Pride and Consequence (4 page)

“Zaki—”

“Please,” she stopped him, pushing her chair away from the table, “I already know—you're sorry. Why don't we talk when you have a little more to say?” With that, she stomped away from the table.

Malik braced his elbows to the table and clutched fistfuls of his dreads. “Baby, you'll get your answers as soon as I get mine.”

A
lthough Badu's never opened until 3:00 p.m., Malik always arrived at 8:00 a.m. His routine was practically the same each day. Before heading upstairs to his office, he went to the kitchen for a morning meeting with the chefs. The cooking staff of eight arrived even earlier than their boss, despite the fact that ingredients for the day's menu had already been prepared. The staff never departed without having the necessary supplies for the following business day chopped, chilled and marinated.

Everyone immediately came to attention when they saw Malik. Though the employees of Badu's admired and respected the forceful young man, they often wished he wasn't so demanding.

“Just a heads-up. We're going to be hosting a charity dinner for cancer research a couple weeks before Christmas,” Malik declared at the end of the meeting, already shrugging into the stylish tan suede suit coat he had thrown across a chair. “I should have more specifics soon, but there will be plenty of time for you guys to get prepared.”

The eight chefs exchanged weary looks across the table. They had no problems being on hand for the charity event. It was the time leading up to the dinner they could have done without. Their boss could become more than demanding, he could be almost tyrannical.

“I won't be working with you on the event, Zakira will,” Malik announced, sensing the chefs' relief without even looking at their faces.

No one at the table could mask their joy. The boss's wife would provide a refreshing change from her brooding, unyielding husband.

“It's not that we dislike working closely with you, you understand?”

Malik grinned. “Sure I do, Jo Jo.” He wasn't offended.

Malik never apologized for running a tight ship. He felt his people respected him more for it and believed that respect made his restaurant the success that it was.

“So, when is she gonna start coming in, Malik?”

“Well—” Malik began, a smile coming to his face, when he looked toward the rear of the dining room. “Speak of the devil. There she is.”

Zakira was slightly breathless as she hurriedly approached the table. “Sorry guys, I wanted to get here before the end of your meeting. Do y'all have a few minutes?”

“Sure, Zakira!”

“Have a seat, darlin'.”

“Can I get you some coffee?”

Malik rolled his eyes and reclined in his chair as he watched the eight stiff-lipped men fawn over his wife. Of course, he could never blame them. Zakira brought out something bright in each of his employees. He believed they would work round the clock for her if she asked them to.

“I'm fine,” Zakira was assuring the chefs, as she set her maroon cashmere wrap on a vacant chair. “This won't take long. I just wanted to discuss a couple of things with you all. Did Malik tell you guys about the dinner?” she asked, watching everyone smile and nod.

“Great,” she said, already reaching into the oversized black leather tote she carried.

Malik's smoldering charcoal-gray stare never strayed from his wife as she discussed menu ideas and timelines with his employees. He admired the ease with which she handled the group of finicky chefs. When they began to discuss the particulars, he stood and took Zakira's elbow in a light hold.

“I'm gonna head on up to the office, unless you need me to stay,” he said, brushing his hand against the soft clinging cashmere of her pearl gray dress.

Zakira coolly extracted her arm from Malik's grasp, feeling her entire body tingle scandalously in response to the sweet gesture. “Mmm-mmm,” she replied, with a quick shake of her head. “I'll be fine.”

He smiled and turned to the table. “Talk to you guys later.” He could feel Zakira's eyes linger a bit longer than necessary on his departing figure before she forced her eyes back to the page she held.

Before he exited the dining room, he turned to cast one last look at her. The sight of his wife taking an active role in his business pleased him more than she would ever know.

The annoying beep of the intercom pierced the silence of the spacious corner office. Malik slammed his fist against the talk button with such force the machine jumped off the desk.

“What is it, Chanel?” he barked. Reading invoices and recipes, and going over the books for the better part of the morning, had taken a fierce toll on his mood.

“Sorry to bother you, Malik, but Tree's out here to see you,” Chanel Levy informed her boss.

“Sorry, Chanel. It's all right. Send him in,” Malik instructed, tossing the paperwork aside as he leaned back in his chair.

A slight frown crossed his dark face when his best friend and lawyer Trekel Grisani walked into the office. “What's wrong?” Malik asked the moment the door closed.

Tree's long black lashes closed over his dark eyes as he shook his head. “Everything's fine, man,” he assured his friend.

Malik visibly relaxed and leaned back a little further in the brown leather chair. “So what's up? I don't usually get visits from lawyers in the middle of the day.”

Tree grinned, lowering his massive frame into one of the chairs before the wide desk. “You got a problem with me coming by?”

Malik shrugged. “Nah. You want me to have somethin' sent up from the kitchen?”

Tree waved his hand and grimaced. “Thanks, I'm cool.” He propped the side of his face against his palm and waited. When Malik remained silent, he sighed. “I think we've done enough small talk, man.”

Malik's heavy brows drew close. “Small talk?” he repeated, purposely misunderstanding.

Tree expelled a frustrated sigh and leaned forward. “Man, will you please give it up? Have you heard anything from Doctor McNeil?”

At Tree's mention of the doctor's name, Malik instantly tensed. “I only saw him two days ago,” he murmured, his deep voice raspy with aggravation.

Tree pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and cleared his throat. “All right, so it's been two days. Shouldn't they have the results from your tests by now?”

Malik pounded his fist against his thigh. “I doubt it.” He sighed.

“I don't understand why it's taking so long,” Tree complained.

In spite of his foul mood, Malik managed to laugh. “We
are
talkin' about cancer here, man. I think Doctor McNeil wants to be sure when he tells me I'm about to die.”

