Rendezvous at Silver Lining

Damien's POV: 1 question

“How are sales?”

“Well, Mr. Becker, they have been steady for the past few months. No significant drops or rises. We think once the marketing team and whatever else they have planned for us over at Silver Lining is finally implemented, we will be able to see improvement.”

“Oh, that is a fact, Mr. Carson. I'm sure there are plenty of competent people over at SL, but I can assure you it will be because of Ms. Loore that we see significant changes, without question.”

I smiled, knowing what I just said was nothing but true. My secretary knocked on the door frame of the room that held our bi-weekly meeting, came over, and whispered in my ear. I nodded and excused myself from the meeting.

“Excuse me, ladies and gents. Have all documents, especially projected sales growth and any potential risk or extra money output for the next coming month or so, on my desk by end of day. Continue on with the meeting.”

I walked out of the room, hot on my secretary's heels

“She's already here?”

“Yep. She's waiting in meeting room 12.”

I looked over and gave her a knowing look.

“... Jade? What's with that face? You ain't already tryna see if she's by any chance lesbian or bi, are you?”

Jade laughed and shook her head.

“Gasp! How could you think so low of me?”

She pretended to be offended, and I just looked at her.

“Really, Jade? How could I not?”

We both laughed, and she shrugged her shoulders.

“I guess I can't blame you. I do have a bit of a reputation for these sorts of things. And that woman, if she was lesiban, I would’ve eaten her down to the white meat. She's so damn fine, Damien. Where the hell have you been hiding her? Damn. When I first saw her, I almost dropped to my knees, ready to open that cookie jar.”

I shook my head and laughed, but lowkey the image alone was enough to turn me on. Jade has been my assistant for years, even when I wasn't working for my dad's company and my friend for even longer. Jade’s a gorgeous woman. She's about 5’8, olive skin, freckles that run across her nose, and deep red hair that was usually curly, but today she wore straight with a slight curl at the bottom. She had pretty brown eyes, a narrow but rounded nose, and full pouty lips. Like I said, she's a beautiful woman, and many men have tried to conquer her, but she's the conqueror. We've known each other since we were kids. She was 6 when I was 8 when our parents first got to know each other and we've been best friends ever since. A lot of people think there's something going on between us, but it's never been like that. This woman, as dainty as she looks, is a beast. She is her own man, excuse me, woman. I love her fire, and she's one of the funniest people I know. Her parents would love for her to take over their company once they retire, but she's not too enthused by the idea. She hates the politics of big corporations and the greed so many shows when it comes to gaining more wealth and power. All those reasons are good enough reasons for her to become the CEO, in my opinion. She'd make an amazing boss, and she'd always put the people first, just like her parents. If you haven't already guessed it, she's the daughter of the Blakfield’s. Her parents didn't want her to give up on the idea completely but would never force her. So she compromised and asked if she could be my assistant, even before I came into my title of CEO, which I haven't yet, officially, but I have been put in charge of many things. The Blakfield’s thought that if she hangs around me long enough and sees the day to day life of a CEO, maybe it'll ignite the drive of becoming CEO herself. Jade could absolutely do it. She's brilliant.

I was brought out of my thoughts by the sight of my songbird. It felt so weird, yet exciting, to have her in my domain. I felt like a lion who finally was able to trap its prey. Both Jade and I stopped outside the meeting room and gazed inside.

“You sure she's not a little bit gay?”

I chuckled.

“I'm not all the way sure. That's something you'd have to ask her. If she says maybe, I swear you better not take her.”

“I'm not stingy. I'd definitely share if that's something she'd be into.”

I smiled at her, and she winked at me. This has always been our kind of banter. She's like one of the guys, but sexier. We entered the room together, and Divinity turned her attention to us.

“Good morning, Ms. Loore.”

“Good morning, Mr. Becker.”

She smiled her killer smile, and I nearly melted.

“I never thought I'd be able to call you that again.”

I looked at Divinity and tilted my head, confused by her statement.

“You only wanted me to call you Damien so that you'd knew who I was speaking to, remember.”

She smirked at me, and Jade was trying her best to hide her giggles behind her tablet. My eyes widened, and a light chuckle left me.

“Well, I'm happy you remembered that. I would hate to have to tell you twice, Ms.Loore.”

Divinity couldn't help but look bashful, and Jade, threw caution to the wind, and burst out laughing.

“I really can't with you sometimes, D. He wasn't always this suave guy he tries to be, Ms.Loore.”

“Who says I'm trying to be anything, Mrs.Blakfield?”

I cut my eyes to her, and she narrowed hers at me. I smiled because she hated to be called by her last name. She didn't like it when people treated her differently because of her parents. She insisted everyone just call her Jade.

“Oh. You're the Blakfield’s daughter?”

Divinity asked with a big smile. She was kind of giddy, and I knew why. She really hit it off with Jade's parents last weekend, so she might have been excited to meet their daughter.

“Yes, I'm their daughter. Do you know them?”

