Ameer (The Brothers Ali Book 5) Read online

  “I did see the brochure,” Siobhan replied, her eyes briefly traveling to the table where the information had been before returning her attention to Ameer.

  “Isn’t he a little young for that?” She asked.

  “No, not particularly,” Ameer clarified. “The program is available to all grade levels. A smart young king like your son would be a great match.”

  “I heard you refer to him that way before,” Siobhan simpered. “I call him young king, too.”

  “I noticed,” Ameer affirmed, glancing down at their still clasped hands, before lifting his eyes to find hers again.

  “Oh,” Siobhan flushed as their continued contact was brought to her attention. She hadn’t even thought about the fact that she was still holding this man’s hand. It felt so comfortable, so natural.

  “No,” Ameer smiled, “no need to pull away.”

  He gently reasserted the hold he had on her hand, emphasizing their connectivity. Siobhan was surprised by her response. She had no desire to disconnect from him physically.

  “I won’t,” she hummed. An undeniable magnetism was building between them, evidenced by their obvious, mutual entrancement.

  “So,” Siobhan began feeling a flutter emerging in the base of her belly. “Messiah and I will take a look at the engineering program. If he’s interested, what should we do?”

  “Well,” Ameer replied, “ordinarily, I would suggest that you fill out the online form so your son could get started. But nothing about this feels ordinary.”

  A strange, faintly eager light flashed in his anthracite eyes that didn’t go unseen by Siobhan.

  “So, what should we do?” Siobhan inquired, her perfectly arched brow pitching just a little.

  “Call me,” Ameer chortled, an irresistibly devastating smile curving his full lips as his coal-black eyes came coaxingly down to study her exquisite face.

  Siobhan's’ delicate free hand lifted in an attempt to cover the rush of color to her cheeks and the infectious smile that penetrated her lips, lowering her head to shield her responsiveness further. Siobhan suddenly felt her pulses leap with excitement that wasn’t quickly quelled. When she finally lifted up, inclining herself to him, she tried to quiet the skittering feelings, but Ameer held her eyes. Slowly, Ameer reached up and gently lowered Siobhan’s hand that once covered her mouth. She couldn’t hide the blush that, like a shadow, ran over her cheeks. Ameer was surprised by his own ardent awareness of her, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from inclining himself, bending down, to regain her eyes.

  “I don’t have your number,” Siobhan hummed as she dared to return his penetrating gaze.

  “Then, let’s take care of that,” Ameer suggested.

  For the first time since they’d been talking, they disconnected long enough for Siobhan to retrieve her cellphone. He watched her as she moved, keenly observing her natural grace. And when she returned to him, Ameer felt her essence in his space. Siobhan handed Ameer her phone, feeling his fingers lingering on hers before he typed in the number.

  “What should I save it under?” Ameer entreated; the sexy suggestibility of his inquiry noticed by Siobhan.

  She reached for her phone, easing it from his hand.

  “I’ll take care of that part.”

  They didn’t need to say more. Siobhan cupped her phone in both hands as she twirled on her heels and sauntered away. Ameer watched her every move, his appreciative eyes traveling the full length of her. It was only when he couldn’t see her anymore did Ameer turn away, nodding his head affirmatively as an unconscious smile eased across his lips.

  Chapter Six

  She wasn’t in their line of sight, but that didn’t mean Cheri didn’t see the horrifying exchange between Ameer and that woman.

  That woman, Cheri, seethed between clenched teeth and thoughts. What was so fucking special about her? Cheri watched her from the moment Ameer’s attention put her on the radar. She even bothered to ask the woman her name, so she had a point of reference. That made it more personal, more specific.

  “What’s your name again?” Cheri had asked, paining to affix a pleasant smile on her face.

  “Siobhan, and yours?” She asked.

  “Like, Shavaughn?” Cheri questioned, spelling the name the way she heard it.

  “No, it’s Siobhan,” she answered, spelling it out for clarity.

  Cheri repeated the spelling in her head, her eyes rolling to the top as she considered. “That spells Sioban, she articulated like she heard it.”

  “I know,” Siobhan smiled. “You can credit my parents for that one,” Siobhan laughed. “It means God’s grace.”

