Chapter10
Aliya told him she needed to give it some thought. Perhaps, he scared her away. At least that was how he read her actions. Had he been too magnanimous? Too eager? He suddenly felt like a fool as he drove around the city at night. He had dropped her off at her place, near the university grounds, where he could hear revelers partying the weeknight away.
He hadn’t had the privilege of partying so much during his college years, wanting to graduate as fast as he could, to take over Douglas LTD. Had it been seven years ago since he had stepped up his game?
He was stepping up somewhere else now, a path he hadn’t thought he would take. This wasn’t affecting business, so he was doing well. Private life was separate from public life, although he was willing to go public with their relationship already. There was no right moment for it. This was what he wanted, at least that was definite.
What was indefinite was the board’s loyalty to him. People were easily swayed by promises of money or power, or a simple sob story. Mark certainly aimed for that. Mark was far from an actual threat; his younger half-brother was more of an annoyance, really. Was that how family worked? Or was this situation the family dynamic he was to have until he grew old and grey?
An idea formed in his head, an idea that made him smile. She had told him about her family; he had seen pictures of her much taller, bigger brothers and father, and he had seen her petite mother… She had also mentioned she didn’t have the budget for a vacation.
Christmas break was nearing; a week-long break was in store not just for his company, but for her. What if? Just what if? But he needed someone’s blessing first.
*
“I’m taking you on a little ride,” he announced to her a few days later as they sat in her cramped apartment, watching Netflix on her laptop.
“When?”
“Now,” he said.
She frowned. “Are you kidding me? We just got settled in.”
“Pack light.”
“You didn’t tell me ahead,” she sighed.
“It’s part of the surprise,” he said with a wink she found endearing. “Bring something warm for you to wear.”
“How many days will we be gone?”
“Just two,” he said. Two days is all it takes.
He watched her as she packed her stuff in a duffel bag, even grabbing a swimsuit. He had said bring something warm. She loved the beach as much as any native Floridian, he thought with a smile.
“Are we late?” she asked him, conscious of the time she was spending packing.
He shook his head. “It is my ride,” he assured her.
An hour later, James’ car came to a full stop in what seemed like a small airport. There was an open hangar, and lights flooded around them.
“There’s our ride,” he announced.
Aliya couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It was a sleek jet, painted in white with grey stripes on it. There was the Douglas LTD logo at the tail.
“Good evening, Mr. Douglas, ma’am,” a lone flight stewardess greeted them. Her impeccably stylish uniform was reminiscent of Pan Am Airways. The pilot and another co-pilot greeted them as well.
Aliya looked around the jet. It had six all leather, lazy-boy style seats, with swivel tables on the sides. The interior was done in sleek mahogany, and it even had a mini bar.
“It’s a fine night for flying, sir,” the captain told James. “Sit back and enjoy the ride.”
As they buckled up, Aliya looked at James, who was seated across from her. “This is the ride you were telling me about.”
He shrugged. “How are we supposed to get to Pensacola in less than three hours by car?”
Her eyes widened. “We’re going to P-cola?” Her voice was almost squeaky. She saw the triumphant look on his face.
“Yes. You can call your parents to let them know,” he told her. “It’s getting late though. I’ve made accommodations in a building I own down by the beach—well, wherever that is.”
Aliya quickly took out her phone, eagerly dialing her mother to tell her of the sudden trip, as James watched, leaning calmly on his seat.
There was a pleasure he always got when he saw her surprised or happy. His gifts didn’t know any end, but he knew that she didn’t care what it was, as long as it came from him. She was naïve in certain aspects, but he found it endearing. Aliya was a fresh welcome from all those insipid women he had dated since high school. She wasn’t a celebrity, she wasn’t a model, and she wasn’t so full of herself.
“They’re excited to see me,” she said, ending the call. “I told them I was bringing someone.”
“Someone?”
“Someone special,” she added.
“You didn’t tell them you were dating a white boy?” he teased.
She frowned a little. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
“It might to them.”
“They haven’t met you yet. They can’t judge you,” she told him. “My folks are really nice; my dad can get grumpy when he meets my dates, but that’s about it. He warms up, eventually.”
“We only have two days,” he reminded her, not at all scared at the prospect that he was meeting an ex-sheriff, along with her two older brothers who were probably as buff as her father was. He had seen pictures of them on her social media account, and Aliya’s mother was a beautiful woman with strong Latina features.
