| |
“She’s right.”
“C-”
“She’s right,” Chisulo repeated more emphatically that time. “Conversations about our likes and dislikes were definitely not on my mind the first time I met her. Only conversations we’ve had like that have been in passing, over dinner, or after sex...”
“Are you interested in conversations about her likes and dislikes?”
“Yes, dammit!” Chisulo retreated from the sudden anger that had him lashing out at Bach. “Sex with her was always the ruling interest though,” he admitted.
“I get it, C. I’m in love with her cousin, remember?” Bach shook his head as memories assailed him. “I could hardly think of anything except sex the first time I talked to Saiida Okonkwo. Come to think of it... I could hardly think about anything else the second, third, and fourth time I talked to her either.”
“Thanks, B,” Chisulo managed a tense grin. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do. In your defense, you did have more than sex on your mind the first time you approached her. You were the first to hear of the serum and its possibilities.”
“But you had a working relationship with Kam too, right? Those two years her firm handled the new museum project.”
Chisulo grinned a little easier then. “We never discussed work without a group around. She didn’t trust me enough to be alone with me.”
Bach dissolved into robust laughter with Chisulo joining in soon after,
“What happened when the project was finished?” Bach asked through his laughter.
For Chisulo, uneasiness took hold. “All we discussed then was the bargain we made.”
Bach frowned. “Do I even want to know?”
Chisulo shrugged. “I promised to keep my hands off her during the project. If I succeeded, she’d give me a week to...have her.” Wincing now, he met Bach’s eyes. “Tell me I’m not completely hopeless?”
“Okay,” Bach sighed, “but I’d be lying.”
Chisulo nodded. “Like I said, she was right.”
“Kam may’ve had a point as it stood then, but you’re overlooking one thing, little brother.”
“Enlighten me.”
“She loves you, idiot.”
Chisulo scowled. “I think another L word is better suited.”
“I’m sticking with love,” Bach insisted.
Frustrated, Chisulo pushed out of the easy chair he’d occupied in the basement den. Despite the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sunlit forest, the room maintained a cozy, dim atmosphere.
“Okay then. Love,” Chisulo pulled his fingers through his hair. “What do we do with it? The best we’ve managed so far is all that amazing sex I mentioned.”
“Hell man, you build on it. Get to know her likes and dislikes- those not related to sex,” Bach tacked on for good measure. “Let her get to know you. I’ll bet she doesn’t even know why you’re the one in charge of all the family artifacts.” His brows hiked in smug acknowledgment with Chisulo rounded on him.
“Are you telling me to...woo my fiancée?”
Bach raised his hands in another form of acknowledgment. “I can’t think of a better way to enjoy this house we never visit. Get to know each other, C.”
Chisulo nodded as the idea took root. “And you and Saiida?” He challenged. “Sounds like there’s repair work needed there as well.”
Bach’s hopeful expression, shadowed. “I think Sy’s made up her mind about us.”
“Or...” Chisulo slowly approached his brother, “could it be that, like her cousin, she hasn’t been properly wooed?” With that, he slapped Bach’s shoulder and made his way from the room.
***
“Hard to believe they despise each other,” Cafrey said when she joined Kieli at the dark, wooden bar in a far corner of the jet’s rear cabin where they observed the men they worked for. The group was due to arrive in Canada in a little over an hour.
Kieli smiled. “I wonder how long that cold war has been going on?”
“Since before I went to work for Mustafa and I’ve worked for him a long time.”
Kieli nodded. “I can tell he depends on you a lot.”
“Yeah...” Cafrey gave a tiny stretch. “The man can close billion-dollar deals, but loses his keys at least three times a week.”
Kieli laughed. “Thanks, Cafrey. For putting all of this together, I mean.”
Cafrey shrugged. “Someone had to do it.”
“I didn’t think you’d trust me to tag along under the circumstances.”
“I think you can be trusted.”
Kieli inclined her head quizzically at Cafrey’s certainty. “Why?” She asked.
“You strike me as a smart woman, Ms. Dodge. You’re going into the lion’s and tiger’s dens literally. Only a fool would accept an invite like this if they were up to no good.” Once again, she stretched. “If you really are that mental, I’d say you’ll be dead before you can put your foolish plan into action.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret, Ms. Sibanda, I’m no fool.”
