Rituals for Love (9781476761893) (31 page)

I stared at him. I didn't know if I could be mad. We were sort of guilty of the same things. I cleared my throat. “When did she kiss you?”

“The night of the charity event.”

“What a surprise. Go on.”

He explained how they spent the evening talking with the people at their table, dancing, and having a few drinks. “She had mentioned earlier in the evening that she wasn't going to settle anymore. She must have been referring to her man because while we waited for our cars at valet, she kissed me.”

“What kind of kiss was it?”

“You really want to know?”

“I need to know.”

“Closed mouth, no tongue.”

“So a peck?”

“A little bit more than a peck.”

“Show me.”

“Come on, Jade. I'm not doing that.”

“I'm serious. I want to see how moved she was to kiss you.”

I scooted across the couch to him. I sat cross-legged in front of him. He put his hand behind my head and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was soft, tender, and lingered. He did it again.

“Oh, so you let her kiss you twice?”

“That's what happened and I'm sorry. I should have seen it coming.”

“Did you like it?”

“Why would you ask me that?”

“Because I want to know.”

“Jade—”

“Answer the question, Cain.”

“It was nice, but unsolicited and unreturned. I'm being honest with you.”

“I believe you.”

A look of relief washed across his face. “I love you. You know I love you. I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“Why do you think we let these things happen?”

“I'm still trying to figure that out. Are you happy in this relationship?”

“Are you really asking me that?”

“I wouldn't have before this mess with Omar.”

“I need you to believe me when I tell you that I have never been happier in all of my life.”

“I feel the same way. Which brings us back to the question why did we entertain these people?”

“Omar is my friend.”

“How can you maintain a friendship with him after this?”

“And how can you continue to work with Riley?”

Cain leaned forward. “We have some mature decisions to make. Do we trust each other and move forward with you maintaining your friendship with Omar and me maintaining my working relationship with Riley?”

“Or do we remove the catalysts of some our trouble which means I have to end my friendship with Omar and Riley can no longer work for you?”

These weren't easy decisions to make. Neither of us had answered the other. We just sat quietly mulling over what we should do. I hated to be in this predicament. Unfortunately, we were hardly done with our discussions. There was still the question of what it would take to repair our relationship and what to do about Genesis. Was he in or out?

The day Cain first handed me the key to Genesis and said that we were going to be business partners, I never thought that we would end up here.

I
took the first flight out of LaGuardia to Atlanta. I wasn't going to the house and rented a car to get around for the day. My first stop was a meeting with my project manager on the commercial real estate downtown. We needed to go over projections for what we could charge for rent per square foot. My next stop was a meeting with Zaire's brother-in-law to discuss having his band provide the music for Friday Night Jazz at Eden2. I booked the band on a four-week trial basis. The first event would be in two weeks. My last stop was the restaurant.

I had a meeting with my restaurant manager, Tatum, first and then I asked Riley to come into my office. I was seated behind my desk when she came in. Her face brightened when she saw me.

“Come on in and have a seat.”

“I didn't realize you were back in town so soon.”

“I had some business to take care of. How have things been going here?”

“I'm learning the ropes, sending out really great food from the kitchen and getting comfortable with my position.”

“And you feel you made the right decision accepting this position?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I absolutely do.”

I took a deep breath and plowed forward. “Do you feel that you can work in this position on a strictly professional level?”

She didn't answer immediately. “This is about the kiss, isn't it?”

“Can you answer the question?”

“Of course. I can be professional. I apologize for kissing you, Cain. I realize that I put you in an awkward predicament.”

“When you kissed me, you said you had to do it.”

“I just felt we had such a good time together at the charity event. We were dancing, talking, and laughing, and I really felt like we were bonding.”

“That's common when you attend a social event.”

“Okay. I get that you're the boss, but I'm not going to own all of this. You didn't kiss me, but you felt it, too. I saw how you were looking at me in my dress. I noticed how complimentary you were to me and attentive to my needs. I noticed all of that.”

“That's because I'm a gentleman, Riley. I always open doors for women and pull out chairs. That wasn't something I only did for you. I know how to treat a lady. And, yes, I'm not going to lie. You were stunning in that dress. You're a beautiful woman, but I think we both crossed some lines.”

“I know you have a girlfriend, and I'm seeing someone.”

“It's not just that. I'm your boss and we can't afford to have any blurred lines about our relationship. It's strictly professional. I take responsibility for my part in encouraging a friendship over a working relationship.” I shared with Riley that I had enjoyed our time getting to know one another. I told her it reaffirmed that I had made the right decision hiring her. I was confident of her skills and confident that she was good for the restaurant. I also let her know that I would limit my interaction with her. Tatum, as restaurant manager, would be our liaison. If she needed anything she should speak to him and he would relay it to me. I didn't want any misunderstanding when it came to the basis our relationship. It was strictly professional. Nothing more and nothing less. “I want you
to know I still have every confidence in you. I just think it's best to handle things this way moving forward.”

“Wow…I…I don't quite know what to say.”

“Please, be candid.”

“Okay, this doesn't feel like a slap on the wrist. It feels more like an extreme punishment.”

“Actually, it's neither.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“One hundred percent. Try to understand I'm running a business here, and I'm making the best
business
decision for my restaurant right now. I shared with Jade what transpired between us. So, believe when I say that Tatum acting as liaison is not a punishment, but rather a necessity, I'm speaking the truth.”

“Jade knows that I kissed you?”

“Yeah, she does.”

