by Dara Girard
He’d lost fifteen pounds because of it. Because of her.
Because of her determination, her love of science. He liked the fact he had to remind her three times to stop talking and eat before she’d finish a meal. That she could stand for hours, forgetting to pull up a chair, at a microscope without getting fatigued. Even when she sent him on silly errands he didn’t care. He liked the look of surprise on her face every time he delivered without complaint. He’d kissed her on the dinner cruise as a small form of revenge, but he’d gotten caught. He couldn’t stop thinking about it—about her.
Damn.
Even Andre seemed to have fallen under her spell. Several weeks ago Sebastian had caught Andre looking at his cell phone wiping his eyes in the kitchen.
“Did something happen?” he asked concerned.
Andre quickly rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and sniffed. “My baby got second prize because of her.” He held out his phone and showed a picture of his nine-year-old daughter with a certificate. “She won the science fair. She’d never placed before or even had much interest before Naomi spoke to her.”
“Naomi spoke to her? When?”
“A couple of weeks ago. I asked her to help Daphne with an idea. Naomi did five video sessions with her and now science is all that she can talk about. I didn’t think she’d have the time.”
“You could have asked me.”
“You know Daphne clams up whenever you’re around. My wife thought a woman would help her open up. Daphne was afraid of looking stupid in front of you and my wife was right.” Andre folded his arms. “Naomi’s a good woman. I hope you’re not going to hurt her.”
Sebastian pointed to himself surprised by the accusation. “Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know. You’re the only one who knows why you want to be her personal assistant.”
“I don’t break hearts, remember?”
“I think she likes you.”
Sebastian felt his heart skip a beat. “You think so?”
“Isn’t that part of your plan?”
Sebastian turned and headed to his bedroom.
“Just give me a hint of what you’re up to,” Andre said following him.
Sebastian kept walking.
“It doesn’t have to be big.”
Sebastian walked into his bedroom and opened his closet. “I think I need a couple new shirts.”
“Don’t toy with her.”
“And some trousers too.” He looked at himself in the full length mirror. “Make an appointment with the tailor.”
Andre looked at him stunned. “You haven’t seen a tailor in—”
“I know.”
Andre couldn’t stop a grin. “Should I contact the barber too?”
Sebastian rubbed his chin. “That would be a good idea.”
“And the optometrist?”
He turned to him, curious. “Why?”
“You need new frames.”
He stared at his reflection again. “Really?”
“Yes, trust me.”
He shrugged. “Okay.”
“Is she into flowers?”
“No.”
“Chocolates?”
“No.”
“Jewelry?”
Sebastian thought of the necklace he’d retrieved for her. A soft smile danced on his lips. “Yes.”
“Should I book a room?”
His smile fell and he shot his friend a look. “No.” He sighed. He still wanted to keep the relationship professional. “There’s nothing going on between us.”
But as Sebastian watched Naomi eat with her mentor, he knew he wanted there to be. That night at her parents’ house, when he’d covered her hand with his, feeling her soft skin, the delicate bones in her fingers, he knew he was in trouble. Deep trouble.
And he kept sinking.
He glanced up when he heard someone clear their throat. He saw the café waitress, a young black woman with a cute Afro puff and apple round cheeks. “Yes?”
She set a muffin down on the table.
He frowned. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t order this.”
“I know. I just thought you might like this to go with your coffee.” She smiled then left.
He lifted up the muffin and saw she’d scrawled her number on a napkin underneath. He looked at her and saw her watching him. He smiled back, tucking her number inside his jacket pocket so as not to hurt her feelings.
He glanced at Naomi who was having an intense conversation, she probably hadn’t even noticed. He had to stop watching her. He had to stop thinking about her.
He pulled out his cell phone and read some news then paused when he heard high heels stop at his table. He looked up and saw an attractive woman in leopard patterned heels, form fitting black dress with a spicy, floral scent. “Could you tell me where the Trust Bank is?”
Sebastian stood and gave her directions, patiently answering questions she could have figured out on her own.
“That sounds complicated,” she finally said. “Do you think you could show me?”
He sat back down. “Umm…I’m waiting for someone.”
She looked disappointed then placed her card on the table and slid it towards him. “In case they don’t show up.”
He plastered on a smile, confused. What kind of coffee shop was this? He’d never gotten this kind of attention before. Even at the height of his career, most women looked past him. He glanced down at his shirt. Was it the new clothes? Andre had forced him into dark trousers and a casual dark blue crew neck he’d never tried before and the light rimmed frames were new for him too.
He heard the chair in front of him scrape across the ground and tensed. Was it another woman wanting something? Would she ask him the time or the best place to buy seafood?
He glanced up when he heard a fingernail tap against the table. His tension eased when he saw Naomi.
“Why were you looking down like that?”
Sebastian leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I don’t know what’s going on. Two women have given me their phone numbers.”
