Chapter 2

Caleb took a deep breath and made his way to Marcus who hugged him and sat down. Marcus glanced at Mr. Tuscanni, he was looking pleased with his gift bag and when he sat at the head of the table, everyone went quiet.

"I'm sold, yay or nay."

All hands were raised.

Marcus and Caleb beamed knowing this was their dream come true. Marcus had told Caleb what he wanted to do from college and he was in it all the way. Congratulations were offered, the ladies intermingled with the members answering questions about their own personal experiences with the product.

When all the excitement died down and only Marcus, Caleb and Mr. Tuscanni were left, the boys sat down, in a daze.

"Sir, I can never thank you enough for this opportunity. I won't let you down."

"I have to tell you a secret Marcus, I was going to fund your project with or without the board. I just needed you to be confident in your own product to present it to them and they have influence on markets around the world. You have done well. I want a new contract, I will take the 25% until the initial investment is paid off and from the looks of it you should be able to do that in a year’s time. I am handing over the line to do as you see fit, I would suggest you stick to the plan you already have, it is sound. Don't get cocky, markets change on you and you don’t want to be caught with a dead product on your hands. I am here if you need help with anything. Now, I am going home and give this gift to my wife, if it's as good as you say, expect a baby in 9 months."

The men all laughed and shook hands again.

Two years later, Marcus and Caleb stood on the top floor of BP's corporate office. Everything had gone as predicted, women were buying up Black Passion like crazy. They had bought an old plant site at the end of their first year and now employed 2000 staff. The factory was located in a complex on the property but you had to drive to get from one building to the other. Their secretary knocked on the door and when she pushed it, a man with a toddler stepped in from behind her.

"Mr. Tuscanni, how good to see you and how is my god-son doing today?"

"Horsey!"

Asani Marcus Tuscanni got down from his father's arms and ran to Marcus, who picked him up, twirled him on his back and ran all over the office screaming like two madmen.

"Okay, enough you two, geeze Marcus you spoil him rotten. I was in the neighbourhood and decided to pop in and see my two favourite boys. All is well?"

"Yes sir, we introduced two new products in the last 3 months and sales are up and climbing. If this continues we will have to get a new plant and setup another HQ in another state. We have tripled sales in every state in the US. Canada sales are climbing as well. Right now we have the market locked but I want to broaden the scope a bit and add something extremely different. Don't know what that is yet but I will think of something."

"Take a vacation, that always helped me in the past and still does, don't work all the time, it's not healthy." Tuscanni smiled.

"Duly noted Sir."

"Okay Asani, time to go, say by to God-Father and Uncle Caleb."

"Buh bye." Asani giggled.

"Vacation? Where would you like to go?"

"Barbados, I hear the beaches are awesome and the people are friendly. We can leave in a week after we see the models for the next product line."

"Done, Barbados it is."

Over the next week the boys made preparations to take a week off and have some fun. They had been working for two and a half years and this would let them take the pressure off for a bit.

On the day of the model screening Caleb was on his way to get some coffee from the snack table and a woman passed behind him wearing a familiar scent. He spun around spilling coffee on his shirt to look at her. He almost dropped the cup and what was left in it when he caught sight of the graceful way she walked. She did not have the sought after physique of the average model. Her breasts were ample. Her hips were broad and attached to a backside that made Caleb’s mouth water. Her shoulder length natural plaits were thick and look like short pieces of shiny black rope attached to her scalp. She made her way over to the sign up desk and took a seat amongst the other models.

Marcus saw her as well and he was about to approach her when he saw Caleb's face and quickly changed his mind. Caleb was a shy fellow and usually the ladies hung all over Marcus so if Caleb was interested, he would let him have a go. Just then the young woman looked up and saw Caleb staring at her and she blushed and looked away.

Caleb looked at Marcus and pressed two fingers over his heart and raised an eyebrow. Marcus nodded. Caleb stood in the center of the room and got everyone's attention.

"Ladies, I have a few questions for you, this will determine how far you get today. You each have an application form, write your answers on the back and hand them to Mr. Waithe. If the answer to the first question is none please leave."

"What Black Passion product are you wearing right now?"

All the women except one began writing. Caleb smiled inside. YES!

The women began filing out shaking their heads. The natural haired beauty was left.

Caleb continued asking questions as if nothing happened.

"How many products does Black Passion currently offer?"

"What is the relationship between Mr. Waithe and me?"

"Why should Black Passion hire you?"

"Would you like to go out on a date?"

The young lady continued to write on the paper. When she was finished she handed the sheet to Marcus and went back to her seat. Marcus looked at the answers and laughed out loud.

"Ms. McKonnie, you have the job, it seems my esteemed effendi has lost his tongue now. We will be contacting you soon."

"Thank you Mr. Waithe, Mr. Adams, have a good day." Jylyan stood up, shook hands with Marcus but when she reached out to shake Caleb's hand, he did something that shocked all three of them in the room. Caleb took Jylyan in his arms and kissed her as if she were the last woman on earth. When he broke the kiss and let her go she staggered back and so did Caleb. Marcus was staring at the two of them with his mouth open.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, oh geeze." Caleb went over to a chair and plunked down in it.

"It seems we have two options Mr. Adams, either you fire me or stay away from me, I won't date my boss." With that she left without a backward glance.

"Help me out Marcus. She could sue us for sexual harassment. God what got into me? Marcus, hello, snap out of it man. I'm dying here."

"Marry her Caleb. I have never seen you lose control and she didn't back down either. She is beautiful, smart too with her answers, why did you pick her for the job anyway?"

"She was the only one who wore one of our products, I got a whiff when she walked by me. I'm in love Marcus, I feel drugged. We can't fire her, she is perfect for our image."

"I agree with that, she is humble too, not stuck up at all and she is a natural in every way, not even wearing any make up and she is a bombshell. Tell you what, we don't have any rules written or otherwise about dating staff and if we did I would make an exception. Go after her and get the best of both worlds."

Marcus wondered if he would ever feel that way with a woman, still a virgin at 24 and he really wasn't interested in having a girlfriend right now anyway. They wrapped up business for the day and went home to pack for their trip to the sunny island of Barbados.

On the way to their airport Caleb was talking to Jylyan on his cell.

"Promise you will be here when I get back. I'm not letting you go and neither is the boss. Promise me Jylyan. Great, we are almost at JFK, I will call you during the week. Okay bye."

"Hooked, you poor sob."

"If you think that's bad, wait “til you hear what her expectations are."

"I'm already intrigued."

"She said she doesn't want me to treat her like how men treat models, as if they are just clothes hangers, she has feelings and if I can't respect her in all ways, don't start. She can afford to pay for whatever she wants and does not expect me to lavish her. If we decide to make a go of it, she won't tolerate me being with any other woman and if I do decide to, I have to be man enough to let her go first."

"When's the wedding?"

"That's another thing, she won't have sex with any man but her husband, and if we can date for a year she would consider marriage if we are on the same page."

"Right...... so when's the date?" Marcus laughed.

"If she says yes in a year, 6 months after that. I can hold out for as long as she wants."

"I'm glad for you Caleb, you deserve happiness."

"So do you buddy, you will find someone too."

"Maybe, my friend, maybe."

They got onto the plane and settle in for their 4 and a half hour trip to a week of bliss. Caleb drifted off to sleep and Marcus spent the next few hours planning the next promotion for BP. Just as the captain spoke a Flight Attendant walked by Marcus' seat and he glanced up to see a pair of green eyes staring back at him.

"You need to put on your seatbelt sir, we have begun our descent."