I Want Candy (39 page)

Gabriel tossed a magazine towards Candy. “Here’s the latest interview,” Gabriel sighed. Candy picked up the “Best Life” magazine and saw Gabriel on the cover. Her stomach began to churn as the butterflies danced inside once again. She flipped through the magazine and found the article. Gabriel sat and waited as she read it.

“This is wonderful! People just can’t believe that a forty-six-year-old is running such a large, successful company. You should be proud of yourself,” she complimented.

“This article has generated more requests for public appearances, and it’s cutting into the little bit of free time that I have,” he sighed. “I really don’t understand why I’m receiving fame for something I’ve been doing for years. Why all the fuss now?”

“Because your competitors,
our
competitors, are squirming, and it makes for good media to put the face out there of the man responsible. You turned this company completely around in a matter of a few short years. You did it without massive layoffs, a huge cut in benefits, or all the other usual actions that occur when a company is overhauled. You should be happy.” Candy reached over the desk and patted his hand.

He placed his other hand over hers, sandwiching them together. She tilted her head and smiled placidly. “You shouldn’t do that. Someone could walk in and see this,” Candy said as she slid her hand slowly away. Gabriel leaned back in his chair as he listened to Candy detail the latest budgetary issues. He daydreamed, imagining her sprawled out on his den floor, her exquisite brown body pinned under his. Thoughts of her scent, her lips against his, and her contagious laugh sent shivers up his spine as he reminisced.

“Gabe, are you listening to me?”

“Of course, Sweetheart – I mean, Candy. You said that the Accounting Department will have a computer system and software upgrade in the spring.” Gabriel brandished a wide smile. Candy looked intensely at him as her eyes narrowed. How he managed to drift off into la-la land and still hear her was a talent she abhorred. She continued on as he returned to his internal film featuring her as the leading lady.

* * *

“Is it pink?” Jasmine asked as she stirred her cocoa.

“Is what pink?” Candy asked as she opened her kitchen drawer looking for her thin, red straws.

Dallas
laughed as she sat down at the kitchen table, nursing a glass of Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac. “I can’t believe he gave you this expensive bottle of wine. That’s love, Girl!” Dallas teased. “This shit’s good, too! What is this, 1986?”

“You know it,” Candy smiled.

“Is his dick pink?” Jasmine asked with a disgusted expression on her face. “I mean, there has to be a catch here. I don’t think I could work with a pink dick.” She shook her head as she took a sip of her cocoa, the whipped cream coating her upper lip. Candy rolled her eyes, ignoring Jasmine as she sat down at the table with Dallas.

“Jasmine, not all white men are red! Geesh! Besides, what does it matter? When it’s time for it to make an appearance, it ends up in some orifice where it can’t be seen anyway,” Dallas added.

Jasmine sauntered over to join them. “I know you have to get ready for your dinner date tonight, Candy, and trust me, we’ll be out of your hair in a minute, but please just hear me out. Don’t try to impress his daughter. Just be yourself.”

“Jasmine, I got this,” Candy hissed before taking a sip of her diet ginger ale.

Jasmine threw up her hands. “Fine, but you sneak away and call me if you need help.”

Candy laughed and rolled her eyes. “I do need to finish gettin’ ready though. Thank you both for comin’ over to calm my nerves. I was up half the night. I’m not this jittery about speaking in front of large crowds, but a fifteen-year-old girl’s givin’ me the willies.” Candy grinned anxiously.

“She’s the boss’s daughter – the boss that you’re now in a relationship with, I might add. You know that her opinion of you matters since they’re so close. Totally understandable,” Dallas said before finishing off her wine and standing up. Candy waved as her two closest friends drove away. She immediately raced up the steps and recombed her hair, applied perfume, and fixed her pantyhose. “It’s showtime,” she said as she grabbed her keys and left the house.

* * *

Candy smiled at Ursula, the maid, who opened the door and let her in. The smells of baked chicken, roasted potatoes, and braised Brussels sprouts immediately caught Candy’s nose. ‘How did he know I love Brussels sprouts?’ she thought as she made her way into the kitchen. Robert, the chef, was cutting onions into thin slices while the laughter of a young girl filled the room.

“Dad, you’re dumb!” The laughter came again. “That’s not what that text message means! Oh, my God.” Allison’s back was to Candy. Gabriel was laughing heartily, so much so that he doubled over. He grabbed his daughter around her waist and looked over her shoulder at her cell phone.

“And who the hell is Todd? I want to see his report card. I have a gun, you know.” They both burst out laughing.

“Dad! You aren’t shooting anyone. I’m almost sixteen. Come on now. I’m not a little girl anymore.” Allison giggled as she tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder.

“Does your mom like your new look?” Gabriel asked, smirking. “You look like Beetlejuice. How long is this Goth thing gonna last – the black hair and crap? I liked your natural blonde hair better. Do what you want, but uh, this is a bit strange, young lady.”

Candy was in awe at their comfort level with one another. ‘He wasn’t kidding. They’re friends,’ she thought. She became queasier knowing that if she didn’t pass the “Allison test,” everything could go downhill.

Gabriel turned around and fixed his eyes on Candy. He smiled at her, giving her a silent understanding. “Allison, Ms. Candy Benet has arrived.”

