Rival's Desire

“Thanks, Grammy,” Viv sighed as she placed an arm around Carlotta’s shoulders and pulled her closer.

Francine smiled and looked up at Caesar. His gaze was unwavering as it followed every movement of Viv’s svelte form. She patted his back and hugged him. “Aw, baby, you look lovely, too,” she cooed, seeing the smile tug at his lips.

Caesar looked down at Francine. “Thank you, Granny.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Does anybody want a drink?” Caesar asked when they stepped into the living room.

“Sure, if you’re playing bartender,” Francine retorted.

Caesar raised his hand. “I got it covered. What’ll it be?”

“I’ll have a gin tonic,” Francine called.

“Same for me!” Carlotta said as she selected a different set of jazz CDs to play.

Viv was getting comfortable on the love seat. Francine and Carlotta watched as Caesar stepped from behind the bar and walked over to her. He brushed the back of his hand against Viv’s shoulder.

“Are you gonna have something to drink, Plum?” he queried softly when she looked up at him.

“A glass of wine—Riesling, if Miss Frankie has it.” Her alluring dark gaze lingered on his incredible face a bit longer than necessary.

“So, are you two ready to discuss the business and what’s expected of you?” Carlotta asked when Caesar stepped back behind the bar.

“It’s obvious this is a package deal. The two of you want the two of us.”

“That’s right,” Francine confirmed, nodding. “How do you feel about that?” She posed the question to Vivian who had been rather quiet.

“Well,” she began, glancing back at Caesar, “we both want a chance to run the business. If we have to do it together, we’ll give it our all.”

Francine and Carlotta exchanged curt nods and moved to sit together on the long sofa. Between them were three manila folders.

“There are a few key deals that need your attention right off the bat. Thank you, sweetie,” Francine said to Caesar when he handed her a gin tonic.

Carlotta sat her drink on the coffee table. “These deals are in the last stages of negotiations. All that’s needed now are the final go-aheads. Meetings will be abundant,” she warned them, pushing the folders across the marble-topped table.

“The two of you should get together and discuss them,” Francine advised, taking a sip of her drink.

Viv took the files and placed them between herself and Caesar on the love seat.

Carlotta and Francine stood and headed to the white double doors at the rear of the room. “We can finish talking over dinner,” Carlotta called as she and her business partner headed to the dining room.

“When do you want to go over this stuff?” Caesar asked, picking up one of the folders and thumbing through the contents.

Viv toyed with a curl lying against her cheek. “I guess we should find out when the first meeting is.”

Caesar nodded, his long brows drawn as he scanned a page in the folder. “Humph, from the looks of it, we have a meeting in the morning.”

“What?” Viv whispered, snatching the file out of his hands. “I don’t believe it.” She shook her head at Caesar and smiled. “I guess we’ll have to get together after dinner.”

“My place or yours?” he asked, a fiendish smirk crossing his mouth.

Viv tossed her bouncy, clipped locks and stood. “The office.”

Caesar nodded. Even he agreed it was probably the safest place.

Chapter 3

“You and Miss Carly are tryin’ to baptize us by fire,” Caesar playfully accused during dinner.

Francine and Carlotta laughed.

“It’s the best way!” Carlotta assured him.

“Besides,” Francine added. “We’re confident you two can handle it. We wouldn’t entrust you with our life’s work, otherwise.”

Viv cleared her throat as she cut into the succulent white meat of the Cajun-styled mahi. “Can we at least get an overview of the deals that are about to be closed?”

Carlotta set her fork aside. “The largest deal is the Tydes’ account. A couple from Jamaica—brother and sister. They own a lovely bed-and-breakfast and they’re interested in carrying a line of our dolls in their gift shop.”

“What line?” Caesar asked, cracking the shell of a crab leg.

“Our Island line,” Francine replied. “The Tydes are interested in carrying them exclusively.”

Caesar nodded, dipping the crab meat in a bowl of butter sauce. “How do you two feel about it?”

Francine and Carlotta exchanged wide grins.

“Actually, it’s the deal we’re most excited about,” Carlotta admitted. “Of course, the final yes would be given by the two of you. We’ve informed our clients and employees on the change of power. You can expect everyone’s full cooperation.”

Dinner passed very quickly. Caesar and Viv had a lot of questions about the D.M. Doll Factory and how it functioned. Of course, Carlotta Desmond and Francine Morrison were two savvy businesswomen with a wealth of knowledge. By the time dinner had ended, Caesar and Viv were fully informed on what was expected of them.

“Do you need to stop by your house for anything before we head to the office?” Caesar asked Viv, his hand rested against the small of her back as they walked through the foyer.

Viv shook her head. “I don’t need anything,” she assured him, smiling when he patted her back.

“So, what do you think?” Carlotta asked Francine as they stood beneath the beveled living room doorway and watched their grandchildren leave.

“This is gonna work,” Francine predicted, sending her friend a knowing look.

“Man, when they told us you and Viv were gonna be working here, everybody went crazy. Workin’ for a football player and a singer? Only in America!”

“Well, it’s the off-season for me,” Caesar said. “And Viv had some downtime before really gearing up for her new CD’s touring and release. So our schedules just seemed to work out!”

Caesar and Viv laughed at Jermaine Wilkes, one of the night watchmen at the factory.

“We just hope we don’t embarrass ourselves,” Caesar told Jermaine and the other guard, Thomas Gentry.

Thomas waved his hand. “Please! With those two backin’ you up,” he said, referring to Francine and Carlotta, “they’ll help you out of any pinches you get into around here.”