Khalid Read online

  “I didn’t trust him, that smile, that pleasant disposition. I thought he was fake.”

  “And because everybody else liked him, you didn’t?” Naomi challenged.

  “Maybe,” Racquel hummed. “Girls fawning all over him, the teachers acting like his cheerleader. Big man on campus, whatever,” Racquel fussed.

  “And he was fine and rich on top of that, so something had to be wrong with him, right?”

  “That, too,” Racquel agreed.

  “And that’s shallow as hell,” Naomi replied. “And that’s cool because high school kids are supposed to be shallow as hell. But what about now, Rocky? Does it make sense to hold on to whatever that was now?”

  “I don’t know,” Racquel snapped back. And she didn’t. That was part of the problem. Trying to explain her disdain for Khalid to Naomi, Racquel realized how hollow her argument was. There was no firm foundation, no real isolated incidence, no offense that Khalid directly committed. And as Racquel drove Naomi home and then to her house, she thought about that very question. Did it make sense to hold on to old grudges now?

  She wasn’t the only one that had a lot on her mind. Khalid did too, and he was just as curious and confronting as Naomi when it came to what happened earlier in the evening.

  “So, you and Rocky,” Tareef commented as Khalid navigated the Maybach through Tareef’s neighborhood.

  “There is no me and Rocky,” Khalid clarified.

  “But you kissed her, though,” Tareef reminded.

  “Like you’ve never kissed a girl before, and it led nowhere.”

  “That wasn’t my intention when I kissed her, though,” Tareef replied. “If you kissed her out of curiosity, that’d be one thing. Was it?”

  “Maybe,” Khalid pondered. “I asked her why she didn’t like me,” Khalid explained.

  “And you two ended up kissing behind that question?”

  “I know, bro, it doesn’t add up, but that’s what happened,” Khalid replied.

  “It’s something to that, to you two,” Tareef mused. “The way she looked, the way you looked, it’s more to that.”

  Maybe, Khalid thought to himself. Just maybe.

  Chapter Eight

  Two Weeks Later

  Racquel was nervous about the days’ meeting. She made a bid on a property to try and extend her father’s reach. He had been a barber all her life, and she wanted to increase his legacy by duplicating what he started so many years ago – developing a neighborhood barbershop. In the Black community, the barbershop was the place where men could be themselves, talk about any and everything from sports to problems at home. The barber was the therapist, best friend, confidant, encourager, and supporter. That’s what her dad was, and that’s the kind of environment Racquel desired to recreate. She also wanted to add some upscale elements like the single blade shave, manicures, and pedicures as a way to pamper the men. They deserved it, and she wanted her shops to be the place customers sought out that level of care.

  Racquel had already successfully accomplished the extension of her father’s legacy by opening her second barbershop two years ago. She was going for the trifecta with this newest location situated in a middle-class neighborhood with great promise. There were established and burgeoning businesses there that generated good foot traffic. It was the ideal location for Charles’ Barber Experience. But there was a problem. The landholder received two competitive bids and requested a meeting between the parties to determine if an agreement could be reached. She had a subsequent property boasting the same level of promise and invited the two highest bidders to the table to discuss it.

  Racquel arrived a few minutes early. She wanted to have a moment to collect her thoughts before entering the negotiation process. This meant so much to her. Racquel’s father was her everything, and she never wanted to disappoint him, not in this life, and not when she knew he was looking down on her.

  “Rise above emotion,” Charles would tell her. “You can’t win from an emotional space. You have to rise into higher-order thinking to be victorious.”

  That’s what Racquel intended to do, leave emotion at the door. Yet, when it came to her father, it was hard sometimes to separate the two. Thinking about him made her emotional. Missing his presence made her even more so. She would have to separate that part of herself in order to be effective in the meeting. Racquel flipped down the visor and checked herself in the mirror. The fresh cut she gave herself that morning was on point, and the hint of makeup she wore satisfied her. Racquel checked her lip gloss and then closed the visor. She was ready as she exited her vehicle.

