Treasure My Heart

by Altonya Washington

  The phone buzzing inside the tote roused a hissed curse. Minka slowed her steps while digging out the mobile. She had no intentions of taking the call but wanted to silence the device so that it wouldn’t be a disruption during the meeting. However, the number that showed up prompted an answer.

  “Will. Not hiding behind untraceable phones this time? What gives?” There was silence, and Minka thought he might not answer. “I can see your name and number on my phone.”

  “I know you can,” Will replied at last. “I wanted you to know you didn’t bring me to my knees when you got Sim to fire me.”

  “Your scheming got you fired, Will.”

  “It’s water under the bridge.” He sounded calm. “I’m back on top, and all is right in the world.”

  “Ah, I see, found a new company to extort money from, huh?”

  “You’re a nosy twit, Minka. Someone’s gonna do something about that one day.”

  “Oh? Will that be you? I’m hoping so.”

  “Trust me, you wouldn’t want that.”

  “I don’t want what, Will?” Minka continued to goad the man, her agitation fueled by her own stress. “A lot of big talk from a liar who betrays his friends?”

  “Easy, Minka.” The calm in Will’s voice harbored a decided edge. “You don’t have Qasim to run interference for you anymore—he’s got a new woman to take care of. And besides, I’m not part of his payroll now, remember?”

  “Hmph, I never needed Qasim to have my back against the likes of you. In fact, I was a little pissed that he didn’t let me fire you myself when you betrayed him. Screw with me, Will, and I promise I won’t miss out on the chance again.” She ended the call, clipping Will’s rebuttal.

  Minka silenced the phone and dropped it in the tote. She gave herself a minute to gather her wits and continued her trek toward the front door. She did a double-take, noticing a gleaming Jeep Wrangler near the top of the drive, but she didn’t slow her walk until she’d reached the double oak doors trimmed in beveled glass.

  “There you are!” Fiona McMullen met her boss’s granddaughter in the foyer. “Your grandmother’s about to have lunch with your guests—hurry, child.”

  Minka took no offense to the woman’s scolding. It was difficult to talk sass to someone who had changed your diapers. “How long have they been here?” she asked.

  “Almost half an hour.”

  Minka gave a nod and secured the tote strap in her grip. Fiona tugged it free.

  “None of that,” Fiona said. “There’s no business talk till after lunch. Mr. Bauer is an old friend, and your Gram wants to catch up with him.”

  Minka frowned. “Bauer? Oscar...Bauer?”

  “Yes, yes.” Fiona waved Minka on as though she were an annoyance. “They’re out on the lanai. It’s a lovely day—nice and cool. Your grandmother’s arranged for lunch to be served there. The four of you should be eating in about twenty minutes.”

  Minka couldn’t make her feet move. “The—the four of us?”

  Fiona shook her head over Minka’s dawdling. “Mr. Bauer and his son will be joining you and your grandmother. Now go, go.”

  Fiona left Minka in the front hall. Just as well, since she was sure to lose her famous Irish temper while Minka stood there dumbfounded.

  She made a tentative effort at last. Her progress was slow, but gained momentum the closer she drew to the sunroom that opened up into a spacious stone lanai. The space allowed for the gorgeous landscape of Zena Gerald’s property to be enjoyed no matter the weather. Minka heard the woman’s voice the moment she stepped out onto the lanai.

  “Ah! Here’s my girl!”

  Oliver hoped he was doing an adequate job of masking his emotions when Zena Gerald greeted her granddaughter. He and his father stood when Zena left her chair to pull Minka into a hug.

  Minka’s focus was on Oliver, who stood only a few feet away.

  “Miami obviously agreed with you, love. You’re glowing!” Zena raved.

  “Thanks, Gram.” Minka felt heat rush to her cheeks and forced her gaze from Oliver to the handsome older man at his right. “Mr. Bauer, it’s good to see you again.”

  Oscar moved to envelope Minka in a quick embrace. “Very good to see you too, Minka. Your grandmother’s right; you’re glowing and as lovely as usual.”

  “Thank you.” Minka smiled.

  “Minka, honey, have you met Oscar’s son, Oliver?”

  Oliver didn’t give Minka the chance to respond. “We’ve met, Miss Zena.” He took Minka’s hand and pulled her in to brush his mouth over her cheek. He heard her sharp intake of breath, and his smile became more defined.

  “We could’ve come back from Miami together if I’d known we were invited to the same meeting.”

  “Small world.” Minka’s demeanor held an airy, yet phony vibrancy.

  “How wonderful!” Zena clasped her hands. “What a nice coincidence being in Miami at the same time.”

  “Uh, yes, we, uh, we were both there working on the project I was sent on for Wilder,” Minka explained.

  “I see.” Zena’s dark eyes sparkled merrily and illuminated her lovely oval face. “Well, this will make for a cozy meal. I can’t wait to hear about everything you two got into down there.”

  Oliver’s expression was devilry at its best. “It was work and play at its finest, Miss Zena.”

  “Now, I’ve definitely got to hear about it.” Zena beamed at Oliver then sobered and took note of her granddaughter’s quiet. “Baby?” She used the back of her hand to feel Minka’s cheek and forehead. “Are you all right? A touch of jet lag, maybe?”

