Page 1 of Rich & Decadent

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“Forty-five text messages. What the hell do you want?” Imani sighed and shook her head. She glanced around the first class cabin while waiting for the plane to arrive at the gate. The flight from Atlanta to San Francisco had been smooth and she’d been able to work on one of her presentations before she decided to grab a quick nap.

But whatever relaxation might have come with it was ruined immediately by waking up to that many messages waiting on her. She picked her phone up again and took in all of the attempts to get a hold of her and figured she would ignore them for now. The only one that captured her eye was from one of her closest friends, Mykeisha.

The plane finally arrived at the gate. The seatbelt sign wasn’t even off yet and people were already in the aisle reaching for their carry ons in the overhead compartments. She side-eyed the gentleman who had been sitting next to her. He was standing in the aisle holding his bag in his hand. Where was he going? The stewardess hadn’t even opened the door yet.

“These people,” Imani muttered under her breath. Everyone was going to get off the plane in a timely manner. Have theynever flown before? The man in question glanced her way. She erased her frown and put on a phony smile.

“Do you have a bag up here?” He motioned to the overhead compartment.

Well at least he had manners.

If he was going to be a gentleman and get her heavy bag down, then she’d give him a pass.

“I do. It’s the cream one,” she replied as she sat forward in her chair. Her nap had been needed and she did feel a little more rested, but the time difference was going to be hard to manage. Atlanta was home, and she would have stayed there if she could, but being in San Francisco was important. The mini-conference included presentations and a black-tie event, and she was extremely pleased that her boss had chosen her to represent their office. But obviously it made sense. She was the most qualified to present the topic she had been assigned to discuss. Not only was Imani an expert in her area, but she was also the only Black woman in her department, and the youngest executive.

Apex Systems was a company she was proud to work for. It was a global IT services company that offered software solutions, infrastructure management and more. As a Senior Project Executive for the Atlanta office, she held a ton of responsibility overseeing a team of about one hundred people.

“Oh, this is a little heavy,” he exclaimed. He lowered her small suitcase to the floor and brought up the handle.

“I’m the worst when it comes to packing,” Imani admitted sheepishly. There were always things she wasn’t sure if she needed so she was the type to pack a ton of crap—just in case.

The flight attendants finally opened the door to the plane and were speaking with the ground crew. Imani grabbed her bag on the floor underneath the seat before her then stood. “Thanks.”

It wasn’t long before she was striding through the airport and heading to baggage claim. The airport massive, and was bustling with thousands of travelers rushing to their destinations.

Imani took her time.

She was a day early and wanted to check in to her hotel and be a tourist while she could. It had been a long time since she had visited San Francisco. There were just some things a tourist justhadto do when visiting the city. Hopefully she’d have time to sneak away from the hotel in between the meetings.

Remembering the text from Mykeisha, she threw her wireless earpiece in her ear that connected to her phone and placed a call to her longtime friend.

“I was wondering if you’d call me,” Mykeisha’s voice came on the line. Imani grinned at the sound of her voice. She certainly missed her friend. They had met the first week of college and had been close ever since. Mykeisha and Carla were the first people she had met at The Ohio State University. Those women had been by her side through all of her ups and downs. She made a mental note to text Carla to let her know she’d made it to San Francisco safely.

“Of course I would. I saw your text,” Imani replied. She eyed a few of the store fronts in the airport corridor. The coffee shop definitely piqued her interest. She’d had taken a straight flight and had a few drinks, but coffee hadn’t been one of them. But then she remembered she had to grab the suitcase she had checked and it would be difficult to carry a cup while juggling two suitcases. Bypassing the coffee shop, she continued on her way. “Plus you have the connection I need.”

Mykeisha laughed. Ever since Mykeisha had reunited with Nash, her now husband, the woman had been all smiles.

Imani had flown to Ohio so she could attend the nuptials between the lovebirds. It had been a beautiful ceremony on Nash’s farm. There hadn't been a dry eye in the house when thetwo had exchanged their vows. Carla and Imani had stood in as bridesmaids while Mykeisha’s cousin Kizzy was her matron of honor.

Mykeisha and Nash were meant for each other.

Imani remembered how the two danced around each other back in college, but apparently that hadn’t been the time for them.

Imani loved their story and how years later they found each other again and had fallen madly in love with each other.

That was the type of love that Imani hoped she would find.

She was open to finding the one for her. She just hadn’t found him. Yet.

Where were all of the good men who could handle a strong woman?

She couldn’t even begin to count all of the men she had encountered who were intimidated by her. Just because she was beautiful, independent, had an amazing career, traveled, and had her own money didn’t mean she didn’t need a man.

That had been a common reason most of her dates didn’t go past day one.

Most of the dates ended with her being told exactly that.

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