Dressed in Yellow: BBW Contemporary Romance (9 page)

Fine. If that was the way he wanted to play it. Just... fine.

It wasn’t fine, though, when her brother called her two days later.

“What’s going on?”Saltano asked. “Do I need to go hem the man up?”

“What? What have you heard?” Damn the goddamn housewife hotline. Who’d blabbed?

“Things get out, Aiva.” He paused, tone edged. “I know you spent the night at his place. And I know you two haven’t been talking.”

“Do you have a goddamn mole or something?”

“Don’t you swear at me, Aiviana Ascencion Losito,” he growled. “Did you think we were gonna let our sister court that man and not keep an eye on things? We’ve had people keep their eyes open. Sis.”

Aiva wanted to stomp, to swear. See- this was the shit she’d wanted to get away from. The overprotective, interfering, macho bullshit that made her so hesitant to give Leon permanent legal rights to be the same way.

“Listen, it’s none of your business, do you hear me? All relationships go through ups and downs. We’re having a down, we’ll get through it.”

“You had better effing get through it, or I’m slitting his throat, you hear me? No man spends the night with my sister and then drops her like a hot rock the next day.”

“It’s Daniel you need to be worried about, not Leon,” she retorted, then immediately regretted it.

“What? Aiva, what does that mean?”

She was silent.

“Aiva, if you don’t explain that, I’m coming over.”

She sighed, rubbing her forehead. “You know how Danny leant me money for the shop?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“It was an old country contract. The kind where if you default, then…” she trailed off, oddly embarrassed.

Saltano didn’t say anything for a minute. “Okay. I thought it was just a straight American business deal, but… okay. So what’s the problem?”

“He was sweating me to make the payments when I fell behind. Business was slow, so I orchestrated the whole thing with the media to get more customers. Bu now he won’t renew the contract. I can’t pay the whole loan off right now.”

“Is he trying to enforce the terms of the contract? The personal service clause?”

She considered her words very carefully. Saltano, when he spoke quietly like that, was as dangerous in his way- despite being a chef and business manager- as Danny or Leon.

“I… he hasn’t come out and said it, but-”

“I’ll kill him.”

“Saltano, this is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you! Look, I can handle this on my own, alright? Don’t need any help.”

“Is that why Leon isn’t speaking to you? Did you say the same thing to him?”

Aiva blushed. It was so near the truth, and he made it sound almost…petty.

“Aiva, if a man isn’t allowed to help the woman he’s going to marry, who’s going to bear him children, who is he allowed to help?”

“But-”

“No.” He cut her off, voice hard. “Look, I know you want to do this thing on your own. That’s why we let you go it with Danny. But there’s a time when you have to admit you need other people, Aiva. It doesn’t have anything to do with you being female. You think Sudano got where he is without asking favors of people, without occasionally imposing on his family, or taking help he didn’t want so in the long term he could make himself a success?”

“You sound preachy,” she replied, voice flat.

“That’s because I’m right. Aiva, you get this thing straight or I’m telling Pa, you hear me? And then it’s all over with, cause if he has to bring in the elders, it will take it a matter of community record. Besides, remember whose grandson Pa is.”

That shut her up a moment. The stories of her great-grandfather…. 

“Saltano- I don’t know what to do. I mean, I know what my options are, but-”

“Look. If Danny backs you to a wall, put yourself under Leon’s Protection.”

Aiva was shocked. Asking for Protection was tantamount to a woman saying her family couldn’t guard her- it was tantamount to voluntarily giving the Protector full rights to act on her behalf, without consulting her, for as long as he desired. She couldn’t dissolve the Protection- only he could.

“But-”

“The man wants to marry you, Aiva. Stop being stubborn. God, I bet he needs a drink after dealing with you every day. I’ll have to find a nice vintage to gift him at the wedding. A whole effign case.”

Aiva disconnected, cheeks hot, eyes dry in her fury.

Chapter

9

Aiva answered the door, hastily moving out of the way as a dancing Mandira jigged herself over the threshold. She grabbed Aiva, swinging her around in a kind of dosey do, eyes bright.

Aiva couldn’t help but laugh. “Mandy! What’s got you so happy? Well, happier.”

Mandira stopped dancing, but Aiva could tell it was an effort. “You know that relative of mine who owns a bakery?”

Aiva stared. “Yes?”

“Well, I was talking to her about your ideas to do catering in the space next door and expand the business and- guess what?”

Aiva rubbed her lips. Mandira wouldn’t be this happy for nothing. “What?”

“She wants in!”

“What?” Aiva went to the couch to sit down. “Mandy, what does the mean?”

“It means our money problems are over, goofy! She wants to buy into the catering and party planning part of the business. Expand kinda.”