  “This one’s for you, dad.”

  The meeting was held downtown Atlanta at the offices of Brown & Shore. Their office suite was on the 32nd floor of the highrise. With briefcase in hand, Racquel entered the building and crossed the marble floors to the bank of elevators. The up button had already been pressed as there were others in the lobby waiting to be transported to a higher floor. Racquel nervously tapped her foot. She could feel her energy level rising. When the elevator car dinged, and the doors opened, Racquel stepped inside and twirled on her heels to face the door.

  “Hold the elevator, please,” she heard a masculine voice say. Racquel’s eyes fell to her wrist to check the time. She never liked to be late, and she had roughly fifteen minutes to get upstairs before the meeting was scheduled to start. She couldn’t afford any delays. Racquel’s eyes lifted from her wrist just as the last passenger entered the elevator.

  She couldn’t believe it.

  He couldn’t believe it.

  As the doors closed behind him, Khalid didn’t immediately turn to face the doors. Instead, his eyes lingered on the woman standing in the corner. The woman whose lips he kissed a few weeks ago. The woman, who no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about. Racquel felt his lingering look as she tried to find something else to focus on. She dared not show any kind of reaction to his presence, even though her heart thumped loudly in her chest, and a churn coursed cruelly in her stomach. The space was so small, Racquel felt like returning his look was unavoidable. But if she looked into Khalid’s eyes, she might give something away. She had already tipped her hand once before. She had no intention of doing that again. The numbers above his head became her focal point until Khalid pivoted on his heels and turned his back to her. She was relieved, and a quiet sigh passed through her lips. The heightened energy she felt earlier, the kind that got her pumped for the meeting, surged at the sight of him. She no longer tapped her foot but shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Of all people in the entire state of Georgia, Khalid Ali was on the elevator with her. If she believed in luck, this would be a signal that hers was terrible.

  But she couldn’t afford to allow herself to think that way. The upcoming meeting was too important to allow someone like Khalid to distract her. Although there were other people in the elevator, there was a shift in the enclosed space. His magnetism, aura, energy flow changed the closed atmosphere. Racquel’s eyes fell to his form, the way his suit hung from his strong shoulders, the confident posture he held.

  The elevator stopped on the 16th floor, and the doors opened. A few more passengers entered the car, making it necessary for those already inside to shift their positions. Khalid stepped backward as those entering stood in front of him. His nearness increased, and so did Racquel’s heartbeat. Unbeknownst to Racquel, Khalid experienced a similar sensation. He was as surprised to see her as she was in seeing him. Khalid saw her avoiding his gaze. That was classic Racquel. He wondered though, whether she’d given him a second thought since their last encounter. The elevator paused again. Some exited, some entered. When Khalid shifted his position further back, Racquel moved closer to the door, hugging the wall of the elevator as tightly as she could. She avoided looking in Khalid’s general direction and prayed that there would be no more stops before she got to where she was going.

  Finally, the elevator reached the 32nd floor.

  “Excuse me,�
� Racquel spoke as she emerged from the furthest corner, moving around those that remained inside. He moved too, exiting on the same floor. There was another awkward moment when they were both standing in the middle of the hallway. Acknowledgment was unavoidable.

  “Racquel,” he uttered.

  “Khalid,” she replied.

  She didn’t look at him. Instead, Racquel turned her attention to the embossed plaque on the wall that indicated how the offices on the floor were numbered. Seeing what she needed to see, Racquel began to move in that direction. Khalid moved the same way. He chose to walk a few steps behind her so they wouldn’t be forced to converse. He wasn’t opposed to it; however, Racquel gave off all the signs that she would rather not.

  When Racquel saw the sign for Brown & Shore, she moved in that direction stopping at the receptionists’ desk.

  “Good morning. How may I help you?” The receptionist asked.

  “Good morning. I’m Ms. Alexander. I have a meeting with Ms. Shore for ten o’clock.”

  “If I could have you sign in Ms. Alexander and have a seat in the waiting area. I’ll let Ms. Shore know you’re here.”

