Janeshia knew he was just saying that for her benefit. She felt the need to explain. “I’m not upset with you Adam. I just needed to know if anything unexpected could happen that we haven’t considered. I only asked because I’m having dinner with Mr. Walker Edmond-Perreault. And I wanted to be clear on all the details just in case he had questions,” She assured him.
At the mention of Walker’s name, Adam turned and raised his eyebrow and walked back to her desk. He studied her. “I thought you needed the information for the board of directors meeting?”
“Oh, I do at that Adam. But first I have a business dinner to go over everything with Walker. One could say it’s like having dinner with the board.”
“Ahhhh…Really?” He frowned. “But I met with Walker earlier. We went over the report and he seemed satisfied with my explanations. As a matter of fact, he stated the report was excellent. Better than any he’s seen produced by this office in a while,” he replied with heavy irony. “Janeshia, it’s not like you to mix business and pleasure. Especially to further your career,” the tone of his voice held a conceited annoyance. “It’s one of those things I have admired about you,” his lips curved into a sneer. “I could have dinner with Mr. Perreault and answer any other questions he may have. Would you like for me to go instead?”
She was thunderstruck by his comments. She knew that dating her boss was in no way beneficial to her career. And she didn’t need Adam pointing it out to her. She cleared her throat hoping to hide her reaction. Sometimes Adam St. Charles could be a hand full. “No…No… Adam I can manage. Besides have you forgotten Mr. Perreault is your boss too? He gives the orders we just carry them out,” she checked her watch. “Why are you still at work? The power is still off. And it sounds like everyone has left for the day. I’m sure you are anxious to be somewhere.”
Unnoticed Adam stood behind Janeshia for several seconds and said nothing as he glared back at her. I’m here because you know you want me, his thoughts reasoned to himself.
Finally, he adjusted his glasses and shook his head. “No, I’m not anxious to be anywhere,” he drily replied.
She looked at him in surprise. She took charge of the situation at hand and eyed him sternly. “Well you should leave. I insist. Go on. Take advantage of the power outage and have a long weekend too. Everyone else is. In fact, I’m just about to leave too.”
Janeshia dismissed Adam without a glance and turned her attention back to the papers on her desk, stacking them neatly. She was in a world of her own as she fumed, restraining herself from running after Adam to strangle him with her bare hands.
She turned to retrieve her purse and brief case from the cabinet next to her desk. She slammed the cabinet drawer shut and jerked up in surprise.
Adam didn’t move as he silently stood by her desk.
“What’s the matter Janeshia? You look like you’re about to faint.
“Is there anything else Adam?”
He adjusted his stance but remained where he stood. “You really should let me go out to dinner with you. You never know with Mr. Perreault,” he hesitated. “Forgive me for saying so but a lady like you shouldn’t be left alone with a man like Mr. Perreault. He might try to rape you or something.”
“I beg your pardon?” She coughed out astonished.
“Look Janeshia, isn’t it obvious? I already went over this report with Mr. Walker. Can’t you see he has other ideas?”
Janeshia lost her patience and stood up and walked around her desk. The encounter with Adam was making her tense. She needed to take the upper hand. She quickly walked to the door and held it open for him. “Look Adam,” she emphasized leveling her hand toward her door. “I really need you to leave, right now. You have a good weekend,” she said dismissing him.
Adam walked to the door and paused. He had to have the last word. “You know Ms. James, men and women can’t just have dinner and be friends. The man always thinks that he just might get lucky.” His eyes locked with hers before he walked through the door.
Janeshia slammed her door forcefully behind him. The gesture was rude. But she didn’t care. She walked back to her desk and sat down slowly. She breathed out trying to get her emotions in check. She swiveled her chair to face her view.
The room seemed hot and stuffy as she took in her view. She steadily gazed at the glass pane in front of her. She realized the window seemed strange as she stared through it.
All at once the vision hit her hard. Her eyes just stared off into the window. Deeply within her mind she felt and heard the pounding hooves of their horses before she saw the men riding the horses.
Two men sat proudly erect and rode the horses hard, deep into the misty forest of wild terrain. Her eyes grew wide as she saw clearly the path they took into the wild forest of thousand-year-old bald cypress and old pine trees, spreading far and wide. Low cascading branches hung over their heads. A misty, velvety cloud swung low and drifted onto the ground around their horses. The valley rolled ever far, deep and wide. The two rider’s bodies shadowed against the moonlight of a midnight deep blue crystal-clear sky. She saw that one of the men stood out. His body’s frame was tall, strong and lean. His muscles were tight, and his facial profile showed that he was majestically mysterious and handsome. The bright moonlight hit his eyes for a moment. She saw that they were a deep vivid green. Her heart pounded, and her breath caught in her throat. It was as if her heart knew him and had always known him. Her breathe caught in her throat.
Standing alone against the stark of midnight she saw there was a woman that stood off in the distance waiting for the two riders.
The woman stood confident, determined and strong against the chilled night wind. She wasn’t old or young, or so it seemed. She was wearing what looked like a colorful flowing scarf. It’s kaleidoscope of colors softly bellowed out all around her.
