Have I Told You

by F. L. Jacob

  “Done.” I took her hand and headed toward the elevator where Phillip and Jake were waiting.

  I was in complete shock when I opened the package Caston had for me. My pictures, the ones I edited, in Black Hollywood. They looked magnificent. Beautiful even. My heart swelled with pride. He was unreal. Then he offers me a job. This really isn’t happening. My life doesn’t fall into place like this. I really was going to wake up and have this be all a dream.

  Heading down in the elevator with security, I realized that this was real. I squeezed Caston’s hand as we moved to walk out of the elevator. Phillip and Jake walked out first, letting us pass them, then fell in step with us, about four feet back. Caston wrapped his arm around my waist, as we moved through the crowded lobby and out the door, virtually unnoticed.

  I saw a few groups of girls start whispering, and I was praying they would not go all fan girl on him. He had sunglasses on and a cap turned backwards, so he was a little harder to recognize. He looked absolutely yummy and made my insides clench. I leaned my head on his chest, as we walked and he looked over to me, planting a kiss on the top of my head.

  “Have I told you that I love you, recently?”

  I looked up at him, as we waited for the crosswalk to change. “I love you, too.”

  The hustle and bustle of the strip moved about us while we were in our own slow-motion world. Coming to a high end boutique, I pulled Caston to the window to do a little window shopping. I pointed out a few things that were stunning.

  “You’d look beautiful in those items.”

  I blushed. “I couldn’t pull those off.”

  “Let’s go see,” he said, pulling me into the store.

  “Good afternoon, sir, ma’am, anything I can help you with today?” the snooty store clerk sneered in way of greeting us.

  I cowered behind Caston, because I felt completely out of place. “Afternoon, my girl saw some items in your window, and she would like to try them on.”

  Caston removed his hat and glasses and the mood of the clerk immediately changed. Like a light switch. “Oh, Mr. Black, I didn’t recognize you. Anything for you, sir.”

  I rolled my eyes and shook my head when she turned to lead us to the dressing areas.

  “What’s wrong?” Caston whispered.

  “She thought we were trash until you took your glasses off. That’s bullshit.”

  I saw him thinking about what I said. “You’re right, Sabrina.”

  He showed me to a chair and turned around to the clerk. “I’d like to see your manager, while you get Sabrina the items she wants to try on.”

  “Of course, sir.” She scurried off to get the items that I requested.

  Once she set up the dressing room with the dresses, shirts, skirts, and shoes I’d picked out, I was ushered behind the curtain. I was overwhelmed. These garments were so expensive. One shirt in the stack had a price tag that was more than all the clothes in my closet combined, well, except for the ones Caston gave me. The clerk left me alone to start trying on the items.

  “Sabrina, I want to see all those items. No hiding in there, or I’ll come in after you.”

  “Maybe that’s what I want,” I whispered back, so only he could hear me.

  He groaned deeply. “Don’t tempt me.”

  Before I had a chance to try anything on a new clerk stepped in to the room. “I’m Ashlee, I’ll be taking care of Mr. Black and you while you’re here. Where do you want to start?”

  Her enthusiastic voice and smile were infectious, I was suddenly excited to do a fashion show for Caston.

  Ashlee got me dressed and corseted in a beautiful long midnight black dress. It was strapless with a slight sweetheart neckline. The top pushed up my cleavage just enough. It was fitted through the bodice with a flair toward the bottom and a train off the back. The back was very low cut, showing off the muscles in my back. There was black and diamond crystal details that lined the back of the dress and moved around to the front of my waist. It accented the choker Caston gave me. I looked at myself in the mirror and I didn’t recognize myself. Ashlee pulled up my hair and twisted it to get it pinned up, so my neck and back were one long line.

  “I’ve got just the shoes, hold on a second.” She quickly exited. I just kept staring at myself. This was not me. How did I win the lottery like this?

  Ashlee walked back in the room holding a pair of heels. They were black satin. A simple piece went over the toes but the ankle strap is what set the shoes into a category of their own. There were two rows of large diamond like crystals fastened to them. “They are perfect,” I whispered.