Jade can be guarded when around anyone who asks about her parents. It usually came with favors and requests. I just let the scene play out, knowing Jade would come to the same conclusion as everyone else once they got to know her.

“I know of them. I just met both your parents last weekend at their charity event. They're lovely people. Your mom is hilarious, and your dad reminds me of Mr. Becker, the older one. I call him grandpa sometimes, off the clock. Gotta keep it professional.”

Divinity only smiled, and Jade smiled too, but she waited for the “but” to enter into the conversation. It never happened.

“Is that it?”

Jade looked confused at Divinity, and Divinity returned the look.

“Was I supposed to say something else?”

Divinity looked at me, hoping I could fill her in. I smiled.

“You were the young lady they spoke about. I thought it was a joke and didn't believe you existed.”

Songbird looked on in confusion.

“Uhh, who spoke about me.”

“My parents. They don't usually speak on anyone because most people are snakes, but they said they met a very kind and funny young lady at their event. They said they would love for us to get to know each other. I don't trust people easily either because they usually want something in return. I was waiting for a bunch of questions about my parents to come in or you to ask a bunch of favors from me, but you didn't.”

“Why would I.”

Jade's eyes widened at her question. I understood her shock. We don't come across a lot of Divinity's in our lives, so it's shocking when we do. Divinity just laughed at her expression.

“It seems you're asking me more questions about your parents than I did or even planned on doing. They're great people, but me getting to know you has nothing to do with them. If I wanted to know something about your parents, I'd just ask them. What they have and what they do has nothing to do with who they are. If they weren't good people, I wouldn't have even bothered to ask if you were their daughter.”

Divinity laughed, and Jade just looked at her. Divinity got a little uncomfortable with how quiet Jade was.

“My bad. Was that rude? I wasn't trying to be, just being honest.”

Jade broke out into a bright smile.

“You weren't rude at all. In fact, I like you a lot. I can see why my parents thought we'd make great friends. I can also see why Damien here has been walking around here like a lovesick puppy.”

“Hey!! How'd I get into this?”

I looked over at Jade, and she smirked at me while Divinity laughed.

“What? It's true. Anyway, I'm glad to officially, officially meet you, Ms.Loore”

“Please, call me Divinity.”

“You got it. Call me Jade.”

“Ok.”

I looked at both of them, and for some reason, I felt like I've made a mistake in letting them get acquainted with each other. I shuddered at the thought of knowing the types of conversations Jade would be having with Divinity eventually.

“Well, Jade, if you're done stealing my lovely songbirds company, I'd like to speak to her about why I asked her here today.”

Jade raised her hands in mock surrender, and I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, I'd love to know why you asked me here too.”

I turned my attention to my songbird.

“I told you I had connections to art galleries. I have an associate who runs the biggest art gallery in the city. I sent him the screenshot of your sketch, and he loved it. He was surprised that you only did it as a hobby as well. He's running late, but we'll be meeting with him in just a bit.”

Her jaw hit the floor, and I chuckled at being able to get this sort of reaction out of her.

“Mr.Bec-”

“It's Damien.”

I interrupted her. Just because this is work doesn't mean she's getting out of calling me by my name.

“Uh, right, Damien. It's Wednesday. It hasn't even been a week yet. How the he- hack did you get all this set up so quickly?”

I smiled and gazed into her eyes.

“I have my ways, Ms.Loore.”

She looked at me and narrowed her eyes.

“I have to call you Damien, yet you insist on calling me Ms.Loore?”

I shifted in my seat and leaned forward.

“I love your name. Divinity is gorgeous, but Ms.Loore, it just does something to me.”

I winked at her, and she looked away from me, no doubt flustered by what I said.

“Ooh, ok, Damien. Maybe you are a little smooth talker.”

I chuckled as I watched Divinity rest her elbow on the table and put her forehead into her hand, clearly embarrassed.

A ding went off from Jade's tablet, and she got up.

“I'll be back. Our guest has just arrived.”

She walked out, and I turned my attention to Songbird. She seemed a bit out of it today. Her usual bright aura felt a little dimmed.

“Songbird, are you ok?”

She didn't even look my way.

“Yeah, I'm ok. Just busy and tired from work.”

She didn't even sound believable. I got up from my chair and walked to her. I turned her head to me and raised her chin so that her eyes met mine.

“What's wrong, Divinity?”

Her eyes were telling me a story I couldn't understand in its entirety, but I knew she was hurting. Her mouth spoke the things she wished she could feel in the moment.

“I'm ok, really Damien. I'll be fine. I… I just hate… why couldn't... Nevermind. It's stupid. I wanna focus on this amazing thing you did for me. Thank you. Even if it doesn't work out, thank you for trying.”

She leaned in and kissed my cheek, then held it in her hand. I didn't forget about what she said a moment ago, but I was too drawn in by her lips to focus on anything else. I grabbed the wrist closest to my face and kissed it. She took in a deep breath. There was only one thought on my mind, and my thought became a question.

“Would you do me the honor and have dinner with me?”

I held my breath for her answer.