Black Pearl (4 page)

“Now that the menu has been finalized, I am sure the event will be a success. This caterer is the best in the city.” Nikola looked at Devyn as she talked excitedly about the details of the gala. He was impressed by the ideas she’d come up with for the gala. The addition of an online aspect to the silent auction was already beginning to drum up more interest than last year’s event. He was looking forward to seeing how it all turned out; sure it would be a huge success. 

Today was Friday, the last day they would be working together. Andre was scheduled to return over the weekend, and would be back in the office, Monday morning. Despite knowing his brother’s return was for the best, Nikola felt something strangely close to longing, knowing Devyn would no longer be working with him.

“Oh, before I forget. I called the temp agency about sending someone over to work for you for the next few months until Sheryl returns. They sent over the resumes last week, but I haven’t had a chance to look at them. Did you receive them? I forwarded the names to you,” Devyn inquired.

Nikola received the resumes, but avoided looking at them. The thought of someone else besides Devyn sitting in his assistant’s chair did not sit well with him. It had only been a few weeks, but he looked forward to their daily morning meetings and working directly with her on the gala. He knew he would have to choose a temporary assistant soon.

“If you want, I can go over the resumes with you. If you’re too busy, I can even interview the perspective temps.”

“That’s fine, Ms. Williams. How about you print out the resumes and we will review them and narrow the prospects down to two people to interview.”

“Sure, I have the resumes printed out already. Let me grab them from my desk,” she said standing to exit his office. When she returned she was holding four resumes, she fanned them out on his desk. Nikola stood and came around his desk to sit in the chair next to Devyn to get a better view of the resumes. Reaching for the resume she held, his hand brushed hers and he felt an electric current run through his fingers. The way Devyn jumped slightly told Nikola that she felt it too. Nikola wanted to touch her more. He wanted to know if the rest of her skin felt as smooth and soft. 

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly before reaching for another resume.

“I don’t think this one will work. She doesn’t have the computer skill set you need,” Devyn stated looking at the resume in her hand. He looked briefly at the resume and agreed. Devyn placed that one down and together they went through the other three resumes, narrowing the choice down to two candidates to interview.

“Now, that that is finished let's discuss some last minute details for the gala,” Nikola stated wanting to get off the subject of a new administrative assistant. They went over more details of the gala, Devyn also noting that Andre would need to schedule an appointment to have his tuxedo tailored. They discussed the times and locations the driver would pick each of the Collins family members up.

“How are you arriving to the gala, Ms. Williams?”

“I usually drive.”

“You’re planning on driving?” Nikola was trying to find out if Devyn was bringing a date to the gala. He had never asked about her personal life. He wanted to know if she was seeing someone.

“Yes,” she nodded.

“That’s nonsense. What if you plan on drinking? I’m sure we can arrange a car to pick you and your date up and take you back home,” he said reaching for his phone, ready to call the car service to schedule a pickup for her for the gala.

Devyn reached for his hand, halting him. “That’s not necessary. I don’t have a date and I don’t drink that much anyway.” Nikola looked at her hand on top of his. This was the first real physical contact they had and he felt the warmth from her touch radiate up his arm and throughout his body. Devyn noting the way he stared at her hand on his, thought he was angry. She quickly removed her hand.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“For what, Ms. Williams?” He asked staring in her eyes.

“Um, uh, for touching you like that. I just, uh, didn’t want you to go through the trouble of requesting a car for me.”

“Is that all you’re sorry for?” Nikola asked cryptically, as he took her hand in his and began tracing circles on the top of her hand with his thumb.

“Uh, huh,” Devyn was having trouble forming words as his thumb stroked her hand, and he continued to stare at her with such intensity.

“So you’re not sorry for driving me crazy for the last three weeks?” His eyes burned into hers.

Devyn swallowed thickly, the touch of his circling thumb sending sensations straight to her core. She stared into his crystal blue eyes and could barely comprehend a proper thought. 

“I– uh, excuse me?” Devyn asked finally acknowledging his question.

“I asked, are you not sorry for driving me crazy for the last three weeks? The way you breeze in the office in the mornings handing me coffee in your unintentionally sexy outfits.” Nikola knew he was crossing the line, but he was beyond caring.

“Every morning you come in smelling like some fruit or flower and coconut,” he said leaning in closer as he inhaled her scent.

