Claire Marie’s eyes flashed. Her mouth opened and then closed.
“Let me just say this,” Mae Frances barreled on. “If I were in Janeshia place, sitting at this time of night, with a strange looking old woman laying out a proposition of marriage on me? I would be afraid to say yes too,” she said unflinchingly. “Of course, Janeshia wants to know if she would be fired. Wouldn’t you?”
Claire Marie’s face turned pale. “For goodness sake, Mae Frances, I never said anything of the kind. What I meant was that life is not like some pages in a romance book,” she said. “No one can live happily ever-after without some compromise.”
Mae Frances nodded. “Okay, I get it. You’re talking about a proposition as a compromise.”
Janeshia was silent.
Claire Marie’s expression was polite but stern. Her eyes sharpened. “Yes, we could come to a compromise. I do love my son.” She shrugged. “And you know I’ve carefully considered Janeshia’s strengths and ah… Wants too,” she faintly said.
“Thank you, I think that was a compliment. Or the rum is starting to numb my rage,” Janeshia condescendingly said.
“Yes, you bring much to the table, my child,” she said excitedly. “You have excellent bone structure, that I know will be passed down to any children you have. Your lovely parents hale from Louisiana and are fine and upstanding and any man would be lucky to be their son in law. And well, I love my son. But I know I said that before. And together we can both have what we want,” she hesitated and then reached for her glass of sweet rum.
“Claire Marie you are rattling on. Get to the point of your proposition or compromise,” Mae Frances egged her on.
“Janeshia, if you do not believe in compromise you will learn that life can be hard and brutal. You can keep your position on the condition that you seriously date my son Walker for the sole purpose of marriage,” Claire Marie studied her empty glass.
“Whew!” Mae Frances giggled, rose and refilled her glass. “Claire Marie, I didn’t see that one coming!”
“Oh my God! Janeshia said with shock and dismay. “I can’t believe I am hearing this.” Her mind could not take hold of what she was hearing. She took a deep breath and composed herself. “You can’t be serious?”
“I am serious. For life is serious and I feel that you should date Walker for at least the next six months,” she said eagerly. “After which you will marry him, God I pray you will marry him. And as his wife you will remain in your post as director. Yes, I think that is a good idea if you start dating Walker right away. In six months, you should know him well, if not better. The details of this compromise proposition can be worked out in length later.”
“Christ, I didn’t see that one coming,” Mae Frances interrupted. “But Claire Marie, it’s only a good proposition if Janeshia isn’t seeing anyone. If the girl is dating someone else, how can you impose your proposition on her?”
The two women looked at each other. Then they both looked at Janeshia.
Claire Marie turned her full attention back to Mae Frances. “But the girl was just having sex with my son. Anyway, Mae Frances I do believe I did ask her earlier. You heard me ask her earlier.”
Janeshia was thunderstruck as she stared between them. It was truly amazing how the two of them could hold a conversation as if she wasn’t in the room.
“Really now Claire Marie,” Mae Frances said. “Yes, you asked her, but Janeshia never answered. And having sex is different nowadays. Don’t you watch the reality shows? Young folks have sex just to be having sex these days. It doesn’t mean a thing.”
Janeshia maintained her show of cool composure. “She didn’t want to involve herself in Mae Frances’ conversation. She took the moment to get the conversation back on track. “Yes, Claire Marie you never let me answer about whether or not I was dating someone else,” she said. “Just so you know. I am currently dating someone, and I wouldn’t know how to tell him that in order for me to keep my job I must date and marry my boss’s son.”
A shocked expression seeped across Claire Marie’s face.
“Well, now I believe this is what they call the tide changing,” Mae Frances said.
Janeshia’s brow creased slightly. She felt her forehead perspiring. Awkwardly she smiled.
“Oh my. My son has a rival,” Claire Marie said with a wild light in her eye. She was acutely curious about who could be her son’s rival.
“I suppose this now changes everything. I don’t see you as a woman who would force her will on another,” Janeshia said curtly.
Mae Frances awkward laughter filled the room. “You don’t know Claire Marie very well. But then, most folks think that fragile, old, sweet lady and kind looking face is true weakness. It ain’t. It’s a mask for the strongest warrior queen I’ve ever seen.”
Claire Marie cleared her throat discreetly. “Huh, Janeshia let me tell you what a wise woman once told me. Every woman is a selfish woman, a selfish woman with selfish reasons all of her own. And I too am one.”
“All the same, this should change everything, right?” Janeshia looked for understanding.
Marie Frances chuckled. “She’s got you Claire Marie.”