“That’s no surprise. You’re a good looking man.”
“Would you give me your number?”
She laughed. “You already have it.”
“I mean, if you didn’t know me.”
She shook her head.
He felt his heart fall.
“I’d feel too shy,” she said. “I wouldn’t have the boldness.”
His heart lifted. Maybe if he played this right, there was a chance… “Naomi—”
She rested her chin in her hand. “I really like these,” she said, tapping the frames of her own glasses. “You look more approachable than before.”
Approachable? That wasn’t exactly a come on. He didn’t know what to say so he started to stand.
She covered his hand with hers, stopping him. “We’re not leaving yet. There’s something I have to say.”
He slowly sat back down, his heart racing. She was touching him and looking at him in a way she never had before. Did she feel the attraction too? Did she feel conflicted because he worked for her?
“I want to help you.”
His heart fell to the floor and cracked. He’d built up his hopes for nothing. He adjusted his frames, trying to look nonchalant. “W-what?”
“I think I’ve finally figured out why you wanted to volunteer with me.”
Sebastian froze. Did she really know? Could this be the moment he’d been waiting for?
To his relief and regret she pulled her hand away and folded her arms looking pleased with herself. “You want me to find out what really happened with your research.”
He felt his throat tighten. This was not good. “I made an error, that’s all. I didn’t—”
Naomi shook her head, cutting him off. “But you’re not the type. You’re very fastidious. Over the last couple of months I see how you think. I can see why you rose so fast. Besides, we both know you can’t work with me like this forever.”
&n
bsp; “I like what I do,” he said in a hard tone. He didn’t want her looking into his past.
“Don’t you want more?”
“It’s a dead end. Focus on your career.”
“You may not know this, but Dr. Vera Conklin is the wife of—”
“Dr. Niklaas Conklin the head researcher at BioCorps, yes I know. Did you talk to her about me?”
“Yes, I thought she could help us—”
“What did she say?”
Naomi hesitated then sighed. “That I should leave it alone.”
“Listen to her and never mention this again.” He stood. “Are you ready to leave?”
He steeled himself against the look of disappointment on her face. He wouldn’t weaken, he couldn’t change the past. He looked at the window just as Vera passed, briefly catching her eye and the silent message there.
He had to go forward with his plan fast before Naomi ruined everything.
Chapter 15
She hadn’t meant to make him angry, Naomi thought as she headed up the driveway after a long walk, her skin feeling sticky from the humid air.
For the past week, Sebastian kept their interactions brief. He talked about her father and the lab. That was it. She was going to lose him and she didn’t want that.
She didn’t want to hurt him, but something about Vera’s tone and Sebastian’s reaction bothered her. She didn’t know why yet. She didn’t see the harm in making some simple inquiries into the BioCorps incident. She got her hands on as much public information as possible, but she knew she would need to get more.
Naomi paused when she saw Josephine sitting in the garden, reading a book, a glass of lemonade on the white table beside her. They only nodded greetings to each other, but never spoke. Although she no longer leaned as heavily on her cane as she used to, she made no move to leave and still glanced at Naomi with a look of suspicion. But Naomi wanted to help Sebastian; to know more about him. Josephine was somebody who could help her.
“It’s a lovely day,” Naomi said, walking up to her.
“Yes,” Josephine said, not looking up. “What ridiculous errand are you going to send my son on this week?”
She deserved that, although she’d stopped with that petty revenge weeks ago. “He’s a very hard worker.”
“That’s the problem. My son shouldn’t be working. At least not like this. He and his brother inherited a lucrative business from their father. There’s no reason he’s doing this.”
Naomi sat in the other garden chair. “I agree and I’d like to help him.”
For a moment, Josephine’s face lit up and her eyes softened. “How?”
“I know he’s meant for more. He’s got a brilliant mind and he could do so much in the field of research.”
Josephine’s face hardened. “It broke his heart already. I won’t see him hurt again. If you truly want to help my son, you’ll help him come to his senses.”
Naomi inwardly winced at the way Josephine said ‘my son’ as if Sebastian were a possession or pet she meant to keep close by.
“I don’t think he’s out of his mind, Mrs. Scott, but that he’s searching for something and—”
A cruel smile spread on Josephine face. “Don’t delude yourself into thinking you can help him find it.”
“I don’t.”
“Many women think that Sebastian’s like other men.”
“I would never—”
Josephine closed her book and rested it on her lap. “My husband was the same way. Oh you should have seen the way the women flocked to him. They all thought they were the one for him. Only I knew what he needed. I was—”
“I don’t think you know what your son needs.”
Josephine grabbed her glass and tossed her lemonade in Naomi’s face. “Don’t you dare tell me what I know.”
