Hannah's POV

My heels clacked against the ground as I transversed the streets of New Fort. Fall was around the corner, the leaves surrounding me turning orange, it's dried counterparts falling in a carousel ride. Divine sun touched the city, striking past the branches of surrounding trees and spreading immaculate shadows along the road. 

I held unto my paper coffee cup, taking an occasional sip as I walked alone, strutting down the cobbled path. Inhaling deeply, I glanced around. People were deep in their phones, walking along the park area, not taking time to appreciate the green scenery. 

It was absolutely shithousery. This was me since I started working for Vincent. I hadn't have enough time to myself of even taken a break. With him, there was no leave or rest days. It shouldn't be surprising considering the sort of company I worked in. 

Settling on a bench, I leaned back and took another deep breath. The sky was radiantly blue today, like God had an excessive amount of blue paint to splurge on his favorite canvas. I appreciated that. But I knew this was all a distraction. A feeble attempt to take my mind away from what truly mattered. 

This game I was playing was dangerous. I knew it. Vincent seemed to be a master at playing stoic. It came easy to him; the ability to mask his feelings. However, that was what was scary about him. What could have happened in his past to make him have an array of masks at his disposal? Imaginary spiders crawled on my back and I shivered at the thought. 

Taking a sip of coffee, I crossed my leg over my lap and shut my eyes. I had told him I needed to leave early today again for my date. I chuckled. Who was I kidding? I had no date with Julius today, but the look on his face was priceless. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, I knew my dating life bothered him. This was the conflicting part of it all. He made a sex contract that clearly stated that what we both only wanted from each other was sex. 

My fingers tapped my cup. Why was he making this difficult? I had solidified my mind on what we both were to each other. Sex partners. That was what it was, nothing more. This revelation no matter how many times I said it, always sounded foreign to my mind. 

The ping of my phone shot me out of my daydream. Slipping it out of my purse, I checked the message. 

Vincent; Urgent, meet me at Toto's cafe.

Me; I have a date, remember?

Vincent; Don't care.

Me; I do.

Vincent; If you don't come, you're fired.

I gasped. Frowning, I texted back.

Me; You're not allowed to pull the boss card.

Vincent; What can I say Hannah, I don't fight fair.

With him, I couldn't win. It was almost as if he was playing chess while I was playing checkers. He was always a step ahead. It happened at the masked party, it happened during the rainy night, it was happening now. Something told me it would also keep happening as well.

Groaning, I stood and began walking to Toto's. It was just around the corner but I made sure to take slow steps. If I were able to arrive quickly, he would suspect I wasn't at the supposed date I claimed to have. 

The park area dissolved into a busy city scape, towering skyscrapers, billboards and the scents of freshly baked pastries lingering in the air. I passed some really good cake shops, my belly occasionally grumbling with each one I passed. It was no wonder I was such a big back. I adjusted my shirt, suddenly becoming conscious of my ever growing stomach. Why couldn't a lady grow an ass without the stomach? 

Taking a turn, caffeine was the first visitor to my nostrils. Toto's large windows sided me, and I spotted Vincent sitting at a table with two cup of black coffees. I glanced down at the paper coffee cup in my hand. Sighing, I tossed the unfinished sweetened drink into the trash and entered the cafe. I wouldn't want to be judged for drinking a sweetened version of the real deal. The posh customers were already giving me glares when I was at the window. It was just coffee, people! Coffee!

Skirting past the bronze chairs and white tables, I arrived at Vincent's table. Sitting at the empty seat, I crossed my arms. 

"This had better be truly urgent."

"It is." He looked outside and sighed. "But first, you didn't have to toss your coffee."

"I wanted to."

"Lies. Strawberry bubble splash is your favorite flavor. You drink it everyday at work. My guess is, you didn't want to seem like someone who took surgery drinks, especially since they only serve pure unadulterated coffee here."

My palms became clammy with sweat and my heart rammed in my chest. I had forgotten how direct this man could be. Most men would pretend or even worse, not understand my reasons for tossing the drink. His dark eyes tore from the window, softly landing on me. They peeled me off layer by layer, gently and ever so softly till he saw past the walls of heart. I had never been read so properly in my life. Vincent saw through me and even though it could be very annoying at times, since he blurted out his opinions like a fool, I still appreciated it to some extent.

"So you're stalking me," I said, attempting to change the topic. "That's the only way you can know I drink strawberry bubble splash."

"I'm just a very observant person."

