The Executive Boss (Billionaire Boss Book 2) Read online

  Troy smiled, rotating the steering wheel toward the right to make a sharp turn. “Thanks. I’ve wanted this type of system for a while now.” He tapped the flashing screen. We passed a small riverbank before turning onto the main road.

  I nodded my head, impressed. “Well, you know what they say. A song can set the mood.”

  Troy glanced at me, giving me a sexy smile.

  “But does that mean you were testing me?” I asked.

  “Testing you how?”

  “When you talked of the radio before? I didn’t realize you would have one installed so soon.”

  Troy laughed and shook his head. “No, it wasn’t a test. But I wish I’d thought of it.” He reached over and briefly touched my shoulder. “You would’ve passed the test though. You barely blinked when you saw the empty space instead of a radio.”

  By the time we were seated across from one another, the romantic music that had been playing in the car had put me in a great mood. The restaurant was decorated in a tropical motif with bright tablecloths in shades of green and purple. A cheery optimism hit me as I looked at the pictures of seashells on the walls and the fans spinning on the ceiling when I walked through the door. My stomach growled with hunger and we waited patiently for the waitress to come and take our order.

  Troy sniffed the glass of wine that was served earlier. “Aww, yes. This came from a good bottle.” He took a sip, then put the glass down, tilting his neck a bit to the side. “I forgot to tell you that you look beautiful tonight. The wine matches the color of your dress.”

  I crossed my legs under the table and thanked him. “I like your choice in wine.” I lifted my own glass for a sip.

  “Thanks. When I get a chance to come here, I always order the cabernet sauvignon.”

  “Well, this is my first time having it.” I leaned into the table. “Mom cooked curry shrimp with sweet potatoes and grilled eggplant for lunch, but I didn’t eat that much because I was saving my appetite. I’m starving.”

  Troy moved in toward me. “Augustine, who would skimp out on eating a delicious bowl of curry shrimp? And I love sweet potatoes, especially fried. I can eat it morning, noon, and night.”

  The waitress came back and I ordered baked chicken, Spanish rice, calaloo, and a side salad. Troy scanned the menu, and then ordered steamed fish with vegetable rice.

  “That’s a light order,” I teased after the waitress left. “You got me thinking you were a big eater.”

  Troy gave a nervous chuckle and insisted that though he liked to eat, he was watching what he ate more carefully as he would be forty-nine next month. “You should eat up. There’s nothing sexier than a woman who loves good food.”

  I caressed my glass and then moved my hands away. “So you like a woman with a little meat on her bones?”

  Troy nodded. “Yes, but not fat.” He leaned into the edge of the table. “Just ample. Give me something to hold on to.” He grinned.

  I wanted to know more about him. “Have you dated many women since you’re so well traveled?”

  Troy’s eyes widened. “No, don’t get the wrong idea.” He glanced away.

  Our food came then, and we dug in. Troy talked nonstop during dinner. He loved his job as a technician for the island’s biggest phone company because it allowed him to be in the field all day instead of working inside its dingy office building. He was very proud of his daughter and all her achievements; she was continuing school, hadn’t gotten into trouble like some of her latchkey friends. He hoped to pick up the acoustic guitar again. And he wasn’t sure if he would attend Carnival the following year, but he wanted to go. Lately he’d been thinking of slowing down on the party circuit.

  Occasionally I got a word in edgewise and I told him that I loved the research work that I was doing, how the policies that my company studied―from the treatment of senior citizens in nursing homes to the educational practices of higher education institutions―impacted Americans. I told him that it was great how he was so supportive of his daughter and that they must have a great relationship.

  Though his pride in his daughter was to be admired, I still didn’t know if I had any intentions of spending more time with Troy. I wasn’t so sure if I believed in the two locket pieces that fit perfectly together on a chain idea of love. Then again, I didn’t want to be the corner piece of a puzzle in someone’s life, like Mike’s wife.