“Hibiscus.”

“What?” He leaned back and asked.

“Coconut and hibiscus. It’s the scent of the body lotion I use.”

“Shit.” Nikola swore at the image of her lathering herself with the lotion. The hand that was stroking her hand moved up to cup her cheek. “Don’t ever change brands. It suits you.”

Nikola looked down at her full lips, begging to be kissed. He grazed his thumb over her bottom lip and groaned when Devyn stuck out her tongue to lick his thumb. Without further thought he leaned down capturing her mouth with his lips. Nikola tried to draw her closer, but was halted by the arms of both their chairs in the way. To remedy this, Nikola stood, pulling Devyn with him, cupping both sides of her face with his hands.

Before she even had a chance to take a breath, he slammed his mouth to hers again nibbling at her lips, and soothing the bites with his tongue. He prodded her to open her lips with his tongue and once she did, he dove in, exploring every inch. He was relentless in his exploration of her mouth, but Devyn gave as much as she received. She too, sought the opportunity to allow her tongue to explore his mouth. Their tongues dueled, each one giving and taking in a seductive dance. Nikola’s entire body felt awakened as he allowed his hands to move down and cup the ass he’d spent the last three weeks itching to touch. Once he did, he squeezed and pressed her body even deeper into his. They both groaned at the contact. Nikola broke away from Devyn’s lips to kiss along her jawline down to her neck. When he made contact with the spot just behind her ear, he felt Devyn shiver. She was sensitive there. Answering the question he wondered weeks ago.

“Hello. Nik, are you here?”

A woman’s voice pierced the air. Devyn was the first to pull away. She stepped away, covering her mouth, and struggling to catch her breath. Smoothing down the sides of her skirt and ruffled shirt, she turned and reached for a tissue, handing it to him. He looked confused as she thrust the tissue at him.

“To wipe off my lip gloss from your mouth,” She whispered, handing him the tissue. She gathered the resumes and her iPad, just as Cindy rounded the corner to his office.

“Nik, there you are. I was wondering where everyone was. It’s well after 5:00 p.m.,” Cindy said, ignoring Devyn as she stepped in the room.

“Um, well. That’s it for the day. Enjoy your weekend, Mr. Collins.” She gave a tight smile to Cindy as she bolted out of the office.

Shit. Fuck. Damn.
Devyn admonished herself as she drove home. Not only was she running behind schedule, she kept replaying the kiss with Nikola over and over in her head. Her body still hummed from the kiss. She shivered remembering the feeling of his hardness pressed up against her core. She nearly had a heart attack when she heard a woman’s voice call out. The last thing she wanted was to get caught making out with her boss in the office – especially by his girlfriend. She was done with cheating men.
Stupid.
She thought racing up the stairs to her third floor apartment. She had another performance tonight and was already running late.

Devyn burst into her eclectically decorated, one-bedroom apartment, stripping off her work clothes as she went. Once naked she went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. She showered, thinking about Nikola and how to handle the situation. She knew his playboy reputation as well as anybody, so she wasn’t expecting anything to come of them. Shrugging she figured the kiss was a one-time thing; a simple result of them working so closely for the last few weeks.
If that was it then, why have you and Andre never kissed like that?
Her conscious mocked. She knew the kiss was more than just a result of them working closely.

From the first time she met him, she felt a magnetic pull towards him. That flame had only been stoked over the last three weeks, but she knew it wasn’t anything major on his end. Monday she would go back to working for Andre and only seeing Nikola once or twice a week. She blew out a breath, as she gathered her costume and makeup. She knew it would take her more than an hour to get to the club in this traffic on a Friday night. She would just have to do her makeup at the club to make it on time. Deciding to forget about Nikola Collins, Devyn focused on her performance that night. Packing up everything she needed, she grabbed some chicken salad and an apple from the fridge, to have as a quick dinner before heading out.

Mercedes:
Knock ‘em dead!

Devyn stared at the text message from Mercedes. Usually Mercedes attended Devyn’s shows when she debuted a new set, but she was out of town for training.

Devyn:
Thanks. I wish you were here. You know I get nervous debuting a new set.

Devyn responded as she prepared her makeup in the dressing room mirror. Her new burlesque set was to Celia Cruz’s
La Negra Tiene Tumbao
. It was her first time performing it in front of an audience.