Tree realized how unnerving the situation was for his friend. He suddenly regretted having mentioned anything about the tests. “I think you're overreacting now, Mal.”

“I'm not so sure after what happened,” Malik admitted, shaking his head.

Tree's long brows drew together as a frown further darkened his extremely handsome face. “What happened with what?”

Malik rubbed one hand through his dreads and stared out the office window that overlooked downtown Richmond. “Zakira's been having a dream for the last few weeks. She finally told me that all she can see is a man laid out in black, surrounded by candles.”

Tree's brows rose expectantly. “And?”

Malik turned and shot Tree a murderous glare. “Hell, man, that could be me laid out dead.”

A smile brightened Tree's handsome face. “Man, I think you're letting this get to you too much.”

Malik turned back to the windows and braced his hands on the dark paneled sill. “We both know that could be me. The only thing missing is the casket.”

“Mal,” Tree cautioned, but even he found it somewhat unsettling.

A few days later, Zakira opened the door and her smile widened at the sight of her stepsister. “Cold?” she teased the woman standing there with her arms wrapped around her slender form, shivering.

Edwina Harris rolled her almond-shaped eyes to the overcast sky before she rushed past Zakira and hurried into the living room where there was a fireplace.

“Dammit, Z,” she groaned, stomping one stylish, hiking boot shod foot to the carpet. “Why haven't you made a fire yet, girl?”

Zakira stared at Edwina for a moment, a dumbfounded expression on her face. Then she slapped her hands against her sides. “I never thought about it.”

“Do you have any idea how cold it is outside?” Eddie calmly inquired, propping one hand on her slender hip.

Zakira shook her head and walked over to take her stepsister by the hand. “I've been in the kitchen all morning. Come on, I'll fix you some coffee.”

Eddie held back. “Make it tea and you've got a deal.”

“No problem,” Zakira obliged, leading the way down the carpeted hallway.

The moment Eddie stepped past the arched doorway of the kitchen, her eyes closed and a serene smile crossed her lips. “Mmm…what are you making?”

Zakira's expression was filled with pride as she listened to her sister marvel over the fabulous smells wafting in the air. “What does it smell like?” she teased.

Eddie shot her a wicked glare. “It smells like something I want a piece of.”

Zakira clasped her hands and rushed to the cupboard to retrieve a plate. A fantastic cook, like her husband, she always relished the chance to show off her culinary talents. Edwina, of course, didn't mind sampling the dishes.

“What is it?” Eddie asked, watching Zakira scoop out what appeared to be a miniature pie.

A surprised expression touched Zakira's face as she set a fork on the side of the plate. “I know you've had chicken potpie before.”

Edwina nodded, accepting the plate. “I have, but none that ever smelled like this,” she whispered, breaking the pie's flaky crust with her fork. A delighted gasp escaped her mouth when chunks of potatoes, carrots and chicken tumbled onto the plate.

“That's because I use fresh ingredients and the crust is seasoned,” Zakira revealed smugly.

“Mmm,” Eddie sighed, when she tasted the delicious creation. “With what?”

Zakira took a plate from the cupboard and served herself. “Herbs from our garden out back.”

“Well, it's delicious,” Eddie complimented.

Bowing her head, Zakira acknowledged the compliment. “Thanks. So, um, what brings you by today?” she asked. Hearing Edwina's long, dramatic sigh, she already knew the answer.

“Men,” Eddie breathed.

Zakira shook her head as she listened to Edwina lament over her latest poor choice. Not wanting to treat her stepsister's problems lightly, Zakira still found it all somewhat amusing. When most people saw Edwina Harris, they figured she had her life in perfect order.

Besides having her own medical practice, Edwina was a leggy twenty-eight-year-old with a model's looks. She wore her hair in a boyish cut that flattered her lovely, dark face. The full lips and almond-shaped hazel eyes gave her a captivating exotic appearance. Men were drawn to her like helpless puppets. Unfortunately, these “puppets” usually turned out to be toads. Toads, who took Eddie through one trial or another.

“I mean, I just can't believe I fell for his crap.”

Zakira lifted another forkful of the delicious chicken potpie to her lips and savored the taste. “I'm going to make my usual suggestion, but I don't expect you to take advantage of it.”

Eddie sat up straighter on the bar stool in front of the kitchen island and waited.

“Give all this dating a rest for a while. Stop looking so hard, and maybe the right man will find you.”

Edwina rolled her eyes toward the ceiling in response.

Zakira took a sip of her tea. “Why don't you put more time into your work? That couldn't hurt.”

“That's the last thing I need to do.”

“Eddie, what the hell is wrong with you?” Zakira finally snapped.

“Z, you keep forgetting I'm a sex therapist. Now, if I'm gonna take a break from dating, sex is the last thing I want on my mind.”

Zakira tried to keep her smile from breaking through, but she failed. In seconds, both she and Edwina were laughing uncontrollably.

“Well, what about this?” Zakira said with a sigh, once the high-pitched giggles lost some of their zeal. “Come to our charity dinner at the end of the month.”

Edwina's lovely face looked blank. “What does a charity dinner have to do with my dating situation?”

“Nothing, and that's why I think you should come. Not to meet anyone. Just get out and enjoy some good food and stimulating conversation for a good cause. Not to mention the, um, hundred-dollar-a-plate dinner.”

Edwina choked on her tea. “I knew there was a catch. You ain't right, Z.”

Zakira tried to hide her smile. One look at Edwina's face made her burst into laughter again. Of course, Eddie couldn't help but follow suit.

“Now, you drive safe and remember what I said,” Zakira told Eddie a few hours later as they shared a tight hug.

Edwina relished her sister's embrace a moment longer before pulling away. “I'll try. And don't forget to send me my invitation!” she called, already sprinting down the porch steps.