Code-Switching

CODE-SWITCHING

by

ZENA WYNN

© 2020

A Real Love Enterprises Publication

ISBN 978-1-7333670-4-2

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Code-Switching

Copyright © 2020 by Zena Wynn

Cover art: Shirley Burnett

Editor: Vivienne Williams

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Real Love Enterprises, PO Box 12003, Jacksonville, FL 32209.

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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

CODE-SWITCHING

Code-Switching: (noun) The act of purposely modifying one's language or behavior in different ways depending on social context.

The coolly elegant Catherine Brown is just the woman I need to take my career to the next level. She’s everything I could want in a corporate wife—attractive, well-bred and refined. Like me, Catherine has an Ivy League education, a strong work ethic, and a driving need to succeed. After working closely with her for the last five years, and three months of exclusive dating, I’m confident I’ve learned all I need to know. I asked Catherine to marry me and patiently gave her the time she requested to decide. Then, a family emergency causes Catherine to reveal a side of her nature I had no idea existed. She’s trying her best to keep me out of it, but I’m determined to stick to her like glue. You see, Catherine may be the perfect corporate wife, but Tikki is my perfect match.

Foreword

In my research of Motorcycle Clubs, I came across several wedding vows used by bikers. Unfortunately, I forgot to write down my sources. When I Googled biker wedding vows again to give the authors credit, I couldn’t locate all of them. If any line or lines of the vows I wrote sound familiar, this is the reason why.

One source was https://ezinearticles.com

Another was Biker Wedding Ceremony by Chaplain Fellowship Ministries.

There were many, many more articles and Pinterest posts I read, and Youtube videos I watched to get the tone and flavor for the vows I created for my characters. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter One

Zach

We sat around the conference table on the 10th floor of Berkley-Adams, a Fortune 500 advertising agency. I gave half an ear to a presentation from our sales and marketing team on an ad campaign they’d devised for our approval. The Scarsdale account was a lucrative one that if won, would gain us prestige and hefty bonuses. As such, the campaign should have garnered my full attention.

How can she sit there so calm and composed?

Catherine Brown, the Vice President of Marketing, sat across the wide mahogany table from me. As always, she was perfectly coifed and dressed in a modest business pantsuit that still managed to be feminine on her slender but curvy frame. Her hair was pulled back into an elegant chignon. Her makeup was expertly applied with a light hand to give her natural attractiveness a subtle boost. When she spoke, her voice was low-keyed and articulate, lacking any sort of accent.

In contrast, despite my laid-back impression, I was about to crawl out of my skin with anticipation. Only manners and an ingrained sense of professionalism kept me from dragging her out of the conference room and demanding an answer to my proposal. It had been three days. How much longer was she going to make me wait?

Catherine was everything I wanted in a corporate wife—elegant, well bred, refined, and she possessed an Ivy League education. Like me, she had a strong work ethic and a driving need to be successful. At the age of twenty-six, she’d proven it by becoming the second youngest person to be promoted to the position of vice president in Berkley-Adams’ history. I was the youngest, having been promoted at age twenty-five to my current position of vice president of sales three years ago.

Our positions meant Catherine and I had worked closely together for the last two years. Together, we made a good team. Three months ago, we’d begun dating. She was a classy lady. The type you courted with roses and flowers. Employees and management loved her. Catherine was just the woman I needed to take my career to the next level.

Last Friday night, I’d arrived on her doorstep with a dozen, long-stemmed, rainbow roses. We’d eaten dinner at a high-class restaurant with a month-long waitlist, unless you had the right connections. I did. Next, I presented her with tickets to a live Broadway show she’d mentioned in passing wanting to see. After the show, I’d taken her to a quiet spot near the Hudson River and had gone down on one knee, open ring box in hand. Catherine, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?

Her gaze bounced back and forth between the ostentatious diamond engagement ring and me for long, silent minutes. After what felt like a lifetime of waiting, just when I began to think she wouldn’t respond, she said, Do you mind if I take a few days to think about it? This caught me by surprise. I had no idea you were thinking in terms of marriage.

The part of me that wanted to seal the deal told me to push for an answer now. Instead, I said, Sure. Take as much time as you need.

Now I sat wondering what had I done wrong? Everything had been executed perfectly—flowers, dinner and a show, and a nice romantic setting for the proposal. Hell, I’d even knelt down on one knee like they do in the movies. The night couldn’t have been more romantic.

The soft buzz of a vibrating cellphone interrupted my thoughts. Catherine’s gaze flicked down and read the screen. She calmly swiped the decline button, sending the call to voicemail. A few seconds later, the phone buzzed again. This time I caught the faint narrowing of her eyes and the hint of annoyance in her expression when she declined it.

The third