He had rehearsed a few things to say in his mind, of how he was going to win them over, how he was going to convince them that he was the right man to date Aliya. Ha, it’s not like I’m proposing marriage, he thought; he just didn’t want to come off as arrogant or fake.
“Two days is more than enough,” she said. “You should taste my momma’s cooking,” she smiled, imagining it. “She said we can stay in my old room.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll be comfortable with that. You can, if you want.”
“Whatever happened to our whole boyfriend-girlfriend dynamic?” she asked him with a grin.
“It’s put on hold, out of respect for your parents,” he replied, smiling back at her. “So, any ex-boyfriends I have to watch out for?”
“None. The last guy I dated is now a coach for a football league at a local high school. You’re safe.”
“Ah, more big men in your life.”
“You’re a big part of my life,” she said, then she stopped and quickly bit her lip. The flight attendant approached them.
“Care for a drink, sir?”
“I’ll have a martini on the rocks,” he told her. “You?” he asked, facing Aliya.
“Orange juice,” Aliya quickly replied.
“Where were we?” James continued. “I’m a big part of your life, huh?”
She shook her head. She was letting loose too many things, too many emotions. Did she still need to be careful, when he showered her with everything? Including his affection and time? This was an almost no-holds-barred relationship. Almost. Something was still missing, something she couldn’t quite place yet.
“That’s a no? You’re taking it back?” He pretended to look hurt.
“I’m sure you’re more callous than that,” she told him.
“I’m not always callous, Aliya. Look at me now; I’m like putty in your hands.”
“You’re only doing that because you want something in exchange, like the true businessman that you are,” she said with a laugh.
He was silent for a moment, knowing it was true. “When did you learn to read me so well? I didn’t give any seminars lately…”
“Haha.”
“But seriously, I do want something in exchange.”
“We’re already in a relationship; what more do you want?”
“Probably your undying and unequivocal affection for me.”
“Ah, big words again. If you meet my abuela, don’t use complicated words. She only learned proper English when she was twenty.”
“How young is this grandmother?”
“She’s around 90,” Aliya replied. “She taught my mother salsa. Then, my mother taught me.”
“Why am I suddenly learning so many things about you now?” he asked her. “Not that I’m complaining, but this is the first time I’ve asked someone so many questions regarding their personal life.”
“I must be special to you,” she teased him.
“You’re very dear to me,” he answered, quite seriously.
*
Ten in the evening
James’ eyes darted carefully around the house;, observing the corners and the décor, and even the scent of the place. It smelled like cinnamon and vanilla combined. Aliya’s mother, Leonora, was baking something, he thought. It was an average American home, and it had a lovely view of the beach.
“You didn’t tell me you lived by the beach,” he whispered to her. Their property was prime, perfect for mid-rise condominium units…
She grinned. “That’s why I brought along a swimsuit.”
“So, James Douglas, what do you do?” Aliya’s father, Terrence, asked him as they walked into the living room, with its plush looking couch, faded over time by many washes.
The living room opened up to a porch door that was wide open. He saw a long table on the porch, with benches to match. James surmised they had weekly or monthly get-togethers, even without Aliya around. Terrence towered over James’ six-foot height by a few inches, and that alone should have intimidated him. It was a tactic people usually employed, James knew.
“I’m in real estate,” James said carefully.
Terrence had whispered to his wife that he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of his only daughter dating someone with a man of his stature.
“You mean cause the boy’s white?” Leonora whispered to her husband, shaking her head.
“He looks like he can’t lift a keg,” Terrence shot back out of earshot.
“Real estate… like you’re a broker?” Terrence asked, not quite familiar with that world. He watched as his wife and his daughter exited the room for the kitchen.
“You could say that,” James replied. “Buying and selling properties is my calling.”
“You got your eye on any property here?” Terrence asked him, beckoning James to take a seat across him as he tossed James a beer. James caught it with one hand, which impressed him in secret.
“I already have property here, sir,” James said, opening his beer can. “It’s down by the city proper.”
“Oh,” Terrence said, raising his eyebrows. “Which one?”
“Pensacola Continental.”
Terrence almost choked on his beer. “You mean the hotel?”
