by Tina Martin
“Just some water.”
“I’ll take some coffee if it’s not too much trouble,” Tennyson told her. “Light on the sugar, heavy on the cream.”
“This ain’t Starbucks. You’ll take it how I serve it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, saluting her, then watched as she walked away again. “Fiesty. I like it.”
“Tennyson, leave my sister-in-law alone,” Savannah said, tickled.
“I don’t want to. I like her.”
“You literally just met her like thirty minutes ago.”
“I know, so why does it feel like I know her already?”
“Alright, smooth operator. You better be on guard if you’re thinking about trying to talk to her.”
“Why? Does she come with baggage?”
“No. She comes with brothers. Harding and Mordecai are super protective of their sisters. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“That’s the way brothers are supposed to be ain’t it?”
Savannah shrugged. “If you say so. Anyway, getting back to Blakeney, where do we go from here?” Savannah asked.
“Well, first I need to talk with Desmond. He and Kurt went to Blackstone Financial to have a talk with the CEO.”
“And what happened?”
“Nothing yet,” Tennyson said. “I know Desmond offered to bring them under The Champion Corporation, an idea I didn’t like, but I haven’t heard anything beyond that.”
“And you probably won’t. I’m sure Blackstone would prefer to have Blakeney back instead of being bought out and under someone else’s control.”
“As would I, but The Champion Corporation has control of Blakeney at the moment.”
“Yes, they do,” Savannah said, “But TCC doesn’t have an investment services division, like Blackstone Financial.”
“Which is why they want to buy Blackstone out.”
Savannah thought for a moment. “Here’s the question of the day. Why would Blakeney have agreed to sign on with TCC if they knew TCC didn’t have an investment division?”
Tennyson shrugged. “My guess would be because Blakeney also knew they were in a bind after Forsyth was done with them, so instead of running back home to daddy, which in this case would be Blackstone Financial, they chose to sign on with someone new. Plus, Dante, Dimitrius and Desmond,” Tennyson whistled. “Those boys don’t play when it comes down to business. If they want it, they go out and get it. Simple as that. If you don’t believe me, ask their wives.”
Savannah giggled. “Oh, I’ve heard the stories already.”
Zoya came walking into the room with two plates. “Here you are, Savannah.”
“Thank you, Zoe.”
“And for you, Tennyson,” she said handing him the plate.
He took and said, “Thank you. It looks delicious.” Just like you...
“You’re welcome. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
Instead of waiting for her to come back with drinks, Tennyson went to the kitchen and watched her take out two glasses and a coffee mug.
Zoya met his direct, pointed stare.
“Don’t tell me you’ve finished eating that fast.”
“No. Haven’t started.”
“Then why are you in here?”
“Take a guess,” Tennyson said.
Zoya glanced up at him, her eyes tracing his broad shoulders now that she could see them since he’d taken off his suit jacket. “I don’t have a clue,” she said honestly because she just met the guy. While she had to fan off men almost on a daily basis, she doubted he would be one who was interested in her. He wasn’t the typical type she’d attract. The men who usually eyed her down were more of the wannabe player types – not the high-powered attorney types. Dapper, suited, well put together types.
“Oh, I get it,” she said. “You came in here to make sure I prepare your coffee the way you want it,” she concluded while taking the coffee pot and pouring him a cup of the piping hot stuff.
“I don’t care how you prepare the coffee. Either way, I’m going to drink it.”
“O-kay.” Zoya found the creamer, sprinkled some in and watched his reaction as she tried to judge whether she’d put enough in. “So, if you aren’t here to bug me about coffee—”
“I came in here because I would like to know some things about you?”
“Like what?”
“Like, how old are you for starters.”
Zoya tried not to blush but a hue of soft pink made her cheeks glow. “Okay, Tennyson—I’m not sure what your end game is here, but I’m not interested.”
“Yeah, you are,” he said arrogantly. “They all are. I’m just choosy.”
“Then go choose somebody else to bother—like the ones who are actually interested in this whole I-can-get-any-girl-I-want routine you got going on here.”
“Nah. I like a challenge, hence the profession. So, how old are you, Zoya?”
“How old do you think I am?” she asked, tossing it back to him. She had since stopped her kitchen activities to focus on him instead.
“Let’s see,” he said, folding his bottom lip inside of his mouth as he analyzed her face, his eyes taking in the beautiful bowed shape of her lips, those hazel eyes and long eyelashes. She was an effortless beauty. “I would guess late twenties.”
“You’re such, a player.” She laughed.
“What?” he asked.
“You know I’m not in my twenties.”
“You look like you could be.”
“I’m thirty-two,” she told him. “You?”
“Thirty-three.”
“Hmm...” Zoya said.
“What? Do I look older? Younger?” he asked her.
“It’s nothing.” Zoya sprinkled a tablespoon of sugar into the coffee then walked it over to him. “Here you go, Sir. I hope it’s to your liking.”
“Oh, it’s very much to my liking,” he said, staring at her. He wasn’t focused on the coffee.
