Pride and Consequence

“Mmm…financial problems?” Malik guessed.

Zakira nodded, as she cut a portion of aged sharp cheddar from the huge block. “They’re offering to pay, but, of course, they can’t afford much. I’m hoping we can work something out. I’d really like to help them,” she said, brushing a speck of cheese from her snug pink V-neck sweater.

“I don’t have a problem with it. Hell, it’ll be tax-deductible.”

“Malik!” Zakira chastised.

“What? I’m just stating a fact,” he said, chuckling at her horrified expression. “Anyway, what’s the charity?”

Zakira nibbled the cheese and followed it with a swig of the fruitful red wine. “It’s the Richmond Children’s Cancer Research Fund. The women I spoke with are doctors’ wives, they…”

“Malik? Baby? Did you hear me?” Zakira said a moment later, noticing the hard, set look on his face.

“We better bounce if we want to make the inn before dark,” he suggested quickly, jumping to the ground and repacking the basket.

Zakira watched him closely, but she did not argue. As the car continued its trek up the gorgeous coast, she decided she would get her answers that night.

“How is it?”

Zakira shook her head. “So good. I’ve never had clam chowder this good. I guess owning a restaurant on the ocean makes it easy to get the best seafood. And I’ve definitely had my fill of it this weekend.”

Malik’s expression reflected concern. “You’re not eating much. Are you sick?”

Zakira swirled her spoon in the creamy pearl-colored chowder. “No, I’m not sick. Are you?” she asked, raising her probing gaze to his face.

He would not respond and a few minutes passed in silence. Zakira silently chastised herself for the question. She hadn’t meant to approach the subject quite that way. Besides, the day had been so wonderful, she didn’t want it to end on a sour note. Unfortunately, Malik’s mood had her more than a little suspicious.

“I had an idea about the charity dinner.”

Zakira forced a phony smile to her face. “Oh?”

Malik ran one hand though his dreads and nodded. “I was wondering if you’d consider working with the staff on the menu and presentation?”

Despite her reluctance to become more active with the business, Zakira discovered she was quite interested in the idea. “What do you have in mind?”

Malik leaned against the oversized wooden high-backed chair. “Well, I was hoping you’d come up with your own ideas and discuss them with the cook staff. We have a meeting every day, so…”

Zakira was nodding. Ideas for the menu were already entering her mind. Of course, she would discuss them with the charity’s coordinators first. Still, she had the feeling this was going to be a very successful event.

“You seem pleased,” Malik observed, taking note of the expression brightening his wife’s pretty chocolate-toned face.

Zakira could not deny it. “It makes me feel good to be part of something so important. I just can’t believe they’ve had a hard time finding a place to have the thing.”

Malik shrugged, pushing up the sleeves of his lightweight navy blue sweatshirt.

“I mean, I can’t imagine anyone not jumping to help them. Especially for a cause like this. Cancer in children, it’s—”

“Zakira, do we have to talk about this now?” Malik suddenly snapped, his stare glinting with frustration. “We’re supposed to be having a good time here.”

“What the hell is wrong with you, Malik?” she snapped back, her mahogany brown stare ablaze. “If I remember correctly, you asked me about the charity dinner. You know, your mood lately has gotten progressively worse and I’m tired of it.”

“Zaki—”

“Please,” she stopped him, pushing her chair away from the table, “I already know—you’re sorry. Why don’t we talk when you have a little more to say?” With that, she stomped away from the table.

Malik braced his elbows to the table and clutched fistfuls of his dreads. “Baby, you’ll get your answers as soon as I get mine.”

Chapter 2

Although Badu’s never opened until 3:00 p.m., Malik always arrived at 8:00 a.m. His routine was practically the same each day. Before heading upstairs to his office, he went to the kitchen for a morning meeting with the chefs. The cooking staff of eight arrived even earlier than their boss, despite the fact that ingredients for the day’s menu had already been prepared. The staff never departed without having the necessary supplies for the following business day chopped, chilled and marinated.

Everyone immediately came to attention when they saw Malik. Though the employees of Badu’s admired and respected the forceful young man, they often wished he wasn’t so demanding.

“Just a heads-up. We’re going to be hosting a charity dinner for cancer research a couple weeks before Christmas,” Malik declared at the end of the meeting, already shrugging into the stylish tan suede suit coat he had thrown across a chair. “I should have more specifics soon, but there will be plenty of time for you guys to get prepared.”

The eight chefs exchanged weary looks across the table. They had no problems being on hand for the charity event. It was the time leading up to the dinner they could have done without. Their boss could become more than demanding, he could be almost tyrannical.

“I won’t be working with you on the event, Zakira will,” Malik announced, sensing the chefs’ relief without even looking at their faces.

No one at the table could mask their joy. The boss’s wife would provide a refreshing change from her brooding, unyielding husband.

“It’s not that we dislike working closely with you, you understand?”

Malik grinned. “Sure I do, Jo Jo.” He wasn’t offended.

Malik never apologized for running a tight ship. He felt his people respected him more for it and believed that respect made his restaurant the success that it was.

“So, when is she gonna start coming in, Malik?”

“Well—” Malik began, a smile coming to his face, when he looked toward the rear of the dining room. “Speak of the devil. There she is.”

Zakira was slightly breathless as she hurriedly approached the table. “Sorry guys, I wanted to get here before the end of your meeting. Do y’all have a few minutes?”

“Sure, Zakira!”

“Have a seat, darlin’.”

“Can I get you some coffee?”

Malik rolled his eyes and reclined in his chair as he watched the eight stiff-lipped men fawn over his wife. Of course, he could never blame them. Zakira brought out something bright in each of his employees. He believed they would work round the clock for her if she asked them to.

“I’m fine,” Zakira was assuring the chefs, as she set her maroon cashmere wrap on a vacant chair. “This won’t take long. I just wanted to discuss a couple of things with you all. Did Malik tell you guys about the dinner?” she asked, watching everyone smile and nod.

“Great,” she said, already reaching into the oversized black leather tote she carried.

Malik’s smoldering charcoal-gray stare never strayed from his wife as she discussed menu ideas and timelines with his employees. He admired the ease with which she handled the group of finicky chefs. When they began to discuss the particulars, he stood and took Zakira’s elbow in a light hold.

“I’m gonna head on up to the office, unless you need me to stay,” he said, brushing his hand against the soft clinging cashmere of her pearl gray dress.