Heart of Stone Emery and Jackson - Chiquita Dennie (summer reading list txt) 📗

WAKING UP WITH A HARD-on from dreaming about Emery and our last conversation, I needed to make sure her ex, wasn’t sniffing around her again. From the first moment I saw her in the restaurant wearing her hair up in a tight bun, with that beautiful smile, I knew I’d have her for myself. This thing between us always made me want to keep her with me. She was my peace on a crazy day.

I could see myself marrying and having kids with her someday. The media already had it out for me, Playboy Billionaire dating models and actresses. What they didn’t know was most of the women they saw with me half the time I didn’t sleep with. It was mostly for appearance. At the end of the day I was running a business, and if being seen in public with high profile women brought more attention and advertisers to our company,  then I needed to keep it up until Emery came around to the idea of us being together.

Turning over to turn off my alarm and check my phone for messages, I rose out of bed and pushed my erection down.

“Damn, I need to cut this meeting early.”

Hearing my phone go off, I check and see Brent texting a reminder about our three on three games this weekend. Replying that I’m down for the time, I send another text to Emery.

Me: Morning Beautiful

Sweetness: Morning Mr. Pierce.

Smirking at her using Mr. Piece again. I egg her on to see how far she’ll go with this.

Me: Send me a photo of you naked sweetness

Sweetness: Yes Sir

A picture comes through of her laying on the bed wearing nothing but heels and high waisted stockings.

“Shit.”

Me- Sweetness, be prepared for me to rip those stockings and clothes off you when I see you today. Oh, and you’re coming home with me today.

Sweetness-Yes Sir ;)

Saving the photo and shutting my phone off, I gather my clothes for the day and head to the shower.  Two hours later I walk into Brent’s office.

“What’s up, man?” Brent stepped from behind his desk and shook hands.

“Nothing much, you ready for this meeting today?” Brent sits back down and clicks on his intercom.

“Lisa, can you send in a cup of coffee for Jackson?”

“Is Emery here?”

“Why, please don’t tell me you’re trying to ask her out.”

“Actually, that’s-”

Lisa walks in with a cup of coffee, cream and sugar for me. Placing it on the counter, I thank her, and she walks back out.

“Listen, Jackson. Emery’s like a little sister to me. We both know how you are with women. You get bored quickly and move on to the next available—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence man. You know as well as I do that she’s special and I don’t need your permission.”

“You’re right, but if you hurt her, I will kick your ass. We’re boys, but Emery, Jordan, and Angela mean the world to me.”

“I get that, and before I ever come close to hurting her, I’d leave her alone first. So, can we get this meeting started? I have plans for Ms. Stone, and they don’t involve being stuck in a meeting all day.”

“Fine, let me check and see if Dominique’s set the conference room up. Did you check out the preliminary ads she sent over?”

“I did, they looked pretty good. We need to finalize some things, and we can go ahead with the posters and billboards.”

Brent picked some files up off his desk, turned the computer off and placed his jacket back on and led us out of his office.

“Great, then let’s get to the conference room.”

Brent passed his secretary the files.

“Lisa can you call and let Angela know I’m going to be running late for lunch.” Brent grabbed a mint off Lisa’s desk and popped it in his mouth and walked with me to the larger conference room.

Pulling the door open we notice some of my team and Brent’s already sitting and ready for the meeting. Glancing to the far end of the table, Emery’s leaning over some guy in a suit with a frown on her face. Feeling the possessiveness come over me, I start to walk up on the conversation when Brent grabs my elbow and motions over to two gentlemen standing with my company logo shirts on.

“Jackson, I want you to meet Cody and Danny. They’re handling the merchandising department and started with a few mock-up shirts for you to test out.” Brent gestured for them to pass around the sample materials to the entire room.

“These look great Brent, did you use the material from a local factory,” I asked while looking over Cody’s shoulder at Emery and Dominique talking in the corner. She must have felt my presence because she looked over at me and smiled. I smiled back and brought my attention back to Cody.

“Did you hear me?”

“I’m sorry what?” I placed the shirt down on the table and picked up the file folder with the presentation paperwork.

“If you weren’t so distracted by Emery, you would have heard me say we used a local business to create the shirts and they’re giving us a deal if you want to go with them for everything from shorts, hats, and socks to calendars and bookmarks.” Brent chuckled, and I waved him off and walked around to sit next to Emery.

“Alright, ladies let’s get this meeting started so Mr. Pierce can get back to his busy day,” Brent joked and sat across from me as I glared at his remarks with narrowing eyes.

