Treasure My Heart. AlTonya Washington
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wasn’t sure what to make of the women. A number of them had stopped by to chat or...simply be seen with him. Who could blame them? Cinnamon-skinned with that luxurious crop of almond-brown curls...he was gorgeous. The hypnotic gaze was such an undeniable draw, especially when paired with a perfectly crafted nose, a generous, alluring mouth, a wide forehead and a faint cleft in his chin.
Minka closed her eyes and inhaled. Evidently, she’d observed him more closely than she’d realized during their earlier encounter. And you should go home before you do something really stupid, Mink.
Minka dug out her car keys and snapped the tote bag shut. She turned and smiled, genuinely happy to see Qasim and Vectra approaching.
“Quite the cast of characters.” Minka turned an assessing gaze toward the mingling crowd. “It’ll be great to see it all come together.”
“Yeah, it’ll be almost a shame to miss it.” Qasim Wilder looked to the woman at his side. He appraised Vectra with one meaningful sweep of his ebony gaze along her body. “Almost,” he added.
Minka smiled curiously while looking between the two. “Am I missing something?”
“No,” Qasim sighed the word and gave Vectra another look. “But we might. We’re thinking about getting lost for a while. So I want you to put together a team for this Miami trip.” Qasim eased a hand into one black trouser pocket and studied the room.
“Austin’s not looking to get things started down there for another week or so...” He looked back to Minka with an encouraging smile. “I’ll support whomever you tap to send.”
“Sim.” Minka rolled her eyes. “You know me well enough to know I can’t pick a team for something that important unless one of us goes along too.”
Qasim’s very dark, very gorgeous face was a study in disapproval. “You deserve to get away more than anybody. We’ve got a good group, so give ’em some credit.”
“If you don’t mind me saying, Minka,” Vectra chimed in, “from what I’ve heard, your boss is a real slave driver. You should take the time while he’s offering.”
Minka laughed. “Well, it is Miami. I promise you guys I’ll take time to enjoy it.”
“Well, if you change your mind—”
“I won’t.” Minka shook her head to Qasim’s worry. “And Gram Z. already ordered me to take some time too.”
Qasim’s curiosity was piqued. “How’s she doin’?” he asked.
“Good.” Minka nodded with a quick smile. “She’s ready to give up her crown.”
Qasim’s curiosity melted into understanding. “Do we need to talk?”
“Yeah.” Minka’s nod was a bit more somber then. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” She smiled when he reciprocated her nod and then looked to Vectra and pulled her into a hug. “Have a good night.”
“You too, hon.” Vectra’s light eyes followed Minka as she made her way out of the room, shaking hands and holding quick chats with colleagues. “What was that about?” she asked, turning back to Qasim.
“Ever heard of Bryant Gerald?”
Vectra frowned. “Gerald Industries? Bryant Gerald, the billionaire?” she blurted. “He...?” Her expression cleared. “Minka?”
Qasim inclined his head a fraction. “He was her grandfather.”
Vectra’s confusion mounted. “But why’s she working for you?”
“Thanks.”
Vectra responded with a playful eye roll and shoved Qasim’s arm.
He flashed her a killer smile. “The Geralds are clients,” he explained. “Minka wanted to make it on her own—she wanted a position that would keep her under the radar, but still into everything. Her grandmother approved when I offered, but Minka would’ve accepted anyway.”
“Hmph, sounds like her.” Vectra smiled. “What’d she mean about her grandmother being ready to give up her crown?”
Qasim rubbed his jaw, some of the easiness of his expression receding to a more distressed look. “Sounds like Zena Gerald wants her granddaughter back.”
* * *
“Had enough already?”
Minka stopped in the restaurant vestibule when his voice reached her ears. “It’s been a long day.” She found Oliver Bauer closing the distance between them. “And it’s going to be an even longer night,” she said.
Oliver made a face. “Surely you get to take one day off? Sim won’t object to that, will he?”
“No.” She smiled. “But I would.”
“Ah.” He appeared satisfied. “It’s good to know Qasim at least tries to get you to take a break.”
“He tries. Rarely succeeds.”
“Interesting.” He leaned against a wall in the vestibule. “You always get what you want?” He seemed very interested in the possibility.
Minka sighed, scanning the restaurant entrance as though she were taking time to seriously consider his query. “I think that only happens when it’s something I want bad enough. No sense fighting for it if it’s something you’re just going to lose interest in, don’t you think?”
“Hold on.” He brought two fingers to his brow and tapped them there. “I need time to think about that. Seems I’ve fought for a lot of things I’ve lost interest in.” He lowered his fingers, shrugged. “Sort of a blow to realize I’ve wasted a lot of time.”
“Consider it proof that you’re maturing.”
Oliver winced. “My sister’ll be happy to hear that.”
Minka felt herself staring, adoring... With effort she tugged her gaze from his exceptional face. “I really need to get home—”
“Are you going out to Miami?”
Her movements settled. “I’m sure I will be.”
“More work.”
“It’s Miami,” she rebutted with a smile.
He grinned. “Right. So I’ll see you there.”
“You’re going?”
“It’s Miami.”
She laughed softly. “Good night, Mr. Bauer.”
“My dad’s the only one who enjoys that Mr. Bauer stuff. My friends call me Oliver.” He gave a quick tilt of his head.
“Friends?” Her frown was teasing. “Have I reached that status already?”
“You think you’re unworthy?”
“I don’t know you. You don’t know me.”
“Right.” He nodded, bumping his fist to his jaw. “I see your point. Guess that means we’re going to have to change that.” He held the door for her. “Good night, Ms. Gerald.”
Minka tuned in to her phone’s ringing and reached for it, hoping to catch the call before it went to voice mail.
“This is Minka.” She was preoccupied with folders on her desk and didn’t notice the lack of response on the other end of the line until a few seconds had passed. “Hello?” She shook her head and hung up, figuring she’d missed the call through her daydreaming.
Smirking, she silently noted that it wasn’t even midmorning—way too early for daydreaming.