When Friday night came, Dave's plan was to make me look as impressive as possible and I got ready at the beauty room in the office. I allowed him work his magic on my face since he could pass for a professional makeup artist. This meeting was really important because I've had my eye on this celebrity for awhile and securing her through the manager was my only strategy. If everything went accordingly, getting to be on her team would be good for business. 

I slid into the off-shoulder dress Dave picked out for me and paired it with high heels. I was using a toothbrush to style my baby hairs when the call from Chike came in.

"Hey," I answered.

"Hey, back. Can I see you tonight?"

"Not tonight. I have something planned." I placed the phone in between my shoulder and ear to get more gel from its tube.

"Are you still upset?"

"Not anymore. I'm busy, that's all." I dropped the toothbrush and held the phone to my ear.

"Let me know when you're free then."

"For sure. Bye."

I ended the call and found a pair of earrings to wear. I was running late which gave me anxiety and I didn't want to make a bad impression on a first meeting.

"Ready?" Dave peeped before walking into the room.

"I am. I need to leave, like now."

"Your folio is in your car, I also added your laptop just in case you need to use it."

I raised my arms when he aimed a bottle of spray at me. "Thanks. I'll call you if I need anything."

"Kill it, Jade." Dave blew me a kiss before I left the office.

The universe was weirdly on my side that evening because there was barely traffic congestion. When I arrived at the restaurant, a valet collected my car keys and I strolled in. I took my reserved seat and relaxed once I confirmed my guest wasn't present yet. 

I ordered a glass of white wine and I was half through with it when I saw him approaching. I stood to exchange brief air kisses with him.

"Ben Jonathan but you can call me Ben," he introduced himself. He was a forty-ish bespectacled guy in a well-fitted suit.

"Jade Collins."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine." I smiled when I heard him laugh. I took my seat and met Ben's eyes. "I ordered white wine while waiting-"

"That's no problem. Hope I didn't keep you waiting for long?"

"Not at all."

"Great, what are you having?"

I picked up the menu when he asked and perused it. "I've never been here so I'll go with a safe dish. I'll be having the spaghetti Bolognese."

"I'll have that also." Ben recited our pick when the waiter came to take our order. "How's the business?" he asked before I could begin my killer introduction.

I buttered the complimentary bread and responded before taking a bite. "Thriving. Trying to take on more clients." 

"Yes, isn't that the reason we're here? You think you can style Kerry better?"

"If I'm given the chance. I've worked with a large number of celebrities and no one is yet to voice their displeasure."

"I looked you up online. You'll definitely do well with her judging by your track record but Kerry is somewhat different than your regular celebrity."

"That'd make it all the more interesting."

We broke off to enjoy the steaming bowls of pasta placed on the table.

"It's better than I expected," Ben declared after he took a forkful.

"It's really good," I added as I rolled several strands of pasta around my fork.

"Kerry would like this. When I say she's different, I don't mean it in a positive way, she can be quite challenging."

"Doesn't make much difference."

"I have to pitch this proposition to her in a way that'll make her see reason."

"I'm sure you'll handle it well."

"As I always do. She needs a bit of tough love, a stylist that won't always give in to her demands. She could try to wear something appalling for a red carpet if she's not convinced."

"I face that every day. Most people don't actually know they need a stylist until they get one."

"That's true. She'll like you, you can count on that."

The plates were cleared as we finished eating. Our glasses were filled with more wine and I listened to Ben talk about his artist.

"So what will you be doing this weekend?" he asked.

"I don't know right now, but I can get back to you when I check my schedule."

"We could go out on a real date, something not so serious." He was smiling.

Did he just make a pass at me? I didn't know what to make of it. I was trying to come up with a convincing excuse to blow him off when I heard him curse.

"Oh, Christ! What is wrong with you?"

I looked up to see Ben dabbing furiously on his trousers.

"I'm sorry about that."

My wine glass almost slipped from my hand when I recognized the voice. What was the odds? I tried to keep my face from registering any emotion but my mind was in turmoil. What was Chike doing serving wine here? Ben's lips curled in disgust as he created a scene.

"I want to see the manager, this boy has to be fired. Can you imagine the nonsense?"

"I think you should go to the men's room to clean up. I'll speak with the manager," I said weakly.