"Of course."

Footsteps thudded behind me and a man appeared, wearing a helmet and settling two mega cups of strawberry bubble splash coffee on the table. My stomach growled at the sight. Vincent thanked the delivery man and he left. Eyes of the posh people sitting around us in their Ralph Lauren polos and Loro pianas judged us heavily as they sipped their coffee. 

With a boyish grin on his face, Vincent put the two pure coffees aside and handed me one cup of Strawberry bubble splash. It was cold and my mouth watered. This was just how I liked it. 

"When did you order this?"

He smirked and picked his cup. "The moment you tossed the first one."

My heart melted and it was difficult to keep my toes from curling. A man who supported my sweet coffee addiction. It wasn't much, but it was something. Something very significant.

"They're looking at us," I said, my cheeks warming.

"I bet they wished they were as cool as us."

"We're practically committing sacrilege."

"Sacrilege is fun."

I rolled my eyes. "Alright, you have my attention. What is it?"

Vincent sipped from the coffee and his pupils dilated. He nodded in approval and leaned back in his seat.

"I can see why you're addicted to this stuff."

"Are you purposely stalling? I have a date waiting for me, remember?"

"If he truly cares for you, he would wait."

I blew raspberries. Julius didn't know the easiest thing in the book; chivalry. He saw it as "western nonsense". I doubt him waiting would be in the cards

"We have a merger to attend tonight." 

"And?"

"You didn't know of it because it was meant to be a top secret deal between our company and P-digital, a well know marketplace for books. By signing with them, we would have access to readers from over 200 countries."

I sipped from my cup and did an audible ahh from the satisfaction. "It sounds like a good deal."

"Yes, which is why you must attend." He slid two tickets to me. "Bring a plus one."

"Can I bring Julius?"

"No, don't bring your date."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "How did you know his name was Julius? I never told you."

"A good guess."

"Just the way you guessed that he was bald?"

Vincent shrugged and drank from his cup, avoiding eye contact. Nah, this brother was stalking me. But if it were true, how would I feel about that? Honestly, I didn't know.

"Well I had better leave then."

"I would send a designer to get you the dress you must wear."

"You don't know my size."

"I've fucked you numerous times, Hannah." I choked on my coffee. "I know what your body would look flawless in."

"You need to stop being so crude."

"And stop making you red faced?" He smiled and slurped with his straw. "Not a chance."

***

Black.

Elegant.

Sparkly.

Fucking hell. Standing before my mirror, I watched the choker maxi dress with a thigh split that hugged my skin in the most unholy way. The male designer, whose name I had come to know as Carlos snapped his fingers and nodded in approval. Vincent was right, he knew my measurements. But was having sex enough for him to know this much about me?

I inhaled, turning to see if my ass popped the way I wanted it to. Ashley's hand came crashing on it and I chuckled, taking a step back.

"Damn girl," she said, grinning. "Your man sure knows what he's doing."

"He's not my man," I countered. 

"He got you a dress." She pointed to the cloth bag laying on my bed. "And also a back up dress. I mean, Brother is doing his due diligence."

"He just wants today to go smoothly and as his secretary, he needs me to be by his side at all times. So that's probably for wardrobe malfunction, if it were to ever happen."

"Yeah, yeah, let's get going. The driver's waiting for us."

Ashley's long red dress swept the gown as she left the room with a happy skip. She loved parties. Those were her thing. For someone who read as much as she did, it was a great contrast to her life. 

Outside the house, in the dark night, a three car motorcade lit up our streets, their red brake lights and white beaming headlights the only visible parts of the all black entourage. Neighbours looked outside their windows, watching us as we got into the SUV in the middle. 

"Oh, this is it," Ashley said, rubbing her hands on the smooth leather. "I bet you a million bucks that Julius doesn't have perfect leather like this in his G-Wagon."

I rolled my eyes. Ever since I told Ashley about Julius, she had always hated him. I mean who wouldn't. But this new found hatred meant she began shoving me towards Vincent's door.

"Julius Anbassa, my big black fat ass." She did a mocking laugh, eyes wide open and said, "Girl, stop playing!"

Shoulders bouncing from a chuckle, I reclined back in my seat while Carlos adjusted my dress, his eyes  never once leaving my body as we travelled to our destination. 

An hour later, we were at the front of the Globe Continental, a five star hotel with a massive rotating golden globe above the high rise building. Flares of white light blinded our cars as cameras took pictures of the arriving guests. From the corner of my eyes, I saw some colleagues, including Janice, getting out of taxis. 

