Chapter 28

Julia The restaurant was absolutely beautiful. At first entrance there was one of the workers I hired standing by the door to greet the customers and walking in further there was another who helped us find our table.

The tables were covered in silver and gold tablecloth and has the best dining wear on them. It was the grand opening of Mrs. C restaurant; Rome and I met Ky and her boyfriend Jordan, Em, Josh, Ally, Jimmy, and his wife Melanie.

Rome sat grumpily next to me. It's been weeks since we became official. Things have been going great he's still an asshole to other people, but he gets along with Kylashay and even Emmie. The two of them seems like best friends. Initially I wondered what happened, but Ky told me about one evening when Xavier came to the store and was flirting with her. She said that Em knocked him upside the head and Rome entered not too long after and finished him off, before threatening him to leave Greengrove.

That would explain why I haven't seen him in so long, good riddance to that asshole. I can't believe they kept it a secret from me though, it would also explain why Rome hands had those bruises on his knuckles the day he found be crying in his restroom.

The reason he looked as if someone spat in his appetizer is because Ally was sitting right next to him, and he didn't like her one bit. She was his interior designer so why he wasn't fond of her had me confused. He didn't want to be here either because he also didn't like Mrs. C. Sure she didn't want to sell him her store initially, but how could someone not like such a sweet old lady.

"You did a good job hiring that Chef, Julia," Jordan said as soon as he swallowed his food.

This was the first time I'm meeting him since he was always busy with work or keeping an eye on Kylashay's grandma which was so sweet of him.

He had tall black hair that he had cornrow into a zigzag style so that it rested on his back and the front was cut and lined perfectly. He had dark eyes and a cute smile that he kept giving Ky which made him even more attractive. They are such a cute couple that it was hard to keep the smile from my face whenever I look at them.

"He's right Julie love, the chicken soup was heavenly," Ally agrees.

I like her. She was beautiful and she was nice, you can't find a lot of nice women out here nowadays, a lot of them feels threaten by other females which I just cannot understand.

"Thanks guys, but it was really a hard task. I love to see the joy on their faces when they are hired, but their disappointed faces when you turn them down literally breaks my heart."

I felt Rome lips press against my cheek, "You'll have to get used to it babe, you'll be your own boss soon which simply means you will have lots of hiring and firing to do. You can't be as nice as you are."

"He's right June bug. Being a boss means you'll have to stand firm and know when to put your foot down or you'll get walked on," Josh agrees.

Ally rolls her grey eyes, "Don't listen to them love, you can be someone they respect and love without making them feel inferior."

"Cheers to that," Melanie agrees while raising her glass of water.

I gave her a suspicious look. Everyone else expect Rome was having wine and she chose water instead. I remember the night we had dinner with her, and she drank water instead also.

"That's just not in my nature and I don't think it will ever be. Sorry hon, but I'll leave that part for you to handle."

We already found a place to start our pastry shop, but I told Rome to put it on hold since he already had so much to deal with. The hotel was coming along great and will be ready by early next year, he had another hotel to run not to mention all the others he had shares in.

"You guys are going to make me gag," Em says looking around our table, "Why am I the only single one at this table?"

"Maybe it's because you're a bit mean honey," Ally told her which made Em glare at her, before she could give a smart reply, Melanie cuts in.

"Don't listen to her Emmie, I think you are a sweetheart. You just have a tough shell to protect yourself and nothing is wrong with that baby. You're still young you'll find love eventually and—" Melanie give an oblivious Jim, who was cowing down his chicken, a disgusted look, "There's nothing that great about men so there's no need to hurry."

Ally and I chuckle while the men glare at Melanie, Ky throw her arms around Jordan's neck and pull him to her so that she could rest her cheek against his, "Speak for yourself, my baby is amazing. The absolute best thing that happened to me."

"Aww baby," he says and kisses her forehead.

Ally rolls her eyes while Melanie complains about women sticking together.

Rome "We should all get together again," Julia said as she gives everyone a hug. I stood leaning against the wall with my hands in my pockets watching the scene before me.

Everyone was getting ready to go in their own direction which I was grateful far. The last thing I want to do is get together with all of them again. It was draining enough.

"Yes, we should," Ally agrees, "I'm signing the papers to my new house next week, I'll invite you all and I'll take kitchen appliances as my gift." She giggles and the other women join in.

Again, I don't understand what my brother sees in her. She was as fake as the flowers she put at the entrance of my foyer.

"See you tomorrow bro!" Josh yells as he opens his car door for Ally. In return I told.

Jimmy and Melanie had already said their goodbyes and got in the car and left. I was happy for them; I've known Jimmy for quite some time and after everything they went through. Melanie losing their first child had made a rip in their relationship and despite they did not say anything I could tell that she was pregnant again and I only hope things went well for them this time round.

I watch as Julia hug that Jordan kid before doing a group hug with his girlfriend and Emmie. I smile as I watch her, I could not hug so many people in one night. Hell, I don't even hug anyone, but her. Emmie looks at me and held up her middle finger in return I gave her a tight smile, watching her get into her father's truck.

"Bye Mr. Livingston!" Kylashay yells.

I give her a small wave and nod at Jordan. They got into the truck with Emmie, the man around the staring honk before driving off. I spoke with Jordan earlier; he was a good kid, and he gained my respect in no time. He was young, twenty-five, with so much ambition. It turns out that he is one of the workers who is working on my hotel, he got the job to help take care of Kylashay and her grandmother which made my respect for him grew even more.

"Come on baby." I walk over to Julia and wrap my arms around her waist. She throws her arms around my neck and frown.

"What's wrong, love?"

"Nothing, I'm actually really happy. I've never had so many people in my life before."

I kiss her forehead. "Well, you better get used to it, because those people are hard to get rid of, trust me I would know," I say staring at the woman who was now standing behind Julia.

I didn't want Julia to see her, but the witch was standing so close, and my car was park about a minute from here.

"Who is that death glare directed at?" Julia asks with a chuckle, and she turn to look behind her. I could feel how tense she got by the way she grips my hand.

"If it isn't little Cinderella and her fucking Prince."

"If it isn't the evil mother who I wish was my step," Julia reply in the same tone.

Gina looks at her from head to toe, "You think you're something don't you? You think you're any better than me whore?! Your stupid ex couldn't get over you and it drove him crazy and now you've landed the jack pot with this one. What, is your pussy lined with gold?"

That was no way for a mother to talk to her child and it angers me to the point where if looks could kills Gina would be dead right now. I pull on Julia hand for her to come with me instead of standing listening to the woman who gave birth to her, but Julia wouldn't have it.

"You know I'm just realizing something. I wasn't the reason why my father left. You were. You've always been a bitch, haven't you? I bet that's why he left. He was tired of having you sleep around with different men all the time. Look in the mirror, Gina Parks, you're the only whore here!"

Before I could prevent it, Gina’s hand came in contact with Julia's cheek, which cause a loud echoing sound. She was about to hit her again when I move in front of Julia and caught Gina's hand.

I grip it tight and glare at her, "If you don't want to spend the rest of the night in a jail cell then I suggest you get the fuck away from here."

Gina snatches her hand away and grin showing her beer-stained teeth. She began to walk away backwards when Julia snarl, “You’ll deserve what's coming Gina, don't forget that Karma is an even more dangerous bitch!"

Gina continues to grin before turning around and crossing the street. As soon as I could no longer see her, I turned around and looked at Julia who was busy looking down as if the concrete road was the most interesting thing. Pulling her in a hug, I kiss the top of her head.

This was final, I would get rid of Gina just like I did that ex of hers.