The world’s starting to spin, my weak feel knees and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep standing up right for much longer.
Chase shrugs.
“More for me.”
“What’s going on?” I finally manage to croak and reach for the armrest on the couch. “Why aren’t you at work?” Did we both oversleep?
“Can’t.”
Thoughts mess with my head. What does he mean?
“What?”
Is something wrong with him? DId he find out he’s dying? I don’t remember him telling me last night, or the day before or any previous time that he’s not well. Did we not go to bed on the terms that we’d get good night’s sleep before today’s hard work?
Things are moving too fast for me. I’m confused.
Chase shrugs. He looks the picture of relaxation, not like someone who’s had earth-shattering news.
“Told you, I can’t.” He takes another bite of pizza.
Whatever the illness, it isn’t affecting his appetite.
“I don’t understand.” I’m finding it difficult to keep my voice under control and my thoughts in any kind of order.
“It’s closed.”
Now the world is spinning really fast around me. I’m hanging onto the couch. Closed. The words tumble around and around my head but I can’t comprehend what they mean.
“What do you mean closed?”
Chase rolls his eyes at me.
“Which part of closed don’t you understand, Leila? C-L-O-S-E-D.”
Closed. Someone closed my café. I feel life injected into me and I grab my bag and practically sprint out of the door.
It takes me less than ten minutes to reach the café. I’m breathing hard.
When I get there I can’t believe my eyes. Scaffolding is put up on the outside of the café and there’s a sign to tell customers that Beans & More has moved.
I grab my mobile and dial the number of my landlady.
“You evicted,” she tells me in her broken English.
Without elaborating or explaining, she hangs up.
Briefly, I glance around. Was this some kind of joke? Would someone jump out and yell something like ‘gotcha,’ at me and I’d try and laugh about it.
But nothing of the sort happens.
Instead, pedestrians continue on their way and cars zoom along the road. Life’s normal.
Head hanging low and shoulders sagging, I walk back to my apartment.
I can’t understand why Chase looks so relaxed about the whole thing. I feel as if someone’s kicked me in the guts with an extra-large cement-reinforced boot.
A voice from the kitchen has me spin on my heels.
Seth.
It really is Seth standing in my kitchen.
What the fuck is he doing here?
“Hey gorgeous.” He’s all smiles but I can’t feel any joy at seeing him.
“What are you doing here?” I try and sound polite. All I want to do is run into my room and bawl my eyes out. My life was going down the toilet and on one seems to care.
“I’ve come to give this to you.” He holds out a black piece of paper the size of a business size envelope.
On it, in gold letter writing, is written the words ‘Invitation’.
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” Seth says as he hands it to me.
I’m barely able to contain my tears.
“I’m not in the mood for surprises,” I mutter through gritted teeth and push his hand away.
“Trust me, babe, you’ll love this one.”
Chapter 48
Blake
I return to Leila’s parents with drinks in hand.
“You’re not trying to get us drunk, young man, are you?” Suzanne, Leila’s mother, says to me and gives me a big smile.
I shake my head.
“I wouldn’t do that to such an important woman as yourself,” I protest.
She giggles and takes her drink.
“Low alcohol, I can assure you, Suzanne.”
“Leeroy,” I turn to Leila’s father, “do you miss working as an accountant or is retirement good to you?”
I always wonder what retired people do all day. I can’t see myself in retirement, ever. But then that’s probably what other retirees say before they retire.
“The wife keeps me busy, young man.” He winks at me as he answers my question, and all three of us laugh.
“As if,” protests Suzanne.
He puts his arm around his wife’s waist and looks her in the eyes. There’s a ton of love there.
“If it wasn’t for this lovely woman, I’d be lost.”
It’s a touching moment. I smile. Briefly, I wonder how life will turn out for the three of us, if indeed there’s going to be three of us.
“Leila’s lucky to have met you.” Her father’s words interrupt my thoughts and I smile at him. I had to let them in on the secret and I hope they’ll keep their mouths shut when Leila arrives.
“I hope you’ll find this suite comfortable while you’re staying in town,” I say to pass the time.
“It’s more than we’d expected,” says Leila’s mum.
“It’s more than we can really afford,” mumbles her father.
“Please.” I hold up my hand to stop any more protest. “It’s the least we can do to make sure our surprise for Leila goes off without a hitch.”
Both of them smile at me. It is touching to see how grateful they are. A lot of planning and hard work has gone into our plan and we both want it to be perfect.
“You’ve known Leila long?” Suzanne asks and I have to do some mental arithmetic.
“It all depends on your definition of long,” I reply, and wonder if it has really only been a matter of weeks. It feels a lot longer to me.
Suzanne laughs again.
“You’re quite right. Sometimes we put too much thought into length of time anyway. Leeroy and I knew the minute we met that we were in love. When we announced our engagement a week later, people thought we were mad.”
Leeroy chuckles.
“And they were right. We are mad.”
