by Stacy-Deanne
He dropped his head and slumped out the room.
Osana rubbed her mouth. “What the hell?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The next day, Max got off the elevator on the eleventh floor of Swipe Play’s headquarters and marched past cubicles and offices.
People stopped in their tracks, whispering about the man with the dragon peeking from underneath his T-shirt sleeve.
The Hispanic woman behind the desk in front of Shad’s office jerked at attention, frowning at Max with her nose in the air. “May I help you, sir?”
He ignored her and headed into Shad’s gigantic office.
“Eh, excuse me?” the secretary said. “Sir?”
Max swung Shad’s door open.
The secretary ran up behind him. “You can’t just go in—”
“I did,” said Max.
Shad sat behind a huge desk, entertaining two gray-haired lapdogs who probably jumped at every word he said.
“What is this?” Shad half-chuckled.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the secretary said. “I’ll get security.”
“Fuck security.” Max marched to the desk and the older men gasped. “This will only take a few seconds.” He leaned over Shad. “Now, I know you’re a smart man.”
Shad smirked.
“I am too,” Max said.
“Get security,” one of the older men with the toupee ordered the secretary.
“No, it’s okay.” Shad rocked in the chair, the aroma of his spicy cologne irritating Max’s nose. “This is Osana Royal’s husband.”
“I’m not blind, Sidney.” Max slammed his fist on the desk, causing the other men to jump yet Shad didn’t bat an eye. “You can do what you want to everyone else but not me. You’re after my wife. I’m gonna say this once.” He rose, wiping the corner of his mouth. “Stay away from her.”
Shad motioned to the others, clearing his throat. “Get out.”
The trio left the room.
Shad winked at Max. “You came all the way over here to tell me this?”
“You damn right. Make sure you remember it.”
“Your time is better spent reminding your wife she’s married.” Shad stuck out his chin. “Because she seems to forget that fact whenever I’m in the room. You showed your hand already, Max.”
“What?”
“It’s obvious you’re threatened by me. The worst thing you can do is show weakness and you have.”
“I’m not threatened by you.”
“Yes you are.” Shad got his pen and twirled it between his fingers. “Osana’s mine.”
Max rubbed his fist to keep from socking Shad out the chair. “Is that so?”
“It must be horrible, huh?” Shad sat back, crossing his legs. “To be married to a sexy woman like Osana and she won’t let you come near her.” He laughed. “I have the opposite problem.” He pulled at his fancy-ass shirt. “I can’t keep her away from me.”
Max swayed, seconds from snatching up Shad. “You think this is a game?”
“I have the power when it comes to Osana, Max.” Shad laid down the pen, smirking as if he owned the world. “I get her alone for a second and she wilts because she wants me so bad.”
“Osana and I are married. We took vows in front of God—”
“You lied in front of God.”
“Check this out, pretty boy. You might run the people in your world, but I’m not from your world. I’m from the streets and we do things different where I come from.”
Shad grinned. “Is that a threat?”
“I’m a joke to you?”
“You’re a joke period, Max.”
“I don’t give warnings.” Max backed up from the desk. “Fuck with my wife or my marriage and all the money in the world couldn’t save you from me.”
He shoved Shad’s computer off the desk and stormed out.
****
That night, Osana found Max in the den watching a video of her and Anthony.
“My twenty-fifth birthday party?” she whispered, reminiscing about the wonderful time she’d had with Anthony that night. “Why are you watching the video of my twenty-fifth birthday party?”
“You’re so beautiful when you smile.” Max kept his attention on the TV. “Too bad you never do it when I’m around.”
“Max—”
“Anthony made you happy, didn’t he? It showed in your eyes.”
She walked toward the coffee table. “Why do you care?”
“Have dinner with me.”
She scratched the side of her head. “I’d rather eat garbage, Max.”
He opened the half-empty whiskey bottle and filled a square glass. “Have dinner with me as a peace offering.”
“If you want me to have peace, then leave.”
“I’m sick of you thinking you’re better than me.” He gulped liquor and exhaled. “You play too many games, Osana.”
“You’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk yet.” He shook the glass. “I told Shad to stay away from you.”
“What right do you have?”
“I’m your husband and you’d better play your part.” He stood, reaching her with his free hand. “I won’t put up with you and Shad making me look like a fool.”
“Trust me you need no help from us, Max.”
“You keep testing me.” He tilted his head back. “You don’t take me seriously, do you?”
“You’re pathetic.”
“Yeah?” He licked his whiskey-soaked lips. “You forgot what I did to Preston? The same thing might happen to Shad.”
“Listen, asshole.” She grabbed him by the shirt. “Don’t lay one hand on Shad. Do you hear me? If you do, I’ll go to the police. I don’t care what happens.”
“I doubt that, Princess.” He tore her hand from his shirt and kissed it. “Not even you’d look good in those prison jumpsuits. Killing Preston doesn’t come close to how far I can go.” He left the room and a minute later, the front door slammed.
