Sweet, Sweet Pursuit: A Sweet Treats Novel

by Arthurs, Nia

  “What’s with the interview questions? It’s unlike you.”

  Aunt Mae stood. “You were right earlier. I didn’t make all this fuss to find you simply because you didn’t come home last night. There’s something important that we need to do today.”

  “Okay.”

  “The cab is waiting downstairs.”

  The unspoken instruction to leave had Benson bolting out of the chair. He turned to Carrie and kissed her cheek. “I’ll call you.”

  “What are you doing?” Aunt Mae eyed him.

  Benson froze, confused.

  Aunt Mae crooked her finger. “You’re coming too, dear.”

  “M-me?”

  Instead of answering, Aunt Mae trotted through the door.

  Benson was sure he shared Carrie’s perplexed expression. His aunt had always been… straightforward, but this was the first time she’d barged into his girlfriend’s house demanding an audience with both of them.

  “I’m scared.” Carrie trembled.

  Benson was too, but he wouldn’t let it show. “She’s harmless.”

  “You’re more freaked out than I am. Don’t even try to deny it.”

  “Let’s just go.”

  “Wait, I need my purse.” She galloped back to her bedroom, mumbling, “And my pepper spray.”

  Benson threw his head back and laughed.

  * * *

  The cab dropped them off in front of a law firm. Just down the road was an all-girl’s high school. A bell rang, filling the air as they walked up the rickety steps leading to the law firm’s front door.

  Aunt Mae was being secretive and tight-lipped, but there was only one reason she’d rush him to a law firm.

  Stacie’s will.

  Aunt Mae wasn’t staying in Belize long, but he hadn’t expected them to expedite this process. He was just starting to accept that Stace was gone and the last thing he wanted to hear were her final words.

  Benson forced himself to keep going.

  They stepped into a spacious office where they were greeted by a petite woman with light brown skin and green eyes. She smiled and tilted her head, allowing her golden dreads to feather her shoulders. “Are you the Chois?”

  “Yes.” Aunt Mae nodded.

  The secretary’s eyes landed on Carrie. Benson saw the cloud of confusion pass through her gaze before she hid it with another smile and gestured. “Right that way.”

  Aunt Mae strutted as if she owned the place and confidently opened a door to their left. A man behind a compact mahogany desk shot to his feet as soon as he saw them. The plaque on the desk read Jevin Granville.

  Jevin had warm brown skin, long black dreads, and intelligent eyes hidden behind thick square glasses. His handshake was firm and Benson got the sense that he was a shrewd lawyer.

  “Welcome. Have a seat.” He gestured to the chairs.

  Benson noticed that there were only two seats available and reassured the man. “I’ll just stand.”

  “I can bring a chair in for you.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Thank you for stopping by on such short notice,” Jevin said, smoothing down his tie. “First, I’d like to offer my condolences. Stacie was a friend and I know she’ll be dearly missed.”

  Benson folded his arms over his chest. The lawyer wasn’t wrong, but the words felt trite when they were, obviously, here for more than his sympathy.

  As if reading his thoughts, Jevin smacked the desk and wheeled around to a cabinet. Shuffling through the files, he collected a document and propelled himself back to the desk. The move was child-like, yet his expression was serious and professional.

  “Now to what you’ve been called here for.” He slipped his fingers between the folder and snapped it open. “Miss Stacie Choi visited me a few weeks before she left Belize to arrange her estate.”

  “Do you think she had a sense that something would happen?” Aunt Mae clutched her chest.

  “I don’t know, ma’am. What I know is that she put things in place in the event of her passing and I have the stipulations right here.” He turned the document around and tapped Stacie’s signature. “The house on Berkely Street will be sold and all the proceeds will go to Mae Soo Choi.”

  “That’s me.” Aunt Mae raised her hand and started to sniffle. “That stubborn girl. Why would she prepare for death when she was so young?”

  Benson soothed his aunt’s back.

  “It’s okay,” Carrie murmured. Aunt Mae took Carrie’s hand and squeezed it gratefully. Benson smiled at the sight.