Zoya took a glass of water to Savannah, hoping Tennyson would follow her back into the living room, but he stayed in the kitchen. His plate of food remained on the coffee table, getting cold. Zoya took the plate to the kitchen and asked, “Would you like me to warm this up for you?”
“If it’s not too much trouble,” Tennyson said.
She set the plate in the microwave and put it on one minute. She looked back at Tennyson, watching him take a sip of coffee. Goodness, he was a sight to behold. The square angles of his jaw made his whole face appear strong. Even the way he held the coffee mug spoke to his sophistication. She noticed it all. Tennyson was definitely a ten.
The bell dinged on the microwave and shook her out of a trance. She removed his plate of food and placed it in front of him, hoping he’d actually eat this time. He did, starting with the sausage first, sitting on a barstool at the island.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in there with Savannah? Working?”
He finished chewing what was in his mouth, cleared his throat and asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be giving me your number?”
Zoya blushed. “Okay, let’s get one thing straight. I’m not interested in dating right now. I came here with the goal of helping Savannah get ready for the baby’s arrival—not to be smooth-talked into a date with a guy I just met like two seconds ago.”
Tennyson glanced at his watch. “More like forty-five minutes ago.”
“My point is, I just met you.”
“And? I haven’t asked you out, yet. Stop stealing my thunder, Zoya.”
Zoya took a sip of water.
Tennyson scooped up some more eggs, then sipped coffee before asking, “Zoya, will you go out with me tomorrow night?”
“No,” she replied quickly. “I don’t date random guys.”
“I’m not random.”
“Okay then. I don’t date men I don’t know, and I especially don’t accept the first invitation to a date.”
“What would you like me to do? Step out of the kitchen, then come back in here and a
sk you again because if that’s what it takes, then I’ll do it.”
“Don’t waste your time,” Zoya told him. “It was nice to meet you, Tennyson.”
Zoya left the kitchen to head upstairs to the guest bedroom where she still needed to unpack her suitcase. She sat on the bed and took a breath. It took a lot out of her to deal with Tennyson because she avoided men – all of them – except her brothers. While she talked to guys, even had a couple of male associates from college that she was cool with, the only men she loved and trusted were the ones who’d proven they cared for her – Harding and Mordecai.
As a young woman growing into adulthood, it had been difficult not having her father around. A father was supposed to be there for his family. His sons. Daughters. Nolan Champion was missing most times and if that wasn’t bad enough, turned out he had a whole new family – one which he actually cared for and spent time with. To her, that meant he wasn’t much concerned about them. They were products of his side chick and something burned with hurt, anguish and fury inside of her when she thought about a man doing that to her mother. Her mother was too sweet of a woman to be any man’s side anything, but that’s what she was. And she’d been faithful to him. Zoya had decided a long time ago that if this was the way men were – charming and conniving at the same time – her best bet was to remain single. It had worked so far. Besides, this way she didn’t have to explain her daddy issues to anyone. A man didn’t want a complicated woman, especially a well-established man like Tennyson Tillman. Her only problem was when men looked at her, they saw the woman she was on the outside. The pretty, hazel-eyed, light-toned chick with the nice body. It was the things they couldn’t see that would make them think twice about entertaining any possibility of a relationship with a woman like her.
Chapter 3
After ending the workday with Savannah, Tennyson went back to the office to get started on two background checks for a couple of new hires when Desmond stopped by.
“There he is,” Desmond said with his hands in his pockets.
Tennyson looked up and saw Desmond standing in the doorway of his office. He was on good terms with all the Champion brothers, but he carefully kept his interactions with them on business. He was a private guy, liked to keep his personal life to himself but every now and again, he’d shoot the breeze with them. “What’s going on, Desmond?”
“Not much. I know you’ve been busy lately.”
“I have. I was working at Savannah’s today as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“Right. How’s that going? Working over there, I mean?”
Zoya instantly flashed through his mind. Not work. Not Blakeney, Blackstone Financial or Forsyth Investments. Zoya Champion. “It’s going good. And let’s just say this Blakeney business is a bit more complicated than I thought it would be.”
“Oh, yeah?” Desmond said crossing his arms.
Tennyson nodded. “Definitely. Tell me—when you met with the CEO of Blackstone Financial, what was the tone in the room like?”
Desmond took a seat and crossed his legs. “I remember that meeting like it happened yesterday. The CEO, Barringer Blackstone, was angry, but he knew he didn’t have a leg to stand on. I mean, let’s face it—we’ve acquired their largest client. Therefore, Blackstone has to play by our rules whether they want to or not. All indications point to the fact that they don’t want to.”
Tennyson raised a curious brow. “And you’re okay with that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s nothing personal—this is the way business works. The sooner Blackstone Financial realizes that, the better off they’ll be.”
Tennyson nodded silently, deciding not to air his frustrations or opinions about the deal. After all, he wasn’t part owner of this company. This wasn’t The Tillman Corporation. It was The Champion Corporation and while he served an important role within the organization, he had no say-so in the operation of the company. Therefore, he kept his comments to himself.
“How’s Savannah doing with the assignment?”
