A Billionaire's Obsession 3 (BWWM Interracial Romance): Claiming Her Heart (2 page)

CHAPTER 2

"I don't believe you Colin. I just don't!"
Melaine says exasperated. "Why her! There are so many
other skirt tails waiting for you to pounce
on them - but you choose to break
Renee's spirit." Melaine is on a rampage. Colin had showed up at her
townhouse hoping she knows where Renee is. He awoke abo
ut 45 minutes following Renee's departure. He immediately tried her cell
phone repeatedly, but to no avail. He also went by her apartment, and knocked
until his knuckles turned red. Neighbors on her floor, and above, spilled out
to see what the raucous was
about. Colin questioned
each one of them but he didn't obtain the results he was seeking. He decided to
visit Melaine to regroup. He has been sitting on her couch for about thirty
minutes while his cousin berated him.

Colin rubs his forehead. "I know Mel
aine...I didn't make the best decision."

"You didn't make the best decision? You were
ridiculously stupid! How could you be so irresponsible Colin." Renee lays
into him. "I know that you like the ladies but...Urgh!" Melaine walks
over to her stainless ste
el fridge, and obtains a
opened bottle of red wine. She pours herself a glass. She doesn't offer Colin
any. "I need to calm my nerves." She shouts back to him from the
kitchen, in the open floor plan
of the spacious brick house. Renee
inhales a large gulp
of wine, then walks back into
the living room with the remainder in her left hand. She paces the stained
wooden floor, in front of Colin.

"I have been trying to reach Renee since last night.
Clearly she was with you, but she's not taking my calls this mor
ning either."
Melaine says at her wits end. "I
don't know what else to do. Who knows where she went. I just hope that she is
okay." Melaine looks at Colin intensely. "If she's not okay Colin, I
hold you fully responsible. She is only 23. You are 12 years h
er senior. You
should
know better. Clearly you don't!"
Renee grows weary of lecturing Colin. She drops down on the couch next to him.
The two sit in silence.

Colin leans back on the couch, and closes his eyes.
Thoughts of Renee floods his mind. He sees he
r at her
first pitch session before
the high-profile client, and himself.
She is nervous, but her passion rings through. He sees her in her black gown at
the Caspian Lampros Yacht Building International Launch. He sees her on the
dance floor, at the event.
She is  dancing with
Melaine, and having a good time. He sees her looking beautifully at the
Cherished Friends
animal rescue press event. She
intelligently coordinated a successful event, and designed all the graphic art
for it. She inspired even Colin th
at day. He sees her
in his arms. He remembers the touch of her lips on his lips, and on his body. A
wave of saddens falls over Colin. He hadn't experience sadness like this in
quite sometime. He had been able to have sex with a woman, leave her, or watch
h
er leave and move on to the next one. However today,
something else is happening. Colin is beginning to realize that he misses
Renee. Before he knows it, his thoughts transform into spoken words.

"I miss her." Colin says softly.

"What is that?" Renee says
trying to get lost in her red wine. Colin sits up. He looks at his
cousin, and thinks carefully before he speaks.

"Melaine, I know that you don't believe me, but I know
something is different this time. She is different, and she makes me feel
different."
Colin begins to explain. Melaine
looks over at Colin. She studies his face.

"How are you so sure? How do you know that things are
different this time." She digs in, not letting up-punishing Colin for what
has transpired between him and Renee "You are wit
h
a different woman every two weeks." Melaine
reminds him.

"Exactly...and I have not been with anyone in over two
months since I started to notice Renee...I mean really notice her." Colin
informs her.

"That doesn't mean anything!" Melaine retorts.

"It doesn't? I have had my way with her, and I still
want to see her, talk to her...and that doesn't mean anything? Think about it
cousin." Colin says while standing up to face Renee. Melaine shakes her
head. "I don't know Colin. I never really commented o
n your life before because those other women were either
sluts, or gold diggers. However, I know for a fact that Renee is neither."
Melaine begins to delineate. "I personally took her under my wing because
she brought
new creative energy to
your
firm. She
surpassed
more experienced designers in one week with her skill, though she lacked the
confidence, and presentation skills. Then she sprung up in a number of months,
only to have you bring her down again." Colin understands, and agrees with
each and every
one of Melaine's causes for concern.

