And where did Liz get off wanting to hook Freddy up with her boss? They might make a cute couple, and sure they could probably talk about numbers until the end of time, but that didn’t mean she would be good for Freddy. Freddy needed someone who would make him smile more, put down his books, and enjoy life. The same way she did. She and Freddy made a better couple than Freddy and Missy.
Holy crap, where did that come from?
She snatched up her purse and jumped out of the car. There was no reason to put her name, Freddy’s name, and the word ‘couple’ in the same sentence.
Remembering that didn’t get rid of her irritation. She couldn’t waste her time thinking she’d have anything more with Freddy than the occasional lapse in good sense that made her jealous whenever he brought a new woman into his life.
CHAPTER 5
“Was there anything you wanted to review before we start our first interview, Mr. Jenkins?”
Fredrick looked away from the window in his office to his administrative assistant, Phyllis. She stood in the door holding a folder that he recognized held several of the résumés they’d received for the newly advertised accountant position.
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”
Phyllis smirked, her bright red lips standing out on her honey-toned skin. A tall, broad woman, with no patience for foolishness, Phyllis was the best assistant a man could have. She was the same age as his mother, but that’s where the similarities ended. His mother was all about having fun, spending money, and ignoring reality. Phyllis was one of the most practical women he knew. She didn’t play and was quick to let someone know that. The only people she seemed to tolerate were him and Janiyah on her occasional visits.
And there he went. Once again letting Janiyah hijack his thoughts.
“I knew something was wrong with you today. You’ve been distracted all morning. You know we’ve got four interviews today.”
Fredrick rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Nothing is wrong with me.” He glanced at the clock. “We’ve got an hour until the ten o’clock interview. I’m okay with the questions we came up with. Just check with Larry and make sure he’s got the conference room set up.”
Phyllis sucked her teeth. “I don’t need Larry to check on the conference room. I’ve got it set up and ready. I’ll make sure Larry knows what time to be there.”
Fredrick shook his head. Two years and Phyllis still thought she could boss around the accountants. It would be annoying if she didn’t keep all of them in line. She’d left his old firm to work for him when he walked out and started Jenkins Holdings, so he let her keep her sense of seniority.
“Do that. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? I can make you another cup of coffee.” Her usually severe tone softened.
“I’m good, but thanks.”
“Alright, but make sure you bring your game face to the interview. I don’t need you not paying attention and hiring some idiot that’s going to cause more work instead of help.”
And just like that the severe tone returned. After Phyllis left, Fredrick turned to his computer to check emails. After opening one, he swung his chair back around to look out the window. He was tired. His head hurt, his eyes were dry, and his limbs were stiff from tossing and turning all night. He couldn’t shake the edginess that came after waking up hot, sweaty, and rock hard thanks to an out-of-nowhere dream about Janiyah. He rubbed his temples and tried to will the images out of his head.
It didn’t work. He was assaulted with the fantasy of having her in his arms. Wearing that red dress. Her soft breasts brushing against his chest. Her pouty lips kissing every inch of his body. The blissful sensation of having her tight, slick body surround him as he slid inside.
He slapped his forehead. Stop.
The dream evaporated, but the vision of her leaning against the bar in his kitchen wearing a lavender camisole with no bra, and black shorts with pink lips on them replaced it.
Too many emotions boiled inside whenever his subconscious decided to knee him in the balls and remind him that he was attracted to her. Guilt, for having those types of thoughts for his best friend’s sister. He could only imagine how the Henderson men would crucify him if they knew he dreamed of Janiyah. For the most part, Aaron was laid back, but Fredrick never forgot how angry Aaron had been when they’d caught Janiyah kissing that boy years ago. Their friendship would be lost for certain. Embarrassment for harboring those feelings for someone he’d watched out for since they were kids joined the guilt. He was too old to be having wet dreams about a woman. But mostly he felt disappointment for straying from his life plan.
He spun back to his computer and opened the file where he’d actually written up his life plan. He’d first drafted it when he was fourteen. Updated it every year or so as he ticked off achievements. The major points: graduate from high school and college with honors. Done. Land a job with a top accounting firm. Check. Revise last point to read leave his job and start his own firm. Achieved with lots of hard work. He’d even exceeded it by landing a few high profile clients.
The cursor flashed over the next thing on his list: find a good, dependable woman to settle down with. As much as he might fantasize about Janiyah, she wasn’t the type of woman he could see himself marrying. She was too unpredictable. Too unsettled. He didn’t need that in a potential life partner.
It wasn’t as if he could help being attracted to Janiyah. She was beautiful, flirty, and was at his apartment almost as much as hers. She had every man she knew wrapped around her pinky finger, including her brothers and dad. Only a blind man would be able to ignore the fact that Janiyah’s smile brightened a room.
But he could control his reaction. He could remember that for all of her positive qualities, the fact remained she had other not so positive qualities. She didn’t stick with anything long. Especially relationships. Every man who dated her ended up heartbroken and left behind. Getting involved with her would derail his plans.