“She’s very knowledgeable and eager to get something resolved with this case. It has really helped talking it out with her.”
Tennyson smiled when he thought about the morning he had with Zoya. He could picture her face. Her smile. The way her mouth moved when she talked. He was already looking forward to seeing her again tomorrow. “Your half-sister showed up,” he told Desmond.
“Oh, Zoya was there today?”
“Yep.”
“Harding told me she would be by to help out—I wasn’t sure when she was going to show up though. Did you get a chance to meet her?”
Tennyson’s lips quirked up. “Did I ever...”
Desmond smiled.
“She’s beautiful,” Tennyson heard himself saying, surprised he admitted that out loud but for some reason, it was one of those things he couldn’t keep a secret.
“Ay man, don’t be trying to run game on my sister.”
“Your half-sister,” Tennyson corrected.
Desmond shook his head. “I dropped the half. We have the same father. She’s my sister.”
“And here I was thinking the only hurdle I’d have to cross when it came to overprotective brothers was Harding and—what’s the other brother’s name?”
“Mordecai.”
“Yeah. Mordecai. Where does he live? Is he in Asheville?”
“No. He lives in Wilmington.”
“And that’s where Zoya’s from, right?” Tennyson asked.
“Yes. Remember we had you do those background checks?”
Tennyson nodded, remembering the background checks he ran on Florence and Harding. They’d both come back clean. “I didn’t do one on Zoya, but I should’ve remembered she was from Wilmington based on Florence and Harding’s history.”
“Does your sudden interest in Zoya’s whole life history mean you’re interested in her?”
“Oh, I’m much more than interested,” Tennyson admitted freely. Again, he shocked himself. “I think I’ve found my one.”
Desmond sat up tall in his chair. “What?”
“I found my one. She’s the one.”
Desmond couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped his lips. “Didn’t you just meet her yesterday?”
“I did.”
“Then how could she possibly be the one?”
Tennyson smiled. “It’s just something about her. I’m sure you had a similar experience when you met Sherita. Am I right?”
“Uh…”
“Admit it,” Tennyson told him.
“Okay, it was like this…I knew Sherita was different from other women, you know, but I didn’t know from the outset she was mine. I just knew she was special.” He smiled, reminiscing. “She still is.”
Tennyson nodded.
“But you—you’re talking about some love at first sight type of connection. You need to holla at Dante for some advice on that. The man was love-struck when he first laid eyes on Emily.”
“Was he?”
“Yes, and he had it bad, too.”
“Well, all I know is Zoya radiates an energy that I’m absorbing and when I say I’ve never felt a force so powerful, I mean it. I’ve never experienced anything close to it.”
“Then maybe it’s worth exploring. But be warned—if you hurt her in any way, you’ll have a whole gang of Champions to deal with. Capeesh?”
“Got it,” Tennyson said, and still that wouldn’t stop him from pursuing her with all he had. He wanted to get to know her and it didn’t matter what hurdles he had to cross to do so.
Chapter 4
“Harding!” Zoya said beyond excited as she closed her arms around her brother. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You, too, sis. I’m glad you could make it.”
“I am, too. It’s so good to be here.”
“They didn’t give you a hard time at work, did they?”
“Not at all,” Zoya said, releasing him. “I have accumulated five weeks of vacation time, none of which I ev
er got a chance to use because I have no life.”
“Oh, stop it.”
“Seriously, Harding. None. Plus, since becoming a manager, I’m discovering all kinds of perks. I have a lot more leverage than I used to have when I was a normal employee.”
“How long are you staying?” Harding inquired, looking around for Savannah as he asked the question.
“Two weeks. Of course, I’ll check in with them to make sure everything’s running smoothly, but yeah, bruh, two whole weeks.”
“That’s perfect. I’m sure Savannah will appreciate that very much. Where is she, by the way?”
“She just went upstairs not too long ago... said she was tired.”
“Okay. I’m going to run up and check on her. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t rush back on my account. I’ll be in the kitchen cooking.”
“Okay, sis.”
Zoya went to the kitchen and proceeded to search for something to cook. The pickings were slim, but she managed to find a bag of shrimp, grits, cheese, biscuits and garden peas – not a likely combination for a dinner but she had to work with what she had.
“Something smells good in here, Zoe,” Harding said.
“I’m making shrimp and grits. It’s about all I could find to cook.”
“I know. Me and Savannah have been so busy, all we’ve been eating is takeout.”
“That needs to change ASAP. My nephew needs some healthy food, even if it is grits, shrimp and peas.”
“Well, in our defense, the takeout has been healthy food for the most part. We’re not indulging in burgers and fries if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“That’s a relief,” Zoya said, finding three bowls. Even though Savannah was sleeping, she still prepared her dinner so it would be ready when she was finally awake.
“Have you talked to mom lately?” Zoya asked.
“I just had a lil’ chat with her yesterday.” Harding sat down at the table. “She asked when I’m moving back to Wilmington with her grandbaby.”
“Aw…she misses you. You know you’re her favorite, right?”
Harding grinned. “Oh, stop it. She doesn’t have a favorite. She loves us all equally.”
