Black Female Read online

  The following morning, Janice brought my coffee to my desk and was puzzled when she noticed the file.

  “Excuse me, Mr. Carter, where should I file this?”

  “Just leave it there, Janice,” I told her.

  An idea had been forming in my mind. Miss Williams had just avoided me again that morning; it was becoming ridiculous. I wanted to somehow get to speak to her to try and figure her out. I’m not interested in her at all; just curious, I told myself sharply. By blatantly eye-fucking me, she’s the one who’d gotten my attention first; and now, she had it. It was a matter of curiosity. Why does she, of all women who were always sidling up to me everywhere I went, avoid me every time she sees me? I was intrigued and I was going to find out.

  I called Jack Baker to my office for a short meeting. He was one of my Senior Account Managers and the most likely to replace me when I took over as CEO. He was older than me, about 5’8” and had a balding head and large belly. I enjoyed working with him; when I’d first joined the company, he quickly understood my vision and adapted swiftly to implement my new requirements. He was also quite close to our family and I’d known him since high school when he was still working as a junior account executive. I trusted him implicitly.

  When he arrived at my office, Janice ushered him in and closed the door.

  “Hello, Jonathan,” he said warmly, pulling out a chair.

  “Hi, Jack,” I answered, closing my laptop. “How are we doing in terms of our staff requirements in this department?”

  He sat forward, leaning one elbow on my desk.

  “Now that you mention it, we are swamped. We certainly could do with one or two more executives. Business is growing at a phenomenal pace and we’ve had some significant enquiries since our last conference.”

  I slowly nodded, stroking my chin with my forefinger.

  “So perhaps we can consider some new hires, then?”

  He nodded enthusiastically.

  “Definitely. As soon as possible,” he replied, looking relieved at my suggestion.

  “Okay,” I responded. “Done. Prepare a job description and let’s put it out both internally and externally. We should consider talent we already have within the company, especially minority candidates, yes?”

  “Agreed.”

  “Send out a request for candidates to do a mock presentation for a prospective client, rather than a useless interview where they get to repeat everything already in their résumés,” I suggested.

  “Excellent,” Jack replied nodding enthusiastically. “I’ll draft it into the interview requirements.”

  By the following day, Janice had printed and brought me a copy of the job description for the post of Account Executive. I scanned it briefly, then gave it back to her.

  “Janice, make sure it gets to Fidelis Parker in Finance. He must see to it that one of his analysts, Lena Williams applies for the post.” She frowned as she nodded, while writing my instructions in her ever ready notebook.

  “Oh, and Janice, please make sure my involvement is kept discreet. I don’t want any prospective candidates, including Miss Williams to assume a personal request from me means the job is secured. The decisions will be made based on the interviews.”

  She nodded, “Understood, Mr. Carter,” she said, smiling her dazzling smile.

  I turned back to my laptop and Janice left my office, teetering in her stilettos as she always did. I often wondered how she could manage those heels every single day. She was a very attractive woman with long brown hair and a slender body. I was grateful to have her as my Personal Assistant because we had no sexual chemistry at all. A few times in the past, I’d noticed her making subtle overtures, but I was professional enough to know fucking your secretary is the quickest way to disaster. I’d just brushed it off and she’d since gotten over her brief crush or whatever it was.

  A couple of weeks later, my Senior Account Managers, Jack Baker and Donald Wallace, began conducting the interviews for the post of Account Executive. I scanned the candidates’ names and figured out the day Lena Williams would be doing hers. At last I’d get to see this mystery woman up close to see what she was like.

  On the day of her interview, I walked into the conference room just after 2.00pm, much to the surprise of Baker and Wallace. I noticed her immediately, sitting at the far end of the conference table, along with two other candidates. After I’d been introduced to them, I watched as she stood up and walked confidently towards me, with the most beautiful smile showing perfect teeth. She placed her small hand in mine, the contact sending a wakeup call directly to my dick. She held my hand a fraction longer than necessary, prompting me to raise my eyebrow questioningly. She quickly released me and retreated back to her seat, her hips moving with a gentle sway. Shit, that butt though, I thought ignoring the semi I got as I watched her rounding the conference table. Why the hell does she walk like that? I shook the hands of the other two candidates when they approached then settled in to watch the mock proposals they’d prepared for their interviews. After all, this was actually serious business and we had a job to do.

  I was a little taken aback by the hyena-like grin of the young blond guy who gave a lame presentation, sealing his fate as unsuitable for the post. The second guy, a preppy African American Ivy League graduate could’ve been someone we’d consider but he didn’t know much about the role he was interviewing for and was boring everybody to death.

  When Miss Williams’ turn came, my attention was renewed and she surprised us all by taking control of the room, dipping the lights and setting up the display screen. She did an amazing job speaking in a clear, articulate voice, presenting figures and charts on a brilliantly prepared presentation. Her accent was definitely Californian and her voice was sultry; I could imagine how any man could easily be under her control hearing that voice saying crude things in their ear. Her manner was sweet and attractive as opposed to condescending and aggressive. I watched as she mesmerized all five of us and by the end, she practically had every person in that room eating out of her hand. I was impressed. Now I understood what my curiosity about her was. I had a natural eye for talent and somehow I’d recognized it in her subconsciously. It was a relief to know my talent radar was functioning optimally and I’d discovered Lena Williams as a perfect addition to our team.

