Chapter 27
WATCHING KENYA take in all the before-dinner festivities was worth his attendance.
He saw why she enjoyed taking part in events.
Her eyes roamed almost feverishly around the room, soaking up the celebration with wonder.
He couldn’t wait for her to see the money dance taking place toward the end.
The bride and groom would move to the center of the dance floor and be showered with cash from generous attendees as they danced.
The servers arrived with covered dinner plates, and Kenya’s grin grew as the meal was set down and the covers removed with a flourish.
She glanced down at the plate in front of her, piled with jollof rice, visibly seasoned vegetables, chunks of beef and goat meat, a sliver of pan-fried fish, and moi-moi. Several thick slices of sweet fried plantain served as a garnish that made his own stomach flip with anticipation.
After the pastor shared a lengthy blessing of the food, Solomon grinned as she picked up a fork and dug into her rice with enthusiasm.
“I hear you are, what, an event planner? What is that exactly?” Solomon’s father set his attention on Kenya. “What kind of degree do you need for that?”
Here we go. Of course one of them would ask that.
Kenya glanced up at the question and instinctively turned her eyes to him, her mouth full of rice. He couldn’t help but smile at the cuteness of her expression. Like a deer in headlights.
“It, um—” Before answering, Kenya grabbed her glass.
Solomon spoke up to help her out. “Kenya is a creative genius. She plans events for various clients and even celebrities. She is working on one now that has the potential to bring millions into the city.”
Since when did he gush? But he had to admit how proud he was of her and how much good came out of what she did for others.
“I, uh—”
“Apparently things are going well if you are able to get box seats at a soccer game Messi is in.” Kenya’s response had been cut short by his brother.
“Eh-heh?” His father nodded his head as if that was enough to solidify her status.
“That is not all the time though,” Kenya piped up. “Just special occasions.”
Solomon beamed as she blushed. This was going to be okay. Everything was working out better than he thought.
“I didn’t know we had such a person in our midst.” His mom joined in. “But where did you go to school?”
“Mom.” His brother leaned back, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. “It’s not all about that. School is not everything.”
Solomon shot his brother a grateful look. Despite their tension, Simon was attempting to be supportive. Especially since Simon probably still thought of the girlfriend he left behind in Los Angeles who had forgone college to pursue her passion.
“Who—who said?” His mother clicked her tongue, cutting eyes at her younger son.
Simon pressed his lips together, choosing to take a drink instead of responding to his mother. He knew how to play this game, but Kenya did not.
Solomon looked over to reassure her and wished he was sitting next to her to squeeze her hand.
“Mm-hmm.” His mother sat back. “With all the opportunities available, why would someone not want to go to university?”
“I didn’t.” Kenya’s voice came out soft, shakier than she probably intended.
Solomon’s breath hitched. He knew that, didn’t he? But had he ever asked her?
She squared her shoulders, determination setting her features. “I worked my way up in my career. Experience has been the best teacher for me.”
“Is that so?” His mother offered a tight smile, taking a sip of her spiced malt.
“Experience can be a good teacher, young lady.” His father spoke up.
Solomon looked at him in gratitude. His father smiled.
He had to remember what it meant to want to impress and protect your date.
Because there was no more faking here. He’d made it his excuse, but he knew the truth was that he’d been wanting a reason to make it all right again.
To bring Kenya Stewart back into his life somehow.
And he wouldn’t let his family change that.
“Look at Solomon.” His father waved his hand toward him. “He has allowed experience to teach him valuable lessons over the past several years.”
Solomon nodded, not sure where this was going.
Kenya smiled. “Lots of school, study, and experience.” Her eyes were full of pride and gratitude.
“All of it, my dear. All of it is experience.” His father laid one hand over the other on the table. “You see, what he is doing currently is not the final destination. Doing this little hobby now will allow him to be stronger and more focused later. Very soon, in fact.”
“Okay, Pops, enough about me.” Solomon sat up straighter.
“No, no, son. We are getting to know your friend.”
Kenya looked from Solomon to his father. “What did you mean by hobby? Being a doctor of physical therapy seems to be much more than a hobby.”