Colin is concerned too. He is worried that Renee will stay
away from him, and away from  BYWINSTON where she will have a sincere
chance to develop as a professional.

"Melaine, will you help me find her?" Colin asks
in
low spirits. Melaine looks into Colin's eyes. She
sees sadness in his eyes for the first time in a very long time. Melaine pauses
a little while longer to contemplate.

"If I hear from her, I will let you know."
Melaine decides. She is still not certain t
hat she
can trust him with her mentee. Colin sighs, then nods.

"Thank you Melaine." Colin walks over to Melaine
who is still sitting on the couch. He raises her to her feet at her shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Melaine protests. Colin
hugs her. Please d
on't say anything to either of our
mothers." Melaine laughs for the first time since Colin entered her home
about an hour ago.

"I will be sure not to say anything to Aunt Margaret,
or her sister Elaine Nordstrom. You can count on it!" Melaine, and Colin c
huckle.
Then, now that some tension has been
released between them, the two genuinely hug.

"I'll see ya around. Stay in touch." Colin says
walking toward Melaine's front door.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now get out!" Melaine says
playfully. Colin chuckles for sho
rt moment. Then his
demeanor suddenly changes. 

"Thanks Mel. I mean it!" He tells
her. Melaine smiles, and Colin exits.

Melaine sits on her couch again. She slides her cell phone
closer
from where
it's been sitting, on the couch next to her. She had been
using it, and checking it constantly since the night
before. She dials Renee's number once again. She listens to the phone ring
until it goes to voice mail. Melaine decides to leave yet another message.

"Renee, please call me. I am very worried about you
. Please call me. This is Melaine Nordstrom. Thank
you." Melaine drops the call then reclines into her seat. She slowly sips
the remainder of her wine. "What a mess Colin Winston...what a mess you've
made!" She
says out into the air.

CHAPTER 3

"Are you really sick, or has
Cherished Friends
snatched you up?"  Amanda
says on the other end of the phone, and chuckles. Renee chuckles along with
Amanda.

"Very funny! I am at home recovering." Renee
tells Amanda the partial truth. "What's happening the
re?" She continues.

"Well, I'm gearing up to present my finished product
to my high profile client at the end of the week. Um, let's see...Colin is down
here more often than he used to...Oh, and hurry up and get back
Nick is deeply worried about you."
Ren
ee could rely on Amanda to cheer her up, even when
Amanda didn't realize that was what she was doing. Renee truly needed her
friend's humor, and is elated that Amanda snuck in a call to check up on her.

"So when are you coming back? It's been two days alr
eady. You're not permitted one more." Amanda commands.

"I'm not sure Amanda. You will be sure to be the first
to know when I decide." Renee teases her friend.

"I better be! Well, get better soon...and by soon, I
mean tomorrow!" Amanda quips. Renee chuckl
es.

"Got it!" Renee ends her call with Amanda. It is
Tuesday, and she has been at her parents' since Sunday. On Sunday night, she
sat at her father's computer in his study, and composed an email to Melaine.

***

"Dear
Melaine,

I am unable to come into
the
office tomorrow. I am not well at this time. Honestly, I am not certain when I
will be able to return. I will be sure to forward all incomplete projects to
you before the week's end."

Thank you for your kind understanding.

Sincerely,

Renee
Wainwright"

Renee shoke the entire time she wrote the email. Still, she
didn't see any
other option. "I can't face Colin, and I can't face
Melaine either. She believed in me, and I failed her." She reasoned three
days earlier. Renee does not feel any less miserable
about
what she has done.

"If only I could go back in time." She told her
mother on Monday while assisting her with  cooking dinner.

"Don't worry so much Renee. What is done is done. What
have your Dad, and I always taught you? Turn each experience into a
lesson. Please stop beating yourself up. You are not a
horrible person." Pilar kissed Renee on the cheek, and continued to make
her famous meatloaf.