His office phone rang and interrupted his thoughts. “Yes, Phyllis.”
“Your dad is calling. Do you want me to transfer him through?”
He flinched. His dad didn’t call this early unless something was wrong.
“I’ll take the call.”
“Are you sure? We’ve got a lot going on today. You need to be focused.”
“I’m sure, Phyllis,” he snapped.
“You’re the boss.”
It took long enough for her to remember that. A few seconds later his phone rang again. “Good morning, Dad.”
“Hey, Fredrick, how’s it going?” Christopher Jenkins’s enthusiastic voice came through the phone.
“Going good. I’ve got a lot of interviews lined up today, so I can’t talk long.”
“Oh, this will only take a minute.”
“Do you need anything?”
“How have things been going with you? How’s Janiyah? Your mom ran into her the other week. We were thinking about calling up the Hendersons and getting together for dinner.”
His father deflecting the question meant Fredrick was on to something. “That sounds like a good idea. So what do you need?”
“You know, I saw your write up in the Columbia Business Review. I was just telling your mom that I knew you’d turn out alright. You were always a worrier. Worrying about this and that. Remember that time when you were panicked we were about to lose the house?” His dad laughed. “You had your sister crying into her pillow for a week.”
Fredrick took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “A letter from the mortgage company saying we were three months behind and they were going to kick us out usually means you’re about to lose the house.”
Christopher laughed again. It was an easy laugh that brushed aside the tension in Fredrick’s voice. “You worry too much, son. I told you I would find a way and I did. I always find a way.”
Yeah, and lately Fredrick was the one helping them find a way. Since his dad wanted to st
all, he tried another tactic to get to the point of this phone conversation. “How’s business?”
“Oh, good, good. I finally got a meeting with that client I told you about. See, I know why you asked. You’re worrying again. My business is going great, and once I land that account, it’ll be even better. I won’t even have to call you … like this anymore.”
His dad needed more than one new client to get his insurance firm out of the red. When Fredrick started Jenkins Holdings, his dad quickly offered to let him handle the books for his insurance firm, something Fredrick later realized was a way for Christopher to get free accounting. It wouldn’t have bothered Fredrick so much if he didn’t also discover just how much his dad was swimming in debt. It was a shock, even after growing up watching his dad throw away money in an effort to keep up appearances and please his mother. If there ever was a fool in love, Christopher Jenkins was him.
“I hope the meeting goes well.”
“Why don’t you come once we set the date? It’ll go a long way to earn their trust if they realize you’re my son.” Meaning, Fredrick’s recent success would go a long way to bolster his dad’s reputation.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“The meeting is going to be great and I do have a few other clients lined up. In fact, once I land this client, I’m going to buy your mom that set of skis she’s been eyeing. Though she may be off skiing before then. Do you know the other day she came home talking about a boat?”
“You don’t need a boat.”
“Not a yacht or anything, just a small cruiser with a cabin. She went out with a few friends who take their boats down to Edisto. Now she’s got it in her head about going deep sea fishing.” Christopher chuckled. “That woman loves life.”
“Yeah, too much.”
“Ah, wait until you fall in love. You’ll do whatever it takes to make your wife happy, too.”
A prospect that scared the hell out of Fredrick, and was why he would marry someone dependable. “If you have friends with boats, get on one of theirs. You can’t afford to buy a boat. Please make sure mom understands that.”
“I don’t like to trouble your mom with talks about money. If she wants a boat, I’ll find a way. Like I said, don’t worry. Things are looking up with this client and before you know it, I’ll have a few more.”
There was no getting through to his dad. “I’ve really got to go.”
“Well, like I said, things are looking up. I know I’ve had to call on you in the past, but with this new client, that’s all about to change. But for now, I need just a little help paying the note this month on your mom’s car.”
Fredrick suppressed a groan. The red Camaro his mom had gotten after seeing Janiyah in her yellow one was the same car he’d told his dad they didn’t need. Never mind that his mom had never shown an interest in sports cars before. She saw it, she wanted it, and his dad took out a fourth mortgage to make sure she got it.
“And before you say I shouldn’t have gotten the car, remember the look on your mom’s face when I brought it home? I didn’t get a full night’s sleep for the next three weeks, and that was a good thing.”
“There’s more to life than making mom happy. Bills, responsibilities, making sure your business is a success. You can’t make mom happy if you lose it all.”
“I’m not going to lose it all. Quit getting upset about the way things are. I love your mom. She means everything to me. Would you really want to upset her by having her lose the car?”
He wanted to say yes. He wanted to teach his parents a lesson. Let them finally get crushed under the pile of debt hovering over their heads. But he wouldn’t do it. As much as it upset him to constantly bail out his dad, it would hurt him more to see them destitute because he tried to prove a point.
“I’ll transfer the money into your account today.”
Christopher let out a huge sigh. “Thanks, son. I knew I could count on you. I’ll let you go now. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate with your new clients. Looks like your business is growing by leaps and bounds. I’m proud of you.”
