Regal

by Tina Martin

  He walked down the hallway and saw Judy, Ramsey’s executive assistant, typing. Ramsey kept her busy, but when you supported the CEO of a major architectural firm, you had no choice but to stay busy.

  “Good morning, Judy.”

  She glanced up at him while still typing. “Good morning, Mr. St. Claire.”

  “How goes it?”

  “It’s going good,” she replied.

  “That’s good. How are the kids?” Regal asked her.

  “They’re fine. Thanks for asking.”

  “Yep. Hey, is Ramsey-the-Great in his office?”

  Judy chuckled. “He is. He’ s waiting for you, actually.”

  “Cool.” Regal opened the door to Ramsey’s expansive office. “What it do, boss?”

  “You made it.” Ramsey glanced at the clock. “I thought you’d forgotten that quickly.”

  “Nah, I had to call Primrose, but I’m here now.” Regal took a seat in one of the comfortable chairs near Ramsey’s desk. “How did everything go at the meeting?”

  “Good. Well, as good as expected. We ran into a snag with the light rail affordable housing project.”

  “How so?”

  “According to Romulus, Blue Star Builders is trying to negotiate the land right from under us.”

  Regal shrugged. “We already signed the contract for that though, didn’t we?”

  “We did, but the landowner is claiming that since he got this new offer, he should be able to backtrack—void our contract—and accept the higher one. You know Blue Star is in his ear, feeding him all this nonsense, but whatever the case, they’re willing to take it to court.”

  “What’s the play? I know you’re not going to let them take the land.”

  “I’m prepared to fight for it. I got Romulus in contact with our attorneys giving them the play-by-play of what happened. They’ll schedule a meeting with us soon.”

  “Good. It’s a shame it had to come to that, though. What kind of man would go back on his word like that?”

  “Everybody in business doesn’t know how to be in business,” Ramsey told him. “But anyway, that’s that. It’ll get dealt with. How are you doing?”

  “How am I doing with what?” Regal asked.

  “You know—with whatever it is that has you missing status meetings or let me just get straight to the point—with Wedded Bliss. I sent you the questionnaire. Did you fill it out and drop it off with Felicity this morning?”

  “No. I filled it out and gave it to Felicity when I saw her at the bakery on Friday. I stopped by Wedded Bliss this morning to find out if she reviewed it.”

  “And had she?”

  Regal grimaced. “No.”

  “Why didn’t you just email the thing to her, man? People don’t like carrying around papers and files like that anymore. She probably threw the document into the glove box and didn’t think twice about it.”

  “I wanted to put it in her hands to make sure she got it. And I know for a fact she doesn’t mind carrying around files. I watched this woman unpack a whole slew of folders and whatnot this morning as she emptied the contents of her briefcase.” Regal stretched his arms up in the air. “She’s trippin’ though. I don’t know why she acts like she’s on the fence about accepting me as a client.”

  Ramsey chuckled. “I can’t blame her, man. You’re always teasing her about something.”

  “I tease everyone about something. It’s what I do.”

  “Yeah, well that could work to your disadvantage with Felicity. She doesn’t play when it comes to her work. She started that company from nothing and made it what it is today. Remember back when I was going to see her regarding Gianna? Felicity and I always butted heads.”

  “I remember.”

  “You should since you said the idea was absurd. Now look at you, barking up the same tree.”

  “What can I say? I need a woman in my life. I just turned thirty-six and all of my brothers are married now. I’m supposed to fall in line next, right? Ain’t that’s how this thing is supposed to jump off?”

  “Not necessarily. No one’s pressuring you to get married, Regal, and fortunately, we have parents who are supportive in whatever path we decide to take in life. Mother has never been down behind us about marrying or having children.”

  “She hasn’t,” he agreed.

  “Okay, so why would you do this absurd matchmaking idea if you’re not under any pressure? You cross paths with women all the time. And what about those women you hooked up with in Paris?”

  “I don’t have any women in Paris, Ram.”

  “Could’ve fooled me. Royal said you were over there hitting the clubs every night.”

