Page 13 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family

Chapter

Nine

Baylyn.

Emir spent the night with me and it felt so damn natural. Now here we were chilling like this was an everyday thing. We were both quiet while I grabbed two mugs, trying not to think too hard about the fact that I was making coffee for both of us after spending the night together.

At least you didn’t fuck him…

Emir leaned against the counter, watching me with lazy attentiveness. He looked at ease, sexy as hell, but I knew by now he never fully relaxed. His mind was always moving, processing and observing. He studied me like every detail of my life and my world were a top priority.

“Your moving slow as fuck. It’s just coffee, Bay?”

“I know how to make coffee and I’m not moving slow. I’m just not rushing.”

He chuckled. “Same thing.”

I filled two mugs before sliding one toward him. “You want anything in yours?”

“Nah, black is straight.”

I grabbed the cream and sugar for mine, stirring it after I added the right amount ignoring the way he kept his eyes on me like he was memorizing something.

“What?” I finally asked.

Emir lifted the coffee and his eyes never left mine. “Just taking it in.”

My damn face was blazing from his eyes on me. “Taking what in?”

“You. This. The fact that I’m in your kitchen early as fuck and it feels normal.”

I leaned against the opposite counter flexing my toes. “It’s not normal.”

“But you’re still letting it happen and you fuck with the vibe of us being here like this.”

I hesitated, because what was I supposed to say? He was right; regardless of how much this didn’t make sense it felt natural.

I wasn’t ready to admit that. Not to him or myself so I drank my coffee instead.

Emir let it go, spreading his legs wider so that he could slouch down more. He looked too damn good for someone who had just spent the night on my couch. Jeans and a fitted tee, his chain resting around his neck and his tattoos on full display. The perfect visual of a fine ass problem.

I forced myself to look away, setting my mug down before glancing at the time on the microwave.

Shit…

“I have to get ready for work,” I said, pushing off the counter.

Emir nodded, lazily. “Go ahead.”

“You’re staying?”

“You kicking me out?”

“I didn’t say that.”

His smirk remained in place. “Then go do your thing, Bay. I’m good here for a minute.”

I left him in the kitchen, heading to my room to change. Something about him being in my space while I got ready for my day felt intimate and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I showered quickly; the steamy water helped me shake off the sleep that still clung to me.

I pulled on a fitted pair of slacks and a silk blouse, simple gold hoops, and twisted my hair into a loose knot on top of my head. Light makeup, just enough to look fresh, and a pair of heels finished my fit off but by the time I stepped back into the kitchen, Emir was gone.

I hated that I was so damn disappointed knowing he’d dipped without letting me know. I stared at the empty coffee mug he left on the counter and was pouting again. I shook it off, grabbed my bag, and headed out the door. Time to get back to reality.

The event space at Liberté Abstraite was beautifully transformed. A perfect balance between luxury, art, and elegance.

The long tables were covered in ivory linens, each set with custom gold-rimmed plates and crystal glassware.

In the center, arrangements of calla lilies, orchids, and baby’s breath sat in abstract crystal vases.

Minimalist yet beautiful. An expression of why we were here. The creative and abstract art of dance.

There were silhouettes of the dancers on the walls and hand painted panels of abstract creations emulating their movements with swirls of color resembling the fluidity of dance.

We enlisted artist to handle this part of the designs and I didn’t understand a damn thing about it when he explained his idea but seeing it real time was just… wow.

It was high end, but not gaudy. Every element was a reflection of the ballet company’s identity which was graceful, bold and timeless.

I took it all in smiling proudly. I did the damn thing with this event.

My work matched the space and I loved seeing my vision brought to life. I could tell by the way people were looking around that they were impressed.

“Baylyn!”

I turned to see Cress Omari making her way toward me with a wide smile lighting up her face. My eyes left her briefly, doing a quick scan for her fine ass husband, Elias. Wherever Cress was, he wasn’t far. It made me think about Emir. The two were a lot alike with that quiet dominance.

And fine as hell…

Cress was poised and graceful, wearing a cream-colored dress and designer heels, exuding confidence that came from years of being in the spotlight.

Even in heels she moved with the grace of a dancer.

She clasped my hands with excitement radiating.

“This is absolutely stunning. Better than I imagined.”