Naomi brushed the ice cubes from her lap and wiped her eyes, the cold drink soaking her blouse and stinging her eyes. “I didn’t mean—”
“You’re an arrogant, stupid woman if you think you know more about him than I do.”
Naomi licked her lips, tasting the tart juice on her mouth. “Mrs. Scott I—I only wanted to help Sebastian find his way back to a career he clearly loves.”
“And I’m letting you know that he loves his family and his business. The business his father gave to him to keep and pass on for generations to come.”
“But if he doesn’t want—”
“This isn’t about Sebastian, this is what you want. Your selfish desires to trap him back in a life that doesn’t suit him. If you have a heart at all, you’ll see that.” She stood and marched away.
For a moment she’d been fooled. Josephine hated being fooled. If only that Mensah woman had wanted to help Sebastian for the right reasons. She likely wanted to use him to advance her career just like Barbara had. Although his reputation was in shambles, she knew he was brilliant. Why did her son have to be so blind to these ambitious women?
But at least this one didn’t pretend to be interested in him as a man. But was she really unaware of the effect she had on Sebastian. Did she pretend not to see the change in him? Or was that all an act?
Josephine marched through the French doors into the cool solarium and took a seat.
She’d lied to Naomi. Sebastian was nothing like his father—a charismatic, boisterous man who could light up a room. Neither of her sons had her husband’s ability to both charm and make money. They had those attributes split into two. Gregg could charm; Sebastian could make money. They needed each other and the business needed them both or it would fall apart. Sebastian had to stay and run the company that had been his father’s dream.
She still remembered the look on her husband’s face when he’d first held Sebastian in the hospital. “He’s going to carry on my legacy,” he’d said. “My father handed me nothing, but I’m giving this boy the world. He won’t have to struggle as I had. He’ll take the reins of my company and make it even greater than it is now.”
Josephine blinked back tears at the memory. She and her husband had both come from families that had nothing to pass down—except hard work and poverty. Josephine had always dreamed of being part of something bigger. She’d envied those who could trace their roots back generations with a level of pride she could never share. Her husband had come from a small island with nothing, but had made a big impact due to his brains and drive. He’d built a business that could sustain them for generations. Was it wrong to make her sons hold onto something she’d never had? Something their father had never had? Sebastian had to fulfill the destiny his father had set for him, or all his efforts meant nothing.
If only she knew what Sebastian needed from Naomi. That was the key to untangling the chain she held around him. Josephine gripped her hands around the arm of the white chair. She felt that she was slowly losing him and losing him would be like losing her husband all over again. She couldn’t bare that.
She saw Andre passing by and called out to him.
“Yes?” he said, standing in the entryway.
“I need another glass of lemonade. I spilled the last one in the garden,” she said, making a vague gesture to it.
He nodded. “Are you sure you haven’t gotten too much sun? You look…upset.”
“Have you found out anything more about Naomi?”
“Nothing more than I told you. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. She seems to be good for him.”
The woman even had Andre fooled. “I’m not too sure about that.”
“Why not? He’s like his old self again.”
Josephine gripped one hand into a fist. She couldn’t admit that that scared her the most.
Chapter 16
Sebastian stared at his cell phone. It was now or never. He had to make the first move to finalize his plan. He started to dial.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to hurt her,” Andre demanded, storming into Sebastian’s study, startling him.
He dropped the phone and swore. He bent down an
d picked up the phone, glad it was protected in its case. “What is wrong with you?”
Andre jumped in front of him and waved a napkin in his face. “What is this?”
“It looks like a napkin to me. What do you think it is?”
Andre held the napkin between his hands. “I mean this.”
Sebastian read the waitress’s scrawled phone number. “It’s a number.”
“I thought I told you not to hurt her.”
“I’m not hurting anyone.”
“Do you think I helped you so you could pick up other women?”
“I didn’t change for her.”
When Andre sent him a knowing look he said, “Listen, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. You’re right. At first I did want to use her. I wanted to use her to get close to her father. I heard he was writing a book and I wanted to help him with the research, but I knew if he knew who I was he wouldn’t give me a chance. So I came up with the idea of getting close to his daughter instead. I thought if I got on her good side and he saw what I did; he couldn’t help but want to work with me.” After hearing Dr. Mensah’s lecture in London, Sebastian had kept tabs on him and knew what the proposed book was about, he’d also learned how Dr. Mensah was using his own time and funds to do extensive research. Sebastian knew with his resources he could take Dr. Mensah’s project to an entirely different level and by collaborating with Dr. Mensah he would get his name seen in a good light again. “Working with her father was to be my redemption.” Sebastian saw Andre’s face change and dread slowly covered his heart. He lowered his voice. “Naomi’s standing behind me right now, isn’t she?”
Andre nodded.
“How close?”
“Close enough.”
Sebastian sighed and turned around. “Naomi.”
She held out a book to him, her expression neutral. “You said you wanted to read it.” She spun away.