“Buy in?” Aiva pressed a hand to her forehead. She wouldn’t have to use Leon’s check. She could give him back his money, maintain her professional independence. “With… money?”

Mandira rolled her eyes. “No, with cupcakes. Of course with money!” She stopped, a bit of the glow fading. “I- was I wrong? I wanted to surprise you, that’s why I didn’t mention anything.”

Aiva surged to her feet, catching her friend in a hug. “No, you were right! Girl power!”

Mandira got her cousin on the phone, another cheerful, quirky sounding female with obvious enthusiasm for baking and catering. They discussed figures, ironing out a verbal contract. When Aiva got off the phone, her own sense of wonderment at how the universe worked left her dazed. After the paperwork was signed, she would not only have a useful partner, but a check that was enough to pay off Daniel, without having to lean on Leon.

Aiva turned to Mandira. “You should be a partner, too.”

Mandira paused in sipping on her herbal tea. “Huh?”

“You deserve it. You work as hard as I do. I know you didn’t put in any money- but you put in time and work. When the new contracts are drawn up, I’m giving you equity.”

Mandira blinked, eyes tearing. “Aiva,” she said softly. “You don’t have to.”

Aiva smiled at her. “It’s the right thing to do.”

So Leon’s check and the paperwork sat untouched, waiting on her to either accept or reject. Aiva felt guilty. She knew it must look awfully flaky to refuse his help a second time, and if she was honest, she was tempted to do some kind of deal with him just because the capital would provide a much needed line of credit to help her expand the business. So she would have to call Leon’s businessman and talk about the terms again.

Aiva made a point to call Daniel, and tell him that she had his payment ready. He hung up without another word.

***

“Aiva?” Mandira's normally cheerful voice was low with tension.

“What’s wrong?” Aiva asked sharply, balancing the cell on her shoulder while she paid for their lunch.

She’d stepped out of the shop for a few minutes to jog down the street to the cafe she and Mandira frequented throughout the week. They made killer tuna melts and salads with interesting toppings. Totally yummy, and guilt free.

Aiva mouthed her thanks at the cashier and took the brown take out bag, heading back towards Blooms at a fast walk. She wore a dressy flat exercise shoe when on a lunch walk, rather than heels, so she could almost jog.

“Daniel is here making a stink. He has men with him. You gotta get back here now- they don’t look like they’re here to play nice.”

Aiva cursed and began to run. “I'll be there in five. Just don’t be confrontational, okay?”

She disconnected the call, glad she’d invested in a treadmill last winter to start working more seriously on her cardiovascular health. She was a big girl, but she wasn’t exactly out of shape. She could jog a decent mile before getting too winded.

Mandira met her at the door; the sign was flipped to Closed. If temper could manifest physically, every vase in the shop would have shattered. Daniel sat at the small round table set aside for customer consultations, idly thumbing through his cell. It wasn’t that, necessarily. It was the unshed tears in Mandira's eyes, and a mess of potting soil and glass on the floor next to a display, as if someone had 'accidently' bumped into it. To make a point. He smiled without looking up as Aiva rushed towards him. One of his men grabbed her arm to slow her down.

"What, so you have thugs protecting you from women now?" she sneered. "Maybe I can attack you with my sneaker."

He stood, mouth tightening. A curt nod and his man let her go.

"What the hell are you doing here, Daniel?"

"I heard you and Leon broke up. No more collateral for you. So this is what’s called an eviction.”

“You can’t do that.” Aiva reached in her purse, drew out a check. “Here’s your payment. Now get out of my business.”

He looked at her, looked at the check. Took it and stared at it a long minute. Then tore it into pieces.

“No deal, Aiva,” Daniel said. “Business doesn’t end with me so easy. Boys.”

One held Aiva and another Mandira while they trashed the shop. Mandira closed her eyes, turning her face away, but Aiva made herself watch.

“You'll pay for this,” she said, fury nearly strangling the words in her throat. Daniel strode towards her and seized her jaw.

“No, cousin, you’ll pay for it. All the damage, and the shop. And you’ll pay for it in labor in my home. I don’t have a wife- so a cousin with domestic skills will do.”

Aiva saw the look in his eyes before he hid it, stomach twisting. “Let us go, Daniel.”

He nodded and the men relaxed their holds. “You’ll regret this,” she said quietly, taking Mandira’s hand and walking out.

“What do we do?” Mandira asked. “That’s totally illegal what just happened. I don’t understand.”

Aiva blew out a breath. “Don’t worry about cops,” she advised.“They don’t interfere in old country business matters. We have to deal with this within the community.”

“Why don’t you call Leon?”

They got into Aiva’s car. She leaned back in her seat a moment, closing her eyes.

“I don't know… I think he’s mad at me right now.”

“Aiva, you’re being ridiculous. You take this strong independent woman thing too far sometimes. Go tell your man the bad guy is threatening you and let him handle it. So we can get on with our business.”

