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Before I could respond he was on his way back to the table to join his children and I was left with another reminder that I had no clue just how deep things were with this family.
***
“Jhorie, hey. Come in, sit down.” Samiya smiled widely as she waved me into her office.
She offered a hug and we got seated to catch up.
“You look good.” She took me in then arched a brow. “Let me find out this city is treating you right.”
Not the city but a man who lives here most certainly is.
“Honestly, I feel better, happier than I have in a really long time.”
“That’s good. If you’re happy you’ll stay. That must mean things are going well with the initiative.”
“They’regreat.”
Well, fuck. My voice elevated too high. There was no way she missed that.
“Oh hell. He got you, didn’t he?”
“Got me, what do you mean?”
Nope, she didn’t miss it.
“Ezekiel. I’m going to murder him. I told him to keep things strictly business…”
“He has.Wehave.”
She rolled her eyes. “If your voice cracks any more you’re going to shatter the windows in here, Jhorie. You two are fucking.”
“I… We’re… Shit,” I exhaled. “I promise it will not affect my ability to do the job and if it helps we kinda crossed that bridge before I even accepted the position.”
My eyes landed on hers and she frowned at me. “What do you mean?”
“I met him at a club the night I interviewed with you and we enjoyed each other’s company.”
“Girl…” She barked a laugh. “You fucked and pretended like you didn’t know him when I asked you to take a meeting…”
“I wasn’t sure if I should tell you. At the time, that night wasn’t relevant. It was a one night stand and I never expected to see him again. He never wanted to seeme…”
“That’s not the case anymore, is it?” She arched a brow and I shook my head.
Please don’t let this woman fire me.
“No, it’s not but being in a relationship with Ezekiel has not affected my ability to do the job I promised to deliver. I love what I do and I’m really fucking good at it. I’ve accomplished a lot already, starting with improving the plans already in place. My personal life has nothing to do with my capabilities. So if you fire me…”
“Girl, relax. I’m not going to fire you. Hell, I probably want to promote you at this point. You’re not just sleeping with Ez, you said relationship. That’s an accomplishment within itself. Do you know how many women have tried to lock that man down since his divorce was finalized? Hell even before then and he wasn’t interested in one of them. I personally know a few who made him offers he should not have refused, but he did. You deserve a bonus.”
“You’re not going to fire me?”
“No, but I could. You signed a contract with an ethics clause which included fraternizing with anyone connected to the initiative. It’s standard but still. I could enforce it considering Ez is the whole damn initiative. But, I like you and you’re right, you’re damn good at your job. Don’t think I haven’t been checking in on your progress. I’m also going to curse Ez out. I made him promise not to cross that line with you.”
I relaxed. “He didn’t pursue me. Things kind of just happened.”
“I would call bullshit but I have a whole husband and family because sexjust kinda happened.” She playfully rolled her eyes. “Speaking of, that’s part of the reason I asked you to come today. My family is expanding, which means I’m going to have even less availability than I projected.”
Her hand landed on her stomach and my eyes lowered. “Oh wow, congratulations.”
