AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yep, it was with Samuel. He basically asked me to leave the bank and head up the banking division of his new corporation.”
“What?” I looked over at Kerem.
He glanced at me, then put his eyes back on the road.
“Yeah, he’s using some of my ideas that I pitched to him years ago when I was trying to get his business at the bank. If I were to accept the position, I would work for Hotep bank until the Valentine Corporation could sustain itself then I would be over the corporation’s banking division,” Kerem explained.
“Wow, I assume that comes with a raise?”
“El said I would be able to write my own check. Whatever I tell them, as far as a salary goes, they will match. Hotep has tried to get me to come to them more than once, but they couldn’t give me more than my bank could…”
“But you always said you wanted to work for one of the only black-owned and run banks in the Midwest,” I interrupted.
“Right, and he wants us to consider purchasing some of the properties in the area he is investing in. We could flip them and make a nice profit,” Kerem said.
“So, what did you say?”
“I took a page out of Cam’s book and told him I would think about it, but as soon as he left, I typed up my resignation letter,” Kerem chuckled.
“I’m happy for you, Kerem,” I said and touched his hand.
“So, you think it’s a good idea? I wouldn’t make this move without your blessing,” he said.
“It’s a great move! Do it,” I answered.
He put the back of my hand to his lips and kissed it.
* * *
Iwas surprised when we pulled into the parking lot of the skating rink where we first met.
“Reem, what are we doing here?” I asked, looking around.
“This is where our date will be,” he smiled and turned off the car.
“With all the kids?” I inquired.
Usually, the building was packed wall to wall with children on a Friday night.
“No, it’s a very private event tonight,” he responded.
He opened my door and helped me out of the car.
We walked through the front door of the building and into the main area. It was empty except for a small table for two, a waiter and a man in the DJ booth.
“Are we the only ones here?” I asked, looking around.
It had been decades since I’d been in the old building. The smell of the disinfectant they sprayed in the rental skates brought back so many memories. The colorful murals of the different decades of skaters filled every inch of the walls. The lights were low and beams of light shot from the disco ball that was still in the middle of the dance floor. Light jazz played through the speakers. It was the same layout as it was years ago, but some of the fixtures had been updated.
“Yes, it’s ours for the evening,” Kerem replied. He took my hand and led me to the table. “We can eat dinner and then see if we still got it on the skates.”
He motioned his head to the right where my old skates were positioned next to his old skates.
“Where did you find these?” I asked.
“They were in our storage unit. I had them cleaned up, and the wheels tightened. They still look good, though, right?”
“They do,” I smiled as I remembered all the fun I used to have at the skating rink. “I hope I still remember how to skate.”