Cafrey bumped shoulders with the other woman. “I never thought you were.”
The good vibes taking hold of the small corner were strong, but no match for the serious mood that took shape after a while.
“Have you heard from- him again?” Cafrey asked.
Kieli shook her head. “Not since he contacted me that day in Oracabessa. I wouldn’t know if he’s tried to contact me since then, as I’ve buried my phone deep into my purse.”
“Excellent thinking,” Cafrey cheered.
“Cafrey? I’m scared.”
“Like I said, Kieli, you’re no fool and I’d consider you a big one if you weren’t afraid. You need to tell Ali about this. The last thing you want is for that buffoon to use it to blackmail you into giving him what he’s after.”
Kieli’s oval face appeared ashen when she looked over at Cafrey.
“It’s okay, love, it’s okay,” Cafrey raised her hands to urge calm. “There’s still time- not much of it, I’ll admit. Whatever’s going on with Kam is serious. Ali will depend on you more than ever while he focuses on his sister. You don’t want anything to threaten the trust you guys share.”
“Thank you, Cafrey,” relief and appreciation flooded Kieli’s voice and expression and she reached for Cafrey’s hands.
“You ladies alright back here?”
“Yes,” Kieli gave Cafrey’s hands a final squeeze and smiled, “Thank you, Mr. Nkosi.”
“Uh, uh,” Mustafa appeared to shudder. “First names only, Kieli. We’re all gonna be housemates for the foreseeable future.”
With a slow incline of her head, Kieli favored the couple with a lingering smile before heading back to the main cabin.
“Everything okay?” Mustafa asked, his eyes following Kieli’s departure.
“Far as I know,” Cafrey said.
“Cafrey um,” Mustafa cleared his throat, “what I said about being housemates.”
“Yes?” Cafrey prompted when nothing more was said. Mustafa appeared to be struggling and she had the rare treat of seeing uncertainty shift her boss’s incredible features into a mask of unease.
Gradually, Mustafa composed himself. “I’m afraid we’ll be a little more than that.”
“More?” Confusion, caused a small frown to emerge between Cafrey’s brows. “Mustafa, I-”
“Roommates,” he interjected with another clearing of his throat. “We’re gonna have to be roommates um...the house is massive-seven bedrooms, two are suites. Everything not a bedroom, is functioning as a research space for Kam’s cousin Saiida or a meeting space where everyone can hash out details. Even with all that though, the rest of the house wasn’t exactly crafted to be repurposed into additional sleep space.”
Now, Cafrey cleared her throat. “Additional sleep space?”
“Yeah,” Mustafa grimaced. “Kam and Chisulo were sharing one of the suites-the other is mine. Bach and Saiida each have a bedroom. Ali and Kieli will each have one and...it seems Kam and C have had some kind of falling out so...C’s moved into the last available room. There’s a small cottage on the grounds, but given the state of things, it’s best we all stay together. Rani and Kofi are there too. They’re using the cottage, but they’ll be leaving soon.”
Cafrey nodded. “I see,” she whispered.
“The suite’s huge,” Mustafa quickly put in. “Equipped with a full living area, the sofas are large enough for me to be comfortable.”
Cafrey eyed him skeptically, doubting the comfort of any sofa meant to accommodate the man’s immense size through the night. “I understand,” she said.
“You shouldn’t have to understand this,” Mustafa’s irritability shone through then, “It’s unfair to you and I’m sorry for that.”
“We’ve shared rooms before,” she reminded him, mildly amused now.
“Adjoining rooms, Cafrey,” he corrected. “A bed for you- a bed for me- a door between.”
Cafrey offered an exaggerated shrug. “I seem to recall several late nights of work where those doors were left open. I’m sure we’ll be fine, don’t worry,” she squeezed his arm and moved on toward the front of the cabin.
Doors were left open, but there were still walls between, Mustafa quietly stressed the fact while he hung back. Without that barrier and even less space between them, how long before he gave into what he’d fantasized about for far too long?