Nervously, I glance at my watch. Seth and Leila should be here any minute now. I would have expected them already. Had something happened?
Tiny bits of self-doubt creep though me.
Had Seth double double-crossed me? Had he lulled me into this false sense of security and gone along with this elaborate plan, only to thwart me at the last minute? It would be just like him, the shrewd businessman he is. What if he’d done a runner with her? I’d be left here with the parents and on Leila. I sigh.
“I’ll just go and see if everything’s going according to plan.” I excuse myself.
When I’m halfway through the room, the door opens and the most exquisite woman I’ve ever seen comes through it. Briefly, she smiles at me until her eyes widen in disbelief.
Her locks are hanging loose down her back, but pulled away from her face. A strapless tight black dress shows off her shoulders and curves. My cock sees her too and makes its appreciation for her evident.
Once she spots her parents, she makes a beeline for her them. Fingers crossed, they’ll keep stumm.
I watch this goddess warp her arms around her father and I wish it was me. I’m sure I’ll get to feel her body soon enough, but I do wish it was now. I watch the family reunion for a few more seconds before I join Seth.
Instead of coming into the room, Seth stays by the door. I join him and we shake hands.
“She looks amazing.” I know my breathing’s a little short and labored. Seth laughs.
“How is she?”
Seth walks back out the door with me.
“Confused. Scared. Suspicious and heartbroken her café’s been shut down.”
I nod.
This is the worst part of the plan; not telling her exactly what was going on. However, if we told her, we’d spoil the surprise and so, we must leave her to suffer, just a little.
“I hate surprises,” I say to
Seth as we enter the study.
He looks at me in surprise with raised eyebrows.
“Really? Why?”
“I don’t like to see Leila upset. It’d be better if we just let her in on the plan.”
Seth laughs.
“Man,” he punches me gently on the arm, “who knew Blake’s a big softy under that hard exterior?”
“Fuck off,” I growl but join him in his laughter.
“Are we all ready to proceed?” I ask Seth and take a seat behind the large mahogany desk. I open my little laptop and scan emails.
“Yep, all systems go.” Seth nods.
“I’ll call Maddie and tell her to put the finishing touches onto the plan.”
“Do you think Leila’s parents will tell her?”
I shake my head.
“Nope. I think they’re so excited for their daughter, they’ll say nothing. I rehearsed with them a couple of times what they should say when she asks them why they’re here.”
Seth picks up my fidget spinner and tries to spin it, unsuccessfully. Instead of spinning, the gadget falls of his finger. He tries again.
“What’s the fucking point of this?”
I grab it from him and give him a demo.
“It’s to relax, keep my fingers occupied and help me think,” I explain.
Seth chuckles.
“Fucking a chick does the same you know.”
I scowl at him.
“My days of fucking just any chick are over.”
He nods. I appreciate that we’re both on the same page on this opinion.
“Let’s hope our surprise is a huge success and we’ll both be suitably rewarded,” Seth says, and I nod.
I can’t wait.
Chapter 49
Leila
I see them the second I walk through the door. They’re like little islands in a small home town, kind of out of place and standing close by each other for reassurance. Even so, for some reason, they look comfortable being here in this place of extreme luxury.
I know the outfits they’re wearing. I’ve seen them every time there’s a special occasion. Mom is in her sensible twin set, the one that makes her disappears into the crowd, but if you study her long enough, you see that despite the years, she wears it comfortably. It still has a snug fit.
Dad is wearing his jacket, the one with the sensible leather elbows so that it’s never going to wear out. His collar is open, but he still looks like he could get down to business at anytime.
They might be the plain what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of folks, but I see pride, hard work, and love in them.
So how come these two are in a business suite downtown where all the big financial plays happen? Church halls, town meetings and volunteer events are the only crowds I have ever seen my parents in. And the one thing I remember about Dad’s office was how practical it was, with the only tilt to creature comfort being his water cooler and bottomless coffee pot.
They have flown here. Even flying coach would be something they would have considered very carefully, maybe for months, and then made provisions for. But here they are, on a spur-of-the-moment decision, in a place none of us have ever been in before.
I might have a thousand questions, but there are too many emotions going on right now. I do a double take when I see them, a little shocked that they’re here. I also feel my insides turning into hopeless goo. I watch as Mom’s face lights up like a Yuletide tree. I feel another wave of emotion come over me.
It’s as if I’m back in third grade, my mother waiting for me at the bus stop. She throws her arms out. There is only one place I want to be.
I shoot a quick glance in Blake’s direction, but all my energy is focused on the two most important people I see in the room right now.
I break into a little trot and as I rush over, I notice my dad’s face light up like a new dawn over the plains back home. I can hardly believe it. I’m just their little girl again wrapped up in the warmest embrace, no matter that it’s in an office high up. There is nothing else here except Mom and Dad. I’m home.
But then I spring back as a thousand questions come flooding in.
“What’re you doing here? Why so suddenly? What’s going on?”
All of the questions come tumbling and spilling out so urgently that I have no time to think how to order them, much less wait for an answer.
