One Night With Mr Braxton

Emma and Chara were directed by an agent into the property that was up for rent. Emma was all smiles as she took in the place, already thinking out the perfect ways she could remodel it and turn it into the birthplace of her soon-to-be established company- Soul Shoes.

Chara, once again, outdid herself. Emma couldn’t help but notice the amount of thought and work that went into the properties selected for her viewing. So far, they’d gone to two places, which were honestly quite attractive but it was clear they’d saved the best for last.

” I love it! I love love love it!” Emma expressed unashamedly,

” I had a feeling you would.” Chara said softly, already blushing.

” You, my dear, are a life saver. I don’t deserve this.” She said, looking around the place.

Emma was big on connection. She knew when she set out on this journey that the place her company would be born must be a place that her soul felt a connection with. If there was something she learned from her mother long years ago, It was that in order to raise a company- one that you love- you needed to have a connection, not just passion for the job, but a relationship even with the place.

That was the key to returning, day after day, even when things got tough, due to your connection, love and passion, it becomes physically impossible to be seperated from it. She didn’t just want a place to get the job done, she wanted to grow a family; One that bonded with love and dedication to the company and its products.

Before that journey starts, she needed the best environment to facilitate the family she was building. Everything was important, just the way every worker will be important, as well as every soul who would in one way or the other, contact or patronize them.

The block was in a working environment, with just the right amount of sunlight, nature and peace. All of which were necessary for what she intended to create. To add to that, the space was large; large enough to host a pack of employees in a comfortable yet cozy way.

She could already picture a bunch of individuals, getting to know themselves, getting a round of drinks after work hours and becoming best friends. Was she stretching this a bit too much? Yes. That didn’t stop her wild imaginations though.

” Seeing that you are in love with the place, shall I commence preparing the papers?” The agent asked, to which she replied with an enthusiastic nod.

Soon enough, the papers were signed and she became the new owner of the property for the next two years. Emma walked with a satisfied look on her face while she chatted with Chara on how awesome the company would look. Lost in the conversation, she bumped into someone and almost lost her footing.

” I’m so sorry!” Chara and Emma chorused at the same time. Both looking apologetic.

” It’s alright, wipe that look off your faces.” His deep voice said, surprising the ladies. ” What were you chatting about? You seemed so excited.” He said again, this time, with a seep of friendliness in his tone.

” I’m sorry. I was too excited.” Emma spoke this time around, ” I just got the place and It’s perfect.” She swooned, almost forgetting she was talking to a stranger.

” That means you are my neighbour. Nice to meet you too, I’m Kaden.” He stretched his hand, going in for a formal introduction.

Emma laughed, ” I believe the phrase is, nice to meet you. I’m Emma.” She shook his hand.

” Emma… I love the sound of your name. Tell me, what do you intend to turn the place into?” He asked, sizing her over.

She cleared her throat, ” First, I’m married. Secondly, Why don’t you wait and see for yourself? Have a great day, Kaden.” She ended their conversation, walking away with a smile before he could come up with something else.

Truthfully, Kaden was far from bad looking. Matter-of-fact, he was eye candy; Just not her kind of eye candy. She didn’t know why but the moment she sensed some flirting, It felt all shades of wrong. All she could think about was her husband- ahem- fake husband. She couldn’t quite place her fingers on why and relegated it to the back burners of her mind.

They got to where the car was parked with Benny, on their way back, they stopped for a celebratory drink before returning home.

*****

Asher was seated in his office when Jason barged in.

” Come in, Jason.” He muttered with a pointed look.

” Oh come on! Not you too. This is my office as well as yours.” He preached, ” Just wanted to inform you about a package. It was addressed to your office from the Netherlands.”

” Tell them to bring it in.”

” What’s inside? I had it sent to the house.” Jason picked up a file from the desk.

” Good.” Asher hit his hand, forcing him to drop it.

” Hey! What’s that for?”

” Mind your business.” He got up and adjusted his tie.

” Where are you off to? You still didn’t tell me what’s inside the package.” He sulked, looking him over.

Asher looked at his rolex watch, ignoring the hell out of him.

” Is that how it is? What? Is it a present for your wife? Something kinky?”

” I said, Mind. Your. Business.” He growled, annunciating every word. ” Don’t you have something to do?”

” Screw Bianca. But she’s not readily available.” He said flippantly.

Asher gritted, ” Too much information. That’s my sister.”

” And my wife.”

Refusing to continue their pointless banter, Asher headed out of the office. He might as well dip out early, rather than be subjected to the cruelty that was Jason. The package was important after all.

Jason followed suit, ranting as he went. There was no sweeter pass time than making Asher tick- the good kind of tick anyway.

” Since we’re keeping secrets now, I guess I’m not obligated to update you on what your wife’s been up to lately.” He spoke while they sped through the city.

” Spill.” It wasn’t a request, but an order.

Jason tutted, ” You are no fun.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

” Never claimed to be. Spill.” He reiterated.

” They got a place. A rented space for commercial purpose. If you’d paid attention to the notes I sent you, you’d know that she is on her way to establishing a business.” He ranted, ” Chara’s doing a great job and so far, she has great prospects.”

Asher grunted, no doubt he was proud of his wife’s approach to life. Everything suddenly made sense- why she needed time to be exposed as his wife- Apparently, she is on a mission to build herself a kingdom of her own. Outside their marriage. It brought a bittersweet taste in his mouth.

” Where are they now?”

” I thought you’d never ask, they are headed home.” Jason answered, mindlessly browsing through his phone. ” Maybe you need to buy her something. A gift perhaps?”

Asher nodded in agreement. He planned to gift his wife, pull some sort of stunt as a wedding gift to her and he’d found the perfect thing on his brief trip. But seeing her latest feat, he was determined to do something more special. They arrived in the house and in milliseconds, Jason was out of the car and headed towards his Four year old son.

He took up Rooney in a big embrace and without as much as a glance back, they headed inside the building while Asher stayed back, making some calls before entering.

*****

Emma laid on her matrimonial bed, laptop opened with a glass on. After signing off on the deeds to the property, she was even more desperate to get her little studio spot; Seeing Chara’s delivery on the job gave her a kick in the butt to finding her own artistic space.

Of course she had her office in the soon-to-be Soul Shoes building, but she wanted an anonymous place she could create her pieces without fear of being betrayed or stolen from. She knew first hand how dangerous it is to trust people, especially with precious things; To save herself from the possible heartache and pain that could come, she decided to handle everything relating to the making and storage of her craft first-hand.

So far, nothing screamed or evoked some kind of connection or prospective traits in the places she saw. The fact she knew almost nothing when it came to housing and real estate didn’t make things easier. It was a real bummer. She had to seek knowledge in the area which was torturing to navigate.

Emma was so deep she didn’t notice Asher walk in until he towered over her. ” What are you doing?” His gruff voice shocked, as well as evoked a spark in her system.

Realizing what she was doing, she shut the screen of the laptop immediately, then muttered a pregnant- ” Nothing.”

Asher looked her over, noticing her fleshy legs. Emma blushed hard, leave it to her to forget she shared a room with her husband. Shyly, she gathered the blanket, awkwardly covering herself.

” Get dressed. We are going out.” Asher choked out, then left the room.