“It’s just sleeping with China has you all messed up. You didn’t realize how deep your feelings went and now she is acting as if it didn’t even matter...that you don’t matter.”
Alexander turned to face his brother. “Damn, man, you sound like you were there.”
Brice dropped his head for several moments before he lifted it to meet his brother’s inquisitive gaze. “I have been there. Hell, I’m still there...remember.”
“Sorry, man. I keep forgetting.” Alexander could see the pain in his brother’s eyes.
“Wish I could. Enough about my failed marriage and pending divorce, that’s another story. The question is, what do you want? No disrespect, A, but China’s not really your type.”
Alexander’s brows knitted together. “What do you mean?”
“Her beauty isn’t in question, and when it comes to business, she’s you but in a nicer suit. Now, while your women are notably striking and smart, they’re also temporary. We all know China’s looking for more. She doesn’t want to be another conquest.”
“But she’s not.”
“How does she know that? Remember who we’re talking about. China knows you—hell, she knows all of us as well as we know each other,” Brice reminded his brother, shaking his head; China was family to them all.
Alexander nodded. “True. So what do I do?”
“What do you want...really?”
“I don’t know yet. I guess I wanted a chance to figure that out,” Alexander admitted.
“Well, she’s told you what she wants.” Brice shrugged. “Give it to her.”
“What?” Alexander frowned.
“Keep being her best friend—”
“But—”
“Let me finish.” Brice sat forward in his chair. “What’s the best part of your relationship?”
Several big and small moments he’d spent with China flashed through his mind and he couldn’t help but smile. Alexander sighed. “She gets me. We just have fun together.”
“Then keep doing that. Show her that the sex hasn’t changed anything,” he offered.
“But it has.”
Brice nodded. “And it has for her, too. Just make it easy for her to admit it to herself.”
“What if that doesn’t work?” Alexander’s heart started racing, and his hands fisted on the desk.
“You’ll still have your friend. More importantly, you have got to keep that possessive behavior thing you got going on right now under control.”
“You’re right. Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.” Brice walked to the door. “Besides, I wasn’t looking forward to explaining to our mother why I had to beat you down in your own office.”
Alexander reared back in his chair, clapped his hands and laughed. “Now you got jokes.”
After his brother left, Alexander turned in his chair and stared at the photo of himself and China. “This isn’t over...far from it.” Alexander’s cell phone rang and he viewed the screen, thinking it had to be China finally calling him back, only to be disappointed. He sent the caller to voice mail. The beautiful face that appeared on his phone was an unwanted interruption.
He stood and headed for the door.
Alexander walked into the windowless executive conference room to find China standing across the room, next to his mother and cousin Kristen; they appeared to be deep in conversation. The blue suit and stiletto heels China wore showcased her body perfectly, and Alexander was having a hard time keeping his eyes away from parts of her body that his body desperately wanted to revisit.
Alexander started to make his way over to China, but stopped when he felt a slap on his back. “Nice job at the press conference, big bro,” Brice said, entering the conference room.
“Great job, A,” Morgan seconded, following Brice.
“Thanks,” Alexander replied with a nod.
“Oh, good, everyone’s here.” Victoria walked up to her children with her arms extended and offered her cheek for a more appropriate greeting. All three hugged and kissed their mother before taking seats at the six-seat oval mahogany table with red-leather wingback chairs around it. China stood in the corner of the room, next to a full glass bar, holding a tablet at her chest.
Victoria reached for one of the bottles of water that had been placed in the center of the table. She cracked the seal, sat in the chair at the head of the table and said, “Before China brings us up to speed on the EPA’s claim and our response, I’d like to take a moment to salute the excellent job everyone did at the press conference.” Victoria’s eyes scanned the room. “I know we’re in for a difficult few months, but I think getting out in front of these ridiculous accusations and proclaiming our innocence, promising to get to the bottom of these unsubstantiated charges, was the only way to control the story. Now, China, please tell us where we are on our response to the EPA.”
“Yes, Victoria.” China moved closer to the table, where she and Alexander reached at the same time for a controller that sat at the end of the table. His hand grazed the top of hers and their eyes met. China quickly pulled her hand back. “Sorry,” she said, breaking eye contact.
“No problem.” Alexander picked up the remote and handed it to her.
“Thanks...”
China hit a button and a large, wall-mounted mirror transformed into a television screen. She sat her tablet upright on the table and ran her hands over the keys. The dancing cats that had been jumping around the screen of the tablet suddenly appeared on the television screen and laughter broke out in the room.
“You choose dancing cats as your screensaver? I thought you didn’t like cats,” Brice said.
“She loves them—she’s just allergic to most of them,” Alexander explained, giving China a small wink.
“Enough. China...” Victoria rolled her hand, instructing China to proceed. It was like she was a queen waving to her subjects.
“Sorry about that.” China hit a couple more keys and a presentation appeared on the screen. “Let’s go through the filing.” China picked up a laser pointer. “I’d like to highlight a few things for everyone.”
Alexander sat back in his chair and watched China brief the family on her current findings, the initial game plan and a strict time schedule for when the official responses to the EPA claims were due, important information that he couldn’t seem to concentrate on. All he could think about was the slight sway of her hips as she walked around the room, gesturing toward the screen. The cute way her brow furrowed when she explained key details that she found troubling or confusing and the sexy way her lips curved up when she laughed. Alexander had always loved China’s laugh. He thought about the first time he’d heard it.
* * *
Alexander stood in line at his favorite soul-food restaurant down the street from his law school. He was reading through his emails when he heard hysterical laughter that ended with a snort. He looked around to find that it was coming from a pretty young woman without a bit of makeup on her face, wearing a white Harvard Law T-shirt, jean shorts and tennis shoes, and with her hair pulled up in a high, messy ponytail. She was holding two large books from the law library. Alexander recognized the big red sticker that ran across their spines.
“Those aren’t supposed to