“That's awful.” She put her head in her hands, her bob swinging forward. “I'm ashamed of myself.” She looked up at me. “I hope you know I'm not that type of person to move in on someone's man.”

I put my hand up to cut her off. “That's none of my business.”

“I need you to know that, though. I don't go around trying to take someone's man.”

“I know, Riley.”

“Do you really?”

“I did get to know you a bit and I'm a good judge of character. I just think in this situation, considering how it started off, a liaison is not a bad idea.”

“Maybe you're right.”

“That's all I had to say. Again, welcome to the team, and let's take Eden2 to the next level.”

“Thanks, Cain.”

She left the office with a defeated demeanor. I hoped her perky energy would return after she had time to process our discussion. It wasn't an easy one to have, but it was necessary. The positive side was that I wasn't at the restaurant all the time. It wouldn't be hard at all to limit our interaction. She thought she was being punished? I had to find a way to look out for my business without jeopardizing my relationship. If a liaison was the answer, then we sure as hell would be using one.

In the future, I'd speak to Riley when visiting the restaurant and ask how everything was going. I'd inquire if there were any questions or concerns, but that was it. There would be no more one-on-one personal conversations or excursions together. We would be strictly business.

•  •  •

I
WAS BOOKED ON A
late flight back to New York. It had been a long travel day and I wanted to get home. I just got situated in my seat and received a text message.

Cain, I thank you for having confidence in my skills and giving me this wonderful executive chef opportunity. It saddens me, but I am resigning from my position effective immediately. I completely understand the need for a liaison, but I regret that we found ourselves in a situation where we require one. I wouldn't be comfortable working in that kind of restrained environment and I believe you know the reasons why. I enjoyed my time at Eden2 and with you. I will officially resign with Tatum. Wishing you ALL the best. –Riley

I powered off my phone, reclined my head back on the seat, and added the task of finding an executive chef for Eden2 back to my growing to-do list.

I
waited on a bench in Madison Square Park. A group of suited guys walked by debating what the outcomes would be for
Monday Night Football.
A nanny pushed a double stroller with two infants, ignoring the screams of the crying one in front. A tall, handsome man approached, dimples on display, and sat on the other end of my bench.

“Hey, Omar. Thanks for meeting me.”

“I haven't heard from you in a week.”

“I know. I've been working a lot and processing important things.”

“Processing… That sounds serious.”

“It is. I've had time to think about what has been transpiring between us recently.” The last time we had lunch Omar shared feelings that I hadn't realized were quite so deep. I owed it to him to address those and more. “Lines were crossed.”

“You think I crossed the line? Because that was never my intention.”

“I think we both crossed some lines. I'm just as guilty as you are.”

He looked perplexed. “Guilty?”

“We're both responsible,” I clarified. I didn't want him to get caught up on a word rather than my message. “When we met, I was just starting to date Cain. I made it clear to you that I wasn't available. Yeah, maybe in another time you and I could have had something, but that wasn't our reality. I was exploring the situation I was interested in with Cain.”

“Lately you haven't been completely unreceptive to me. I know I'm not imagining that.”

“I can admit that I should have been more assertive in letting you know that we're only friends. That was a misstep on my part and I'm truly sorry. But you also have to admit that you were going way too hard.”

“I explained my position to you when we were at lunch. I may kid around and I'm always good for a laugh, but I'm serious about what I feel for you. When I walked up today and could see you sitting on the bench, my heart skipped. You bring out something in me that I can't explain. I haven't felt it with any other woman. Yeah, I cared for Damaris and a few women before her, but you're different. I'm not going to miss an opportunity to be with the woman I feel is for me.”

“That's just it. I'm not an opportunity and I'm not the woman for you. I'm the woman for Cain and he's the man for me. If you take a moment to think about it, I've never indicated otherwise.” I tried to explain to Omar how Cain made me feel. What I loved about him and why I wasn't even considering anyone else. I wasn't trying to be unnecessarily harsh, but he needed to hear what was in my heart and what it was I wanted. My opportunity had been, for the past year, with a man that made me feel like the most beautiful and smart and important woman in the world. Nothing Omar had done or said made me question whether Cain was the man for me. “So, yes, I crossed lines in spending so much time with you and not spurning your advances. I'll take the blame for letting you think there was a chance for us, but let me be clear, there isn't.”

He nodded. “I get it. You're happy.”

“Not just happy. I'm in love with
my
ideal. I know you can relate
to what that means. I'm in a space with a man where the only thing I see is him, our relationship, and what's in store for
our
future.”

“He's a lucky man.”

“I'm just as lucky as he is. Maybe I didn't say enough to let you know that I'm crazy about him, too.” I reached in my purse and handed Omar his check.

He looked at it and then me. “Why are you giving this back?”

I sighed. “We can't work together, Omar.”

“Business is business, Jade.”

“Not in our case.”

“You don't think we could be professional?”

“It wouldn't be right, or healthy, to be around one another when you've already admitted that you want more from me. Think about it; you sent me penis pics.”

“That was a part of the benefits package.” He chuckled.

I had to laugh. I was grateful to cut through the tension. “Well, your package could have gotten me fired. Cain saw those pictures.”

Omar straightened up. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, he did. And do you know what I felt? That I was in danger of losing
my
opportunity at happiness.”

“I'm sorry about that. I never thought he would see those.”

“I know you didn't. You thought you were being cute or sexy or funny or whatever. In actuality, all you were being was inappropriate.”