  Minka had to smile over the concern. “I’m okay.” She took Zena’s hand and kissed it.

  Oliver seemed oblivious to the intensity with which he watched Minka. The smile curving his mouth would have been hidden had he realized how closely his father was studying him.

  “Zena?” Oscar caught the woman’s attention. “Didn’t you say something about a garden? Think we have time to look it over before lunch? I don’t think I’ll want to move much afterward.”

  Zena was always in the mood to show off the results of her latest hobby. “I think we’ve got time.” She gathered the material of her flowing lime and powder-blue lounge dress in one hand, waving toward Minka with the other. “Baby, get yourself a drink and freshen Oliver’s. We’ll be back soon.”

  Zena and Oscar left, and soon, only the sound of chirping birds and the rustle of leaves remained.

  “Are we done pretending now?” Oliver asked.

  Chapter 13

  “Can’t believe I didn’t put this together before,” Minka said with a skeptical smile as she freshened Oliver’s club soda. “Do you know how many black billionaires there are in the world?”

  “Probably way more than we know of.”

  Minka nodded.

  “How is it no one knows?” Oliver shook his head as though not quite believing it himself. “How do you know my dad?”

  “Your dad’s been handling my grandparents’ real-estate interests for years, but it was only a few months ago that I met him when I went to see Vectra at his place in SoMa.”

  “Did Vectra know?”

  Minka shook her head. “Not then—your dad didn’t even put it together when we met that day. Sim told Vectra right after we left for Miami.”

  Oliver took the drink Minka passed him and began to walk the lanai. Absently, he studied the table that had been set invitingly.

  “So Qasim, he, um, he knows.”

  Oliver hadn’t exactly phrased a question but Minka nodded anyway. “My granddad was one of his first clients, and he was the biggest. My grandfather kind of took Sim under his wing, let him cut his teeth on a few million dollars.”

  Oliver grinned. “Cut his teeth on a few million
, huh?”

  Minka had to smile at the phrasing, as well. “They loved Sim like he was their own.”

  “And they trusted you with him,” Oliver said.

  “Yeah.” Minka’s expression was reflective. “They understood that I wanted to make my own way. Sim was building his company, so that gave me the chance to earn my stripes.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Minka sipped from her club soda. “I didn’t want you to change.”

  Oliver reclined against one of the stone columns. His expression was coaxing.

  Minka took a spot against an opposing column. Resting her head back on it, her dark gaze took on a whimsical gleam as she scanned the lanai.

  “I like the way men treat me when they don’t know.”

  Oliver cleared his throat and forced his attention to the contents of his glass. “What way is that?” he asked, working doggedly to dismiss the stab of something powerfully possessive at her mention of the way men treated her.

  Minka left the column and paced while considering her response. Oliver soothing himself by taking in the fluid way she moved. He fantasized about her locking her legs around his back while those heels still adorned her feet.

  “They treat me like I’m just me—just...plain ol’ Minka who works as a secretary at a brokerage firm.”

  “Ah...” Oliver swigged down some soda. “You mean, poor ol’ Minka who tries to hide in corners and act like she’s got no idea how she affects men?”

  “I know well enough. Why do you think I stick to the plain-ol’-Minka role?”

  “Because you don’t really trust any of the men you see? How’s that working for you?”

  “I don’t date men because I’m looking for a soul mate. Companionship is a lovely thing, Oliver.”

  “What? Someone to go to the movies with? That’s all you want from a guy?”

  “That’s about all I expect. I’ve done the ‘search for a soul mate’ thing. But that journey tends to veer off in one of two ways once the ‘soul mate’ discovers I’m one of the Geralds.”

  “Tell me how it...veers off?” Oliver abandoned his stance against the column and moved closer to Minka.

  “They either go overboard with the wooing because they’ve got visions of money dancing in their heads.” She smiled over the imagery. “Or, they leave, because they hate the idea of becoming a kept man who has to beg his wife for money to go out with the boys.”

  “Come on, Mink...” He intentionally purred the phrase, loving that it clearly affected her. “You think that I would do that to you?”

  “No, Oliver.”

  “Then why—”

  “Oliver, you’re different, okay? I’ve...I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

  “So none of your other suitors came from money?”

  “That’s not what I mean.”

  “Then what?”

  “The things you said to me.”

  Oliver chuckled, drained his glass. “You mean those things that made you think I was completely out of my mind?”

  Minka was already shaking her head. “That’s why they affected me the way they did. You had no reason to say them. I’d already told you how much I wanted to sleep with you.”

  “Mmm-hmm, right before you said you didn’t want a relationship with someone you had business ties to.” He raised his glass to the ceiling. “I’m pretty sure this qualifies, babe.”

  “Oliver—”

  “Why didn’t you tell me before you left Miami?”

  “Because I want to keep seeing you.”

  “What for?” He leaned in, allowing her to see his irritation. “I told you I wasn’t in this for a fleeting companionship. I can get that anywhere.” His startling stare made a few more sweeps of her body. He shook his head, looking as though he were still in shock. “I should’ve known there was something,” he muttered.