I was relieved. You didn’t disappoint an Omari or a Devereaux and Cress was both. Born a Devereaux before she married an Omari.

“I’m so glad you love it. We wanted something that honored the company’s legacy while still feeling fresh and modern,” I stated proudly.

“Well, you nailed it,” she said as her eyes scanned the space.

“It’s elegant without being overwhelming.

The way you incorporated movement into the design?

Brilliant. I’ve already had three board members tell me this is the best donor event we’ve hosted.

It’s the first I’ve hosted since buying out Shilo.

” She shot me a side glance. “It had to be perfect and is.”

Kenneth Shilo was Liberté’s owner prior to the buyout. Cress’s brother Christian had always been a silent owner, but after she married Elias, Christian bought out the rest of the company from Shilo and pushed him out. Now the company was completely owned by the Devereauxs and Omaris.

I smiled big as shit but still maintained my professional composure. “That’s exactly what we were aiming for.”

Cress shook her head, still admiring everything. “I knew hiring Haute Events was the right choice, but I didn’t realize how much of a difference someone like you would make. You have an incredible eye, Baylyn. I’m not surprised though. Tae is the best, which means she would only employ the best.”

Compliments were part of the job, but hearing it from someone so deeply tied to the community made it hit differently. She could make or break my career.

“Thank you,” I said genuinely.

She looped her arm through mine, turning me toward the main ballroom. “Come, let’s make sure you meet some of our top donors. They need to know the mastermind behind all of this.”

I smiled and nodded. Cress led me through the ballroom, introducing me to key figures as if I belonged among them. Gideon and Rhian Powers, Ezekiel and Jhori Omari, Kaamal and Reyna Greyson.

The top donors looked like money. But what I loved the most were all these beautiful shades of brown. Crescent Falls’ elite were just like me and that made me proud.

“Baylyn Andrews, our event planner. She’s the reason this afternoon looks as beautiful as it does,” Cress said proudly to Reyna Greyson.

“Damn girl, you did your thing. This is perfect.”

“Thank you.”

We moved through the rest of the people in her circle and each introduction came with a string of compliments, polite handshakes, and approving nods.

Everything was seamless. At least, it was until I felt it.

That pull…

A sensation crept up my spine, a low vibration of awareness that had nothing to do with the people I was speaking to. I kept my smile in place as I subtly scanned the room with the hairs on the back of my neck rising and my body alert before my mind even processed why.

Then… I saw him.

Emir.

He was standing near the entrance, watching me.

He wasn’t dressed like the other men in the room.

No suit, no tie. Just a slim fit black button-up, sleeves rolled to his forearms, jeans that fit too damn good, and an expensive watch resting against his wrist. So damn sexy but somehow he still commanded more attention than the richest men in the room.

What the hell was he doing here proving once again that he moved when he wanted and showed up wherever the hell he wanted. As if he could feel my frustration, he smiled sexily and winked from across the room.

“Baylyn?”

I snapped back to the conversation I was in, realizing I hadn’t been paying attention.

Cress gave me a curious look, waiting for me to respond to whatever had just been said. I forced myself to focus.

“Yes, sorry. What was that?” I asked smoothly.

Reyna chuckled. “I was just saying, you have to let us know if you ever decide to venture into private event planning. A talent like yours shouldn’t be confined. I would love to host an exclusive event at Mahogany. If you can do this with dancers, I can’t wait to see what you can do for books.”

I smiled but my thoughts were still stuck on the presence of a sexy ass man who kept showing up in my world like he now owned real estate in it.

“I appreciate that,” I replied. “I love what I do. Haute Events has been good to me so I’m not leaving any time soon, but I can certainly work with you. I’ve been taking on more personal projects lately and Tae is cool with that.”

We talked for a little while longer, but it was harder to concentrate because I felt Emir was still watching me. I had no doubt he had every intention of singling me out and I wanted him too.

After making rounds I had just excused myself from one conversation when I felt it again. That awareness sent a pulse through my body which tightened low in my stomach before my mind could catch up.

Emir was close. I didn’t see him at first, but I felt him. He was in my personal space and I welcomed him. Just like always his presence was loud.

Arrogant and overwhelming, crowding my space just enough to make it known he had every intention of keeping my attention. I turned toward him, narrowing my eyes.