  “Yeah, I hit the clubs. I didn’t hit anything else.”

  “Whatever the case, you’ve still had a plethora of women to pick from.”

  Regal nodded and crossed his legs. “So did you, but you chose Gianna because she’s special. She fits you. You’re opposites, but you mesh and Gianna is a sweetheart.”

  Ramsey smiled. “Yes, she is.”

  “That’s what I want—a woman who’s nothing like me but yet, we get along. I already got that woman on my radar.”

  “I take it she’s a client with Wedded Bliss?”

  “Sort of.” His mouth curved into a smile. “She owns Wedded Bliss.”

  After a lopsided grin, Ramsey said, “Felicity?”

  “Yeah. Felicity.”

  Ramsey had known for a while that Regal had a thing for Felicity, but Felicity didn’t seem too fond of his brother. She was more annoyed than anything else. Then again, it didn’t take much to annoy her. He still had a hard time believing she was best friends with Gianna when the two had absolutely nothing in common.

  “Let me get this straight,” Ramsey said. “You’re pretending to go through this process of looking for a marriage mate with Wedded Bliss just to get close to Felicity?”

  “It’s the perfect plan.”

  “Are you sure about that? If Felicity finds out, her head is going to spin all the way around.”

  Regal laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure it will, but I have to do it, man. There’s something about her that I can’t shake.”

  “Meaning what exactly?”

  “You know how it is when you meet a woman who you find attractive. You can speak to this woman and even flirt with her a little and keep it moving. Well, I haven’t been able to keep it moving with Felicity and lately, I’m finding myself thinking about her all the time, so much so that seeing her in passing isn’t enough to satisfy me anymore. I want to see her all the time. I want to really get to know her. So the way I see it is, when she takes me on as a client, that’s my in. I’ll have to work with her, be in constant communication with her about these potential women she thinks she’s going to match me up with and she won’t know that, all the while, she’s the one I want.”

  Ramsey’s brows lifted. “Hmm, she won’t see it coming.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping, but my plan isn’t off to a good start just yet. I have to get her to agree to accept me as a client first. I went by her office this morning and she told me she hadn’t read over the questionnaire and didn’t have the bandwidth to add me to her current client roster so I threatened to show up every day this week until she reads the questionnaire and accepts me into her Wedded Bliss fold.”

  “Did she agree?”

  “Not yet, but I made a little progress. She’s agreed to discuss it with me over dinner tomorrow evening. Her idea, not mine.”

  “This is going to be interesting,” Ramsey said, “Because here’s the thing—you can joke around with her in passing but you can’t small-talk your way through dinner.”

  “Ram, I got this. When I make my move, trust me—Felicity won’t know what hit her.”

  Ramsey shook his head. “I don’t want to ask this, but I feel like I have to. What are your intentions with my wife’s best friend?”

  “Seriously, Ram?”

  “Yeah, seriously. Let’s face it—Felicity
is the way she is, but she’s a strong, independent, black woman who could probably use the support of a strong, independent black man—not someone who’s going to break her heart. Besides, causing her heartache will, in turn, have an effect on Gianna and you know how I am when it comes to my baby. Her and Felicity are like sisters. If Felicity is hurt, Gianna is hurt and when Gianna is hurt, somebody’s going to pay.”

  “Settle down with the threats, Ram. My intentions are good. I actually like Felicity. That’s why I’m willing to go through all of this.”

  “Okay.” Ramsey sipped coffee. “Let me ask you this—since Felicity is in the dark about your plans, what if she sets you up with a woman who’s a perfect match for you? Have you thought about that? You’ll have to go on a date with this woman.”

  “I won’t let it get that far,” Regal said. He stood up and stretched. “I’ma get back to my office—got some calls to return.”

  “Yep and let me know if you run into any snags with the drawing.”

  “Will do, but I think I got it covered.”

  Chapter 3

  Felicity was at Gianna’s for dinner tonight. She hadn’t been by her house in a while since being occupied with getting her own life on track. But she had to see little Rianne. She’d just started walking a week ago. When it happened, Gianna had sent Felicity a video, but today, Felicity got to see Rianne walk in person. It touched her deeply because it was a major milestone in a child’s life – one of many she never experienced with her own daughter – a child she’d kept a secret.

