Page 2 of Mr. On Your Knees
“As I said, it’s a weeklong event. It features FIU’s Nova Court of college students who personify leadership qualities, a passion for social justice and dedication to the community. So, this is mainly a school focused event which will have speeches and school spirit competitions, things like that.” She rested her hands on the table and he noticed the ring finger on the left hand was still bare. “I’m assuming your event will have a different focus. The ad for this position didn’t give a lot of details.”
“And yet you applied anyway. Why?” he asked. The ego-driven part of him wanted to assume that she would’ve immediately recalled that he worked here. That she may have possibly needed to see him as desperately as he’d craved seeing her.
If she hadn’t, if she’d done as she swore to him she would—forget his lying ass ever existed—she still would’ve been studious and detail-oriented enough to do some groundwork before arriving for this interview. She would’ve definitely looked up the hotel, its history as well as its current managerial staff because she would’ve wanted to know whom she might be working with.
The more reasonable part of him had known that Mari hadn’t put the name of the hotel or where this event was being held, beyond saying the Biscayne Bay area, in the ad. He knew this because he’d reviewed and approved the final version of the ad copy before it had been uploaded to the network. Mari and her assistant vetted each applicant and then scheduled interviews for him to make the final decision. Which all meant that Desi hadn’t known where she was coming for this interview until yesterday. Still enough time for her to remember, do her research and decide to attend.
“My company was listed as one of the top three Black-owned and operated event design firms in the state. We have had the privilege of working with HBCUs as well as a number of nonprofit organizations focused on the uplifting and rebuilding of our communities for the last two and a half years. We’re a small company with big, bold ideas that add that extra touch to any event.” She paused and looked away from him briefly. Then she glanced at Mari before returning her gaze to him. “I applied for this job because it mentioned a Juneteenth celebration that would seamlessly blend the contributions of Black creatives and a commemoration of Black excellence, both things that speak directly to my soul.”
Mari gave a slow nod and smile. “I’ve reviewed your portfolio, Desi and I’m very impressed. The gala for the Children With Disabilities Center was amazing. I remembered seeing highlights of it on the news a few months ago, so when I saw that you were the one who’d pulled off that fabulous Toy Story theme, I was excited to meet you.”
“Thank you,” Desi said, her face melting into a smile.
Air stalled in his lungs and for a moment he could only blink and stare because that smile, coupled with the sound of her voice had him wishing like hell he could turn back the hands of time. That he could go back three years and not make that one fatal mistake that had destroyed what he now knew was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
“I loved working with them,” Desi said. “My team and I just had a meeting with their planning committee last week. We’re coming up with ideas for next year’s event.”
“Oh, really? So, you work with them a lot?” Mari asked. “Is that an exclusive contract you have?”
Desi nodded. “Well, a few years ago my best friend had a beautiful baby girl named Emerson. She’s my godbaby and earlier this year, she was diagnosed with ASD. The center really helped Lauren and I learn more about the autism spectrum and how we can continue to help Emerson grow and thrive.” She cleared her throat as it started to sound thick with emotion.
Jared could only stare at her as she spoke. He knew Lauren. She’d just announced her pregnancy a couple of weeks before he and Desi broke up. To be honest, that announcement had been one of the things to start the ball rolling toward disaster in their relationship. Hearing Desi talk about that baby now with so much love and adoration in her voice had him gritting his teeth. Pissed at himself all over again for being such a damn fool.
“I’m glad to hear they’ve been helpful for your goddaughter. They’re a wonderful organization that The Carrington Hotels and Resorts donate to annually,” Mari said.
“Tell me about this event,” Jared said knowing full well his tone was harsh. He tried to tamp down on the guilt he felt over messing up with her. But the growing need to apologize, drop down on his knees and beg her forgiveness or just pull her into his arms and pray she wouldn’t punch him in the face for the effort, warred within him. “This one you did for the Dolphins.”
She swiped over her screen finding the same photo he’d been looking at and then nodded as she looked up at him again.
“Oh yes, this was a really fun event. I was contacted by the cheerleader coordinator who was also responsible for planning community outreach programs. She wanted to reach out to middle and high school-age girls and give them a day of self-care and mentoring.” Her eyes glittered with joy as she spoke and the irritation that had been building inside him eased.
“They were pretty set on Villa Toscana as the venue and even though I was only hired for event design, I suggested that girls from Overtown, Little Haiti, Liberty City and parts of Coconut Grove be selected to attend as well. They were picked up in luxury party buses and brought to the venue. We designed spaces for facials, mani-pedis, hair, lunch and lounging for the group mentoring portion of the day. The warm neutral color pallet was amazing amidst the ponds, waterfalls and foliage at the Villa.”
“It really was,” Mari said. “This looks fabulous.”
“Did the girls have a good time?” Jared asked. “Was there any follow-up with them after the event or was this just the organization’s one-time effort at reaching out to our youth?”
One of the main things that had drawn Jared to Desi was her eagerness to give back to their community, to pull as many Black girls and young women through the doors that she and others before her had worked so hard to kick open. Her dedication to their youth matched his and they’d spent countless hours dreaming up new ways that they could help.
“My team did a personal follow-up via a picnic in the park six months later,” she said. For a brief moment there was a look in her eyes, a familiar warmth and acknowledgement that they were on the same page. It passed quickly and she cleared her throat. “Two of the young ladies from Coconut Grove are actually interning with me this summer.”
Their gazes held then, for much longer than they probably should’ve and Mari spoke next.
“So, you’re interested in giving back to the community.” Mari nodded. She’d been sitting back in her chair, a slim stylus in one hand, her other in her lap as she watched Desi, and eventually Jared. “That’s good because this event is equal parts philanthropic and community engagement. I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of the Mr. Black Organization,” Mari said.
“I have,” Desi interrupted. “It’s an all-male organization honoring Black culture, Black love and Black history. It was established in 1965 as a secret organization at the height of the civil rights movement to be a light of hope in Black communities across the nation. They went public in 1973 and have chapters in every major US city.” She turned her gaze back to Jared. “You’re in your second year of being Mr. Black Miami. Congratulations.”
His heart stopped and that urge to reach out and touch her threatened to consume him. She hadn’t forgotten he existed and to Jared, that meant there was still hope.
Chapter2
The Problem
DESIRAE
Get on your knees, Desi.
Those words had been dancing in her head since she’d walked into that conference room and saw Jared sitting at the head of the table.