Mercedes:
You have nothing to be nervous about. I’ve seen this set and I damn near wanted to have a cigarette afterwards. It was hottttt!!!

Devyn smiled at the text. She had performed the set for Mercedes and a few of the other girls to get their input on improvements. They all told her it was great.

Devyn:
:) Thanks! I needed that. I gotta go, but I’ll let you know how it went.

Mercedes:
Break a leg!!

Devyn put her phone back in her bag and began removing her costume. To pay homage to the
La Reina de Salsa
Devyn opted to perform in a costume that resembled one of the outfits Celia Cruz wore in the song’s video. Her outer layer was a long, orange silk dress, with long baggy sleeves, and a flowy bodice. The top of the dress was lined with faux feathers and the “eye” of a peacock. Underneath the dress she wore a black lace elasticized skirt, with garter belts, that attached to a pair of black lace stockings. Up top, she sported an orange lace corset, and strip away bra with ruffles, over top her black pasties with shimmery orange hearts. On her head, she wore her hair in loose curls that fell around her face, and flapper style hat that adorned the same peacock feathers and orange color as her dress. On her face, she wore her signature glossy red lip coloring, and black winged eyeliner. On her feet, she had her three inch peep toe burlesque shoes. She stood in front of the mirror taking in her reflection.

She was no longer Devyn Williams. This was Black Pearl.

Exiting the locker room, Black Pearl moved down the hallway hearing the occasional, “Knock ‘em dead, Pearl!” She loved the supportive atmosphere that existed backstage. There was no competition here or one upmanship. Mistress Coco wouldn’t allow it. She let her girls know upfront that any woman who performed for her, was to be supportive of every other performer who graced that stage. Those who couldn’t abide this rule were quickly told their services were no longer needed.

Devyn heard the clapping and hooting as Jazmine ended her set. She was phenomenal, of course. Exiting the stage, Jazmine gave Devyn two thumbs up and a quick kiss on the cheek.

“You were great,” Devyn whispered before moving into her position behind the curtain. Devyn liked to use the curtain to emerge from, instead of just walking out on stage from one of the sides.

“Ladies and gentlemen, coming to the stage, is a performer I am personally very proud of. She has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Her moves will leave you with your jaws on the floor and tongues wagging. Ladies hold on to your men. And men, you might want to hold on to your ladies, if you know what I mean! Shit, if I was thirty years younger, I would give all you men a run for your money for the attention of this young lady.” Mistress Coco winked at the audience to uproarious laughter.

“Without further ado, give it up for Black PEEEAARRRLL!” The audience clapped as Celia Cruz’s energetic voice began. Devyn stuck out her leg from behind the curtain, before bursting on stage, as the beat dropped. She strutted to the beat of the music, using the entirety of the stage to rile up the audience. Crossing the stage for a second time, she turned her back to the audience, and rotated her shoulders in a snake like motion as she moved her hips. She dipped her head back, still moving her shoulders and the audience roared.

Pivoting on one foot she rotated her hips, and turned to face the audience, as she did a quick salsa step across the stage again, reaching behind her, slowly bringing down the zipper of her dress. She turned her back to the audience again and when they noticed she was taking her dress down, they yelled some more. She finally stripped out of the dress, tossing it to the side, showing off the tight skirt, stockings, and corset she wore underneath.

Moving closer to the front of the audience she teased a few men and women in the front row, shaking her breasts in their faces, before moving back and reaching for the garter straps of her skirt. She removed the snaps of the stocking on her left leg then her right, all while still shaking her hips and moving across the stage. Turning her back to the audience again, she began pulling down her skirt, bending at the waist to give the audience full view of her black lace thong panties. The audience clapped and stomped their feet. Continuing to shake to the beat, Devyn shook her shoulders and wiggled her hips as she turned, reaching behind her to unclasp her bra. Slowly, as she sauntered across the stage she let one strap drop, then the other, before tossing the bra to the side of the stage. All that remained were her stockings, lace thong and pasties. She shook her breasts to the ending notes of the song, allowing the pasties to shake and twirl. The audience clapped as the song ended and she took her bow, before blowing them a kiss, and exiting the stage.

While on stage, Devyn couldn’t see the faces of all the audience members that well. If she had, she would have noticed a pair of intense blue eyes that were now burrowing holes in her back as she exited the stage.