James nodded. “I understand you offered for me to stay here, but I don’t want to be a bother to you and Mrs. Jones. I am, however, extending my welcome to you and the family at the hotel? Aliya only has a few days with you, before she goes back for school and work.”
“What are you playing at, boy?” Terrence asked him. “Why are you dating my daughter?”
Ah, the dreaded why. But he had anticipated this.
“Mr. Jones, I’m sincere with my intentions for your daughter. I enjoy being with her, and I think it’s safe to say she enjoys being with me as well.”
“What else? Is this for the long term?”
“I’d like for it to be.”
“Where did you meet my daughter?”
“On the street, I asked her out for lunch right away,” James replied, almost smiling, remembering that day.
James heard the shuffling of feet, and Aliya came in with Leonora, carrying a tray of freshly baked chips. It made James’ mouth water.
“I wanted to bring out a pie, but seeing as you’re drinking beer…” Leonora said.
“Ma, this young man here—” Terrence began.
“It’s James, Pa,” Aliya said, rolling her eyes.
“James, here, has been kind enough to invite us to Pensacola Continental,” the patriarch finished.
“To do what?” Leonora looked confused.
“Whatever you want,” James told them with a smile.
“But that place is beyond our budget for—” Leonora stopped when Aliya held out her hand.
“It’s fine, Ma,” Aliya told her. “James will take care of everything.”
“You mean, he owns the place?” Leonora said, unsure.
James nodded once. “It’d be great if you and Aliya’s older brothers could have a mini-reunion at the hotel.”
Leonora’s hand clapped over her mouth. “For real? Oh, I’m calling Julius and Antony.”
“They’re both here?”
“With their girls,” Leonora said with a smile, whipping out her phone and excusing herself. After an hour of banter, Aliya and James bid them good night for the city.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Aliya said.
“Early morning, a car will pick you up.”
As soon as they left, Leonora looked back at her husband. “So, what do you think?”
“The boy’s got lots of dough,” Terrence sighed.
“Don’t give me that look. Aliya isn’t blinded by his money,” his wife told him. “I can tell she loves him already.”
“Pshh. After weeks of dating?”
“Months, I think.”
“It’s just a little crush,” Terrence said.
“He seems to like her a lot,” Leonora said with a sigh.
“There’s something that kid’s hiding,” Terrence said with a frown. “He’s got manners down to a T, he works hard from what I see, and he’s a smart kid.”’
“What’s not to like?”
“There’s always something,” Terrence muttered, “there’s always something.”
*
Aliya’s head was pressed against the window as the jet soared high in the sky. She had left with her heart full and her family complete. Her parents had the time of their lives, even if it was just within Pensacola. They were treated like VIPs at James’ hotel, a hotel she didn’t even know he had.
James was quiet, checking emails, and she left him at that, knowing he had a lot of catching up to do for those 3 days that he didn’t work at all. She knew he was a workaholic, knew he itched for work, but he didn’t… all for her.
She wasn’t getting ahead of herself then. Her mother had told her to weigh things over. Was it obvious she was in love with him? Her brothers had liked James immediately, something they barely happened when she was still in high school. How was this even possible? She had thought that they would somehow joke around about him, but they didn’t.
They drank beers, dressed up for fine dining at the hotel restaurant, and took a dip in the hotel’s heated pool. It was a finery that her entire family hadn’t experienced in a long time. She was more than grateful to James for that short and sweet vacation.
“Aliya,” James said, interrupting her reverie.
“Hmm?”
“I’ll be leaving the country for a while,” he said.
“Oh, how long?”
“Just for a week,” he said. “I need to be in London. Have to check on estates we want to acquire. I’d want to take you with me, but I don’t think I can accommodate you with what schedule I have.”
She nodded. “That’s fine. I have to study, anyway.”
He smiled at her. “Great.”
He resumed checking his emails and checking another phone for texts as Aliya looked out the window once more. She had a weird feeling about him leaving. Since they started dating, they had never been apart for more than a day. She hadn’t moved into the apartment he had offered for her, knowing her ego told her otherwise. She needed to maintain that sense of independence for herself. As much as she enjoyed James showering her with many things, at the back of her mind, she knew the situation could change anytime.
Aliya told herself she wasn’t starry-eyed over James’ display of affection. He was just gallant. Did his exes experience this, too? She closed her eyes, determined not to let those thoughts come over her happy vacation. James was here, and it was all that mattered.