“Can I set up a time to come and look the gorillas over, observe them to see if they’re fit for our program? I’m sure they will be. I would just like to see them firsthand.” He chuckles and I give a half-laugh, standing to relieve my nerves.
“Yes, that would be terrific,” I respond. “Next week sound okay to you?” I’m not sure if I’m free next week, but I can shuffle some things around if I need to. Since Father’s death, Roman and I pretty much run things together.
“Great. If you want to email me the directions and any information regarding Jaheem and Ebele, that would be great.”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’ll see you next week then, Mr. Blackwell.”
“See you then.” I hang up, my back sweating. I’ve been trying to get them into one of these programs for what seems like forever. It’s not that I won’t miss them, because I will. I grew up running out to their cage and seeing them. But they deserve to be free, to be animals. Not prisoners.
The door opens and shuts to my office, catching my attention.
Charlie walks in wearing a long, sexy-as-hell black dress, her dark hair is let down and curling at the ends. When I was younger, my mother would dress in a black dress before she worked the estate. When I asked her about it, she furrowed her brows and said, “Every woman deserves a little black dress, Landon.” Then she smirked and ruffled my hair. “Don’t forget that, son.”
“Have I said how sexy you look in black?” I smile wolfishly. Charlie’s cheeks flush as she strides over to my desk. My cock grows in my slacks with the need to take her again. “We just got Jaheem and Ebele a home into a nice reserve, I think,” I inform her with a big smile.
“Really?” Charlie lights up. She smiles and looks off. “That’s crazy.”
I lift a brow, curious at what she’s thinking in that head of hers. “Why’s that?”
“They’re free, we’re free. It’s just an odd coincidence.” I nod and smile, noticing she has her hand behind her back and a mischievous smile playing her face. I cock my head to the side, curious what she’s up to.
“What?” I ask with a laugh.
She pulls her arm out and shoves her hand in my face as she squeals in excitement. I pull my face back to look at what she has in her hand to find a picture of some sort. I take it from her, and examine it. It’s an ultrasound image. I forgot for a moment about her being with the doctor I was so excited about finding Jaheem and Ebele a home.
“Really?” I look at her with surprise.
“Mmhhm.” She nods. “We didn’t lose the baby!” I stand from my desk and make my way to her, pulling her into my arms. “I can’t believe it. I surely thought we had lost it,” she mutters into the crook of my neck. I scoff.
“Must be a boy then, tough like his dad.” She rolls her eyes and slaps at my chest. I slide my hand along her abdomen, and smirk. “A Blackwell and an Evans, imagine that,” I mutter. Relief floods my senses that we didn’t lose it, that Charlie and I created something precious out of an act of love rather than creating chaos and damage in our wake. This baby is a start to a new chapter in mine and Charlie’s life. He or she stands for something memorable.
Charlie beams with happiness as she watches my hand caress her belly.
“Imagine that,” she repeats. “We actually did something right for a change, and it happened when we weren’t even trying,” she giggles. I shake my head, and pull my hand away. Trying to get a hold of my emotions.
“How’s your first day going as the Madam?” I ask, trailing my fingers up her spine. Making Charlie the Madam was the best decision I ever made. She’s perfect for the girls. Hearing the news, Veronica got pissed and left. I can honestly say things between the girls have become a lot less catty since her departure.
“Jayden is not taking the team cleaning her up well, and Roman is pacing outside the door like a dog in heat waiting for her. I just…” She closes her eyes. “I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do,” she huffs, sitting at my desk. It took some threatening and cash to get Jayden from Mick, but in the end, it was all worth it. Charlie seems much happier that Jayden is here. I offered Jayden a position to help Charlie out around the estate, but she refused. Jayden said there’s a void in her life we wouldn’t understand and she’d rather be an escort.
I grab Charlie’s hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. Things between Charlie and I are smoother now that we don’t have to fight what we really want, which is just to be together. We’re better people when we’re together than when we’re apart. We both have something the other needs. She needs my strength to cure her pain and my presence when she feels alone. I need her love and that attitude of hers to put me in my place.