She paused for applause, then spoke again once it faded. “I know that a lot of you knew my father. After he passed away, some at FTI spoke about canceling tonight’s festivities.” She paused, her eyes glistening with tears.
Seeing the wetness in her eyes tore at his heart. He did his best to project his strength to her, hoping it would buoy her.
She gathered herself, continued. Eve spoke about her parent’s acquisition of the company, and the accomplishments her father made during his tenure as CEO. She smiled a watery smile. “I miss him terribly, I must admit. But the accomplishments that he made in his life should be celebrated, and that’s why we are here tonight.”
Around the ballroom, people began to stand and clap. Soon, the room’s occupants rose in a full-on standing ovation. Moved by her words of praise for her father, Darius stood and cheered right along with them. Exuding grace from her beautiful smile, she stood on the stage until the thunderous sound dimmed.
“Thank you so much. And now, I have some wonderful news to share.” Reaching down onto a hidden shelf in the podium, she produced a piece of paper. “This is a declaration that I’ve had drawn up. In loving memory of my father, I have donated $250,000 to create the Joseph Tyler Franklin Memorial Scholarship Fund at Johnson C. Smith University. Each year, thirty-five deserving students majoring in computer science or information technology will receive this scholarship, which covers their tuition and fees.”
Louise emitted an emotional gasp, clasping her hand over her mouth, as the applause once again filled the ballroom. Darius shook his head in disbelief.
Once again, she’d surprised him with the sweetness in her soul. He vowed then and there to spend the rest of the night showing her just how amazing she was.
Curtsying and waving, she walked off the stage with the sounds of appreciation still filling the room. As she approached the table, her mother stood. He saw the tears standing in Louise’s eyes as she embraced her daughter.
“I’m so proud of you, Eve,” Louise whispered in a voice trembling with emotion. “And your father would be, too.”
Pulling away, she nodded, dashing away the tears running down her own cheeks. “I hope so, Mom.”
Darius slid out her chair, and she sat down. Returning to his seat next to her, he whispered for her ears only. “I love you, Eve Franklin.”
Without hesitation, she turned to him and replied, “I love you, Darius.”
He stroked her tear-dampened cheek, his heart swelling in his chest.
Now that he knew she was truly his, he vowed to always treat her like the queen she was.
The rest of the evening went by, but not fast enough for him. He couldn’t take his eyes off Eve. But she returned his gaze, which communicated to him all the things she couldn’t say in the public setting.
As they rode in the back of the chauffeured vehicle, they held each other close, whispering and necking like hormone-crazed teenagers. By the time they arrived at her house, she’d taken off her heels, and he’d pulled all the pins from her hair, freeing it to fall around her shoulders.
As the car pulled away from the front of the house, they embraced. With her shoes in one hand, she led him down a cobblestone path around the side of the house.
“Where are we going?” he asked, curious.
“You’ll see.”
In a few moments, they had rounded the house. In the back of the property sat an oak gazebo, illuminated by the moonlight. Dark, burgundy-hued roses climbed the sides, and a small garden surrounded the sturdy-looking structure.
As she pulled him up the stairs, she flopped down on the cushioned bench that bordered the interior of the gazebo. “Come sit with me.” She beckoned with a graceful finger.
Her soulful eyes and the sequined bodice of her dress glistened in the faint light. He did as she asked, and joined her on the seat.
Their eyes locked.
Time slowed.
His hands, of their own accord, undid the clasp of her halter neck gown.
She didn’t resist as he pulled the top of the gown aside, revealing the tempting mounds of her breasts to the crisp night air. He bent, taking one nipple between his lips. She shivered, a soft croon escaping her throat.
He kissed the flat plane between her breasts, nipped and savored the sweetness of her shoulders and the delicate crook of her neck. Her heavy breathing and quiet moans filled his ears and fired his blood. Desire raged inside him like a five alarm blaze. He was sure they could set off a smoke detector if there was one nearby.
He mused that when he made her his wife, he would take her here, with the moon shining down on her and the breeze caressing her skin...
With sure hands, he slid his hand up her leg, navigating around the split in her dress until he touched her thigh. The lacy edge of her panties slid underneath his fingertips. As she sighed, he pushed the fabric aside and plied the dampness sheltered there.
Her hips rose from the bench, and as he pulled her onto his lap, his lips crashed down onto hers. His tongue searched her sweet mouth, as his fingertips dipped into a paradise of a different kind. She already flowed sweet and warm, and he played her like the strings of his bass. Her thighs parted in greedy invitation.
He kept it up, kissing her lips and stroking her treasure, until she came, shaking and moaning and calling out his name like a melody on the night air.
Chapter 20
Driving toward FTI, Eve sat back in her seat, content. Darius called that morning, asking her if they could spend the evening together. She couldn’t wait to get the day under way, because every passing hour brought her closer to Darius’s sweet kisses and skillful caressing.
