The Secret Heir, page 17
When they returned to the main dining room, they stopped at the bar and then each went back to their assigned table. Reign tried to get back in the flow of things, making small talk with Cornelius, an attorney friend of Maeve’s who Reign had known for years. From time to time, she felt Aldric’s eyes on her.
He left before dessert was served. Without his presence, the room felt less bright. She told herself she’d done the right thing. That nipping their fling in the bud was the best for everybody, especially with what he’d announced tonight. That he was considering the Point for a business location. If they were going to be navigating the same business and social circles, it was best to put what they’d shared behind them. The sex had been outstanding, so it wouldn’t be easy. Reign refused to let that fact sway her. This time she’d think with her head instead of her heart.
As had happened a few months ago, she dove headfirst into work and let busyness save her. She spent more time with Lilah. She also took the lead on Ivy’s idea of expanding the Mentorship Monday program, reaching out to other professional women with the idea to set up a twelve-week summer program that would not only deepen mentor/mentee relationships, but would also expose the girls to success, support, and life outside the perimeters of their neighborhoods.
Make It Reign continued to grow. After turning down a couple dozen requests, she finally took on her first professional athlete as a client. The up-and-coming golfer was the exact opposite of Trenton. He was quiet, humble, and more focused on serving others than bringing attention to himself. A refreshing change from the big egos she was used to, one that ironically helped Reign lose her disdain for anyone pro-sports-related, and once again believe goodness could be found in every arena, even one connected to professional sports.
Spring gave way to the beginnings of summer. June came in with near triple-digit heat. Like Reign’s emotions, the weather was all over the place. Reign had been putting in ten-hour days at the office but this particular Friday she prepared to leave early. She was actually looking forward to a special date—taking Lilah and Lilah’s best friend on a weekend trip where they’d drive to Gary, Indiana, spend the night, take a train to Cleveland the following morning and return to Chicago on Sunday night.
The trip had been spurred by Reign’s shock after learning her sweet little charges had never heard of the iconic R&B group, the Jackson 5. The girls had also never been on a train. That had settled it. A road trip was born. They’d visit the family childhood home in Gary, then travel on to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, and visit a westside market featured on the Food Network. Reign would have liked all of this activity to rid her mind of thoughts of Abe/Aldric. But if she said that was true, she’d be a big fat liar.
After placing her laptop and several reports in a tote, Reign left her office and headed for the parking garage. She’d just stepped out of the elevator and crossed the garage lobby when she heard a door slam, looked over, and saw a familiar logo—Clean Up Crew—splashed across a white van. Aldric’s face swam into her mind, unbidden. At the same time, Nolan looked over and waved. No option. She had to stop. No way could she act like she hadn’t seen him.
“Hey, Reign.”
“Hi, Nolan.”
Okay, she’d been polite. Now on to her car and the escape route from the memories she was trying to forget.
“Reign! Do you have a minute?”
No, she didn’t. But he’d already begun walking toward her.
“How are you?” he asked, wiping his hands on a towel.
“Fine, and you?”
“I’m good. Thanks to your company’s references, business is booming. I just secured a contract with the PDS Country Club.”
“Congratulations.”
“I talked to Aldric recently. He asked about you.”
“How is he?” Reign asked casually, out of obligation, but found herself really wanting to know.
“He’s good.”
“Still living at the apartment, I take it?”
Nolan shook his head. “He’s back in Africa.”
“Oh.” Why did this news cause a knot in Reign’s stomach? She didn’t care where he was, where he lived, did she?
“He went over there to see his grandfather, who’s very ill. He’s planning to come back, though. Says he has some unfinished business to handle.”
“Checking out possible business locations, most likely.”
“Actually, Reign, I’m pretty sure he was talking about you.”
Reign checked her watch. “I’ve got to go.” She turned to leave.
“I think he’s in love with you.”
Those words were like a tether, stopping her in her tracks. They rained over her like a warm, summer shower. Wrapped around her like a grandmother’s quilt. She remained where she was, a couple steps from Nolan, but didn’t turn around.
“I don’t agree with what he did,” Nolan said, walking around to face her. “And I swore I wouldn’t get involved. But I’m partly to blame for why you met Abe and not Aldric.”
Reign knew about the dare but remained quiet.
“I made a dare. I told him that there was no way he’d come down off his high horse and live how I did—simple apartment. Challenging neighborhood. I further badgered his ego by saying there was no way he could do my job. I dared him to swap places and become one of my employees. Told him he couldn’t last a day, let alone a month. Looking back, it was stupid, especially because of how well I know my cousin. I knew there was no way he’d let what I said go unchallenged. It’s hard for a man like Aldric to be proved wrong.”
“Aldric told me about that and, you’re right, Nolan. That was pretty stupid. And it doesn’t explain why Abe—Aldric—at some point didn’t tell me the truth, especially about the potential brides waiting back home.”
“He always planned to find his own wife.”
“Then why didn’t he?”
