His eyes darkened, and I felt a strange twinge between my legs. I may not have liked the man, but I couldn’t deny that he was very attractive. I realized that upon meeting him, but he was still the enemy.
“I can promise you that if I have a kink, it wouldn’t be that one. But I might have one involving you calling me Mr. King the way that you keep doing.”
There was something about the way that he said, if he had a kink it wouldn’t be that one, that had me crossing and uncrossing my legs as I toyed with my food.
“I just think that it was ironic that you showed up at the museum when you did, after you represented my ex in the divorce.”
“I didn’t show up there because of you, but yes, I did know that you worked there. I have always loved museums since I was a little kid. My very first visit to a museum was when I was a kid, but it wasn’t a cultural museum. I didn’t even know that those types of museums existed until I met Charles and his wife. My first visit was to see a dinosaur exhibit when I was in the thirdgrade. I was deeply into learning about that, and afterward, I begged my parents to take me to the museum whenever they could. How did you become the museum director?”
“I was always interested in African American history and culture. When I was in college, I studied Art History which is what my master’s is in. I used to be a tour guide during the summer when I was in college. Upon graduation at twenty-two, I was hired as an assistant curator, and six months later, I became the development assistant. The following year, I transitioned to a museum educator. I stayed in that role for two years, where I became head of education at twenty-five.
“A year and a half later, because I showed so much growth and potential, they made me the deputy director of programs. Our director retired by the time I turned twenty-eight, and I was offered the position of museum director. The museum’s youngest director ever.”
“You progressed quickly.”
“I loved what I did, and because my husband was never home and I was always alone, I became married to my career. I poured all my energy into learning everything that I could, training at the feet of masters.”
“You did very well for yourself. You must be proud.”
“I am. How did you get into law?”
“My father unknowingly led me in that direction when I was a kid.” He chuckled before he continued his conversation. “I always argued about everything, and I was a great debater. I could persuade anyone to my way of thinking. Every time something would happen, my father would jokingly comment, ‘Let me check with my lawyer first. Aye, Naijhel, what you think about this?’ In time, the rest of the family would bring me in on things that they needed advice on or ask me to defend their perspective in an argument. By the time I went to college, it was only natural that I would go for law.”
“I don’t get it still. Okay, I’m beautiful and interesting, but I’m not the only woman who is. What would make you want to do something so taboo as to take your former client’s ex, who you sat on the opposing side of the table in a divorce proceeding, I might add, out on a date? There were so many beautiful, intelligent women there that night. Yet, you chose not only the taboo, but someone who would be a challenge, someone who considers you the enemy. Why?”
Naijhel sighed. “They often say that no good deed goes unpunished. You’re a good woman from everything that I can tell, and your punishment was your husband. So tell me, Delaney, what good deeds have you done to be punished that way?”
Setting my fork down, I narrowed my eyes and asked, “Is there something that you want to tell me?”
He eyed me over the rim of his glass and replied, “In time, Delaney. You’ll know everything you need to in time.”
I slammed my hand on the table. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Sometimes, you can’t handle all the knowledge you thought you wanted at once. It has the power to break and destroy you, or it has the power to build you into something you don’t even recognize.”
“I don’t know what you’re referring to, but I can handle whatever I need to know. If there is something that you need to tell me, I suggest you do so.”
“Or what, Delaney?”
I was fuming mad, and even more furious that I couldn’t hop off the boat and leave, but that didn’t mean I had to enjoy a meal with him. He had spoiled my appetite. I didn’t care that I had finished most of my lunch. I still got up from the table to leave.
“Sit down,” he ordered in a quiet but authoritative command.
Frowning, I replied, “I have a daddy. You heard him, and it’s not you.”
“You’re right. I’m not trying to be that daddy, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be calling me daddy.”
My eyes widened, and I hated that my pussy clenched at his words.
“Excuse me? You have lost your mind,” I declared, walking from the table.
“Sit. Down. Delaney.”
I skirted around the table to head away from the dining area, but Naijhel grabbed my hand as I brushed by him.
He didn’t get up or turn around to face me. In a calm, soothing voice that touched me deep within, he ordered, “Woman, sit down for the last time.”
I snatched away and returned to my seat and glared at him. I couldn’t recall the last time that I had been so angry at someone, but my body was shaking.