Just thinking of him brought back a flood of erotic memories. She couldn’t believe she’d been celibate for two years. Now that she’d experienced what Darius offered, she was hungry for more.
Scandalized by her greediness for his loving, she decided to turn her thoughts to things less distracting. Turning up the smooth jazz on her radio, she bopped her head to the beat.
She exited the highway and turned into the heart of the city. People meandered up and down the street, talking on cell phones, sipping from paper coffee cups and waiting at bus stops. She gazed out the window, taking in the familiar sights of the city she’d been raised in. She guided her truck down Trade Street, nearing the FTI building. Traffic every morning in this area flowed like cold molasses, so she wasn’t surprised when she was forced to slow down.
She crept along at an achingly slow pace for the next few minutes. Finally, things seemed to pick up. The cars ahead of them increased speed, and she did the same.
Arriving in front of the building, she slipped into her parking spot. Then she made her way across the crowded plaza toward the doors.
As she reached for the door, it swung open, almost knocking her down. She stepped back to allow the person to pass, and came face-to-face with a very smug-looking Phillip Gordon. Behind him was a short, balding man in a dark suit.
“There you are, Eve.” Phillip’s tone dripped contempt.
She smiled politely, even as she wondered why on earth he’d been looking for her. “Good morning, Phillip. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Meet Bertram Faulkner, my lawyer.” Phillip gestured to the stout man behind him. “He has something for you.”
As her brow knit in confusion, the lawyer handed her a piece of paper. “You’ve been summoned, ma’am.”
“I told you this wasn’t over.” Phillip laughed venomously. “See you in court, Ms. Franklin.” He and Faulkner marched past her, disappearing into the bustling crowd on the sidewalk.
Annoyance coursed through her like a shot of espresso as she read the paper she’d been handed. Anger quickly replaced her annoyance, and she folded the paper in half and tucked it into her handbag. Fishing out her cell phone, s
he placed a call to Lina as she punched the elevator button.
“Hello?”
“Lina, get over here as soon as you can.” She stepped into the elevator car, glad to be alone as the doors slid closed. “Phillip Gordon is suing me for wrongful termination.”
She could hear Lina’s groan. “I wish I could, but I’m at the courthouse. We’re in a brief recess, then I’m back up. Can I swing by a little later?”
“I guess that will have to do. Thanks.” Eve disconnected the call and leaned back against the wall of the elevator car.
* * *
Darius peered at the front entrance to the FTI building, waiting for Eve to appear. He’d been waiting there twenty minutes, and as the flood of employees leaving work for the day continued to flow out onto the sidewalk along Trade Street, he grew worried. What if she’d had a rough moment and was locked in her office, crying? Even though she’d displayed a lot of strength, he knew she still mourned her father. Or maybe she’d forgotten their rendezvous. He hoped that wasn’t the case, especially after the loving they’d shared.
With a groan, he got out of the car and slammed the door behind him. Feeding several more quarters into the parking meter, he crossed the sidewalk and plaza and entered the building.
Scanning the lobby, he didn’t see her in the group of people hanging around, so he went to the main reception desk. “Excuse me. Has Ms. Franklin left for the day?”
The petite blonde shook her head. “No. I believe she’s still upstairs. Would you like me to ring her office?”
He shook his head. “No, thanks.” Passing the desk, he headed for the elevator bank. He was reaching out to press the up button when the center elevator opened. Eve stepped off, her face an unreadable mask.
He smiled, hoping to lift her out of her apparent funk. “Hey, gorgeous. Ready for my surprise?”
She looked his way, as if just noticing him. To his surprise, her frown deepened. “No, Darius, I’m not. In fact, I think you’ve done quite enough already.”
Taken aback by her tone and her words, he stepped back to allow her off the car. “Eve, what’s wrong with you?”
She strode past him, as if she intended to ignore him.
Confused and irritated, he followed her. “Eve...”
“I don’t want to talk to you right now, Darius.” She tossed the words over her shoulder in a terse tone, without even looking back as she swung open the glass door and stalked out.
His irritation increased tenfold as she made a show of walking away from him. On the plaza, he caught her arm with a gentle, but firm hold.
She turned to face him, her lips pursed into a scowl. But her eyes held something else. They were wet and red, and there was obvious sadness there. “Eve, you’re not going to push me away with that funky attitude. Now, what is going on with you?”
Her eyes slid closed for a moment, and she blew out a long breath. “Phillip Gordon is suing me for wrongful termination.”
He shook his head at the mention of the old blowhard’s name. “What? Why?”
“You know why. I told you this would cause problems, but you insisted on pursuing me, anyway!” The tears were running down her cheeks now, and she pulled out of his grasp, backing away as she spoke.
His heart sank into his loafers. He remembered the promise Gordon had made the day he fired him, and supposed he shouldn’t be surprised at this turn of events. Still, seeing Eve so upset did something to him.
