Pride and Consequence (22 page)

Kenneth motioned behind him. “Do you have a few minutes? We want to pick your brain about some of these dishes.”

“Got a menu?” Malik asked, already forgetting his aggravation.

Kenneth obliged and led the way into the kitchen. Malik spoke to the other five chefs, but his attention was more focused on the menu selections.

“Something wrong, man?” Rory Davis asked, noticing Malik's frown as he scanned the booklet.

Malik ran a hand through his dreads and shook his head. “This menu is the same as our Richmond restaurant,” he noted.

“That a problem?” someone asked.

Malik laid the menu flat on the chrome counter and shrugged. “Well, not really. But a new restaurant should have a new menu. A menu is practically the voice of the restaurant, in my opinion.”

“Well, what would you suggest?” Sheila Jeffries asked.

Malik tapped one finger to his chin and debated. “Got an apron?”

Zakira was on her way out when Michael Renner arrived in the lobby. Malik was leaving the kitchen when he spotted the man who wanted to become a more permanent part of his wife's life. Zakira stopped on the stairway and waited to see what would happen. She couldn't have been more surprised. The two men shook hands, and then a wave of silence settled between them.

“I, um, for what it's worth, I want to apologize for last night,” Malik said, his expression sincere. “You've got nothing to do with all this drama.”

Michael waved his hand. “Please, man, I know I was the last person you or Zakira were thinking about last night.”

Malik gave a slow nod. “Well, I want to thank you for helping her with all the red tape for the warehouse and for being such a good friend to her.”

“It's easy to be good to such an angel,” Mike said with a shrug.

“I agree,” Malik added.

Mike stepped forward then. “Listen man, I know I'm probably out of line for asking this—”

“Please,” Malik urged.

“How could you leave her like that? I mean, shouldn't you have wanted to spend as much time with her as possible? Especially when it looked like the end was near?”

Malik took no offense at the tough questions. “As long as I live, I think I'll regret the way I handled things,” he said. “But as much as I regret it, I don't think I can ever make it up to her and I regret that even more. You can find Zaki upstairs in her office,” he told Mike and headed out of the lobby.

Zakira watched him go. Then she closed her eyes to keep her tears at bay.

T
he sexy gray business suit lay across the bed. Zakira eyed it skeptically, not sure if she should wear it or the new olive-green one she'd purchased a few days earlier. Her brown eyes darted from the bed to the closet, where the other suit was hanging. Deciding to be a bit more daring, she chose the olive-green suit. The skirt reached mid-thigh, while the coat was short and outlined her tiny waist and flattered her cleavage. She was about to head to the closet when the phone rang.

“This is Zakira.”

“Hey, it's me.”

Zakira sat on the edge of the bed as Eddie's slightly breathless voice drifted over the line. “Hey. What's up?”

“Are you feeling any better?” Eddie asked, sounding worried.

Smiling, Zakira took a deep breath. It seemed that so much had happened in the span of only a week, she was almost confused by Edwina's question. “I'm managing.” She assured her sister. “Listen, I'm so sorry about our argument. Malik's the one who deserves my anger, not you.”

“You don't need to apologize. Not for that. I know how shocked I am over Malik's return. That's why I decided to give you some space. I can only imagine how
you
must feel.”

Zakira stood from the bed and took the gray suit back to her closet. “Hey, I know. Let me make it up to you, anyway. How about lunch? My treat. I know a great place.”

Eddie chuckled softly on the other end. “I bet you do. And I'd take you up on the offer, if I weren't back in Richmond.”

Zakira frowned. “Well, you and Tree could've at least said goodbye.”

“Z, for all I know, Tree's still in New York.”

“Wait a minute. What?”

“We…had a bad fight that night after I got back to the hotel. He walked out…I packed. I was gone before he got back.”

Zakira closed her eyes and grimaced. “Dammit. Honey, I am so sorry. I guess I don't need to ask what you fought about?”

“It's stupid for us to be fighting over your problems, I know. But for Tree to keep that from you all this time…”

“I know, I know.”

Eddie took a deep breath. “Listen, I didn't call to bring you down. I just wanted you to know I was back home.”

“All right,” Zakira said, walking back to her bed, “I guess I'll talk to you when I get back. Hopefully, it won't be much longer.”

“Is Malik coming back with you?”

