Chapter 4
This is nice, Kimberly thought, socializing and chatting with an actual man. Yes, this was definitely nice. Roland was a talker and he had much to share. He was on to the messy divorce with his wife Sondra, who Kimberly also knew, when an equally tall figure emerged behind him. Admiring the dress of the girl he approached with, Kimberly was unaware of Richard’s presence until his smooth voice said, “Excuse me for interrupting, but I thought I saw someone here that I knew.” Roland was not the rude type and genuinely glanced around for who he might mean, totally oblivious that the subject of Richard’s search was Kimberly.
Richard had watched her for what seemed to be an eternity before he walked over. As if possible, she looked even more stunning than her daytime splendor and by God was her figure epic.
The ringlets of curls made Kimberly appear youthful and innocent but her body was that of a developed woman-in every way. Pouting lips were exaggerated with the deep plum lip color she wore and whatever she added to her eyes made them appear to be as black and mysterious as midnight itself. He wasn’t aware that he was gawking until his mother’s incessant voice barged through his thoughts. The old woman was his mother, but she wasn’t dying or ill. Whatever her latest tirade was about could wait. Kimberly was here.
Richard was convinced that he was having a TV slow motion moment where all the activity in the room ceased, and everyone but Kimberly stood on suspended animation. The way she touched her chest as she paid a compliment to the girl next to her, and the way she laughed graciously as they exchanged comments, was timeless. In a second, he was expecting the soundtrack from an old soap opera to strum in the background.
“Richard?” Kimberly asked, looking up at the sound of his rich baritone. “What a surprise to find you here!”
“No,” Richard said, “I am the one who is surprised!”
Ronald had allowed Richard to interject in his conversation and unfortunately for him, Kimberly would now be occupied for the rest of the night.
“If I knew you were coming here I would have escorted you.” Richard said. In her usual assertive manner.
Kimberly replied, “That’s fine Richard, I am a big girl, I can escort myself.”
She flashed a grin and Richard’s heart turned to mush. The butterflies in his stomach were feasting on it. What was she doing? Would this appear unprofessional? He thought. Yes, it was a social outing, but still things could be misinterpreted for something else if the hound dog reporters picked up a scent. Richard was unsure if he cared.
The Chef appeared from the back of the large dining room to announce that dinner would be served momentarily. Again, clasping her hand over her chest in that gentle way only she could, Kimberly was suddenly concerned that she didn’t know the seating arrangements. Better informed guests were moving to their tables and she stood still.
“Kimberly,” Richard said, above the din of pulling chairs and shuffling feet. “Would you like to sit at my table?”
“I don’t know if it works like that boss. It seems everyone knows where to go except me.”
Authoritatively, he took her hand and said, “Come with me.”
If sparks could have flown from the electricity that the two connecting palms ignited, it would have created a brilliant firework show. Both aware of the heat, Kimberly and Richard hesitated momentarily, knowing that this was quickly becoming more than a boss-employee situation.
Stalking past Lena, who stood with her mouth open, Richard pulled out a chair and seated Kimberly to his left and then took his rightful place at the head of the table. Tabletop made hefty donations to many environmental committees represented here. He would have whoever he pleased at his table.
Mother dearest was the one who made the ruckus, and anyone would have sworn she was an organizer of the event. With her deceptively sweet smile she walked over to the pair who had just begun whispering to each other and cleared her throat.
Richard looked up from his important conversation as though agitated by the intrusion, and cocked his ear to his mother while the girl with the overly decorated neck stood behind her.
“Son, I had arranged for Alissa to sit with you, but I see you have a guest.”
She was waiting for an introduction and Richard decided to drag out her agony a bit more.
“That’s unfortunate Mother. I’m afraid I have to bid the beautiful Alissa my most humble apologies.”
The
statement didn’t give Queen Lena what she wanted, so she
skipped the coyness and asked. “And who exactly is this exotic
specimen you are sitting with on a grand evening such as this?”
Alissa backed away and Richard felt proud of killing another money, status and social shark looking to marry well.
“Never patient are we Mother?”
Lena produced a smile that mothers gave to children when they were moments away from severe punishment. Richard yielded. “This is Kimberly Walsh. She is the new lawyer for Tabletop and I have invited her here as my personal guest. I will be sure to inform you of all my dates in the future since you now seem so interested.”
Daggers made of ice and fire were silently fired through Lena’s gaze and she snapped her head around at Kimberly’s now extended hand. Being a lady, Kimberly was taken aback when she received only a cursory nod from the matriarch of the Damask family, and quickly lowered her hand back to her lap. There was a time and place to chastise little old ladies. This was not it.
