"I'm so sorry about what happened." Dove said sitting opposite me. I called her once I was done job hunting and she asked me to wait at this restaurant for her.
"Thank you." I responded tucking strands of that fell on my face behind my ear.
She signaled to the waiter who came to take our orders. Mhen, the dude was too handsome to be a waiter. Those brown eyes could make you think things . If my ex boss has a friendly face I know he'd look even way better than this guy. That man had silver eyes that could send chills and make you feel special but his mean and unsmiling look makes him look more of a delinquent. Someone like that is no different from Cordello. Even with my clean record he still fired me. The least he could do is hear me out and give me either half my salary or nothing at all for that month. I could have still managed, knowing the next month I'll be paid. Whatever.
" I'll take huevos ranchos." Dove told the waiter biting her lower lips with flirty eyes and the waiter responded with a seductive smile. The looks my friend and the waiter shared just now forced me out of my thoughts. I've known her to have this personality of sleeping with every handsome stranger. No doubt she is beautiful and any guy would definitely find her irresistible. Her beauty is a force to reckon with.
"I'm ok with a chilaquile." I told him and he left after scribbling it on the small note in his hand. Dove continued to stare at his behind till he was out of sight. When she finally turned to my direction I gave her the please don't do this look .
"What?" She asked with a chuckle. I didn't bother stressing my voice cause I no it's useless. Few minutes later he returned with our order and before his hand would leave the table, she placed hers on his and caress it. They both stared at each other before she slipped a note into his hand. When and how did she even write that? She blew him a kiss and winked at him before he left.
" Oh my God, he is so handsome."
"I know, right? But you can't do him. You barely know him."
"That's what the number I gave him is for darling." she said before digging into her food. " My company will soon be recruiting. I'll let you know when they start."
"Alright. thank you for coming to cheer me up."
" I wish I could do more, like hitting your annoying boss in the face, gutting Cordello into pieces and finding you a comfortable job."
"Trust me, this means a lot to me." She can be like that , overly defensive but I doubt she would be able to do her first two words because the two men she mentioned were two evils that one should avoid.
########
" Boss we got your favorite wine from the wine shop." Felix told me as soon as he walked in.
" Oh, really? Let me see." I took the wine from him and examines it. I talked about buying this wine yesterday so I guess he must have remembered and bought it with his own money. "What shop is that?"
"Tilara fox. It's new in town and they have almost every brand." Felix my personal bodyguard replied. "They were out of it in your favorite mall so I went over to this new one."
"A new wine shop?"
"Take me there. And you all can have this with your colleagues." I told him as I gave him back the wine. "Meet Lucas , he'll refund you your money."
" Alright boss." The guard said and led the way to the car outside. If anything Harrison does not like being indebted to anyone. Aside his childhood friend and his own family he never trusts anyone. Down to the food he eats. If it's not prepared by his wife or kids, he won't eat it.
Harrison was indeed impressed with the stock. Wines as old as he could remember we're there too. Cowell the manager who was happy to have him there saw how pleased he was and took it upon himself to give a great review of the store and its wine collections.
" This one was gotten from the Caribbean." He pointed at the wine with the strange name.
"I'm impressed though I've never heard of it before."
"You should taste this particular wine. It's meant for great men like you" Cowell encouraged him.
"You flatter me too much Cowell. I'll take it to see if your words about this wine is true." Cowell called the store attendant who came to push the cart containing Harrison's order. All the while his guards followed him.
"Anything else, Sir?" Cowell asked.
" Now that will be all."
" Ok I'll be at the counter sir, if you need anything else do let me know." Harrison nods and Cowell left. When he was done viewing their collections he turned around to leave only to see King at the other end. King glared at him and Harrison returns his glare with a smile. He walked towards King.
"Well hello there." King's chin tightened as he clenched his teeth together. " I believe the great king himself is happy about our victory and as such has brought himself here to buy things worthy for the celebration."
King like Harrison has heard about the new big wine store in town and has come to check. This big men don't joke with their collections, do they? King went red at Harrison's words. His anger only inches away from bursting
"A victory?" He chuckles. " I call it a rigging."
"Oh, rigging." King enthused.
" Yes. Rigging. So you all can as well choke on it. But know one thing" he told Harrison as he walked up to him and both men were standing eye to eye " just watch your back cause I've got my eyes on you." He turned to leave with his guards who were few feet away from him.
" Talking about having eye on someone I really have my eye for your boy Jaden. He really helped us in winning this election." King stopped upon hearing that. " Please do send him my regards. Oh I forgot, he doesn't work for you anymore. Such a shame to loose him. You really were impenetrable when he was around. Why he left though I'm still curious about." Harrison loved how his arrow of words hits King. King turned and walked back to him, so close that he whispered in Harrison's ear
" Curiosity they say kills the cat, be careful where yours leads you." And he moved back once he said his mind.
