great talent,” I explained.

“You are the true puzzle Ms. Kahananui,” he said, placing the card in his pocket.

“Why is that?” I asked, as I placed my elbows on the table then collapsed my hands together and placed my head on top, as if I were a kid enjoying a good story.

“May I call you Tailani, it’s a lot easier to pronounce than Ms. Kahananui,” He asked, avoiding my question.

“I don’t mind, I actually prefer it to you butchering my last name,” I teased. All I ever wanted after meeting him ten years ago, was to hear him say my name the way he had just done, so denying his request would have been shattering the dream.

“What is that Hawaiian?” He asked, completely changing the topic.

“Yeah, grandparents still live there. My father started Thornton when he moved to Albuquerque for college,” I said, proudly, and suddenly feeling like I was on a date and not in the middle of a business meeting.

“I knew about your father, your company was actually one I looked into while I was in college,” he said, nonchalantly.

“And yet you chose Fase,” I reminded him.

He smiled then looked at his hands and said, “Yeah, I chose Fase, because it is the largest accounting and marketing firm in the world that was my major in college.”

“Which again is why you should consider working for us. I’m pretty sure we could match any number they offer you and the benefits aren’t that bad either,” I said, trying not to sound desperate.

“Thanks, I will definitely think about it,” he assured me.

“See that you do,” I said, as professionally as possible

“I am so sorry, I’m late Tailani traffic was a nightmare,” I heard DeAndre say, interrupting our conversation.

“Its fine, Mr. Davis took care of me,” I said as Jeremih stood to yield his seat to DeAndre, an act that seemed forced.

“Is that so,” DeAndre said, sounding rather pleased with himself.

“Yes, in fact I think he deserves a raise,” I said eyeing Jeremih who smiled back at me shocked.

“Why is that” DeAndre asked sounding offended.

“Because if it wasn’t for him, I would have left a long time ago and had my father drop your company as our accounting and marketing manager. Honestly, you never show up late for a business meeting. I felt stood up,” I said as if I actually cared. I just wanted to please Jeremih as crazy as that sounded.

DeAndre's straightened up, “I am so sorry Taliani, it really was traffic, you know I would never stand you up,” he said, as he reached his hand out towards mine, I gradually pulled it back. The last thing I wanted was for him to touch me, if anything I wanted Jeremih to do it.

“Of course, just remember for next time,” I said, stealing glances at Jeremih who was still standing behind DeAndre when he should have been in front.

“So shall we talk about my proposal?” he asked, reverting back to his normal conceited self.

I started to say no, that Jeremih had already told me about the proposal, but at the last moment decided against it, instead I said, “Sure, Mr. Davis would you care to join us?” I asked hoping he’d take me up on my offer.

“No, Jeremih has to get back, he has a lot of work to do, don’t you Mr. Davis?” DeAndre asked, narrowing his eyes at Jeremih.

“Yes sir, it was nice meeting you Ms. Kahananui,” he said, before turning and walking away, leaving me sitting there depressed and confused.