Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
KAIZLEIGH
Xavier eased the black Escalade beneath the covered entrance of Maison Noir, one of the few restaurants Billion actually enjoyed eating at when he wanted a quiet afternoon.
The valet was already walking toward the truck before Xavier even put it in park.
Billion climbed out first before walking around to my side.
He opened my door and reached his hand out like he had every single day since we got married.
"Thank you," I said, slipping my hand into his.
"You ain't gotta thank me."
"I know."
"But I still do."
The ma?tre d' spotted us before we even made it through the front doors.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Style."
"Good afternoon."
"It's always a pleasure having you both."
Billion nodded.
"Appreciate you."
"Our private room is ready."
Of course it was.
Billion hated eating in the middle of crowded dining rooms. He didn’t think he was better than anyone or anything like that he just got tired of people asking for pictures every time we went somewhere.
The hostess led us through the restaurant, past floor-to-ceiling wine displays, soft candlelight, and tables dressed in crisp white linen.
A jazz quartet played quietly from the corner while people laughed over expensive bottles of wine.
Everything about the place screamed money. But after all these years it just felt normal. We stepped onto the private terrace overlooking Lake Eola. The view stopped me every single time. The water sparkled beneath the afternoon sun. Swans drifted across the lake.
"You picked this on purpose," I said.
Billion pulled my chair out.
"I did."
"You trying to butter me up?"
"I've been trying to butter you up since 2018."
I laughed as I sat down.
"And has it worked?"
He took the seat across from me.
"I'd say marrying me was a pretty good start."
I smiled.
"You definitely think highly of yourself."
"I think highly of my wife. There's a difference."
"There is."
He smiled.
"But one don't exist without the other."
I shook my head.
"You be saying stuff like that so smooth."
He shrugged.
"I've had years to practice."
Before I could answer, the waiter appeared beside the table.
"Mr. Stylez..."
He gave a slight nod.
"The chef wanted me to let you know he's preparing your usual."
Billion looked over at me.
"Unless my wife wants something different."
The waiter immediately turned his attention to me.
"What can we prepare for you this afternoon, Mrs. Stylez?
I looked over the menu for all of three seconds before closing it.
"You already know what I want."
The waiter smiled.
"Of course, Mrs. Stylez."
He looked over at Billion.
"The usual for you as well, sir?"
Billion nodded.
"Appreciate it."
"I'll have everything right out."
The second he walked away, I smiled across the table at my husband.
"You know they spoil you in here."
He leaned back in his chair.
"They spoil us."
"No…it’s you"
I laughed.
He pointed toward the menu I'd barely looked at.
"You ain't even order."
"I didn't have to."
"Exactly."
"I've been coming here almost six years."
"So have I."
"And they still know what I like."
"Because you always order the same thing."
"I like what I like."
He laughed.
"I noticed."
I rested my chin in my hand while watching him.
"What?"
"You ever realize how weird our life is?"
He frowned.
"Define weird."
I mean…I looked around the terrace before speaking.
"People know our names before we introduce ourselves. They send out your favorite dessert without asking. The chef don't even let us order anymore."
I smiled.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that,” I laughed.
Billion looked out across the lake before answering.
"I don't want you to."
"What?"
"I don't ever want this to become something you expect."
I tilted my head.
"It already has."
He shook his head.
"No…Being blessed and feeling entitled are two different things," he said looking back at me.
I smiled.
"You sound like your daddy."
"I probably do."
"He'd say the same thing."
"My father always told me...The quickest way to lose what God gave you is to start acting like you deserved it.'"
I nodded slowly.
"I like that."
"I live by it."
The waiter returned with fresh bread and two glasses of sparkling water.
As he walked away, I tore off a piece of bread without thinking. Billion watched me for a second before smiling.
"What?"
"Nothing I just love you,” I said while pointing the bread at him.
"And I love you more," he replied
"This shit forever and always."
"You got damn right," I said holding up my left hand to show my ring.
"Mrs.Stylez,” he laughed and took another bite.
For a few minutes we talked about everything except business.
His mother had already started planning Thanksgiving even though it was still months away. Miss Lorraine had threatened to retire again after one of the housekeepers accidentally shrunk one of Billion's cashmere sweaters.
Xavier was still convinced he could beat Billion on the golf course if Billion would "stop cheating."
"He swear you cheating every time he lose," I said, laughing.
"He just can't accept I'm better."
"You are so full of yourself."
"I'm full of facts."
I rolled my eyes.
