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He called me, and I told myself that I would call him later. Well, eight hours later, I got to my hotel, and he was in my bed, watching television. This man flew from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles, California, because I didn’t answer his calls or respond to his texts. He said that he needed to put eyes on me to make sure the west coast hadn’t devoured me.

We sat down after he fucked the sense out of me and had an expectations conversation. I had been single for a very long time, so I wasn’t used to the notion that I should answer the phone for the man that I was in a relationship with. Hell, when I was with my ex, I didn’t. He never said anything about it, but it was clear later as to why.

That conversation was the first time I had that kind of conversation with a man to level set where we were, where we were going, and how we would get there. It was so sexy. Needless to say, I answered all his calls after. Our calendars were synced so we knew when the other was busy.

After my laughter, I turned my attention back to Miss Dandridge, who still stood there like an idiot. “Well, now that we have that understanding. Miss Melissa Dandridge, I am sure you know that disrespect of any kind within these walls will not be tolerated. There is no warning grace either. It is immediate action, so at this time, we will have to revoke your membership. I’m sure that it’s been a joy having you as a member for . . .”

I glanced up at Ledger for the answer. He smiled, then responded. “Melissa has been a member for a little over a year.” He looked toward the door then waved his hand.

“Oh, that’s a fairly new member,” I said with a titter. “I’m sure you’ll land on your feet, sweetheart. If you accomplished becoming a vice president, I know you have some get up about yourself.”

She chuckled venomously. “Ledger, are you really going to let this happen like this? You get a woman, and now you’re brand new?”

He blew out a sigh of relief. “I was worried that you wouldn’t understand, but you clearly do. Of course, my woman makes me brand new. What the fuck you thought?”

Cole stepped forward. “Melissa, Chuck here is going to escort you out, as you are no longer a member here. Chuck, please be gentle with her, as her feelings are clearly fragile.”

I knew that Cole’s company was over the security for the lounge. It made sense that he gave the order at Ledger’s insistence to have her removed. I saw how my best friend eyed him as he took command. Sasha loved that type of shit.

Melissa shook her head, looked down at both Ledger and me, then rolled her eyes. “Fuck you and this place, Ledger. You and that pale bitch can kiss my ass.”

My hand covered my heart. “Oh my God! That’s an insult I don’t think I’ve heard since I was in elementary school. Miss Dandridge, I expected so much more.”

Ledger smacked my ass. “Stop, Mem. Let her go so we can move on with our night.”

Without a fight, she allowed Chuck to escort her out, where I saw him say something to her before she walked out of the door. She reached into her crossbody purse, pulled out what looked like a wallet, opened it, then handed something to Chuck that was in it. I assumed it was her membership card or something.

Cole told us that he would be right back. He wanted to make sure the valet took her parking decal from her car and badge off her keyring. We all watched him smoothly walk out of the section.

The second he left, Sasha was in front of us with fifty-eleven questions about him. Her questions ranged from was he gay, a ho, married, or crazy. Ledger answered all her questions. His answer to her crazy question gave both Sasha and me pause. Crazy is a relative term. To a bum, a dreamer is crazy. What the hell did that mean?

After her barrage of questions, she settled into her seat just in time for the food to arrive. Before I could sit down, Ledger had me wrapped in his arm. “Aht, aht. Before you eat, we have an office to fuck in.” When I complained about my food getting cold, he looked at me like I lost my mind. “Mem, I don’t give a fuck about that plate. We’ll order a fresh one afterward.”

Duh! Just that quickly, I forgot. This was his establishment, and I was the first lady. We could do whatever the fuck we wanted. “Lead the way, sir.”

Some Time Later

Stress Lights . . .

These past weeks had been nothing short of amazing. The week after I was introduced to Kryptonite Reserve as the first lady, the lounge was closed for the lighting renovation. I was worried that it would be a problem, but Ledger didn’t give a damn.

I needed, and more so wanted, everything to be perfect. When I worked on a project, I was always vested, but with this project, it was different. This project directly affected someone I cared about deeply. As the first lady of the lounge, the lights not only represented me as a lighting designer, but me as Ledger’s woman.

My team was able to finish the project in five days instead of the projected seven. The staff were the first to experience the new atmosphere and give their feedback. They all loved it. It warmed my heart when people told me that they never knew how important lighting was. That was a normal reaction for most people when they came to the correct light.

The day that he opened the business back up to the public, there was a noticeable shift in energy because of the lighting change. I wasn’t sure why Ledger was so surprised, but he was. Long story short, the change in the light brought new business my way from some of those same men and women who took my business card the day that the first lady announcement was made. My calendar was completely booked for the rest of the year now. I had my man to thank for that.

“Oh! Right there!” I spoke between moans as Ledger stroked me from the back. “I’m about to cum!”

He smacked my bare ass. “Stop talkin’ about it and do it. Wet your dick up.”

Once was all I needed to be told to do something that I wanted to do anyway. Thank God he had a shower in his office because I felt all of me as it trickled down my legs. This was not what I came here for.

“Ugh! Fuck!” Ledger’s body stiffened behind me. It was his sign that he, too, had met his end. That was a good thing because this was supposed to be a business meeting, not a fuck one.

He finally pulled himself out of me. “Go ahead, baby.”

I learned a little while ago that I needed to always carry extra clothes with me when I planned to be in private, close quarters with my man. I gave him a kiss before I headed to his massive office bathroom that was attached to the massive-ass bedroom.