“The only thing I’m willing to accept is a partnership directly with you. No other designers on your team. Mahogany Mills. The agreement we made upon the signing of the contract.”
Oop.
With raised brows, I stared across the desk at him. Hmph. He had his business hat on. Strapped on real tight. As tight as I thought I had mine strapped on. We did have an agreement and regardless of what happened during that time, I was supposed to uphold that agreement. Crescent had done everything by the book. When I accommodated him, he was fine with it up until he wasn’t. And while his complaint might have been some bullshit, ethically and professionally, I couldn’t treat it as such. I had to abide by business standards and my God that pissed me off. Because I knew what this was. An abuse of power. And there was nothing I could do about that.
With a frown, I continued to stare at him. The look on his face was smug. He wore this smile. One that said checkmate.
I snorted. “Okay,Mr. Carter.I will uphold the agreement in our contract. To its fullest extent. Please address me as Mahogany. Don’t call me Mo. Don’t call me baby. Keep your hands to yourself. And your flirting at a minimum. This is a business partnership. No bullshit. None of your… Crescent shit.”
“My Crescent shit?” He asked with raised brows.
“Your Crescent shit. Like I said. If you don’t… I will be filing a complaint with…” I paused, thinking of who to complain to since he was the CEO. “I will be filing a complaint with HR for unethical, um…unethical behavior and sexual harassment."
He lightly chuckled. “Alright, Mahogany. I hear you.”
“Fifty percent of our meetings will be virtual and–”
“I don’t remember that being in the contract. Separate business from personal, Ms. Mills.”
“I said call me Mahogany.”
He turned the corners of his mouth down. “My bad, Mahogany”
I turned my nose up and sat up straight. “Thank you.”
He smirked. “When is our next meeting? In person.”
“I just said fifty percent will be virtual. You might want to give that contract a second look. Virtual meetings are mentioned.”
“Fifty percent though? Sound like some shit you making up because you can’t handle being in the same room as me.”
I drew back “Boy… what?”
“Grown ass man, sweetheart. You heard exactly what I said. I expected more out of the CEO of Couture Interiors. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the company. I would like toseemore of those great things.”
“Are you saying you’re dissatisfied? You’re complaining about the company as a whole now? We’ve accommodated Skylight Industries efficiently.”
“On every project but The House of Nova Ray. The most important one in our contract at that.”
“I wonder why that is.”
“I wonder too. Seems like the CEO can’t separate business from personal.”
“It shouldn’t have never become personal.”
“Facts.”
I made a face at him and snatched my purse off the desk, ready to go. “Is there anything else you need? Any more complaints?”
He stroked his beard and eyed me up and down. “I can think of a few things I need. Couple complaints. Just about the CEO’s attitude. I expect to be treated with the same respect you treat them other niggas with. Especially them uppity ass white muthafuckas.”
I drew back. “Professionalism. You lack a lot of it.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he shot back.
Things were getting heated. I didn't know if he was actually mad or if he was toying with me. There was this fire behind his eyes that I’d never noticed before. A fire that I matched. I didn’t give a fuck. Crescent had me fucked up. Complaining about Shar. Complaining about the company. As if the progress of The House of Nova Ray was solely up to me. He played a role in the delays. He called Shar incompetent as if he hadn’t ignored several emails, slowing shit down.
“Tired of yo’ ass,” he mumbled.