“Oh, he definitely won't be coming back with me, but he'll most likely get back around the same time I do.”

“How are you going to handle that?”

“Oh, like I've handled everything else so far—in a daze.”

Eddie laughed. “Well, try not to go crazy and please call if you need me.”

Zakira smiled. “You know I will. Thanks, love.”

“Anytime.”

Zakira set the receiver back in its cradle once the connection was broken and began to get dressed. She had her under things on and was stepping into her skirt when Malik walked into the bedroom.

Malik watched his wife. His dark eyes followed the path of the skirt as she pulled it over her thighs and hips. When her hands moved to the zipper, he headed over.

Zakira felt Malik brush her hands away, before he pulled her back against him. The instant she felt his steely form behind her, she moaned. Malik's wide hands reached around to cup her breasts encased in the lacy white bra. Her nipples rose to firm buds beneath his palms as his lips tugged on her earlobe.

Arching into the erotic embrace, Zakira's arms rose to circle Malik's neck. She gasped when his hand trailed down her stomach to disappear beneath her clothes.

Suddenly, he pulled away and smiled down at her. Obviously satisfied by the results of his teasing, he straightened Zakira's bra and zipped her skirt.

“I'll see you at the restaurant,” he whispered next to her ear and pressed a soft kiss to her hair. Then he left the room without looking back.

That evening's dinner couldn't have come sooner for Zakira. She had been a mass of nerves during Thanksgiving and she prayed that Malik wouldn't suggest some emotional meal alone at the hotel suite. She'd have never survived it. She was already over the edge in response to her husband's unrelenting sexual taunts.

She smoothed her palms across the smart, chic turquoise suit she'd chosen. Her excitement was evident as she waited for the committee directors to arrive. She sent up a quick prayer that everything would go as planned and headed for the kitchen. The chefs had been instructed to prepare their best dishes and she wanted to be sure everything was in order.

Finding Malik there robbed her of her questions. She watched him wrap up his conversation with the cooks and then met him as he approached her.

“Why are you spending so much time down here in the kitchen?” she asked, her luminous brown eyes filled with suspicion.

Malik's grin triggered his dimples, and he watched her look around the kitchen before looking back at him. “It's actually one of the things I was beginning to regret about the business side of running the restaurant. I barely had any time to spend creating. Are they here yet?” he asked, before she could question him further. His dark gaze raked her petite form, loving the way the suit hugged her curves. He took her arm and escorted her to the dining room.

“We are so pleased you chose to establish your restaurant in this area.”

Zakira smiled as she shook hands with one of the Better Housing Committee directors. “It seems to be a wonderful area. I loved it from the start.”

Jeremy Wilcox nodded. “Well, it's made great strides. Believe me, it wasn't the most desirable part of town a few years ago.”

“It's been one of our major goals to build it up and keep it up.” Stephanie Hanes explained. “With this restaurant and the other establishments in the area, we hope to lure even more businesses.”

“That's right. Better businesses will draw the eye of contractors and that means better housing,” Shawn Robertson told them.

“Well, we hope to be here a very long time. That is, if our cooking doesn't run us out of town!” Malik teased.

“We're willing to bet that won't happen!” Brian Harris said, once the laughter softened. “What does the menu look like?”

Zakira couldn't wait to announce her selections for the evening. “I thought we'd—”

“Actually, we've taken the liberty of having some of our favorites prepared for you all,” Malik was saying as he motioned for the group to head into the dining room. “We're purchasing our seafood from a very impressive market in San Francisco. Tonight, we'll start with crab cakes in a white cream sauce, followed by scallop chowder, grilled salmon steaks, steamed vegetables and sourdough biscuits.”

Zakira tried to keep her expression closed as she listened to Malik rattle off the list of unfamiliar dishes. Everyone else raved over the evening's menu, while taking their places at the table.

As their guests placed their drink orders, Zakira leaned over and tugged the sleeve of Malik's maroon jacket. “What are you doing?” she whispered, her tone fierce.

In response, Malik pressed a lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Shh. Just sit back and enjoy it,” he whispered back.

Zakira held a clenched fist beneath the table as her temper began to mount.

When Malik left a few minutes later to check on things in the kitchen, Zakira was right behind him and pulled him into the manager's downstairs office.

“What are you trying to do, Malik? And don't act like you have no idea what I'm talking about.”

