Page 105 of Token

“Isn’t that why we came?”

“I thought you liked the food,” she said.

“Yeah, that too.”

Narrowing her gaze, Kennedy eyed him. He’d been acting funny all day. Something was going on, but she didn’t think it had anything to do with work.

Constellation was doing better than ever, having recently secured a large government contract. Employee morale was high and senior management was the most diversified it had ever been. After months of interviews, Nate had hired Taylor Young to replace Jack, making her the youngest Black female CTO of a Fortune 500 company at thirty-one. Kennedy thought she was a brilliant find and the two got along like a house on fire. He’d also managed to convince Carol Morton to come back but this time as the VP of Human Resources.

Token itself had undergone significant changes after days’ worth of discussions between her and Aurora. They’d decided to discontinue the service that provided fake employees or friends. Now the agency worked with colleges—mostly HBCUs—and professional alma mater groups to provide fully vetted, professional job candidates, who were predominantly diverse. And added to their classes and services, they now consulted with companies by helping them diversify wellbeforea crisis point was reached. That part of the business was doing better than she and Aurora could ever have dreamed. They were thinking about opening another office on the West Coast.

The lights in the room dimmed and a spotlight lit up the stage, where a curvaceous middle-aged Black woman in a spandex-looking purple dress stepped up to the microphone and began belting out “I Will Survive,” a karaoke staple, giving it a soulful Aretha Franklin touch.

“Great voice,” Nate murmured, as the crowd clapped and cheered at the end of the song.

“I wish I could sing like that. One of these days, I’m going to bring Sahara. Can you imagine everyone’s reaction if she went up there and sang one of her songs?” Kennedy said, returning her attention to Nate, only to find him pushing his chair back and rising to his feet. Dressed all in black—her man rocked a turtleneck like nobody’s business—and still sporting a gorgeous tan from their trip to Hawaii, he’d had heads turning the moment they’d arrived. Scratch that—he had heads turning everywhere they went.

She stared at him, her hands halting midclap.

“Wish me luck.” With that, he winked at her and sauntered to the stage, mounting it in two easy steps.

Kennedy followed his progress, her brain trying to catch up with what her eyes were seeing.

What on earth is he doing?

He pulled the cordless microphone from its stand, a sly smile on his face as he gazed out into the crowd at her.

Her fight-or-flight instinct kicked in then.Oh my god! I have to stop him.She had tosavehim.

Then the music started to play and, in the midst of getting ready to rush the stage to save the love of her life from making the biggest mistake of his, she sat her ass back down.

Kennedy was shook.

The too familiar beat of “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” filled the room. And her lover began to sing, rendering her stock-still and speechless. Her eyes were as wide as they could go and her heart had long since leaped from her chest.

Mind blown, she wondered how it was possible that she’d known this man for over a decade, lived with him for as long as she had, and had no idea he could sing? That he was actually a damn good singer?

How had she not known this?

Nate’s was a low baritone, not Barry White’s slumberous bass, but he somehow made it work for the song. An appreciative whistle pierced the air, followed by a scattering of cheers.

He had yet to take his eyes off her as he crooned,“You’re my sun, my moon, my guiding star.”

Overcome with feelings so strong, she found it hard to contain them, Kennedy sat with her heart in her throat as she watched him gyrate in time to the music. They’d gone dancing a bunch of times, so his rhythmic abilities were well-known to her, but the way he was moving to the music blew her away.

Honestly, every time she thought it was impossible to love him more, he somehow managed to prove her wrong.

His riveting performance drew a lot of hooting and hollering and enthusiastic applause. Kennedy was up on her feet to greet him when he returned to their table.

Without saying a word, he enveloped her in his arms and kissed her.

“You’re trembling,” he murmured, his breath warm against her lips.

Kennedy gave a shaky laugh. “You weresogood. I didn’t know you could sing like that.”

“Come on. Let’s go home,” Nate said, chuckling softly.

Kennedy collected her handbag and Nate drained the rest of his drink. After dropping a sizable tip on the table, he captured her hand in his and led her out of the main room.

---