  She bent down to help me into the shoes. I touched my necklace, as I turned around to stare back at the girl looking back at me in the mirror.

  “May I draw the curtain, so you can show Mr. Black?”

  I nodded slowly. I stayed facing the mirror, as the curtain was pushed to the side.

  Caston was sitting in a chair with his phone in his hand when the red velvet fabric was pulled to the side. I studied his face. When he looked up his mouth fell open. Immediately setting the phone down, he uncrossed his legs and leaned forward.

  “Sabrina…”

  I rendered him speechless. Slowly turning around, I dropped my hand to my side, so he could see the front. I’ve never felt this beautiful in my life.

  “Well?” I questioned with a slight shoulder shrug once I faced him.

  “I’m speechless, Bre, you’re gorgeous. I think this dress was made for you.” He got up and walked over to me. He ran his hand down the curve of my waist along the heavy satin fabric, “Simple, but stunning.” His finger grazed my bare back and I shivered.

  I closed my eyes and a slight moan slipped from my lips, as his hand continued up my other arm, stepping in front of me his finger moved across the swells of my breasts. He stopped in front of me and I opened my eyes, looking up at him. The desire was overwhelming. He was hungry for me. “We’ll take it all,” he said, never breaking his eye contact with me.

  I swallowed hard and bit my lip; my mouth had suddenly gone dry. Slowly he leaned in, taking my chin in his thumb and finger, tipping my head up to meet his. The light kiss brushed my lips. Just a peck, but it communicated so much. The electricity from it was crackling around us. I even heard Ashlee in the corner of the room sigh when we parted.

  “I want you to wear this tonight to dinner.”

  When we returned to our suite in the hotel, we were met by Sara and Jon. Caston was pulled one direction by Jon. I was pulled in the other by Sara to prepare for tonight. Our hands were holding each other until the last second. Even then we keep eye contact with each other over our shoulders, as we walked away.

  Finally, turning my attention back to Sara I stopped her mid-sentence. “You know Caston really wanted a quiet birthday, don’t you?”

  She shooed me over to the waiting hair dresser. “He says that every year. He never means it.”

  She sat down next to me and continued talking about the plans and what’s going to happen tonight.

  I stared off into the mirror in front of me, tuning her out. Caston told me he wanted a quiet birthday and that’s exactly what I planned on giving him. The party was in our room, so I would have to come up with another plan. The wheels started turning.

  Hours later my hair was done. That was an experience I didn’t want to endure again, if I didn’t have too. I could have done the same thing to my hair in half an hour. Sara tried ushering me to the make-up person next, but I excused myself, saying I needed to use the restroom. No way was I going to look like a clown all done up in layers of makeup.

  I stepped into the hall and shut the door behind me. Jake was sitting in a chair down the way. Hoping he could help me, I approached him quickly.

  “Jake, I need your help?”

  “Yes, Ms. Bennett?” he said, standing.

  “Let’s go in here, so no one hears us,” I said, walking into the nearby unoccupied room.

  Shutting the door behind me, I turned t
o face him. He looked a little confused and nervous.

  “Plans for tonight need to change.” He looked as if he wanted to interject, but I kept going, “Caston doesn’t want a surprise party. He wanted a nice quiet evening. I want to give that to him, and this is where I need your help. Obviously, Sara’s party is here, so we can’t come back here after dinner tonight. Please, acquire another suite in the hotel, so we have someplace to go.”

  “But, ma’am…”

  “No buts, make it happen, radio Phillip and get him down here if needed. I need this to happen. Mr. Black does so much for everyone, I want him to get something he really wants.”

  I was so nervous I was wringing my hands in front of me. It wasn’t like me to give orders like this.

  “Okay, Ms. Bennett. I’ll make sure it happens. I’ll give you the new key when you arrive to dinner and fill you in on the room number.”

  “Thank you, Jake,” I squealed and hugged him, “I’m so excited!”

  “Anytime, Ms. Bennett,” he patted my back awkwardly.