  I wanted a man who would fit easily into my life and I into his. Someone who just got me, like Orlando did. Someone who would accept my shortcomings as much as my more desirable traits.

  I pushed away the empty plate and stood up, excusing myself to use the ladies’ room.

  When I got back the bill was on the table, and I was glad that Troy got the cue that I was ready to leave. I couldn’t wait to get home, take a hot shower, and hit the sack.

  I sat down and Troy smiled at me. “It’s been a great night. I hope we can continue things, see where this leads.”

  I smiled slightly, nodding. “Do you want to leave now?” I looked around for the waitress.

  “She hasn’t been back for the bill.” Troy cracked his knuckles and sighed. “Augustine… about that. Do you mind splitting the check? You ordered a more expensive dish than I thought you would, and with my new radio, you know, money is low right now.”

  I fixed my gaze on my water glass so I wouldn’t become too peeved. What could I say? How would Troy have known if I’d had a wallet in my purse? I gritted my teeth and reached for my purse. “Sure,” I said. I took out my wallet and searched through it for cash. “I only have $126.”

  “That’s fine,” Troy replied. “The bill came to $210.18. We’ll each pay half, and I’ll throw in a tip.”

  I rested my chin in the palms of my hands and looked away, seeing that the couple at the table next to us was eavesdropping. The woman shook her head at me, and I arched an eyebrow. It wasn’t so much that this was the second date and I was already being asked to chip in; it was that I hadn’t even been exactly asked to contribute. I put my wallet back into my purse.

  After the waitress was paid, Troy and I walked outside to his car. I’d made up my mind by the time we got there. We would never work. Seriously, even when Orlando and I grabbed something to eat, he always paid, unless I insisted. And he was a friend, much less a potential suitor. Besides, I was too serious for Troy’s fun-loving personality.

  Still, I wondered at this invisible stamp that marked Troy’s and my relationship status as undesirable. Why hadn’t I marked my relationship with my ex with this permanent stamp? Perhaps it was because I still didn’t know whose fault it was, his or mine, that we didn’t work out. I crossed my arms, my purse wedged between my ribcage and palms. Maybe it was this same sense of uncertainty that made my Mom mute to us children about our dad.

  Inside the car I said little and let Troy talk over the music. When he pulled up in front of Mom’s house, I thanked him and said goodnight. He asked if he could see me again.

  “I don’t think so,” I said, “I’d like to spend more time with my family before I fly back.” I wore a serious expression as I said this and, by the look on Troy’s face, I figured he got the message.

  Chapter Seven

  Augustine called me late. “It would’ve never worked out,” she said, after telling me about her date with ‘Mr. Cheapskate.’

  I chuckled when I heard. I couldn’t help it.

  Augustine laughed too.

  “I’m way past taking this kind of stuff personally,” she said. “If a man doesn’t have money to spend on dinner then what can I do?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Nothing−,” she said and laughed dryly.

  “I concur, better he had taken you to the beach or offered you an ice cream cone.”

  Augustine snorted, but said, “Be nice.”

  Inside, I was happy. It couldn’t have happened at a better time. I’d been waiting to see whether Augustine would change her mind about our two-day excursion to Tobago. We’d planned on stay
ing in a hotel nestled in the green foothills of a fishing village called Speyside. It would be my first trip to the smaller island.

  I changed the topic to us.

  “I was worried that you’d ditch me for Troy, leaving me to go to Tobago alone.”

  “No way, Orlando.” Augustine sighed. “I mean, if we had hit it off, I would’ve just asked him to come along with us.”

  I didn’t know how to respond. “I’m surprised you’d suggest something like that,” I said finally.

  “It did cross my mind. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.”

  “Kidding aside, Augustine. Mike will pick you up tomorrow at noon so we can drive to the airport for our flight.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Later.”

  “Yeah, later,” she said, before hanging up the phone.

  Augustine and her Mom were sitting on the front step when Mike and I pulled up the next day.

