Free Black Pearl by Tiffany Patterson Page A

announcements,” he said before turning and walking away.
    Devyn stood in the spot he left her trying to control her breathing. The image of her naked, writhing beneath Nikola as he thrust deep inside her, ignited her entire body. She briefly closed her eyes in an attempt to calm her arousal. Opening her eyes, she realized she was still standing in the spot he left her in, and was the only single person on the dance floor. She turned to a waiter who was passing and grabbed a glass of champagne, needing something to cool her still flaming core. Swallowing the bubbly liquid she began exiting the dance floor towards the table of co-workers she sat with earlier. She made her way to the table and chatted with them for a few minutes, before she felt a hand at her back.
    “Sorry everyone, but I have not had the pleasure of dancing with one of the most beautiful women in the room tonight. You all don’t mind if I borrow her for a few minutes, do you?” Devyn looked up to see a smiling Andre. She looked around him.
    “Only if your date doesn’t mind,” she said playfully.
    “She will be fine. But I won’t if I don’t get at least one dance with the one person who made this event the success it is,” Devyn rolled her eyes as Andre stuck out his hand.
    “I am hardly the one who put all of this together,” she said giving him her hand and following him to the dance floor.
    “You and Nikola seem to be getting on well.” Devyn grew nervous at his comment.
    Did he know that she and Nikola had something going on? She didn’t even know what to call it. They’d kissed a few times and done other... stuff , but they weren’t lovers, were they? Did Nikola tell Andre about them? She certainly didn’t want word getting around the office. Gossip was rampant in any office, and she tried to keep her personal life to herself. Then there was how cliché it all was—an administrative assistant having some sort of office affair with the CEO of the company. She didn’t want people in the office talking about her as if she was some sort of gold digger just looking for a rich bachelor to come along and take care of her. She also didn’t want whatever was going on between her and Nikola to affect her working relationship with Andre. They got along very well and in spite of his charming personality, she knew his flirtation was innocent.
    “I mean, you two at least refer to each other by your first names now. I told him it wasn’t a big deal to call our employees by their first names and allow them to do the same, but you know him. Well, maybe you don’t know him, but he’s a bit of a stickler when it comes to what’s appropriate in the office…” Andre continued to ramble on and Devyn breathed a sigh of relief. It seems he didn’t know what was going on between her and Nikola.
    Devyn had every intention of keeping it that way. She did not plan on going home with Nikola tonight. She would just avoid him for the rest of the evening. Considering how busy he was, and how impatient everyone was to speak with the CEO of Excel, she had no doubt he would be too preoccupied to notice her slipping out at end of the evening.
     

Chapter 12
    Nikola walked up behind Devyn. He had seen her walk into the silent auction area. She was eyeing a painting of the African sunset featuring a large tree, and under it roamed elephants and giraffes. She picked up the paper with the bidding prices on it and frowned. Nikola hated seeing that look of disappointment on her face.
    “You like that painting?” He asked stepping behind her. She jumped.
    “I didn’t hear anyone come in.” He smiled.
    “I’m sorry, I forget how quiet I am sometimes. Do you like this painting?” He asked nodding at the painting behind her. Devyn turned and put the bidding sheet down.
    “I uh, yes. It’s very pretty. I was just looking to see how the bidding was going. I’m going to go make sure everything is set up for the announcement,” she said sidestepping Nikola and