Close Quarters: A Novel (Zane Presents) (11 page)

“I’m sure it’s a lot to deal with,” I said.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“How excited are you about your upcoming nuptials?”

“They’re hardly upcoming. We haven’t even set a date yet.”

“Not quite what I asked you.”

“Charlee, you are so exasperating. I’m excited already, damn.”

She dropped the shoe she was holding. “I don’t know which of you chicks is worse. The one crying her eyes out or the one biting heads off. If this is excitement, then you had better get me a dictionary, because obviously it means something other than I thought.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get snippy with you. I
am
excited about the engagement, but I’m nervous at the same time. I’ve been engaged less than a week. Give it time to settle in and I’m sure you’ll see me bouncing off the walls from being deliriously happy.”

“Umm hmm,” she mumbled.

“Let me pay for this dress, and then we’ll go have a couple of martinis. My treat.”

“I know you’re treating, Ms. Moneybags,” she said, sauntering over to the register.

It’s a good thing I didn’t tell her about the stocks. She would have really lost her mind.

I
looked at my watch for the third time in five minutes. I was perched on the couch, legs crossed, temperature rising.

“What time is it?” That was Malik. He was sitting across from me, sharply dressed, in a black suit and gray shirt, with an abstract black and gray tie.

“It’s six-thirty.”

He reached for the phone.

“You’re not going to call her again?”

“Hell yeah. She was supposed to be here by five-thirty.”

The phone rang in his hand. He answered before the first ring stopped. Malik frowned and then passed the phone over to me.

“Hello . . . Yes . . . Of course I’m dressed already . . . Why, what happened . . . No . . . I understand . . . Okay . . . Bye.” I hung up the phone and looked at Malik’s inquisitive face. “Well, I’m going to get out of this dress and get comfortable.”

“What happened?”

“The usual. Work.”

I got up and started to go to my room.

Malik stopped me. “Don’t change. Come with me to Terrence’s engagement party.”

“I don’t know.”

“C’mon,” he sang more than said. “You look too fine not to be shown off.”

That earned him a smile. “I do, don’t I?”

Malik went to the closet and got my fur. He held it open for me.

“What about Kai?”

“Do you see Kai?”

I walked over to him and slid my arms into the sleeves. He offered me his arm, and then we left the apartment—on our way to a party.

• • •

Malik escorted me through the main dining room to the lounge area in the rear of the restaurant. The room was filled with people milling around, talking and laughing, while jazz played in the background. Food and drinks were in abundance. It was a dapper group, men in suits and ties, ladies draped in stylish dresses and pants suits.

Malik spotted Terrence and his fiancée a few feet from the bar. He grabbed my hand and led me through the crowd. They greeted each other with a masculine bear hug. Terrence had spent enough time at our apartment that no introductions were necessary. We kissed each other on the cheek and I congratulated him on his engagement. He introduced me to his bride-to-be, Dru. She was stunning—tall with flawless skin. She reminded me of Iman. I shook Dru’s hand and offered my well-wishes, then we commenced to complimenting one another on our rings. Malik and Terrence wandered off while Dru and I struck up a lively bridal conversation.

I liked Dru—she was someone I could see myself hanging out with. We agreed to get together for lunch someday soon. It would be nice to have another bride-to-be to consult with on wedding plans.

I strolled around the room, sipping champagne and catching snippets of conversations here and there. I spied Malik sitting on
the sofa with his cronies, Amir, Lex and Terrence. They were a handsome bunch. Lex was saying something that had them enthralled. I stood watching their interaction. They appeared so at home with one another. So brotherly. Not just Malik and Amir. All of them. Lex patted Terrence on the back, then they saluted him with raised glasses. A private toast among partners. Malik took a swig of his drink and then caught me staring at him. He paused for a moment, then a smile crept across his lips. He said something to the fellas and before I knew it, I had eight eyes peering at me. I turned abruptly and bumped into a woman carrying a platter of hors d’oeuvres, sending the platter toppling to the floor.

Apologizing profusely, I bent down to help her pick up the spilt food. She reassured me that it was no problem as we tossed chicken satay skewers back onto the tray. Malik appeared next to me and joined in the cleanup.

