"Wow Dominique you seem to have been spending time with this machine!” Marsha replied.
He remained silent as he knew that any response would lead to further questions and there was no way he was going to set up himself to fail later by giving away too much information. He was relieved when she changed the subject as the recently constructed; six lane North Coast highways gave way to the three lanes of Mandela Highway.
"Dominique wasn't this project three months overdue and the end seems to be nowhere in sight."
“I see your project management experience is coming to the fore Marsha, somehow I wished if your company had won the bid to be the project managers on the expansion of Mandela Highway. With your input and drive I am sure it would have been finished within time and budget."
"Are you trying to sweet talk me, Mr Martin, for the craziness you said earlier?” Marsha asked
"I am sorry Marsha I said things I should not have and I really hope to make it up to you later at dinner at your favourite Chinese restaurant."
Dominique’s tone was almost apologetic. But he knew that he had made his point, even thougheven he could admit that it was cruel to have done it in that manner.
"In that case Dominique drop me by the Boulevard Super Centre, I need to do my hair and nails for later, and you can go and meet your friends by the bar and pick me up in about three or four hours. And oh I need some cash."
Dominique looked at his watch, it was 2:30 p.m. and four hours would mean 6:30 p.m., perfect timing. He could link with the boys and then take a look at the places on Red Hills Road, so that he could put a cohesive plan together and present that to Marsha later tonight.
"Ok sweetheart I feel very optimistic about later." Then he reached for his wallet, but paused as he was about to take it from his back pocket. "Don't you have an envelope full of money?"
"Don't even think it Dominique, it is your responsibility to spend money on me to have me looking my best and worse you are paying back for your comments earlier."
"Oh shoot, I thought we were already over that."
"Not that easily, Mr Martin," she replied.
Dominique sighed and gave her his wallet and said, "Take out what you need just leave something for lunch and a few drinks."
He saw Marsha's face light up as she opened his wallet and knew instantly that he had made a costly mistake to have given her his wallet.
"Ok Dominique you had $15,500.00 in here and I left you with enough to buy a patty and a soda and I took out your credit card as well, I don’t want you to be treating anybody at the bar and run up our debt."
His heart sank, but as he was about to open his mouth in protest good sense prevailed and he said,"Ok dear."
The Supercentre was in sight and a sense of nervousness overcame Dominique, he was not sure what mood Marsha was really in and if he was not on point with his thoughts about the business and his plans to expand it in a systematic way she would not support it. The income expenditure statement needed to be compiled along with the market survey that he had commissioned along with the log of the number of potential clients that he had been turning down over the past three months as least. He had also negotiated a contract with the newest hotel in New Kingston on Renfrew Avenue. The nerves subsided as he ran through the items mentally and even though he knew that Marsha was a tough customer. The only loose end would be the driver that he had not yet identified.
He needed all drivers to be able to talk about Jantique's tourism product and be able to converse fluently in Standard English and they must be familiar with the various attractions and how to get to them. The traffic to get into the Super Centre was at a standstill it was mid-afternoonand the cars were almost at a standstill in bumper to bumpertraffic. It took them almost 15 minutes to move 6 metres and Dominique started to tap the steering wheel again.
"Be patient, Dominique. I thought you loved to spend time with your wife?"
"Yes I do, but you know that I get impatient when I have things to do, plus I have to transfer the money to your account as you requested and unfortunately I don't have online banking like some people that shall remain nameless."
"Dominique there should be no secrets between us and where is this money coming from?”
."Why this traffic can’t move any faster?" Dominique asked.
"Are you trying to avoid answering my question Dominique?" Marsha asked. Her tone had now changed sharply.
“No Marsha, it was a partner draw. The guys and I have been pooling our money together; it is my turn to get my hand. There is nothing mysterious or underhanded about it.”
"If you say so I just have to believe you, don't I?”