The old woman’s nose immediately went up into the air and she walked around the table stiffly before taking her place adjacent Kimberly at the table. What an interesting night this was turning out to be. In a matter of minutes, Kimberly was reminded that Old Money thought there were places for her people. Sitting at the head table was not one of them.
Sipping on the pre dinner alcohol made Kimberly senses heighten. The mention of her as a date by Richard did not go unnoticed. Yes, definitely and interesting night. Zucchini curls on a bed of arugula salad, dressed with a creamy sauce were served with pickled shrimp in white wine vinaigrette.
Selecting the salad fork, Richards’s mother began to eat her first course slowly, while darting her eyes from Richard to Kimberly and then back to Richard. They were chatting a bit too closely for her comfort and occasionally Kimberly leaned too close to her son for Lena’s liking. She would have to call her ex husband in the morning to address the matter of the boss and the help fraternizing.
Kimberly was enchanted by the presence of her boss and the friendly manner in which he dealt with her. The mother issue was not something to be concerned about and she ignored the old goat completely. There was something happening under the table and it was unnerving her. Though the table was spacious, Richard’s legs were long and every time he leaned forward for a forkful of salad, the one nearest to her rubbed against her thigh. Separated by layers of fabric, the warmth of the masculine leg stimulated Kimberly in ways she found unnerving. How was it that the simple leg of a not so simple man could make the breath in her chest feel insufficient?
Maybe she was misinterpreting the messages she was reading from Richard. He was a rich white man with luxuries she had only been recently introduced to, and she was a black woman with a tormented history. This would be an unlikely pairing, and Kimberly struggled to keep the thought out of her mind. Richard would have liked if Kimberly could sit closer. The smell of the food was delicious, but nowhere near as alluring as the fragrance he inhaled when she came close to listen to his whispers.
Watching the rise and fall of her breasts as she laughed at his dull jokes, Richard wondered if her breasts were just as soft as her palms. She was a woman- full of ambition and she probably had an active social life anyway. Money didn’t seem to be her only objective in life and he found himself imagining what it would be like to be with her- alone.
*****
Though the tension wire of attraction was pulled tighter than ever, both Kimberly and Richard managed to keep their interaction to an employee-employer level. The dancing after dinner proved to be a challenge as both the dismissed Alissa and Roland returned for a chance to get closer to their targets.
Longing glances across the dance floor were exchanged and stares diverted as Kimberly’s and Richard’s dance partners filled their ears with meaningless chatter. The applause at the end of the final waltz was rousing and all present agreed that it was a truly pleasant evening.
Alissa never had the chance to solicit a personal invitation from Richard Damask, because he abruptly left her side to escort Kimberly to her ride. Giving Roland the excuse that he wanted to discuss some brief company business with her, the two headed for the door.
It was not a request and Roland understood this as he backed away, bidding the stunning Kimberly Walsh a splendid good night. Maybe he would have another chance but it wouldn’t be today.
Crisp air greeted the now warm guests as they emerged from the cozy house, and it was a good cleanse for the lungs. Forgetting about the shawl, Kimberly hugged her shoulders as Richard joined her side. They both waited for the valets to bring the cars around, amid the other officials directing the now overflowing traffic. Richard was eager to speak with her about anything. He just wanted to be in her presence without interruption.
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Yes, I did. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. It’s evident I don’t get out much.” They laughed heartily at the joke and without thinking she touched his chest affectionately. Withdrawing her hand swiftly, Kimberly was aware that she may have crossed the line.
Grabbing it and placing it back on his chest, Richard said, “You don’t have to be so cautious around me. I won’t push anything.”
Kimberly’s girlish innocent smile spread across her face and then it was quickly replaced with something else. Richard was no expert in women and he needed help with this one.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your mother is coming.”
Richard was a grown man. Responsible for an empire and with billions of dollars under his belt, he still couldn’t get his mother to act like anything less than an ice queen. It only took a second of his time to glance around at the pending storm called Lena, and when he looked around to reassure Kimberly that all would be well, he barely caught the flash of her heeled sandals as she closed her limo door. She waved goodbye and mouthed, “See you tomorrow,” just before ordering her driver to take her home. Damn it!
Lena approached his side as he glared at the leaving Limo in annoyance. As usual, she had words of wisdom to leave with her son. “Richard, it would do you well to remember that all are created equal, but some more equal than others.”
The animal farm reference was dropped, Richard’s mother stepped into her chauffeur driven stretch. As the black driver closed the door and walked around to his side, Lena rolled up her window and disappeared down the driveway.