Romance: Assistant to the Billionaire (6 page)

Chapter 11

Two days later, Rhett asked me to meet him at his house dressed in something casual, so I decided to wear some black leggings, a silver glittery shirt, and some silver ballet shoes.

The look says casual but sexy.

I have no idea what he had planned since he never told me to dress a certain way before but I’m glad.

I like surprises and I have a feeling this may be a good one.

I tap in the code to Rhett’s penthouse and go inside. He’s sitting on the chair dressed in some black jean pants and a white shirt. He looks super sexy in casual wear and I can definitely get used to seeing him like this.

“Don’t you look handsome?” I say as I kiss him on the lips.

“And don’t you look good enough to eat?” he says with a laugh.

“So where are we going? Why did I have to dress casual?”

“We are going on a date.”

A confuse expression crosses my face. “What? I thought that you didn’t want anyone to know that we were dating?”

He shrugs. “I have money; it’ll be discreet. There’s this nice soul food restaurant in town that I want to take you to. I bought out the whole place for tonight and the owner doesn’t open his mouth about anything. It’ll be fun.”

A smile slowly spreads across my face and I jump into his arms. “Wow! I think I know what you’re talking about. I’ve heard of that restaurant but never really got the chance to try it out. Besides, I wouldn’t have had anyone to go with me in the first place.”

“Well, now you have me and trust me it will be everything you have heard about and so much more.”

I laugh. “Well, take me to the restaurant, sir.”

He laughs and takes my hand into his.

We take his Bentley to the restaurant; the car is so nice that I think I would prefer to sleep on the back seat rather than in my bed. We pull into the back of the restaurant and Rhett rushes to my side of the car to open the door for me.

“You’re a princess and you should be treated like one,” he says.

I blush as I place my and into his and follow him inside of the restaurant.

Once inside I open my mouth in awe. It is nothing of what I expected in a soul food restaurant. The decorations are very modern and chic. The walls are painted white with blue circles going up and down the walls. There are records on the wall from old school musicians and a big fish tank right in the middle of the floor. Even the floor is unique because it is glass with pictures of old school singers like Michael Jackson, B.B, King and Louis Armstrong in the floor. I can’t believe the detail that went into this place.

A short guy with a big belly comes from out of the back and greets us.

“Aw, Rhett, my friend, right on time,” he says. “Pick any table that you want and I will be right with you in a moment.”

He walks away and Rhett leads me to the middle of the restaurant where we take a seat.

“So what do you think so far?” he asks.

“It’s nice. It’s not at all what I expected,” I say.

“I know. When I first came here I was expecting something that screamed grandma’s kitchen but was shocked when I saw just how modern it was. He really did a nice job with the interior,” he says.

“You’re right, and I was expecting the same thing. But I’m glad that it’s not what I expected. It’s really quite unique.”

The guy walks back over to the table and hands us a menu. “May I get you two something to drink?”

“Sure Frank, you know that I want me some of the famous Shoo Fly Tea,” says Rhett.

He laughs. “Coming right up—and what about you ma’am? “

“I’ll have the same drink that he’s having,” I say.

Frank smiles and walks away from the table.

“What’s Shoo Fly Tea?” I ask.

Rhett laughs. “It’s what he calls his famous iced tea. It’s really good.”

I nod my head and open my menu. I glance over the choices and immediately am stumped as to what to get. I don’t know if I want the smothered chicken and macaroni and cheese, chicken and waffles, smothered pork chops and gravy or the shrimp and grits. Everything just looks so wonderful - I just want to eat it all.

“You’re having a hard time deciding, aren’t you?” he asks.

“Yes, I mean everything looks so good,” I say.

“Well I like the smothered chicken and macaroni with collard greens on the side. It’s delicious and then wash it down with a slice or two of some red velvet cake.”

“That smothered chicken was on my list of things to try. I may just have that.”

Frank returns to the table and places our drinks down on the table. “So, do you know what you’re having?”

“Yes we’ll both be having the smothered chicken and macaroni with some collard greens on the side. And some red velvet cake for dessert.”

“I’ll put that order right in for you,” he says as he turns away.

I look at my tea and see that it’s a light complexion, unlike most tea I drink. I take a small sip and immediately flavor hits my tongue. “Wow, this is great!”

“I know,” says Rhett. “I loved it the first time that I had it.”

“What’s in it?”

“Honey, sugar, lemon juice and tea.”

“Wow, it’s really great.”

He laughs. “I do believe you’ve said that already.”

“Yeah well, it begs repeating,” I say.

“You’re right about that. You’re the first woman I’ve brought here. My Mom and all of the girls that she tries to hook me up would probably would have a heart attack once they realized no salad was on the menu.”

“Well just so you know, I’m not a salad type of eating kind of girl.”

“Believe me I know.”

“So are we going to do any more dates like this?”

“Yep. We’ll do as many as we can until I figure out a way to tell my Mom and the investors.”

“Well, no rush. I kind of like being the only people in a place. No wait or anything.”

“Well then you and I are going to have a lot of fun.”

Frank comes back to the table and places the food in front of us and my mouth begins to water.

The chicken is steaming, the macaroni is the cheesiest I’ve ever seen and the collard greens look heavenly. I bite into the chicken first and it immediately falls off of the bone.

I moan sounds of pleasure and before I know it I’m devouring the whole meal. I don’t say anything and neither does Rhett until we’ve both finished eating.

“That was heavenly,” I say. “I’ve never eaten something that tasted so good in my life.”

