Solay was unfazed. “Grab an apron, Vidal, and get to work on the vanilla cupcakes.”
“Solay, I can’t be back here in this stuffy kitchen with all these ovens going. I’m a people pleaser; that’s why I work the front.”
Solay held up her hand. “You’re whatever I need you to be, Vidal. Now get into an apron. Follow the recipe; don’t get creative.” She pointed to the recipes posted on the wall. “I have an important client that I have to focus on. I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose business because Mari decided that she wanted to get fancy today.”
A look passed between Vidal and Mariama.
“I’ll be working in my apartment for a few hours. Call upstairs if you need me.”
Vidal folded his arms and grumbled under his breath.
“Listen, I want this problem rectified. If that case isn’t filled up by the time customers begin arriving, both of you can start looking for work elsewhere!” Solay grabbed her clipboard, wheeled around. She banged open the kitchen door with her shoulder.
“Oh, my Gawd, what’s Miss Thang’s problem?” Vidal inquired in a voice raised in exasperation.
“Dick! She needs to get laid,” Mari said with a snort. “If Solay wants to rectify something, she should start by ending her sex drought. Some good dick would put a smile on her face, and we wouldn’t have to deal with her being so mean and cranky all the time.”
Solay heard Mariama’s bitchy remarks, and felt offended. I’m not mean and cranky! I’m a businesswoman. My schedule is too demanding to put up with the emotional attachments that surface when you hop into bed with a sex partner.
CHAPTER 3
A delicious aroma filled Solay’s small kitchen. In the privacy and serenity of her personal space, she sifted, poured, measured, and stirred, until she’d whipped up one hundred stunning cupcakes. The task could have been completed much quicker if she’d used the industrial equipment downstairs, but there was too much tension in that kitchen.
Mission accomplished, admired the pretty little masterpieces that she’d created. The cupcakes were frosted with French Vanilla butter cream that was piped into the shape of a rose, sprinkled with shimmering, edible pearls, and then dressed in silver cupcake linings. The assemblage of white rose cupcakes looked like a huge and elegant bridal bouquet.
As she began the task of carefully packaging them—twenty five cupcakes per each oblong box, she thought about Mariama’s snide comment, and wondered if it were true? She shook her head. How could she be sexually frustrated with a drawer filled with a vast selection of sex toys?
But there was something to be said about the human touch. But where could she find the kind of intimacy she desired? She had neither the time nor inclination to go club hopping or cruising local bars. Besides, experience had taught her that the men who frequented meat market environments were the bottom of the barrel, not even worth a sleazy one-night stand.
Solay wanted sex—on her terms. Having to check in with anyone with a text message or a phone call to keep them from feeling insecure was asking to much of her. Women were accused of being clingy and needy, but from Solay’s experiences, men were the ones that needed to be reassured with text messages and phone calls. Men were the ones calling her and asking, “How was your day?”
“Busy as hell!” she’d reply, allowing the stress to ring loud and clear in her voice.
“I was thinking about you.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” she’d say, with uncomfortable laughter.
“Were you thinking about me?” the one-night stand would ask, totally testing her patience.
Hell, fucking no! she’d scream in her head, and then dryly respond, “Uh-huh.”
At the point when the amorous caller began to hint that he was interested in seeing her again, Solay would have already labeled him a nuisance, and her fingers would begin rapidly tapping, as she deleted him from her contact list.
Call her selfish, but it was what it was. Solay was married to her business, and had scant little time for an extra-marital affair.
Everything about Scandalicious screamed sex, from the intimate French bistro décor to the provocatively sexy names of her cupcakes, and now Solay was feeling like she was somewhat of a fraud, running a sex-themed business when she wasn’t getting any action.
There had to be a way to get the sex she desired without the complications of a relationship. After a few minutes of pondering her options, she went online. Wearing a naughty smile, she googled the phrase, “rent a dick.” Her smile broadened when numerous possibilities popped on the screen.
She clicked on Rent-A-Man Escort Service. A variety of muscle-bound hunks represented the available offerings of that service. Solay was pretty sure that the beautiful images on the website were merely stock photos and not part of the actual selection. Undeterred, she perused the site, and learned that she had the option of hiring a man by the hour or renting his services for the night.
An hour’s worth of no-strings-attached sex was all she needed to improve her attitude, and give her some of her swag back. Wheeling and dealing in the business world, required her to exude confidence and sex appeal.
Credit card in hand, she called and boldly requested a one-hour date, making it clear that she didn’t need a dinner date, and she wasn’t going to a business affair…all she wanted from her hired man was to be escorted straight to her bed!