  “Now on to Hidden Reef.” Jevin cleared his throat. “The business is left to beneficiaries: Benson Choi and Carrie Lockwood.”

  Carrie jolted. “What?”

  Benson glanced at the lawyer. “She left it to the both of us?”

  “I’m curious.” Jevin eyed them. “When she came to make the amendment, Stacie seemed certain that you two would become a couple. She was almost giddy about it.” He studied Carrie. “Was she accurate?”

  Carrie looked at him.

  Benson smiled back, at a loss for words.

  Even after death, his noona still had to be right.

  26

  Carrie couldn’t believe Stacie had left her the club. She and Benson were now legal co-owners of a very successful business. Just like that. It didn’t seem real. Three days had passed and she still couldn’t understand it.

  “Earth to Carrie.” Sky waved her hands in front of Carrie’s face.

  She shook her head. “Sorry. Did you ask me something?”

  “To pass the brownies.” Sky gestured to the plate sitting on the counter next to her elbow.

  “Oh. Here.” Carrie shoved it.

  “What’s up with you?” Jo asked, picking a corner of her brownie slice off and tossing it into her mouth. “You were distracted since you walked in.”

  “Is it because of Benson?” Jewel teased.

  “No.” Carrie laughed. “And since when did you crack jokes, Jewel?”

  “I’m trying new things.”

  “Good for you.” Sky slapped Jewel’s back.

  Jo stared Carrie down. “Are you still having doubts about Benson? Is that why you’re acting weird?”

  “No. Benson and I are fine.”

  “When was the last time you talked to him?” Jo tipped her chin up in challenge.

  “This morning. He called me and we talked until he had to leave. He’s shuttling his aunt and uncle around while they’re here. Which is fine.” Carrie quickly added. “I’ve needed a few days to clear my head.”

  “Why?” Sky asked. She was lounging in a metal chair, one knee propped up and held closely to her chest.

  “Are you still upset about your boss’s death?” Jewel asked quietly.

  Immediately, the women stared at her in concern.

  “It’s not that.” Carrie waved them away. “I mean, I miss Stacie and I feel for Benson, but there’s more.”

  “Don’t drag it out,” Jo whined, throwing herself dramatically back.

  “Stacie left Hidden Reef to me. Well, me and Benson.”

  Jo barked out a laugh and then sobered when no one joined her. “Wait, you’re serious?”

  “Carrie, that’s fantastic.” Sky scrambled out of her seat and latched onto her neck, hugging her tightly.

  “Congratulations,” Jewel said, miming her applause.

  Carrie shifted in discomfort. “Is it? I mean, Stacie meant well, but I feel kind of smarmy about the whole thing. That night when I met Benson, I had no idea who he was. Now I own half a bar with him. It feels…”

  “Undeserved?” Jo guessed.

  “I don’t want people to look at me and think I’m a gold-digger or something. The truth is I’ve been working hard at Hidden Reef for over a year. Stacie depended on me, but is it enough to give the entire bar to me?”

  Jo nodded thoughtfully.

  Carrie added in a frustrated voice. “I keep telling myself to be grateful, but something inside me feels unsettled. Anyone who h
ears about this will assume that I’m benefiting from my relationship with Benson.”

  “As someone who’s dating her boss, I understand a little bit about that.” Jo gestured to her chest. “But at a certain point, you have to ignore what people say. You and Benson know the truth. Screw everyone else.”

  “It’s not that easy.”

  “Are you sure this is about public opinion and not just your heart telling you something?” Sky prodded.

  “My heart?”

  “Like you said,” Sky shrugged, “Stacie had a good reason for leaving the night club to you outside of your interest in Benson. You know that, but you’re still rejecting it. Which might mean something else.”

  “Have you talked to Benson about it?” Jo asked, tapping her feet on the floor.

  “No.” She sighed and sank deeper into her chair. “He’s still mourning Stacie and he thinks what she did was great. I feel like if I criticize it, even a bit, he’ll get hurt.”

