“Well, we talked about that,” she said softly, avoiding my eyes. “He acknowledged that I was doing too much and that he was relying too heavily on me. It will be more responsibility, but I’ll have a team to handle the legwork. I was doing everything myself, to impress him, but that won’t be the case if I take the position. All I’ll do is meet with clients, offer input when needed, and make the most important presentations.”
“Are you going to accept the offer?”
“I’m not sure. I wanted to talk to you about staying here and working virtually for him before he offered the promotion. It’ll pay me half a mill a year and that’s . . . a lot of money to turn down, babe.”
Her head shook as she stared into the distance.
“I agree. I’m just concerned about what you’d be giving up in the process. You said yourself that job was robbing you of your time, health, and peace. You were unhappy. Is it worth going back to that? And I hear you saying you won’t do as much, but can you honestly say that’ll last? How will you be able to handle a team of people doing what you’ve been doing for the last ten years? Can you trust them to put together presentations that will have your and his name on it?”
“I don’t know, Haji. While I’m not in a rush to say yes, I also won’t lie and say I’m ready to say no.”
Putting my personal feelings aside, I asked, “What can I say or do to help you make the best decision for you?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Take me to New York, let me shop till I drop, watch a Broadway show every day, and eat pizza and caviar until I’m full.”
“Done. What else?”
Her head snapped in my direction. “Done? What does that mean?”
“If taking a real vacation is what you need for clarity and to make the right decision, I’ll plan it and take you.”
Zoe laughed. “Haji, I was just talking shit. You can’t leave the shop, and I don’t mean to count your pockets, but you can’t be making that much. I wouldn’t dip in your savings like that.”
“Oh. So it’s time for us to have that conversation, huh?” I asked through my chuckle. “First of all, I can leave the shop whenever I want to. I don’t have to be here every day; I choose to. Pam and Martin are more than capable of running things in my stead. As far as you dipping in my savings is concerned, I don’t have to dip in my savings to take you to New York for a week or however long you want to go.”
Pulling my phone out, I opened my finances folder. One by one, I opened my banking apps. As cool as she tried to play it, I saw her eyes widen and felt when her body seized up as I showed her one account after another. Each one had no less than a quarter of a million in it, and to date, I had just over two point five million in my banks along with six figures in cash at home and at the shop.
While I may not have been flashy with my wealth, I had more than enough money to take care of her. I was just cheap as fuck and didn’t spend money until I had to, but I was generous and wouldn’t mind taking care of her, or anyone else for that matter.Hell, that was why I’d been paying my staff’s salary instead of shutting down.
“When my wife died, I used her insurance policy to make a few investments. Turns out I was pretty good at it, so I became a partner for a hedge fund. Though I don’t speak about money or my wealth, as you can see, I have plenty. My investing allows me to be hands-off to do what I please, and I choose to spend my days at the coffee shop because I love what my best friend created here.
“The only time I have to do work when it comes to my investments is when I have to do my research, place my bets and investments, or make and accept my payments. If you were considering taking this job solely for the money, you don’t have to do that. I have more than enough to take care of you.”
Her chuckle was barely audible before she nibbled her bottom lip. “I didn’t want to be a financial burden on you. I had no idea how the shop was even running with such little profit coming in, but I didn’t want to make things awkward and ask. Meanwhile, you’re a whole damn millionaire.”
We shared a laugh as I squeezed her thigh. “I knew we’d probably have the conversation about money eventually, because I did want you to know I’d be able to provide for you, but I was in no rush. You said you’d only be here for six weeks, so I didn’t feel the need.”
“And you’re still okay with that? With me leaving you?”
With a shrug, I briefly avoided her eyes. “Of course, I don’t want you to leave, but I will accept whatever you want to do. I’ve never been a selfish lover, and I certainly won’t start with you. Whether I have you for six weeks, six years, or sixty, I’m just grateful to have you. To have finally experienced you. And with that being said, if you want to take the position, take it. Just promise me you won’t put yourself in a position where allthe work you’ve done here, chasing your healing, happiness, and peace, will be in vain.”
“Ugh. You just made this even harder, but you also made me love and respect you a little more.”
“I’ll take that.” When she tried to kiss me, I moved my head. “You kissed that nigga.”
“He kissed me! And it was three days ago,” she yelled with a grin, tugging me close. “Kiss me.”
I did, and it didn’t take long for me to forget about her kissing him or doing anything else with him for that matter. After I booked our flights and a week in the two-bedroom suite at the Baccarat Hotel, we went out and had a cup of coffee. Regardless of what her decision was going to be, I wanted to make sure the week we spent in New York would give her the peace and clarity she needed to confidently make her decision.
“GG?” Zoe called, gaining my attention as we headed back toward the office.
“Huh?”
“Am I getting fat?”
18
Zoe