“Yes, you are right my dear.” Claire Marie sipped her sweet rum. She entertained her own thoughts. She concluded that at the present time Janeshia had no reason to know she was an egotistical and calculating woman, especially when it comes to her son Walker, or to her. She smiled softly when she spoke again. “Again Janeshia, I had no idea you were in a relationship. Please accept my deepest apologizes for any misunderstanding. Of course, I wouldn’t hold you to that silly proposition I made. But just for thoughts sake, keep it in the back of your mind. Marriage propositions have been around for hundreds of years. They are as old institution as they come, created by wealthy people to preserve their wealth. Sort of like I want to do today. Just remember, you will be well taken care of and I’m speaking in the millions. Both in dollars and in property,” she cautiously said.
Mae Frances picked up the bottle of sweet rum. “Ladies let me refill your glasses.”
Janeshia breathed in deeply and took a deep swallow of her sweet rum. The rum calmed her. She felt the worse was over.
Silence hung between them.
All at once Claire Marie’s eyes flashed. “So, tell me Janeshia, what is your young man’s name. That is, if you don’t mind my asking.” She shot a glance at Janeshia. “And I must be invited to the wedding. Of course, we must have a press release done on your nuptials.”
“His name...” She hesitated. “I’m not sure you know him…I mean we are not planning on being married anytime soon,” nervously Janeshia played with a loose strand of her hair.
For an insane moment Janeshia could have sworn she saw Claire Marie’s eyes twinkling with mischief.
“It’s getting late Janeshia I can tell you’re getting tired. I’ll get my Walker to take you home,” she smiled. “Oh, by the way, do you like the theater Janeshia?”
“Why yes I do very much, she answered.”
“Good, then I have someone to go with me my next visit to the San Francisco. It’ll be my way of showing you how truly sorry I am for any misunderstanding,” she answered. “Oh, and Janeshia, please keep what we discussed tonight in your strictest confidence. Walker has no idea you and I are having this conversation.”
Janeshia nodded.
A few minutes later, Walker eased his car off highway 92 onto highway 101 heading towards San Jose California.
“Thank you,” Walker said.
“For what?”
“For the kindness you showed my mother. She enjoyed your visit. You know rich people get lonely too.”
The quiet of the night filled the air and the soft humming of the car slowly lured her asleep.
Walker watched her sleep, a very content man, as the highway loomed before him.
Chapter 17
Phone calls, a gossiper and eavesdropper
Across town, Aurore Allen-James dialed the number
quickly. It was high time she had a private chat with her daughter.
It had been nearly two o’clock in the morning before Janeshia got home. Now, four hours later, she ran her tub full of warm water and slid into it. The water felt like heaven. She sighed, leaning her head back to relax.
The piercing sound of the telephone shattered Janeshia’s quiet moment. She flung her arms out furiously and reached for the cordless phone.
“Where have you been Janeshia?”
“Hello Mother? I’m in the tub.”
“Being in the tub hasn’t stopped you from talking to your mother before,” Aurore Allen-James said with urgency. “Unless you’re not alone?”
“No mother…I mean yes mother I am alone.” Janeshia stammered. “Why are you calling?”
“Can’t a mother call to check up on her only child?” Aurore asked with concern in her voice. “Janeshia, you know I’m not one of those mothers’ who try to run her child life.”
“I know you’re not,” Janeshia replied. She could tell her mother was worked up about something.
Surprise was apparent in her mother’s voice. “Janeshia, I heard about your dating,” she paused. “Why didn’t you tell me you were dating Walker Edmond-Perreault?”
“Because Mom I’m not dating Walker. We had a business dinner. That was all. Anyway, who told you about it?”
“I heard it from your cousin Greystone’s mother, Julie.”
Julie James was a gossiper and an eavesdropper for as long as Janeshia could remember. She smiled knowing her cousin Greystone James would never betray her trust.
“Mom, you know Julie listened in to one of Greystone’s conversations. As usual she got the story all wrong.”
“I know that Janeshia baby,” Aurore said. “I was just upset that she made a big thing out of knowing about it before me.” She paused. “Besides, I figured I needed to tell you something before big mouth Julie James let the cat out of the bag,” she breathed deeply. “Janeshia, all of our families know each other,” she said with urgency. “The Edmond-Perrault’s, the James’, the Allen’s all of our families go way back. You know that all of us old ones were born way back in Louisiana.”
Janeshia shivered. Her bath water was starting to turn cold. Sighing she looked up at the ceiling and laughed. “Yeah, I didn’t know they all knew each other. Look mother why haven’t you told me this before? Never mind. My bath is getting cold.”
