Almost Perfect: A BWWM Billionaire Single Parent Romance (5 page)

Heading
a committee for Tabletop that did nothing but occupy the wives of the
older board members, she would accept no less than a VIP invitation
to this event. Richard had no partner to bring so she was his plus
one.

Dodging
the women whispering in his direction, he glanced back at the valet
driving away the Hummer, straightened his fitted black jacket he went
inside the stately building. The house was close to ancient and
chosen because if its history.

It
was the home of legendary Bill Masters, the first corporate giant to
speak out about environmental concerns and offered his company as the
martyr for the concern of a better world. Dissecting it and then
reconstructing the mills he owned one at a time, Masters had survived
the almost total devaluation of his entire stock. In the end, those
who bailed out when he needed them most were forever sorry that they
didn’t keep their investments with him.

The
company rose to the helm once again, stronger than before and Bill
retained all of his shares. A new bar was set for the manufacturing
sector and a bruised Bill went after each company ignoring the new
environmental laws with a vengeance not seen since.

The
foyer was well lit and the light dazzled on the sequins and shiny
earrings of the women and bounced off the glass of the expensive
watches of the wealthy men. Richard felt alone. As he searched the
crowd for his miserable mother, he laughed. Mr. Richard Damask- net
worth in the billions, handsome, articulate and single. Nature could
be so cruel.

*****

Shelly
called Kimberly as she was exploring the drawers of her desk. How
could something made from an artificial substance resemble wood so
closely? The phone rang and she cleared her throat as she answered
the very first external call on her sleek new phone with the touch
screen keypad. Kimberly’s very own private secretary announced
the call and in her most professional tone she answered.

“
Good
day, this is Kimberly Walsh. How can I be of assistance today?”

“
Hi
Kim it's Shelly. How are you settling in?”

Kimberly
was aware of the glowing comments she dropped in the reference call
from the HR Manager and sensed that Shelly was crossing the circle
from a professional acquaintance to friend. The warmth of Shelly’s
voice indicated likewise.

“
I
am doing great Shelly. The place stands on good moral ground and the
workload is, thankfully, enough for one person. I can finally find
something to do with my spare time.”

“
That’s
so nice to hear Kimberly. You are an intelligent woman and I know you
will fit in nicely there. Funny that you should mention spare time...
I have an invitation to a black tie event tonight and because you
have moved to a place with a little more soul than the God forsaken
Goldman & Parks, I thought it would be nice for you to attend.
The Coalition of Business Environmental Protection hosts this shindig
for all the manufacturers. It would be a good place for you to rub
shoulders with the other people in your new industry. I didn’t
invite my husband yet in case you accept. What do you say?”

New
job, new attitude. Kimberly had a list that included getting a social
life. It wasn’t exactly a club scene, but it was an outing that
would let her relax and still be in a professional mode at the same
time. Did she have an outfit for such an affair? Yes she did-or at
least she would get one.

“
You
know what Shelly, I would love to. I haven’t been anywhere but
to yoga, in ages and it would be good to rub shoulders with rich and
famous.”

“
I
am so surprised you said yes! Don’t let me ruin this moment in
case it’s not real.”

Both
women laughed at Kimberly’s social immaturity and made the
final plans.

“
Ok,
the dinner is being held at Bill Masters’s estate on the edge
of town. You get to it just before the lake where they do boat racing
on Sundays. Are you familiar with it?”

Kimberly
said yes, but in actuality she only knew it was south of her street.
The GPS in her car would have to do the rest. Shelly never detected
the lie and continued.

“
Dinner
is being served at seven thirty but you are expected to be there by
seven. I will try to meet you at the door, but I will call the
organizer now and have your name added to the list. I am on a minor
committee so I am shrimp compared to the big wigs in attendance. None
the less, we can pretend to be important while we mingle.”

Like
school girls they giggled again and then quickly said goodbye.
Kimberly wondered if Richard had received such an invitation, but
declined to ask when he popped his head in to check on her before
heading out.

Richard
was always looking in on her. He never made any off putting comments
or made her feel uncomfortable in his presence, but there was
something about him that she couldn’t put her finger on.

In
his office, she caught him staring, but she didn’t mention
anything about it. The bull dog she was raised to be, would have
called him out on being rude or sexually suggestive, but there was
nothing creepy about Richard. Instead, Kimberly sensed sadness that
ran deep and felt more sympathy than anything else in his presence.

Truthfully,
she found him handsome. Dating in her life had come to an end just
after she started working at the law firm because there simply had
been no time. On the rare occasions she did go out, it was within her
own race and for a moment, she wondered about adding some vanilla to
her usual morning coffee as she stirred it with a dainty little
spoon. Given to her by Auntie when Kimberly went off to conquer the
world, she took the gift with her everywhere.

Born
without a silver spoon in her mouth, Kimberly struggled to keep her
head above the water with only her nostrils sticking out. When she
got the scholarship to law school and then answered the call to The
Bar, Auntie gave her the spoon in a small velvet box with bronze
corners and an antique clasp.

With
the words, “Be blessed child,” engraved on the slender
stem of the spoon, Kimberly used it daily as a reminder of how much
easier life was now that she actually had something to stir.

