AlTonya Washington - Treasure My Heart

“Me?” Minka straightened in her chair. “Why?”

“Being ambitious and business obsessed is expected of men. It doesn’t keep them from being drawn to women and companionship, but it tends to have the opposite effect on women.” She set aside the water bottle and began to stroll the room again.

“Women tend to shy away from husbands and families in pursuit of our goals,” Zena added.

Minka shook her head. “That’s not true, Gram.”

“It is in your case, though, isn’t it?”

Minka stood. “So you called me here to discuss my nonexistent love life.” Again , she tacked on silently.

“No.” Zena’s calm was unshakeable. “I asked you here to offer you the keys to the kingdom, so to speak. Bryant G Industries is yours, my love.”

“Gram.” Minka joined the woman on the other side of the room. “Be serious with me now. Are you okay, really?”

Zena laughed, the sound as bright and airy as the sunny flower-dotted room around her. “Babylove, I promise you I’m fine. I’m not about to kick the bucket, but there are things I’d like to do before the bucket is kicked.” She tugged at the cream-and-mocha ties around Minka’s figure-flattering dress and fixed her granddaughter with a stern look.

“Your grandfather always wanted a family presence in the building, and he wanted it to be family he trusted. You’ve been groomed for this your entire life.” Zena sniffed disdainfully. “Perhaps we groomed you too well for business when we should’ve spent time on home-ec.”

“So when do I start?” Minka asked after shaking her head over the “home ec” remark.

“Oh, there’s plenty of time, but it’s going to require lots of big changes on your part, so you should be ready.”

“Yeah...” Some of Minka’s budding excitement began to wane as thoughts of leaving her job at Wilder took shape.

“You’ll be acquainting yourself with BGI business associates that you may not know,” Zena said, “and even though others will be on hand to handle the day-to-day management of those clients, meeting you in person will go a long way to enhance those relationships. I’ll keep you posted on those dates.”

Minka only nodded. She didn’t want to reveal too much of her excitement.

Of course, Zena saw it clearly enough. “Your grandfather wanted family to take over, but I will find someone else to put in this space, child, if that’s what I have to do. My plan is to announce my successor at the stockholders’ meeting. I want you to use the time between now and then to figure out if this is really the life you want.”

“I’m not a hermit, Gram.”

“No, but my guess is that when you take an interest in a man, it’s not because you see him as a potential life partner.”

“Gee, thanks!”

Zena shrugged off her granddaughter’s outrage. “You know what I mean. This is one woman speaking to another now, Mi-Mi.”

Minka stiffened her stance and nodded. “A woman doesn’t have the same freedoms in business that a man does, Gram. I’m sure things weren’t easy for you when word got out that you were dating your boss.”

“Ha! Especially during those times.” Zena laughed, her dark eyes glimmering in remembrance.

“The gossip spread all the way to my parents,” Zena recalled, “through their well-meaning church members, of course.” She let out a purely girlish giggle and sighed. “At least they got it right. Bryant and I were quite the scandal. I’m sure we christened every floor of that gorgeous office building of his.”

Minka felt her cheeks heat even as laughter tickled her throat.

“Sorry, love.” Zena winked. “Your ears are still a little too young to hear about such romps.” She patted Minka’s cheeks and took a seat on the cushioned window seat that lined the length of the room.

“Things between your grandfather and I weren’t just physical, Mi-Mi. Bryant was just as interested in the way my mind worked when it came to business. Don’t close yourself off to a man because you’re afraid of what the world may think.”

Minka stood, quietly absorbing the advice.

“You’ll be surprised how the world fades into the background when a man you’d give anything to be with steps into the picture. And you’ll be just as surprised by what’s going to be demanded of you once you sit in the main chair. You’ll do well to have a man who not only understands what that responsibility means, but who also reminds you that responsibility isn’t all your world consists of.”

Zena sighed, satisfied that she’d delivered enough advice. “Just something to think about. Come on, Babylove. We’ll have tea on the terrace,” she said as she walked out of the parlor.

* * *

Minka rushed though the door of her dinner event for the Sharpe Organization and was relieved to see that the event had yet to begin.

The open bar was already being well used. Apparently the organization’s leader, Austin Sharpe, wanted his attendees nice and pliable before the meeting commenced.

Thoroughly pliable, if the level of intoxication of a few of the attendees was any indication. The room had been decorated with Southwestern flair, and the menu reflected the theme. She barely had time to get a drink of her own before she was cornered by one of her colleagues.

Charles Ruggles began slurring his opinions to her about why they should partner up over the course of the next several weeks to ensure that the Sharpe project went off without a hitch.

“Jus’ makes sense for us to join force— forces to ensure it all goes smooth...”

Minka stifled a laugh over Charles’s crooning of the last word. “Maybe we should hold off on setting any private meetings until we know more about what Sharpe has in store for us, don’t you think?”

Charles twisted his mouth. “Nope.” He smacked the word after a moment’s consideration.

“Why don’t we discuss it after the meeting?” She moved to excuse herself from where he’d huddled her against a wall.

Charles wasn’t quite done making his pitch. “You know this’ll involve us at some point...” He barred her escape with a hand planted against the wall. His other hand still clutched a glass carrying traces of vodka tonic. “You’ll enjoy how well we’ll work together—”

“Ms. Gerald? Could I have a minute?”

Minka looked over Charles’s head to the much taller man behind him, and her agitation instantly softened. Charles was still too absorbed in his drunken wooing to notice the interruption.

Minka’s gaze fixed on the stranger with the steady light brown eyes. She nodded just slightly to accept the man’s request, and looked on in wonder as he eased Charles aside and gently laid claim to her arm.

Chapter 2

“Thank you.” Minka smiled as the stranger led her through the crowded dining area to another unoccupied corner of the room.

“There was no need for a rescue. He’s harmless,” she said, her heart flipping when she looked up at her escort.

Wait a minute...flipped? The idea gave Minka pause, but yes, her heart had definitely performed some sort of acrobatic feat when the man’s gaze had met hers. She looked on as a curious smile curved his wide, carefully crafted mouth.

“You think I did that for you?” Unhurried, he released her arm. “I was just trying to help the guy. He really shouldn’t go into a meeting with a black eye. It’s not a good look.”

Minka laughed, her head falling back and her eyes closing. She missed seeing the stranger’s curious smile evolve into a provocative grin as he appraised her lovely dark face.

“I’ll have to make sure Charles comes over later to thank you for saving his face from your fist,” Minka said once she’d sobered from her laughter.