Books and Suits by S.C. Principale

Author:S.C. Principale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: interracial romance, friends to lovers, high school sweethearts, steamy, contemporary romance, black man white woman
Publisher: S.C. Principale
Published: 2022-09-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

“Daddy told me you refused the job in London! Refused!” Vanessa’s irate voice made him recoil.

I am a strong, smart man. I’m not some boy that you picked up off the street and made into a success. I am a success. When he spoke aloud, his voice was steady. “Technically, I didn’t get a firm offer, but I don’t know why you’re so surprised. I told you I didn’t want to move there. I was very clear about that.”

“Joel! This is our chance! This is—”

“Vanessa, why can’t this be your chance? Why don’t you go over there and be his eyes and ears? You grew up in boardrooms. You have a bachelor’s in marketing, right? Go back to school and—”

Her harsh laugh froze his words. “No. No, no, no. You don’t get to dictate to me.”

“You don’t get to dictate to me, either.”

“I’m not dictating, I’m helping you! I’m gifting you! I’m Vanessa Hodge, I’m incredibly influential in the company that you claim to love. Are you trying to get yourself demoted? Fired?”

He smiled, shaking his head slowly. How had he ever thought this relationship was right, that it was even mutual? How had he not realized before that he wasn’t really a love interest, more like collateral interest? “I know that you’re angry.”

“Of course I’m angry! You’re throwing everything away!”

“I’m not quitting my job! But I’m not ready to go head up some international office and I’m not ready to get married. I’m not what you’re looking for. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it until last night.”

Shocked silence greeted his words. “Are you... dumping me?”

“I’d like to think we’re both smart enough to realize that we’re not a good fit. We want different things—or at least, we want them at different speeds. Is that fair to say?” He kept his cool with an effort, even as he felt his career starting a death swirl down the proverbial toilet.

“Of course, it’s not fair to say! Again, a man ruins a woman’s aspirations and says that it’s all for the best.”

His chuckle was bitter, loud enough for Vanessa to hear. “Your aspirations included me, included me in ways I didn’t want. I might even say you used me, but I didn’t ever feel used until you made it clear that you weren’t listening to me. That’s probably not fair to either of us, but you were right about something. We could be a power couple. We are smart, strong people. Stubborn people. We didn’t see that we were pulling in two different directions this whole time, ‘Nessa. I think you’re one half of a power couple, and I’m one half. We just aren’t the whole. You need—”

“Don’t you presume to tell me what I need. I need a real man. Not some boy playing in his daddy’s suits.”

“Don’t know my daddy. Don’t know if he wore suits. My son is gonna know exactly who his father is and how he got shit done. Whether I get it done working for Hodge, Williams, and Henderson or for some other firm, that won’t matter to him.

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