“We…” Dad begins but his words go crashing into Mom’s as she says, “It’s about the deal…”
She says this and then stops. Then they both start speaking together again, their words tumbling over each other again and making no sense.
“You first, honey,” my dad, ever the gentleman, drawls.
“It’s about the deal you’re about to close,” Mom says.
“What deal?” I ask.
“Well, we can’t say. Nobody can. All we know is that it’s either with the Jacobs or the McDaniels. That’s all Blake was able to tell us before he said we had to get ourselves over here and join in the celebrations.”
“Wait a second,” I say.
My father, the most cautious, most financially responsible man ever born, and his wife, who would win first prize in any frugality competition, have just jumped on a plane to come her on a maybe…What’s going on?
“Now it’s my turn,” Dad says, more as a question as he looks to Mom for permission.
“We’ve had such an adventure. Yes, dear, you have the floor,” Mom says, her eyes lighting up like a kid who just got told that every day next year was going to be her birthday.
“How about this, Little L,” Dad says, taking me back to my childhood days, “this guy turns up with the biggest, blackest and longest limo you can imagine and comes right outside our place and says he’s our ride. We can’t open or shut a door from our place to the airport. Then he takes us out back, right up to a jet with one of those stairways out and down to the tarmac. A private jet—can you believe it?”
“Wha…” I manage to get out, but he hasn’t stopped and goes right on talking.
“Of course, once on board we’re offered champagne…”
“Of course,” Mom mocks as if they jump on executive jets and drink champagne every day.
“But,” I interrupt, “at this hour?’”
“Of course,” Mom says, rolling her eyes and continues. “So I had to say, ‘Of course.’”
Dad laughs at the memory and now is in the swing of things. “And of course when we land, another one of those big black limos is waiting for us. It is at the foot of the stairs and there’s no waiting, no opening and shutting of doors, and here we are,” he finishes and throws his arms out.
“Wow,” is all I can say because now I am becoming my father’s daughter. What’s going on? Why all these expenses and show involving my parents? My antennae go up. Is this one of those times I should have my wits about me?
What the hell? Right now, my parents are right here in front of me. I am just going to let all of this happen and soak up this downtown homecoming. I have missed them so much and nothing, not even my inherited caution, is going to spoil it. If only this moment would last forever.
But it doesn’t. The double doors spring open and there’s Chase, the master of the grand entrance.
“Miss Leila,” he scolds, “don’t keep this man a moment longer.”
“What-what do you mean?” I ask.
“The party—Seth—you remember him?”
“Oh sure…but it’s tonight.”
“Yes, and you’re going dressed as only Chase can dress a woman. Come along, my dear.”
Dad and Mom join in as they give me a peck on each cheek.
“Run along,” says Mom. “You heard the man.”
“Where are we off to?” I ask Chase.
“Darling, this is a strictly Fifth Avenue assignment.”
“Of course,” Mom adds.
Chapter 50
Leila
Like a little child waiting for Santa, I feel the excitement build. Sure, I’ve
been in a few limo rides before, but that doesn’t mean they’ve become part of my daily repertoire. It is still new enough to me to be exhilarating.
The minute I’m inside, I wrestle with the temptation to play with all the buttons. I do, however, accept the champagne flute I’m handed and enjoy the cool bubbles dancing across my tongue. I could get used to this.
I stretch out my feet and grin at Chase. His facial expression is nonchalant.
The limo glides alongside the pavement and the doorman has my door open the minute it stops. He tips his cap and has us inside the exclusive boutique Chase has chosen for us.
So glad I brought him with me. He’s a natural in a place like this.
“Oh, you positive darling!” he says to the lady who’s waiting for us inside with a tray of champagne flutes. At this rate I’ll be tipsy before the end of the shopping trip.
Chase flings out his arm in a theatrical swoop and scoops up one of the drinks. With pinky extended, he takes a long sip before exclaiming, “Oh superb, just superb!”
The lady gives me a look that can be described as either curiosity or criticism. Hard to tell which one.
“Madam?” she asks and holds out the tray with the remaining flute.
I’m not sure, not only about the champagne but also about a lot of other things. I enjoyed the drink in the limo, but two in such a short amount of time?
“Oh come on,” says Chase. “Look at all those bubbles going to waste.”
I smile and take the glass for a tiny sip. It is good, really good, and–I decide–really dangerous. Champagne this good goes down so easily, and before you know it, you’ll feel like you’re on cloud nine. I stop at that one sip.
The lady introduces herself and says she is our personal assistant for what she calls the “total shopping experience.”
“Come this way,” she says and leads us deeper into the boutique.
“I don’t get it,” I say to Chase as we follow along.
“What’s not to get?” Chase asks. “This is shopping we’re experiencing.”
“No, not this. This is a small celebration, right?” I say, drawing air quotes.
“A tiny one,” Chase says. “Just an itty bitty celebration.” He uses his index finger and thumb to make the point.
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