A Billionaire's Obsession 2 (BWWM Interracial Romance): His Urges (3 page)

CHAPTER 5

The Lampros yacht building warehouse is transformed.
Melaine,
and her team have elegantly converted the
brick and mortar compound into a location fit for Royalty. Red, black and gold
is tastefully draped in just about every corner. Two large completed yachts -
ready to be shipped out - fill out the majority of the w
arehouse. Guests partake in part of the formal reception, on one yacht,
while they have the opportunity to tour the other. The entrance of the
warehouse is laden with a red carpet, and adorned with a humungous Step Repeat
Banner displaying "Lampros Yatchts
" and
"Lampros Enterprises" artistically.

Patrons are arriving, and Renee completes checking on the
motion graphics, on each of the fifteen screens throughout, just in time. She
stands in the yacht,
that is prepared to receive tours, twitching, and fidget
ing in her long black designer gown. It exposes her left
shoulder, and she is decorated with gold accessories. Melaine ensured that her
voluminous hair was blown out, and fashionably styled into a French braid that
encompassed the circumference of her head
. Thus she
resembled a Greek goddess. Her professionally done makeup enhances her high
cheek bones, and tiny dimples, and her lips beam a bright red.

"Well, don't you look spectacular!" Nicholas
tells Renee when he sees her. Renee blushes.  

"Thanks Nick
. This is more
than I'm used to." Renee replies sheepishly.

"Well, it suits you." He confirms.

"You don't look too bad yourself." Renee tells
him. Nicholas becomes equally bashful as a result of the compliment. "You
don't have to say that, but thanks!" Ni
cholas is
appropriately suited in a rented tuxedo. His usually spiked up hair lays neatly
on his scalp. He came to impress.

"Are your motion graphics good?" He asks Renee
with a broad smile.

"Thank God! They're all running smoothly. Thanks so
much for yo
ur help Nick."

"Sure! Any
time." Nick responds.

"Renee...Nick, the ceremony is about to begin. Get
your butts down to the floor. Amanda dictates. She is striking in a short red
dress with a long train. Her hair is pulled up in a traditional French roll. Am
anda hustles her teammates, and now friends, down to the
main floor of the warehouse which is decoratively furnished with a stage,
podium and microphone.

Caspian Lampros starts off the speeches. He is ecstatic,
and proud at the same time. He thanks everyon
e
involved, and gives a special acknowledgement to Melaine Nordstrom. "Oh, I
just wish I could put her in my pocket." He says when describing how
integral she was to the success of the re-launch. He also mentions her team,
referring to them as her "Dream T
eam".

"I liked them from the start. Melaine sure knows how
to pick good ones." Caspian winks at Renee who is standing near the front,
behind Melaine. Her face begins to feel warm. Amanda begins to chuckle. Finally
Caspian introduces, "the man who I trust w
ith my
life...Ok, well maybe just with my business." Laughter erupts through out
the audience.
The laughter dies down, and Caspian completes his
introduction of Colin, who takes the stage to say a few words.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the branding, marketing,
and public relations genius himself, Mr. Colin
Winston."

Renee's mouth gaps slightly open. She had absolutely no
idea that Colin would return for the event. She imagined, he might at some
point, but she dispelled the thought when Melaine calmly replied, "
No...no feedback from Mr. Winston." whenever one of
the staff asked. Her eyes become affixed on the tall man who looks like he has
just walked out of a men's wear catalog for extremely rich men. His tuxedo fits
impeccably. His shoulders appear even wider,
and the
black, white, and red plaid handkerchief in his upper jacket pocket is
particularly suave, as far as Renee is concerned.
No, no, no! Stop staring Renee!
She warns herself. She looks around, and
as expected, every other woman in the room is salivati
ng
over the attractive gentleman with the perfectly
coiffured
sandy brown hair, and the baritone
voice.

Renee stares at her feet for the remainder of Colin's
speech. As soon as he's finished, both Colin, and Caspian is mobbed by well
wishers, and glamorou
s looking women alike. Renee
sneaks off to check on each screen again, and decides to get lost in her work.
From screen, to screen she manages to dodge Amanda, Nick, Melaine, and Marina.
Renee circulates until she returns to the yacht used for the tours. S
he enters as quietly as possible, trying not to interrupt
the Lampros Yachts personnel
currently hosting the tour. Renee stands
at the back of the group for the entire duration. She plays with the gold
bracelet on her right hand, while listening attentivel
y
to the information being delivered by the tour guide.

Soon the tour end
s, and the yacht empties out. The video
created by Nicholas, and his team now plays on the screens. Renee stands near
one of the screens on the yacht, and patiently waits for her pre
sentation to return. She stands with her back to the
yacht's entrance. Suddenly, Renee hears footsteps approaching. She spins around
assuming it's Nick.

"Great work Nick..." Renee's mouth gaps slightly
open, once again. She freezes. "Um, what...um, hello M
r. Winston." Renee looks around Colin to see if he had
an entourage.

"Hi Renee. It's just me." He says smiling.
Renee's bright brown eyes widen and she swallows hard. "And remember, it's
just Colin." He continues. Renee tries to talk but the words are not
coming out of her mouth. "It's okay...I know my
appearance is a surprise." Colin says to break the awkward silence. Renee
looks everywhere else on the yacht except, at Colin.

She does look down at her feet, and at Colin's and notices
that he is a safe dis
tance away.

"You've done a tremendous job Renee!
Congratulations!" Colin says. Renee smiles awkwardly.

