CHAPTER 167: CONSTANTINE’S INSTANT EMPIRE

At 7:15 the first order came out to the front and was walked out to the customer and placed in front of him by Constantine himself. "On behalf of the diner, we hope you enjoy your meal," he said graciously.

The orders were sailing out that window—they couldn’t carry them out fast enough to the diners. The young men in the back were cooking just like they had been trained all of their lives. The simple recipe was there and it was easy for them to follow, timers were going off left and right, they were showed how to plate the food. Constantine had instructed them well.

Constantine got his plate out and sat beside Jake and enjoyed his meal with his future. Jake was busy with his meal and enjoying every bite of it, as were Malcolm and Sonja.

"Constantine, what do you think about the place?" Jake asked.

"It’s nice, if a little grungy and could use a great big scrub brush, but it’s workable. The kitchen is set up fairly well and meals can be turned out quickly if the menu is kept to a presentable level. Good nutritious and tasteful meals can be served out of here really easy," Constantine replied thoughtfully. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I bought the place for you while you were in the back working, and you sign the papers tomorrow at lunch and it’s all yours. You are a property owner now, along with the Traylor Corp. as your financial backer. You own the whole Plaza here, the 65-unit motor lodge next-door and then there’s the travel Plaza across the road." Jake smiled warmly. "You don’t think I’d marry a pauper, do you Constantine? Because you need a future."

There were three people sitting at the table with Jake Traylor with their mouths open. He smiled. "I just love it when y’all can’t say nothing back. You three need to eat up instead of sitting there with your mouths open—fill them full of food."

Constantine couldn’t say enough but stutter as he looked at the wonderful man who was sitting next to him holding his hand. He leaned over and kissed him. "I love you very much, Jake. I don’t know how I could ever repay you in this lifetime."

"Constantine, just tell me you’ll marry me when the time is right and that’s all that I need, that and maybe half a dozen kids. And by the way, the land title is coming to you, listed as Constantine Freeman Traylor as the owner," Jake said tenderly.

"You are a lucky person, Constantine. You done went and hooked yourself Jake Traylor and you haven’t had to give nothing up," Sonja smiled.

"Malcolm, after we sign the paperwork and get all the plans for this place—the old blueprints and all—George said he has some put back up. I want you to come out to the Z1 and we’ll head to Constantine’s dining room to look over the service area platform, and I’ll just start looking over the plans if you don’t mind. Tomorrow around 2 o’clock," Jake explained.

"You can count on me to be there, Boss," Malcolm replied.

The four said their goodbyes. Sonja went back to her shop, Malcolm went to go find a crew, and Jake decided to show Constantine what he had just purchased as the new owner.

Constantine couldn’t believe some of the buildings—they were in sad shape, but with scrubbing, cleaning, painting, new shelves and coolers, the market would be presentable. The office space was great, but the motor lodge was going to need some major repairs. Number one, every stick of furniture, mattress and all, had to be coming out. Most units were basically gut jobs, and a few of the long-term tenants would need to find another place to live because these weren’t going to be long-term rentals anymore.

They were walking around the motor lodge when Malcolm drove up in his beat up runner. It had seen better days, but hey, it was better than nothing. He got out in front of unit number 17 and waved at Constantine and Jake and walked to the door. He invited them in to his little domain. Constantine looked around and the place was remarkably clean, freshly painted and very well kept.

"It’s not much, but it’s all I could afford from George. I’ve done some maintenance—I cleaned, I scrubbed, I painted—because it was a dump," Malcolm explained.

Jake complimented him, as did Constantine. "You don’t have to be rich as long as you’re clean—that means a lot. It shows that you have pride in yourself and how you survive," Constantine observed. They said their goodbyes and told him they would see him tomorrow.

Jake and Constantine drove back to the Z1 holding hands the entire way, Constantine leaning over on Jake’s shoulder as he drove.

Jake pulled into the front drive. Constantine looked up. "Let’s take this to your place. I think we need to talk a little more about our future."

Instead of going straight, he veered to the right over to his cottage and parked the buggy in front. He walked around and helped Constantine out, and the two walked into the front door of the cottage.

"I did not do this to get you into bed, so if you try to pay me back that way, I’m not accepting it. I did this because I feel something for you that I’ve never felt for anyone in my life before," Jake was the first one to speak.

"Jake, I have butterflies in my stomach just being near you—it puts my body into overdrive. I know who you are and what you mean to me, and I want to show you how grateful I am for what you’ve already afforded me, but I don’t want you thinking this is the only way that I can make it up to you," Constantine replied earnestly.

"Well, we can always sit on the sofa watching TV, lay in each other’s arms and kiss on each other a little bit, and that’s fine for me, Constantine. I want our first time together to be special, and I hope that is when we try to conceive our first child, as I can’t wait to see your belly coming up." Jake smiled tenderly. "Now, is your dad a high carrier or low carrier?"

"He carried all of us high, so that means I’ll carry high also, and no sooner than you knock me up, I’m going to be showing within a couple weeks," Constantine answered.

Jake leaned back and looked at Constantine up and down and smiled.

"What are you looking at, Jake?"

"Just trying to picture you all puffed up and everything with my children. You’re going to be so beautiful pregnant, and I am going to enjoy every time you conceive a child," Jake said dreamily.

"Jake, I need to talk to Mr. Zach and tell him that we’ve spoken and I’m going to agree to carry and birth your children. And I’m going to ask for permission to do it soon," Constantine said thoughtfully.

"Okay, Constantine, that’s your call. You go talk to Zach—I’ve already made up my mind that you’re going to be the father of my children," Jake replied.

Constantine kissed him and left Jake’s place, headed to the main house to talk to Mr. Zach.