a horribly bad job. I slumped deeper into the sofa.
“But, then, I got to know you a little. I’ve read the contract questions you’ve asked in meetings with Anderson, and one thing became crystal clear.”
“What?” I asked as if I were a pouty twelve-year-old.
Graham chuckled. “You will give this partnership one hundred percent of your efforts. You will be honest and self-aware. You will accept help without thinking you know what’s best. These are qualities not normally found in someone coming into a partnership with me.”
“Really?”
Graham smiled behind his glass of pink liquid. “No, not really. Soraya wanted it to happen. I am a businessman, therefore, I will ensure that you have the best team to help you, and if Anderson doesn’t want to lead that team, I’m positive that Alan would love to step in.”
“So…”
“So, I’ll notify Alan tomorrow morning that he will take over for Anderson with the coffee shop’s project. Please tell me you two worked out a new name for the chain.”
“Anderson hated the name too.”
“It’s not the best name, but I will leave that up to you and Alan to hash out. Now, are you at a point where you a comfortable with the contract.”
“I–”
He held his hand up to stop me, “Are you comfortable in your understanding of the contract?”
I nodded but opted to say nothing.
“Excellent. I will also inform Anderson of the change so you don’t violate the non-communication clause you two have. May I say one thing, not coffee shop related?”
“Please.”
“The last time I spoke to Anderson, he was quite chatty on the topic of you. I don’t know what has happened, and I probably don’t want to know. Although Soraya will most definitely want to know. But I urge you to sit down with him and make sure you two are reading off the same page. There is nothing worse than having signals misread. It can end a relationship without needing to.”
“Thank you, Graham. I will give that some thought. I will tell you he was the one that asked me to delete his number.”
The door slammed shut. Soraya stood by the door with bags in her hands. Graham rushed to the door to assist. “Why didn’t Bobby help you with these?”
Soraya kissed her husband on the cheek, “because I told him I could handle it. What did that dumbass do now?”
“That is my cue to leave you two to some girl time.” Graham headed for the kitchen. “Wine, Baby?”
“Where’s Lorenzo? Yes, please, for both of us.” She looked at me like she was daring me to decline.
“He’s still sleeping.”
“Okay. We might have thirty more minutes before my son wakes up and takes all the oxygen out of the room. Spill it.” She dropped onto the couch next to me.
“I…” I swallowed hard so the tears that were fighting to come out would stay at bay. I shoved the phone at Soraya. “I got this text from Anderson a couple hours after leaving his house.”
“He’s an idiot. Next,” Soraya finished rereading the text and slapped her hand against her leg. “Say the word, and I will call Marco. He is a very nice guy.”
“I just don’t understand.” I picked at the rip in my jeans. “I met some of his friends and hung out at his place all weekend. When I left, we were in such a great place. I thought…”
Looking up, Graham was staring at me with two wine glasses in his hands. Soraya had her hand over her mouth as she stared at me too. Replaying what I just said, I had no idea what was such a big deal.
“He took you to his house?” Soraya asked as Graham sat on the chair nearest the sofa, still holding the wine. “Like his house… house or his parents’ house?”
“His parent’s. The mansion with the pool in the basement, an elevator, and a master suite that takes up the entire top floor.”
Graham glanced at Soraya and asked, “Don’t both homes have a pool and elevator?”
“The house has an entire terrace on the third floor for Rover. Which, by the way, is a freaking pig.”
“Jurnee, how much do you know about Anderson and his family?” Graham asked. “Besides, Google.”
“Oh, I don’t Google people. It’s a weird thing for me. I’d rather get to know someone than read some weird stuff online that may or may not be true.” I gathered my hair and let it fall down over my left shoulder.
Soraya reached out, grabbing for her wine glass that Graham had just