“I will,” said Vic.
“Good. That’s all I need to know at this time,” said his father. “We’ll table the rest of this discussion until after you’ve made your decision.”
“Before we end this meeting, Vic and Paris, we’ve reinstated your trust funds,” said Cristo. “And seeing as you’ve accepted the promotion, Mya and Chase, you’ll be receiving company cars as well as a monthly living expense fund.”
“After all we’ve been through together, you’re a part of the family,” said Jessamine. “We’ll all be working closely together to design and execute the future plans of ADG.”
Looking at the board, Chase said, “Thank you! I won’t let you down.”
“Now, if there are no questions, we can adjourn this meeting. We’ll sign paperwork for the new positions next Monday,” said Cristo. “Have a wonderful week.”
The meeting ended, and the board exited the room. Paris was still in shock, as was Vic. She was about to say something to him when he got up from his chair and headed for the door. She wanted to call after him, but the words wouldn’t come out. There was a slight twinge of pain in her chest as she watched him walk away.
“Hey,” said Mya, “Go after him.”
“I can't,” replied Paris. “I just can't. He doesn't want to speak to me.”
“Girl, you’d better step up, or he’s gonna walk right out of your life,” said Chase.
“I hear you both, but how am I supposed to talk to him when he won’t look at me or take my calls?”
“Paris, if you let this go, you’ll regret it,” added Chase. “Run.”
Nodding, Paris ran down the hall toward the elevators. “Vic! Wait!” When she turned the corner, no one was there and neither elevator had left the twelfth floor.
The rest of the day was a blur of emotions for Paris. She’d cried, she’d laughed, she’d maniacally cleaned her office. She was doing anything she could to keep her mind from wandering to Vic, who was nowhere to be found.
At six-o-clock Paris began her trek home. The office was nearly empty, and she was happy to be alone. She wondered what Vic was up to and whether or not he was home. She thought back to the days spent living in the same apartment and then allowed her mind to wander to the night at the cabin when they first slept together, and then the night in their apartment when they once again lowered their walls and let one another in.
Could he be capable of more? No one had ever kissed her with such passion and desire. She’d never felt so at ease aroundanother man, and she’d never caught herself thinking about someone as much as she did Vic. Jack said Vic loved her.
The walk back to her home was short, but it was enough time for Paris to roll everything from the past few months, and even years, around in her head. No matter how she stacked it, the positive aspects of being with Vic outweighed the negative. In reality, she didn’t know if the negative even had legs for which to stand. She wanted him terribly, and by the time she reached the door to her condo, she’d made up her mind that if he’d have her, she was all in.
Picking up the phone, Paris dialed Vic's number. “Please don't let it go to voicemail,” she said out loud, just before his voicemail clicked on. Sighing, she left him a frazzled message. “Vic, it's Paris. I need to talk to you, please. I’d prefer to speak in person, but you’ve been avoiding me and ignoring my calls. I'm sorry I judged you so harshly. Forgive me?” She paused for a moment and let out a sigh. “For what it’s worth, I miss you, and I don’t want you to leave the company.”
Twenty minutes passed, and then a knock sounded at the door. Paris was sprawled out on the floor to her condo, ugly crying. The knock made her jump, as she hadn’t been expecting it.
“Paris!” yelled Vic. “Are you in there?”
She was surprised that he hadn’t heard the horrific caterwauling emitting from the condo. Wiping her face, she pushed herself off the floor and trudged over to the door. When she opened it, the look on Vic's face sobered and turned to concern.
“Paris, what's happening? Are you okay?” he asked.
Men,she thought to herself. How did he not know this was about him? “I'm fine,” she sniffed.
“No, you’re not,” Vic replied adamantly. “Tell me, what's going on?”
“It's you. It's always you!” shrieked Paris as she burst into yet another round of tears.
“Oh, sweetie,” he replied. Reaching out, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. “I'm here,” he said softly as he buried his face in her silky black hair. “I'm right here.”
“I know,” she wailed, “but what does that mean?”
“It means,” he replied deliberately, “that I’m here. I’ve decided to stay at ADG, and I want to give commitment a real go.”
Pulling back from him, she wiped her nose and looked into his eyes. “You really mean that?”
“Yes, Paris, more than anything. I’ve never wanted to be with someone so badly in all my life. I’ve missed you too.” Leaning in, he brushed back her damp hair and pressed his lips to hers. All his worries disappeared and were replaced by a comforting warmth. Kissing her felt right. Pulling away, he looked her over. She was smiling back at him in a slightly bashful way. “So, why don’t we go inside and start working on being a couple?” As she looked back at him, she felt safe and she could once again see the possibilities of her future.
“I like that idea very much,” she replied as she led him into her condo, pulling the door shut behind them.