"I don't know how I put up with you."
He smiled.
"You don't."
"What I do then?"
"You love me anyway."
I opened my mouth to argue but I couldn't because he was right.
The waiter arrived with our food before I had the chance to think of a comeback. He carefully sat my plate in front of me before placing Billion's filet on the table.
"Enjoy your lunch, Mr. and Mrs. Stylez."
"Thank you," we said at the same time.
The waiter smiled to himself before walking away.
Billion picked up his knife before cutting into his steak.
"So…How'd the inspection really go?" he asked looking up at me.
I smiled.
"It went good."
He raised one eyebrow.
"That ain't what I asked."
I laughed.
"You always know when I'm giving you the edited version."
"I married you. I know all your versions," he shrugged.
I took another bite of my salmon before answering.
"Overall it was fine. But...There was one thing."
He sat his fork down.
"What happened?"
"I caught one of the housekeepers trying to flip a mattress."
"So?"
"She was pregnant."
His face changed immediately.
"How far along?"
"I think she said twenty-two weeks."
He frowned.
"Who approved that?"
"I don't know yet."
"I had Tia looking into it."
He nodded once.
"Good."
I smiled.
"You ain't mad?"
"I don't get paid to be mad. I get paid to fix problems," he said while cutting into another piece of steak.
I couldn't help but smile. Billion was just…A MAN. After all these years I still got butterflies just watching his lips move when he talk. It was always some real nigga shit coming out of his mouth.
"See..."
"What?"
"That's exactly why your daddy made you CEO."
He laughed.
"He ain't make me nothing."
"No?"
"No."
He pointed his fork at me.
"He gave me an opportunity. I had to prove I deserved it."
I leaned back in my chair.
"You still trying to prove yourself?"
"Everyday baby. Every got damn day."
I looked at him for a second.
"You know ain't nobody questioning your ability, right?"
He smiled without looking up from his plate.
"I ain't trying to prove it to people."
That caught my attention.
"Then who?"
He looked up.
"Myself."
For a second, I just stared at him.
It was something about a man who could teach you something.
With my husband...
I learned something every single day.
Most people looked at Billion Stylez and saw the money.
Yeah he had the hotels, the businesses, the last name. But I got to see the man behind all of it. The man who never stopped trying to become a better husband. A better leader. A better son. A better man. To be honest...I was just grateful God chose me to walk through life with him.
I closed my eyes for a brief second.
Thank you, God.
When I opened them again, Billion was already looking at me.
"What was that?" he asked.
"What was what?"
"That little smile."
I looked down at my plate.
"I was just thinking."
"You do a lot of that."
"I know."
"So..."
He cut another piece of his steak.
"You gone tell me what you was thinking about?"
I shrugged.
"I was thanking God."
His hand stopped for just a second.
"For what?"
I looked up at him.
"For you."
A small smile spread across his face before he shook his head.
"You giving me way too much credit."
"I don't think I give you enough…I'm serious."
"So am I."
I rested my fork on the edge of my plate.
"Billion...do you know how many women pray for a man that'll simply do what he say he gone do?"
He looked at me but didn't answer so I continued.
"I ain't talking about the money. I'm talking about your heart. The way you treat people. The way you carry yourself. The way you love me…You make being your wife easy," I smiled.
He looked down for a second. Almost like he didn't know what to do with a compliment.
"My daddy used to tell me something," he said after a minute.
"What?"
"'The quickest way to lose a good woman is to start acting like she lucky to have you. And boy that was some real ass shit. I just thank God I had my pops because he taught me how to love a woman for real because I watched him love my momma."
I smiled.
"Mr. William Stylez said that?"
"He sure did."
"What else he say?"
Billion laughed.
"He said if a man ever stop dating his wife..."
He picked his glass up...he don't get to complain when somebody else notices what he stopped appreciating."
I blinked.
"Damn."
"Yeah."
"I never forgot it."
I smiled to myself.
"I can tell."
He leaned back in his chair.
"My mama would've put him out if he forgot."
That made me laugh.
"I would've helped her."
"I know you would've."
"You know I don't play."
"I definitely know."
We both laughed.
The conversation settled for a second while we ate.
The wind carried the sound of the jazz band over to our table, and somewhere down by the lake, a little girl squealed loud enough to make both of us look over.
She couldn't have been no older than five. She was chasing one of the swans while her daddy pretended he couldn't catch her. Her mama stood a few feet away recording the whole thing on her phone.
"That’s so cute?" I asked quietly.