Page 24 of Below the Surface
“Yes.”
“What are you up to?” I ask.
“Let’s just say I plan to make this party interesting for us both.”
My heart races at the sultry tone of Piper’s voice. Jared can fuck himself. “I’m on my way.”
I'm relieved that Piper gave me an escape hatch from dealing with Jared. My interest in selling my company has increased since Piper and I became a couple. She makes me want to be a better version of myself. Not that I have low self-esteem. People assume because I'm a successful businesswoman in my early thirties, I must be driven by a lust for wealth or power. That isn'ttrue. I like a challenge. That much, I'll admit. I’ve worked hard to grow my company, often at the expense of my personal life. I’ve tried to give back to the community quietly. I don’t like to make appearances or have my name on plaques. To me, that smacks of simply trying to brand myself. When I give money or my time, I believe in a cause. I’ve kept my company local—not small—local. And I’ve done my best to employ talent from the area. Local merchants, contractors, artisans, and small businesses put their trust in me as a twenty-something newbie with no real experience to help them become successful. I owe it to them to give back.
I started my career by helping small businesses and independent contractors shape their brand image. I crafted their message for websites and advertisements to logos and letterheads. The bulk of my clientele is still comprised of small businesses and contractors. People might view that as small potatoes. A savvy businessperson knows that the most prominent corporations depend on small businesses to support them, whether to craft their goods, aid in their services, or complement their supply chain. It’s what makes my company attractive to prospective buyers. My talent is understanding something most people fail to recognize. A massive company’s brand perception can be altered, even ruined, by aligning with one vendor whose brand becomes tarnished. My success with the “small potatoes” led Fortune 500 companies to hire me to ensure their messaging aligns with their partners’. That’s my not-so-secret power. I can see through the exterior of messaging to the heart of intention. Businesses are like people. They wear masks. But companies and people are also different. The objective of any business is simple: be profitable. Some seek to achieve that on a grander scale than others. It’s my job to see past the façade of the people who walk into my office. Most enter determined to sell me bullshit narratives they think soundexciting and ethical. I need to listen through the noise and see past the polish to find what a company is all about. What are they willing to compromise to achieve success? That helps me shape their brand. And it allows me to keep their message aligned with anyone they hire or make them attractive so others will hire them.
People have more layers than the biggest corporations who seek help from my firm. I enjoy puzzling over people while I sip a drink at a club or one of Kelsey’s parties. It’s always frustrated me the way most people look at others through stereotypes. And people stereotype meall the time. Piper isn’t like that. I spent years dissecting her at a distance. We were always at a slight distance even when we were engaged in a conversation. She’s the most giving and kind person I know. That’s the reason I found it hard to imagine her taking a dominant role in a relationship, much less in the bedroom. The more time we spend together, the more it makes sense to me. She always tells me her days are filled with the unknown. She’s a trauma nurse in a children’s hospital. It takes a toll on her. The weariness pulls at the corners of her eyes. A lot of days, despite her best effort at work, she feels helpless. I think that’s part of the reason she prefers to maintain control during intimacy. She’s never said that—not directly. I understand her. At least, I think I’m coming to understand her.
As much as I like to study people, Kelsey’s parties sometimes unnerve me. This is the first party Kelsey has thrown since Piper and I started dating. And not even Kelsey knows how our relationship has deepened. I’ve kept that private and so has Piper. I’m in love with Piper. Completely. And I know she loves me. I also trust her more than I ever have another person. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am she’ll be with me tonight. I also suspect she’s planning something—something erotic—something that will push my limits. That excites me more than it unnerves me. I park my car and head inside to Piper’s kitchen.
“Bad day?” Piper asks.
I put my keys and bag on the counter and slip out of my coat. “No.”
“Cameron?”
I go to Piper and let her hold me.
“Hey,” she says. “Is this about that asshole, Jared Bennington?”
“I missed you,” I tell her. I hear Piper sigh. “I’m sorry, Piper.”
“Sorry? For missing me?”
“I don’t want to be that needy girlfriend.”
Piper grins. “Cam, I missed you, too. Do you want to skip Kelsey’s party?”
Yes. I do. I’d prefer to stay at Piper’s and watch a movie—alone. “We can’t,” I say. “It would hurt her feelings. I don’t know what prompted this party. Whatever it is, it’s important to her.”
Piper kisses my forehead. God, she’s so gentle. My grip on her tightens.
“Nervous about everyone learning we’re together?” Piper asks.
I pull back and smile. “No.”
“No?”
“No. But I don’t intend to answer anyone’s questions.”
Piper smiles. “Do you trust me?”
“More than I’ve trusted anyone in my life.” The expression on Piper’s face tells me she didn’t expect that reply. She looks—stunned. “It’s true,” I tell her. “I don’t want to listen to Kelsey?—”
Piper stops my words with a kiss. She understands. Kelsey’s friends tend to be open about their relationships. I prefer to keep what Piper and I share private. Kelsey views my desire for privacy as shame. I’m not ashamed of any part of my relationship with Piper. I’ll be the first to admit I can be unsure—hesitant. I’m not ashamed.
“I know some of Kelsey’s friends can be a bit over-the-top.”
“Do you think so?” I ask.
“I had planned something for tonight.”
“Don’t change your plans for us because I’m acting weird.”