Ramsey restaurant

"How could that beast possibly have a wife!?" Katty exclaims

"The same question I asked myself"

"How certain are you it was his wife?"

"Just as certain as I am with Romaine being your heart owner"

"Then you are not even close to being certain" Brithney finalizes. They giggle at their responses.

"He had pics of his wife and kids on his shelf. And another representing the day of their marriage"

"I doubt he loves her"

"Me too. Well, for the good news, I overhead their discussion and it seems his wife will do anything to save her kids from him…"

"Explain please" Katty mutters under her breath

"I didn't say I was done. Just calmly listen before you can run your mouth"

Apriva could sometimes get tolerable but hates being interjected when talking.

Katty gives her a side look as she continues "Well, she knows some of his dirty works and threatened to run away if he doesn't stop doing them. I do not know what exactly she holds against him but she did mention his dad and how he didn't want him taking over his company because he knew how irresponsible his son will be"

"That's fantastic news. She'll be of great aid to us." Ciara triumphs

"We can't put that in the front right now. He's still her husband and she won't straight up just renounce his secrets or play our game"

"I understand what you're saying but this is different. A mother will do anything to protect her kids. Let's make use of this opportunity"

"You should take her advice Brithney," Katty says

"Ok. Change of plans. We'll meet her privately" Brithney says

"Uhh, I don't think that'll be possible. She's not allowed to leave the house except through his permission."

"Huh? Are we in a Muslim zone now?" Katty inquires

"She's a housewife"

"How can she tolerate such a man? We're in New York for Christ's sake! She could just leave or run away with her kids" Katty compliments

"Easy said than done. As Apriva said, she knows her husband. And even though she threatens him, she knows he knows, those aren't real. I think she's cooking something up." Ciara mutters

"I won't accept a woman being treated like that. This is so unfair" Katty utters

"We know right. That's the more reason we need to do this and do it right" Brithney says on her side

"I need to go off now. We'll talk more about this later" Brithney says

"Sure girl. I wish we met for lunch but that won't be possible" Apriva speaks falling her face

"Don't worry. We'll get more time after duty. By the way, you'll be heading to the bakery now. I want all of you to from now on to become watchful. Most especially you Apri. He has marked you"

"If he dares show up anywhere close to me, I will smog his face" Apriva comments followed by Katty's chuckle

"You can't handle your siblings but here you talking about fighting someone who can hold you up with one hand and fling you like dust" Katty provokes

"I've been trying to control myself lately because of the respect I have for you. Yet, that doesn't stop me from putting it aside and spanking you"

"Blurry…that's homo" Katty shows a disgusted face

"Your mind is so defiled. You are homo, not me"

"I didn't say you were, did I?"

"Telling somebody what they said is homo means they are homo. For once can you just accept something you did? It's not a good habit for you especially since you'll soon get married"

Katty goes blank focusing her gaze ahead with her hands on the stirring.

"Girl, those were some deep words" Brithney complimented then goes off.

They drove through their entire journey silently.

**

Brithney Wimpbell POV

Everything was going as planned. I knew Leonel's schedule and every meeting he went in for. Though he got suspicious of me from the moment he marked Apriva. I made separate copies of his most essential documents and stored them somewhere private. I send Katty to disguise as a deliverer to his house when he wasn't there of course.

She had to give out a letter containing my phone number and words telling his wife to call me, so we could talk.

I discovered something while working with Leonel that will be a serious allegation against him.

He uses the company's benefits for his benefits and now they have gone short of goods and owe a huge sum of money. None of the board members know about it. Not even his business partners.

I am the one covering up for him during every meeting. He tells me what to do, say, or write. But little does he know my mind is untraceable. I got him under my feet and sooner he will be pleading to get out of the game he put himself into.

Today, I will be meeting with Romaine because I promised to do so. He seems really nice and very comprehensive. I feel comfortable with him like he was my only Family. No. I haven't told him about my problems. Not yet. Maybe I will but I haven't thought about it.

We'll be meeting in a restaurant he will be inviting me to. We haven't talked much since my boss prevented me from having lunch.

The sun is setting and the streets are busy for those heading home after a long day at work. I break a taxi and tell him about my direction. My girls keep pressuring me to get a car.

I love to have a car. Just that, I knew my departure from this messed up life of mine will be closer but after this delay, I am beginning to have second thoughts. I need to do a calculation of how much I'll have to pay for the gasoline each month. If it goes above my income, I will shift it aside.

The taxi arrived at my destination and I paid him before dropping out. Romaine rendered on picking me up but I declined. At least he is paying for my dinner tonight.

Walking towards the entrance, I studied the beauty of the restaurant from out and in through the transparent glass. It was very modern with beautiful people glowing the already magnificent place.

I was ushered in by a worker towards my sit. It was amazing that I started feeling like this was a real date. Shoving the thought away, I walked as directed towards a very handsome Romaine. He wore something simple but still looked flashy as though he came out of gold.

His hair was well combed and his scent was outstanding. I do not know if it's the same odor everyone here has but that was the only scent I got.

"Good evening my Cinderella" He smiled at me and scanned my attire with a slight lust on his countenance before motioning my seat backward.

"Good evening to you too" I responded taking my seat while he moved towards his and settled.