  “Ahhh, God’s grace, huh,” Cheri echoed.

  “Yes,” Siobhan smiled. “So, what was your name again?”

  “Cheri,” she said fancily. “C – h – e – r – i.”

  It means I’ll beat your ass, she thought internally.

  “Well, it is very nice to meet you, Cheri,” Siobhan replied, extending her hand politely.

  Cheri didn’t intend to draw back from her gesture, but she had to force herself to shake the woman’s hand. She didn’t want to touch her, but she didn’t want to seem rude in front of other people. Geneva was there, and she was always watching. Cheri always wanted to be on Geneva’s good side. Cheri reluctantly shook Siobhan’s hand curt and quick. As they continued to work in close proximity, Cheri had to know more about her.

  “So, how do you know Mr. Ali?” Cheri asked, making sure to keep herself busy, so her inquisition didn’t seem obvious.

  “I don’t,” Siobhan answered, also busy setting up.

  That’s not how it looked to me, Cheri mused.

  “I just met him today,” she answered.

  “Oh,” Cheri muttered. “You just decided to volunteer today?”

  “Yes,” Siobhan smiled. “My son goes to school here, so I thought, why not help out, you know?”

  “Your son? You have a child?” Cheri probed as politely as she could.

  “Yes, Messiah, he’s in the first grade,” Siobhan grinned.

  Well, ain’t that special.

  “Nice,” is what Cheri uttered aloud.

  She thought about her earlier conversation with Siobhan, Shevaun, or whatever the hell her name was as she watched their interaction after everything was done. Why was she even hanging around? The shit was over. Why was she still there? The more she saw the two of them together, the more Cheri’s eyes narrowed, and her heart hurt. They didn’t act like they didn’t know each other, the way she touched him, the way she looked at him.

  “Lying bitch,” Cheri mumbled, the muscle in her jaw flexing as she clamped her teeth tightly together.

  At one point, Cheri saw Ameer smiling, even laughing. It’s not that she’d never seen it before from him, but never quite like that, and never in response to her. Cheri had only had the benefit of seeing Ameer at work in professional mode, mostly serious and focused. Yet, watching him with that woman, he seemed so at ease, relaxed, and like he actually enjoyed talking to her. He wasn’t rushing away to get to the next meeting or brushing her off like she was bothering him, nothing. He looked happy. The few moments Ameer spent his time with that lady felt like painstaking hours to Cheri. When she walked away, Cheri felt relieved like maybe their torturing entanglement was finally over. Her choppy breathing started to subside, and the venomous adrenaline that scorched through her veins started to wane. But the wench didn’t stay gone. She doubled back with her phone. Cheri was incensed, glaring at Siobhan with burning reproachful eyes, her fury nearly choked her. When that wretch of a woman handed Ameer her phone, Cheri’s expression clouded in anger. Her hands tightened into soundly clutched fists by her sides. Ooh, she wanted to storm up to them so bad and break that shit up. Seeing Ameer with her was eating Cheri alive. Nevertheless, she held her peace as best she could. But she didn’t know how much more she could take. The feeling of relief that washed over Cheri when that woman left Ameer’s presence was what she needed before she blew
a damn gasket.

  Yet, Cheri knew she couldn’t approach him that way. She had to pull herself all the way together and not let the negativity of that other person ruin another chance encounter with Ameer. Cheri opened her mouth, inhaling deeply, filling her lungs to capacity before allowing herself to exhale. Closing her eyes, Cheri waved her hands down the length of her frame, expelling any bad juju from what she witnessed. When she opened her eyes, Cheri saw Ameer strolling towards the exit. She quick-stepped to catch up with him, but she didn’t make it obvious she was chasing him down; at least Cheri hoped she didn’t. She slowed her pace just in time to fall in step with him.

  “The event went so good,” Cheri bubbled as she looked up, trying to connect with his eyes. All she had was his peripheral vision, but at the moment, Cheri would settle for that.

  “It was good,” Ameer affirmed as he stepped off the curb towards his car.