* * *
As she swept through the dining area, Solay noticed that the place was jam-packed. Not one available seat. And there was a mob of people waiting at the counter. Business was good.
Vidal was entertaining the customers, joking and making quips as usual, enjoying the spotlight, and working the front as if it were his personal stage. Vidal had survived the kitchen war and had emerged without any noticeable battle scars. His appearance was as impeccable as always.
“Here you go. A dozen Passionate Kisses,” Vidal said to a female customer. “I threw in a free Screaming Orgasm to complete your sinful night.” Vidal said giving the patron conspiratorial wink. The customers who were in line waiting for their orders were not impatient. Thoroughly charmed by Vidal, the customers were completely entertained while waiting.
“What’s the Screaming Orgasm?” someone in the line asked.
“Check out the menu.” Vidal pointed to the chalkboard menu that hung on the wall behind him.
Solay’s eyes wandered upward. Mari’s Delectable Special: Screaming Orgasm (orange/ginger cupcake with Tangy orange butter cream frosting) $5.00 each
Solay was appalled at Mariama’s willfulness, and intended to put her on a one-day suspension. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the next customer’s request.
“I’ll have a dozen cupcakes,” said a woman carrying a briefcase and dressed in a conservative business suit. “I want four red velvet, four double chocolate, and four vanilla,” she said, carefully avoiding the provocative cupcake names.
“Do you want the free Screaming O?” Vidal asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he put the business woman on blast.
“Sure, I’ll try it,” she said, lashes lowering in embarrassment, face flushing red.
Helping out in the front, Solay began packaging the woman’s order.
“We’ll have a half dozen Screaming O’s,” said two giggly college girls.
“Coming right up!” Vidal disappeared into the kitchen and then came right back, carrying a tray of six gorgeous. There were murmurings of “Wow,” and “Oooh” as the customers glimpsed the pastel orange-colored delights. The caramelized orange slice embellishments gave the cupcakes an award-winning look. “Folks, we’re down to the last half dozen of Screaming O’s.”
The customers released a collective groan. The two college girls clapped their hands as if they’d won a prize as they shelled over thirty dollars, plus tax.
While helping out in the front, Solay witnessed numerous customers who had gotten the free cupcake, returning to buy more.
“Those Screaming O’s went like hot cakes,” Vidal tol
d a customer. “We’ll have more tomorrow.”
“No we won’t,” Solay’s disagreed. “We’ll be back to our regular menu tomorrow.”
“You must not like money,” Vidal muttered under his breath.
Solay let the comment slide. Vidal had no idea how expensive and time consuming it was for Mariama to create those cupcakes. She’d have to hire more help if she kept those Screaming O’s on the menu.
By closing time, Solay had gotten over her anger and realized that she’d be only hurting herself if she put Mariama on suspension for even a day.
“Goodnight, ladies, it’s been fun,” Vidal said, after tying his dramatic, fringed scarf around his neck. Before leaving, he bent and reached under the counter behind bags and cupcake boxes. “Voila!” He pulled out a single cupcake he’d carefully stashed behind the counter.
“Ooo, you’re such a sneak,” Mariama said, laughing.
“You’re the Picasso of pastry,” he said, eyeing the cupcake with admiration.
Flattered, Mari smiled, “Thank you, Vidal.”
“I had to have at least one screaming orgasm after all that foreplay I put in today!” Vidal twirled around and headed for the door.
After Vidal left, Solay and Mariama cleaned up the kitchen. “In the future, you need to ask permission before you tamper with the menu. Nothing should be on that chalkboard or baked in my ovens with my explicit permission.”
“But we discussed it…”
“Yes, we had a conversation, but nothing was finalized. Your cup-cakes were a huge success, but I don’t see how I can afford to allow you to bake anything other than the items on the menu.”
“I can come in an hour earlier. Or stay a few hours later…you know, and start making up the batter for the next day.”
“Why would you put yourself through that? I can’t raise your pay.”
“I’m bored doing the same thing every day. I need more creative expression.”
“Well, that’s something you’ll have to do your own time. Seriously, Mari. I can’t afford to buy those ingredients…even at five dollars a pop, I won’t break even.”
“Okay,” Mariama said shrugging off the rebuff, but Solay could see the hurt in her eyes.
Solay patted Mariama’s arm. “When I get a bigger shop, I’ll add one of your concoctions to the menu, okay?”
“Sure,” Mariama said dryly, and then turned her back and continued to briskly sweep flour from the floor.
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