Renee has been doing lots of thinking over the last few
days. Among other things, she's thought long and
hard
about her relationship with Melaine. She imagines that Melaine is sorely
disappointed with her. Yet, Melaine hasn't stopped reaching out to her. Colin
and Nick have also called numerous times but on this day, following her call
from Amanda, Renee thin
ks more, and more that she
should reach out to Melaine, and allow her to hear her voice. "The email
is not enough." Renee concludes.

She reaches for her phone again. Renee dials.
"Hello?" Melaine picks up. "Renee is that you? Are you
okay?"

"Yes, it's me.
How are you
Melaine?"

"How am I? No, how are you? I know...I know Renee! Are
you okay?" Melaine asks with deep and sincere concern. Renee works very
hard not to be emotional.

"I am okay Melaine. Thank you for checking on me. How
are things at the office
. Are the clients piling
in?" Renee asks trying to avoid the real issue.

"Everything here is okay...somewhat, but I don't want
to talk about work Renee. Are you alright? Do you plan on returning to
work?" Melaine inquires. There is brief silence on the ph
one.  

"Melaine, I am sorry that I was so unprofessional on
Saturday. I would totally understand if you want to fire me. Either way, I will
forward my outstanding work to you this week." Melaine smiles. She is glad
that Renee is addressing the real matter
at hand. "Renee, thank you for your
apology,
but
you are not fired!" Melaine begins
to tell her. "Where are you Renee? Are you really at your
apartment?..." Melaine is not certain whether she has crossed a line. She
stops talking. Renee does not respond ri
ght away
either. Her heart rate increases. She thinks as quickly as is possible.    

"Melaine, thank you for everything. I can't thank you
enough, or repay you enough for your kindness. I'm sorry, but I am not ready to
come back there. I'm not sure that I ev
er will
be." She tells her mentor, and supervisor.

"Renee, what are you saying?" Melaine asks
bluntly..

"I honestly don't know. I know you want a straight
answer. I don't know..." Renee rambles on.

"Okay...okay, it's okay Renee. I didn't mean to upset
yo
u. Please just stay in touch. I appreciate your
willingness to forward your work. Let me know if you need anything...I mean
anything." Renee feels some small relief from Melaine's words.

"I am sorry to disappoint you Melaine. Thanks so much
for being so u
nderstanding."

"I am just glad you're safe. Take good care of
yourself." Melaine concludes, and hangs up.

Renee breathes a sigh of relief. Although it was a bumpy
ride, she did accomplish reaching out to Melaine
, to
begin to convey how sorry she is about her bad judgement. Renee breathes in,
and out, one more time. 

***

Several miles away, Melaine replays her conversation with
Renee in her head.

"She sounds crushed. Poor
Girl!" Melaine
whispers in the privacy of her office. "I knew it...I
knew it!" Melaine says, and slams her fist down on to her desk. Melaine
shakes her head, and stands up. She begins to pace her office. She eventually
sits down into her chair, and calls the Human Resou
rces
department herself. Melaine is curious about where Renee is. She knows that she
is not at her own apartment. Colin has been at her apartment on numerous
occasions, and besides disturbing the neighbors, he hasn't had any success with
finding her. Even
her neighbors confirmed that they
have not seen her in a few days.

"Hi, this is Melaine Nordstrom. I am calling about one
of my graphic artists, Renee Wainwright. Do you have an address for her other
than the one in Summersville?" Melaine asks one of the
HR personnel. Nothing! "Well do you have an emergency
contact for her?"

"Is there an emergency Ms. Nordstrom?" The HR
staff member
asks
Melaine.

"Excuse me?" Melaine is surprised
by the question.

"Does Ms. Wainwright have an emergency?" The
young woman a
sks dutifully.

"I am her boss, and I have an emergency concerning
her. Is there a contact!" Melaine asks again in an aggressive tone.

"Yes Ma'am." Melaine
finally obtains Renee's mother's cell
number. She feels a little guilty. Renee wants time to recover
, but Colin wants to find her. Melaine leans back into her
chair "What should be my next move?" She contemplates long, and hard.