  “Thank you,” Racquel replied. “Is there a ladies’ room close by?”

  “Sure,” the receptionist advised. “Just past our waiting room on the left is a restroom. You are more than welcome to use that one.”

  “Thank you.”

  Racquel made her way down the hall and entered the restroom. She needed a moment to pull herself together after being blindsided by Khalid.

  “Why?” She huffed as she damn near stomped across the porcelain floor. She needed to be at the top of her game, and Khalid altered Racquel’s sense of gravity. She had to pull herself together. Adrenaline coursed through her veins at much too fast a rate. It made her hands shake and her pulse race.

  “Whew, I don’t need this shit right now,” Racquel groaned as she placed her briefcase next to her, leaned her hands against the banister sink, her shoulders tense, her head dropped. Was the universe punishing her from some long-forgotten sin? Khalid flustered Racquel in all the wrong ways. This was not the time.

  “Pull it together, girl,” Racquel sighed, lifting her head and looking at her reflection in the mirror. Affirming self-talk played in her mind as she breathed deeply, leveling out the erratic heartbeat and her racing pulse. She was her father’s daughter. Slowly, Racquel lifted herself from the sink and rolled her shoulders back. Her eyes remained fixed on her reflection as the erratic look gave way to absolute resolve. Fuck Khalid. He wasn’t going to ruin this moment for her.

  When Racquel exited the ladies’ room, she was her old confident self. Briefcase in hand, she strolled down the hallway. Her stride was solid, and her chin was lifted.

  “Ms. Alexander, Ms. Shore is ready for you now,” the receptionist smiled. “I’ll show you to the office.”

  Racquel smiled and fell in line behind the receptionist who had gotten up from her desk. Racquel tucked away all thoughts of Khalid the closer she got to her destination. By the time the receptionist opened the conference room door, Rocky was ready. And then her heart practically stopped beating in her chest as Khalid stood up to receive her as Ms. Shore stood up to do the same.

  Chapter Nine

  “It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Ms. Alexander,” Ms. Vanessa Shore said as she extended a hand that Racquel shook.

  “Nice to meet you as well,” Racquel replied, offering a pleasant smile.

  “And this is Mr. Khalid Ali,” Ms. Shore said as the two women disconnected. “He is the other interested party on the primary property.

  “It’s nice to see you again,” Khalid smiled, extending a hand across the table.

  Racquel had to hold it together. She plasticated a professional smile on her glossed lips and placed her hand in Khalid’s to shake. They experienced an intense, primal, physical awareness of each other. Racquel’s heart hammered foolishly, and Khalid’s thundered ridiculously as their bonded handshake lasted longer than mere pleasantries. She had to separate from him, or Racquel would have been thrust back into fantasies from deep realm sleep and lascivious kisses during that stolen moment.

  Khalid waited until the ladies were seated before lowering his lengthy frame in the seat across from Racquel.

  “Let me start by saying, I appreciate your willingness to be here I know this is unorthodox, but I believe that sometimes straying away from the traditional ways of doing business work out best for all parties involved,” Ms. Shore iterated. Her body was inclined towards Khalid, and when she spoke, her eyes trailed over his form with more than just a cursory glance. Khalid projected masculinized energy and understated power that attracted her. She wasn’t the only one fighting to remain professional despite the words that passed through her lips.

  “The property listed at 4009 Saginaw Lane is the one that both companies bid on. You’ll remember that as a part of the bidding process, we asked each of you to make a statement as to your intended use for the land. My partner and I found both of your intended usages compelling. That’s why we’re here.”

  “Well, Ms. Shore,” Khalid began, “my company is open to negotiating with Ms. Alexander and her company as working collaboratively is more important to the process than winning the bid.”

  Vanessa’s mascaraed lashes fluttered against her honey-toned cheeks as she watched Khalid’s lips utter the words that came from his mouth.

  “That’s honorable,” she uttered, more to herself than to anyone else in the room.

