Caribbean Dream

Chapter 3

Denari set out for Gold Keystone Marketing and she was nervous not only because she was going to be around new people but she was never this close to Malik before. As she stepped through the doors of the company, all eyes were on her. Men looked at her seductively as some women gave her a stink eye but she walked up to the front desk with all the courage she had. "Hi good morning, I am here to see Me. Carter" Denari said politely to the middle aged woman at the front desk.

"Okay, may I have your name please?" the lady asked. "Sure, my name is Denari Harris" she said as the lady's eyes lit up. "Oh Ms. Harris, we have been expecting you. I will tell sir that you are coming up. He is on the top floor" the woman smiled. "Thank you" Denari smiled as she followed the woman's instructions. When she reached the top floor, she knocked on the large wooden door. "Well hello there" Malik smirked as he noticed her. "Uhm, good morning" she said getting flustered all of a sudden. 'Keep it together Denari' she scolded herself.

"Come on in" he said as he made way for her to come in his office. His office was all white and very spacious and modern and Denari loved every inch of it. "Wow, your office is beautiful" she said in awe. "Thanks, I made sure that it was" he said. "Anyways, what are we going to do first?" Denari asked. "Well, we are going to a meeting and after that you will officially start working" he said. Denari nodded her head and followed him towards the meeting room. Denari felt the tension as they stepped into the meeting room. Apparently Malik wasn't the one to be played with.

"Good morning everyone, I would like you to welcome Ms. Harris as she will be going our team. She is a psychologist at the Moonshine Psychology Center and you should all treat her with respect and treat her like she is one of us. She will be staying with us for a while and I hope that you will all learn something from her after she's gone. Any questions?" Malik said. A young Caucasian male who looked like he was in his early 20s raised his hand. "Yes?" Malik answered. "Why do we need a psychologist?" he asked.

Denari noticed how annoyed Malik became so she decided to take the question. "Well, if I may answer, having a psychologist in marketing really takes you one step further in the game and the reason I say this is because we study the human mind and try to find out about their mentality and everything that revolves around that. It will also be easier to determine which age group will make your product go viral or make the top charts. That's why you have all kinds of psychologists but it's really the same principle just in a different setting" Denari explained as everyone sat in shock.

"Did that answer your question?" Denari asked the young man. "Yes Ms. Harris, it did thank you" he said. "Great. Anymore questions?" Denari asked. Then hands started flying up. After about 20 minutes, the meeting ended. "How did you get them to ask so many questions?" Malik asked. "Well, I guess it just comes naturally since I have been trained to reach people mentally" Denari said. "Well you certainly are very good at your job" he said. "Thanks" she smiled.
........

After work was done, she went home to get some rest before she prepared for Deshaun's party. When she woke up, she only had an hour before she had to leave. So she had a bath and put on a short black, lace dress that hugged her curves and her gold heels and her matching gold clutch. She did her makeup and headed over to Deshaun's. She was surprised to see that people we already there. "Nariiiiii" Laila squealed as she saw Denari. "Hey Lia" Denari smiled as she hugged her friend.

"Are Tiara and Jazmine here yet?" Denari asked. "No but they should be. Even though Jaz and Jayden are supposed to-" Laila said before covering her mouth. "Supposed to what?" Denari asked curiously. "I'm not supposed to say anything" Laila said. "Well you gave away some hints so I think you should just continue" Denari said. "I can't. I promised Jaz that I wouldn't say anything to you" Laila said before mentally cursing herself. "Why would she not want to tell me something? Laila, what's going on?" Denari asked getting upset.

"I can't I'm sorry" Laila said apologetically. "No I don't wanna hear that. I don't understand what you mean by that. We're keeping secrets or you all of you are keeping them but it's okay" Denari said before she walked away. She never liked getting upset with her friends. She tried to convince herself that it wasn't anything to worry about but curiousity was killing her. "Hey" Malik said as he walked up to Denari. He was wearing a white Tee-shirt and a pair of black jeans and a pair of biker boots. "Here, take a picture" he said handing her his phone as she kissed her teeth as he started to chuckle.

"What's wrong?" he asked noticing how sad she was. "Nothing" she said. "You sure?" he asked. "Yes, I am sure" she said trying to force a smile. "If say so but I am here for you if you need anything" he said. "I know" she smiled. After a few minutes, both Tiara and Jazmine came to the party along with Tavon and Jayden. "Hey Jayden" Denari said as she gave her brother a hug. "Hey lil sis you good?" he asked. "Yeah I'm okay. U?" she asked. "I'm great" he said as they all walked to where Deshaun was. He reserved a section for them only.

"So, what's going on?" Denari asked as Jazmine and Laila tensed. "In terms of what?" Jazmine asked nervously. "In terms of how you are doing? Is there something else wrong?" Denari asked. "No, not at all and I am great actually. How are you?" Jazmine asked. "I guess I am okay" Denari said. "Anyways, this party is too dull. Let's get this party started as Tiara grabbed Denari's hand and brought her to the dance floor. "Come on, you know I don't dance" Denari said. "I know for a fact that you got some moves" Tiara said. "But I don't want to" Denari said.

"Please?" Tiara begged. "Fine" Denari sighed as she danced with Tiara. Soon after, Laila and Jazmine joined them and they all danced to the music. All of a sudden, Denari felt a pair of hands slip around her waist. Malik watched as a random man started grinding against Denari and immediately he became jealous. "Could you please stop" Denari said trying to remove the man's grip on her waist. "Coke on baby, just relax" the man slurred. "Stop" Denari said feeling very uncomfortable. "Just relax hun" the man continued. She did want to make a scene and her friends were busy dancing to notice that she was in danger.

"Let go of me" Denari said getting scared. "Relax, damn" the man said getting more upset. "I said let me go" Denari said feeling the tears about to escape her eyes. "Let me go" she said as she tried to pull away from him but his arm tightened around her arm and she knew that there was going to be a bruise. "She said let her go" Jazmine said as the girls approached them. "I don't think this involves you so but out" the man snapped. "No, let go of me" Denari said as a tear escaped her eye.

"Nice try with the fake smiling" he said as he pulled her towards one of the guest rooms. "No, stop!" she yelled causing everyone to look towards them. "Stop making a scene" the man hissed. "She said to let her go" Malik said as he approached them. "Look man, this isn't your concern so fuck off" the man said. "You even know who I am?" Malik asked. "I don't give a shi-" the man was cut off by Malik as he held him in a chokehold. "If ever come near her again, I will kill you. And if even look at her, she will be the last thing you will ever see" Malik threatened as Jayden and Deshaun pulled him off the man. Denari then ran outside in tears from the embarrassment and pain as her friends went after her.

Hope you are enjoying the book so far. Chapter 4 will be out soon so stay tuned.