Brash Company

by Crystal Perkins

  “I love that you did this to show me how much you care about me. I do. I was being unreasonable, and you did the only thing you could think of. I know that.”

  “But, it is time to take things to the next level.”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t want to have a specific guys night, because I may want to take you to an event, or concert, or something. I shouldn’t have completely stopped going out to eat with them, but I was so worried about fucking up dates with you again.”

  I roll my eyes. “I doubt you could fuck up as badly as you did for those two weeks. If you forget me once a month, I’ll be okay with it.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Then use the damn calendar app on your phone,” I tell him with a laugh.

  “I hate the app,” he says, wrinkling his nose. “But, I hate disappointing you more.”

  “We’ve disappointed and hurt each other. We’ll probably do it again sometimes, but we’ll own it, and apologize when it happens.”

  “I want to add in some sexual favors, but that didn’t work out so well for me.”

  “Because, you weren’t owning it—or apologizing; you were just fucking me.”

  “Just so I’m clear on this. If I own up to my mistakes, and apologize, I can then offer orgasms?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I fucked up, Beckham, and I am sorry.”

  I smile at him. “Apology accepted.”

  “Good. Now, I’d like to offer my services in the shower. Washing, licking, sucking, and maybe some biting.”

  “How can I possibly refuse all of that?”

  “I’m hoping you can’t.”

  I laugh as he swoops me up in his arms, and takes me to the shower. He walks us right in, and turns the water on. Before he even starts kissing me, and peeling off my wet clothes, I already know this is going to be the best shower I’ve ever had.

  Sully

  Beckham and I are going fully public today. She’s right about us eating together every day, with my friends, or without. Sitting with her three days a week makes it look like we’re just co-workers, hanging out. Especially because we haven’t held hands—or kissed—in front of everyone.

  We hold hands as we walk inside the building, and up to our floor. Everyone’s already in Matt’s office for the weekly meeting, and you can hear a pin drop when we step inside. Brad is the first to recover.

  “This is new.”

  “No, it’s not,” Matt says, with a smile.

  I smile back, placing my arm around Beckham’s back, and kissing her temple, as we settle next to each other on one of the couches. “It’s just time for us to let everyone know.”

  The meeting is a weird combination of tension, and ridiculousness. Val glares at Beckham, Bev smiles at us, Hannah looks like she wants to commit murder, Alma looks unaffected, and Brad tries to crack jokes. I’m happy we told everyone we’re together, but even happier when it’s all over, and head out to work.

  Hannah sends me on six latte runs, four wild goose chases to the mail room, and three trips to the cafeteria for snacks. The cafeteria delivers lunch, but they don’t bring snacks every hour, and I never have before either. I’m obviously being punished, but I don’t care. I’ll run around all day and night if it means I can tell the world I belong to Beckham.

  Lunch isn’t much better. I texted Omar about the new plan, and he saved two seats for us. Ahmet and Yasin don’t speak to either of us, but that’s their problem, and not mine. Muska and Lian look at us with disgust, and again, I don’t care. We’re going to be together, no matter who chooses not to accept us.

  Halfway through the meal, Hannah summons me, saying it’s an emergency. I’m not supposed to be bothered on lunch, but she promises to let me take the rest of my time later today, if I help her now.

  “I’ll see you upstairs,” I tell Beckham, kissing her before I go.

  When I arrive on our floor, Hannah is waiting for me. “Let’s go into the small conference room.”

  “Okay.” She looks frazzled, so I follow her, even as Bev raises an eyebrow when we walk past her. I just shrug, and mouth “no clue” at her.

  Once inside the room, Hannah locks the door, and turns to me, pushing herself into my personal space. “My breasts are bigger than hers.”

  Not going there. I try to move away, but she places her hands on my chest, and pushes her pelvis into mine. I hold my hands up, because there’s no way I’m touching her, even to push her away. I know something she doesn’t.

  “I need to you to step away from me, Hannah. You know I have a girlfriend, and I’m not interested in you like this.”

  She reaches down to stroke me through my pants, and I wince. “I want this. In my mouth, inside of me. Anywhere you want to put it. You let me have it, and I’ll make sure Matt finds you a job here when your internship is over.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “He said no,” Matt says, entering the room. Thank Allah. For a moment there, I thought I was wrong about this space being monitored.

  She steps away, but she’s still delusional. “Matt, I’m afraid you’ve found us out. Beckham is just his pretend girlfriend.”