Aiva struggled. The few minutes she sat in her car thinking through her next options felt like an eternity. She wanted to handle Daniel on her own. He’d threatened Mandira, someone she loved, and Aiva wanted to smash him on behalf of her friend. How dare he? In her fury, Aiva suddenly understood how Leon must feel when Aiva refused his help. Like he’d been shunt to the sidelines, only to watch helplessly as she tried to slay her own dragons. Leon had never once tried to take away her independence; he’d only tried to be there for her, the same way Mandira was there for Aiva. If she could accept Mandira’s help, why not Leon’s? Because he was a man? That wasn't fair.

Aiva started up the car, mind made up. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

They pulled up to his office tower twenty minutes later, navigating the first floor lobby to the receptionist.

“We’d like to see Mr. Sudano,” Aiva said.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No. Can you tell him I’m here? He’ll see me.”

The woman’s brow rose, skeptical. “Your name, ma’am?”

“Aiviana Losito.”

The receptionist's expression flickered. “Ms. Losito. Of course; Mr. Sudano left orders to admit you anytime you arrived.” She rose. “Let me escort you and your guest to the elevator.”

Aiva marveled at the suddenly changed attitude, but choose to be amused rather than annoyed. When the elevator doors slid open on Leon’s floor, yet another woman met them. This one older and with an air of brisk efficiency from the stylish though severe cut of her suit, accented discreetly with silver jewelry.

“Ms. Losito?”

“That’s me.”

“I’m Candace, Mr. Sudano's admin. Please come with me.”

“He owns all of this?” Mandira asked, voice hushed.

Aiva swallowed. “Yes. I’ve never been here before.” And the modern sleekness of it all reminded Aiva that she wasn’t dealing with a plumber.

They entered his office, Candace announcing their presence. Leon was on the phone and held up a finger, gaze going from Aiva to Mandira. His brows drew together.

“I’ll have to call you back,” he said abruptly, hanging up.

“Aiva, what’s wrong?” he asked after pushing the button on his earpiece. He strode towards her.

“Daniel.”

Leon’s expression darkened. “What did he do?”

Aiva hesitated. Leon stopped in front of her, not touching, just watched her face.

“First,” she said, drawing his check out of her pocket. “I don’t need this anymore.”

She felt his utter freeze. “That’s the second time you’ve refused my help, Aiviana.”

“I’m going back into the lobby,” Mandira murmured. “I think you should have this conversation alone.”

Aiva nodded briefly, distantly grateful for her friend’s perception. But focused on making him understand, before she lost him.

Aiva reached out a hand, placed it on his chest. “I’m not refusing your help. I want help of a different kind. This- business I can run on my own. I don’t need you for that.”

“Do you need me for anything?”

“I need you to be my Knight,” she replied softly.

His expression didn’t change. “What does that mean?”

“I want to make you an offer you can’t refuse.” Her lower lip trembled, her hand on his chest curling into a fist. She started to draw away, a split second of self doubt, but he caught her, drew her closer.

“What’s my offer?” he asked. Sometimes his eyes reminded her of jewels, some days of dragons. Today she only saw him, a man.

“Marriage,” she said. “As soon as you want. Marriage and babies and sex every night and a pot of marinara on the stove.”

He picked up one of her curls. “You want me to be your Knight, but I have no dragon to slay.”

Aiva told him, grabbed him in a bear hug when he would have stormed out of the door to go kill her cousin.

“I told you, Aiva. And I warned him.”

“Please, Leon,” her voice trembled.

He looked down at her. “No, Aiva. If I let it go, my men will think I’m weak. You want me to be your knight, your husband? You have to trust me.” He brushed her check with his knuckles, then swore, and took her mouth, kissing her with a ferocity bordering on violence.

Aiva wrapped her arms around his neck, his hands clamping around her waist, dragging her body flush against his.

“Tonight,” he said hoarsely, tearing away. “After I take care of that bastard. Tonight I take you, and you never leave my bed again.”

She and Mandira waited. Candace ordered them a light meal from the cafeteria, salmon and rice with fresh fruit and cream.

They waited. Aiva knew better than to call or text, didn’t know how… serious things were going to get and didn’t want to distract him. He would be back when he was back.

And when he returned, she surged to her feet. It was dark outside, his shirt was mussed, eyes dark as they zeroed in on her face.

“He won’t be bothering you again,” Leon said quietly.

Aiva felt her heart stop. “Is he dead?”

He didn’t reply for a long moment. “No. Though he might wish he was. Let’s just say he is very repentant.”

Aiva had to accept that. The violence was a part of the darker side of their community. Had to accept it, if she was marrying this man. This man who loved her, even though he’d never said the words.

“Okay. Okay. Let’s just go home.”