  “I’m just so happy I was able to be a part of it, you know?” Cheri oozed, taking her chance by not so accidentally grabbing his arm. Ameer felt the unwarranted touch, his brow slightly furrowing. He didn’t alter his pace, though, and eventually, she released him. When Ameer made it to the driver’s side door, he paused long enough to click the key fob and unlock the doors.

  “Thanks for helping out today,” Ameer smiled.

  Cheri slow walked to the driver’s side, putting on her sexiest stroll and her most alluring smile.

  “Anytime, Mr. Ali,” she trilled. “Anytime.”

  Cheri knew she was risking a lot, allowing a glimpse of her feelings to show. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and she felt desperate. She wanted the last feminine energy Ameer felt to be her energy, not that other lady’s.

  When Ameer opened his car door, Cheri stepped back only far enough to allow the door to open fully. She watched him lower his lengthy frame into the car and close the door. Cheri continued to watch until his vehicle faded from view.

  That night, Cheri ruminated over what happened, scowling at the woman. But she didn’t allow her thoughts to linger on the negative. She had a much more positive visual, the one she made happen despite everything else, despite her intrusion, despite that woman’s presence. That touch, that one touch with Ameer, was everything. It only made Cheri crave him even more. She knew she could be good for Ameer, the best thing that ever happened to him if she only had the chance. And maybe, he felt what she felt when their bodies connected, when she lovingly touched his arm. Maybe he felt the spark of magic she felt. Cheri was confident she left a positive memory with Ameer; one he would cherish as much as she did.

  That night, another person thought about Ameer, but Siobhan’s thoughts were quite unexpected. Never had she imagined that volunteering at her son’s school would lead to such an incredibly delightful encounter. She found herself flushing even at the remembrance of him, recalling the hint of attraction that surprised yet thrilled her. Siobhan couldn’t even remember the last time she had an inkling of that kind of feeling. When Messiah came along, her sole focus was him. She had to be there for him, she wanted to. Anything and everything, anyone and everyone that could keep her from fulfilling her promise to be there for Messiah ceased to be a part of her life. There were no new masculine encounters for Siobhan, intentional or otherwise. She didn’t even let herself see potentiality in any man that approached her. She didn’t have room in her life for any man, other than Messiah – even if he was her little man. It was the first time Siobhan had another man on her mind, and she wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.

  As if her thoughts could travel miles, Ameer thought of Siobhan fondly. It was the first in a long time for him, too, thinking about a woman that he found interesting. Although he didn’t think it willful, Ameer hadn’t had a relationship in a few years. He dated periodically, yet, he never connected with a woman on a level that he thought about her long after their initial encounter. But this woman, Siobhan, she was different. There was something about her that struck a chord deep inside Ameer that was unexplainable. The mere fact that he smiled just thinking about her spoke volumes to Ameer, especially after only meeting her once. But that didn’t mean he stopped thinking about her.

  Chapter Seven

  Cheri was excited to get to work Monday morning. Not only did she have a close encounter of the personal kind with Mr. Ameer on Friday, Cheri knew she would see him again today. That made coming to work all worth it, getting an opportunity to see, and maybe even spend some time with Ameer. That might not be what Ameer was thinking, but it was definitely what Cheri was thinking. She entered the executive suite. In a lot of ways, Ameer was a creature of habit. If he was in the country, he arrived at the office practically the same time every day. All she needed was a quick chance to say good morning before he got his day started. That would set Cheri on the path to having an exceptional day herself. When Cheri entered the suite, she fully expected to see Geneva at her desk like she always was.

  Cheri’s spry step stuttered. Geneva wasn’t there. Some other woman was - a younger, much prettier woman. Cheri regained her composure and strolled determinedly towards the desk.

  “Morning,” she greeted directly. Cheri studied the woman’s profile but didn’t recognize her.

  “Good morning, how may I help you?”

  Cheri looked over her but didn’t see a name tag. Her eyes trailed to the desk. She had her nameplate there, Shannon Young.

  “So, Shannon, where’s Geneva?”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, I can’t divulge that information. Is there something I can help you with?” Shannon asked politely.

  Ma’am? Cheri thought. Seriously?”

  “Oh, forgive me, Shannon,” Cheri chimed. “Forgot my ID badge in my purse.”

  Shannon waited patiently while the woman dug in her bag.

