Page 81 of Devanté
“Call me Devanté, Mr. Perez.” They shook hands and the glint of gold from Devanté’s watch looked amazing against his midnight skin.
“You sure? I don’t want to mess it up.”
“You haven’t messed it up yet so I doubt you will in the future. Duh-von-tay.” I swallowed my laughter hearing him sound his name out like Perez was an imbecile. He loathed when anyone tried to change his name or avoid saying it because they thought it was too much.
Too difficult on the tongue.
Too unfamiliar.
Too ghetto.
Tooblack.
“Well, when you break it down like that, it’s not too tough. Devanté,” Perez smiled. “Did I say it right? Sometimes I feel like I’m not saying it right.”
“You said it right,” he sighed.
“Perez, you didn’t tell me Gabi would be here.” I had to interject because I saw Devanté getting increasingly annoyed, which was tough to do. He was the most laid back person I’d ever met.
“Yeah, I asked her not to come but when she heard there’d be a party at the Ritz, she invited herself and her cameras.” His pleasant expression gave way to one made of gravel and disdain. “Steer clear if she makes you uncomfortable, Blake. This is your night and I don’t want her screwing it up.”
“I’ll try my best.” Gabi had already noticed me. She kept stealing glances my way and I knew it wasn’t because she wanted to catch up on old times. It was because she saw Devanté. More importantly, she saw Devanté holding my hand.
“Listen, in about fifteen minutes I’m going to call you up to speak. Noa went over that with you, right?” Perez looked at me for an answer.
“Yup. I already wrote a few words. I’m ready to get it out of the way. I hate talking in front of people.”
“You do it all day at work,” Perez laughed. It was a testament to the fact that he saw me daily since college, but he didn’t know who I was.
Nobody really knew me except for the man holding my hand.
“And I still hate it,” I said with a biting smile. Perez laughed himself right out of the conversation and walked across the room to mingle with some people I recognized from the executive board at Watson.
“I’m ready to get this shit done,” I said, leaning over to Devanté.
“I can tell.” His hand slid up my bare back and stopped at the nape of my neck. He squeezed and my eyes fluttered. Every time he touched me, my body responded with poetry and butterflies. “You know I’m right here. I got you, baby.” The way his voice scraped against my insides made my pussy slick with need. Devanté could make everyone melt away in a river of insignificance.
“I wish we were alone,” I whispered.
“Me too because the way your fine ass is looking in this dress is making me want to do some things.” His fingers worked the muscles in my neck and I drank it down like water during a drought.
“Well, well, well. Look who’s here.” Gabi’s voice pulled me out of my moment with Devanté and body-slammed me in the middle of reality. “What’s up, Tae? Long time no see.” Gabi swung her slender hips dangerously close to Devanté.
“Gabi, what did I tell you about that Tae shit? That’s not my name.”
“You were fine when I used to call you that in college.” Two cameramen appeared out of thin air, revolving around us and making it harder for me to breathe. They were eating up my space like hungry piranhas. “But that’s when we were together. I guess things are different when I’m not your woman.” Her smile dripped with venom. She tossed her cat eyes over to me and gave a tight, closed-lip smile.
“Hi, Blake. You look…decent.”
“She looks phenomenal,” Devanté said, staring at me and not giving Gabi an ounce of attention.
“I mean it’s an improvement from college. I see you lost a little weight too, girl. Looks good on you. Nobody wants you to keel over from having all that fat on your body.”
“Is there a reason you’re over here, Gabi?” I asked. Devanté squeezed my hand and I tried not to let her needle too far under my skin.
“I wanted to say congratulations on making Watson so much money. You’re good at what you do.” The cameramen circled us again motioning for Gabi to talk to Devanté more. “Can I steal you away for a minute? I’d like to talk.” She ran her fingers through her long hair and offered Devanté a bright smile.
“I’m good. I’m where I want to be. With my woman.” His arm snaked around my waist and he pulled me so close that our bodies touched.