The
days at Tabletop passed quickly and today was no different. By 4:30
she was home considering what exactly one wore to an exclusive event
with rich people who had large amounts to spend on a wardrobe.
Admittedly, Kimberly was a disciplined spender who budgeted to the
penny. Though she had a nice little nest egg and a few minor
investments here and there, she rarely splurged. The high rise
apartment was her largest overhead. Justified by the memories of cold
nights with her mother and cheap second hand furniture, Kimberly
insisted that her living conditions be comfortable and even a little
indulgent.

She
loved art and hated clutter. For this reason the spacious two bedroom
apartment was decorated in a contemporary black and white with pops
of color punctuating the décor. An aged portrait of Diana Ross
hung on the main wall behind the three seater, and the music theme
continued throughout the modern home.

The
definite reminder that her past was ever present in all that Kimberly
did, was her bedroom. Breaking the color scheme, it was a girl’s
room. Pinks, lilacs, purples and powder blues made the landscape of
her sanctuary and it was her secret treasure. As a girl, she longed
for one of the dream bedrooms displayed in the random flyer ads
dropped in her absent mother’s mailbox.

A
canopy bed in the middle and a small vanity on the wall were the
center of Kimberly’s pride. She did her makeup every morning
sitting on the upholstered stool, occasionally wondering if she could
be any more favored by the spirits that had once taken her life on
such a rough path.

The
closet was walk in, but not filled with expensive clothes. Instead,
Kimberly chose to fill it with sale items from sample sites. Every
morning around nine, an email was sent to her inbox and inside she
would find Italian and other international brands at sometimes as
much as eighty percent off.

The
right of the closet was more cramped and reserved for business
attire. The scant left side spoke to her lack of a social life as
fewer than ten outfits hung from felted hangers. Still, there were
options.

Thumbing
through the limited choices, Kimberly arrived at a salmon colored
gown. Small waves of almost transparent fabric, cut on the bias,
flowed down from her hips, the dress barely swept the floor. A bib
like bodice covered her breasts. Suspended by thin straps over her
slender shoulders, it gave the illusion of a full dress, but the back
revealed flesh from neck to lower back. No bra could be worn with
this dress.

Kimberly’s
ass had developed even more after the yoga sessions became a staple.
Secretly, she hoped not to be judged as lewd for her figure in such a
dress, but the decision to wear it was already made. To reassure
herself further, Kimberly repeated her new motto, “new job, new
attitude.”

*****

Diamantes
on her heeled sandals sparkled as Kimberly placed her first leg on
the paved driveway of the Bill Masters Estate. The breeze was cool
and the decorative shawl on her shoulders added no protection. She
would hand it to the attendant inside where it was sure to be warmer.

Maybe
it was apparent to others that she was not from money, maybe it
wasn’t. Kimberly stared at the magnificent construction before
her nonetheless. Vines added a distinct vintage look to the well kept
building and only the cars moving up and down the drive way gave any
indication that this was 2015. Slowly, Kimberly ascended the stairs,
clinging to the aged wrought iron banisters while gripping the dress
and appearing very lady like. As promised, her name was by the door,
but finding the illusive Shelly would prove to be a task among the
over two hundred and fifty folks mulling around before dinner was
announced.

People
were staring, unbeknownst to Kimberly. She was busy chatting with an
old college mate who intercepted her search for Shelly. Ronald was
now the president of a small fortune five hundred company and was
pleased to see her.

“
Kimberly!
It’s been forever since I saw you last. Oh my God! How have you
been?”

“
Ronald?
I can’t believe it! I’m great… I really am!”

The
usually silent competition that took place between long lost
acquaintances started. Where do you work? Who do you know? Husband?
Children?

The
last two inquiries meant different things coming from a man than a
woman. With a female she would be measuring the status of another’s
womanhood with that question. Coming from a man it meant, are you
available to sleep with me?

For
most, the answer would have been yes because Ronald was handsome. His
skin was a delicious brown and his eyes appeared to give him a depth
of character that would be attractive to an intellectual lady. The
dollars in his bank account and the Mercedes he drove would have
added the superficial and simplistic women to the pool.

The
conversation deepened and two of the few black faces in the place
went to the corner to catch up. Kimberly’s freshly curled
tresses bounced as she laughed at the jokes of the man towering over
her. Her painted lips parted with appreciative smiles of the glowing
compliments her companion was dealing out. The evening was turning
out better than she anticipated.

*****

Lena
was quipping about the quality of the champagne being served and
Richard was tired. Males should not be seen in public with their
mothers at social events past the age of fifteen, Richard lamented
internally. There was no question in his mind as to why his father
left her. The alimony was enough to keep Lena happy and buy dad peace
of mind as he frolicked in the sunshine of the Caribbean. Old white
wives could be so boring.

A
tall blonde had interrupted Richards scowl at Lena as she tossed a
miniature kebab back into the silver tray of a server with words
about missing salt and pepper. The poor girl was not the chef and
could do nothing but drop her head and return to the kitchen.

The
blonde was invading Richard’s personal space. Alissa, she said
her name was, and her Daddy was Pierce Angelo. He owned a recycling
center and paper mill in the south and was dripping with money. The
drippings extended to his daughter’s neck. Alissa’s
throat was heavy with rare gems and while wanting to appear regal,
she looked strained under the weight of her own wealth.

Tilting,
Richard tried to play the bachelor game and whispered in her ear. It
wasn’t a joke, it was a question, but Alissa laughed anyway and
he immediately knew that any treasures she possessed didn’t
extend past the exterior.