  Laughing, I backed up and headed out the door back to the room, so I could finish getting ready. I skipped, thinking of how happy I was and how happy Caston will be to finally get a quiet evening on his birthday.

  Stepping out of the room I felt like I was floating on air. Walking into the main room it suddenly went silent. I looked up slowly to see everyone had turned toward me. My vision tunneled right to Caston. He took my breath away in his crisp black tux with a black vest and tie and a white shirt. His hair was perfectly messed up in a way only Caston could pull off.

  He walked over to me. “You look breathtaking, Sabrina.”

  Cocking my head to the side, I responded, “I could say the same to you, birthday boy.”

  He held out a box for me to take. “I don’t think I could make you any more beautiful than you are, but I already had this for you.”

  I smiled and took the box from him opening it. “Oh, Caston, wow.”

  It was a black diamond tennis bracelet. It matched my necklace and earrings. “This is gorgeous.”

  Taking it from my hands, he latched it around my small wrist. “Not as gorgeous as you.”

  His hand cupped my cheek, and I leaned into it. The warmth spread through my whole body. Leaning over he kissed me.

  The room was still silent, making me a little uncomfortable, knowing everyone was sharing in our intimate exchange.

  “Caston,” I whispered. “Everyone is staring at us.”

  I felt him smile on my cheek. “Let them.”

  Even though the dinner was supposed to be celebrating Caston’s birthday, it turned into a business dinner. It was raining outside, but the view from the private room in the restaurant was spectacular. Some of the other men at the table got a little heated, and I tensed up feeling uncomfortable.

  “Don’t worry, Sabrina, they’re all talk,” he whispered in my ear.

  I gave him a weak smile and a light kiss on the lips. He stroked my cheek, ignoring everyone at the table.

  “I have an announcement,” he said, clutching my hand on the table, waiting for everyone to quiet, “Sabrina has agreed to come to work for Black Hollywood as an apprentice photo editor.”

  The heat in my cheeks made my face feel on fire. Everyone just gawked at me.

  There were many congratulatory messages being passed my way, but one of the men directly across from me scowled. “What the fuck, Caston, making your fuck buddy an editor? That’s a new low, even for you.”

  His wife leaned over to try to quiet him. Caston’s face was furious. The two men became very heated, and I didn’t want to hear anymore. I feared tears were going to escape my eyes.

  “If you’ll excuse me, please,” I said, as I stood up, grabbing my purse and headed toward the bathroom. Thankfully, the exit was also in the same direction.

  I hurried myself before the drips started falling. I put my head down, and ended up colliding with Jake, who caught me by my arms.

  “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” I wiped the tears from my eyes.

  “Ms. Bennett, is everything okay?”

  “Yes, Jake, just a drunk asshole at the table. Caston might need you to remove him, though.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Oh, and here is the other key for you. It is room 3132.”

  “Thank you, Jake.” I pushed away from him and continued my way down the hall, stepping out into the outdoor tent to get fresh air.

  Damn assholes! Drunk bastard making Sabrina feel like I only want her working for me because we’re involved. She’s a talented woman. Where is she?

  I excused myself, after telling Dan his things from BH will be packed up and returned to him by Monday. I do not want him back at BH ever again. I don’t tolerate shit like that, drunk or not.

  Seeing Jake come toward me I felt a slight panic, thinking something had happened to her.

  “Jake, what is the matter? Where is Sabrina?”

  “She just stepped outside. She told me there might be a problem with someone at dinner?”

  “Just Dan being the fuck up he usually is. Please, remove him without making too much of a scene.”

  “Very well, sir.”

  I headed toward the doors. I saw her under the tent on the terrace. Her hair was piled high on her head and her figure was to die for in that dress. The light from the tent filtered around her and she looked like an angel standing before me.

  I opened the door and walked up behind her. The electricity from the storm combined with connection between my love and me charging the air. I slid my arms around her waist, cuddling her to my chest.

  She quickly swiped at her eyes, trying to hide that she was crying.

  “Sabrina, please don’t take what he said to heart. He’s an asshole, who no longer works for me.”

