Obsession Made Me Do It

Obsession Made Me Do It (Sample)

Chapter One

Iman

Iman's dainty, well-manicured hand latched onto the small, deeply-ridged white cup as she brought it to her lips, taking a sip of her guilty pleasure: café con leche from the family-owned eatery next to her office.

Setting the cup down, the warmth from the coffee settled in the pit of her stomach, producing a smile. Next to the small cup was her archenemy: a guava and cheese pastellito. As delectable as the pastries were, she would hate the extra time she'd have to commit to at the gym to maintain her well-stacked figure.

God, why do carbs have to be so bad, yet taste so fucking good? she thought, taking the final bite of the flaky treat.

Hands cleaned from the stickiness the pastellito had left behind, she tapped her keyboard, prepared to draft an email for her graphic designer, Brittney Jones. Brittney of BeeLJay Creative had been her go-to graphic designer for years, and with a new business soon to launch, she needed her magic.

Iman was what some would call a serial entrepreneur. Having spent most of her college career, and afterward, as an intern-turned-employee at the illustrious Crystallized Editing LLC, she dabbled in editing, ghostwriting, and publishing for a few years, helping authors create a name for themselves in the literary field. Now, however, she had taken a step back from helping others achieve their dreams and was focused on building an empire of her own.

In just under five years, she had founded one of the most notable real estate brands in Miami, and the southern region of Florida, Brix & Brix Realty. Between buying, selling, and flipping property, Iman had earned a sizable living, and the figures in her accounts continued skyrocketing.

After checking the email for grammatical errors, something she'd become accustomed to doing, she hit send and closed the tab on her HP Envy desktop.

Allowing the leather cushioned seat to massage her body, she looked around her office in a daze. It still shocked her that this was her life. Having come from a less-than-favorable background, she beat the odds that were stacked against her and had done what many deemed impossible.

"Knock, knock," Damiana, Iman's assistant, and close friend, said before entering the office, sporting her signature look: a curly top knot bun with tendrils framing her face, bright lipstick, and vibrant clothing that matched her personality flawlessly.

Damiana was stunning. She'd fair better as a curvy model or a brand ambassador for one of the companies who routinely sponsored influencers on social media, but she was the least bit interested in that lifestyle. Damiana and Iman had known one another since childhood, and there was nowhere she'd rather work than with her best friend, who was more like a sister.

"You have a meeting at ten to finalize the new décor for the restaurant, which is set to open in a little less than two months. You also have a meeting at noon with the contractor to finalize the blueprints for the new spa," she said, flipping through the stack of papers in her hand.

"Thanks, Dami, I appreciate you."

"I know, chica, what would you do without me?" Dami caroled, striding over to the slate gray door with ease. "Oh! Husbae called. He said he tried your cell, but you didn't answer. You know how he worries, so you might want to call before he shows up, kicking doors down. Culo loco!" Damiana urged, referring to Iman's husband of five years, Yaro.

Chuckling, Iman still found it amusing how easily Damiana switched from English to Spanish. Having been born and raised in the Dominican Republic before moving to Miami, she effortlessly returned to her native tongue.

Iman reached over to her oversized tote, searching for her phone to give her beau a call back. He was overprotective, and a bit crazy, so she knew Damiana was right. She needed to call him ASAP, or she'd have to call Mr. Fix It, again.