“Hey, girl. I asked Terrence where you were.”

I thought Malik was going crazy. He just saw me gawking at him a few seconds ago. Then I realized he was talking to the woman with the tray.

“You should have known I was in the kitchen,” she said, standing up with the tray of wasted hors d’oeuvres.

Malik assisted me up from my crouching position. “Mel, this is Jade, Terrence’s sister. Jade, meet Mel—my roommate.”

“I think we met when we collided, but it’s nice to finally put a face with the name,” Jade said.

“I’m so sorry about that. I didn’t see you behind me.”

“Not to worry. There’s plenty more in the kitchen.”

Jade handed the platter to a waiter and told him to dispose of the skewers. He traipsed off in a hurry. Now that her hands were free, she hugged Malik. They exchanged mischievous glances, then burst into a fit of laughter. I laughed along with them, though I didn’t know what was funny.

Jade put her arm around Malik’s waist. “Malik, you and Terrence have been keeping secrets. You never told me that Mel was so pretty.”

He cleared his throat. “Yup. She’s gorgeous.”

They both stood there admiring me like I was a piece of art in the museum.

“In fact,” she said, looking at me with amused eyes, “I thought Mel was short for Melvin.”

“Actually, my name is Melina,” I said with a smile of my own.

“Well, Melina, I am pleasantly surprised to meet you. Forgive me if I seem a bit tickled, but whenever I see Malik, he never fails to amaze me.”

“I live with him, so I know what you mean.”

She eyed Malik. “That must be fun.”

Malik jumped into the discussion. “So, Jade, what’s up with you? Are you still happily wrapped up with your man, what’s-his-name?”

“Cain, his name is Cain. And, yes, we are marvelously happy.”

A waiter came over and whispered in Jade’s ear.

“Excuse me, but duty calls. Funny how I can’t even enjoy my brother’s party because I have to work. I’ll catch up with you two later.”

Malik started talking a mile a minute. “Jade is a trip. She’s like a sister to me. Her man, Cain, owns a restaurant, too.”

“Ironically, I know who he is. Cain Cadman. Owns Eden. Ellis and I eat there on occasion. What I don’t know is what you and Jade found so amusing.”

“It had nothing to do with you.”

“I think it did.”

“Jade thinks it’s funny that my roommate is a woman. She was under the impression that I lived with a guy named Mel. I never told her you were female and I can only guess that she thinks there’s something between us.”

“In other words, Jade’s familiar with your reputation.”

“What reputation?” he said with a crooked smirk. Malik took me by the hand. “C’mon over and say hello to my brother and Lex.”

I scooted between Amir and Lex on the sofa, feeling like a sheep in a wolf sandwich. Malik unbuttoned his jacket, then sat on the low cube-like table in front of us. The guys were talking about football season and which teams they would like to see make it to the Super Bowl. I half-listened to their musings, unintentionally tuning them out. Malik was making a case for the Jets. My eyes were drawn to his Adam’s apple—the way it moved up and down as he spoke. My gaze traveled to his lips. They were full and looked soft. He laughed and brightened the room with his perfect teeth. His nose was straight but not too slim, prominent but not overwhelming. I slowly looked up and found myself gazing directly into his eyes. Heat crept up my neck. Malik studied my face and then voyaged downward, lingering at my cleavage. I shifted in my seat, but it failed to distract him. My legs held his attention captive.

Amir and Lex excused themselves, claiming to need a refill on drinks. They got up, leaving their half-filled glasses behind. Malik sat in Amir’s vacated spot on the sofa. His proximity made me fidgety and I wasn’t sure why.

“Isn’t this better than staying home alone on a Saturday night?”

I nodded. “It’s a nice affair.”

“It could be.”

“Malik—”

“Come dance with me.”

A few couples were dancing to a Sade tune on the other side of the room. I hesitated.

“Don’t bother saying no. I’ll just drag you kickin’ and screamin’.”