The two riders rode closer and closer to her.
The effects of the colors bellowing around her, acted like a mysterious spell being cast.
The woman’s voice lured them to come closer in a coarse, smoky, erotic and eerie, voice. Her song escaped her lips. It was sad against the wind, and it was a mysterious song.
“Shadow of those who walk in the heavens above…
“Oh, light of the radiant white she dove
She watches sitting way up high from afar
For tonight she waits to see her shining star
Oh, sing to me oh Golden One
Oh, sing your song, and make the night moan
Sing to me oh Angel of God’s Light
Sing to me and give me sight
As the stars come out on this faithful night
Show forth this man of her hearts pure delight
Before the dawn the night does chase
Bring forth the one she loves
Come now and show his face
I call forth unto thee make haste, make haste!”
The woman’s thick smoky coarse laughter echoes into the night. And just as quickly as the vision came it went away.
Janeshia’s vision was so vivid and real.
The sharp ringing of her telephone jarred her out of her vision.
Janeshia blinked her eyes hard twice to make sure she was wide awake, she heard herself saying “I’m wide awake…I’m wide awake…Yes…Yes I am. And that guy on the horse was that guy real? His physique was so deliciously beautiful. Could such a man exist?” Her thoughts raced.
She quickly reached for her phone.
“Hello”
“Hello Ms. James, this is Bud from building maintenance. You sound strange. Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she lied. “What’s happening with the power?”
“Well, it looks like the power is going to be out for the rest of the day. Most folks have already left the building. I was just calling to let you know in case you haven’t heard,” he said.
“Thank you for calling Bud. I think I’ll be leaving early too Bud. Good bye.”
Chapter 4
/>
You should want more out of life…
After she hung up the phone, Janeshia sat at her desk. Her thoughts wandered back to the vision that she had earlier. Puzzled, she rose and walked over to the window. She tried to make out the vision’s meaning.
Soft tapping on her office door startled her. She turned around quickly and took a nervous step. She thought she was alone in the office.
The door to her office slowly crept open.
“Janeshia are you alright?” Walker Perrault stood in her doorway with a worried frown on his face.
Her frightened expression greeted him. “Where did you come from?”
Walker came forward and stood next to her. “Oh, I didn’t mean to scare you Janeshia. I was standing in front of the building at the little hot dog cart having a cup of coffee when I heard about the building’s power failure. I thought I would come back upstairs to check on things,” he said. “You look a little peaked. Is everything okay?”
“What?” She murmured looking at him. Her eyes held his. He looked every bit as good as Tamara said earlier. The sunlight accentuated the chiseled lines of his jaw and high cheekbones. He had the face of a man not easily forgotten. Her heart raged as she stared back at him. Her eyes fell on his lips. She swallowed hard and breathed out slowly.
Time seemed to stand still between them.
All at once the only thing Walker could think about was that he needed to touch her. He closed the distance between them and reached out and touched her face.
“Where did you come from Walker? I thought you had left,” she said as her lips trembled.
He put his arm up and touched her shoulder. “I guess I was a little worried about your being up here all alone.” He pulled her close and hugged her. “God, I wouldn’t know what to do if anything happened to you.”
Janeshia felt a jolt from the care and concern in his voice. She didn’t know why his strong arms made her feel safe and warm. She laughed nervously, loving that he was worried about her.
“Say Walker, why all of this concern for me,” she said softly against his shoulder.
Walker pulled back and tenderly looked down at her. “I’m concerned because I saw Adam St. Charles leaving. He hinted that he may have made you upset. Did he say something to make you upset?”
His care and concern overwhelmed her. She sighed, feeling a warm glow running through her.
“Janeshia,” he softly said her name and leaned in closer and smiled at her. His charming smile caught her off guard. It made her heart pound. “You are so beautiful.”
She didn’t step back.
And then he lowered his mouth to hers and he kissed her. His kiss was soft at first and then it increased harder, stronger and bolder.
Janeshia didn’t know what came over her. Maybe she hadn’t kissed a man in so long that she was hungry. She tried not to think about it as she leaned her body closer molding it to Walker’s.
Walker’s hands traced her body and she arched eagerly under him.
The sharp ringing of her telephone broke her out of her trance, as she stumbled back and walked past him. “We shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t know what came over me,” she explained. “I’ve got to take that call. It might be important.”
Walker’s hopes dashed when she pulled out of his arms. “Janeshia, what about what was just happening here?”
She was irked by his cool aloofness. She tried to remember what her best friend Larissa London was always saying about coolness and aloofness. Her thoughts raced. She could have sworn the two traits were what Larissa often said were part of criminally minded men who preyed on single females. “Look Walker, I don’t know what just happened. But it wasn’t supposed to. I work for this foundation, for your family. Don’t you remember?”
She put some distance between them. “This isn’t what you think. The heat affected me or something. I never date the boss!”
“It wasn’t dating. It was just a kiss.”
The phone rang again. She was glad for the distraction. Urgently she marched to her desk. “Walker I need to take this call.”
Agitated he walked to the door. “Damn it Janeshia, I don’t know what you are afraid of,” he said as his thoughts raced. You should want more out of life, he thought.