"You look astonishing" he complimented before I did "Thank you. You look good as well"

I gave him a grin before peeking further at the interior and few people discussing and laughing to themselves.

"This is grand," I said bringing my gaze to him. The hall was a little classic and the people as well.

"Did you sell your apartment to have me here?" he laughs at my joke which was not a joke to me. "If you did, then I should inform you that my house is not open to receive you and I do not have money to refund either"

"You're so funny" he uttered in chuckles

"I'm being realistic. Just look at this" I continued reciprocating my eyes at the gorgeous atmosphere.

"You mean this?" he forwarded a bottle of wine I didn't notice was on our table. I stare at him with wide eyes. The bottle of wine is a very expensive brand. Different from the one he offered me the last time.

He smiled at my priceless expression opening the wine and pouring into my glass then his, still not taking eyes off me.

"How much is your income?" I questioned before realizing I just asked that.

"I know I'm not supposed to ask this but this is a lot…for me"

He repositioned the bottle with a sweet smile on his face "I brought it from home"

"…"

"A friend gifted me" he mentioned dropping my curiosity. Though not completely

"Okay" I responded still staring at him while he lifted his glass to his lips.

"Why don't you just have a sip"

I rolled my head to my glass of wine blinking my eyes to the present before raising it above my chin.

"Let's make a toast," he said bringing his glass towards me

"To..."

"Our second date"

I cockled "When was our first date if I may ask?"

"The day you came to my house"

"That wasn't a date," I said in giggles

"That's what you think. But we drank wine and discussed. So, it was a date to me."

I shook my head in astonishment before clicking our glasses

We took a sip of our drink just when the waitress came towards us. She handed us two menus which I went over. Romaine took less than a second to pick what he'll have. While I took almost 10minutes to find something. Not that I didn't like the meals but I wasn't familiar with them. They were expensive. I had to choose wisely, in other not to make him go bank robbed. At the end of the day, it was a waste of time because all the meals on the menu were of high prices.

We gave the waiter our command and she took off.

"Why didn't you tell me we were coming here?"

"I didn't want to spoil the surprise"

"Well, bravo. You did take me to feel in paradise" she complimented and they both laugh

I didn't know about this place. I couldn't have imagined this was the place we'll meet. Also, I just saw from the menu the owner of the restaurant.

"You have good taste. I've longed to taste Gordon Ramsey recipes"

"I knew you'll like it" he spoke

"Who won't love to eat in his restaurant. We have more professional cooks here."

Gordon Ramsey is a well-known cook in the US. He has branches everywhere and helps lift another restaurant to be the best. He has a show for that as well.

"There we go. Enjoy your meal, Sir, ma'am" the waitress said dropping our meal on either side.

"That was fast" I commented under my breath. From the additional smile plastered on her profile, I was certain she heard.

I went on positioning my tools to start digging into my meal and Romaine did the same but stopped seeing how anxious I was as I took in a slice of the beef on my plate.

My jaws moved sideways with my eyes closed. I hummed to how delicious it tasted. When I opened my lids, Romaine's grin was almost making a 360 degree to the back of his head.

I gave him a confused look. Why the hell is he grinning instead of eating? I looked at his plate and said to myself. If he doesn't finish his meal at the same time with me or before me, I will own his.

When I brought my gaze back to him, he shook his head as though he heads what I muttered in my thought.

"You look cute when concentrated on food"

"I can't believe you choose to look at me rather than eating. Why did you order the food in the first place?"

"You're so unbelievable" he cockled picking up his knife

"Me? You are unbelievable. Just take a bit of it. You can thank me later"

"Why should I thank you later?" he questioned shoving his meal into his mouth

I stare at him with my mouth masticating my first meal. I am very slow at eating. I always make sure I feel every micro piece of whatsoever I eat.

"Well, how does it taste? Do you still think I am unbelievable?"

He says nothing other than munching "You know…a while ago I was thinking of eating your food if I finish before you."

"Really!?" he said in chuckles

"Yeah. But I just remembered I'm very slow at eating. That notwithstanding, my condition stands. If I do finish before you, be ready to lose that"

He laughs in a low pitch sipping his wine while I pick up another meal into my mouth.

"So, what's up with your boss?"

I looked at him instantly with a blank expression at first before my brows lit up "He's just troublesome I guess" I said shortly trying not to get into the real deal.

He nods "Ok. What do you intend to do about it? Will he keep treating you like that?"

I slowed my pace of chewing, took in a deep breath then expired "Well, I haven't thought much about that. Though I don't intend staying there"

"Hmm…where exactly do you want to end up out of your present job?"

Wow! I wasn't expecting him to interrogate me about my personal life and more to that, my dreams.

<< What will I say now? Should I change the subject or just go ahead and tell him my story? >>

I exhaled hardly so he gets how complicated it is and it worked

"Oh! Sorry I am being so inquisitive"

There we go. It did work but I started feeling guilty or something. A very uncomfortable feeling for me.

"No. Not at all. It's ok to know about that. I will ask the same in your place"

<< Why are you feeling guilty about it? Don't forget it's the same way Leonel kept questioning you. He wants to make you fall for him. He will take advantage of your circumstances. You don't want that happening, do you? >> A voice said

To be continued…