  “But, Caston, I’m sure he spoke what everyone at that table thought. No one has seen my work, yet.”

  “And they don’t need to see your work. I’m the only one that does. It’s my business.”

  “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  The question was baited and heavy. I felt as though we weren’t talking about the job anymore. My heart broke and my stomach turned over.

  “What?” I whispered.

  She turned in my arms. Her face so solemn. “I don’t think this will work. I’m so out of place with your group. No one takes me serious. They all think I’m only with you for your money.”

  More tears began filling her eyes. No, this is not happening.

  “You can’t leave me.” The words struggled to come out.

  “Why, Caston? You’d be better off not having to deal with me; Beverly would get off your case, your employees wouldn’t think you were going over the deep end, and well …”

  I stepped back, holding her at arm’s length. Was I wrong about where we were heading? I saw the look in her eye, and I knew she was just trying to be brave. She was torn up inside. I couldn’t take it.

  I dropped to one knee, reached into my coat pocket, and retrieved a black velvet box that I had placed there earlier. Her eyes went wide in realization of what I was doing.

  “Sabrina Marie Bennett, I know we haven’t known each other long, but life is too short to spend a single minute unhappy without you. You’ve overcome a difficult past, and so have I. It’s not the things that have happened to us in life that define us, it’s how we handle them. And I don’t want us to handle them alone. I had a dark void in my life that you filled, you lit my life up, giving me hope for the future. I’m here for you. I will stand by you on your good days and bad. I’ll spend every minute trying to make your bad days good. I want you to be with me until the end. You are my everything; please accept my proposal, be my partner in life…my…other half?”

  Tears were falling from her eyes, but her smile engulfed her face. I held the ring box open for her, displaying the three caret round brilliant diamond with a black diamond bridge that graces the center. Diamonds curve up to cradle the center diamond.

 
; Her breath caught when I displayed the ring to her. She started nodding her head. “You’re crazy, do you know that?”

  “Only about you. What’s your answer?”

  “Yes, oh my God, yes!” She held her hand out to me, and I slid it onto her thin finger.

  Standing up, I picked her up in a hug and spun her around. Her laugh was magical. Setting her down, I took her face in my hands and placed a kiss on her lips. As if on cue fireworks started in the background.

  She started laughing and crying against my lips. “You really think of everything.”

  “Well, I wish I could take credit for the fireworks, but that wasn’t me,” I laughed.

  She laughed too, wiping her eyes. Her lips were wet and swollen from our kisses. I held her in my embrace as we watched the show.

  “I wish we didn’t have to go back to my party. I’d much rather devour you instead of cake.”

  “Good thing I watch out for my fiancée’s best interests,” she said, as she held up a key she produced from her purse.

  “But… How… What?” I was having trouble speaking coherently.

  She shrugged. “You told me you always wanted a quiet birthday.”

  I spun her around and captured her mouth in mine again. “No one has ever been able to surprise me. You, my dear, have surprised me numerous times. I love you, so much.”

  I offered her my arm and we walked back into the building to the elevator, bypassing the rest of the dinner party. I wanted to worship her body for the rest of the night.

  Stepping into the elevator, our bodies slammed together. Her hands were in my hair, I pressed her up against the bulge in my pants. I had to have her. We never parted on our way to our new room. Thankfully, no one else joined us in the elevator. When the doors slid open, I grabbed her hand and pulled her along the hall, quickly trying to get to the room.

  Entering the room I held her against the wall. Her hands undid my tie, as I kissed along her neck and jaw. The sweet taste of her skin made me hungry. Her skin broke out in goose bumps. I loved the way she reacted to me. She slid the tie from my neck, and I stuffed it in the pocket of my pants. Her arms pushed my jacket off, letting it fall to the floor. Reaching around to her ass, I grabbed at it through the satin material of her dress. This was killing me. Still kissing, not wanting to part too long, we made our way to the bed. I turned her around and pulled her into me, kissing along the back of her neck, as I started to undo the back of her dress. The small moans coming from her lips were like music.