***

"Have you heard anything?" Not more than twenty
minutes after her call with the Human Resources Department, Colin bursts i
nto Melaine's office.
"Well?...Melaine?...anything?" Colin forehead is wrinkled with worry.

"Colin, what is with busting into my office like that?
We are still a business, or have you forgotten that?" Melaine barks at
him.

"Melaine...please. I am not in
the mood." Melaine smiles at Colin. He may actually be telling the
truth about how he feels about Renee. Nonetheless, she is determined protect
Renee, even at this juncture.

"She called the office today." Melaine tells
Colin.

"She called? You spoke with
her?"
Colin reiterates.

"I did."

"How is she Melaine? How did she sound? Is she okay?
When will she be back? Where is she?" Colin fires off all at once.
Melaine's head is spinning. She would like to answer each question in the order
that they were asked
but she provides a summary
instead.

"She is okay. Wherever she is, she is in one piece.
She does...um, she does sound...well sad. I think she just needs time to
think." Melaine offers. Colin plops down into one of Melaine's guest
chairs.

"She's sad?" Colin reiterates.

"She sounds like it." Melaine also repeats.

"She thinks I took advantage of her?" Colin asks.
Melaine looks at Colin curiously. He has no idea.

"Colin, she blames herself. She didn't mention you
once. She thinks she failed
me. She believes she's
the one who has made the mistake." Melaine informs Colin. Colin is
surprised.

"She blames herself?" He hangs his head down.
"She shouldn't, you know. She was...is the better person...I kept
pressing. I had to have her, and I was se
lfish. Maybe
wanting to see her now is selfish too, but...um, I know I've said this
before...Renee is different in a good way, and I need some of
her goodness in my life."

Melaine smiles proudly at her cousin. "She is
good...for all of us...but she can st
art with fixing
you. If she wants to." Melaine chuckles.

Colin can't help himself he begins to laugh as well. They
laugh in tandem. When the laughter dies down, Colin poses a question. "Do
you think, you can get Renee to come back to fix me?"

"I don't kn
ow Colin. I don't
think I should interfere. I mean, she needs time." Melaine argues.

"She thinks she needs time because she thinks she was
a one night stand, but she wasn't...she isn't" Colin counter-argues.

"Colin,
right now I think it's best to leave h
er alone...at least for now. Let her deal with this in her
own way." Melaine advises. Colin shakes his head. He still does not agree.
He stands up and looks down at her.

"Ok Melaine...Okay!" Colin doesn't want to argue
anymore. He temporarily gives in, an
d walks out.

***

Colin sits in his office chair. He spins around, and
around, and around. As his chair spins, so does his mind. Melaine's words
continue to resound. "Renee's sad"..."Renee needs time".
Colin truly does contemplate Melaine's point of view o
n
the subject. He thinks long, and hard for the next hour.

Later that afternoon, Colin receives a call from his
mother, Mrs. Margaret Winston. She is involved with several charity projects.
However, she was authentically impressed with Renee's recent cont
ribution to her animal rescue organization. She requests
that Colin ask Renee to work with the
Cherished Friends
team once again.

"Um, Mom I...I don't know...um, I will see if she's
available. You know Melaine keeps her very busy." Colin bluffs.

"Well do
whatever you can
son.
You
can add a bonus to her compensation, can't you?
She was wonderful! She was focused, and
gave 1000% - My Executive Director, Beverly told me that she gave above, and
beyond what was expected of her...So do what you can." Mrs. Wins
ton concludes, and hangs up.

Colin sits dumbfounded, and severely conflicted. "Just
great! My mother wants Renee, at all costs. I don't  know where she is,
and Melaine says I should give her time... I have a
decision to make." Colin leans back
into his ch
air, and considers his options. 

Thirty minutes tick on. Colin picks up his desk phone. He
contacts the private investigator he contracted previously. The last time he
contacted Maurice, he wanted to learn Renee's hobbies, her likes, and dislikes
in order
to impress her, and simply seduce her. This
time he wants to learn where she is so that he can tell her, she wasn't a one
night stand. She is so much more.