More than a little taken back, Janeshia stared back at him. “Walker can’t we talk later? Let me take this call.”
“Don’t worry. We’re still on for Saturday night!” He yelled before slamming her office door.
Chapter 5
Hook, line and sinker…
The morning dragged on, with the power out. Less than an hour later Janeshia walked out of the lobby of her office building. The sun shining on her face felt good.
The parking garage loomed ahead of her. She pressed the automatic start button on her slick black Cadillac STS. Before she opened her car door she noticed something on the windshield.
She leaned forward and reached for it. Her gold bracelet caught the sunlight.
Janeshia’s deep green eyes sparkled happily at the beautiful array of Blue Violets flower bouquet attached to her windshield wiper. A small heart shaped card was attached by a satin blue ribbon. There were no words written.
She looked around her. No one was there. She quickly opened her car door and got in. She tossed the flowers on the seat next to her. She locked her doors and engaged the engine key.
Sitting in her car, with too much time on her hands, she grabbed her cell phone and thought of her best friend. She quickly dialed her number.
Larissa picked up on the first ring. “Hello Larissa.”
“Oh, hey Janeshia,” Larissa said. “What’s up?”
“Oh... Larissa you know me. Always looking to play hooky and take the Caddy out for a ride. Want to go with me or have lunch or something?”
“Sounds like you had a bad morning and you need some cheering up. Okay, but we must do lunch first and then go for a drive. I’m starving.”
“Yeah, well sure Larissa.”
“But you’ll have to wait. I have a short meeting. It should not last more than twenty minutes, or a half hour tops. As soon as it’s over we can leave. Where are you?” Larissa asked.
“I’m headed for your office building right now. I can wait for you downstairs in that pretty little park in front of your building.”
Larissa laughed out loud. “Sounds like a plan. If you meet any single men, grab one for me.”
“Men? What’s that?” Janeshia joked easily. “I’ll see you shortly my best friend.”
Several blocks away, at the very moment Ramsey Montgomery stepped out of the building, he breathed out a sigh of relief. He quickly put on his shades to shield himself from the sun’s rays. The heat of the hot sunny day felt wonderful, after the tense meeting he’d just left. He walked lazily for the small green park. The deep green grass felt as soft as a pillow under his feet. Several women openly stared as he made his way across the small park.
Ramsey Montgomery was a man of confidence. He hadn’t been born to money, but he had acquired it. And through his genius he controlled a great deal of it. The confidence money brings oozed through his every pore. He was a man accustomed to people being in awe of his powerful presence. He was smooth and perfectly at ease and in complete control in any situation. There was a quality to his being that dominated his presence. He was extraordinarily handsome and knew it. His hair was wavy and black and cut close tapered to his neck. He had brooding mysterious slanted eyes he hid behind dark glasses.
A woman walked up to Ramsey real close. “Damn you look sexy mister,” she murmured.
Ramsey shook his head and walked on. He knew his body was ripped tight and toned. It made him look taller than he actually was. He was proud of the way he looked. He knew people loved to watch him, especially women. He often watched them watch him. But he didn’t care. He had his pick of any woman he desired. And he was selective. Few women were worthy of his time.
He was only a few yards from his favorite spot. He walk
ed on like a man on a mission.
Ramsey sat down on the bench under the tree in front of the pond. This was his favorite spot to unwind after a meeting here at this building. He blotted out the meeting and everything that had happened that morning. Even the sounds of the traffic disappeared. He set the timer on his watch and relaxed his mind. Then he closed his eyes and savored the moment.
Twenty minutes later, the soft chiming of the bell on his watch awakened him. Ramsey opened his eyes and checked his watch. The hands on the dial sat precisely at 1:25 pm. He shook his head and yarned. Slowly his eyes caught sight of a beautiful woman standing in front of the pond. He watched her stare out over the pond for several seconds and then turn and walk away.
At precisely one thirty p.m. Janeshia walked past Ramsey Montgomery. She didn’t even notice him as she walked across the lush green grass in front of her best friend Larissa London’s office building. The fresh air of the open park comforted her. She quickly found a bench to sit on.
Janeshia sat poised with her back against the bench taking in the beautiful flowers. Her mind wandered. She paid no heed to the people around her.
When the man came up and sat beside her she hardly gave him a glance.
“What’s the matter? Did you have a rough childhood? Or did you just have a bad day?” A man’s voice softly asked.
“Huh?” She grunted.
“I walked by you just now and greeted you with my best hello and you didn’t even smile,” the man said.
She turned to make eye contact. The man wore the dark motorcycle shades that were very popular. They hid his eyes. “Look mister, I didn’t hear you, okay?”
The woman’s eyes held him. Luminous green almond shaped eyes that haunted him and drew him in. Her beauty took his breath away. He gazed back at her curiously. He had to draw her in to wanting to talk to him. He had to be kind to her. “Oh, I see so is that your way of saying hello back?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “I thought a beautiful unforgettable woman like you, could say hello in such an unforgettable way that it drove a man completely insane just wondering what her name was,” he joked lightly.
The Proposition Page 3