  “You can give Benson a little more credit than that.” Sky arched an eyebrow.

  Carrie gnawed on her bottom lip and shook her head. “Let’s talk about something else.”

  “Something like what?” Sky asked.

  Carrie smirked. “When are you and Joon getting married?”

  “What?” Sky’s eyes bugged.

  “True.” Jo twisted her neck around to pin Sky with a mischievous smile. “How long have you guys been dating now? It’s about time.”

  “We were talking about Carrie and her issues. When did this become about me?”

  Everyone blinked expectantly.

  Sky rolled her eyes. “Joon and I will get married when we’re good and ready. We’re both really busy with our own businesses—”

  “Boo!” Carrie cupped her mouth and yelled.

  Sky gave her the stink eye and then deflected. “What about Jo and Sun Gi?” Sky nudged Jo with the toe of her shoe. “Do you plan on being your boyfriend’s secretary forever? When will you take the plunge and record an album?”

  “True!” Carrie gasped. “So many producers have asked about you. Once you say the word, I can make the connections like that.” She snapped her fingers.

  Jo’s light brown skin turned red. “Guys, you know how shy I am about my voice.”

  “Shy? After so many months singing on stage? No way.” Carrie folded her arms over her chest. “I don’t buy it.”

  “Stop pushing me to reach for my dreams and be a better version of myself,” Jo whined. “It’s annoying.”

  Carrie laughed evilly. “That’s called karma.”

  “Jewel!” Jo motioned to the quiet girl. “Don’t you have some news to share? Help me out here.”

  Jewel sat straight up and brushed the wrinkles out of her baggy shirt.

  “Leave her alone,” Sky scolded. “You know Jewel hates being put on the spot.”

  “I was just asking…” Jo murmured.

  Carrie watched Jewel intently. “You have something you want to share, Jewel?”

  Joana and Sky quieted down and looked in Jewel’s direction. The young girl ducked her head and said softly, “I’ve decided that I want to start making cooking videos.”

  Carrie blinked rapidly.

  Sky’s jaw dropped.

  Jo cleared her throat. “That’s… great. Are you—I mean… where did this come from?”

  “I talked to Carrie a few weeks ago.” Jewel glanced up and caught her eye. “And I realized that I don’t want to keep living in fear anymore. I love to cook and I’ve always wanted to be like Rachel Ray on TV with my own cooking show. I figured I might as well take it to the Internet and try there. No one might watch, which is a good thing because I’m terrified, but I still want to go for it.”

  There was a moment of silence.

  And then…

  “I love it!”

  “Fantastic!”

  “You’ll do great, Jewel!”

  “Really?” Her stunning face lit up.

  “Yup.” Carrie nodded. “You got this.”

  “So do you.” Jewel said, offering a bright smile.

  “You know what? I think I will talk to one of those music producers, Carrie.” Jo planted her hands on her hips.

  “You’re kidding!” Carrie squealed.

  “Hold your horses, gorgeous. I’m just considering it. There won’t be any contracts or promises yet.”

  “But it’s a step.” Carrie glanced at Jewel and winked. “Sometimes, you just gotta take that first step.”

  “I love this, potential being realized.” Sky threw her head back and inhaled deeply.

  Jo touched her shoulder. “Carrie, if anyone makes a comment about you dating Benson, just let me know. I’ve always wanted to key someone’s car in the dead of night.”

  “My gosh, you’re insane.”

  Sky flipped her hair over her shoulder. “We know.”

  Carrie took courage from her friends’ advice and from Jewel’s brave step to embrace the world that had been so cruel to her. If the shy woman who could barely speak a word was getting on camera and exposing her cooking skills to the Internet, Carrie could suck it up and talk to Benson about her concerns.

  * * *

  Carrie couldn’t do it.

  Benson sat across from her around one of the tables at Hidden Reef. His hands moved back and forth as he spoke, “Car, just imagine. We can pour some serious money into advertising. We’ll fly in huge artists to make guest appearances. It’s clear from the way the clientele respond to Jo’s Nightingale persona that they’re here for music as well as our other offers. We get them through the door and baam!”

