Page 80 of The Compass Series

AALIYAH

I spent the night researching Connor, and I was floored by what I found.

I’d had no clue he was so powerful. Not only had he built himself an empire from the ground up but he also made sure to give back tenfold to the different communities as he succeeded.

It was hard to find much personal information due to him never doing interviews.

From what I read, it seemed he was a stand-up guy with morals that he stood by—which held true to how he’d appeared a few years ago.

Giving back to the community seemed to be high on his priorities, and that intrigued me.

Jason wasn’t as big on giving back in the same way as his business partner had been, though it might’ve been because Jason grew up privileged.

He hadn’t struggled a day in his life when it came to his finances.

From what I’d read, it seemed as if Connor had to fight tooth and nail for every cent that fell into his bank account.

The next morning, I found myself standing in front of Roe Headquarters with nerves in the pit of my stomach and a bouquet in my hands—because what do you bring to a person who you are about to beg to give you an exclusive interview?

Red and white roses, of course. The pack of chocolates under my arm was a backup plan, too, if he didn’t like the flowers.

After I called Connor’s office, asking if I could meet with him, I was surprised he was so quick to give me some of his time. From what I’d read, he was a pretty busy man, and I had no doubt I’d taken more than enough of his time over the past few days.

My mind was running in extreme overthinking mode as I rode the elevator up to Connor’s office. The moment I walked through the doors, the receptionist looked at me holding the flowers and box of chocolates as if I were insane.

“Hello, how can I help you?” she asked.

“I’m here to see Connor.”

“You’re Aaliyah?”

“Yes. Should I wait out here to—” Before I could finish my thought, the door that led to Connor’s employees’ offices and his own opened up.

A tall, somber-looking man stared at me.

His all-black suit matched his charcoal black eyes.

He was built, his arms pressing against the fabric of his business shirt, and the dark earrings that pierced his ears tied together his whole vibe.

To put it frankly, the man looked terrifying, the kind of person you did not want to piss off because he could end your life with one stern look—the complete opposite of Connor’s bright, welcoming feel.

When he turned to look my way, chills raced down my spine to the point that the box of chocolates almost dropped to the ground.

“Aaliyah?” he asked, his dark eyes staring into mine.

“Uh, yes?” I asked, sounding unsure.

“You’re here to meet with Connor?”

“Yes?” I said again—as if it were a question.

He nodded once. “Follow me.”

I looked at the receptionist to make sure this man wasn’t going to murder me, but she’d already moved on to a different task.

We walked down the hallway, and the knots that sat in the pit of my stomach hadn’t dissipated.

I felt like an asshat walking down the halls with a bouquet.

What sane woman brings a grown man a bouquet?

A desperate one, I supposed.

We paused in front of an office door, and the man knocked two times before being told to come in.

“Aaliyah is here for your meeting,” the somber man stated, nodding in my direction after opening the door.

Across the way sat Connor, who stood from his seat quickly.

He wore a light blue button-down with navy blue slacks, along with a belt that had probably cost more than my whole wardrobe if he shopped anything like Jason.

“Thanks, Damian. You can close the door behind her,” Connor said, nodding toward the man who escorted me. “Aaliyah, come in, have a seat.” As I began to walk toward the chair, Connor slapped his hand against his upper thigh. “Wait, Damian—I almost forgot.”

“Please don’t do this right now,” Damian said dryly.

“Come on, we can’t avoid our daily banter,” Connor insisted.

“It’s not daily banter. It’s you being idiotic.”

They must’ve had a different kind of boss-employee relationship. If I’d said those words to Maiv, I would’ve been attending my funeral the following week. Cause of death would be a heel to my ass.

Connor rounded his desk and took a seat on the edge of the wooden structure. He crossed his arms, and a wicked smirk found his lips. “Why did the ketchup blush?”

Damian let out a dramatic sigh. “I don’t know. Why, Connor?”

A childish chuckle escaped Connor before he proudly said, “Because it saw the salad dressing.”

I couldn’t hold in my laughter. It was clever and corny, two of my favorite things.

“Oh, please don’t encourage him with your laughter. It only pushes him to find worse jokes,” Damian said in a monotone voice.

Connor gestured toward me. “No, she just knows good humor. You have to admit, Damian, that’s a good one.”

“It was a good one, but it kind of makes me sad seeing that you are using the same jokes as before,” I said. “I didn’t take you as a guy who recycled jokes.”