  “If that’s the case, Mr. Ali, your plans to open a financial literacy program for the youth of our community, could work from either location. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “That’s precisely what I’m saying, Ms. Shore,” Khalid crooned, and although he recognized Vanessa’s appraising gaze, his eyes found Racquel.

  It took Vanessa a moment to relinquish her poignant look directed solely at Khalid.

  “Ms. Alexander, and your neighborhood barbershop, named after your father, designed as a safe haven for our men and young men in the community could function well from either location?”

  “I have a preference for the Saginaw location because of proximity and already established foot traffic,” Racquel began looking in Vanessa’s direction. She took note of Ms. Shore’s responsiveness and visible attraction to Khalid, but she didn’t let that influence her demeanor. She would remain professional and get the meeting over with as quickly as possible, but not without getting everything she wanted out of the deal. “However, in the spirit of cooperation,” Racquel transferred her unblinking gaze and pitched brow to Mr. Ali, “we would be open to either location.”

  Much to Ms. Shore’s dismay, Khalid’s gaze returned to Racquel again and again.

  “Considering Ms. Alexander’s position,” Khalid began, “Ali International withdraws our bid on the Saginaw property.” Khalid studied her beautiful face with his enigmatic observance for another beat before looking in Ms. Shore’s direction. “Only if we have assurances that Ms. Alexander’s bid will be accepted for Saginaw.”

  Racquel was surprised by his actions. But her distrust of his genuineness resurfaced in earnest.

  “Although Mr. Ali’s generosity is duly noted, I need to be clear of what Ali International’s expectations are behind this gesture?”

  A slight smile danced at the corners of Khalid’s lips. His hooded eyes returned to Racquel, and for an instant, his glance sharpened.

  “We have no expectations of reciprocity. Our gesture is genuinely to do good business. That’s all.”

  Ms. Shore watched the exchange between the two. She felt the heightened tension in the room and recognized it had little to do with business. Racquel didn’t miss Khalid’s double meaning nor the hint of kindness that struck in his dark eyes. She didn’t want him to do anything nice for her. Racquel didn’t want his charity or his overt generosity. She didn’t want to feel behooving to anyone, especially Khalid.

  “Then, if you are satisfied w
ith Mr. Ali’s response, Brown and Shore will accept Ms. Alexander’s bid.”

  “Not the second higher one,” Khalid interjected,” the initial bid.”

  This time, it was Vanessa’s brow that pitched high on her forehead. She studied Mr. Ali’s face to see if his comment was sincere. When he turned and faced her fully, she read his eyes and the line of his jaw. He meant precisely what he said.

  “I think we can arrange that,” Ms. Shore smiled as her features returned to their natural state. “Excuse me for a moment as I have the necessary documents printed.”

  Khalid rose in one fluid motion as Ms. Shore lifted her petite frame from the seat at the head of the table and padded across the conference room, exiting into the hallway. Racquel watched Khalid intently. She pondered his insistent comments and waited until he sat down before confronting him.

  “What do you want from me?”

  Racquel rested her elbows on the table, steepled her manicured fingers together and rested her chin on top.

  “Nothing.” Khalid’s response was a single word response but felt weighted down when Racquel heard it.

  “Am I supposed to believe that?” Racquel challenged. This time she didn’t avert her eyes or drop her gaze. Racquel watched Khalid with a critical squint, preparing her comeback even before he had a chance to respond.

  “Beloved, you’re going to believe what you want to believe despite what I say, despite what I do,” Khalid answered. His voice was level, and his tone was unfurled.

  “Nobody is that good, that benevolent that unselfish,” Racquel quickly quipped. “Nobody.”

  “Except me,” Khalid crooned.

  A perfunctory icy contempt surfaced in her eyes as she disregarded his self proclaimed goodness.

  “I think I have everything we need to proceed,” Ms. Shore announced as she returned to the room. There was a difference in the air, a sharp contentious energy that caused her to glance between the two clients as she sat down. Khalid’s eyes blazed into Racquel’s, and her eyes flamed into his, neither willing to blink first.