EMPIRE: The Rise of A Queen

Chapter 4

It felt like I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day. Every time Marcel spoke I couldn't help but notice how sexy he sounded. In charge like that and not taking crap, especially from Henry which was a huge bonus. I could feel Marcels eyes on my from time to time, making my cheeks burn. I'm sure that Henry noticed even if he tried to ignore my presence throughout out the whole thing. But I should be happy about the fact that he didn't threw me out or screamed at me at the end of the meeting. He just said to get the files back to Wanda and then he left, leaving me and Marcel alone in the room.

"So Kendra.. What do you say about lunch?" 

"Lunch sounds good." my stomach growled. "Okay, lunch sounds perfect."

"Great, I know this little place around the corner from here that has the best carbonara in LA." 

"I.." my phone interrupted me, a text from Victoria. "f**k. I'm sorry but I totally forgot that I had lunch plans with my grandmother and cousin. I'm so sorry, raincheck?" I mentally slap myself for embarrassing myself like that. It sounds like the lamest excuse in the world, but it's the truth. I had said that I would love to meet Maya one day and Victoria being Victoria she set it up for all of us to have lunch near my office today.

"Of course." He hands me his business card. "Call me when you don't have plans." he winked and I couldn't help but feel that it sounded kind of dirty, which made me blush.

"I will." and with that he was gone.

I held his card in my hands and started using it as a fan to cool myself down, had someone turned the heat up in here or what? I started collecting the files on the table and putting them back into the boxes. Most of the boxes were in touched which made me a little mad, if he didn't need all the files why did he asked for them. Them just stood there, collecting dust. I sigh and push my anger for Henry aside and I take the first cart to the elevator for the archive. Wanda knew right away that I would want her help and we got back and took the last two carts together. Just as I was walking back to my office my phone vibrated again, Victoria. I hadn't had the time to answer her last text message and if I don't answer know I'm not surprised if she called of came by here. Once I reach my office I take my purse and walks out, once I'm safe in the elevator I take out my phone and reads her texts.

~We're on our way, I got us a table at this little place down the street from your office, Dov'è la vita. You're not swamped with work right?~

~We just got here and are waiting. Do you want us to order for you?~

I smiled a little, she is so sweet at times. Thinking of what I wanted to eat and texted her back.

~On my way, got stuck with some paperwork. If they have salmon I'd take that, otherwise just order me whatever.~

I wonder if this was the place that Marcel was talking about, just thinking about him made me smile like crazy. I had to get it together before lunch, otherwise I would never hear the end of it. I have a feeling that’s how they would play it, just like my mother would have. I collected myself as the elevator doors opened and I walk out of the building. Once my heels hit the pavement I realized that I had no idea where I was going. I bring up Victoria’s text on my phone and read the restaurants name before typing it in the search engine, the first hit shows a map and I can see it’s just around the corner. Marcel’s face pop up in my mind again, this must have been where he wanted to take me. Guess he’s not the only one that appreciates good carbonara. Once I come around the corner I notice a small outdoor seating with an iron fence, little white flowers on the tables. I walk inside and it doesn’t take more than three seconds until I found Victoria and the girl I recognized from the pictures the other day, Maya.  She was around five feet and 4 inches, like me, shoulder length chocolate Brown hair. The same green eyes as both me and my mom, I guess it runs in the family.

”Oh, there you are Kendra. Kendra, Maya. Maya, Kendra.” Victoria introduced the two of us and we shake hands.

”Nice to meet you Maya.” I said with a smile.

”You too, I’ve heard a lot about you over the years.” Maya smiled back as I took a seat next to Victoria. Her voice was smooth and kind.

”Oh, really? Like what?” I look over and give Victoria a look.

”What? I might have kept an eye on you over the years.” She defended herself, making me laugh a little.

”So what did you order me?” I asked and as on que the waiter came walking with our food.

”Two carbonara and one pasta alfredo salmon.” The young girl said as she put down the plates in front of us. We all thanked her before digging in to the creamy looking food on our plates. I place that first bite in my mouth and i’m in heaven!

”Oh my god, this is so good. I’m gonna eat here every day, god I’m gonna be fat.” I laughed at my own words.

”Yeah, it’s one of the best pasta places in LA. Especially the carbonara, you have to order it the next time.” Maya spoke between her bites, not wanting to be without the pasta for too long.

”So I’ve heard.” And I can’t help but smile and think of Marcel. I just met the man he’s making me go crazy, I’m so screwed. I looked up and saw a smirk on Maya’s face but my expression was pleading for her not to act on it.

”So how’s the first day going? Any cool cases?” Maya must have heard my silent prayers.

”The guy that’s in charge of my department doesn’t really like me. I might have stolen his parking spot this morning.” I tried to sound as innocent as possible, not that what I did was wrong since I didn’t know but still.

”Oh he’s one of those guys.. The ’I think I’m better and cooler than I actually am so I act all high and mighty and puts everyone else down’ type?” Maya knew exactly what I was talking about.

”Something like that. But I think he’ll come around, soon enough.” I had made up my mind to never act badly or mess up, I wasn’t going to make hating me easier.

”Otherwise you could teach him a lesson or two.” Victoria said with a wink, who knew she would be for pitty magical revenge.

”I might have already done that.” I said, not hiding my guilt.

”Why am I not surprised? Just like your mother.” Victoria laughed.

”Which one did you use?” Maya was curious.

”Nyackep mugghad. It was coffee all over the place, he might not treat me as an assistant and send me on anymore coffee runs after that.” They both laughed at this and I couldn’t help but join them as well.

