Page 17 of Own Me

I laugh. “Very, and that hit the right spot.”

Vanessa raises to her feet. “Glad I could help. I better get back to work.”

“Thanks again,” I tell her before she walks off.

Later, I finish my cola and have the sudden urge to pee. I run to the nearest bathroom to handle my business. When I stand from the toilet, I guess I move too fast because I become so dizzy that I fall back down. Then, my stomach turns. I stand and whirl around just in time to puke into the toilet.

Damn it. The stress is getting to me. This is the same way I used to feel before exams.

I clean myself up and hustle back to work. When I get back to my desk, Sterling is standing in front of it with a frown on his face.

“Slacking off again, eh?” he says as I take a seat behind my desk.

I glance up once seated and take my time to reply when all I really want to do is cuss his ass out. “Actually, I had to use the restroom, I?—”

“Ayana, since you have so much time on your hands to dawdle, I need you to go to the finance department and retrieve some files.” Sterling crosses those muscled arms of his over his broad chest. It must be a signature move he uses to intimidate people. It’s working a little. “Do you think you can find time out of your leisurely schedule for that?”

Tyrant!

Sterling West is a beautiful, blue-eyed tyrant that I want to slap. Instead, I paste on a smile and say, “Sure, I can do that for you. Is there anything else, sir?”

The arrogant ass turns and walks away without a word.

My gaze follows him.Who the fuck does he think he is? And who the fuck dawdles?I stand up and walk across the hall to the elevator. When the doors slide open, I punch the number button hard, chipping a nail. “Damn it.” I pass my thumb along the jagged edge. Could this day get any worse? I make my way downto the finance department. I retrieve his files and head back up to my floor.

I stroll over to his closed office door and knock. There is no invitation to enter, so I knock again and wait.

Sheesh, I was only gone fifteen minutes or so. Maybe he’s in his restroom.I turn the knob, walk in, and halt in my steps.

My eyes lock on a woman and then my boss. He glances up, but his gaze barely lingers on me before returning to the sleek-haired woman at his side. I notice his hand on her shoulder before moving downward to pause at the small of her back. I feel a hint of resentment at the way he dismisses me, and the feeling of their closeness permeates the atmosphere and sets my emotions on edge.

I wonder who she is? The two look much too comfortable for her to be a new hire.

I clear my throat, and the woman’s head swivels in my direction. She is beautiful with slanted cat-like eyes, and her lips are full, painted a dark red, the same color as the body-hugging red dress she is wearing. The color looks alluring against her pale skin.

I wonder if I have walked into something more than a professional meeting. A feeling of unhappiness courses through me at the thought. They really did make a beautiful pair.

Sterling faces me again, then raises a palm toward the woman. I notice a cocky smirk against his lips before he speaks. “Ayana, this is Lux Denning, my new assistant. She’ll be helping you with the tasks at hand.”

“Ahh,” I manage.

“Just leave the files on the desk. I’m taking Lux to a late lunch at Chez Phillipe.”

A feeling of loss and confusion tears through me. I have never been to Chez Phillipe, one of the most expensive restaurants in Memphis, but I had heard rave reviews.Why is he taking a newhire to Chez Phillipe? More importantly, why did he hire a new assistant when he has me?Anger and resentment make their way through my frame. I storm over to the desk and slam the files down.

“Nice to meet you, Lux,” I force a professional smile to my lips.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Ayana. Maybe we can talk more later.” Lux’s smile grows more prominent, and I feel almost terrible for the mixed emotions warring inside me. Lux’s catlike eyes meet mine. Her smile is friendly, and I feel bad for wanting to dislike her without knowing anything about her.

“I would like that and maybe we can grab lunch sometime soon.”

“Aww, thanks, I will like that very much,” Lux replies.

“Ahem,” Sterling makes a noise clearing his throat. My eyes meet his and he gazes from Lux to me before saying, “that will be all, Ayana. Have a good evening if I don’t see you when we return. I expect this lunch to run—long.”

I smile inwardly when I notice the cocky smirk he previously portrayed slides from his lips as he takes Lux by the elbow and starts to steer her toward the door.

I watch as they stroll past me.

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