Allison spun around in her Mary Jane shoes. Candy stared at a hazel-eyed, porcelain-skinned young lady. Allison tugged on her military jacket. Beneath it was a purposely torn white V-neck T-shirt paired with a black and white plaid miniskirt and thigh-high socks. A huge grin spread across her face.

“Dad! You rock! I had no idea you were into the interracial thing! Cool! Nice to meet you, Ms. Benet.” Allison bounced over and hugged Candy tightly, much to Candy’s surprise. Candy laughed and hugged her back. Gabriel smiled as he watched them interact.

“Nice to meet you too, Allison. You look like your father,” Candy said.

Allison smiled. “Yeah, I know.”

“How can you tell with all of that mess on her face?” Gabriel teased as he threw an uncooked Brussels sprout at his daughter.

Allison laughed, “Oh, my god. Shut up, Dad! I saw pics of you from back in the day. You weren’t exactly a conformist either. Hey, Ms. Benet, what’s your zodiac sign?” Allison asked.

Candy was taken aback. She looked around the room, at Gabriel then back at Allison. “Um, Cancer. I’m a Cancer.” Candy shrugged and smiled nervously.

“Oh, my God. Dad’s a Taurus with a Scorpio moon. You two are good together. Do you know what your moon sign is?”

“Um, no, I don’t really pay attention to astrology.”

“Well, you should. I wanna do your chart. I think…”

“Allison, Allison, Dear, you’re getting ahead of yourself. You can talk to Candy about this later. Let’s get ready for dinner, shall we?” Gabriel said more seriously. Candy smirked as she watched Gabriel go into daddy mode.

“OK, but I wanna know your exact birth date. If I had been born before my parents married, I would’ve told them don’t do it. Everyone knows a Taurus man and Aquarius woman should never get married. It must have been great sex.” Allison sauntered off into the dining room as she looked intently down at her cell phone.

“Candy, I’m so sorry about all of that,” Gabriel said as he quickly walked up to her, planting a kiss firmly on her lips.

Candy burst out laughing. “Sorry about what? I think she’s absolutely adorable.”

Gabriel smiled as he backed Candy into the black granite kitchen island, pressing her buttocks firmly against the edge. He wrapped his arms snuggly around her, kissing her intensely. Robert pretended to not notice.

“Thank you for coming,” Gabriel whispered in her ear. “I wish I could whisk you away to the bedroom. I haven’t been able to touch you for almost an entire week, but we have guests.”

“Oh, cut it out, Dad. Not near the food! Gross!” Allison teased as she reentered the kitchen to retrieve her can of Sprite. They all laughed as they moved to the dining room.

* * *

“And that’s how I got into the choir, basically,” Allison explained.

“She has a beautiful voice,” Gabriel said as he ate his last sliver of apple strudel.

Allison shrugged. “I’m OK. Dad’s the one who has all the musical talent. Did you see his interview on CNN?” Allison asked as she wiped her mouth with the blue linen napkin. “It was amazing.”

“Really? You never told me you were on CNN. I’m surprised no one at the office mentioned it,” Candy said.

“Well, it doesn’t air until tomorrow night. Anyway, enough of that. Does anyone want anything more? More dessert? Tea?” Gabriel offered as he stood up.

“Mr. Justice, please, let me do my job,” Ursula said as she entered the room and began to clear the table. “He’s always cleaning up.” Ursula smiled as she expertly stacked the plates and utensils.

“Thank you, Ursula,” Gabriel said as he turned back to his daughter and Candy. “Ladies, excuse me while I go to the little boy’s room.” Gabriel smiled as he disappeared.

Candy watched him exit, her heart doing flips. ‘I know this man didn’t just leave me alone in here!’ she thought. She felt Allison’s eyes on her and turned back in her direction. Allison put her phone down, got up from her chair, and walked swiftly over to Candy, sitting down right next to her.

“Look, we don’t have much time. He’ll be back any second now. Well, not any second. He’s kinda OCD about handwashing,” Allison said as she looked around. “I have something to tell you,” Allison said seriously as she crossed her legs.

“Uh, OK,” Candy said as she looked into Allison’s eyes. ‘This is like looking at a miniature Gabriel dressed in drag,’ Candy chuckled to herself.

“He’s crazy about you. I know my dad pretty well. He doesn’t have a good track record with women though, so don’t let his confidence fool you. He’s really picky about girlfriends and the relationships usually end before they even start because he gets rid of them really fast. You’ve been with him a pretty long time, so I know he really cares about you. Plus, he’s been acting funny.” Allison looked both ways as if she and Candy were engaging in an illegal transaction.

“Well, thank you for the information,” Candy said, trying to sound truly thankful.

“Do you love my dad? Because I really don’t want to see him get his balls busted by a girl who doesn’t give a shit about him.” Allison’s face distorted. Suddenly her eyes seemed to darken as her eyebrows lowered and her tone rose. Her jovial attitude switched in a millisecond.

‘I’m scared of this strange, little heifa!’ Candy thought. “It’s kind of early for me to tell,” Candy answered. “I do know, though, that I care for him a great deal and have no intentions of hurting him.”