Leslie sauntered in, wiping her hands with a dishtowel. “Are you okay?”
“Max is being weird.” Osana turned off the video and sat on the couch. “He was watching videos of my twenty-fifth birthday and asked me to dinner.” She rubbed her hair. “And last night, he kissed me.”
“What?”
“He was drunk but still. And that’s another thing.” Osana grimaced. “He’s been acting jealous too, and he told Shad to stay away from me.”
“Maybe he has feelings for you.”
“Oh please. All Max cares about is my money.”
“He’s been asking me stuff about you.”
Osana peered at her. “Like what?”
“Stuff about you and Shad.” She shrugged. “Your relationship.”
“Did you tell him anything?”
“Of course not, but that’s when I started wondering about his intentions. It seems like it’s more than money with him now.”
“He better get those thoughts out his head because if he was the last man on earth I’d fuck dogs.”
Leslie grinned.
“Me and Max will never, ever, ever happen. No way in this lifetime or out of it.”
“You think he’ll do something to Shad?”
Osana stared at the coffee table not knowing what to say.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
A Month Later
“I don’t understand,” Shad spoke into the phone at his office desk. “Did something happen?”
“No, sir,” the female representative of Kinard Industries said. “We’re just weighing another offer.”
“It seems like more than that.” Shad moved his feet off the desk, straightening the chair. “You guys begged me to buy the company and now you want out?”
“We’re inquiring with the other party but no deals have been done, and we’d give you respect if there had been. We’re still interested in you buying the company, but we didn’t expect that someone else would be interested.”
“I’m a very busy man and
I don’t like wasting my time and resources on a deal that might not happen.” He stroked his hairy chin. “Who the hell is this other party?”
She sighed. “It’s not important.”
“You tell me right goddamn now.” He stood, leaning over the desk. “Who made an offer?”
“She didn’t make an official offer. She’s just feeling things out to see—”
“Who?” he yelled.
“Osana Royal.”
“Osana?” Anger swarmed inside him.
“Yes. Mr. Sidney…”
He hung up and raced out the office.
****
“Okay.” Osana overlooked her notes before dismissing the meeting at Spears Corp. “If no one has questions we can wrap this meeting up.”
“Well…” The woman at the other end of the table lifted her hand. “Could you go over the proposal for the…”
Shad burst into the conference room, huffing and puffing with beads of sweat scattered across his forehead.
“Shad?” Osana jumped up. “What the hell are you—?”
“Shut up!” He marched toward her. “I don’t wanna hear shit from you except why you’re such a bitch.”
People gasped.
“Bitch?” She grabbed her hip. “Honey, if you think I’m one now it doesn’t compare to what you’re about to see if you don’t get your ass out of here.”
“Mr. Sidney?” One of the female executives waved, giggling. “How are you?”
“Shut up, Margaret,” Osana told her. “Look Shad, I tolerate things from you I don’t from others but no one messes with my business. This is my company and you’re making me look bad.”
“You make yourself look bad with all this scheming you do. How could you, Osana? Shit.” He walked around the room with all eyes on him. “If you treat me this way, I hate to see how you treat people you don’t care about.” He stopped behind a man’s chair. “Get out.” He glared at the executives. “Get the fuck out!”
They jumped from their chairs, grabbing their things.
“Wait, a damn minute here.” Osana twisted to the door, blocking it. “This is my damn company. You can’t come in here throwing people out.”
“Oh yeah?” Shad raced for her, fists swinging.
“Yeah.” She stuck her chest out, pretending to be brave even though she wasn’t sure what he might do.
“How about I throw you out, huh?” He hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her from the room.
“Shad!” She slapped his butt as he took her through the hall, past gawking workers. “I can’t believe you’re doing this. Put me down!”
“I can’t believe you did what you did.”
“Put me down right now!” She kicked. “People are watching. Do you realize how bad this looks?”
“I don’t give a damn.” He took her into the file room, tossed her on the floor and slammed the door.
“You…ooh!” She got up, pulling at her skirt. “How dare you?”
“How dare you?” He unbuttoned the first button of his shirt, chest heaving. “Just help me, Osana. Help me for once.”
“Help you what?” She backed away, bumping into the beige file cabinets.
“Help me understand how your mind can be so warped and twisted.”
“For the last fuckin’ time tell me what I did!”
“You went behind my back and offered to buy Kinard’s company.”
“Oh, boy.” She patted the sides of her up-do. “Is that all?”
“Is that all?” His eyes popped from their sockets. “Isn’t that enough?”
“What’s the big deal?” She straightened the sleeves of her blouse. “Why are you so angry?”
He held his waist, huffing and puffing.
“I didn’t make an offer.” She smirked, sashaying to the table cluttered with stacked files. “I inquired.”
“Osana.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You can fool everyone else but you can’t fool me. You don’t give a damn about that company. This is another way for you to be in control. I’m sick of this.”
“Hey.” She walked toward him, pointing. “You don’t have stake in that company yet. It’s up for grabs.”