Connor cocked an eyebrow. “I used that joke on you before?”

“About two years ago, yup.”

“No way…” He blew out a cloud of smoke. “I need to do better. Though, it is remarkable that you remembered the exact joke that I told you two years back.”

“What can I say? You left an impression on me,” I said with a shrug.

“You two know each other?” Damian asked, confused.

“We met once on a random Halloween night two years ago,” I explained.

Damian seemed a bit intrigued, which surprised me. I didn’t know he could look anything more than monotone. “That’s Red?”

Connor grew a bit flustered as I smirked. “So, you talked about me to people, huh?”

“Just here and there,” he calmly stated.

“Are you joking? You met me a few months after that situation. You went on and on about how that woman changed your life. You couldn’t shut up about how perfect and wonderful and life-changing?—”

“Okayyy, Damian, now is not the time for you to adopt a chatty personality. You can go get back to work,” Connor said, hurriedly ushering Damian out of the room.

He was quick to close the door behind him, and when he returned to the front of his desk, he looked like a boy who’d got caught in the act.

“I swear, the guy never talks, and this is when he decides to blurt out all his thoughts,” he said, shaking his head.

“Sounds like I left an impression on you, too.”

He smiled. “Without a doubt.” The mirth that radiated from Connor’s face stayed as he shook his head, but then a somberness fell over him.

“I was kind of surprised to hear you wanted to meet.” He narrowed his eyes, and the jollity he’d possessed seconds ago transformed into concern. “How are you doing?”

Why was that question almost enough to send me into a tailspin of emotions?

I shook my head and shrugged. “As well as one could imagine, but that’s not why I’m here.” I looked down at the gifts in my hand and shoved them out in front of me. “These are for you.”

He raised an intrigued brow. “Uh, thank you?”

“Yeah. I mean, I don’t know if guys like getting flowers, but if it were me, I’d love getting flowers. I went with roses because, basic safe route, even though I’m more of a sunflower girl myself. Anyway, here you go.”

I shoved them toward him a bit too aggressively until he took them from my hold.

He leaned in and smelled the roses. “I gotta say, I’ve never had someone give me flowers. I’m not sure I have a vase for them.”

“I didn’t think of that. I should’ve gotten a vase. If you want, I can run down to—” I started to get up, but he held up a hand.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll have one of my assistants pick it up. Thank you for the gesture, though I’m not sure I know why you’re bringing this stuff.”

“Well, you did put up with me on Saturday. The least I can do is bring you a gift after wasting your time. I know how important time is, and I make it a habit to try not to waste it, and well, once time is gone, you can’t get it back, so I was thinking, well?—”

“Aaliyah.”

“Yes?”

“You’re rambling.”

“I know, sorry.” I began wiping my hands on my thighs because when I was anxious, sweaty palms were a given. I’d have bet my armpits were currently creating impressive pit stains, too. “I’m dealing with a new set of nerves.”

“No need for the nerves. We haven’t been nervous around each other since the first time we met. We shouldn’t start now.”

Easy for you to say—you aren’t about to make a crazy request.

He continued. “Honestly, you didn’t have to bring me anything. You’ve never been a waste of time in my life.”

He was being too kind because I knew the level of destruction I’d been.

Though, Connor wasn’t the type to throw that fact in my face, which I was thankful for.

We stood there smiling at one another for a minute, and I was probably cheesing like a fool trying to push out the words that had to come out of my mouth next.

“Okay, that’s not the only reason I came here with gifts,” I confessed. “Oh gosh, is it hot in here?” I began tugging on the top of my blouse, trying to air out my nerves.

Connor raised an eyebrow. “The air is on.” He reached toward his phone and paused. “I can call for my assistant to bring you water, though.”

“No, no. It’s fine. I’m just on the brink of a breakdown, no big deal. But that does lead me to what I need to talk to you about. Or more so, ask you about.”

“Oh?”

I clasped my hands and set them in my lap. “I was hoping I could interview you.”

Inquisitiveness filled his stare. “Interview me?”

“Yes. I know this sounds crazy, but I work for Passion Magazine . Well, I did work for Passion Magazine . I put in my two weeks’ notice before the wedding since I was planning on moving out to California with Jason, and well, now…

” My words faded as my brain began to recall why I was in this situation and why I was seconds away from begging Connor to help me.