I let out the breath I was holding as Ben walked away to the bathroom. I faced Chike and his face was hard and unreadable, he wasn't even meeting my gaze. His hands were folded with the wine bottle still within his clutch like some veteran chef or something.

"What are you doing here?" I said under my breath.

Chike walked away before I could think of more to say. Ben got back to the table still flustered and upset.

"I want him fired. He just ruined my suit." he said.

"That's not necessary. It was obviously a mistake," I said trying to make light of the situation.

"Don't make excuses for the riff raff. Careless bunch, all of them, he shouldn't be working this job if he can't pour wine," Ben bellowed like a drunken sailor.

I wanted to say it was just a suit but I remembered I needed his support in getting his artist. The manager came to our table nervous and ready to make things better.

"We'll take fifty percent off your bill for all the difficulties," he said.

"I want him fired. I don't want to see him the next time I come around," Ben said.

"That can be easily arranged," the Manager replied then smiled with all his teeth.

Ben was so flustered and I was scared he was going to have a heart attack.

"We'll continue this discussion later. I need to get out of this unfortunate place." He threw his napkin on the table and left without a backward glance.

I finished my wine all alone after Ben walked out. It had been difficult to get a meeting with him and I wasn't sure I was going to get another shot so soon. I could kiss getting his referral goodbye. I called Dave to tell him what happened, I wasn't specific with the details since he didn't have to know it was Chike that ruined the entire evening. Dave was sympathetic and his response made me hopeful.

I looked around the place to see if I would catch a glimpse of Chike and when I didn't I drove to the office to park my car. I got a cab to Chike's place and was still debating whether to be angry at him or not. It was all so messed up and I was drained from working so much. Chike opened his door bare chested and wearing only cotton briefs when I knocked. He went back to bed when I came in and I had to push the door shut.

"So you work in a restaurant also," I said as he laid on his bed with his hands beneath his head.

"It was a last minute job, I had to fill in for someone. I got turned down earlier this evening and I needed to get busy."

"For a business dinner. There was nothing to it and I don't even have to explain this to you." Why was he acting like a kid that got his candy taken?

"Oh, you do." He stood from the bed and walked towards me. "You're not allowed to stare at some other man like he's your long lost lover while we're having this, whatever it is." He motioned his fingers between us.

"That's why you spilled drink on him?" I cocked my head in question.

"It was an accident."

"You don't expect me to believe that, do you?" I moved closer to him and trailed my fingers over his tummy. He removed my hand and went to sit on the bed.

"You really don't take me seriously," Chike fumed.

"I do."

"I can't believe you're aroused when I'm being serious."

Gosh, he was sulking. I climbed on his lap and put his hand on my waist.

"It was a business meeting and I was never going to go on a date with him. You have nothing to worry about."

I realised I just overpromised but I didn't care. 

His grip on my waist tightened. "I didn't like him looking at you like that."

"Let's forget about him. Help me get out of my dress."

His hands left my waist to cradle my breasts. "You look breathtaking," Chike said as his tongue came out to lick my neck. "I love this mole here," he said then proceeded to lick said mole.

"And I love your chest." I returned the compliment.

"Not my dick?"

"That too," I said, smiling like a besotted teen.

"It likes you too."

My dress was the first to land on the floor, followed by my panties as Chike got to exploring my body, building the pleasure when his hand lingered on the V of my legs. When I couldn't take the slow torture anymore, I rolled him over and he laughed at my eagerness.

"Who taught you how to do that?"

"Stop talking."

"Always in a hurry. I'm yours to do with as you like."

I took his length in me after he secured on a condom, lasting for few minutes before exploding in pure pleasure as orgasm raked over my body. Chike rolled back on top and thrust repeatedly. When I felt another orgasm building, I wrapped my legs around his waist to give him deeper penetration, making us come together.

"I think I'm in love," he said, kissing me roughly.

"It's just sex," I reminded him.

"I know. It'll fade when I get my post nut clarity."

"I don't know what that is."

"Never mind." He went to the bathroom and came back to bed. Chike played with my hair, twirling a loc around his fingers before kissing my back. "That asshole got me fired from the job."

"You'll get a better one." I kissed him to make him feel better.

"I hated it anyway. I was sucking up to rich asses even when I felt like punching them."

"You'll be alright."

I had nothing else to say. I closed my eyes and he hummed a song while stroking my hair, I slept off while he still hummed.