I had assumed Vincent would give every member of the team in our floor, at least the same treatment. Apparently, I was the only one arriving with a convoy. The hair on my skin stood as the car stopped in front of the red carpet. 

"Girl," Ashley tapped me, "don't tell me we're gonna strut."

"No, that's not possible."

"Hannah that's a fucking red carpet."

"Yeah."

"If I had known I would have done…" Ashley adjusted her black bob wig, "a better hairstyle."

"You look fine."

"Of course, I do." She smirked. "But you look nervous."

Sweat peppered my forehead. The camera men were getting more aggressive with their flashes and from my peripheral vision, I could see the doorman approaching my side of the door. I adjusted the cloth around my stomach, suddenly feeling like it had grown five inches larger. 

Deep breaths Hannah.

Deep breaths.

From outside, the flashes were almost blinding. I couldn't handle all of that 

"Mr Black said I give you this," Carlos said with a Colombian accent, handing me a pair of shades. 

My phone pinged and I opened it. It was a text from Vincent. Only two words. 

Kill it. 

Those two words sent a strange boost of confidence to my chest, straightening my spine and reminding me of the gorgeous black woman I'd always been. I put on the shades.

The door opened, the flashes attacking me from all angles. However, the shades absorbed every inch, bouncing them back. I waited for Ashley and she joined me by my side, her head up in pride. Nothing topped having a friend who just knew she was the shit. It was a confidence booster. A warm fluffy feeling settled on my shoulders and it was Carlos, settling a fur shawl on my shoulders.

"Still nervous?" Ashley asked.

"No."

"Good."

We strutted down the carpet, the paparazzi leaving the supermodels and focusing their attention on us. Facing them, we struck poses. My joints were a bit stiff. But when I saw how fluid my bestie moved, not a care for the world, I found my flair.

"One more for us, Ladies!"

Flash!

"Lovely!"

Flash!

"You look magnificent ladies!"

"We know!" Ashley yelled, smiling, making all cameramen laugh and continue taking pictures of us. 

When it was all over, Carlos was already in the lobby waiting for us. There were golden lights wounding  around every inch of the place. The ceiling was made of glass, allowing for an inferior view of the rotation globe at the top. Men in suits and ladies in expensive, sparkling dresses weaved around the place, workers with tags running around and shouting orders to themselves.

"Mr Black said Fur too heavy for you for night. He say I take it for you," Carlos said, taking the coat. 

"Hm," I muttered.

It was actually heavy. My heart rammed in my chest and dryness overtook my throat. Was Vincent a mind reader? It couldn't be possible. My phone vibrated and I checked it.

Vincent; Upstairs. Wear your tag and get moving. I need my secretary by my side.

I smiled.

Me; Just say you missed me. 

Vincent; Missed you? Hardly.

I chuckled and put my phone back into my purse. Taking a step forward, we were met by Fiona and Janice. The two bitches who were the last people I would have wanted to see tonight.

"You looked good out there," Fiona said with so much venom. Her makeup looked like a makeup apprentice did it in the dark. The contour wasn't countouring and the blush wasn't blushing. She looked like a horror movie character. The type that made you laugh, not run away in fear.

Janice grinned. "I knew you and the boss were fucking."

"What are you saying?" I gulped. 

"I mean, a convoy and strutting the red carpet? None of us were given that," Fiona said. "Must be good, huh?"

"Hannah, who are these?" Ashley said, stepping forward. 

"My colleagues."

"Is it against company policy for your friend to whoop your colleagues' ass?" My friend took another menacing step foward, forcing the two ladies back up.

"I don't think—"

Slap!

Slap!

The two ladies held their cheeks. Ashley's hand imprint was on their faces. I held back a smile. 

"What the fuck?" Fiona asked.

"You bet I've got a lot more from where that came from." Ashley cracked her fists. "I'mma give you bitches a whoopin' ass special if you don't bounce your ugly asses outta here."

"Hannah, control your friend," Janice said.

I shrugged. "She's her own person. Can't do nothing."

My colleagues' faces turned white and grumbling, they left. Ashley turned to me, grinning. 

"How did I do?" she asked.

With wide eyes and a chuckle, I said, "So fucking good."

"That'll teach 'em. I was so close to taking my wig off and you know what that means."

"And thank God it didn't happen."

Now it was time to get to work.