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“Where are you looking at building it?” Ray asked.
“The first location is going to be in downtown Saint Louis. With the way they are revitalizing the downtown area, I am sure to make a killing,” Roc answered.
I was listening, but my mind kept going back to what my dad said about trying things out with Averie. I would like to move in a more romantic direction with her, but I don’t want it to come off like I am just trying to get her into bed like other men have. I want to touch her and hold her hand. I want to kiss her and possessively hold her when we are in public. I don’t know how to approach her so for now, I am just leaving things the way they are, even though it’s killing me. Plus, I don’t want to mess with the chemistry we have working together on the case. She came into the conference room the other day, laid her demands on the table, and everyone fell in line. I haven’t heard one grumble or complaint about her, but I wouldn’t be receptive to it anyway.
“What is the name of the business and what is your projected completion date?” I asked trying to clear my mind of Averie.
“Wonderland. It was a toss-up between that and Utopia, but Wonderland is a franchise-able name.”
“When are you looking to get started?” Countee asked.
“Well, my goal was to get with the architect and get some bids on the construction within the next six months, but with this trial looming, I don’t know. I probably need to fall back and see how this all pans out.”
No one spoke up and said, “it’s going to be alright,” or “no worries we got this in the bag” because none of us felt confident enough to say it. We were all worried about the outcome of the case, but I know I have the best person leading the team.
We all sat quietly in our own thoughts.
“Tsk,” Xavier made a noise while looking at his phone.
“What’s up, Xavier? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, looking for a flight to Houston for the weekend. I need to see what Daisy is talking about.”
“She’s still making you pay for the past?”
“This lady can hold a grudge. I messed up. I know I did but give a brother a break!”
We all chuckled.
“You all and your women problems; Roc is living with a certified gangsta and has a miniature gangsta daughter.”
“Yeah Princess is something else,” Ray laughed.
“Man, it’s like she’s been here before!” Roc laughed. “A grown woman in a little girl’s body.”
Princess loved Countee, but the rest of us had to come correct around her.
“Xavier has been on his hands and knees begging for another chance for years and El,” Countee started.
“What about me?”
“Nigga, you scared to approach Averie. Aye, y’all should have seen his chest all swollen when I was talking to Averie the first time,” he chuckled. “Once I noticed he was feeling a certain way, I kept talking to her just to get on his nerves.”
“Whatever!” I laughed.
“We are all wondering what’s taking you so long to ask her out,” Xavier said.
“She’s fine as hell and bossy just like you. I like her,” Roc added.
I looked at each man at the table. They were all waiting for my response.
“I didn’t realize I was so obvious.” I looked at Ray.
“It’s pretty obvious, boss,” he replied.
“I’ve never second-guessed approaching a woman, but Averie is fragile in the sense that men who were in positions of authority used their authority to try to sleep with her. That’s not my angle, and I don’t want it to appear to be the case either. So, I'm cautious. Plus, you know I don’t have time for a relationship. I’m trying to make some big moves, and most women don’t understand my grind.”
“El,” Ray interrupted. “I haven’t been around Averie as much as you have but, in our interactions, she seems like the type of woman who is trying to secure the bag just like you. She works just as many hours as you do so I don’t think she falls into the category you just described. You really should have a conversation about it with her and see how it goes.”
