Читать книгу Five Star Seduction - Jacquelin Thomas, Jacquelin Thomas - Страница 12

Chapter 5

Zaire paced back and forth in her office again. The meeting with Bill Daniels and his team was in an hour. She had gone over her presentation all the previous evening and then again that morning.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the rug,” Max said. He walked into the office, carrying a mug of something hot. “I brought you some herbal tea. I thought it might soothe your nerves.”

“Thank you, Max.”

“I have everything set up in the conference room. As you requested, I ordered lunch and it will arrive promptly at noon.”

“Great,” Zaire murmured. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”

“You’re going to do fine,” Max assured her.

She sat down at her desk. “I’m so nervous.”

“You shouldn’t be. You are going to nail this—you’ve worked out a perfect weekend retreat.”

Max’s predictions were correct.

Bill Daniels enthusiastically clapped his hands at the end of Zaire’s presentation, which prompted his partners to do the same. “I have to say that it takes a lot to impress me, but you have managed to do so. You’ve planned the retreat with an emphasis on a healthy lifestyle for our company.”

“Then we should get it on the calendar,” Zaire stated. “I don’t want you to miss out on your preferred dates. I can book the ranch this afternoon.”

“Sounds good,” Bill said.

Max arrived with lunch for everyone.

“In keeping with your goals for health and wellness, I’ve ordered a light lunch of grilled chicken and spinach paninis, vegetarian BLT wraps and a delicious antioxidant salad for lunch.” Zaire stole a peek at Tyrese, who gave a slight nod of approval.

After lunch, Pilar came to Zaire’s office.

“Bravo,” she said. “Tyrese and I thought the presentation was outstanding.”

“Thank you.”

“Zaire, I wanted you to know that I will be relocating to New York, but I am only a phone call away if you ever need to talk to me. We are making the announcement soon. We’re opening another office.”

“Congratulations, Pilar. This is wonderful for you, although I had hoped you would become my mentor.”

“I can still be your mentor,” she assured Zaire. “I have to meet with Tyrese shortly, but I wanted to stop by and congratulate you. Let’s plan to have lunch one day next week.”

The telephone rang minutes after Pilar left the office.

Zaire answered it.

“How did it go?”

“Kellen, it went great. Better than I ever expected, actually.”

“I’m proud of you, sis.”

She broke into a grin. “Thanks. So what are you up to?”

“Just got home from the library. I have a date later on.”

“When do you not have a date?”

He laughed. “Hey, don’t hate.”

“Whatever...”

“Well, I know you’re still at the office, so I won’t keep you on the phone. I’ll give you a call one day next week. I may need your help with my thesis.”

“Okay. Just let me know.”

Zaire hung up, grabbed her purse and left for the day. She felt like celebrating.

* * *

Saturday morning, Zaire was up early, helping her mother prepare for the cookout.

“I need to find a place of my own,” she announced as she retrieved a covered pan laden with raw fish from the refrigerator and set it on the counter.

Barbara glanced up from her cooking. “You don’t have to be in such a rush to find an apartment, dear.”

Zaire sat down on one of the barstools at the breakfast bar and opened up the classified section of the newspaper. “I know, Mama, but I really want my own place. There are some really cute apartments not too far from the office. I really need to do this for me.”

Barbara nodded. “I understand. You’re ready to leave the family nest.”

“I am,” Zaire confirmed. “Kellen and I have lived together for three years and now I’m back home with you and Daddy. I’m ready to find a place that’s totally mine.”

“Do you mind if I help you look?”

“I would love it, Mama.”

Two hours later, Zaire opened the door for Ari and his family. All of the family except for Kellen would be joining them for a weekend of fun and food.

Eyeing her sister-in-law’s swollen belly, she asked, “Natasha, how are you feeling?”

“I get tired a lot, but I’m fine.”

Sage and Ryan arrived a few minutes later.

“I thought Blaze and Livi would be here by now,” Ari stated as he opened the subzero fridge. “They were leaving around the same time we left.” He grabbed a bottled water and opened it.

“They’ll be here shortly,” Barbara announced. “I asked Blaze to stop by the store to pick up some barbecue sauce and more eggs.”

Zaire moved about the kitchen, helping her mother apply the finishing touches to the meat. Ari carried it outside to the grill.

Livi entered the kitchen, carrying a shopping bag.

Barbara relieved her of the burden. “Thank you, dear.”

Zaire left the women in the kitchen to join her nephew on the basketball court. “What’s up, Joshua?”

“Nothing.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked, noting the unhappy look on his face.

“I want to play football, but Mommy said I couldn’t. Dad said that I might get hurt.” He stole a peek over his shoulder before adding, “I think they’re scared that I might get sick again.”

Zaire blinked back tears. Eight-year-old Joshua was in remission from leukemia. Just two years ago, he was not able to attend school because his blood counts were low, putting him at risk for infection. Joshua was able to keep up with his friends and class work via satellite. The chemotherapy treatments placed him at risk for long-term effects that included bone thinning, severe joint pain and possible joint replacement. His doctors had informed Ari and Natasha that he would have to be monitored for at least ten years.

“Honey, we love you so much, and we just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“All of my friends play football. I want to do it, too.”

Zaire glanced over at Ari.

He came over to where they were standing. “Son, I’ve been talking with your mom, and we’ve changed our minds. We are going to let you play football. I want you to know something else. Uncle Drayden is going to be one of the coaches.”

Joshua’s face lit up.

“I need you to understand that you are not going to play all four quarters yet. You have to listen and do what you’re told. Remember what the doctor said about the effect of the chemo on your bones.”

“I’m gonna be real careful, Dad.” Joshua looked up at him. “Thank you for trusting me. I’m not gonna do something to end up back in the hospital. Besides, I believe that God has cured me of leukemia. We don’t have to be scared. I’m gonna go talk to Uncle Drayden about football practice.”

“You’ve made your son really happy,” Zaire told her brother.

“Wait until he finds out that he is only playing a few minutes each quarter, if that. Right now, it’s only going to be until halftime.”

“I don’t think it’ll matter. Joshua just wants to be a normal little boy.”

They settled down to eat.

Zaire sat down beside Sage.

Ari cleared his throat loudly. “Before we get started, I have an announcement. I was going to wait until after we ate, but this can’t wait.” He looked at his wife and broke into a wide grin. “Natasha and I just found out that we are having twins.”

“Congratulations,” Zaire yelled out.

“Do you know the sex?” Livi asked.

Natasha nodded. “We’re having a girl and a boy.”

Joshua was delighted. “I wanted a brother and a sister. Now we don’t have to have any more babies. I’m glad ’cause Mommy isn’t any fun.”

Zaire bit back her laughter.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do with that little boy,” Sage whispered.

“We’re going to have to watch him play football,” Zaire responded.

Sage glanced over at her. “So, they changed their minds about letting him play?”

Zaire nodded. “Drayden is coaching his team, and Joshua’s only going to play for a few minutes per quarter. Starting off, he’s only going to play until halftime.”

“I think it’s a good idea.”

She agreed, “I know they are afraid he’ll get hurt.”

Sage smiled. “Natasha is going to have him so padded up, he’ll probably bounce if he falls to the ground.”

Zaire laughed and then took a bite of her hamburger.

She decided to take a stroll on the beach after lunch. “I’ll be back shortly,” she announced. “I need to walk off some of this food.”