“That’s not a question I can answer. Like I said, I really don’t want to be involved. There is a clear line between me and my customers. I try not to cross it. Aldric can be an asshole, but at the end of the day, he’s my cousin. I love him. He’s a good man. And he’s hurting. He feels awful about how everything between y’all went down.”
“He should feel awful about what happened. What am I supposed to do about it?”
Nolan shrugged. “Hear him out, maybe?”
Reign was conflicted. On one hand, a conversation with Aldric was the last thing she wanted because, on the other hand, being with him had been heavily on her mind. To do so wouldn’t take much convincing. But she didn’t want to get hurt again.
“Did he tell you he was in love with me?”
Nolan managed a laugh. “Men like us don’t admit stuff like that straight-out. But trust me when I tell you, his feelings run deep. The way he talks about you is different than how he’s discussed other women he’s dated.”
Nolan’s phone rang. He answered it. “Yeah, man. I’m here. Come on down and get this buffer.” He hung up. “Time to get to work. You have a nice weekend.”
Reign got in her car, feeling all kinds of conflicted. She would have a weekend all right. She was no longer sure how nice it would be.
* * *
Another month went by. Reign heard through the grapevine that Aldric had returned and been given a membership into the country club at Point du Sable. She knew then that seeing him again would only be a matter of time. It was a week later, to be exact, in the country club’s cigar lounge. She’d entered the dark paneled, male-dominated room to drop off a file her father had requested. That he’d not been alone was not the surprise. What she hadn’t expected was who shared his table—Jake, Cayden...and Aldric.
Reign squared her shoulders as she walked toward them. She could do this. She was a strong, confident woman. This was her town. Her domain. She wouldn’t turn into a shrinking violet just because the man who’d given her the best sex of her life, and more, was sitting with her father and brothers.
She reached them and put on a dazzling smile. “Good afternoon, everyone. Dad, here’s the folder from work you requested, plus one that the assistant said might also be needed.”
Her father reached for the folders. “Thanks, Reign. I appreciate you bringing these over.”
“No problem.”
She lightly punched Cayden in the middle of lighting a stogie. “I thought Avery told me you’d stopped smoking those things.”
“I did, so don’t tell her,” he replied, eyes twinkling.
“He doesn’t smoke around the little ones,” Jake explained.
“But you’re here,” Reign teased.
“Oh, you’re calling me a kid now.”
Reign relaxed amid the sibling banter. “Just kidding,” she replied.
“You’re looking lovely, as always,” Aldric said, his beautiful brown eyes staring into her soul. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”
“I ran into Nolan,” Reign replied, neatly sidestepping the compliments. “He tells me you went to see your grandfather. How is he?”
“Physically weak but mentally alert. I visited daily until he threatened to ban me forever unless I returned to more important things, like helping run the company he founded.”
“Sounds like a man after my own heart,” Derrick said.
Aldric nodded. “He’s as good as they come.”
“What is his illness?” Jake said. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Cancer.”
Cayden chimed in. “My mother is a nurse who works at PDS Medical. They have one of the best cancer treatment centers in the world.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Indeed. Many who’ve been given a terminal diagnosis are brought there and defy the odds. I’d be happy to arrange for you to speak with my mom and the specialists.”
“That’s very thoughtful, Cayden. Thank you. I would definitely love to speak with your mother. I’d also very much like for your sister here to join me for dinner. What do you say, Reign? I’ve been invited to eat with these gentlemen but, no offense—” he looked around the table “—I’d much rather take this opportunity and spend a bit of time with you.”
“Thanks, Aldric, but I really don’t—”
“Oh, stop playing hard to get,” Jake interjected, “and have dinner with the man.”
“Mind your business,” Reign warned.
“He told us what happened,” Cayden offered.
“He lied and, yes, that was messed up,” Jake said. “But he said he was sorry.”
Reign crossed her arms, her anger apparent. “What is this? The Aldric amen corner?”
“Ah, stop acting mad, sis. You know you want to. You’ve been Patty Pouter and Debby Downer since y’all stopped going out.”
“You’re such a liar,” Reign snippily replied but with a laugh she couldn’t resist, especially when she took in Abe’s confused expression.
“Patty Pouter?”
“I’ll explain later,” Jake said. “After Reign leaves. She’s too scared to share a steak with you, man. That hot sauce they serve with it might melt some of the ice she’s placed around her heart.”
“I know what you’re trying to do, Jake,” Reign said. “I’m not taking the bait. Enjoy your meal, gentlemen,” she said with syrupy sweetness. “And make sure you cut up yours into small pieces,” she added, squeezing Jake’s shoulders, “so that you don’t choke.”
She bopped his head and heard their laughter as she walked out of the room. Head high. Heart intact. And the ice that Jake had so accurately described beginning the slightest thaw.
Twenty
The following Friday morning, Reign called him. “Is that dinner invite still open?” she asked.
“Absolutely.”
They met at the country club later that evening, where she’d reserved a private room.
