A Billionaire's Obsession 2 (BWWM Interracial Romance): His Urges (4 page)

"What are you doing Wainwright?" This could never
end well. He's a billionaire. You're a recent college grad, just start
ing your life. This could never end
well!" Renee gives herself a pep talk.
She then
freshens up as best as is possible, and returns to the event.

Renee keeps her eye out for Colin. She doesn't want to be
anywhere near his vicinity for the remainder of the night.

"Hey!" Out of nowhere, Melanie walks up to Renee,
and startles her
, almost to pieces. "Where have
you been?" Melanie asks, in a celebratory mood. "The dancing started
about half an hour ago." Melanie says shouting into Renee's ear.

"Um...I was...I wanted to check on the screens."
Renee tries to communicate back. Melanie
laughs.

"Oh Renee! Stop working...PLEASE!" Melanie is
light, and jovial. She's had a d
rink of champagne, or two. She takes
Renee by the hand, and begins to dance with her.

Colin remained on the yacht looking down on to the
celebration.
Unknown
to Renee,
his eyes have been following her every
move. Renee, feeling quite awkward tries her best to loosen up under Melaine's
tutelage. However, she is not quite successful. Her thoughts revert to her
recent encounter with Colin.

 

CHAPTER 6

 

"So how can one change, and demonstrate to those
around him that he is truly different?" Colin asks his best friend Travis
in the privacy of his lavishly decorated office.

"What the heck is going on with you Colin? Can we
please have the 'Bull Dog-in-busi
ness' back?"
Travis says bewildered. "Did you have a life changing experience with a
Buddhist monk or something?" Colin smiles broadly.

"Something like that." Travis and Colin chuckle.
"Travis, have you ever met someone who reminds you about what life is r
eally about? Someone who embodies true passion for life
through their God-given gifts, and isn't living life
selfishly? Colin says. Travis stares at
Colin for a few seconds.

"Ok, what's her name Colin. I know it's not Katya,
because she called inquir
ing ab
out your health while you
were away." The men laugh hysterically for close to two minutes. Finally
Colin composes himself, and clears his throat.

"Um, we should get back to talking about our
transition into video production, beyond 60 second to three minu
te promotional pieces." Colin says with a poker face.
Travis smiles.

"Oh! Ok, so you're going to avoid the question
completely. I see. Well, we'll circle right back to it...after a few drinks at
dinner. Travis says, and the laughter resumes.

"Oh come one T
ravis. There
are deals to be made here! "Colin says trying to gain his composure. The
gentlemen manage to get back into the work at hand. Colin's thoughts sway
toward Renee every now, and then but the "Bull Dog" is able remain
focused, and they begin to dr
aft a formidable plan
for the new area that BYWINSTON is setting out to conquer.

Meanwhile...

"We've returned to the bland top-knot bun, I
see." Melanie says to Renee, sitting across from the nervous young woman
in her office. Renee smiles politely. She c
an't think
of an immediate response. Melanie sighs loudly. "Renee, please answer me
honestly. Will Colin's return to the building, hinder your work?" Renee is
not really surprised by the question, but she isn't in the mood for a 'Melaine
Nordstrom-mentor-s
ession' in that moment. Still,
Melaine
is
her  supervisor and she must honor that relationship
in this moment.

"No, it is not going to hinder my work." Renee
replies politely. The room is silent. Melaine doesn't respond right away. She
contemplates the va
rying emotions the young,
inexperienced woman must be confronting
right then. Melaine gathers from both
Renee, and Colin that they had some sort of encounter at the Lampros event,
four days ago, but she has not gotten the entire story from either. Colin ha
s remained locked away in his office, while dutiful Renee
has returned to some semblance of her former self prior to Melaine's
intervention. Melaine  finally finds the words.

"Look Renee, I know that you didn't come here for more
than enhancing your skill
...maybe being promoted a
few times, then moving on, but with life comes challenges, and with challenges
come opportunities to overcome them." Melaine says, trying to encourage
her gifted but sheltered mentee.