  Mike stuck his head out the window. “What you ladies doing out in the hot sun?” Mike called out as he pulled up.

  “Just talking, having some quality mother-daughter time,” said Augustine’s mom.

  Augustine smiled and nodded.

  “Ain’t nothing wrong with that,” Mike said.

  Mike and I got out of the car.

  “Where’s your bag?” Mike asked. “I have to pick up wifey to run some errands after I drop you guys off.”

  “It’s in the foyer,” Augustine said.

  Mike went for the bag while I briefly chatted with Augustine’s mom, then we were off.

  We got there about two hours before the flight. I hadn’t anticipated the long line of passengers at the counter to Tobago.

  “You can have a seat. I’ll let you know when I’m near the front,” I said.

  “Okay.” Augustine smiled. “Your hair looks great. The new cut suits you better.” She gave me a pat on the shoulder before going to sit in one of the blue chairs in the open check-in lounge.

  The sun shone on us.

  While waiting in line, I contemplated if that night would be the best time to confess to Augustine how I felt. I decided that it was. I didn’t expect anything, though we were staying in the same hotel suite. And she would know that. I’d booked the suite because I wanted a really nice, spacious room for us to relax in. Besides we had two separate bedrooms.

  The line shortened slowly. Eventually we had our boarding passes.

  The flight was short—20 minutes. I sat a row ahead of Augustine and before I knew it, had dozed off.

  There was a hotel car waiting to pick us up on the other side.

  The journey to Speyside from Crown Point was a good hour. The driver pointed out landmarks to Augustine and me on our way to the southern tip of the island. It was different than Trinidad. More lush green trees. More curved roads for cars to bend around. There was the sound of bird calls I’d never heard, and as we drove through different villages, people lingered near the roadside talking to one another, unaware of the tourist looking through a tinted car window.

  ~

  Inside the hotel suite, Augustine and I separated into our respective rooms. I’d opted to not have an international roaming plan on my cell phone. I didn’t have need to travel much as the managing supervisor at the MVA. I sat on the bed to check my email and logged into the hotel’s free Wifi. It was nice to be in the same spot with Augustine on such a great little island.

  After awhile, she stuck her head through the door. “Hey.”

  I looked up. “Hey.”

  She pushed it open and walked in. Her pale blue dress clung to her hips seductively. “Do you want to roam around the village or go to the beach?”

  I didn’t mind seeing the village, but that could wait. I wanted to see Augustine in a bikini, if that was her suit of choice. “Let’s soak up some rays.”

  “All right. I can be ready in an hour. I just want to take a few things out of my bag and do what you’re doing now—check my email.” She turned to leave.

  “How did you know that?” I asked.

  “Who would you call here?” she said over her shoulder.

  I smiled as I watched her round ass sway in the dress as she walked off.

  Chapter Eight

  We rented two beach chairs for $20 bucks each and settled down on the white sand. The ocean breeze felt awesome on my skin after I’d undressed to my navy blue swim trunks. I was looking forward to getting a deeper tan. I was certain that a tanning bed couldn’t compare to laying out under the Caribbean sun.

  “I must say, this setting’s picturesque. I love the Caribbean.” I turned to Augustine, who looked hot in her black bikini. “Remind me of why you left again?”

  Augustine laughed. “To meet you,” she joked.

  I crinkled my eyebrows before looking around. “That’s a good enough reason.”

  Augustine tapped my hand with her fingertips and laughed more.

  Our beach chairs were side by side. I couldn’t see her eyes because she was shaded by a wide straw hat and black sunglasses.

  “This is nice.”

  I nodded.

  “You know what I was just thinking?”

  “What?”

  “Look how long we’ve been best friends.”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Too bad Mom’s house is small―,”

  “Mike’s been cool though.”

  “Yeah, I’d expect that.” Augustine shrugged. “I mean he’s heard bits and pieces about you over the years, so he was cool with you staying.”