  Carrie jumped. “Yeah, that’s great, Benson.”

  He studied her. “Something’s wrong.”

  “No, it’s not that.” She avoided his gaze. “I have to talk to you.”

  “I’m listening.”

  Carrie took in a deep breath. “I get that you’re excited about running the club—”

  “Running the club with you.”

  “Right.” She dug her fingernail into a groove in the table. “But I’m not sure that’s what I want to do.”

  He tilted his head, eyebrows slanting. “I don’t understand.”

  “I’ve been wrestling with this since we left the lawyer’s office last week. I’m honored that Stacie would leave the bar to me. It means a lot to know that she would trust me with her baby, but—”

  Benson looked like he was struggling to understand her and his caring expression only made it harder to say. They hadn’t talked face-to-face lately, but every time he brought up running Hidden Reef with her, he’d sounded so excited.

  Carrie had been dragging her foot on telling him how she truly felt, but when he’d showed up unexpectedly at closing tonight, she knew that running was no longer an option.

  “Benson, I don’t want Hidden Reef,” she blurted.

  His piercing eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand…”

  Carrie swallowed nervously. “It’s been tearing me up inside. I don’t want to seem like I’m spitting in the face of Stacie’s legacy. I love this place, I really do, but getting the keys and being told I can do whatever I want with it made me realize that managing a bar isn’t what I was meant to do, it isn’t what I want to do, for the rest of my life.”

  Benson went quiet. “Are you… quitting?”

  “No.” She tucked a lock of hair behind an ear and squeaked, “I’ve actually been toying around with the thought of going back to school. I’d still work here after.”

  Benson reached out and held her hand. “Okay.”

  “Okay?” Her heart thudded.

  “I think that’s great.”

  She inhaled a deep, relieving breath. “Really?”

  “Stacie didn’t leave this place to you so she could chain you to it. Hidden Reef is her gift. No strings attached.”

  “I was worried about what you would think. You’ve been so determined to make Hidden Reef the hottest club and you were planning how we’d get it done togeth
er and I thought you’d be disappointed.”

  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, keeping his gaze on hers. Carrie trembled at the feel of his mouth brushing against the back of her skin. Benson looked so hot in that moment that she almost melt into a puddle of desire.

  “Whatever you do, whatever you choose, I’ll support you. The only thing I want is for you to be happy.” He smiled. “As long as those plans include me being right here, holding this hand, I’ll be good.”

  “Aw.” Carrie leaned over the table and kissed him. When they separated, she murmured, “Can you be any more perfect?”

  “Yes.” He produced two tickets from his back pocket and brandished it in front of her eyes. They were round trip tickets to the island of San Pedro. “I know I’ve been distracted with my aunt and uncle lately, but this weekend, I’m going to take you away so I can have you all to myself.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Carrie crooned, leaning forward to reward him for his grand gesture.

  “But first—” Benson pulled back—“Aunt Mae wants to meet with you. Officially.”

  Her heart plummeted. “Benson…”

  “What?” He grinned broadly. “My aunt loves you.”

  “Your aunt saw me in nothing but her nephew’s shirt the first time we met. She probably thinks I’m some hoochie-mama—”

  Benson snorted. “Say that again?”

  “Shut up.” Carrie pushed his chest. “You know how intimidating she is. Besides, I’ve seen the K-dramas. The mama always threatens the male character’s love interest by tossing water in her face.” She reached for her hair. “I just got this weave. I can’t afford to get it wet.”

  “You’re going to be fine,” Benson insisted

  Carrie glared at him with a scowl on her face. Yeah, she wasn’t so sure about that.

  27

  Carrie adjusted her dress and turned away from the mirror she’d dragged into her living room to shoot him a nervous glance. “What do you think of this one?”

  “Beautiful.”

  “Benson, you didn’t even look at me.”

  He glanced away from his laptop, confirming what he already knew. “I stand by my statement.”