"I understand." Renee responds politely. She
is distracted by, and burdened with several thoughts. She
can't shake the feeling that perhaps she encouraged Colin. She is also still
quite transfixed by her ex-boyfriend's betrayal. Renee was overwhelming
attentive to Ronald. There was nothing she wouldn
't
do for him, even to her own detriment. Now, another man is filling her head
with compliments - far more eloquently than Ronald ever did, and with ample
passion - but...No! Renee must stand her ground. "I really do understand
Melaine. I will stay focused
on my work." She
assures her boss.

Melaine is worried. She isn't particularly worried about
Renee's ability to continue to produce good work. She can tell that Renee will
throw herself into her work anyway. Melaine is concerned that she will choose
to le
ave, and loose out on this wonderful
opportunity.
I must find a way to inspire her...to distract her.
Melaine thinks.

"Thank you Renee. That's all for now. We'll talk some
more later on." Melaine smiles, and stands to escort
Renee out of her office. Renee
attempts to play catch up, and finds the words to say to
Melaine that she should have sooner. Renee walks and talks with Melaine.

"Melaine, thank you for everything you've done for me.
I wouldn't let you down. Um, I will remain focused... I will conquer."

"Renee, I'm counting on it." Melaine, and Renee
exit the office in tandem. Renee nods respectfully and continues toward her
cubicle. Melaine stands over Marina's desk.

"Marina, schedule a meeting with all my graphic
artists for 3:00 pm today." Melaine in
structs
Marina.

"Certainly!" Marina replies, and
acts immediately. Melaine continues to
look out into the Designer Pit. She is smiling. She smiles as she watches Renee
reach her work area, and descend into her seat. "There is hope yet."
Melaine whispers.

***

"So what did Boss Lady want this time?" Amanda
sneaks up to Renee's desk. A surprised Renee jumps up in her chair.

"Amanda, you really have to stop doing that!"
Renee says still
quivering.

"Relax, would ya!" Amanda responds unmoved.
"What did Melaine
want? Not long after your pow
wow in her office, she sent out a
graphic designers-wide bulletin about a
meeting this afternoon. Did you gather any Intel?" Amanda says in her
usual entertaining fashion.

"No, I did not. Melaine did not mention
anything
about a meeting!." Renee affirms.
It was widely known that Renee was Melaine's protégé. Though many of the other
graphic artists muttered their disapproval under their breaths, they did not
treat Renee differently. They knew that if word got back to Melai
ne, that wouldn't be in their best interest. Melaine did
what she pleased, without apologies, particularly when it came to business.
More than that, Renee's talent stands on its own. She always contributes solid,
and innovative ideas, and executes superior
ly. As a
result, Amanda Chen and the others found it difficult to hate her too much.

"Alrigh-tee then! It'll just be a surprise for all of
us." Amanda says, very animated. Renee chuckles. "So have you heard
about Nick?" Amanda then asks.

"Nick? What's up
with
Nick?" Renee responds, giving Amanda her full attention.

"The big man, upstairs, was so impressed with Nick's
video production skills during the Lampros event that he wants him to develop a
team for a
full
video production department. I mean beyond s
hort ads,
and stuff." Amanda fills Renee in.

"Oh wow! That's pretty cool! Good for Nick!"
Renee is over-the-moon happy for her friend. 

"Yes, pretty cool indeed. I guess you're not the only
one with a super power around here." Amanda says laughing.

"Oh be
quiet, and get back
to your station Ms. Chen. I'll see you in two hours for lunch." Renee
tells Amanda playfully. Renee knows that although Amanda teases her, it's not
meant to be malicious. When working together on the Lampros event, whenever
they hit a
"rough patch", they opened up to
one another, worked through
it, and other areas of their
relationship.