He could her sarcasm in her voice and knew instantly that tonight's talk would not be as easy as he thought earlier. The security barrier was a pleasant sight, and it meant that Marsha would be out of his hair for the next four hours and it would allow his brain to think clearly and in peace. The security lazily lifted the barrier and Dominique floored the petal and the SUV leapt forward and had already passed the guard holding out the plastic ticket.
Marsha shouted, “Dominique! What are you doing, where is your mind?”
"Sorry it's at dinner tonight, making the pitch to you.”
"Wow that is the impact I have on you or is it that I intimidate you that much? We have been together far too long for you to be intimidation."
"It’s not that I have so much riding on your approval. My life versus your expectations?."
"Why do I seem like I am such an ogre?”
"We are here.”
He stopped at the salon door and it could not have happened at a more opportune time.
"Don’t forget your answer I want to hear the response tonight.”
As he watched Marsha close the door and walked towards the salon, his phone rang and he looked at the display he sighed and said, “Perfect timing, hi Yanique I will see you shortly to discuss our future relationship.”
“Relationship? Dominique that sounds like music to my ears.”
“Yanique, you know what I am talking about, it’s about work not a personal relationship,” he replied.
“A girl can still dream and there may be a day when I become lucky and I get what I have always wanted to do to you Dominique Martin.”
“One thing I have learned in life Yanique is to say never, but the likelihood of us being together is very slim, I am committed to my wife and despite my moments of flirting with you. I know that you are not really seriously thinking about being my side chick.”
“Anyway Dominique, you are spoiling my day so I will see you when you get here,” she said then she abruptly hung up the phone.
As he replaced in the phone in his shirt pocket he muttered, “What the hell is it with these women and me? I try to be diplomatic and nice in order to avoid hurting their feelings and all they seem to do is want to control my life.”
Excited but apprehensive were just some of the emotions that Dominique Martin struggled with as he left the shopping centre.He was not yet 100 yards from the gate when his cell phone rang.“Hey Bimbo. What’s up?” he asked.“Dom, the next ca
Dominique heard her sigh and watched as she shook her head and walked over to the chair and took up his pants and shirt that were neatly folded and covered his firearm and wallet and phone. "Dominique here, if you had just gone straight home but I see why and what you had to break your neck to come to the bar. Put on your clothes and come."
Dominique was taken aback by the statement, seemingly it was not a good idea to come back here and even though Yanique had the qualifications for the job as his office manager as well as the looks her tongue had confirmed that nothing good would have arisen if he continued to associate with her. However, curiosity was still gnawing him and he needed to talk to her in private."Yanique can I have a word in private,” he asked.
Dominique could see Marsha smiling as she looked through the window of the living room to see him walking up the driveway.But with each step he saw the smile turn to a frown. Then she rushed towards the front door. "Where have you been? And why are you walking like that?” she shouted as she ran towards him, "I turned back earlier trying to find you after you jumped out of the car. I was not able to call you becauseI was not able to make any calls or open any messages and then it just went black!"
“The entrance to the villa had huge, oak doors with view panels that allowed you to see the infinity pool and the Carib/Atlantic Ocean, the view was breath taking. Marble tiles, gold wall sconces and chandeliers hung from the ceilings in most rooms, but the master bed room with its four postured king size bed with a glass walled Jacuzzi and shower ensuite was the most exquisite place I had ever seen. ““The setting seemed more like a honey moon suite than the temporary residence in my mind,
Two and a half weeks had elapsed since that Sunday morning when Marsha demanded that he did nothing about the business expansion, but Dominique would not allow his wife to dictate anything to him. Why did he need her approval for in the first place? The intercom rang in his office and disturbed his thought process.“Yes Maxine,” he answered.
“Great the wire transfer came through, can I get two managers cheques made out for twenty five million in the name of Citron Homes Limited and the balance to High End Luxury SUV International respectively please and can I wait on them?”“Sure where should I take the processing fees from?
Dominique could not help but laugh at the innocence and her excitement that she brought to the office. He kept watching the clock as the hours passed by, he had spent almost 3 hours between the banks and acquiring the treat for his office manager.