  Besides her parents, the doctors and nurses, no one knew she’d given birth to a baby girl four years ago. She kept the pregnancy a secret from Gianna and it wasn’t hard to do since Gianna was going through her own financial struggles as well as taking care of Gemma full-time while trying to get the bakery up and running. All Gianna knew was what Felicity had told her – that her boyfriend at the time – Demontae Webber – had up and left after promising her the world. He was her world back then, but he quickly showed his true colors when she told him she was pregnant. She didn’t expect him to leave her the way he did but he had other plans for his life and a baby wasn’t a part of those plans. And there she was left alone – single and pregnant – finishing up college and working full-time while trying to get the Wedded Bliss concept off the ground. She wasn’t prepared to have a baby, let alone raise one by herself.

  “You seem to be in deep thought this evening, Felicity,” Ramsey observed after he wiped his mouth. He was holding Rianne again after just lifting her out of her high chair. Baby girl had grown accustomed to sitting in her daddy’s lap at dinner time. Carson had prepared Rianne’s favorite dish – spaghetti and meatballs – and the little girl looked like she’d bathed in it.

  Ramsey looked at Gianna when Felicity didn’t respond to his statement. Did she even hear him?

  Gianna waved her hand in front of Felicity’s face, taking her out of her trance.

  “Oh, sorry,” Felicity said. “Were you talking to me?”

  “No. Ramsey said something to you and I don’t think you heard him.”

  “I was just making a comment that you seemed to be in deep thought tonight,” Ramsey said.

  “I guess I proved your point, huh?” She grinned.

  “You have,” he told her.

  Rianne grabbed a handful of spaghetti, clenched the saucy noodles tight in her little fist then crammed all she could into her little mouth.

  “Rianne,” Gianna said, laughing. “You’re making a mess, little girl.”

  “I see she loves spaghetti,” Felicity said.

  “Yeah, and not just any spaghetti,” Gianna said. “I tried to give her the store bought stuff in the can and she wasn’t having it.”

  Felicity chuckled. “I don’t blame her for that.” She took a sip of water and then said, “Oh, and as for me being in deep thought, Ramsey, I have a lot on my plate these days,” she told him. “And then your brother—ugh—he wants so badly to be one of my clients.”

  Ramsey smiled. Oh, he wanted to be a client alright...

  “I know. He told me.”

  “That’s right because he told me you’re the one who gave him the questionnaire. Why’d you do that, Ramsey? You know he’s only doing this just to irritate me.”

  Ramsey chuckled. “Nah, I think he’s serious.” Serious about you that is...

  “Is Regal really trying to join Wedded Bliss?” Gianna asked.

  “Girl, yes. You called it. You told me he was serious when he threatened me at the bakery.”

  “Threatened you?” Ramsey said.

  “Yeah. He’d been saying that he would come to Wedded Bliss for the longest and sure enough, he came by this morning nearly scared me half to death talking ‘bout snakes and stuff.”

  “Snakes?” Ramsey asked, amused.

  “Yeah. Snakes. You know your brother.”

  Gianna and Ramsey both laughed.

  “He seemed bothered that I didn’t read his questionnaire.”

  “Look at it this way—the quicker you find a wife for him, the faster you’ll get him off of your back,” Gianna said.

  That’s what you think, Ramsey thought to himself.

  “You know what—that’s a good flippin’ idea,” Felicity said, her eyes brightening like she was having some sort of revelation about this plan.

  Ramsey shook his head. “Does Regal really bother you that much?”

  “Don’t front like you haven’t seen him after me about some nonsense. I swear every time he calls me WB I want to scream.”

  Gianna laughed.

  “And he always has something to say about my shoes. Always…”

  “Regal’s just being Regal,” Ramsey said coming to his brother’s defense. “He can’t much help himself. He does have a serious side though. He rarely, if ever, lets anyone see it.”

