Quinn
“I’d be lying if I said I hated to tell you I told you so.” Amanda’s voice sounded smug as ever through the phone speakers. If I knew my best friend, she was wearing the biggest smirk on her face, probably jumping up and down with joy just the way I would have been if I wasn’t worried about someone walking outside and seeing me.
“You were worried for absolutely no reason, as always! You should learn to listen to me, Quinn. I’m always right about everything. You should know that by now!” she teased. “And if there’s one thing I know better than anyone, its good food. You’re an exceptional cook and there isn’t a person alive who’s tasted your food who can honestly say they disliked it! That’s why I recommended you in the first place!”
“Stop it,” I murmured bashfully, unable to keep the smile off my face as I tucked the phone between my cheek and shoulder, beginning to rearrange some of the Tupperware in the back of my van just for the sake of keeping my hands busy. I was filled to the brim with adrenaline and excitement after tonight’s success. I hardly knew what to do with myself. “Amanda, seriously, I can’t thank you enough. I don’t know how you managed it, but I owe you one. If it weren’t for you convincing your boss to put in a good word for my catering business, I never would have even been considered in the first place!” Amanda worked for a well-known event planner, and she was kind enough to put in a good word for me to Lisa, who ended up recommending me to cater the gala.
“Oh, please.” Amanda laughed. “I don’t know ifconvincingis the right word. I mentioned your name once and barely managed to get another word out! You know SharpEats is Lisa’s favorite restaurant in the city! She was more than happy to put in a good word for Quinn’s Catering with the King’s primary event planner, and when I mentioned you were my best friend, she couldn’t stop raving about your jerk chicken! It’s her favorite item on the menu. She’s been talking about wanting to work with you again in the future, but in my opinion, she’ll be lucky if she can book you again anytime soon. After tonight’s success, I have a feeling that you’ll be all booked up for the foreseeable future. Maybe she’ll be able to get a seat in your restaurant at some point, though.”
“You’re too much.” I twirled one of my thick locs around my finger, jaw aching from smiling for over a long period. I’d never done well when receiving so many compliments, not sure how to handle them, but Amanda’s words only improved my already grand mood.
“And you’re in denial if you think otherwise.” She snickered. “I mean, you’re only twenty-eight-years-old, you only started your business three years ago, and now you have had your biggest catering gig yet and it was for the annual King Foundation Charity gala for veterans. This is a huge deal. With a good review from one of the wealthiest families in Serenity Cove, your business is going to be booming soon!”
Hearing Amanda say that all aloud felt so surreal. I was still in utter disbelief, and it just didn’t seem like real life! Me, of all people, getting to cater such an exquisite gala for one of the wealthiest and most well-known families in Serenity Cove…
The King family sat at the top of the elites of the city. The family was prominent in the twentieth century, building their empire through shipping and railroads. If you wanted to succeed in Serenity Cove, it was a good idea to have them on your side. Though there was only one member of the prominent family left: Jasper King.
He was your typical billionaire bachelor and had been described as wild and impulsive by the media. He’d flown his entire college graduating class to St Barts for an all-inclusive vacation. I was upset at the time that we weren’t at the same college and graduating together. That vacation would have been a welcomed treat.
Jasper had lost his parents at a young age and had been the sole beneficiary of their vast fortune. Three years ago, however, he disappeared. The media now labeled him the recluse billionaire since no one knew why he remained under the radar.
Whatever the reason might have been, I couldn’t blame him. If I lived in a mansion like his, I’d hardly leave it either. The manor was absolutely beautiful! Solid gold gates with Jasper’s initials engraved in them kept unwanted visitors out of the humongous yard. Green grass and brand new cement walkways stretched throughout the yard for miles. Multi-colored flowers lined the walkways, and there was even a beautiful garden toward the side of the manor. Hundred-year-old trees with pastel-colored flowers surrounded the mansion as well. It was stunning! I could only imagine what the inside looked like. I spent most of my time in the kitchen so I didn’t get to see much, but I was sure it was just as grand as the outside is.
“I hope so-” I continued.
“Iknowso,” she insisted. “Stop being humble for one second, Quinn Sharpe, or I won’t stop raving about your success tonight for the rest of my life! Listen, you need to pat yourself on the back! You’ve been working so hard for so long and now you’ve accomplished something major. Successfully catering one of the King’s Gala is no easy feat. Neither is running a restaurant, but you’ve managed to do that too. You know… Ilovedyour brother’s soul food.Everyonedid! But the menu has never tasted better since you took over.”
I let out a quiet laugh, blinking rapidly to combat the tears already trying to form in my eyes. My best friend sure knew how to give a compliment. The thought of my brother, Cameron, made me feel a little calmer at that moment, although, it also made the moment feel bitter-sweet.
Cameron would have been so proud of me. From managing to keep his restaurant afloat while continuing to operate my catering business without a clue as to whether it would all work out, to having every table inside his restaurant occupied at any given moment and catering for the King family’s gala…
“Some of the credit for my cooking skills is owed to all those times I went over to your house when we were kids and spent most of time in the kitchen, cooking Mediterranean dishes with your mom.” I giggled. “But I guess you’re not wrong,” I finally admitted, grinning. “After tonight’s success, I think I’ll be getting plenty more clients. I—” I let out a surprised laugh as an arm slinked its way around my waist and I was suddenly pulled back against a solid, warm chest.
“I think you’re right,” Marlon murmured, planting a kiss to the side of my face as he squeezed me tightly. I turned around in his arms, humming as he leaned down to press a quick kiss to my lips. “You did a great job tonight, Quinn.” He smiled before letting go of me and sending me a wink as he began packing up the rest of the van. I would have finished by now if I hadn’t been running my mouth, but Ihadto call Amanda the first chance I got to tell her all about how tonight had gone!
“Well.” Amanda coughed before clearing her throat. “I’ll be off now, seeing as you’re obviously in good hands,” she grumbled. “We’ll talk later.”
I winced at her sudden dry tone, shaking my head. Amanda never made it a secret how much she disliked Marlon. It might have had a little something to do with him being my on-again-off-again boyfriend. She’d never been a fan.
“Okay, bye, Mands. Thank you again for everything!”
“Always, babe,” she said. When the two of us hung up, I began helping Marlon load up the rest of the van.
“Thank you for helping me out.” I smiled, glancing at him as I picked up the final stack of containers. “I mean, with loading the vanandwith making sure today ran smoothlyandwith the restaurant—”
“You know I don’t mind. I love that restaurant—always have and always will—I love this business and I love you too.” Marlon had worked as a server at Sharpe’s Soul Food since the restaurant was owned and operated by my brother, and he stuck around long enough to see it become mine too. I was sure this night meant a lot to him just as well.
Maybe for all the wrong reasons.
“So many of those high-class, rich people were impressed with the food tonight! With all the money that will start trickling in from all the wealthy people who were requesting your company info, you’ll be able to move into a new house with me like we planned and have plenty left to pay someone to help your grandmother out with your niece and nephew!”
“Not this again,” I mumbled under my breath, sighing as I slammed the last container down inside the back of the van.
“Come on, babe—”
“We’ve already talked about this, Marlon, and I’m not going to keep going over it with you!” I snapped. “It’s not just you and I anymore! I made a promise to Janiyah and Jamal that I’d always be there for them, and I meant it!”
“Yeah, I know.” He nodded, letting out a frustrated breath. “But this way, you could get a break too! What about all the plans we made? The promises you made me?”
