Page 39 of Emergence and Ascendance

"You have never once shown interest in anything we have going on. What's this really about?"

"Business opportunity." I kept it vague because explaining I'd spent time with Scotlyn in a suite at Erogenous last night and couldn't wait to see her face when I was sitting across from herin a professional setting wasn't going to grant me access. Women stood by each other when it came to shit like this. Whether they knew her or not, they wouldn't give a green light for me to fuck with Scotlyn. "She's making a pitch for your support today."

"And?"

"And we put in an offer for the same property. She's an outsider. I want to make sure the deal is in the right hands."

"Meaning your hands." She arched her brow.

"If Whitney doesn't measure up, then yes, but if she can prove she's going to bring something valuable to our city, I'll support the decision. The Whitneys are known for big ass projects that are beautiful but also impersonal. That won't work here."

She stared at me for a minute longer, then relaxed. "I agree but behave, Christian, and this is our stage not yours."

"I'll be in the background. You don't have to worry about that."

She rolled her eyes and I flashed a smile. "Keep your damn smiles, Christian. I mean it, behave."

I chuckled as she dropped her purse on the table and moved to the coffee station. If she only knew my true motivation, she would have thrown me up out of here. Last night I had Scotlyn blindfolded, spread wide, and trembling under my touch. Today I planned on reminding her of how responsive she was to me while she surrendered beautifully.

When the remaining members of the BWB attending today's meeting arrived- Samiya Jones’s, McKenna Reed, Cadence Barrett, Truce Goode, Oni Troy, and Jhorie- joined us, Zoree explained I would be sitting in before issuing her final warning.

"You're just observing, Christian."

"Understood." I offered a smile she damn sure didn't trust right before Scotlyn walked in. My Angel was completely transformed from the woman I spent time with last night. Shewore a black pantsuit and her hair was loose and framing her face. She had a portfolio tucked under one arm and her posture was confidently sexy… until she saw me.

Our eyes met across the room and a wave of satisfaction traveled through me when recognition shifted onto her face. My dick twitched at the way her steps faltered before she composed herself.

All night I wondered if she'd put it together. Had she known I was the one she submitted to and how did it make her feel to know I was the man she came apart for less than twelve hours ago? The blindfold kept my identity a secret but there was no way she wouldn’t recognize my voice. The way she almost fell on her damn face as soon as she realized I was in the room was pretty much all the proof I needed.

My eyes locked on hers and I nodded in acknowledgment. Her pretty brown eyes narrowed but she didn't look away. Confident. Sexy. I fucking loved that she wouldn't back down, at least not in here.

We all took our seats around the conference table and the meeting was called to order by Zoree. She ran through introductions, maneuvered through some internal housekeeping, then handed things over to Scotlyn.

"Ms. Whitney is here to request our support in the development of waterfront property she's recently acquired. Scotlyn is based in New York so she felt it necessary to build a relationship and have a local affiliation while navigating the business aspects. I am inclined to agree. It works best to have a local alliance to facilitate smooth transitions. Now whether or not we will be that local alliance solely depends on you, Scotlyn."

She moved to the front of the room as if she owned it but my perception was in tune with her more so than the other ladies in the room. I noticed the discreet inhale she took and the way her hands tensed when she cut her eyes in my direction. Themoment was temporary because she quickly shifted into a steady and professional demeanor.

"Thank you for allowing me to present today. I couldn't think of a better affiliation to have than Black Women Bosses. I've done my research and all of you have proven worthy of the name and the organization. You're damn sure bosses and running things in Crescent Falls."

I chuckled lightly at the ego stroke but she wasn't wrong. The women in this room made things happen.

She shifted so subtly to all business and damn if that shit wasn't sexy. I watched while she outlined the project, efficiently going over the projections, benefits to the city, and revenue that would be created from developing the waterfront.

I relaxed in my seat, keeping my eyes trained on Scotlyn, comparing her body language here to what I noticed of her last night. She was so fucking confident, assured and in control, whereas when I had her strapped to the spanking bench and restrained, she was vulnerable, tense, and uncertain. The parallels had me dropping my hand to my lap to adjust my throbbing dick.

My marriage to Aja proved several things to me. The most important was that I needed a woman who matched my drive both in the bedroom and life. Aja never aspired to be anything more than just my wife and not even that.

She wanted the privilege but without providing anything in return. She barely fucked me, and when she did, it was lackluster and lazy. The only place I craved submission was in the bedroom. Outside of sexual gratification, I desired a woman who could stand next to me as an equal, who held her own and wanted to build with me.

Scotlyn's sexy ass damn sure knew how to hold her own. She was proving that now and I fucking loved every second of watching her in action. When she completed her presentation,Samiya opened the floor for questions. They didn't fucking play about attaching their names to just anything.

"Ms. Whitney, everything you've expressed looks impressive on paper but I can't help but point out, we don't only exist on paper. We…" Jhorie motioned around the table. "…exist in real time. This is our city, our home, and I more than anyone understand what it means to be a transplant under scrutiny for bringing value to the city. So I have to ask, how can we trust that you won't just drop money on a project and walk away, expecting to collect a check? It happens all the time. Businesses see an opportunity, move in, new construction goes up with little thought, and the city is left to deal with the positive but also negative effects after the jobs are complete. It's not always pretty. How can we trust that you understand the needs of our city?"

Scotlyn nodded. "Very valid concern. Successful development requires community input. I plan on holding focus groups with local residents. Their voices matter. I'm not here to only impose my vision on your city, but to also facilitate yours."

"If I may?" I interjected. All eyes were on me but it was the honey-colored pair glaring from the corner of the room I focused on. "I've found Ms. Whitney has a practiced talent for listening to others instruction. She also appears to be remarkably responsive to guidance and leadership."

Scotlyn's eyes widened briefly but her professional mask was back in place immediately after. The double meaning damn sure landed and it took everything in me to keep my expression neutral. I sank back into the leather chair wishing my mind would stop with the damn theatrics. Her scent drifted over the table and reminded me of how good it felt to have my mouth on her last night. The way I sucked on her clit and had her moaning in pleasure while her pussy pulsed against my tongue. I wanted that feeling again and so much fucking more.

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