“Dominique, we’re ready.”

“Thanks, Brent, Mr. Pierce, again it’s a pleasure to work on this project for you. I’m a huge fan of your work.” Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Emery rolling her eyes at Dominique kissing up to me. What she doesn’t get is that I only have eyes for one woman and that’s her.

“Thanks, Dominique, I appreciate the support. But you really should thank your boss. Brent strong-armed me into doing business with him, and he picked you and Emery. I guess your work speaks for itself.” She nodded and started the presentation. Two hours later everyone shook hands, and my team signed off on the last-minute details as Emery was packing up her paperwork.

“You look lovely today, sweetness,” I whispered lowly into her ear. Not caring if anyone sees me. Raising a hand, I gently caress her arm, and she moves away from my touch.

“Not here Jackson,” Emery replied in aggravation and walked away from me.

Shaking hands with Brent and my team, I move to walk out of the office to catch up with Emery. Before I could get out, Dominique blocks me from leaving.

“Thank you again for letting me lead on this project Jackson.” Dominique steps closer into my space and seductively runs her hand down my chest.

“You’re welcome; I need to go take care of something. If you have any questions, you can talk with my lead counselor Gregory.” I try to step around her, and she jumps back in front of me as I notice Emery leaving out of her office.

“We should celebrate with dinner. I know this cool place around where I live.” Dominique pushes her breasts up against my chest. I step back not wanting anyone to think we have something going on especially if it got back to Emery.

“Sorry, I don’t date,” I respond and move her hand away from my arm and walk toward the elevator. Seeing the door close right when I get close, I walk toward her secretary’s desk to find out her schedule for the day.

“Is Emery going to be gone for the rest of the day?”

“Yes sir, she had a family emergency. I can take a message and have her call you back.

“I’ll catch her at another time. Thanks anyway,” I reply and leave to catch up with Brent.

...

Thirty minutes later we’re sitting in the restaurant where I met Emery eating lunch with Brent, Angela, and Dominique. How she invited herself I have no clue. Someone should tell her about wearing loud, strong perfume from Elisabeth Arden.  It’s  making me nauseous.

“Are you enjoying your steak, Jackson?” Dominique asks, and Angela furrowed her brows in annoyance.

“It’s fine. How’s your salad?”

“Dry like her personality,” Angela muttered under her breath. Brent nudged her to be quiet, and I tried to hold in my laugh and take a sip of my water.

“Excuse the help, Jackson. Brent’s often trying to refine his side pieces by taking them out to nice restaurants. But as you can see, she still has no class,” Dominique responded and rolled her eyes as Angela tried to lunge at her as Brent pulled her back.

“Bitch! I’ll show you, class. At least I can keep a man,” Angela grumbled and picked her fork back up to continue eating her pasta salad.

“Ladies can we please have one meal with no craziness. We just signed an amazing deal that’s going to take Jackson and my company to the next level. Babe if you were going to act like this you could have stayed at the shop.” Brent pulled his wallet out of his pocket and placed a fifty-dollar bill down on the table.

He nudged Angela to get up, and she wouldn’t move. Seeing the relationship, they’ve built over the past five years has me contemplating at times if Emery and I could get to that place. At times I could sense the hurt and pain from her ex.

“Let us go, I have an early meeting to get back for at my office. Get your food to go.” Brent leaned over and shook my hand and answered his ringing phone. Angela flipped Dominique off while Brent was distracted by a call. I held Dominique back from getting out of the booth. Finally, Brent turns around and grabs Angela by the waist and we both gesture with a nod to see each other later.

“I really can’t stand her,” Dominique mumbled under her breath as she poured another glass of wine.

“What time do you need to be back to the office?” I asked Dominique as I stood to leave out of the restaurant and grab my driver to locate Emery.

“I can take the rest of the day off, what did you have in mind?” Dominique responded as she licked her lips and moved in closing the space between us.

Taking a step back, I looked around the room hoping paparazzi left before catching any innocent flirtation and think she’s my new fling.

“You know what, I have a meeting I need to get to, do you need a ride back to your office or—”

“What does she have that I don’t, because from what I’m seeing, you’d be upgrading with me on your arm. Just think about it, Mr. Pierce.” Dominique pats my chest and tightens my tie and leans on her tippy toes to kiss my cheek. Watching as she bends over and grabs her coat and purse, I can’t help but notice through the outline of her skirt she’s not wearing any underwear.

Smirking in