  “Hannah, you’ve worked here long enough to realize I have all public spaces in this building monitored. I saw, and heard, everything.”

  “You must have misunderstood.”

  “I did not. Security is on the way up to walk you down once you’ve cleared out your desk.”

  “I’ll sue you.”

  “Go ahead, and try.”

  She storms out, and Matt turns to me, as I sigh in relief. “That was intense. I knew you or someone else would come, but I didn’t know how long it was going to take.”

  “Were you ever going to come to me? You had to have known Ainsley’s team saw, and heard it all. The touches, the brushing against you, the innuendo.”

  “I’ve been trying to prove myself. I thought I could handle it.”

  “Sexual harassment is not something you—or any of my employees—ever need to ‘handle’. I’d think you’d know that about me.”

  “I do. I was just embarrassed,” I admit. “She’s a hot woman, so why did I feel uncomfortable with her attention?”

  “Because you’re in love with someone else. Just because someone’s hot, or a woman, doesn’t mean what they’re doing is right. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  “Logically, I know that.”

  “But, it’s been ingrained in our male psyche that women aren’t harassers. I get it, and I guess it’s time for some new training tactics, because I want it to be clear.”

  “Thanks for saving me.”

  “Always.”

  We hug it out, and walk out of the conference room. I’m not sure I ever want to go in there again. His phone rings, and he picks it up as we head down the hall.

  “Fuck! We’ll be right there. Hold them in one of the Security rooms, because I need some time with them.”

  “What’s up?”

  “That was Reina. Your ‘friends’ went after Beckham.”

  What the hell? “Is she okay?”

  “She’s shaken up, but physically okay. Nev and Darcy got there before they could do anything more than try to intimidate her.”

  “I need a few minutes alone with them.”

  “I know. I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do, but I’m going to turn off the cameras, and join you.” He speaks into the phone again. “We’re on our way down.”

  Beckham

  When Muska and Lian asked if they could talk to me alone, I texted Alma and told her I’d be a few minutes late. I know they don’t like me, but for Sully, I can get along with them, and hear them out. Only, it’s not just them in the office they bring me to.

  Ahmet and Yasin are in the room too. I turn back to the door, but the women are standing in front of it. I’m scrappy, so I could probably take them, or at least get myself out, but I can’t take on two men as well.

  “What’s going on?
”

  “You’re going to break up with Sully again,” Ahmet tells me.

  “No, I’m not.”

  “You know nothing of our culture, our beliefs. You want an Arab dick, and I can supply you with several men who will be happy to service you.”

  “I know your religion is about kindness, service, and acceptance. None of which I am seeing from you right now. You insult the man you call your friend by saying he is just a dick for me to use.”

  “He is just infatuated with you. Your blonde hair, and blue eyes. Your open legs,” Muska tells me.

  “No. He loves me, and I love him.”

  “You will convert,” Yasin states.

  “No. I will be myself, and believe what I believe. Just as he will.”

  “You selfish whore,” Lian says, advancing on me.

  I hold my ground, because I am not going to show these four any fear. Hell yes, I’m afraid, but that’s only for me and God to know. I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this room, but then the door is bursting open, knocking Muska over.

  “Oops, did I hurt you?” Darcy asks with a smile. Muska is her husband, Brayden’s, assistant and there’s no love lost between the two of them.

  “You have no right to come into my office like this!” Ahmet yells.

  Nev looks happy, as she addresses him. “Oh, but we do, Ahmet. You are a disgrace to both my brother and our faith. And, as of right now, none of you are employed by C&C. You’ll be escorted downstairs.”

  “Downstairs? Not out of the building?” I see fear on Yasin’s face.

  “Not yet. I believe Sully and Matt will want to speak to you and Ahmet privately. Darcy and I will be doing the same with Muska and Lian.”

  Theo, Nate, Aiden, and Jake all arrive, with each pair flanking one of the men as we head downstairs. Nev and Darcy have a hand on the women, who are crying. I’m shaking a little, because I don’t know what would’ve happened if they hadn’t come for me.

  Jyn, who is the second in command of Security, tells me to have a seat, once we get to her area. I catch a glimpse of Sully as the door opens to let the men in, but I don’t dwell on it. He’s going to do what he thinks is right, and then he’s going to go to Youssef.

  Five minutes later, the door opens, and Sully and Matt walk out. Matt has a bruise forming on his chin, while Sully has a bloody nose, and a black eye. Their dress shirts are covered in blood, most of which is not their own, and their knuckles are split open.

