Page 121 of Business Casual

I tossed the wipes and went to the table to pull my panties back on. When I turned back around, Tre was staring at me.

“What?” I mouthed, looking down to make sure I didn’t have anything on my dress.

He licked his lips. “Yes, I’ll bring it with me and then we can go to the meeting together. I haven’t seen her yet this morning, but I’ll shoot her a text and ask her to stop by. Okay, Chase.”

He hung up the phone and smiled. “Chase was looking for you.”

My eyebrows flew up. “For what?”

“He didn’t say.”

“Is that why you were staring at me?” I asked as I grabbed my bag.

He shook his head. “I was staring because you’re beautiful.” He walked around his desk and fell into step with me as I walked to the door. “And I feel so much better than I did before you stopped by.”

Looking up at him, I grinned. “So do I.”

He leaned down and kissed me. “I meant everything I said.”

“So did I.”

With one more kiss, I hid behind the door of his office as he peeked out. When the coast was clear, he let me out. A few seconds later, he followed.

“Imani! Just the person I was looking for,” Tre called out to me.

I turned, giving him a quizzical look. “Good morning, how are you?”

“I’m great, actually. At peace.” He licked his lips. “I just received a phone call from Chase. He’s looking to speak with you at some point before the meeting this morning.”

“Oh, okay. Let me put my stuff down in my office and then I’ll go find him.”

He smirked. “Cool, I’ll let him know.”

With a wink, I turned and walked down the opposite hallway while he headed to Chase’s office.

I waited a couple of minutes and then I went there only for Chase to ask me how to delete some stuff he retweeted on accident.

Thanks to the full body orgasm I’d experienced, I felt relaxed going into the meeting. I didn’t panic when Mr. Franklin didn’t speak to me outside of a general hello and to ask for an update. I didn’t feel nervous when I overheard Theresa saying that Mr. Franklin squeezed in a meeting with the lawyers before their meeting later in the afternoon. I didn’t feel anxious when Josephine gave me a sympathetic look in the hallway before I left for the day.

I knew Tre was in a meeting on the first floor, so I didn’t get a chance to see him before I left. I hadn’t seen him since we’d had sex that morning. I told myself that I risked it because I wanted us to relieve stress. But as I drove home, a small part of me did it because I didn’t know what was going to happen with Mr. Franklin. I didn’t know what he was going to say. And I didn’t know if I was going to have to choose between my relationship with Tre or Tre’s future.

Because I’m not going to let him lose everything for me.

I went home, showered, and changed into a pair of grey pants and a sleeveless white top. I pinned my hair up and even wore nonprescription glasses to add to the demure look. Grabbing a light sweater in case the restaurant was cold, I headed to the restaurant.

As soon as my black heels hit the pavement after I parked, my stomach roiled. A cold sweat washed over me, and I felt like I might cry. It was too many emotions happening at once.

Digging in my bag, I pulled out my phone. But everyone I wanted to call was unavailable.

I rolled my shoulders back and swallowed my fear.

What’s the worst that could happen?

“Hi,” I greeted the hostess. “The seven o’clock reservation is under Franklin.”

“Ah yes,” she said after locating the name on her book. “Your party is already here, follow me.”

I followed her to the back corner of the restaurant. Goosebumps covered my skin, so I quickly slipped my sweater on. By the time I straightened it and adjusted my necklace, we’d reached the table. Mr. Franklin, debonair as always, was preoccupied with his phone when I’d arrived.

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