Chapter 1

MIA

I stood in front of a mirror and admired my outfit for the tenth time. I had to look my best because today is the women’s business conference and I will stand in front of everyone giving a speech. The media will be there and so are the city’s most important people and I have to look my best. “You look amazing.” My friend Talia says holding my two-year-old son Sam looking at me through the mirror with a smile on her face.

These two are my life, Talia has been my friend since college and was with me when I was pregnant with Sam. She was also there when his father left us and she helped me raise Sam. She has been like a sister to me all these years and without her; I don’t know what my life would have been like or what it would be like if she were to ever leave. I have no family and I am a single mother. But with Talia on my side, I don’t feel alone anymore; I feel like I have a family, in I found a sister.

“Thanks, Talia, I have to look my best today, not only as a guest speaker but also as a businesswoman and who knows. I might just get an investor to expand my business.” She smiles at me. “Well, I hope an investor is not all that you get tonight, we traveled far for you to just get an investor.” She winks at me, I know what she means, since Jason left me, I have dated no one, I focused on my business and raising Sam.

I look at my wristwatch and it reads 20h00. It’s time to leave, “My people, I will see you when I come back, Sam be good for aunty Talia, okay? And I expect you to watch me on tv and tell me all about it when I come back.” I kiss Sam on the forehead and hug Talia. “You know I will, be good and kick ass.” I laughed as I exit our hotel room, I took the elevator down to the lobby and out the door.

When I get outside my limo is already waiting and the driver has the door opened for me.  “Miss Black, you look gorgeous as usual.” This middle-aged man has been driving me to business conferences for two years now and each time he would say these exact words. He is more like a brother of a sort. “Thank you, Steve.” He gives me a small smile before closing the door then jogging to the driver’s seat.

Soon the car merges into traffic, and I look out the window. The night is beautiful and the streets are still busy with people going about their business. It’s hard to sleep when you have to hustle and I understand just how these people feel. I was like this once when I was starting my business, there was no time to sleep, I had to make it work and provide a better future for my son than the one I had.

The car comes to a stop at the venue and it's buzzing with media. I see a few faces I know talking to the media and taking pictures for the next day’s paper. Prominent business women looking dashing in their evening gowns holding their partner's arm as they posed for pictures. Well, I have no partner and it won’t be the first time I appear in these events alone, and am okay with that. A man will just be a distraction and I can’t afford that. Not now when my business is doing so well. I need to focus.

My turn comes, and Steve opens the door for me. As soon as I step out flashing lights blind me for a moment before my eyes adjust and I offer my practiced smile walking on the red carpet. “Miss Black, you look gorgeous tonight, who dressed you?” asked one reporter. “Miss Black, we heard you will give a speech tonight, can you tell me how you feel about that?” another asks, “Miss Black, there is a rumor that you are secretly seeing someone, are the rumors true?” always the same questions all the time.

Can’t a woman just be single and not harassed about it? “No comment.” That is all I say before posing for a few pictures then walked into the venue. I sighed as I walked in feeling like it was going to be a long night, I take a glass of champagne from a passing server and walked around looking for my table. I found it right on the second row to the front and I took a seat. I know that I have to mingle but right now I just need some alcohol in my system and this campaign will give me the courage I need to get through this night.

I spend a few minutes enjoying my drink and looking around. The place is decorated beautifully. “Miss Black, good evening.” Lord Jesus! Can’t a lady just enjoy her drink without being bothered? I wear my practiced smile before turning to the gentleman that just greeted me. “Good evening Mr…?” I raised an eyebrow, and he gives me a cheeky smile. “Williams, Nathan Williams.” He gives me his hand for a handshake and I took it. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Williams.” He smiles and I just want him to go away. But it would be rude to ask him to.

“Can I sit with you for a moment?” I point to the chair and he sits. “I have heard a lot about you Miss Black, a businesswoman who started her business from the ground up, I must say, I am impressed.” I took a sip of my champagne. “Thank you, Mr. Williams, am sorry but I don’t know who you are.” He smiles widely and I just want to disappear. “Well Miss Black, you are looking at the heir of Williams Enterprises, we specialize in oil and you might know my older brother Cole, the CEO of the company.” I know his brother but I don’t know him and how can he be the heir when his older brother is the one running the business?

Before I could say anything, people start taking their seats as the event is about to start, the gentleman, Nathan, stood up and fixed his suit jacket then smiles at me. “We will talk again Miss Black.” He bows a little before leave and I sighed relieved that he is gone. People fill the table and the master of ceremonies start the program. The first speaker takes the mic and makes his speech then the next.

My turn comes, and I am called to the stage. I greet everyone and start my speech but I can’t help but feel like I am being watched. Strange I know because at this moment there are a lot of eyes on me but this feels different. I get distracted for a moment scanning the room for whoever is looking at me and then I see him. Third row, middle table, he is looking at me intensely and I can’t help the shiver that runs down my spine when our eyes lock.

I hold eye contact for a few seconds before going back to finishing my speech then stepped down. I can’t help but find him with my eyes when I descent the stage and I find him already looking at me. I break eye contact and walked to my table taking a seat. “That was a brilliant speech Miss Black and congratulations on your business.” A lady next to me says. “Thank you.” I turned my head again looking for those icy blue eyes that I can still feel on me and indeed. They will be looking straight at me making me feel strange, not in a bad way but in a way that I haven’t felt in a long time. Who is that man?

“That is Mr. Liam Brown, president of Brown Logistics and his company is the one that sponsors most of the businesswomen you see here today.” The lady next to me tells me, she must have seen me looking at him. “Oh, I know his company but I don’t know him and I have never seen him in these events before,” I tell her then look back at Mr. Brown but this time he was talking to the gentleman next to him.

“That is because his projects coordinator is the one that always attends, Miss Lisa Anderson.” I know Lisa, we have met three times before and she is the one who asked me to be the guest speaker here today. I was wondering where she is. “I didn’t know he was Lisa’s boss; I know her and she is the reason I am here today. Excuse me, I need a lady’s room.” I stood up and head to the ladies.

I get in and look at myself in the mirror. “Get a grip Mia, you don’t need a man, he will only be a distraction in your life and you need to focus.” I give myself a pep talk before walking back out closing my bag as I walk, I bump into someone and I stumbled back before a pair of hands hold me and steady me. “Am sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” I said fixing my back and dress. “It’s quite alright Miss Black.” My mouth went dry upon hearing the voice, it makes me want to look up and I did.

There they were, the icy blue eyes looking at me. “Mr. Brown.” My voice comes out as a whisper and I wanted to kick myself. What was that pep talk for if I am going to act this way in his presence? “That is me, Miss Black, are you alright?” I swallow saliva to wet my mouth as it feels awfully dry right now. “Yes, I am. Have a good evening Mr. Brown.” I go around him and went back to my table without looking back. My palms are sweating and my heart is beating fast.

There is only one thing on my mind now. “Get away from him, he will ruin things and he is a distraction.” I take a glass of champagne and drank it in one go. “Are you okay Miss Black?” asks the lady when I take another glass. “Yes, I am alright.” I down my second glass then sighed and look in the direction of the ladies. There he stood, looking at me making my heart boom in my chest as if it was going to jump out.

I need to stay away from this man or everything I have worked hard for will go down the drain because I can already feel that he will consume me if I get involved with him and I am not ready for that.