His father chuckled. “It is when his true role is to step back into our business.”
Kenya grinned. “Oh, the Etsy shop. I didn’t know that was a whole-family affair.”
Simon coughed and pressed his fist to his mouth, trying to control his laugh. Kenya’s smile dipped a little, her eyes filling with confusion.
“What is Etsy?” His father said the name as if it was an unknown bug.
His mother leaned in. “It is an online shop. Something Nneka told me to consider for some of our future lines.”
His father shrugged.
“We can talk about this later.” Solomon put his hands up. “I had an idea for—”
His father waved his words away. “Kenya, Fayson Couture does not sell on this Etsy. We have offices in Lagos, London, Houston, and Atlanta and have moved our main one to New York, which Solomon will be leading as soon as he completes his test.”
“Father.”
“Although, I don’t see why it is necessary for him to receive that certification. He is the son in Fayson, of course.”
Solomon’s mother smiled, her pride palpable. “Fayson has been growing over the years and is continuing to expand further south. We have acquired brands like Renew Global and the Taler Group most recently, and we hope to make our mark here as well.”
Solomon looked to his brother for help. Simon shrugged, choosing instead to go get another drink.
His eyes darted to Kenya, whose face was a cloud of shock and confusion. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again.
His mother clapped her hands together. “You must be proud. Your boyfriend is doing big things, and you are a big part of it.”
“Am I?” Kenya finally stammered, looking lost, hurt replacing the joy that had been in her eyes.
“Yes, of course.”
Solomon blinked, unable to focus on Kenya’s confused visage. Behind her sat a table of close acquaintances, including Robert Bluestone, his cousin-in-law’s associate.
He needed to move fast. He couldn’t let her lose focus on this opportunity just because she was hearing something about him that he hadn’t had the courage to share before.
“Did I tell you what a great host Kenya can be?”
“What?” She blinked.
“Simon said that the MC is sick, and we need someone to share the written blessings.”
All eyes at the table turned to Solomon.
“Since the DJ cannot, maybe Kenya can be the one to go up and read them.” He grinned.
“You all should have seen how she acted out a book I read in the library a few weeks ago.” He sent a look of encouragement her way.
“She’s good at talking with groups of people.
” And this would be a great way to add something memorable about her before he introduced her to Bluestone later.
SWEAT TRICKLED down Kenya’s back and ventured a few other places she would have preferred it didn’t. Solomon was the heir to an international fashion brand, and he wanted her to read?
He opened a small box and pulled out a stack of cards.
“You want me to read?”
“Just a few . . . to the guests . . . funny . . . be you.” His voice felt far away, no longer close and wrapping her in warmth.
Read to who? Wait, Solomon’s mother didn’t just have a side clothing business, she—she was the head of a global fashion house.
Fayson. Elijah Anruchi’s statement pulsed through her head.
“He is the son in Fayson.” Fayson designs dresses for international figures.
Fayson designed Adanne’s wedding dress. She was going to be sick.
“Don’t be afraid,” Solomon’s mother coaxed, but that didn’t help untangle her jumbled thoughts.
“Yes, you can do it.” But that wasn’t enough to still her beating heart.
“Why me?”
“You have hosted and spoken at so many events before. This won’t be different,” Solomon responded with misplaced reassurance.
She thought that question had only been in her thoughts. Solomon’s voice used to feel like a balm. Oh, God, why now? She swallowed. Solomon looked at her encouragingly, almost pleadingly. And Robert Bluestone was there, sitting right behind her. Was this the moment Solomon said he would provide?
She stood up before she could convince herself otherwise. He did as well, heading to the DJ booth to inform him no doubt of what would probably be her demise.
Kenya, it’ll be fine. It’s just reading off cards. You can read. Snickers and giggles filtered into her memory, almost distracting her from where she was.
She stepped to the ornate podium that had been set up.
But instead of seeing amused eyes, she looked upon somber and expectant faces.
All these people were practically strangers.
Her gaze traveled the crowd and lingered on the table next to hers.
Remember what you really came to do. But it had gotten mixed up with a lie, and now that lie of a relationship had become truth. Until now.