Kaede went home and got ready; at eleven, she was at the store. She was changing the merch with Tara when she got a surprise visit. Even before she turned, Kaede knew he was there, thanks to his perfume that announced his arrival.

"Yo."

"Marco, what are you doing here?"

"It has been a while. I just thought I should drop by to spy what you're doing right; since you are whooping me in figures."

"Marco, we worked together long enough if you apply what I used to do. You should be doing just as well. I haven't changed my ways."

"It's not what I hear."

Their eyes remained transfixed on one another before Tara broke in, "sorry to interrupt, Kaede, the podium for the Jordan 4 OFF WHITE is wonky."

"Didn't Nike's wholesale guy Jofferoy or marketing send a spare?"

Tara shook her head.

"Sorry, Marco, I'm a little busy with the launch soㅡ."

She hadn't changed. Kaede was the same unpassable woman, at least with him, "are you free for lunch?"

The question sent chills down her spine. Her rendezvous with Dominque was becoming a brush your teeth routine one did every day without fail. The image of Marco holding their toothbrushes and third-wheeling their lunch was not the most appealing.

"Marcoㅡ."

"Come on, Kaede; it's lunch. You can coach me on how to become a top-notch manager like you."

Kaede sighed, "okay, okay, see you at one. I've got to sort out this launch and raffle."

"Okay, see you at one."

Kaede went to find a solution for the podium. She helped get the draw sorted, and when she had a minute, she texted Dominque:

Marco wants to have lunch with me, sorry we can't meet up for that.

The reply didn't take a second to arrive: Of course we can.

Kaede dialed, "hello Dominque, are you out of your mind we can't both have lunch with him?"

"It's so good to hear your voice. I should provoke you more often."

"You are, you are so, ㅡgrrrr."

Yeah, the man had a special gift of driving her crazy.

"Are we still good for tonight?"

Kaede sighed and placed her hand on her forehead, "no, I'm going home."

"Please, Kaede, I'm sorry, I won't tease you again. So are we still good?"

"Yes, we're good. Talk to you later."

"Kaede."

"What?"

"Miss you."

Sweet talking wasn't one of Kaede's demeanors, "I have to hang up."

Dominque hesitated; he promised Kaede he'd speak to Marco. Not once did he think his friend could directly confront them. A part of Dominque wished to go and meet them while the other reminded him that Kaede was a grown woman and that she probably didn't expect him to show up as a night in shining armor. On the contrary, his presence would undoubtedly piss her off.

At one, Kaede joined Marco at Pyramid. The area was full of Asian restaurants and a particular Korean one that Marco remembered Kaede appreciated when they dated. The woman found her meal ordered and on the table when she arrived.

Kaede was annoyed by what many would find endearing. Not only did Marco reboot behavior she hated, but he supposed her tastes were the same, which meant he hadn't changed.

"Hey, I hope you don't mind. I took the liberty to order."

I do mind, but you don't care, she thought.

"Marco."

"So, what's new?"

Marco was impatient and jump-started the conversation. The gossip he heard still throbbed in his ears.

"Well, the shop is doing great. I was worried about Tara and Steph, but they're amazing, and you?"

As expected, Kaede stuck to the professional domain.

"Same old, I'm cool, the facade had an embellishment. Joseph is doing great. He asked about you."

Marco recalled what the old man said, "even when the stars shift in their direction, some people blow their chance."

The man wasn't an enigma resolver type, but Kaede was the first thought that entered his mind. Marco spent almost a year in an environment that favored him while working with her, yet he failed in approaching the woman.

He pursued while he poured Kaede some water, "and how about life outside?"

Kaede smiled, "I'm not on a prison break; it's good too."

Marco laughed, "I heard this crazy story like what you were seeing, Dominque. I was like Nah, Kaede wouldn't do that, not with my friendㅡ."

"Marco," Kaede posed her chopsticks, "why don't you find the courage and ask me frankly instead of taking these conniving detours?"

"Are you seeing him?"

"I'm not seeing Dominque. We're dating," Kaede picked her chopsticks up and took a portion of grilled beef.

All one could hear was the clutter of knives, forks, and chopsticks around them.

"Kae, the dude is my friend. You can't date him. I mean, the shit don't look good."

"Look good, you say to whom. Who in your entourage knows me? Why should I seek to look good and justify my life to your frat?

"Kae."

"Don't Kae me, okay."

"Kaede, Dominque isn't all that. He barely got his high school degree. He isn't a match for a woman of your quality."

"Oh, so you see my quality now, how interesting?"

Unlike Dominque, who never washed his friend out, Marco had no difficulty showing the dirty laundry in his friend's basket and rinsing him, "Dominque isn't no choir boy. He doesn't need to shake a tree; women drop down like apples in his hands. You're just a flavor of the month. He'll break your heart."

Kaede bulged her left cheek with her tongue before unleashing, "listen, heartbreak wise, I doubt I can break more than the way I did with you. How dare bust your mouth about his wits. What diploma have you got that your parents didn't pay for Marco? Is there something you've ever accomplished by yourself? Apples from a tree, that's your monkey business Marco, right up your alley. That's you, Marco, don't switch the dirt basket while Dominque has his back turned. And you call yourself a friend. Dominque has defended your broken ass since day one, and all you find to do is this? You are so despicable."

"Kaede, why are you coming down all savage? Do you hate me so? Is this some revenge? He's one of my best friends."

"This is what it comes down to; it's always about you: you and your dick. I don't hate you, Marco. I pity the poor judgment and the lack of humility you have. Do you truly believe that I sat down and conceived a sinister plot to hook-up with your best friend to hurt you? I underestimated you. You are dumb as fuck."

"And you, Kaede, you're such a biㅡ."

Kaede raised a brow, "what am I, Marco? A bitch."

This swift tongue was one of Kaede's and black women traits he detested. She always raised the tone, gestured with their hands. The overall aggressive attitude was something the man couldn't cope with when they argued. Marco hated the bad visual publicity with all the customer's eyes upon them, and he desired to bail out.

Silence reigned, and Kaede began to eat, empowered by an odd yet comfortable feeling of appeasement.

Marco looked at his phone, "I've got an appointment. I'll be leaving."

Seeing no response, Marco got up and left Kaede to finish her meal. She was about to get up when the waitress came with the bill.

"How immature," Kaede muttered as she paid the seventy euros for both of them and left.