34. Enrique
Chapter 34
Enrique
T he moment the elevator doors closed the guys were in my business.
“That kiss didn’t look business only, boss.” Jeeves points out before he shoves a fork full of pasta into his mouth. “Mmm,” he closes his eyes as he chews.
At least I know it’s good and Yasmeena wasn’t just being polite. I laugh at my own thoughts. Polite? Yasmeena is honest to a fault. I don't know if she would have been able to lie if it didn’t taste good.
“I don’t get it, but I don’t need to get it.” Matthew admits as he stirs his food.
“Get what?” I ask but he’s already put food in his mouth. I move the wine, warm bread, and butter to the table and sit.
“This is very good, Enrique,” Matthew tells me between bites. “You and Yasmeena. You were very much in love with Emily.”
“And the elevator yesterday and the ass grabbing goodbye kiss suggest far more than business purposes only.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you like the pasta,” They both stop eating long enough to look at me. I know they want me to respond to the relationship questions but if I’m going to share it’ll be when I feel like it. “How did you know I cooked it?”
Matthew makes a face as he tilts his head. “Come on, be for real, Enrique. I make entirely too many reservations for that woman to know how to cook. Plus, I have to get her to approve the chef’s grocery list.”
“Fair,” I admit. “This meal, gentlemen, took me four hours to cook.”
Matthew whistles low. “And I bet Yasmeena took a bite and continued to work.”
I chuckle because it’s true. “Yeah she was going over her list of get-to-know-you questions until I sat next to her and fed her.” I know I sound more amused than annoyed.
“Questions?” Jeeves probes.
“Yeah, thanks to the media, we have to double down as a real couple.”
“You looked like a real couple when those elevator doors opened yesterday. There wasn’t anyone around and you two didn’t know about the leak yet.”
“You two are really stuck on the elevator thing.” I say, bored, as I pour another glass of wine.
Jeeves reaches for the wine while Matthew reaches for the bread but they’re both on the same subject.
“It just happened yesterday,” Jeeves points out. “We need time to heal.”
“Well, use PTO and seek therapy after you write the memo.”
“May I ask why a memo,” Matthew asks.
I point between the two. “I’m only telling you two because you’re both sworn to a much higher level of secrecy. I don’t fucking like people Yasmeena pays talking shit about my wife on the internet she pays for.”
They both give me blank yet surprised looks. “Um…what did you see?”
I look at Jeeves to answer me. “Not me, Yasmeena. She sees everything that’s being said about her.”
Jeeves chokes on his drink of wine while Matthew looks contemplative. “Did it hurt her feelings?”
“No. She’s been seeing it all of this time and ignoring what is said about her. She told me about it as if we were discussing the weather.” Matthew rubs his face like he’s stressed out. “She didn’t want me to take any action so I’m going to send out the memo instead of going to check what the hell was said and risk being agitated.”
“You’re starting to care, boss. That’s the difference.”
“I’ve been too busy to check the chats because I don't want to but it is disrespectful and I’m not a fan of disrespect regardless of if I care about her or not. I will seem extra sensitive but I’m privy to things that you guys don’t know and those things have changed my mind on a lot of things.”
“Does that mean you’re about to share?” Jeeves questions as he leans in like he’s about to hear vital information.
“No. Mind your fucking business.” He holds up his hands in surrender then goes back to his food. “Yes, We’re in a much different place than we were at our so-called wedding. No matter how we got there or reasons why, she’s my wife and everyone’s boss and should be respected as such. So without breaking confidences, get the word out for people to respect company communication because nobody wants me to start investigating.”
They both nod because while Yasmeea’s frostiness makes her scary they also know that I don’t put my foot down for fun.
“Got it and just one question,” Matthew starts cautiously so I know he’s going to ask me something that isn’t his business. “Are you falling for your wife?”
The moment the question is out of his mouth, the elevator dings to signal Yasmeena’s return.
She looks at all of us. “What?”
“Nothing. They were telling me how great the pasta I cooked tastes.”
“Okay, I have to go over a few things with you, Matthew. Don’t get up, I’ll bring my laptop to you,” Yasmeena says.
I smirk since she didn’t even realize I was bothering her about her lack of commentary on the dinner I cooked. I understand her now but I would have been pissed without knowing her condition.
I get a container and start putting food for Bailey inside of it.
Yasmeena brings her laptop near Matthew and opens it up. “There’s a few networks who already want to do interviews, I need you to check them out, see how they want to do these interviews then we can discuss it.” Her eyes quickly look at me then back to Matthew. “Do you want me to send it to your email instead?”
Matthew blinks for a moment before nodding. “Yes, that’s better and I’ll reach out to see what kind of questions they have.”
“Good. We also need to prep together so I need you to prepare some questions for us that I haven’t selected so it won’t seem so rehearsed.”
“Got it. Do you need me to update your plus one for the gala?” Matthew’s eyes move to me then back to Yasmeena.
“I’m already invited. Doesn’t seem necessary,” Enrique answers as he slides a container over to Matthew. “Do you want some to go, Jeeves?”
“Hell, yeah,” he says, then realizes where he’s at. “Yes, please. That would be lovely.”
I laugh to myself and Yasmeena just goes back to business.
“So no plus one because we’re both going. Is my dress ready and the items I asked you for as well?”
“Yes, it’ll be delivered to the house or do you want me to change it to here?”
“It would be here,” I interject once I return to the table. “We’re not creating any more media attention before the event. If anything, it’ll be good for the fundraiser since people will pay to be nosy.” I give Jeeves his own container to wrap things up because if I’m already tired of company, I know Yasmeena is as well. Besides, I have no idea how much time is left before she starts stripping. “It’s been lovely…” I pause and look at Yasmeena. “Anything else?”
“Oh, Matthew, check on Lena and the boys' travels and make sure she gets to Kuwait on time. Also, double the amount I give to the boys tonight.”
I don’t say anything but I look at her as if I’d be able to tell by studying her. Jeeves already has his marching orders for the next day so I don’t have anything to add.
“Thanks for retrieving my necessities, I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow.”
Both men collect what's necessary and head home. The moment the elevator closes I turn to Yasmeena.
“Is everything okay with Lena and the boys?”
“Yeah, she’s just going to Kuwait for a bit. It’s too much for her right now.”
“What’s too much? Is the media bothering her as well?”
“No, she feels guilty because she told me Amir was the one who released to the press that I was married to you and now, it’s hectic even around the family. They don’t approve of what he did but she’s not like me, she can’t sit there and handle all that tension.”
Part of me assumed that her entire family was involved and while I’m not surprised that it was Amir, I’m still pissed. It’s not a good time so I must avoid him until my temper evens out.
“Well a break is good for her, but I want to punch her husband.”
“Again?”
The memory makes me smile, “Yes, but better than before.”