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I spin on my heel, this time steady on my feet, and grab Farah’s hand. “Let’s go dance now.”
“You okay?” Farah asks on our way to the dance floor.
I smooth my hair down in case it got trashed from my almost-faceplant. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
When we’re out of earshot of Kaison, she says, “That was a bold move.”
“What do you mean?” I sway from side to side in beat to the music.
“You just turned down the richest man in the room,” she says.
“How do you know how much money he has?” I ask.
“I was talking to one of his friends Friday night. He comes from a family of billionaires.”
Billionaires? Wow. I let the music carry my moves. The alcohol is beginning to loosen me up a little. He probably had everything handed to him. I had to work hard for everything I had. “I don’t care how rich he is. I don’t need a sugar daddy.”
Farah shrugs in between dance moves. “It wouldn’t be a bad thing. Private jets, traveling the world, yachts. That’s a man who could show you a good time.”
“I’m not looking for that, though. I have a career to focus on.”
“Girl, you work too hard. You need to learn how to let some fun into your life, too.”
“What do you think I’m doing right now?”
“I mean more than once every few years. When was the last time you went dancing?”
“Okay, I see your point. But do you think I’ve gotten to where I am today by letting fun in my life? I don’t have time for it.” Because as soon as I take my eye off the prize, someone else will step in and take it from me. You snooze, you lose.
The only thing I do for fun is write, but even that has a career goal attached to it. I want to find an agent and get published with one of the big New York houses. It could be a nice little source of side revenue for me. I’m always looking for ways to diversify my money coming in.
Another song comes on, one of my favorites, and despite myself, I allow myself to let loose for that one moment. The music flows through me, and I close my eyes, just enjoying it. When I open them again, I feel someone watching me from across the room. I turn to see Kaison sitting at the bar. When he sees me looking back at him, he raises his drink to me. I fight the shudder that chases down my spine from having a man that attractive give me attention.
But I don’t need it. The truth is, I don’t need anyone to think I’m beautiful. There’s another reason I keep my hair up and my glasses on. I don’t want to be seen as weak. It’s a harsh world out there, and if I want to get ahead, I have to be taken seriously. It’s hard enough as a woman in a man’s world. If I were to get dolled up to go to work, it would be that much harder to gain the respect of my male peers.
I’ve kept myself ahead of the game by keeping men at bay. I’m not about to let a pair of piercing blue eyes ruin that for me now.
2
KAISON
“Kaison, you’re here.”
I walk into my office at Keith Enterprises, my family’s commercial real estate corporation, to see my dad leaning back in my desk chair with his feet propped up on my desk. This is new. He never shows up in my office like this.
“Hey, Dad. Making yourself comfortable, I see.” I set my laptop bag on the couch and take in the panoramic view of downtown Atlanta.
My dad pops a donut hole in his mouth. “And you’re tardy again.”
How does he even know? He must have people reporting to him. “I had a late night.”
“More partying?”
I hold back a groan. Here we go again.
But then my assistant, Corey, a skinny kid from up north, rushes into the room and says, “So sorry to interrupt. Here’s your coffee and a bagel, Mr. Keith. Let me know if you need anything else.”
I turn to him, grateful for the distraction. “Thank you, Corey.” I pick up the bagel and unwrap it.