A BILLIONAIRE'S DEVOTION

PART -3-

HAPPY READING

Kahdeem Emmerson POV

"Ma'am your 9:00 am appointment is here," Alana my secretary says over the phone.

"Send him in, please. Thank you, Alana."

"Right away ma'am," she says and I cut the call.

A few seconds after. A tall, very well built young black man in a decent suit walks into my office and I stand to greet him.

"Good morning Mr Smith," I say stretching out my hands to greet him.

"Good morning Ms Emmerson, it's a pleasure," he shakes my hand firmly.

"Very firm grip sir."

"Thank you, ma'am," he smiles.

"Please have a seat, Mr Smith," I say and he pulls out the chair in front of my desk taking his seat.

"How can I help you, sir?"

"Well ma'am, I'm a rookie with that LA stallions and my contract was recently renewed. The manager promised one figure and some of the guys did get what was promised but not me ma'am."

"You came to the right place Mr Smith," I smile looking at him confidently because I knew exactly what they are trying to do to him.

"Before I tell you what I think and what should happen. I want to know what do you hope to accomplish here?"

"Ma'am I've been putting in the work, all I need is my money and what is rightfully mine."

"And rightfully you should get just that, Mr Smith."

He nods but still looks stressed, I can see it weighs heavily on him.

"Why did you choose Hamilton? I ask always wanting to know what they think about the service. That way I know how to approach the problem and how to work with my client.

"No offence but I heard you're a fireball in the courtroom and you handle kinda a similar situation for a buddy of mine. I guess I want someone who's going to have my best interest at heart," he says entwining his fingers and placing them on my desk.

I nod.

"Here's my rate Mr Smith if you are comfortable with them we can proceed sir." I hand over a printout of my fees. I watch him look them over then look back at me.

He nods and I take out my note pad ready to begin.

"Now for the real questions Mr Smith, do you have an agent? Did you sign the new contract and why was the first contract revised if so. Was your agent present in any meeting you had with the management of the team."

He sits back and looks at me puzzled, "since signing the first contract my agent has been so busy, it's even hard to get a hold of him."

"Did the stallions provide this agent or recommend him or her?"

"Ma'am I was so caught up in the high of everything and being able to buy my mamma a house I didn't think much of the management side or legal aspect."

"Technically, your agent is responsible for negotiating on your behalf. He is to represent you on all fronts, endorsements, everything because more money for you means more money for him."

"So I was told, ma'am that's why I come to see you."

"Let's begin then," I take his information and that of his agent when he was signed and all the necessary information surrounding him and his contract, everything I needed from the day he was signed up until now to build my case.

"How do you want us to communicate Mr Smith," I say sitting back now.

"Text would be good ma'am," he give his contract info and collect my card.

"Nothing that was discussed here should be disclosed. I set our next meeting for the-" I look at my calendar book and "next Tuesday, no, no, Thursday I will have a detailed analysis of your case with all the facts to back it up and we will proceed from there. I will also make contact with your agent."

"What should I do in the meantime, ma'am."

"Stay calm, I assure you I will get you everything you deserve, my suggestion also is you need a new agent. One that has your best interest at heart."

He nods.

"I have a few recommendations but let's get your coach and those yards, I need to know your performance on the field and we can proceed."

"I knew I came to the right place," he smiles.

"See you on Thursday at 8:00 am sharp Mr Smith. Then I will arrange a meeting with the management of the team, the coach and your agent. But let's not get carried away, first things first," I say.

"Yes ma'am, Thursday at eight."

He shakes my hand and walks out of my office relaxed. I've handled a few of these before, so it's a walk in the park after I get his stats and know if he's really that good.

Sitting back in my chair, then a few minutes passed, I take a deep breath, close my eyes and inevitably my mind would run wild away from me.

"Stop it! Stop it kahdeem," I caution myself for the second time today as my mind wanders and drifts on its own accord. The more I try not to think about him the more he bombards my mind.

What an impression he had left... My mind just wouldn't stop wandering off to him and I constantly find myself staring off into space and you would think that is the problem here but it's not... the real problem is later when the lights are off and I'm all alone he's in my dreams as well.

I shake my head, trying not to think about that day but after all of two weeks, images of him flood my thoughts. I never met anyone who had me this disoriented, it was absurd.

"Oh lord Kahdeem."

