Checklist for life? Completed. But Carmen Miller never imagined an affair being part of it. Yet, here she is, sneaking around with her much younger, irresistible co-worker, Braxton Frazier.With twisted fate lurking in the background, will Carmen and Braxton succumb to the temptation or find the strength to resist?
This latest career setback has me glued to my desk, the Vision Trend award now an anchor of mockery. You’re still not worthy. You’ll never be enough. The mantra seems to broadcast from the dimming reflection of the setting sun outside the window.
No reason to rush home. Melvin texted he was picking up our daughter from the after-school program, and I’m in no mood to face his judgment or his delight at my failure.
I sit in this leather chair in this office I’ve worked so hard for and replay the day. Analyze every conversation over the past month. Trying to see what clues I missed. What interaction could have gone another way? How could I make them see they should’ve chosen me?
I’m fully spiraling, on the verge of an anxiety attack when there’s a knock on the door.
“Are you okay?”
Braxton stands at the threshold with his suit jacket draped over his arm and a look of concern etched on his face.
Before I can respond, he crosses the room in four long strides and pulls me from the chair. His warm embrace cocoons me with his fresh scent, and I relax before pushing him away.
“Don’t worry,” he says, bringing me back into his chest. “Everyone is gone.”
I allow myself another minute and step away again. “Why are you still here?”
Braxton runs his hands down my shoulders, easing the tension from them. “My mentor taught me to never leave before the boss. Got to show them you’re a hard worker willing to over deliver on projects, right?”
My laugh has no amusement in it as I turn to gaze out the window. “You might want to disregard everything your mentor told you. Obviously, I don’t know what I’m talking about.”
“Nonsense.” Braxton steps closer, his energy pulsing between us, causing my heartbeat to speed up. He leans close and whispers into my ear. “You’re the smartest person on this team. Corporate politics can’t dim your shine. They must have on blinders if they can’t see you.”
I turn and gaze into his hooded brown eyes, and I’m transported back to Monte Carlo. The night I won this useless award was the best and worst night of my life.
The cloudless night sky illuminated the surrounding beach, and the waves played a symphony in tune with my heartbeat. Braxton and I stood on the breezeway after disembarking from the agency yacht cruise, a perk of the annual event held by P & K. The celebratory occasion included heavy hors d’oeuvres and plenty of champagne. Everyone else caught the shuttle to the Casino de Monte Carlo, but we lagged behind.
“Congratulations again,” Braxton said. “And thanks for including me on this trip.”
“You deserved it,” I replied, waving the award between us. “You helped make this possible too.”
Braxton had only been working at the agency for six months when they were thrown together on the Seduction campaign. All the long nights and brainstorming sessions revealed an intelligent man with irresistible charm. What began as a working relationship developed into something close friends. The result was a campaign that had been more successful than any of the others to date.
“Everything okay at home?”
He’d walked in on the latest argument with Melvin-a tantrum before I left for this trip. Too many strained conversations ended while Braxton stood at my door.
And then, Braxton shrugging out of his jacket. The warmth of it seeps into my body as he places it around my shoulders.
A whisper against my ear. “Can’t have the boss lady getting cold.”
His hand on the small of my back, the tingle at the base of my spine from his touch.
“I’m here if you want to talk.”
The scent of his cologne, mixing with the sea air…sandalwood.
Me saying, “We can’t cross the line.” When I already knew we had.
Now here I am in this current moment, broken and discouraged, and this man is here for me. Again.
Braxton gives me a slow, sensual smile that showcases a dimple piercing his left cheek, and hunger causes me to lick my lips.
“Tell me what you need.”
Words aren’t sufficient for my need, so I put one hand behind his head and pull him in. One touch of his lips and the sensation sends a jolt through my body, causing me to gasp. Braxton wraps his arms around my waist, dropping his jacket to the floor. We explore each other further, and I taste the hint of mint on his tongue.
All sound fades away, and I’m lost in the pleasure of knowing this young man wants me in a way that feels foreign. This is something I don’t get at home.
Unconditional acceptance and appreciation.
A bang at the door makes us jump apart. Someone is a witness, and I see my entire career implode.
Michelle D. Rayford is an author whose trademark stories deal with love, marriage and the messiness that comes after saying “I Do.” Her debut novel, Moment of Truth, has been applauded for its real-life characters and contemporary issues and she has short stories penned in several anthologies. Her current release, Settling Up, is part of a new series which explores the different ways we find our soulmates. Michelle lives in a Southern city with her husband and two daughters and can be reached via her website at www.michelledrayford.com.
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