" Yes I plan on being careful. And what's that saying again- 'united we stand, divided we fall' I'll suggest you take care of your falling house first cause you never know how many Jaden are in your houy ready to sell you in silvers and shekels."
" Fuck. You." King spat out one after the other with outmost disgust that if those words were poison it's venom would be deep in Harrison's veins. Harrison, content that his words hits it aim, concluded with what he suspect will leave king shaking.
" What ever you did that made that loyal boy left you I intend on finding out."
"You bet." King replied
" Of course. I'm a journalist first before becoming a vice after all." With that Harrison left king's presence. Both men were in their fifties and we're very skilled. So when they both threatened each other they both knew they meant it. King now was furious not only with Harrison but now with Jaden. He had taken the money and still breached his promise. That boy really wanted to die.
*******
I drove to the street and I didn't need to be told. This was a ghetto area. There were no trenches or dirts. On the contrary the environment was clean but the people living here... Not much. Every building he turns to he sees people smoking or picking up a fight with others and there were some who turned him to a movie screen. Good thing he was in a car with tinted windows and the windows were wind up. I stopped right in front of her house and came down from the car. I knocked on the door and a beautiful blonde boy within age seventeen or so opened up. I call him beautiful cause he has a girl's face. These people were really beautiful in their family.
"Is Rose at home? I asked him and he scanned me head to toe. Good thing I wasn't in suit. I was in a faded blue jean and a plain white long sleeve t- shirt that helped me blend in with the environment.
"And who are you?" I smiled inwardly at the way he tries to be intimidating. Although he is young, he is very tall that I believe he won't add more height once he reaches adulthood.
"I'm a friend of Rose." I told him but he doesn't seem to buy it.
"Rosalita does not have any male friends." I was mentally thinking of what more to say before I was saved by a voice.
" Ben stop with the detective attitude." The face came into view as she came closer. I guess I now can see where the striking beauty came from. A beautiful woman , a very matured version of Rose stood in front of me
"Hi Mrs Pedro, I'm Lionel." From where I was standing I could see the living room and I also saw Rose as she walked into the living room. Her attention switched to the door where her mom and brother was.
"Mr Mathews! Please come in." As soon as she said that her mom opened the door wide for me to enter. I'm not the typy that checks people's belongings but it's hard not to notice when the room was practically empty. Only two sofas was in the room. She motioned for me to sit down and I did.
"Mom this is my second boss from the office."
"Ooh! Oh my God. Thank you so much for everything. Rose always speaks well of the company and the amazing way you treat hardworking staff. If I had known you were coming I'd have prepared you something."
Ahh, that won't be necessary. It's a quick visit. Perhaps next time."
" Ok. But notwithstanding I'll prepare a dessert." I accepted just to have a private moment with Rose. She seems to understand and asked her brother to follow her mom. When we were alone she asked the question that was hanging on her lips.
"Why are you here Mr Matthews?"
" Jaden and I spoke and we are reviewing your contract. You are a hardworking staff and well, we are giving you another chance. But it's all going to be on Jaden's terms." Her face lits up
" Thank you Mr Matthews. I'll do anything, anything to be back at Den's holdings again."
" Like I said it's going to be on his terms." She nodded happily.
" You don't know what you've done for me." Her mom came in with a plate of chilaquile and when I tasted it it best every one I've taken since I came here.
" Do you run a restaurant?" I asked amazed at her skills.
" No."
"Mrs Pedro I hope you won't mind me dropping by everyday for this?"
" Of course not. You are most welcome. And I'm sorry that Rose almost screwed up the deal. Cordello almost cost her that." She said hissing slightly. " But I was glad she successfully nailed it." Rose was shifting uncomfortably in her seat and avoiding eye contact with me. Mrs Pedro, hope you don't mind me stealing Rose briefly."
"Of course." Rose and I went outside and before she spoke I beat her to it.
"Really?"
"I'm sorry. They were so excited I didn't know what to tell them and I didn't want to ruin it for them either."
" You still shouldn't have lied to them. Eventually they'd find out and that could even cause more problem then than now." She didn't say anything but look down all through. " Why did you screw up that day?"
Few minutes later.
We were still outside and after hearing her own side of the story I felt bad for her. She and her family have been treated very badly. I thought about the terms of acceptance that Jaden insisted on giving her after I successfully persuaded him. She and her family would starve to death before that time. She has worked hard all her life for everything she had. Having gone through a lot she believes you can't get anything free. So I'm about to offer her money but it won't come free I thought as a crazy idea popped in my head. But I'll have to wait till she hears Jaden's terms of acceptance, only then will I be able to take advantage of that.