Love Lost

“Great. Glad to have you as a neighbor. Let me know if I could be of assistance in any way. You have the number to the front desk, don’t you?”


Before I could respond, he fished into his inner jacket pocket and produced a little white card. “As a matter of fact, here’s my business card. Call me directly should you run into any problems. My guys at city hall can crack down on the contractors if they try to give you a hard time.”

“That’s quite generous of you. Thanks a lot, Mr. Jacobs.” My voice was calm, but the message was flirtatious knowing what his response would be.

“You can call me Azmir, Ms. Brimm, and you’re quite welcome.” The smile had dimmed. His gaze was once again intense and I couldn’t deny the immense amount of intimidation I felt from it.

“That’s Rayna. Ms. Brimm is too formal for someone who just offered me such liberal assistance.”

“I know it’s Rayna. Ms. Brimm seems more befitting for a woman of your nature.” With his eyes slowly peeling from my face he continues, “You ladies enjoy your time at Cobalt. I’ll let the waiter know that you’re friends of mine and he’ll take good care of you.” That sexy smile had returned.

I could tell right then and there he knew what to say and how to deliver it. We thanked him, said our goodbyes, and watched him walk down the steps of the V.I.P. float and disappear onto the dance floor.

“Damn! He is Fionnnnnne!” April’s girlfriend, Tracy, belted. The girls started high fiving one another while I was sitting there breathless.

Even Michelle chimed in by saying, “Did you see how he was eye fucking you? Na-Na, if you can’t handle that pass him over here!”

We were all tipsy; some even so drunk they were brashly loud and didn’t care. Me, my reaction to liquor was more sedative, to keep it together for appearances sake. Tracy was right, Azmir was absolutely gorgeous! That inconvenient fact couldn’t be ignored. But what could I do? He’d be an official business associate starting next week. Besides, I knew embarking on a new relationship of any kind would be an improbable possibility considering my issues as well as pending responsibilities as a practice manager. This included even a relationship of a sexual nature, because that’s likely all he was after anyway.

I saw Azmir Jacobs once again that night while in line waiting for the bathroom with Britni. He was getting off the elevator near the restroom area. There were two people chatting with him as usual. He looked tense, tired even, but still deliciously debonair as ever. When his eyes so happened to land on me I tried diverting mine.

Attempting to ignore him didn't work because before I could completely think of my next act of diversion I felt someone leaning over me and as I craned my neck to look up he said, “Ms. Brimm, I have a private restroom upstairs if you’d like to use it.”

He was so close that I could hear him clear over the music. This man smelled so good that my inner-workings began crying out to him. I stood there frozen with my eyes glued to his like a schoolgirl.

“Sure, we would!” Britni screeched, bringing herself into our personal space—my space that Azmir had clearly intended to cross into. I could have slapped her for sounding so desperate. After her outburst I couldn’t avoid nodding in reluctant acquiesce.

We followed him back in the elevator up to the third floor and into the office area of the club, all the while with his heated gaze upon me. The third floor was quietly lit with soft music playing, much different than that of the club’s main hall. The walls were obliviously sound proof because you could barely hear or feel the bass of the speakers from below. He escorted us past the reception area, into his office and then directed us to the private bathroom.

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