He stood up and held out his hand. I relented with a sigh. We
located an open space amongst the other dancers and Malik stepped closer to me. He slipped his right arm around my waist, drawing me near to his body. I rested my left hand on his shoulder and placed my right in his. We moved to the rhythmic bass and Sade’s mellow voice. Malik was a good dancer. His cheek vibrated lightly against mine as he hummed along with the song. Malik tightened his hold on my waist, eliminating the ever-so-slight gap between our bodies. Though I should have, I didn’t protest. We danced to a few songs until the music was interrupted for a champagne toast.

Friends and family toasted the happy couple. The future in-laws said things to Terrence and Dru that I knew I would never hear from Bebe. It made me feel sad that I would probably never have a good relationship with Ellis’s mother.

Malik and I spent the rest of the evening eating, drinking and conversing with his friends. It was the most fun I had had in a long time. Dru and I exchanged numbers and vowed to contact each other. Jade’s boyfriend Cain showed up later and was surprised to see me. I think he was even more surprised that I wasn’t with Ellis. He always chatted with us when we visited Eden. He unsuccessfully attempted to conceal his puzzlement as he looked from me to Malik. I commented that it was a small world, then explained that Malik was my roommate and his connection to Terrence. Jade finally finished in the kitchen and joined the party. Malik and I didn’t stumble out of Rituals until two-thirty in the morning.

• • •

I climbed the stairs to our apartment, holding onto the rail for balance. Six glasses of champagne and I was flying high as a kite. Malik held me by the elbow to make sure I didn’t tumble backward
down the stairs. I tripped on the top step and started giggling. Malik shushed me, which made me laugh louder. He ushered me into the apartment and helped me take off my fur. I kicked off my shoes in the living room. We walked down the hallway, side by side, to our bedrooms. I leaned against the door, resting my head on the frame.

Malik loitered in front of me. “We should do this more often,” he said.

“You know where to find me. All you have to do is ask.”

“Is that all it takes?” he whispered.

I nodded. Malik glided to me, closing the distance between us. He positioned one hand above my head on the door and slowly leaned into me, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine. He moved closer. I closed my eyes. I could feel his breath on my face. The buzzer sounded. My eyes popped open. We peered at each other. It was as if time stopped. No one moved a muscle. We waited in silence. The buzzer rang again. Malik went to the intercom and buzzed the door open. A moment later there was a knock at the door. Malik went to answer it.

Kai came through the door with a bundle of apologies and excuses. I slipped into my room and shut the door behind me. A few moments later I heard two sets of footsteps pass my door before Malik’s door closed behind them.

K
ai was sprawled across my queen-size bed in her bra and panties. Morning sunlight streamed through the open blinds. I was sitting up with my back pressed against the headboard. Kai showed up last night, copping a plea. Rattled off an intricate tale about a family emergency, a hospital visit and no cell phones allowed. She attempted to make atonement through oral means and I let her. I was mad, but I wasn’t a mad fool.

“What’s your schedule like tomorrow?” she asked.

“Meetings in the morning, but my afternoon is open.”

“I’m flying out to San Francisco on Tuesday. I thought we should try to finish as much as we can for the Sphere presentation before I go. Unless . . . ”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you care to join me in California.”

I thought about it for a moment.

She crawled up beside me. “If you come along, we wouldn’t have to rush the final product when I get back on Friday. It would give us the entire week to polish our pitch. I don’t want us to have to scramble over the weekend. Next Monday morning we meet with Gerry and then we’re meeting with Sphere Electronics the following week.”

“Donner’s going to approve my joining you on a business trip?”

“He wants this Sphere account. He’ll support whatever it takes to make it happen.”

“All right. I’ll talk to him first thing in the morning.”

“No, let me.”

I raised my eyebrows.

She quickly added, “If I tell him I need you in San Francisco for Sphere
and
to assist with my other meetings he can’t refuse.”

“I hate corporate politics.”

“Ahh, but you won’t have to deal with them for long. Once you start your own agency corporate politics will be a thing of the past.”

“My deadline is eight months.”

“That soon?”

“I have an aggressive strategy. If I could do it sooner, I would.” I sprang from the bed and paced the room. “I get excited just thinking about my own agency. You know when you have a plan and you feel within your soul that it can’t fail? I already have ideas to woo some of the biggest companies out there, specifically in the automobile and cosmetics industries.”