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“Well, tomorrow I will.”
I didn’t know why, but the idea of seeing Aaliyah again seemed much more important to me than some morning call. Ever since she’d come back into my world, I hadn’t stopped thinking about her. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was doing okay.
20
Aaliyah
I spentthe night researching Connor, and I was floored by what I found. I’d had no clue he was so powerful. Not only had he built himself an empire from the ground up but he also made sure to give back tenfold to the different communities as he succeeded. It was hard to find much personal information due to him never doing interviews.
From what I read, it seemed he was a stand-up guy with morals that he stood by—which held true to how he’d appeared a few years ago. Giving back to the community seemed to be high on his priorities, and that intrigued me. Jason wasn’t as big on giving back in the same way as his business partner had been, though it might’ve been because Jason grew up privileged. He hadn’t struggled a day in his life when it came to his finances. From what I’d read, it seemed as if Connor had to fight tooth and nail for every cent that fell into his bank account.
The next morning, I found myself standing in front of Roe Headquarters with nerves in the pit of my stomach and a bouquet in my hands—because what do you bring to a person who you are about to beg to give you an exclusive interview? Red and white roses, of course. The pack of chocolates under my arm was a backup plan, too, if he didn’t like the flowers.
After I called Connor’s office, asking if I could meet with him, I was surprised he was so quick to give me some of his time. From what I’d read, he was a pretty busy man, and I had no doubt I’d taken more than enough of his time over the past few days.
My mind was running in extreme overthinking mode as I rode the elevator up to Connor’s office. The moment I walked through the doors, the receptionist looked at me as if I were insane holding the flowers and box of chocolates.
“Hello, how can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m here to see Connor.”
“You’re Aaliyah?”
“Yes. Should I wait out here to—” Before I could finish my thought, the door that led to Connor’s employees’ offices and his own opened up. A tall, somber-looking man stared at me. His all-black suit matched his charcoal black eyes. He was built, his arms pressing against the fabric of his business shirt, and the dark earrings that pierced his ears tied together his whole vibe. To put it frankly, the man looked terrifying, the kind of person you did not want to piss off because he could end your life with one stern look—the complete opposite of Connor’s bright, welcoming feel.
When he turned to look my way, chills raced down my spine to the point that the box of chocolates almost dropped to the ground.
“Aaliyah?” he asked, his dark eyes staring into mine.
“Uh, yes?” I asked, sounding unsure.
“You’re here to meet with Connor?”
“Yes?” I said again—as if it were a question.
He nodded once. “Follow me.”
I looked at the receptionist to make sure this man wasn’t going to murder me, but she’d already moved on to a different task. We walked down the hallway, and the knots that sat in the pit of my stomach hadn’t dissipated. I felt like an asshat walking down the halls with a bouquet. What sane woman brings a grown man a bouquet?
A desperate one, I supposed.
We paused in front of an office door, and the man knocked two times before being told to come in.
“Aaliyah is here for your meeting,” the somber man stated, nodding in my direction after opening the door. Across the way sat Connor, who stood from his seat quickly. He wore a light blue button-down with navy blue slacks, along with a belt that had probably cost more than my whole wardrobe if he shopped anything like Jason.
“Thanks, Damian. You can close the door behind her,” Connor said, nodding toward the man who escorted me. “Aaliyah, come in, have a seat.” As I began to walk toward the chair, Connor slapped his hand against his upper thigh. “Wait, Damian—I almost forgot.”
“Please don’t do this right now,” Damian said dryly.
“Come on, we can’t avoid our daily banter,” Connor insisted.
“It’s not daily banter. It’s you being idiotic.”
They must’ve had a different kind of boss-employee relationship. If I’d said those words to Maiv, I would’ve been attending my funeral the following week. Cause of death would be a heel to my ass.
Connor rounded his desk and took a seat on the edge of the wooden structure. He crossed his arms, and a wicked smirk found his lips. “Why did the ketchup blush?”
Damian let out a dramatic sigh. “I don’t know. Why, Connor?”
