Page 7 of Cessation
Noticing I didn’t have any pens on the table, I grabbed two from my desk.
“Ms. Hart, Paxton Hughes.” Sabrina brought him in, and I turned around to see the same man from the club.
To see him in broad daylight instead of underneath strobe lights, had me second guessing if my relationship with Trust was as solid as I thought it was. Paxton Hughes was fine. Trust was good looking, but the man standing in front of me held a certain swag about himself that turned his features up a notch.
Not allowing myself to get lost in admiration, I approached him with my hand extended and a smile on my face. It soon dropped when I got a whiff of his cologne.It was him.He wore that intoxicating cologne that I was so intrigued by from the sandwich shop.
Clearing my throat, I said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Yani Hart. Have a seat.” I gestured at the sitting area to my left.
After shaking my hand, he made his way to the sofa, but not before unbuttoning his blazer. That small action caused the hairs on my back and forearms to stand. All he was doing was slightly getting comfortable and I couldn’t handle it.
“Ms. Hart, I hear you’re the woman to see when it comes to having a match made in heaven.”
Damn!His baritone sent chills through me. No man’s voice was supposed to have me confused on releasing my fluids or holding it hostage. I disliked how my body was so quick to betray me.
“Whoever told you that, was right,” I responded, followed by a small chuckle. I took a seat on the sofa across from him. “I’m very good at what I do. I can’t tell you how many people come to me for advice and help with their love life. I get called the female Hitch quite often.”
“Ha! I enjoyed that movie. However, I’m curious as to why you chose my company to partner with.”
“Well, 50 Shades of Melanin is at the top of the charts right now and has been for quite some time. I have created a questionnaire that will reduce the number of failed attempts on finding love.”
“Failed attempts? Is the journey to true love not supposed to be a path of lessons? As you go through life you learn what’s for you, what isn’t, and what all you’re willing to tolerate. No set of questions is going to eliminate what God has set up for you.”
I scoffed feeling a little offended by his comments. My quiz solved a lot of people’s issues in the dating world. I had no problem with proving how my questionnaires made the dating experience easier.
“So, are you saying that my list of questions… is useless?” I inquired with a dipped eyebrow.
“I wouldn’t use those words, but yes.”
I had never felt disrespected the way I did in that moment. “Wow. Okay. How about you allow me to put together an event to show you how useful my inquiries are? To make it even better, you can participate as a candidate. That is if you’re single?”
“I’m single,” he stated not breaking eye contact.
My body reacted to those two simple words. Somehow, I was pleased with knowing he was still unclaimed and didn’t have a woman attached to his hip. I was thinking about his availability forgetting all about mine.
“Good. You’ll make a fine participant.”
“May I have a look at these questions, Yani? Is it alright if I address you as such?”
I nodded and found something else to focus on. Paxton was invading my space and he had yet to move from the seat he’d taken. His gaze was threatening the loyalty I had for Trust. He looked at me so intensely as if I was harboring something that belonged to him.
Not being able to take it any longer, I searched through the papers for what he requested. I had suddenly become extremely nervous. I never once came across a man that had me questioning my ten plus year relationship.
“Here you are.” I handed over the list and stood to grab a bottle of water from the mini fridge.
I was no fool and knew exactly how it felt to have someone’s eyes on them. With every step I took, I could feel him following me. My shape had always caught the focus of any bystander. I realized that he wasn’t any different. It low key boosted my ego to know that I captured his attention.
Grabbing the water, I made my way back to the space that I previously occupied. “Would you care for anything to drink Mr. Hughes?”
“I’d prefer you to call me Paxton. I think being on a first name basis brings on comfortability. And no, your assistant already offered.”
Finally, his eyes found interest in what he requested. While he studied the paper, I studied him.
His chiseled features were very attractive. No matter how young he may have looked, you could tell he was a mature man. His demeanor screamed out alpha and there was no doubt in my mind that he ran shit in his world.
As he set with his left leg propped on his right knee, I admired how clear and moisturized his chocolate skin was. There wasn’t a pimple or blemish in sight. Also, his lineup was so crisp, I wanted to tip his barber for him. That went for his hair line, mustache, and goatee as well. Just looking at him, you couldn’t spot a physical flaw and that drew me in even more.
His eyes found mine again, and I quickly looked away. I was being a creep, enjoying the view, and I didn’t need him knowing that.