“What’s the big deal about this company, Osana? Why are you so deadest against me buying it?”
“Does it matter?” She went to the door. “You’re gonna do what you want, anyway.”
“Uh-uh, sweetie.” He pulled her from the door. “You ain’t going nowhere.”
“Get off me.” She swung around, facing him. “This conversation is over. I asked about the company and you can’t do a damn thing about it.”
“Let’s talk about Max then, huh?”
“No.” She pushed him away. “We’re not talking about Max or anything else until you calm down.” She headed for the door again.
“I said…” He grabbed her. “You’re not going anywhere.” He threw her on the floor and got on top of her.
“Shad.” She kicked as he pinned her arms to the carpet. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Tell me the truth.” He stared into her eyes, sweat dripping from his nose. “Why did you marry Max?”
“Go to hell.” She squirmed.
“I’m not letting you up until you tell me the truth.” His breath smelled like coffee cream.
“Then I guess we’ll be here for the rest of our lives.”
“Tell me.” He jiggled her wrists. “What are you so afraid of?”
“Shad—”
“Let me help you.”
“Stop.” She wiggled. “Leave it alone. If you care then you will.”
“I can’t do that.” He loosened his grip on her wrists. “You need me, Osana. Admit that you need me.”
She turned her head away, lips poked out.
“I swear I can make it right. Trust me, okay?”
“Get off me or I’ll scream.”
“You’ve been screaming since I got here.”
“Let me go, Shad.” She kicked, wriggling. “I’m not playing.”
“I’m not either.” His nostrils flared as he moved off her.
“Thank you.” She tried to stand but her foot twisted, coming out her shoe. “Ow.” She fell on her butt. “Shit.”
He got her shoe. “That’s what you get.” He slipped it on her foot, making her tingle.
As he stood, she took his hand.
“What?” he whispered, appearing annoyed.
She stuck her fingers through his.
“You wanna go, right?” He gestured his head to the door. “Go.”
She pulled him on top of her and stroked his hair.
“Uh-uh.” He closed his eyes as she lay flat. “Osana—”
“I want you.” She pushed her skirt up, widening her legs.
“No.” He refused to look at her as if trying to fight his desire. “It ain’t happening. We can’t keep doing this.”
“Yes, we can.” She unbuttoned her blouse.
“Osana, stop.” He leaned up. “This is killing me.”
“Please.” She sat up, purring. “Make love to me.”
He fidgeted, the muscles tightening in his face.
“I’m so wet and I don’t care where we are or who knows.” She kissed him, a line of saliva drizzled from their lips when she finished. “I don’t care who hears me screaming. Every chance with you is like the last time and I can’t let it be the last time, Shad.”
He dropped his head.
“This is our own little world.” She put his hand upon her breast. “We don’t have to think about Max or anyone.”
“I have to think about my heart.” He pulled his hand back. “You being with another man and not telling me why is torture, Osana. It’s killing me.”
“Don’t you think I’m dying too? I hate Max.” She sobbed. “I wish I could go home to you every night.”
“You can if you tell me the truth.”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
He stood, straightening his pants. “Then get yo
ur husband to scratch that itch.”
“I don’t want Max. I want you.”
“Then you know what you have to do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“She’s still waiting,” Abby said to Shad in his home office that night. “I don’t think she’s leaving until you come down.”
“I don’t wanna talk to Osana.” He scribbled his signature on business documents. “She can wait until Christmas for all I care.”
Osana walked in behind Abby. “I would.”
Shad exhaled, pushing up his reading glasses.
“I’ll leave you two alone.” Abby left.
“I’m not making love to you,” he said, more as reassurance to himself than to her. “If that’s what you want then—”
“Of course it’s what I want.” She glided her splendid curves toward the desk. “It’s what I want all the time but not why I’m here.”
“Hm.” He looked through another stack of papers. “Should I care why you’re here?”
“I’m sorry, Shad.” She laid her soft hand over his. “I didn’t mean to hurt you when I inquired about Kinard’s company.”
“Funny how you keep saying you don’t mean to hurt me but keep doing it.”
“I never said I was perfect.”
“It’s not about being perfect.” He laid the papers aside. “It’s about trusting me. We can’t keep going through this song and dance.”
“Why not?” She grinned, sliding upon his desk. “It’s fun.”
“Being with you is like a high. It’s amazing and feels better than anything I’ve ever experienced.”
She smiled.
“But afterwards my spirits collapse and I end up depressed and confused.”
She stuck out her damp, valentine lips. “Why can’t you be patient?”
“Because I love you, Osana.” He yanked off the glasses. “I can’t stand you going through something and me not being able to help. You not letting me help.”
“You can’t help.”
“Why do you intend on fighting your battles alone?”
“It’s what I’ve always had to do.” She glanced at the papers on his desk. “When you depend on people they disappoint you. You can’t disappoint yourself.”
“Yes, you can. You’re disappointing yourself by marrying a man you don’t love. What could he have on you to make you do this?”
She crossed her legs.