Amanda salutes Renee, and walks back to her desk. Renee is
laughing. She can't help herself as she relives her recent conversation with
Amanda in her m
ind. Renee is also smiling at the
thought of Nick being awarded with his recent appointment.
It's nice of Colin to recognize Nick's
skill.
She
thinks. Uh-oh, the "Colin-flood-gates" have opened. Renee goes on to
think...
He
stood so handsome on the stage,
behind the podium. He
was so funny. His hands...oh his hands are so strong...
Renee begins to look at her own hands
resting at the edge of her keyboard. They are clammy. Her heart beats rapidly.
Renee stands.
I need some water.
She looks in the direction o
f the water cooler. It is located outside of Library. The
Library stores materials for the use of each type of designer. Whichever tool,
inspiration or gadget needed, is stored there. It is on the other side of the
Designers Pit, parallel to the elevators.
It is a
somewhat considerable walk from Renee's work station. Hence why she usually
packs a bottle of water into her tote bag - but not today.

Renee is casually filling up one of the cups at the water
cooler when she hears a familiar baritone voice appro
aching.
She tries to hasten filling up the cup, and take off, but she doesn't 
before Colin walks right next to her. His hand carefully grazes her own
while she stands at the water cooler.
Her heart beats faster. She watches as Colin, Travis, and Nick's co
ntinue down the hallway. They had been in the library.
Of course!
Renee figures it out. They are able to
access the library, without being seen from her end of the Pit.
Oh My God!
Renee's thoughts are off and running,
even more wildly. She raises her right
hand to her
chest to examine it. She can still feel Colin's lingering touch.

Renee d
ips back into her work chair, still in a daze. She can't
believe what has just taken place. She looks up at her desktop screen, takes a
deep breath, and attempts to get h
er work done. 
Renee sketches, researches, plays with varying color options, and sketches
again. She is able to find her momentum despite her most recent close encounter
with Colin. She's decided to block it out. Melaine's words, from earlier that morning,
about conquering the situation, has kicked in. It's truly
Renee's objective to "win".

"Ready for lunch?" Renee looks up to see Nick
smiling down at her.

"Is is that time already?" She asks, totally
oblivious. Renee diligently plugged away at her latest
assignment. She created her own mental cocoon, and blocked everyone, and
everything out including her thoughts.

"Yep! Amanda is waiting for us in the downstairs
lobby."

"Okay then...let's get out of here." Renee says,
and the two head out,
to embark on
the elevator.

Nick, and Renee talk and laugh heartily while waiting for
the elevators
to come. They become fully engaged in conversation about
Nick's promotion.

"Well Nick, it is truly well deserved. You've got
skills!" They laugh in unison. "Congratulati
ons!"
Just then
one of the elevator doors opens. Colin and Travis are
already on it. Renee and Colin's eyes immediately connect. Colin smiles. Renee
looks away. Travis senses awkwardness, but doesn't think much of it. Colin has
made many a young woman nerv
ous.

"Going down?" Travis asks. Colin is fixated on
Renee.

"Yeah." Nick responds, and extends his left arm,
indicating to Renee to get on ahead of him.

"Thank you." Renee says unconsciously, and stands
on the elevator directly in front of Colin. He snap
s
a mental picture of Renee from his vantage point. His eyes trace her
curves,  accentuated in a black tailored sleeveless dress.
It stops just before her knees. Her legs
shimmer like gold, and her athletically toned rear end is perfectly elevated by
her t
wo inch pumps.

Travis makes conversation with Renee, and Nick on the short
ride to the lobby but Renee is too nervous to talk, and only offers forced
smiles. Colin contributes short phrases that don't distract from his
concentrated focus on Renee. Once on
the lobby level,
Renee immediately springs forward, and speedily walks toward Amanda. Nick
breaks from Travis and Colin amidst more small talk, and joins the Ladies who
are waiting patiently for him. Colin takes the opportunity to gaze at Renee one
last t
ime. Amanda waves gracelessly at the company's
founder. She mistakes his look in their direction as an opportunity to
interact. Colin nods. Renee can't help
but laugh at her comical friend, and finally relaxes about the entire
situation.

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