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Ramel sat back in his chair and looked at her. “Really?”
“Really,” Ebony said shyly, hoping that she hadn’t said the wrong thing.
“How much do you know about the people you work for, Ebony?” Ramel asked.
“Not much. Of course, I heard the rumors, but other than that, no.”
“Would you like a little advice?”
“Sure.”
“Stick to your job as a lawyer and don’t concern yourself with anything else. It’s better for you that way.”
“So, what you’re saying is that the rumors are true?”
“No, Ebony, I’m saying that you should stick to your job as a lawyer.”
“I heard you. It’s better for me that way,” Ebony said, and it made her feel a bit uncomfortable. After all, Ramel had basically just threatened her. It scared her, but her fear captivated her.
“Right,” Ramel said, and with that, Ebony left his office to do her job as a lawyer, but she was more intrigued with Ramel and the people that she worked for.
As for Ramel, he watched Ebony swing her hips out of his office, knowing that what he said to her only poured fuel on the fire that was her curiosity. But it was good advice. He found out the hard way who he was working for and what they were capable of. Ramel sat back in his chair and thought about his construction experience and how he began working for The Family.
His father and uncle were the proud owners of Quincy Brothers Construction. The business was started by his grandfather; back then, it was called Quincy and Sons, the name changed when the old man died. He grew up in the business and started working there full-time after high school. But his father insisted that Ramel go to college and get a degree in construction management. He worked the business by day and went to class at night, but he made it.
Business was good for the Quincy Brothers and with Ramel running the business, it grew, and they began bidding for bigger and bigger jobs. Their fortunes changed when his Uncle borrowed money from Nick. The next day, Jack Weaver showed up in the office and he took over. Under his leadership, the business’s credit was used to buy items to sell on the black market. If didn’t take long before the business was forced into bankruptcy and was forced to close its doors.
With what was his family legacy destroyed, an angry Ramel went to see Nick at J.R.'s. In retrospect, he thought it was both stupid and dangerous, but he wanted to look Nick in the eye and ask what was he supposed to do now that there was no more Quincy Brothers Construction. Nick laughed a little at the question, but he respected Ramel for stepping to him like a man.
“You got heart, Ramel, I’ll give you that.” Nick paused. “I think I can find somethings that you could do for me.” And he’d worked for The Family ever since, doing whatever Nick and then Rain needed done. Therefore, when Marvin told Nick that he had taken over Pearson Construction, and he told him how to handle things, Nick told Marvin about Ramel and what an asset he’d be.
When he was introduced to Serek on that first day, he wasn’t impressed with Ramel. He was under the impression that he knew nothing of the business and would just be there taking up space.
“What’s your background?” Serek asked.
Ramel glanced at Marvin before answering. “I get things done,” he said and that seemed to satisfy Serek.
That was also the first day that the hot and heavy flirtation between Marvin and Sataria began. After that, she began coming to The Four Kings almost nightly to flirt with Marvin. After weeks of him asking, Sataria agreed to meet him for dinner. The pair met at Artie's Steak & Seafood, an intimate and laid-back local eatery on City Island Avenue and dined on chargrilled calamari salad with mesclun greens and lemon basil vinaigrette, Chardonnay poached salmon with littleneck clams and Caribbean jerked mahi-mahi with sautéed spinach and mango sauce for the lady.
Over dinner, Sataria admitted that she was nervous, and Marvin admitted that he was too. “Which is silly, because we talk all the time.”
“No, Sataria, we really don’t talk. We flirt with each other when you come to the club to see me.” Marvin paused. “So, this is really the first time we’ve been able to talk without having to compete with the music.”
“And I’ve been looking forward to having this time with you, Marvin.”
“I am too. I’ve wanted to be alone with you since the first time I saw you. But I have to ask you a question,”
“What’s that?”
“If you’ve been looking forward to seeing me as you say, then why did you keep telling me no every time I’d ask you to go out with me?”
Sataria’s back stiffened a bit. “I like you, Marvin Simmons, I want to know you and I want you to know me. But I’m a married woman and I didn’t want you to think badly of me.”
“I can understand that.”
“Why are you nervous?”
“Because you are so beautiful its intimidating, and I want you and you’re married to my business partner.”