I couldn't stop gazing at him, the smirk on his lips, the darkness of his eyes, the deep, clear tone of his voice and the way his touch made my skin turn to heat. Whatever he is, whoever he is, How is it possible for a stranger to have this type of effect on me? just standing in my space. How possible was that? I was more than surprised, frozen and embarrassed by the way I stare at the man. I shake my head but it didn't help, I groan.

I never saw a man like him, never.

I hadn't expected to be stumbling down those stairs. I practically run down those steps every time I visit the Elite bar. I Never, ever tripped, not even once.

Those ceramic steps were just too tiled, I believe.

Somehow it wasn't real, it felt magical, to begin with, maybe that is what it was but this wasn't normal.

His touch burnt my skin, forming heat in places and every time I looked at my hand I felt it. That I never experienced before.

It was different, he was different. I don't know what it was but it just felt different to anything I'd ever known. Nothing about that man was normal and it made him seem unrealistic the more I thought about him and those... Those stairs. Ridiculous.

My head couldn't say how my heart quite sink and rise that way. Still, I couldn't help but watch him, I kept my eyes on him. He is tall, very tall... Made my 5'4 look very small. With those broad shoulders and his suit fitting like a glove over them. His eyes are dark, somehow they frightened me a little for some reason and yet I was impressed by him.

Too handsome and good looking for his own good with that light brown skin that glows and those luscious pink lips with that smirk on them. Something about the way he curled them told me he could do despicable things with them. I just knew if I didn't bite my own I would do something sinful to him... And if he had touched me one fraction of a second longer I would turn to puddles and it all seemed like too much trouble.

I'd been in rooms with dangerous men, men in expensive suits, men with scared faces and sinful intentions but they never rattle me the way this man did or got under my skin.

What was it about this man?

I was quite impressed and steal every glance I could. It was so, so wrong though, I know but still, it felt right... Too right.

"Oh God, where was I going with this..."

'Come on live a little, be inappropriate for once kahdeem,' my subconscious mind seems to like it too much.

What was it about a man like him?

"Damn it Kahdeem you better stop." I take a deep breath and lean forward in my task chair.

I was silently praying my legs wouldn't collapse beneath me as I move down the ceramic stairs walking away from him.

Before I knew it, I close my eyes picturing him, then wonder what it felt like to feel his touch again, to trail my fingers over those lips and graze my finger over his skin.

It seems impossible really, that a man had me frozen in place in an ultimate universe where he and I were the only ones there. Ridiculous. Right?

I should have looked away, never looked at another man while I am involved. I should've pulled away, I should have pushed him away but there was no explanation as to this... This was another level. I couldn't move only stare.

Now thinking about it... It was much easier said than done. He was imposing on my space and I let him.

His body exudes heat a kind of warmth and safety I haven't experienced in a very long time and he is undeniably masculine. I had to reach out, to hold onto something for support before I collapse with the way my knees turn to whipped cream. Yet again I fumble, almost fell but he... He held me... He held me closer to him, his strong arms held me in place, putting me back in place effortlessly.

Lord what could that be? that man-made my heart almost fly away and just when I believed I was going to faint he pulled away.

His intense gaze made me blush, in a rush my heart thumped and my stomach was upside down.

Could he have felt all the intense haze floating around us?

The more I try to process it, the more strange it felt and the more I questioned if it was even real.

My subconscious remembers every ripple of his muscles, his tight lean chest, his tall masculine frame against mine fitting perfectly. Oh lord, I remember.

This man rattles my every being, every nerve in my body and just thinking about it made me quiver in my seat. If I am being honest it was thrilling, to say the least, the way strong chills run down my spine.

That man is nothing but trouble and I think he knows it with the smirk on his face. Can I do anything else but like it? Is it wrong to like it? I really, really like it...

It was crazy right... to even be thinking about him after two weeks, what are the odds that I will even see that fine piece of specimen again. Such a chance encounter.

I shake my head. It had been two weeks and every detail was fresh in my mind.

"Ma'am."

I didn't have a chance to visit the Elite bar again so what were the odds. Right?

Looking up at the knock on my door, my secretary Alana stands waiting for my command.

"Ma'am," she says repeating herself.

"Are you alright?" she asks.

I nod, "come in Alana," she walks in, standing in front of my desk.

"Are you sure you're alright ma'am? you seem a little distracted," she says.

"I'm sure, I'm sure. What is it?"