  “Why is that?” Felicity asked.

  “I’m sure you’ll find out in your assessment if you decide to take him on as a client.”

  “Are you going to take him on?” Gianna asked.

  “Not sure. If it’s the only way I can get him to leave me alone, I may have to.”

  Ramsey smirked. “In that case, let me give you some advice. Regal is not as annoying as you make him out to be. He’s a good man and I’m not saying that because he’s my brother. He’s a real chill, good dude. So take your time and find a woman who’s compatible with him in every way. I want my brother to be happy and it takes a special woman to fit in with us St. Claires.”

  “Okay, Ramsey. If I decide to take his case, I’ll do the best I can.”

  “Good. Gianna, I’m going to give Rianne a bath so y’all can resume with your girl talk.” Ramsey stood up with a messy, sauce-covered Rianne then leaned down to give Gianna a kiss. When he did so Rianne grabbed a chunk of Gianna’s hair with her little spaghetti sauce covered hand.

  “Ouch,” Gianna said trying to free her strands from her daughter’s strong grip. “Little girl, if you don’t stop pulling my hair...”

  Ramsey chuckled. “Yet another habit she inherited from her daddy,” he said teasingly, then had the nerve to bite on his bottom lip.

  “Oh my ears,” Felicity said. “Don’t nobody want to hear about y’all hair-pulling and carrying on around here.”

  A blush crept over Gianna’s face and when Ramsey left the room she looked at Felicity and said, “Don’t pay him no mind,” while wiping spaghetti sauce from her hair with a napkin.

  “You can’t downplay it now, girl. The cat is out of the bag,” Felicity said, amused. “Now, I know Ramsey’s a hair-puller.”

  Gianna couldn’t wipe the grin from her face so she didn’t try. “Anyway, why were you all day-dreamy earlier?”

  “Girl, I was thinking about this workload,” Felicity told her not yet wanting to reveal any information about the other part of her life that wreaked havoc on her sanity, especially since she was trying to keep it all to herself. Gianna couldn’t know about the private investigator or
her daughter – none of that just yet. So, for right now, she’d blame everything on work.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I have five clients. You hear me? Five! And they’re all extremely picky.”

  “Does that picky bunch include Regal?”

  “No. That’s why I agreed to meet him tomorrow evening. I’m stretched thin enough as it is and then here he comes. He showed up right after I opened up yesterday like he was waiting in the parking lot.”

  Tickled Gianna said, “He probably was lurking in the parking lot. But look, like I said, the quicker you find a woman for him, the faster he’ll leave you alone and you know what? It shouldn’t be all that difficult. After all, Regal’s a catch. He’s handsome like the rest of his brothers. He’s successful. I’m sure somebody is going to snatch him up. For a while, I thought it would be you.”

  Felicity’s eyes shot up from her plate. “You—you thought it would be me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “As much as I try to stay away from him…after I run like my life is in danger whenever he’s near, you thought it would be me?”

  “Yeah. I mean, you guys joke with each other all the time and—”

  “Correction—he jokes with me. I try my best to steer clear of him at all costs.”

  “Well, I think it’s cute. And, there have been several occasions when I’ve seen him staring at you.”

  “Men stare at me all the time. I’m not even flattered by it.”

  “Let me say this—you were giving me all kinds of advice when me and Ramsey were dating so I’m going to give you some advice for a change. Well, not advice but a comment about something I’ve noticed with you.”

  “Which is?”

  “You haven’t given yourself another chance at love since Demontae.”

  Felicity rolled her eyes at the mention of his name. She didn’t want to hear anything about Demontae. The man had single-handedly ruined her life. Made her distrust men. Had her bent on never falling in love again.

  “Why is that, Felicity?” Gianna asked.

  “Because I don’t have time.”

  “That’s not true. Personally, I’ve learned that you make time for what matters and when it comes to your personal life, Felicity, you don’t make the time to do anything. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not trying to come off as preachy and I’m the last person who should be giving relationship advice but you’re too beautiful, too talented, too good of a woman to let what Demontae did prevent you from loving again.”