“Thanks for agreeing to have dinner with me,” he told her after they shared a light hug. “I hope it’s because of what you genuinely desire and not from your brother’s teasing.”
“You’re giving him way too much credit,” she replied. “I’ve borne the brunt of his teasing my entire life.”
“I can relate. Remember, I have one of those.”
“An older brother.”
“Exactly.”
The conversation continued around family. Abe shared the news about his kbaba. How he’d indeed spoken with Tami, Cayden’s mother, who then connected the team of specialists at PDS Medical with those in Switzerland who’d been treating his grandfather.
“My parents are considering bringing him over. But the treatments the center here offers are alternative and unconventional. They’re still not totally convinced.”
They spoke of Danso, whose main opponent for the presidency of Ghana was now involved in a major scandal, almost fully ensuring Aldric’s brother’s win.
Reign talked about Make It Reign. Aldric told her about the energy drink and showed pictures from the photo shoot that would be used in the commercial rollout. Conversation was easy through the first and second courses, and half a bottle of wine. Along with tackling the mammoth Porterhouse the server placed before him, Aldric decided to also cut through the elephant in the room.
“Is there any chance we can get back our friendship?” he asked.
“Aren’t we having a friendly evening right now?”
“I’m referring to a connection that moves beyond mere conversation. I want to spend quality time, learn more about each other. I want to know your goals and dreams, your fears and failures. I want to make love to you all night long, and then again the following morning.”
“We did have great sex. I can’t deny that.”
“Is that all it was for you? Pure animalistic desire?”
“That’s what we agreed on. Keeping it casual. Remember?”
“My mind remembered that but my heart seems to have forgotten. I... I’ve developed feelings that go past the casual definition. I’d very much like for you to become my woman, for me to be your man. I’d like us to become a couple, and see if there is enough in common to sustain a more permanent future.”
“You ask a lot,” Reign softly replied. “Especially when a marriage is being arranged.”
“Only if I can’t produce a bride of my choosing. Reign, my beautiful queen, I choose you.”
After a prolonged silence, Aldric asked, “Will you at least think about it?”
It seemed time stood still before she answered.
“I’ll think about it,” she finally said.
* * *
Four months later, on a warm evening in September, just before sunset, the Bombardier Global 5000 carrying its sole, somber passenger began its descent into the Kingdom of Kutoka. The scenery was spectacular—lush land meticulously landscaped, exotic flowers and tropical trees that went on for miles and miles, hugged up against some of the whitest sand and bluest water on the planet.
It was a landing Aldric normally relished as most times it signaled the end of a successful business trip or weekend tryst. Tonight, it marked the end of much more. Specifically, his will to chart his own course romantically, and any chance to spend a lifetime with Reign. Following the dinner, they had spent time together. Gone to concerts, and museums, and a few trips out of town. They’d returned to an intimacy more heightened than when it was first experienced. He’d finally broken down and told her he loved her.
She hadn’t said it back.
As the plane drifted toward earth, Aldric resigned himself to getting married. Not to his first choice, but a suitable second. It was time to face the harsh reality that not being honest had cost him the most precious possession. Lying had cost him true love.
Losing Reign was what happened. That was his past. He was arriving back home, to his present and future. Despite what he’d shared about the medical breakthroughs offered at PDS Medical, his grandfather had declined a trip abroad to prolong his life. He’d enjoyed every one of his ninety-one years. When the Good Lord called, his kbaba was ready to answer. That forced an answer on Aldric as well. He would fulfill his obligations and he would do so with honor.
In him ran the blood of kings, royal ancestors, thousands of years chiseled in honor and duty. To maintain honor and duty was also love. Aldric settled against the seat, his chin raised, his thoughts resolute. He squared his jaw and peered into the distance, his uncle’s golden palace and surrounding grounds shimmering against the red-orange sunset. He thought of the upcoming holiday season, and the celebrations planned to honor his brother’s presidential election. During this season, he would also choose a wife from the families his parents had sanctioned, and get married.
For the first time since seeing Reign outside of the Verve nightclub, he pondered the women who’d spent the past year enjoying their own sense of adventure while awaiting his decision. Each had been given the opportunity for one last selfish indulgence before possibly stepping into the high profile of becoming a member of the Baiden family as Aldric’s wife. Iya had spent the year traveling culinary meccas throughout Asia and the West. His second option, Rachel, was an architectural engineer who’d laid the groundwork for a foundation that would offer free, off-grid, tiny housing all over the world. Dela, the one to whom he felt closest and had known the longest, had remained in the Kingdom of Kutoka.
Less than a month after returning home, he’d made his decision. It was time to announce his choice. The walk from his parents’ quarters to where he’d meet his arranged bride was the longest one Aldric had ever taken. Longer than a soccer field. Longer than a hundred strung together. He’d accepted his fate, made peace with it, and was surprised with how hard it still was to walk toward an arranged destiny. At least he’d only be meeting with Dela, and not all three of the women his parents and family had approved, as had been custom with other unmarried males.