Malik's dark gaze was soft and he appeared calm. “Baby, I thought you wanted this to be something new. I just didn't think having the same menu as our Richmond place was the way to do that. We ain't a burger joint, you know.”

Zakira lost some of her steam. “You're right,” she conceded, massaging her neck. “Just let me know when you're going to do something like this. You can't just make decisions without including me.”

Malik took offense. “I never had to consult anyone about changes I wanted to make in my restaurant, Zaki.”

“Well, that was before you left the place to me,” she coolly replied.

“That's a moot point now.” Malik told her, slipping his hands into his trouser pockets to hide his clenched fists.

Zakira tossed a lock of her thick hair across her shoulder and fixed her husband with a firm look. “A moot point? No, it's not a moot point, Malik. Please don't make me get technical with you over this.”

Malik grinned and leaned back to watch her. “Please do,” he urged. “Do get technical.”

Zakira looked toward the floor, before focusing on his handsome face again. “When you…left, you also left me a letter in which you stated that Badu's was mine. Remember?”

Disbelief registered in Malik's eyes. “The letter? You'd actually use that against me?” he asked, taking a step toward her.

Zakira wasn't intimidated. “I'd use it to protect myself.”

“Protect yourself?” Malik asked, feeling his anger intensify.

“Badu's was my lifeline after you deserted me and there is no way I'll let you take it back. Not after all the work and time I've put into it. Now I don't want this messy, so just talk to me before you decide to make changes with the restaurant. If you can do that, everything will be fine.”

Malik's dark gaze narrowed. He almost didn't recognize the woman who was his wife. His eyes followed her as she turned and left the office.

Zakira lifted a forkful of the delicious sautéed vegetables to her mouth and savored the taste. She was in the peaceful redwood-paneled dining room, sampling a new dish prepared by the chefs. From across the room, she saw Malik walk into the dining room with Tree.

“Hey, Z,” Tree greeted, as he approached the table.

Zakira's gaze dropped to her lunch. “Hello,” she said, only glancing at the two men.

Malik and Tree exchanged knowing looks before taking seats at the table.

“We need to talk, Zaki. I hope all this won't come as too much of a surprise,” Malik said, leaning back in his chair and propping the side of his face against his palm.

Zakira set her fork aside and glared across the table. “Everything you've done has been a surprise. Please, don't stop now,” she retorted.

The look on Malik's face indicated that he was furious and having difficulty keeping a lid on his temper. Uttering a heavy sigh, he looked over at Tree.

“Zakira,” Tree began, pausing to clear his throat, “we're here to discuss the business.”

“What about it?” she instantly asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“Well, it's obvious that Malik would want to be a part of it again. That includes making decisions without having to ask your permission.”

Zakira crossed her arms over her delicate gray silk blouse. “Well, Malik should've thought about that before he decided to play this game,” she countered, turning a hateful glare toward her husband.

Malik massaged his temple. “I never thought I'd be coming back, Zaki. You know that.”

Zakira rolled her eyes and recrossed her legs under the table. “That's not my problem.”

“Zakira…” Tree sighed.

Zakira shrugged and motioned for Tree to continue.

“Malik wants to be a part of the business again. It's to be expected, since he
is
the rightful owner. He doesn't want you out, Zakira, and that's why we're here. We need to work out an agreement that's beneficial…”

As she listened to Tree make his pitch, Zakira tried to maintain a cool demeanor. Inside, she was seething.

Her hands curled into tight fists, her nails threatening to draw blood from her palms. Dammit! How could this be happening? She knew there had to be something she could do to stop Malik from just bulldozing his way back into the business she had kept afloat. Of course, she wasn't about to voice her concerns in front of the two men across the table. She decided to bide her time, until she was back in Virginia.

“Zakira…? You with us?” Tree was asking, his deep-set onyx eyes watching her intently.

“Mmm-hmm, is that it?”

Tree glanced over at Malik.

“What do you think about what I've just proposed?” Tree asked.

Zakira pushed her chair away from the table and stood. “I'm going to need time to think it over.”

Tree nodded. “We can understand that, Z,” he said, waiting for her to look at him. “I just want to apologize for everything that's been happening. I know it's been hard on you.”

“It's fine,” she assured him, with a wave of her hand. “I should've known you'd stick by your good buddy here, regardless.” She sent Malik a cold look.

“Zakira…” Tree groaned.