  “Sully!” I run to him, and hover my hands over his wounds, not wanting to hurt him.

  He takes my hands in his, and kisses them. “It had to be done, Helo. No one who calls themselves my friend, tries to hurt you.”

  “I know, but now you’ll go to Imam, and pray with him.”

  “I should be with you.”

  “I’m fine. Go, Habibi, and do what you must.”

  “I love you so much.”

  “And I love you.”

  Epilogue

  One Month Later

  Sully

  Tonight, we celebrate Eid ul-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice. For this celebration, my family has traditionally given to those less fortunate, and this year is no different. Except that Beckham joined us, and the Society, today.

  After I went to morning prayers, we spent the day driving around the city, treating the homeless to meals, and giving them clothes and gift cards. We also randomly surprised shoppers at Walmart by paying for their groceries, and spread out to various soup kitchens to serve meals.

  Right now, I’m waiting for Beckham in her living room, because she wants me to be surprised when I see her all dressed up. Surprised is not the word that comes to mind when she appears.

  “Wow.”

  She’s in the blue saree my mother gave her, and I’ve never seen her look more gorgeous. The deep blue blouse with silver beading, the long blue skirt with an elaborate design at the bottom, and the Pallu which is draped over her left arm with silver threaded through it, are simply stunning on her. I can’t see her stomach right now, but I know it’s exposed. I also know I can’t wait to unwrap her later.

  “You look pretty dashing yourself”, she says, motioning to my traditional Kurta top, and Pajama bottoms.

  I wanted to honor my mother’s upbringing tonight, with what I’m wearing. My clothes are a darker blue than Beckham’s, with subtle gold embroidery. It’s been years since I dressed like this, and seeing the appreciation in her eyes makes me want to go shopping for more of the same.

  We’re drawn to each other like magnets, as we always are, our lips meeting while our hands explore. “We should go, or we never will.”

  “Yes. I don’t want Youssef to scold me.”

  “It’s I who would be scolded, since he likes you more.”

  It’s true. Beckham and my imam have formed a strong bond of friendship over the past month. I see him on my own every week, but we’re all together on Saturdays, when we volunteer with other friends, and we’ve shared some group meals too.

  Work is a thousand times better as well. I’ve taken over as Brayden’s assistant, and I’m loving being a part of the International Division. Mark took Hannah’s place as Second Assistant, Beckham moved to Third, and Alma is Fourth. Val and Brad are now in love, and hoping for jobs when their internships are up, which might or might not happen. All is pretty much right in our world, and I couldn’t be happier.

  We take the elevator down to the party that’s started without us. Beckham pulls me back as I walk forward, kissing me again. She’s smiling when she releases me, and as usual, I smile right back.

  “Thanks for getting me fired, Sully.”

  “Anytime, Helo.”

  Coming Soon

  Look for Rhys’ book, Defiant Company,

  coming in October!

  Acknowledgments

  My daughters as always, I thank you for loving your mom(ther), even when I make you crazy!

  Helen Williams, my covers just keep getting better and better, and that’s all YOU!

  Aqeelah Ayoub, your help with this book was so appreciated! You answered my questions, and read this book early, letting me know I got things right.

  Natasha Eddie, you made me cry at work when you thanked me for this book, and I need to thank you for reading it early for me.

  To all my readers, all over the world, I want you to know it’s important for me to represent all of you in some way. I try my best to honor everyone’s cultures in a thoughtful, respectful, and sensitive way. I often hear that authors should stay in their own lane, and only write their experiences, but I refuse to have a lane. You’ll never find a series from me that only has white women and men, who are Christian and straight. That’s not my friends and family, and it’s not all of you. I’ll take all the criticism if it means I can represent the world I live in. If you ever feel I’ve gotten something wrong, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Thanks, as always, for reading my books!

  About the Author

  Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she sat down and did it one day. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events, when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts and LulaRoe leggings, or finding a place to put all of her Pop! figurines. In 2016, she won the Creative Initiatives Award from Romantic Times for encouraging literacy, and also the Community Advocate Award from the Clark County School Librarians Association. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. The Griffin Brothers, Corrigan & Co., and the Society Girls series are all international best sellers, and she’s thankful to the readers who made that happen.

  Find her here:

  www.crystalperkinsauthor.com

  facebook.com/crystalperkinsauthor

  @wondermomlv

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