Chapter 25: Pop Up Guess Who

Jevan POV

The completion of my college education took a total of three years. After earning my degrees in Management and Marketing, Technology, and International Relations, I felt more than ready to take my rightful place at my father's palatial tower.

I took an additional four years to rise to the predominant position of working side by side with my father.

_______________

It is a bright sunny morning in April. I parked my car in my assigned parking space then headed up to my office.

On opening the door, I was greeted with a beautiful face.


"Hello there, handsome," she said with a smile. Her looks didn't changed a bit although her curly hair got longer and her smile got brighter.

"Hi, what brings you here today?" I asked and placed my briefcase on my face before giving her my undivided attention.

She slowly and seductively walked into my arms. "I missed you."

"Adobi, I miss you too baby."

"Last night was amazing. Are you coming by my place again tonight?"

"I can't. I actually have a flight tonight to France for a conference. I'll be meeting my father there."

"Oh. And when were you planning on telling me this? After your return?"

"I'm sorry and I promise I'll make it up to you. Are you angry with me?"

"Not really, no. I just wish you had said something but I can still inveigle you. Can't I?"

"Let me see you try," I told her and bit the bottom of my lip while I gazed down at her.

She slipped the spaghetti straps to her dress off her shoulders, allowing it to fall freely on the floor. She stood like a model, in a matching pair of black lace panties and bra.

I was intrigued.

As soon as I was about to kiss her, a knock came to the door. It was my assistant reminding me about my 8:30 AM meeting with Mr. Collinwood. He had been asking for our support to keep his business afloat since six months ago.

______________________

A/N
*Due to the many demands of my beautiful BelleGang readers, here's the POV you've been asking for*

Blossom's POV

"Jason! Hurry it up! You'll be late for school and I'll be late for work!" I called from the tiny porch.

"I'm coming mommy. I'm looking for Spiderman. Have you seen him?"

"You left him on the sofa!"

"Found him!" And like a bee, he flew pass me and ran out on the pavement like the hype child he was. I shook my head with a small laugh, locked the door and joined him in waiting for his school bus.

Seven years had elapse before seeing this familiar street and feeling this familiar atmosphere again. L.A didn't change but I did.

After my mother and I back to Ghana due to being deported, she was sent of to a women's correction facility and I was sent to a convent. But then, Jason happened. I was kicked out from the convent and the sisters claimed that they'll pray for my soul.

I was out on the streets with nowhere to go. I spent days and nights sleeping inside of the cardboard box that once had a fridge in it.

Just when I was about to lose hope, when I was about to take a knife to my wrist, a woman found me and offered me shelter. I had no idea who she was or where she came from but she seemed to know me all too well.

Her home was a mansion. For her kindness, I offered to be her housekeeper but she declined and told me I should be resting.

When Jason was born, she took care of everything. From his crib to the shoes on his feet and it was her who help me got back to L.A. with Jason. I couldn't thank her enough.

"Bye mommy," Jason said and waved when his bus arrived.

"Bye baby. Have a nice day."

When the bus departed, I caught a cab to work.

"Blossom! Just the woman I wanted," my boss, Mr. Collinwood greeted too loudly as I walked in, "Don't even take a seat, we're leaving right now," he finished.

"Leaving? Where are we going?"

"Less talking. More walking," he said, grabbed his jacket and walked out the door. I ran after him to catch up.

He drove us for half an hour before he pulled into a parking space then we got out.

My heart raced as my eyesight caught the big and bold name on the building.

Hollen Tower.
(Los Angeles).

"You look like you've seen a ghost but you better send it back to the grave because we need this investment. I've been after them for six whole months," Mr. Collinwood nagged and ushered me to the entrance.

My heart raced more. I wasn't ready for this because I knew he would be there.

"Mr. Collinwood, who are we going to exactly?" I asked.

"The CEO's son. The boss himself is out of the country so he left his son in charge."

"I can't believe this," I softly mumbled as we took the elevator.

We greeted a welcoming assistant and she led us to the boardroom. I looked at my wrist-watch. 8:30 AM.

The door opened and I thought I would have a heart attack now but it was just the assistant again, bringing us some water.

"Cool your nerves," my boss said.

"I am."

"Though I must say, it's nice to see you care so much about this. And if we don't get this investment, I'll have to cut your pay or maybe fire...."

"My apologies for keeping you waiting," Jevan said as he entered through the door and took his seat at the head of the table.

His eyesight was yet to fall on me and I prayed he wouldn't recognize me. After all, it's been seven long years and I gained weight due to my pregnancy.

"Mr. Hollen, that's quite alright. Have you gotten the chance to look over the statements and financials..." Mr. Collinwood was asking.

"No," Jevan didn't let him finish. His eyes were still locked on the folder in front of him. He was flipping through the pages with an uninteresting look on his face.

"That's too bad," I softly spoke, knowing only my boss would hear me.

"Mr. Collinwood, your financial statements are poor and the structure is rather puzzling. Why are there smaller numbers over larger? It should be larger numbers over smaller to make it proper," Jevan told him.

"Because of the losses," my boss dumbly blurted out.

"So you're telling me you're losing more than gaining at your own business for the past six months? What is it that you do exactly?" Jevan asked him, eyes still in the folder.

"I'm a car dealer. I sell used cars. It was the small business I did in Ohio and it did wonderful there."

"I know why. You're located in West Hollywood. The people wants to live lavishly and not spotted driving a used Deawoo. Used cheap cars wouldn't cut it. You need a new company. I'm not going to invest."

"Mr. Hollen, please!" my boss said and rose from his seat. Jevan's eyes caught him and then they quickly fell on me.

Time seemed to stop. I heard my heart beating through my ears. His eyes were locked on me like if they were piecing through to my soul.

"I can come up with a whole new company if you'll just invest. Twenty five percent goes to you," my boss pleaded again but Jevan's eyes remained on me.

"We can have the business plan ready in two days," I finally spoke up, keeping my eyes on him too.

"I'll be out of the country for a week. I don't think I'll be interested in anything you have by then," Jevan rejected with folded arms.

"Then how about we stay on your heels like a leech?" Mr. Collinwood projected.

"How so?" Jevan asked.

"This is Blossom Wright, my secretary. She can accompany you on your trip and present the business plan to you before you lose your taste in us," Mr. Collinwood said.

My eyes popped and Jevan smiled at me.

"No," I mouthed to my boss.

"I can't wait," Jevan said, "We're leaving tonight."

"But I can't. I have a...." I said.

"For Christ sake, I'll take care of your son myself!" Mr. Collinwood shouted at me.

It was Jevan's eyes to pop now.