”Classic, try cairan kutad next time. Less of a risk and works amazing on cold beverages.” Maya said and Victoria didn’t even bat an eye at us using magic to put small men in their place.

”Thanks, I might try that one.” I smiled.

”How much do you know? Nana said you haven’t been with a coven in Europe and only learned from your mom’s grimoire.” Maya almost sounded concerned at my lack of training.

”Honestly, not that much. Just some small things, nothing major.” I didn’t mind, magic has never had a big part in my life so I never took the time to learn more than the small stuff.

”You know, we can help you with that. Learning things. The coven is a great place to grow as a witch.” Victoria said, she had already mentioned the coven to me the other day but I had never answered her about joining so she took her shot to ask me again.

”I don’t know, maybe someday.” I kept it vague, I didn’t want to make any decisions about the magic part of my life. 

”Just think about it. I can show you around and introduce you to some people I think you might get along with before you decide.” Maya offered, it did sound like a good idea. I could get a feeling for what I wanted to do, get more of the facts to make the right decision.

”That sound good. I don’t really know any people here in LA. All my friends are in Sweden and Italy.” And I truly missed them so much even if it’s only been a couple of days.

”I’m so jealous. I’ve always wanted to go to Europe and you’ve lived there for so long. You have to tell me all about it one day.” Maya sounded so excited about all things Europe and it made me smile.

”Sure, maybe one day we can go and visit my friends. Traveling alone is not that fun.” I told her and I could see the smile on her face grow even more.

”That sounds like a plan.” I smiled back.

The rest of the lunch went by fast and I soon realized that I needed to get back to the office. I didn’t need Henry to hate me more than he already did, magic could only help me so much. Not that I wanted to rely on my magic all that much. I didn’t want to cheat my way to the top, I wanted to make it there on my own merit. Shortcuts are against everything I believe in, something I got from my mom.

Henry pretty much ignored me for the rest of the day, he left me to read up on some clients and their ongoing cases so I’d be able to jump in if needed. Like a backup until I get my own cases to work on. So I spent hours reading files about robberies, assaults and one on abuse. It took a while but I finally finished and realized that I had gone over an hour, the law never sleeps or something like that. Once I got out of here and made my way to dad’s house I was so happy to see food on the table.

”Dad you didn’t have to.” I said as I put my purse down on the counter.

”What? Make food for you? I haven’t done this since you moved out when you were nineteen, let me enjoy this for as long as I can.” I said as he put a pot of rice on the table.

”Okay dad. Thanks.” I didn’t want to take more from him, I was moving out soon enough.

”So how was your first day?” He asked as we sat down and started to pile on food on our plates.

”A little resistant but not that bad. I had lunch with Victoria and Maya, the cousin I told you about.” I told him, not wanting to look up and see his expression.

”Right, little Maya. She was only three when I last saw her, she must be what.. 22 now?” I could hear on his voice that he was walking down memory lane.

”Yeah, 23 in the fall if I remember correctly. Anyway, how was your day? Any class clown that got an ear full?” I changed the subject from my mom and that side of the family since I knew that was still a sore talking point.

”Ha ha, funny. No, it was good. Meet an old classmate of mine, she’s also a professor. It feels good to be back here, I didn’t realize I’d miss it as much as I do.” He said I could almost hear the smile.

”She? Is she pretty?” I teased him. It was time for him to meet someone new, it’s been six years. It’s time.

”No, I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”

”I think you have and it’s good. Dad it’s time. Mom would want you to be happy.”

”I know. I’m just not ready yet.”

”Fine, but I think you should ask her out. At least as friends.”

After dinner I took a shower and laid on my bed looking at the card in my hands. Marcel's business card. I flip it between my fingers, debating whether to call him or not. Reading his name and number over and over again that I probably know the number backwards and forwards. I feel like I'm a teenager again. Marcel Walden Attorney 213-203-5587. His face took over my mind again and I smiled like an i***t. Okay, I'm calling him. 

I took my phone off the bedside table and unlocked it. A sad smile creeped up on my face at my background, me and mom on my high school graduation. If she was here I know she would have pushed me aside and dailed his number herself. She was forward and out like that and always pushed my boundaries, for the better. I dialed his number and calmed myself before pressing the last button and I could hear it ringing. My heart was beating out of my chest and my palms were getting sweaty. Why was I so nervous?

”Hello?” His beautiful voice put the panic back in me and I didn’t know what to say. ”Hello?” He asked again and I mentally slapped myself for not answering him the first time.

”Hi, Marcel? It’s Kendra. Kendra Lewis.” I sounded nervous, way too nervous.

”Ah, Kendra. Why do I owe this pleasure?” He talked as if he knew it had been me from the moment his phone called.

”Well I felt bad for going to the restaurant without you. The pasta was delicious by the way.” I teased him knowing he would play along with me. Don’t ask how, I just knew. We were the same in a way.

”So how will you make it up to me?” He sounded serious, which took me off guard.

”I was thinking dinner tomorrow night? Maybe a walk on the beach?” I offered and I could almost hear the smirk on his face, he got what he wanted. More than a short meal.

”I like the sound of that. I might know a place that does a mean burger by the pier?” He knew what I liked, but there was one question that still needed an answer.

”Do they have curly fries?” I asked as serious as I could but he just laughed before answering me.

”Of course. So tomorrow at seven?” He almost sounded nervous even though I was the one that had asked him out to begin with.

”Seven it is. Bye.” I said and hung up. That night I fell asleep with a huge grin on my face and Marcel’s perfect face on my mind.