"Thank you." She replies shyly.

"I always knew you had this sort of...um, greatness in
you. That day you presented for our first "Caspian Meeting", I wa
sn't sure what to think but the passion...the awareness...I
knew we were in good hands. Colin states, as eloquently as possible. Renee
doesn't buy it.

"Thanks. It was a team effort." She replies
robotically without giving him
any eye contact.

Colin looks
at Renee. He knows
she doesn't believe he is being sincere. He takes two steps forward toward her.
Renee swallows nervously.
Gulp

"Thank you for your comment. I have to check the
screens." Renee says in rapid succession, and turns back around to face
the
presentation screen.

Colin steps beside her. "Do you know how beautiful you
are?" He tells her softly. Renee tries to remain composed. She inhales the
odor of his cologne. She tries to remain calm. Colin extends his left hand, and
holds tightly onto her
right hand.

"I think you're the most beautiful woman I have seen
in a long time. I am drawn to you. I'm drawn to your passion...your
determination...your creativity." Colin unfolds. Renee bravely looks up
at Colin's profile. She still questions
his motives
. Then she looks at his hands over her
own.
This doesn't make sense. Why would he want me?
Renee pulls her hand out of Colin's
grasp, and he lets her. Colin turns to face Renee.

"I don't want to hurt you Renee." Colin
immediately tells her. Renee shakes h
er head and
faces him too.

"You may say that now, but you will." Renee
replies firmly.

"I understand. You don't believe my words are sincere
because of my reputation?"

"Exactly!" Renee replies. "I refuse to be
anyone's 'flavor of the month'!" Renee procl
aims.
Colin cannot help but chuckl
e. Renee's way with words is
entertaining, and attractive to him. However, he soon becomes quite sober.

"Renee, I simply can't get you out of my mind. I wish
I could. Probably then I could move on." He confesses.

"Oh I se
e. So you would like
me to succumb to your charm...give in, so that you can be free to move onto the
next girl. Is that it?" Renee quips.

Colin sighs loudly. "No, that is not it." Colin
replies, beginning to establish his case. "You know my reputation. It
takes no effort for me to charm, and even seduce several
ladies at the same time. Yet, I yearn for just one. I'm drawn to just you
Renee." Colin declares. Renee can't believe what she's hearing is the
truth. She studies Colin's face, and he waits patientl
y.
She can have all the time she needs.
Colin determines. Renee looks into
Colin's green eyes for a flicker of deception. She waits for him to look away,
and studies his body language. Then she comes to her own conclusion.

"So, are you at that phase in you
r life where you want to know what being with a black woman
would be like?" Renee asks bluntly. Colin throws his head backwards and
releases a
raucous
laugh. Renee continues to stare at him. She was somewhat
offended that he would consider her legitimate q
uestion,
a joke. She turns to begin to walk away. Colin gently grabs hold to her left
wrist. Renee is startled.

"Renee...wait...please. Let me explain." Colin
says apologetically. Renee twists her wrist out of Colin's clasp. She
is confused by the entire
situation, but stands still to wait for Colin's
explanation. Colin swallows hard. He can sense Renee's discomfort, and would
genuinely like to repair that.

"Renee, I have dated black women in the past. I have
also traveled the world on numerous occasions
where I
have experienced, and lived among many varied cultures. I'm not as shallow as
you think." Colin explicates. Renee
continues looking over Colin's face in
silence. She ponders just how many women he has slept with, and imagines what
their precise bac
kground was. Suddenly, like a burst
bubble her thoughts dissipate, she returns to reality.

"So, does that mean I should
be added to that number like a
collection of beads on a charm bracelet?" Renee tells Colin pointedly.
"I think not!" Renee begins to wa
lk away.
Colin doesn't stop her.
Keep going Renee. Don't be conflicted by
that handsome chiseled face. You can't afford to be hurt again!
She takes two more steps forward then
stops abruptly, and looks back. Colin smiles sweetly. Renee's heart begins to
ra
ce so fast that she feels as though it will
explode. Colin motions toward Renee. She wants to flee but her feet wouldn't
cooperate with her brain.
Colin stands toe to toe with Renee. He
takes both of her hands into his. Renee can't speak. It's as though he
r heart is in her throat. She breathes heavily. Colin moves
his large hands up her chocolate, muscle toned arms. Renee is shaking. Yet her
feet still feel like clay. Colin's left hand now softly touches her face. Renee
instinctively tilts her head and lean
s into Colin's
hands. Her head only reaches his chest. Renee looks up in Colin's eyes.

"You're beautiful." Is all Colin says when their
eyes meet. Renee looks down at their feet lined up closely together, and
suddenly wakes up,
as though from her dream. "
I
can't do this! I can't be here...with you...not like this!" She forcibly
pulls away from Colin. He is reluctant to let go, but eventually does. Renee
walks backwards, away from Colin, for a few steps then turns, and runs away.
She runs out of the yacht,
and down to the main
floor. Renee realizes that security detail stood at the entrance of the yacht
to prevent anyone from going on board.

Renee runs in search of the nearest restroom. Her eyes are
welling up with tears, and her heart continues to beat rap
idly.
What is happening to me?
Flashes on the neon sign of her brain.
"Get yourself together Renee! You're still at work!" She whispers to
herself as she enters the Ladies Room, specially constructed for the event.
Renee looks around to ensure that she is
alone in the
bathroom. She stares at herself in the mirror.