Page 41 of Caught off Guard

Within seconds, I walked across the room and was gone.

What happened? Why did Zora push me away so hard? Were my expectations unreasonable? Did I misread her signals? Did I forget how to move with women? Recently, I’d been either hot or cold. That made me feel out of control.

But she’s your future wife.Cece’s gentle voice entered my head as I splashed cold water on my face in my master bathroom. More than at any other time in recent years, I heard this recurring message from her. Since I trusted that voice, I tried to push aside my distress.

“Why though? Are you sure? If she is the one, the timing isn’t right. And timing’s everything,”I said the words out loud, angry that a potential promise of newfound happiness was so close yet out of reach.

Zora and I couldn’t get on the same page about what was happening between us. She was everything I never thought I wanted in a woman—overly independent, headstrong, and a control freak. She didn’t know how to accept help from a man. She was too set in her ways to change. I didn’t want to fight her for space in her bed and her heart. I also didn’t need a woman messing with my head. Admittedly, I was too fragile.

I needed time and space to rein in my emotions. To do that, I would distance myself from her in the morning, keeping everything professional and focused on my university donation. She made it clear tonight that she wasn’t ready to engage withme like I wanted to with her. I had to accept that and respect her boundaries. My heart had been hurt so deeply when it came to love that I needed to be cautious too.

From now on, Zora and her staff could communicate with a member of my team instead of me if she needed anything for the foundation. All I had to do was make it through tomorrow, being cordial and professional. Then my life would be back to normal—business as usual and lonely.

When I descendedthe stairs to the kitchen for breakfast, I noticed Zora’s bags packed and sitting to the right of the front door. That was enough to tell me I would meet some mess when I engaged with her stubborn self.

The minute I walked into the kitchen, Zora’s pensive stare met me. Instead of being my hot-in-the-puss vixen, she was now reserved and formal again—The Dr. Zora Langston, esteemed president of Liberation University. She wore a simple black pantsuit and conservative heels as if she was going to a business meeting.

Her appearance and demeanor confirmed that I needed to be cautious around her. If she wanted to talk to me about how to move forward from last night, I would, but if she gave me nothing, I would stand by my original choice to put a wall between us too.

“Good morning, Cairo.” She sat at the high-top counter with a porcelain cup of hot coffee in hand.

Although her face was pleasant, her voice wasn’t cool, cutting me to my core.

Chef Yo slid a small, egg-white omelet onto a China plate and placed it before her.

“Thanks, Chef.” She cracked a gentle smile at him that didn’t reflect her harsh exterior.

I pointed toward the omelet.

“That looks good. I’ll take a big one of those too. With turkey bacon and fruit.”

“Sure thing.”

I sat as he finished making my breakfast. I filled my refillable bottle with room temperature water from my water cooler, blessed my food, and dove in. Until Chef Yo left the room, Zora and I exchanged tense glances.

She sat as pretty as a model, perfect and professional with her thick hair back in that old lady updo. She also wore her glasses again. The necklace I gave her was nowhere to be found. It was as if none of the intimate moments of the weekend remained.

“After breakfast, I’m heading home. Thanks for everything.” Her crisp tone was dismissive.

I dropped my fork on my plate, the clink echoing across the room. I couldn’t pretend that we were being odd anymore.

“It’s like that, Zora?”

She placed her fork on the edge of her plate and wiped the side of her mouth daintily with her cloth napkin.

“Like what, Cairo?”

“Don’t insult me with this act.”

“Playtime is over for me.”

“Playtime? Were you playing when you were five seconds from cumming on me in bed? This isn’t the real you. Why are you pushing me away when I have been nothing but kind to you?”

“I had a good time. If you think we’ll have a problem being cordial with each other moving forward, let me know.”

Zora’s formality and dismissiveness had me fuming.

“Don’t worry about that. We can sort through other business through our representatives. I’ll have Wayne take you home assoon as you finish breakfast. Is there anything else you need from me, Dr. Langston?”

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