Too bad he couldn’t say the same. “I appreciate that. I’ll talk with you soon.”
He hung up, then leaned back in his chair to stare at the ceiling. His disappointment from having fantasies about Janiyah grew with each tick of the clock on his desk. For a second he allowed himself to imagine what it would be like to replace the dependable woman in his plan with Janiyah. Pictured the pleasure that would come from seeing her do that girly sigh when he walked in a room, or waking up to the smell of her vanilla perfume on his sheets. Then he countered that with him skipping meetings to take her out of town, or spending money on the latest hobby she picked up. Not too long ago he’d talked her out of buying a cello when she took a music appreciation class at the local community college. Her argument almost made him want to get it for her, and they weren’t a couple.
Treat her like a sister. Acknowledge that she was beautiful then forget it. Despite the Hendersons’ concerns, if he were really going to make it work with a woman he needed to consider moving. He was smart enough to know that Janiyah’s presence in his life scared away women. He’d move and buy a house. His parents might need a place to stay in a few years.
He let out a humorless laugh. He hoped he married an understanding woman, because that last thought had a lot of truth in it.
“Are you okay?” Phyllis was back at the door. No doubt she’d been eyeing the light on her phone to know exactly when he got off.
“I’m alright, but thanks for asking.”
“It’s nine-thirty. The first person we’re interviewing will be here soon. I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”
“Thanks,” he said, letting her do something to ease her need to fix things.
She hurried out the door and returned a few minutes later with a steaming mug. She took a look at his computer screen and grunted. He’d pulled up his bank account and was already transferring the funds. Phyllis had overheard enough of his dad’s phone calls and seen the reports on his father’s business to know that Fredrick supplemented his parents’ income. She never commented on it, but the frowns on her face and insistence that she could tell his dad that he wasn’t available was proof that she disapproved.
He hit send and logged out. “Thanks for the coffee, Phyllis.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Jenkins.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed before turning and marching out.
Too bad she wasn’t thirty years younger. A practical woman like Phyllis was who he should be fantasizing about. Not a woman who wore sexy red dresses to business functions.
• • •
At the end of the work day, after sitting through four interviews and spending the last fifteen minutes trying to figure out why the numbers in a spreadsheet didn’t match the paperwork in front of him, when Fredrick’s cell phone rang for the fourth time in an hour he snatched it up ready to tell Janiyah to forget dinner.
“I’m leaving in a minute.”
“That’s good to know,” Aaron said with a laugh.
Fredrick sighed and shook his head. “My bad, your sister has called non-stop in the last hour pestering me to leave the office.” He looked over the spreadsheet on his monitor then frowned. The damn formula wasn’t correct in one of the cells. He could kick himself for not thinking to check that first.
“I’d guess why, but there could be multiple explanations about why she’s pestering you.”
“She says I need to eat.” He corrected the formula and nodded when the numbers finally added up. “I’ve just finished what I was working on, so I guess I’ll indulge her and leave the office now.”
“How is Janiyah?”
“She’s Janiyah.” He saved his work and shut down the computer.
“No, I mean, if you saw her today, did she seem alright? My dad called one of his family meetings last night and she got upset when he gave her a hard time.”
“She was alright at the mixer.”
“That’s good.”
Fredrick thought about her moment of uncertainty when he said he wouldn’t hire her. “She did have a second where she seemed upset when she came to my apartment last night.”
“What did she come by your apartment for?”
He got up from his desk and stretched his free arm above his head. “She comes by almost every night for something.”
A pause, then, “So, Janiyah hangs out at your apartment most nights?”
Ah, damn. The way Aaron said it made it sound a lot worse than it was. His earlier thought of being crucified by Aaron and his brothers if he so much as touched Janiyah crept back into his head. Along with the guilt for his dream the night before. “Not really, she just comes by to eat my food, or ask me to kill a bug or something. Nothing’s going on.”
“Who said anything was going on?”
“No one, I just want you to know that.”
Aaron laughed. “Come on, Fred, I’m not worried about you and Janiyah. I just know how you like your privacy. I was concerned that maybe she was overstaying her welcome.”
“No, she’s fine. I don’t mind her coming over.” It was the truth. She might be exasperating at times, but he did enjoy their friendly back and forth. A vision of her legs in those pajama shorts popped into his mind. He pushed it aside. They were friends. That was all.
“Good. Was she really upset?”
Fredrick chuckled. “I’ve never seen Janiyah really upset. No, she just seemed a little annoyed about something and said she was tired of people viewing her as a joke.”
“I figured as much. Normally she can brush it off when Dad gets all Father Knows Best on her, but last night was different. If I call she’ll act like it was no big deal, but I figured she let you know how she was feeling.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Come on, Fred, we both know you’re the one she goes to when she needs advice about something. You practically tutored her long distance for every math class she took through high school and college, and can talk her out of most of her off-the-wall ideas. Just keep an eye out, alright?”
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