"Ma'am just a few adjustments to your schedule for today," she says holding her notepad and still looking at me questionably.

"Go ahead," I say clearing my throat and focusing on her.

"Mr Salvatore confirmed for 1:00 pm and here are the briefs," she puts two case files on my desk."

"The mediator for Mr Johnson's attorney has cancelled and would like another available date."

"Did he say why?"

"No ma'am, he just say something important came up, he couldn't make it today."

I nod.

"Is that all?"

"One other thing ma'am."

I nod

"The DPP has reached out concerning the McCarthy case."

"Get me the jacket and statements immediately, Alana. Thank you, I will be taking them home with me."

"Right away ma'am."

"Inform Mrs Johnson of the cancellation and please let her know the soonest the new date is selected she will be contacted."

She nods and she walks out. Switching back to full work mode, I take the brief Alana just brought in. I badly need a distraction. So I call my boyfriend.

"Hey babe," I say the minute he picks up his face time.

"Hey you," he says.

"I will be home early this evening, making some dinner maybe light a candle and fill the bathtub," I say to set the mood for him.

"I think I will be here pretty late tonight, actually I will sleep at my place not to wake you when I get in." And I want to badly roll my eyes but I stare at him instead. Incredulous I shake my head.

"Alright Edward, tomorrow then," I say trying not to show my frustration. But I am beyond irritated. We hadn't been spending time together lately.

"Good girl," he smiles and cuts the call.

With a groan, I close the app and place my phone on my desk. And my mind shifts back to him...

My office phone rings bringing me out of my thoughts and I welcome the distraction.

"Kahdeem Emmerson, how may I help you?" I lean forward and place the phone to my ears.

"KD, I've been trying your cell phone, you had me worried for a second there."

"I was in a meeting, it's on silent." I lied it's right here on my desk, I couldn't hear it with my scandalous thoughts.

"I'm calling to confirm seating arrangements for next Friday."

"Yes, Edward and I will be there."

"Are you alright, you sound strange."

"I'm fine, where Kendrick?"

"Yo' Kenny pick up," Chinell shouts and I had to remove the phone from my ears.

"Girl he's outside," she says and I chuckle.

This man seems to consume my thought every chance my brain wander. Maybe I need to keep busy. Yes, that is what I am going to do. I really didn't feel like being alone tonight, I can cook and have my friends over. I can guarantee they will keep me distracted and entertained.

"You two busy tonight?" I ask not feeling like being alone.

"What you have in mind," Kendrick says now on the line.

"Well, I was thinking shrimp Alfredo, smothered children and a bottle of wine, simple dinner, I need company," I whine.

Chinell chuckle, "don't you got a man."

"Oh please, you guys coming or what," I say.

"Chinell got me over here hungry, we'll be there."

"I cook last night, it's your turn," Chinell argues back.

"Ok, ok, I'm cooking, you're coming over to my place."

"I'll bring the wine," says Chinell,

"Done deal, now you two get off my phone, I have work to do."

"Yeh, yeh, bye," she says with a laugh.

"See you in a few," Kenny says. I say my goodbyes and cut the call, hanging up the phone.

I smile going back to the case in front of me, I begin to read through the material I couldn't seem to read through all day.

I have an important meeting just after lunch with a client and thankfully after that, I can make my way home.

Edward and I have been dating almost two years now, eighteen months to be exact and the lack of attention is getting to my head. Yeah, that must be the reason the handsome stranger keeps plaguing my mind. Right?

Right.

I should get back to work, I sigh pick up my pen and begin to work again.

After going over everything and making the necessary adjustments.

I remember when I was offered a position at Hamiltons Law firm right after my internship with a full benefits package and high paying income. It was my passion to be a family lawyer and it made my mother proud to have two of her children follow in dad's footsteps. He was a criminal defence attorney like my brother who follow his field.

Although my position at Hamilton is as an associate attorney I didn't complain because I did, however, handle family law by assisting in selecting juries, representing clients in court, helping clients negotiate contracts or settling corporate disputes. And it gives me a wide scope I need to be employed in different types of law, including corporate, real estate, family, and copyright cases practising across the board. However, my desire is family law. Before I graduated a year and a half ago I decided to work my way up taking every opportunity that presented itself.

I walk out of the meeting, look at my time 4:30 pm and it's time to get home. I am done for the day, I tilt my head and massage my neck back and shoulder.