  “Something?”

  Oliver set down his glass, made a move as if to loosen his tie but then seemed to recall he wasn’t wearing one. “I couldn’t figure out what it was about you that kept tugging at me. Something about the way your mind works, your demeanor.” He laughed shortly, skirting the line between humor and frustration. “You’re walking sexuality, and you don’t seem to know it.” He shook his head in wonder as he looked her over. “You have poise under pressure, and you never show too much of your hand.” He shrugged. “Guess that’s a testament to the way you were raised. Whatever it is, it’s not like anything I’ve ever known. That’s quite a declaration for a man like me, Minka.”

  “So I’m a novelty?” she asked.

  “Don’t do that.” Temper flashed in his riveting stare. “Don’t try to make it seem insignificant.” He began to walk toward her. “I admit that having you come apart on me when I’m inside that body of yours is beyond erotic.” He smiled, noticing her sharp inhalation in response to his words.

  He closed more of the distance between them. “Minka, do you know that it’s damn near impossible for me to keep my mind on anything else once I know you’re in the same room with me?”

  She smiled, moved away from the column before he could trap her there. “That’s only infatuation...”

  “You could be right, but I really don’t know what to make of this since I’ve got nothing to compare it to.”

  “So I’m research?” she teased.

  Oliver closed his eyes while muttering a curse. “Are you being difficult on purpose?” he asked.

  Minka faltered a step. “No, Oliver. I’m just trying to keep myself from getting my hopes up.”

  “And you’re counting on being disappointed.”

  “No. No, I don’t want that at all.”

  “Yet you refuse to give me a real chance, even when I tell you how I feel about you.”

  “What’s the challenge, Oliver?” Minka moved her hands away from her body. “Trying to see how long it’ll take to break me?”

  His expression was a mix of playful danger and subtle arrogance. “I’ve already broken you. Maybe I’m waiting to see how long it’ll take you to admit that.” He paused. “I know my relationship track record is crap, Minka, but it’s not everyday that I tell a woman I’m in love with her.”

  “Dammit, Oliver.” She sighed. “I’m in love with you too. But as you just said, your relationship track record is crap, and mine is definitely a laugh fest. I’d love to share your optimism that this’ll lead to happily-ever-after, but I guess I’m too busy trying to make sure my heart doesn’t get shredded. Dammit.” The pressure of tears built behind her eyes, and she turned her back.

  Oliver approached and turned her to face him. “Does it help to know I’m scared, too?”

  “You?” she blurted in a voice heavy with emotion.

  Oliver smiled at her disbelief. “It happens.”

  Minka sniffed, her eyes fixed on his muscular neck. “It’s not the same,” she said.

  “Why? Because I’ve got a string of women at my beck and call to make it all better afterwards?”

  She gave a weak laugh. “Don’t you?”

  “I know a lot of women, Minka, but as for them making things all better, that hasn’t been true in a long time. Way before I knew you existed.” He used his thumb to dry a tear clinging to the corner of her eye. “I get that this is different for you, that it’ll affect you differently than it will me.” He moved a little closer. “Just know it’s not easy for me either, Mink. I wasn’t looking for a real relationship when we met. But it’s not just about curiosity for me. I’d very much like for you to believe that.”

  He kissed her, a mere peck, but Minka reeled from its intensity just the same. He was straightening and moving away when Oscar’s and Zena’s voices filled the air as they returned to the lanai. Lunch was served moments later.

 
* * *

  “So since the two of you already have a rapport, Oliver, I thought it’d be just wonderful to let you start working on new strategies for the account,” Zena said once her guests had their fill of the big lunch the kitchen staff had supplied. Conversation had covered everything from Zena’s gardening to all the fun to be had in Miami.

  Oliver was undoubtedly pleased by the idea of the new partnership. “If it’s okay with Mink, it sounds good to me.”

  Zena nodded keenly. She’d noted that Oliver had shortened Minka’s name and that Minka was oddly tense and emotional.

  “Well, then, I’ll leave it to the two of you to work out an arrangement.”

  Minka emerged from her daze in time to catch her grandmother’s coy expression. Thankfully, Zena didn’t seem in the mood to press for details. She’d already moved on to other business and was making sure Oscar and his people would be on hand for the upcoming stockholders’ meeting. Zena extended a special invite to Oliver, and he graciously accepted.

  “Splendid!” Zena clapped her delicate hands and beamed at Oliver. “The highlight of the evening will be my official announcement recognizing Minka as my new successor.”

  “Gram—”

  “Hush.” Zena raised a hand without looking in her granddaughter’s direction. “Everyone already knows that I seek your input and advice on company business.” She looked at Minka. “Everyone recognizes your skill except you, Sweet-thing. The stockholders know how highly I value your opinions as well as the successes you’ve brought to the company. All this on top of the fact that you’ve got a full plate with Wilder.”

  “It will most likely be easier to run a multi-billion dollar corporation than turn down your grandmother, Minka,” Oliver said.

  They all laughed, dispelling the tension that had been brewing.

  “Well, Z, I’ve got a meeting to prepare for.” Oscar extended a hand toward Zena. “Walk me out by way of your garden?”