“Wait a minute!” He matched her pace as she tried to slink away. “I left this company to avoid that, and so you could step into your rightful place here. How can you blame this on me?”
Arms folded across her chest, she shot back, “Easily. I can’t believe I let myself get mixed up with a coworker.” She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her throat.
“I don’t work here anymore.” He stared into her brown eyes, looking for a trace of the woman he’d come to love. “We’re in this together, baby.”
“No, we’re not. I’m the only one getting sued.”
She turned away as if to head for her car, but he caught her hand. He couldn’t let her leave, not like this. Didn’t she remember what they’d shared? “Don’t turn your back on what we have, Eve. That’s too much like Olivia.” As soon as the words escaped, he groaned. It was the wrong thing to say, but now it was too late.
He heard her gasp. She looked up at him, her eyes holding a coldness he’d never seen there before. “Since what we have caused all this, it’s better if I let you go.”
Her blunt words left him stunned. Before he could formulate a response, she got into her truck. With a final, teary gaze, she started the engine and pulled away.
As he watched, his heart pounding like a congo drum in his ears, the truck pulled away from the curb and disappeared into the rush of evening traffic.
He stood there for a long moment, his breath coming in rapid spurts, clenching his fists at his sides. After all he’d done to prove how much he cared for her, she’d turned her back on him. Maybe she was more like Olivia than he’d thought.
He strode to his car, and once inside, he slammed the door. Starting the engine and blasting the radio, he waited for an opening in traffic, then sped off down Tryon Street.
* * *
Sitting behind her desk, Eve ceased the nervous tapping of her pencil on the desktop when Lina walked into the open doors of her office.
“Thanks for helping me out with this.” She got up from her chair, and crossed to where Lina had sat down on the love seat in the sitting area.
“All right, first things first. Why aren’t you using your company lawyers for this?” She opened her briefcase, shuffling through a stack of papers.
“It’s sad to say, but I don’t trust them.” Eve folded her hands in her lap. “They’ve known and worked for Phillip Gordon for so many years, I’m afraid they may take his side in all this.”
Lina nodded, crossing her legs. “I see. I’ve been handling more union cases than anything else lately, so I wouldn’t mind taking a side trip into the exciting world of dismissal law.” She looked up from the papers long enough to give Eve an exaggerated wink. “As a favor to you, of course.”
She found herself smiling despite her mood. Between being nervous about the hearing and being tense by thoughts of Darius, she needed the lift. “I appreciate it. So, what do you have for me?”
Lina handed her some papers and a silver metallic pen. “Just my standard retainer, and some forms the firm will want filled out. Once you finish that, we can jump into this thing headfirst.”
She took the offered papers and pen and began reading the documents. After she’d signed and initialed in all the indicated places, she passed it all back to Lina, who tucked it into her briefcase. “I can tell you right now that Gordon’s case is flimsy, at best. I’m almost surprised any lawyer would take the case on.”
Hearing that gave her a measure of comfort, and she sighed. “That’s good to hear. What I really want to know is, what’s our defense?”
Lina leaned back into the cushion, tapping the tip of the pen on her chin. “In a case like this, it’s more like presenting the facts than mounting a defense. The burden of proof is on him and his lawyer.”
She nodded, knowing Lina was about to slip into legalese. “So, do you really think his case is invalid?”
“Was he the only person who was fired, promoted or who changed positions? In other words, was he singled out?”
“No. There were a good number of promotions and job changes as well, after Dad got sick.” She could clearly remember how crazy those days were.
Lina pointed the pen at her. “See? We can argue that Phillip Gordon’s firing was really just part of a larger trend of reorganization within the company.”
Turning it over in her mind, she could see the validity of
her friend’s point. “Sounds great. What happens now?”
“We’ll get a hearing on the schedule and hash this thing out in front of a judge. Bada-bing, bada-boom, it should be over. Although—” She looked away, as if avoiding a topic.
Her eyebrow went up. “Although, what?”
“Wasn’t Darius the one who did the actual firing?”
The mention of his name stung like the bite of a very large mosquito. “Yes. He was in the CEO position at the time.”
“It would be beneficial to have him there. The judge may have questions for him.”
She winced. “I don’t think he wants to hear from me right now, and I can’t say I’m all that interested in talking to him.”
Lina’s expression became curious. “Why not? What’s going on with you two?”
“We’re not speaking.”
“And why is that?”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Lina. This whole lawsuit mess is his fault.”
Lina’s brow furrowed, her lips pursed. In a word, she looked unconvinced. “And how did you come to that conclusion?” She crossed her legs and waited.
She didn’t care for the way her friend had put her on the spot. “It’s just like I told him. If he hadn’t insisted on pursuing me while we were working together, Phillip wouldn’t have gotten riled up, and this would have never happened.”
Lina scoffed. “How do you know that? Didn’t you tell me that you and Gordon never got along? I’m sure he would have found some other way to make things difficult for you, if this hadn’t gone down.”
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