  I left the room and went back to my office, knowing without a doubt my managers would agree with me.

  Chapter Three

  That night, I found myself stroking off in the shower with Miss Lena front and centre of my thoughts. Shit, I thought afterwards. This was really beginning to piss me off. Why would I find my thoughts invaded by someone who was far from being the kind of women I liked to sleep with? If she was going to work in my department, I was going to need to get a grip. I knew I’d bring these thoughts under control once I saw her often enough to consider her as just another employee of course.

  I was pleased to hear the managers had concurred with my opinion that Miss Lena Williams had been the best candidate of the lot. I’d left the decision totally up to them, not wanting my opinion to cloud theirs. She’d entirely earned it by herself.

  At the end of her first week, she’d been set up for a debriefing appointment with me and Baker. When the meeting time came, Janice informed me that Baker had to visit our midtown offices to attend to a disaster unfolding there and that she’d postpone the meeting with Miss. Williams.

  “No, Janice,” I insisted. “The meeting carries on as planned.”

  In a way, it’d worked out well; now I’d get to speak to the interesting Miss. Lena Williams alone and try figure her out.

  I was on the phone, finishing a call with Baker where he was explaining how he’d managed to solve the issues at midtown, when Janice ushered Miss Williams into my office. She walked in with a pretty smile, dressed in a knee length slim skirt that accentuated her hips. Didn’t we have a dress code specifying what was appropriate? I thought to myself as I pointed to a seat in front of my desk.

 
I watched her sit down then focus her eyes on the portraits of my grandfather and father on the wall. I could see I had no effect on her at all. Normally, I’d be the sole focus of attention if I had a woman in my office. I finished my call and pulled out the points Baker and Janice had arranged for me to review with Lena.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Carter,” she said, smiling politely.

  I glanced at her, noting there was no sign of that lustful look she’d given me when I first saw her. Perhaps I’d imagined it.

  “Good afternoon, Lena,” I replied a little unnerved. “I trust that you are settling in?”

  “Yes sir,” she replied confidently. There wasn’t a hint of flirting in her responses; she was acting professionally. I’d not expected this and before I had a chance to lay out our agenda, she spoke again.

  “That’s a beautiful portrait of your grandfather,” she offered, indicating the painting that hung on the wall. For some unknown reason, her friendly, confident manner irritated the hell out of me.

  “Lena,” I snapped, “I didn’t call you here for small talk. I don’t have time for that.”

  I was surprised at my terse reprimand and even more surprised that she didn’t flinch and maintain her composure as she apologized.

  “Yes, sir, I’m sorry,” she replied completely unruffled.

  “Sorry is not going to meet deadlines in this department,” I added. “Perhaps you were spoilt and pampered in Finance; but in my department, I expect hard work and professional conduct at all times. Is that clear?”

  Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly and I noted a brief flash of anger in their depths before a blank mask of control slipped effortlessly into place. She nodded. “Yes, Mr. Carter.”

  I gave her a list of areas she must focus on, especially becoming fully conversant with our most profitable investment packages. She listened carefully to my instructions and when we were done, she smiled genuinely before exiting my office, leaving me gaping in her wake as she swung her hips dangerously on her way out.

  I felt a little shit at being so rude to her; I knew she was probably using an icebreaker tactic with me as we all did when we visited a client. She’d used the perfect technique of establishing rapport and I’d attacked her for it. I couldn’t help marveling at her composure during what must have been quite an ordeal with me. I couldn’t quite explain why I was so curt with her. Perhaps you’re attracted to her, an invading thought whispered in my mind. I dismissed it immediately. I reminded myself again that she was not the type of woman I liked at all. Besides her being my employee which made anything impossible, I wasn’t into that whole big butt thing. The semi I got was nothing more than a primal response to an unfamiliar stimulus and meant nothing, I told myself. Regardless, now that she worked for us and I’d spoken to her, my focus from now was to ensure she performed her job to expectations or else she was out.

  Over the next few weeks, I realized I’d made a mistake employing Miss. Williams. She was smart; damn smart as a matter of fact. Within a few weeks she was bringing in new business and performing at levels we’d seen in employees after several months on the job. So it wasn’t her work; it was her. She walked around my department like she owned the place. I hated it when I had to interact with her; I couldn’t stand it when she talked to me as if she was out of my league in that soothing sultry voice that had me hardening like a horny teen boy. The worst of it was when she walked out of my office, her ass swaying and taunting me in that zigzag way. She was doing it on purpose; she had to be.

  When I reprimanded anybody else, they were mortified and profusely apologetic. But not Lena Williams. If I told her off; she had a look she gave me. Her deep brown eyes would fix on mine without any hint of fear - contempt perhaps; maybe even outright disgust. Yet she remained calm when she spoke and still walked out of my office like she owned my building, as though my criticism was ineffectual. It was unbearable having her around.

