Page 35 of When Love Takes Over
“Son, sit next to Lasandra. Suzette and I were talking and thought you and Lasandra should get to know each other since you’re both single,” my mother said.
I looked at my father, then grandfather, and their expressions told me they weren’t in on it. In my eyes, they were accomplices because they didn’t shut this shit down.
“Ma, Pops, Gramps, can I talk to you all in the kitchen for a minute?”
“Son, it would be rude to leave our guests in the middle of breakfast. We can talk later,” my father said.
“Okay. I’m actually not hungry. Again, it was nice meeting you all.”
I left the dining room, and I knew that one, two, or all of them would come after me. When I got to the kitchen, I turned around, and my father entered.
“Son, you’re not dating anyone seriously, so why not go out with her to see if there’s a connection?”
“Because I don’t need my mother playing matchmaker.”
“One date won’t hurt you, Kenny. You might be surprised,” she pressed.
“I won’t be, because I’m not going out with her.”
“You know, I’ve been trying to stay out of this matchmaking stuff, but now you’re disrespecting our guests and dismissing your mother’s efforts. Plus, I’m ready to retire?—”
“Retire! How is my relationship status stopping you from retiring?”
“These are your grandfather’s requirements, not mine! At the end of the day, this is his company, and if he wants you to marry before you take over, then his wishes will be honored.”
“Gramps hasn’t run the company for over twenty years.”
“It doesn’t matter. He’s of sound mind and still has a say in what happens in the company that he and my mother started from nothing. We explained to you why we think it’s important for you to be married, and I thought we made ourselves clear.”
“Kenzo.”
Malyah’s voice caused us to look toward the stairs that led to my apartment.
Kenzoand his father’s voice carried into his apartment, so I crept up the stairs to eavesdrop on their conversation. I wasn’t sure what made me make my presence known, but my gut told me that Kenzo needed to be saved.
“Kenzo,” I said softly.
Two pairs of identical eyes looked my way, and I almost ran back down the stairs.
“You good? Do you need something?” Kenzo asked.
“I have an emergency. I really need to get home,” I lied.
“Okay. I’ll be right there.”
I turned and went down a few stairs, then stopped to eavesdrop again.
“Who is that? She looks familiar,” Mr. Goode said.
“She should. She works in the kitchen atSSG. Her name is Malyah Brownlee.”
“The head cook?”
“That’s her.”
“Son, please tell me you’re not fucking one of our employees after I told you explicitly never to do that. Do you know how messy that could get when you stop giving her the attention she desires?”
“We’re not having sex, Pops.”
