Page 1 of The Heart of a Capricorn
I sippedmy piping hot coffee from my favorite mug as I looked around the room. Eight pairs of eager eyes were on me, waiting for my next direction, but I needed a minute to get my bearings. My team and I had landed in Las Vegas a few hours prior, and we wasted no time getting to work. I actually got there an hour or so before them so I could check out where we would be working for the next ninety days. I wanted to ensure they had everything I asked for ahead of time. I needed my team to be as comfortable as possible because we would have some long days and nights ahead of us.
I wanted to get started right away, but I had to consider the needs of others. They needed time to check into the hotel and get their things situated. There was also a two-hour difference fromTexas, where we came from, and I was sure a few of them had jet lag.
After taking another long sip, I stood up from the seat and adjusted my clothes. Normally, I wore pantsuits or skirts, but today I wore a sundress with six-inch heels. The weather in Vegas was hotter than I expected, so I had to switch up my attire. It was still professional but cooler.
I picked up my mug and walked around the room.
“Good morning, everyone. I know it’s early, and with the time change, I’m sure some of you are tired, so I won’t keep you guys long. At least I’ll try not to.” A few people laughed, and I did the same.
I tended to tell them that things would be a minute, when they took a lot longer. Most of the team was used to it by now, but some of the newer people were still getting acclimated to my ways.
“Kim will be the immediate point of contact for this project. Any issues or concerns, you go to her first. If she can’t fix it, she will reach out to me. Or if for some reason she can’t be reached, then feel free to contact me.” I looked toward Kim, and she nodded. Kim had been with the company for the last five years, and I had been slowly getting her acclimated to being a leader.
“Shelly, I want you to oversee the schedule and make sure everyone is where they need to be at the right time. Make sure you sync the calendar with mine so I can be aware of everything.”
Shelly pushed a few buttons on her iPad, and I assumed it was her sending me the calendar link. My suspicion was confirmed when I heard my tablet ding.
“This is our biggest assignment yet, but I’m confident we can get it done in the allotted time, if not sooner. I think it would be best if we work in teams of two for each department. If anyone gets done sooner, please help anyone who needs help.Remember, we are a team and the best at what we do. We have to show them that we are worth the hire.”
Multiple yeses sounded around the room. I stopped at the head of the table and looked at the women who were on my team.
I was an IT manager for Tech Angels, an all-black, women-owned tech company. Every day that I went to went to work, I was proud of all the work we had done over the years. Constantly, I was surrounded by intelligent, beautiful, melanated women.
Multiple IT companies wanted the contract we had, but we got it because we were the best.
“I’m proud to have you all on my team. I know we are in Vegas, so I want you all to enjoy yourselves when you can, but don’t forget why we are here.”
Addison tried to hide her eye roll, but I caught it. She did the same thing in most meetings, but I was used to it. She and I didn’t have the best history.
I rested against the wall because I knew if I sat down, I would get even more tired than I was. It had been so long since I had a break, and I was exhausted. Once this thing was over, I would take a mini vacation or something before I worked myself to the ground.
Some of the women had husbands and children at home, and I knew they looked forward to the break. I mean, what fun was it being in Sin City if you couldn’t have fun?
We had a few more things to discuss before I could dismiss them, so I walked around the room to sit back down. That was until the conference room door opened.
I smiled at my boss, Ciara Dawson, as she entered the room as her long black ponytail swung. She was dressed down in jeans and sneakers with a crop top. She was the CEO and had truly built an empire. Her vision was to get as many black girlsand women into tech as she could. Over the years, she set up scholarships through multiple high schools and colleges, and we ran an intern program every summer for the girls.
Ciara was in her early forties and had been a beast in the tech world since she was in high school.
“Hey, ladies. I just came to check on you and all. I ran into my godbrother and thought it would be cool to introduce you all to him.” She turned to face the door. “Come in here.”
I felt my heart drop into my panties, as my ears rang, when a man I thought I would never see again walked through the door wearing black jeans with a green T-shirt and black and green sneakers to match. The gun in his waistband was visible for everyone to see.
Damn, time sure had been good to him.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye that a couple of the ladies had sat up straight and fixed their clothes. All of a sudden, multiple sets of breasts were on display.
“Ladies, this is my godbrother, Chauncey. Chauncey, this is the best of the best at Tech Angels.” Her face beamed as she introduced him.
How did I not know that was his godsister?Probably because we didn’t do too much talking back in college. At least not about family stuff.
Chauncey ‘Tank’ Baldwin was a man I had met in college, and we had a fling that didn’t last long, because at the time, we wanted two different things.
As Ciara introduced him to each of the ladies, I thought about the last time I saw him.
“Your lips are saying one thing, but this pussy is telling me another,” Chauncey whispered in my ear.
“I just came to talk for real.” I had to inhale to keep myself from moaning.