  “It’s been a great trip. Nice scenery,” I looked out onto the ocean waves, “and a good break from the hustle and bustle of our regular lives.” There were people around us, but my focus was on Augustine.

  I’d checked her out already—noticed the fullness of her breast, the roundness of her hips and ass, and the soft stomach. She’d lost a good amount of weight recently, finally listening to my advice about exercising. She looked real good.

  Though I stole glimpses of her lips and thighs and other body parts, I wasn’t wearing sunglasses and I didn’t want Augustine to feel her best friend was checking her out.

  We relaxed for a good while, enjoying the sun. I closed my eyes and fantasized about the woman next to me. It seemed like my insides would erupt with the longing I felt.

  I became aroused, but there was nothing to hide my erection so I got up. “I’m going to take a swim.”

  Augustine turned her head slowly my way as if she’d been dozing off. “Okay, I’ll join you in a minute.”

  I nodded and headed toward the ocean. The water was a bit chilly at first, but my body adjusted. I dipped my entire body underneath and opened my eyes. I felt the sting of the ocean’s saltiness and rose up.

  Augustine was wading into the water. She giggled as I blinked. “Salt stings, huh?”

  I nodded.

  She came near me, arms outstretched. “Do you know how to swim?”

  “Of course.”

  “I don’t.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Augustine.”

  “What?” She drifted in closer.

  “You’re an island girl.”

  “I know,” she said matter of factly.

  “Dang.” I shook my head

  She smiled slightly.

  I took the opportunity to touch her. “You want me to teach you?”

  She shook her head.

  A pang of disappointment hit me.

  “Do you know how many people who live on an island don’t know how to swim?”

  “That’s crazy.” I bent my knee, dug my toes into the soft sand and moved backward. I did the backstroke, the sun hitting my face, in a straight line in the ocean. I knew Augustine watched me. After a minute I stopped and straightened up. I was farther away from her than expected. I swam up to her.

  “Show off.”

  “Swimming should be mandatory in the curriculum,” I chided playfully.

  “Right,” Augustine said in a deadpan voice.

  We frolicked
apart in the water and though I wanted to wrap my arms around Augustine, I didn’t.

  ~

  Later in the evening, Augustine and I went to a café in the small fishing village to try out some of the fresh fish caught earlier that day. During dinner, we talked about the wedding, about the warmness of the locals, and about the jobs waiting for us back in Virginia. I was glad Augustine hadn’t brought up Troy. After dinner we headed back to our hotel, enjoying the coolness of the air as we strolled leisurely along the sidewalk.

  Augustine was making a cup of peppermint tea when I walked into the small kitchenette.

  She wore a nightgown that hit right above her knee, with a matching pale blue robe. Blue was her favorite color. “Want some?” she asked.

  “Sure.”

  Augustine picked up the second cup off the counter and made me tea.

  “Let’s go out to the balcony,” I said.

  She followed me and we sat on the balcony chairs, facing a garden. We sipped our tea in silence for few moments.

  “What are you thinking about?” Augustine asked.

  “You.” I knew if I didn’t tell her then, I might not take the chance again. The next day, we’d be hiking most of the day with some friends of hers who lived on the island.

  “Really?” She looked puzzled.

  “Augustine, we’ve been friends for a long time. And you know when a man and a woman have a good thing going, sometimes the feelings of one of them can change. Well,” I paused, “mine have.”

  She didn’t say anything.

  I looked over at her but she kept her eyes on the garden. I saw that she was breathing deeply.

  “You know, I’d had feelings for you before,” she began.

  I smiled widely. “Really?”

  Augustine turned to me. “Soon after we’d met, but of course you were in deep with your ex.”

  I nodded.

  “And I left it alone.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what to say right now.”

  I felt myself pulling back. I didn’t know what I’d expected—but it hadn’t been for her to say nothing. “You don’t have to say anything…I know I just kind of sprang that on you.”