AlTonya Washington - Pride and Consequence

Edwina brushed her hand against Zakira’s bare arm. “I appreciate your kind words.”

“Kind, hell, they’re true. Edwina Harris, you need to let that mess go. It’s their loss. Move on.”

“Mmm…spoken like a woman with a handsome, sexy husband to go home with.”

Zakira’s cocoa eyes clouded with concern. “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“Hey,” Eddie said, a questioning look on her face. “Is something going on with y’all? I mean, I wanted to ask you about it when I visited before, but I was caught up in my own drama.”

Zakira reached for her stepsister’s hand and squeezed it. “Sometimes I forget how handy it is to have a therapist in the family.”

“You need to talk?” Eddie whispered, pressing Zakira’s hand to her chest.

“Not here, okay? Lunch, tomorrow. Is that good for you?”

“Yeah, sweetie, it’s fine,” Edwina assured her, pulling her stepsister close for a hug. “We’ll finish discussing it later. You go find Malik.”

“Thanks, Eddie.” Zakira whispered, kissing the woman’s cheek before hurrying off.

As Edwina stood near the edge of the dance floor watching her stepsister, she had no idea she herself was being watched. Trekel Grisani had caught sight of Edwina shortly after he arrived at the restaurant. He had noticed her speaking with both Zakira and Malik several times during the evening. They all seemed exceptionally close, and he couldn’t believe he had never seen her before.

Several people told Zakira they had seen Malik head upstairs. She found him in his office, sprawled across the dark brown leather sofa. Just as she was about to approach him, his eyes opened and he sat up. Zakira decided to stay put and watch him. Malik covered his face with both hands and took several deep breaths. Then, he left the sofa and walked over to the wide desk. He stumbled just as he reached the brown swivel chair and grasped the edge of his desk for support.

Zakira balled a fist against her mouth to prevent herself from crying out. She watched Malik search one of the desk drawers before he extracted the now familiar pill bottle. He swallowed one of the capsules, then took a seat and closed his eyes again.

The next day, Edwina sat her elbow atop the table and propped the side of her face against her fist. “Are you sure you’re not overreacting?” she asked, giving her stepsister a doubtful look.

Zakira rolled her eyes toward the restaurant’s high ceiling. “No offense, Eddie, but you weren’t there. You didn’t see the look on his face when he stumbled. He was scared. He’s acting so strange. The dizziness I figured was because he’s working too hard, but now there’s the pills, this sudden checkup, a new doctor, he’s stumbling around like a drunk…I can’t help but be worried out of my mind.”

Eddie smoothed her hands over her low-cut navy silk blouse and leaned back in her chair. “This worrying can’t be good for you.”

Zakira’s stylish ponytail slapped her cheeks when she nodded her head. “I know. But it’s not going to stop until I get some answers.” She spotted Trekel Grisani heading toward the table.

“Hey, baby doll,” he greeted, as he took her hand and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

“Hey, sweetie.” Zakira replied, patting her hand against his cheek. “I’m surprised to see you outside that office of yours.”

Tree smiled, revealing his striking white grin. “Yeah, I break out every now and then.”

Zakira laughed, as she raised her hands above the table. “Tree, I want you to meet my stepsister, Edwina Harris. Eddie this is Trekel Grisani.”

Tree’s extremely handsome face registered surprise. “Stepsister? And I’m just meeting her now?” he scolded playfully.

Zakira shrugged. “Better late than never.”

Tree turned and his pitch-black gaze narrowed the moment he saw the exquisite beauty who stared back at him with her gorgeous almond-shaped eyes. Tree stood uncharacteristically speechless. The lovely, delicate features that never failed to render men helpless succeeded once more. However, this time, it appeared that Eddie was just as captivated as Tree.

Zakira hid her smile as she studied Tree’s entranced expression and Edwina’s reaction to him. After a moment, she cleared her throat.

“Tree, would you like to join us?” she asked.

Tree hesitated for a moment. Then, shaking his head, he ran one finger across his wide brow. “Um…I’m sorry, Edwina, for staring,” he apologized very softly, his deep voice sounding very raspy.

Eddie fiddled with the wide collar of her blouse and nodded. “It’s okay,” she managed, surprised by the apology. An apology, in fact, was very unnecessary when she was just as guilty. Trekel Grisani was unbelievably gorgeous. The close-cut wavy black hair, striking onyx eyes, wide nose and mouth made for an irresistible combination. Zakira had called him Tree and Edwina figured it was a nickname. A well-deserved nickname, in any case. The man had an awesome build, to say the least. Massive shoulders, a wide chest and back, lean waist and long legs…yes, Tree was the perfect name for him.

“Thanks, Z, but I’m meeting with a client,” Tree explained when he turned around. “I just wanted to stop and say hello.”

“Well, listen, if you have some time later on, could I stop by and talk for a while?”

Tree smiled and glanced at his watch. “That’s fine. Maybe around three?”

Zakira smiled. “I’ll see you then.”

Tree leaned down and pressed another kiss to her cheek. Then, he turned, pinning Eddie with his intense onyx stare. “It was very nice to meet you, Edwina.”

Eddie’s sweet brown stare was practically glued to Tree’s handsome face. “It was very nice meeting you,” she replied.

Tree stared for just an instant longer before he left the table.

Eddie waited a moment before she turned her head. Her eyes followed Tree’s departing form.

A smirk crossed Zakira’s mouth as she watched her stepsister. “Yes, he is.”

Eddie frowned and turned to face her sister. She waited for Zakira to elaborate.

“He really is as sweet and thoughtful as he is gorgeous and sexy,” she clarified.

Eddie shrugged. “That would appear to be true,” she agreed, lightly.

“Sure seemed taken by you, girl,” Zakira teased.

Edwina smiled. “You are imagining things.”

“Ha! I’m not imagining the way your eyes were glued to him.”

“Z! I don’t believe you said that,” Edwina replied, outraged. “And anyway, wasn’t it you who said I should forget about men for a while?”

Zakira waved her hand. “Not when it comes to Trekel Grisani. I can’t believe I never considered putting you guys together before. You couldn’t tear your eyes away from him and he couldn’t stop looking at you. Why deny it? The man is gorgeous and built. Unlike most of his colleagues, he’s a good, honest lawyer, and he seemed very into you.”

Eddie sent Zakira an exasperated look. “As if I don’t have enough problems with men,” she sighed, raising her hands.

Zakira leaned across the table. “What problems, Eddie? Tree is a very nice guy. He’s sweet, gorgeous and intelligent. You don’t come across a combination like that every day.”

“I’m sure you’re right. But Z, maybe you haven’t realized that I only date black men.”

Zakira appeared dumbfounded. Then, she realized what Eddie meant. “Honey, Tree is black.”

Edwina leaned back in her chair and balled her fist beneath her chin. “Did we just talk to the same man? Tall, gorgeous…white?”

“Eddie, he is black. His father is Italian, but his mother is definitely a black woman. He doesn’t have her coloring, but look at his features and you can tell.”