  One Friday morning, she came to my office to talk. She was wearing her figure hugging white skirt and a top that showed her cleavage; whenever she wore that skirt, I had an extra bad day. I looked up from my laptop when she knocked on my open door. Old fashioned manners had me standing up when she walked in. Fuck; I hope she doesn’t see my immediate hard-on and read anything into it, I thought. She paid no attention, her smile fixed on my face.

  I cleared my throat and sat back down. “Yes Lena. What is it?”

  “Do you recall at the last department meeting you asked us to come up with ideas for long term business relationships?”

  “Yes?”

  “I came up with a new strategy and Mr. Baker suggested I should discuss it with you if you are not too busy?”

  Why would fucking Baker set me up like that with no warning? I guess it’s not his fault; he’s not aware what Miss. Williams is like.

  “Let’s hear it,” I replied, indicating the chair in front of my desk.

  She sat down, with a little bounce in her cleavage and not seeming to notice what she’d just done to me, she proceeded to open her notepad.

  “You know sometimes we do conferences and training sessions for managers of various companies, with the hope that when they’re making investment decisions in the future we are a primary consideration, right?”

  “Go on.”

  “I was thinking, perhaps we could start relationships even earlier than that. When you said ‘long-term’, I had in my mind an idea that could take five, ten or more years to see the results of.

  My proposal is: why don’t we sponsor investment training workshops at the top colleges and universities? We could focus on final year students in business, economics and finance majors and give them two or three day training workshops during the summer for free, with the hope that these students will in future become decision makers when they start working. And because we’re already involved with them right from college, we’ll be the first company they think of doing business with.”

  She paused, expecting me to say something. I thought through her idea and gestured for her to continue.

  “It’s an inexpensive way of promoting our business, really. The account executives would conduct the workshops and the colleges would likely provide us with facilities to use for free. So these college kids will grow up knowing all about Strauss Carter and I’m sure some of them would eventually come back to us once they are well placed to do so in a few years.”

  I watched her looking at me expectantly. What, did she expect me to praise her? Her idea wasn’t at all as fantastic as she thought it was. Of course it was an okay idea, but it wasn’t the answer to world peace. And this was my chance to shut her down and maybe finally get a human reaction out of her, instead of that fake angelic attitude she always had.

  “That’s the most useless idea I’ve ever heard,” I began, shaking my head. “Did you really waste ten minutes of my time with this?”

  Her smile disappeared instantly. Then I saw a flash of anger in the depths of her dark eyes as she stared into mine.

  “Is that a rhetorical question, Mr. Carter?” she demanded through gritted teeth, evidently struggling to remain calm.

  “What is?” I asked in return, having lost my track of thought, distracted by watching her possibly about to combust.

  “You asked me if I really wasted your time; do you want me to answer that?”

  Fuck. She was angry; and the idea of making her lose her temper went straight to my dick, making me painfully and inconveniently hard. At last there was a chink in the armor. I had to play.

  “Yes,” I snapped as rudely as possible. “I want an answer.”

  I held my breath as I watched her wage an internal battle with herself, as though she was deciding whether or not she should answer that question. After a few moments, she looked away and blinked several times, possibly in an effort to regain composure. When she looked back at me, an impenetrable mask of calm had slipped into place and her anger had dissipated.

  “You are right, sir,” she began. “I did waste yo
ur time and I apologize sincerely.”

  I could almost sense a slight mocking tone in her apology. She stood up and I also stood automatically due to ingrained manners.

  “Thank you for your time,” she said and she left the room immediately, with that taunting sway in her hips, her head held high.

  Damn it. I was pissed off and I didn’t know at what. I ignored the voice in my head calling me an asshole. So fucking what? I put up with her every day, don’t I? I was perfectly happy before she came to my department and made my life hell.

  That night when I got home, I found Nadine in my penthouse draped over my couch wearing a Playboy Bunny outfit; ears and all.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” she said in the most annoyingly shrill voice I’d ever heard. “Wanna play?”

  She walked towards me balancing on ‘fuck me’, thigh-high, patent leather boots and draped her arms around my neck; I wasn’t in the mood for her.

  “Not now, Nadine,” I said, pulling her arms away then walking towards my liquor closet. It was a long time since I’d had a good Jack Daniels and I needed one now.

  “What’s the matter with you?” she demanded, following me.

  I ignored her and poured a finger of whisky, quickly downing the whole mess in one burning gulp. I looked at Nadine standing there, waiting for a response.

  “Can you please leave now?” I said to her, pouring another tot and taking the whole bottle with me to my living room, leaving her behind.

  Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “What?” she demanded. “Are you throwing me out?”

  “Nadine,” I said without turning to look at her as I walked. “My accountant tells me you’ve spent $50,000 so far this month on the card I gave you. I think I’ve earned my peace and quiet when I want it, don’t you agree?”

  Her face shuttered and embarrassment took its place. She calmed herself and came towards me again; shaking the D cups I’d paid for in my face as though attempting a titillating burlesque performance.