"Hmm," I groan.

I get into my car and drive off. I stop at the store, pick up a few extra things I need to cook dinner and made my way home.

I change, wash my face and pull my hair up.

I walk back to the kitchen, wash my hand and unpack the stuff I purchased, placing the chicken in the sink.

About an hour and a half into cooking, I was almost through with only the chicken left to be smothered. I rush back upstairs, brush my teeth, shower and change into leggings and a black tank top.

My doorbell ring and I know it's my besties. I open my door "besties."

"Hi honey," Chinell says. I open the door wider and we greet each other.

"I hope you're finished cooking," Kenny says and I swear he's always hungry.

"I swear I don't feed you," Chinell rolls her eyes. I smile as Chinell kisses my cheeks and I return the same to the both of them as they walk into my living room.

Chinell and Kendrick have been my friends for years. Chinell is very dramatic, can be over the top and straightforward, we have been friends for years before I met Kenny. Chinell who I met in high school as a transfer student from Guyana and we gravitated quickly toward each other becoming best friends more like sisters, even though we are polar opposites. Kendrick, I met at Harvard Law freshman year in my government policies class and we've been inseparable ever since. All our free time use to be with each other, after graduation. We rented together but I moved and got my own apartment after I met Edward. Kenny and Chinell still live together but with Chinell's research, she is hardly ever there and Kendrick is a sports agent with his private practice.

I put the finishing touches on my chicken and made a plate for everyone. We sit around in the living room with glasses of wine and the radio low playing soft tunes and just talking. Catching up about work, celebs and anything and nothing really.

"Girl today my heart almost fall out my chest with the fine, fine ass man I saw at the grocery store when I was getting the wine," Chinell says.

Kenny rolls his eyes, snickers and I chuckle. We know how she gets when she sees a cute guy but actually never dates or pretty much has an interest in them. She gushes and gloats but that's as far as it goes.

"You should have taken his number and see what happens," Kenny says with a straight face to Chinell and we know how protective he can be of us. He's like the protective big brother, he stares at her then back at his food.

"Kenny you'll never guess who entered my office today," I say causing him to look at me.

"Who?"

"Jason Smith!"

"From the LA stallion."

I nod, "his agent screwing him left, right and centre."

"You gotta put me onto that."

"I told him I have a few recommendations but after I meet with his agent and the management team I will set a meeting if you're interested and he's ready to ditch the guy."

"If...you crazy. He was rookie of the year when he was drafted. Put me on the map with that one sign."

"Let's get the legal aspect cleared up and it's all you from there."

"I'll be waiting by the phone for that one."

"You know I got you, Yall just pray for me that I'm not too drained by the time I meet with management."

"Girl you need an orgasm, all that stress and tiredness be gone in a minute."

"Maybe if I knew what one felt like maybe I would agree."

"Girl that man still not making you break?"

"I'm not having this conversation with you two- I draw the line," Kenny says and the face he makes, made us laugh.

"Come on, you know that's indeed why she is so stressed and drained lately," Chinell says.

"We cum when we cum, we can't do more than that," he says taking a sip from his glass.

"Nobody is telling you to do more than that. Crap just make us come to shit," Chinell says.

"God I swear you two will never stop bickering," I say. They will fuss over everything and anything.

"Just face it... you need to break," she says looking at me.

"Let's move on please..." Kenny says exasperated.

"Please let her do... To better length," she says. I burst out laughing and Kendrick shakes his head. "I swear you need help," he says.

"What?" Chinell says oblivious.

I knew my people were the right people to call for a pick me up. We continue eating and talking and making jokes and of course, Chinell and Kendrick started another argument and I had to settle it.

Before we know it, it was midnight and we are full. They help me clean up a bit. If they didn't leave now we'd stay up all night as we did in college.

Chinell kisses my cheeks, "sleep good and don't be waiting up on that man."

"Now that I agree with you, get some sleep. We need you ready like the tigress you are to bring home Jason Smith."

Chinell rolls her eyes, "please I'm always right."

I chuckle, "bye Yall drive carefully." They weren't too fond of Edward and the way our relationship has taken a turn since his promotion.

I know how hard he worked to get to where he is and the level of sacrifice we made, we couldn't just sit back and relax, we needed to keep grinding.

But sometimes I just wish things were the way they were in the beginning.

But as usual, things always change.