  “See,” Cheri said, practically shoving the badge in Shannon’s face. “I work here. “

  “Oh, okay,” Shannon countered pleasantly. “Is there something I can do for you?”

  “Yes,” Cheri replied. “I asked about Geneva.”

  “She’s out.”

  “Just for today?” Cheri pressed.

  Shannon’s brow furrowed slightly from the barrage of questions.

  “I’ll be with Mr. Ali for the week,” she clarified.

  “Oh…” Cheri seemed genuinely stunned by the information. She wasn’t quite sure what to say next. “Well, then, it was nice to meet you, Shannon.”

  Cheri didn’t wait for a response. She didn’t even hang around to watch Ameer get off the elevator. Her steps were swift as she made her way down the hall towards the secretarial pool. When she reached the glass door to their suite, Cheri swung it open widely, nearly causing glass to strike glass. Her footsteps in her kitten heels were heavy as she stormed down the hallway. There was one person, in particular, she was looking for, and Cheri didn’t immediately see her. Cheri’s head was on a swivel as she looked from one side of the long hallway to the other, trying to find the one person who could answer her questions. And they needed answering post haste. She peered into the breakroom and saw her intended target.

  “Dorothy,” Cheri bellowed loud enough to startle the woman who physically jumped at the vocal disturbance. She spun on her heels in response.

  “Good morning to you, too, Cheri,” Dorothy scoffed, stirring the coffee in her mug. “Dorothy,” Cheri began, discounting the snipe she heard in her supervisor’s voice.

  “Yes, Cheri?”

  She stepped forward, closing the gap between herself and her boss. Cheri’s steps were measured and methodical as her laser-focused gaze found Dorothy’s eyes.

  “Did you know anything about Geneva being gone for a week?”

  “Of course, I did,” Dorothy replied. “But you already knew that, Cheri. That’s why you’re here.”

  Know it all ass, Cheri scoffed internally.

  “So, since you know every damn thing, why wasn’t I assigned to Ameer, I mean, Mr. Ali in Geneva’s absence?”

  Dorot
hy didn’t miss Cheri authoritatively folding her arms under her ample chest nor the shift of her weight from one foot to the other.

  “First of all, Cheri, no administrative decision needs to be justified to you,” Dorothy replied. “Secondly,” Dorothy intentionally, lazily, and overtly dragged her eyes the length of her employee. “Do I even need to say more?”

  Cheri did not appreciate the way Dorothy looked at her, especially since Dorothy was the epitome of cardigan over ruffled blouse, tucked in A-line skirt, with hose two shades too light and sensible shoes that were completely lackluster, pressed hair pulled back snugly into an add on bun, and Mary Kay lipstick from the late 1990’s that she continued to wear like thick matte lipstick never went out of style. Cheri didn’t appreciate the look. More than that, she didn’t appreciate Dorothy pulling a power move just because she was the supervisor.

  “Well, at least you can tell me where that other woman came from?” Cheri insisted. “At least you can tell me that.” Consciously, Cheri tried to ease her posture, unfolding her arms, and restraining from her impatience, manifesting by her foot rapidly tapping the floor. It was hard to focus on trying to be nice, manufacturing a pleasant smile for Dorothy when all she really wanted to do was-

  Breathe, girl, Cheri encouraged herself, halting her other thoughts.

  “Not that I owe you any kind of explanation,” Dorothy began. “But, clearly, you’re not going to stop.” Dorothy’s agitation showed, yet Cheri didn’t care. She needed answers. “The young lady working for Mr. Ali this week was secured from one of the other executive’s secretarial pool. Satisfied?”

  Not particularly. It wasn’t a satisfactory answer and not at all what Cheri wanted to hear, but she knew she couldn’t keep pressing Dorothy, or she might find a reason to transfer her out.

  “Thanks, Dorothy,” Cheri mumbled behind a fictitious smile.

  Her steps weren’t any softer when Cheri spun on her kitten heels and walked towards her desk. She was still pissed and unhappy with the entire situation. As Cheri sat down, slamming her purse hard on the desk to the point that a few of the other secretaries turned and looked in her direction, she had to figure out how she was going to handle it.