“He didn’t tell me, Josie did when I stopped by to drop off the stuff you asked for.” Cairo ordered some jewelry for my mother’s birthday and had it delivered to my house. It needed a signature and the date it was coming Josie wouldn’t be around.
Her mom passed and she was away for the services. We weren’t able to make it to the funeral but me, Cairo and some of the other family members went to see them. Josie had been around us for years and we knew her mom well.
My parents insisted on paying for everything and wanted to go to the funeral home and take care of the bill. That way it would be less for them to worry about.
“Why did she tell you that?” He muted the tv to focus on me.
“She asked who Kateri was in order to make a place setting for her at the party.” He nodded his head and walked over to the mini bar.
My dad wanted the best party ever because in his mind, my mother could be dead tomorrow so every day he tried to be up under her just in case. My mom complained all the time about him invading her space but he didn’t care. He refused to miss any time with her and what’s crazy was she’s as healthy as ever.
“Do you like her?” I made my way over to grab a drink myself.
Ever since that shit happened in the Islands with him and someone being inside his home, I’ve been paranoid as hell. I even had security go through my house again to make sure no cameras were installed that weren’t supposed to be.
“Like her? What are we in the middle of school?” I poured a shot of Patron. It wasn’t my drink of choice but it would do to relax me.
“What do you think she’ll do when she finds out who you are?” He shrugged. I told him to let Kateri know but he refused and said it didn’t matter.
“Well, I think you’re good for one another.” I gulped down another shot and put the glass down.
“How is that? We haven’t even had a real conversation yet.” I smiled.
“Sure you did. When you broke her hand, saved her from drowning, showed up at her house unannounced and sent foodto her job.”Sariah told me about him showing up to her house and the food he sent.
“That’s not talking.” I opened the office door because someone was knocking. His substitute secretary was standing there with hearts in her eyes. She was in love with Cairo and the feeling was not mutual.
“Excuse us for a minute.” I closed the door in her face. I didn’t slam it because she’s always been very nice and respectful. It was more for privacy than anything.
“Mommy always said,“A girl can always tell when a boy likes her because he’ll beat her up or be mean to her. If they find themselves around one another afterwards, then they like one another because who would stick around after.”I quoted my mother. He shook his head laughing and said we’re grown and not kids. I told him it was the same at a different age.
“As far as your secretary goes, you better get a handle on her because not only did she have love in her eyes for you, she will most likely kill you for not choosing her.” He was bent over laughing.
He could take me as a joke all he wanted but Nicole has expressed to me plenty of times about how much she loved Cairo and would do anything necessary to keep him around. I didn’t understand why either since to my knowledge he had never been with her intimately in any way.
“You can go in Nicole.” I told her stepping out Cairo’s office.
“Thanks and there’s a woman here for you in the waiting area.” She pointed up to the outside camera. Looking at the woman, I waited for her to turn around and had no idea who she was.
“Did she say what her name was?” I’m usually on point when having appointments so to see this lady was throwing me off.
“No and to be honest, her attitude was a tad bit rude. I had to tell her nicely to get it together or she’d be escorted out.” Like Isaid, she was a very nice person but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t give back the same energy given to her.
“Ok. I’ll handle it.” She went into Cairo’s office and I walked to mine. Dropping my things on the desk, I made my way back down to the waiting room. She wasn’t coming in my office when I had no clue who she was.
“Hi, I’m Rosalina Romano. How can I help you?” I extended my hand to shake hers. She turned her nose up which made me pull my hand away.
“I should’ve known you’d be beautiful.” Her demeanor was nasty.
“I beg your pardon.” Now I’m really confused because what was that about.
“Why couldn’t you find your own man? Why did you have to take mine?” Flabbergasted by her words, I had to take a few breaths before speaking. There were two other people waiting and both of them lifted their heads. Trying to remain professional, I kept a smile on my face.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about but what’s not going to happen is you bringing some man drama to my place of business. Whatever issue you have with your man, take that up with him.” I turned to leave and stopped when she said his name.
“Felix. Felix Sanchez. You know him right? The man you fucked in the Cayman Islands and since you’ve been back. You know him?” One of the women gasped and the other shook her head.
“Again, whatever man issues you have, take it up with him.” Opening the door, I felt a push to my back and turned to see photos of me and Felix hugged up in the Islands and recently.