“I know, it’s why I come back so much. That and the red velvet cake,” he says

“I don’t think that I have any room in my belly for dessert.”

“Trust me you’ll make room for this. Or you can just take it home with you.”

I nod my head as Frank comes and clears the plates off of the table. “Was everything to your liking?”

“Oh yes! You have definitely made a fan out of me. I will be back,” I say eagerly.

“I’m glad that you enjoyed yourself will you two like dessert now?” he asks.

“Yes,” says Rhett. “Two big slices of Red Velvet Cake and two cakes to go.”

“Be right back,” he says.

“Why’d you order two cakes to go?” I ask.

“Because I know that you’re going to enjoy it so much and will want a cake of your own,” he says.

“That confident, huh?”

“Of course.”

Frank returns to the table and places the most delicious slice of cake in front of me and sits two boxes of cake at the end of the table. “Hope you two enjoy the cake and have a wonderful night.”

“Thanks,” I say as I take in the cake.

It looks divine with the frosting and what looks like roasted walnuts or pecans on top. I stick a large bite in my mouth and immediately my eyes roll into the back of my head. “This is—oh my gosh!”

“It’s the best!” exclaims Rhett as he bites into his.

We both finish up our cake and I am tempted to eat a slice of the cake that Rhett has gotten for me but I don’t.

I know that I will just pig out on it when I get home.

We wave goodbye to Frank, get back into the heavenly Bentley, and begin the drive back to his place.

Once there he opens the door for me again and I step out.

“I had a great time with you tonight, Rhett,” I say as I push a strand of hair behind my head, feeling like a girl with her first love.

“I know. I did too. I can’t wait to do it again,” Rhett smiles.

Damn – that is a perfect smile.

We stand in uncomfortable silence for a few moments, our eyes connecting again.

I could melt under those eyes.

“Well I guess I’ll better get going back to my place. I work for this guy who is just impossible. He’s always on my ass about the littlest things.”

He laughs. “Well, I’ll have to tell him to quit being so hard on you.”

“Much appreciated.”

“See you in the morning, Rhett,” I say as I get into my car with my cake and begin the drive home.

This night was perfect and I hope that there are many more like it in the future to come.

Chapter 12

Over the next few weeks, Rhett and I continue to go on many more secret little dates.

We have gone to the bowling alley, putt putt, and almost every really good restaurant in town that I have wanted to try.

At work, we’re completely professional so that no one is suspicious about our relationship and he has been sober for almost a month.

Things are starting to look up for him and I’m glad that I have been playing a part in making him a better person.

We were supposed to have dinner tonight, but my Mom wants to see me and since I haven’t seen her in a while I couldn’t turn her down.

I pull into her yard and go up the steps and immediately she opens the door and hugs me.

“Jessica!” she exclaims.

“Mom, you act like I’ve been gone years and not a month,” I say as I gently push her away.

“Well, it feels like that long. You don’t even call and check in anymore. How’s work?”

“It’s actually a lot better. Rhett has been sober for about a month now and I’m actually learning a lot from him. He now seems a lot like the Rhett I knew when we were younger.”

“See? Now aren’t you glad you’ve stuck things out.”

“Yeah, I really am.”

She stares at me and I see a glint in her eyes. “You’re glowing! Are you dating someone? Who is he? Do I know him?”

“Mom, I’m seeing someone but we’re not ready to talk about it yet. It’s complicated so you can’t say anything. But you said you called me over here because you had something important to tell me and I know that you’re deflecting with my personal life,” I say.

She sighs. “Well, you would be correct.”

We walk into the lounge room and Mom hands me a cup of tea.

“Well, um, sweetheart, you know I love you…”

“Just spit it out Mom,” I roll my eyes.

“I don’t know how to tell you this… but your father got approved for early parole. He’ll be out in a few days.”

I jump up out of the seat. “What! I thought he had like twenty years or something. Why’s he getting let loose so early?”

“Good behavior. He was eligible for parole and the board approved him. I know that you have ill feelings towards your father…”

“Ill feelings! Ill feelings! Mom, I hate that man! He ruined my life and yours. He made everything so hard for us. I didn’t have any friends and people were afraid to take a chance with hiring you because of what he did. He deserved to stay in there longer.”

“Calm down, sweetie. He is still your father… and he is still my husband.”

Those words sting. Mom never filed for divorce because she was afraid of being a divorcee. I pleaded with her to leave the man that destroyed our lives but she never did.

“Where’s he going to stay when he gets out?”

“Well that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. He will be staying with me,” she says.

The blood rushes out of my brain and I feel helpless. “Are you serious, Mom? You’re really going to take him in?”

“He’s still your father and still… officially, my husband.”

“Who’s a criminal! Mom, I don’t know why you’re being so laid back about this. I mean… I don’t even know what to say right now.”

“Say that you support me.”

“You know that I can’t say that because I don’t support you in this. I can’t ever support him. He humiliated the whole family. The guy is selfish, Mom. All he thinks about is himself and you want him back in your life?”

“He’s changed, sweetheart.”

“I doubt it. He’ll tell you anything just so he can have a place to stay.”

“It’s not like that…” she starts to say.

“Well, I don’t care, Mom. I can’t support you on this. I’m sorry,” I say as I get up to leave.

“Jessica!” she yells after me but I don’t stop.

I just keep going.

I get into my car and drive with anger.

I have to go to the one person who can help me make sense out of this situation: Rhett.