“You know I wouldn’t mind if you were dating Walker. His family is good people.”
Janeshia was glad her mother couldn’t see her rolling her eyes. “That’s good to know mother, but I can’t date Walker. I’m dating someone else.”
“Oh!” Aurore grunted.
Janeshia was lost in her memories. She closed her eyes. “He’s a really great guy.”
Irritability quivered in her voice. “What’s his name?” Aurore muttered.
Her question woke Janeshia out of her fantasy. Her eyes opened wide. She bit her bottom lip. “Look mother I really don’t want to tell you his name right now. And don’t go asking Larissa or Greystone or his mother Julie,” she commanded.
Aurore’s voice sounded heavily into the phone. “Look baby girl, all mother really wants to know is if he is a real person or a figment of your imagination? Janeshia, you know how you can get heavily infatuated with someone who doesn’t even know you are alive.”
Janeshia stuttered in shock response. “Mother isn’t it Sunday? Shouldn’t you be at church or something?”
“You know I should. But I didn’t go,” Aurore’s voice bauble through the phone. “Can I help it if a mother needs to make sure her only child is safe and sound? And, dating a real live person?”
Janeshia sat up in the tub. “Mom I’m sorry. I promise I’ll call you more often.”
Aurore’s voice was tense. “What about visiting your mother and father more often?”
The question threw her. She realized it had been over a month since she’d been by to visit. Thinking hard she said. “Okay Mother, I promise I’ll visit you just as soon as I can. That is if I don’t catch my death from sitting in this cold bath water.”
“Good! You do that, and I’ll tell your father you’re dropping by today for a quick visit. Bye now,” Aurore said, abruptly hanging up the phone.
Chapter 18
That old feeling again...
A few days later, for once Ramsey had no coherent plan as he walked patiently to his car and loaded his suit case.
He quickly dialed the number. “Hi Tamara,” he said urgently into the phone. “It’s me Ramsey again. I’m leaving the airport now. Are you sure Ms. James will be in her office?”
“Yes, are you sure you don’t want me to tell her the flowers are from you?” Tamara asked.
“Yes, I’m sure. I want to see the look of surprise on her face. I should be there shortly, see you then,” he assured her before hanging up.
Tamara was nervous and strangely affected by Ramsey’s voice. He sounded like a hunk over the phone. The man had called the office several times before. Now he was coming over.
Tamara walked over to Janeshia’s office and quickly knocked and entered. As was beginning to be her style lately, she didn’t wait for a response. She walked over to Janeshia’s desk and waited quietly studying her boss.
“Well what?”
Tamara giggled before speaking. “Some guy named Ramsey Montgomery keeps calling for you. He said he wants to take you out and for me to keep you here until he gets here,” she commented excitedly. “Whew! His voice sounds so…So sexy. I hope it’s not the only thing sexy about him. Oh, by the way, he’s the guy that sent you the flowers earlier.”
Janeshia looked up at her from the files on her desk. Calmly she asked. “How long did he say it would be before he comes over?”
Tamara was amazed at her calmness. “He should be here any minute now. Maybe you should change or something before he gets here. Don’t you have a dinner dress in your office closet or a sparkling glittering evening blouse? Janeshia you should spruce up before he gets here.”
“Calm down for Christ’s sakes Tamara. He’s just a man.”
Tamara’s eyes brightly stared back at her boss. “But this is like your first date. And since Walker Perrault is no longer coming around showing you any interest, you’ve got to make the best of this first date, first impression thing,” she said.
Tamara’s words hit a nerve. She turned her attention back to the file on her desk. She needed to analyze the figures. She could at least have part of it done before Ramsey arrived.
“Tamara, don’t you have some work to do?”
A short time later, Ramsey waited quietly as Tamara marched purposefully and opened Janeshia’s office door.
“Janeshia there is a breathtakingly handsome and very charming man who wants to see you and no, he does not have an appointment,” she said out of breath.
“Who is it?”
“He said his name is Ramsey Montgomery,” Tamara said grinning from ear to ear. “The Ramsey Montgomery, the multi-millionaire venture capitalist.”
“Show him in!” Instantly Janeshia rose to her feet. A shocked smile blazed across her face.
For a split-second Ramsey stood in the doorway and couldn’t move. He swallowed hard. “Janeshia you look beautiful, like a gift from the God’s,” he said walking over to give her a hug. “I’ve just arrived back in town. And the only thing I could think of was to see you again.”
Shock surprise and something else registered on Janeshia’s face as she caught sight of Ramsey Montgomery again. She smiled wide embracing him. She was amazed at how his mysterious eyes could weave their magical spell on her again.
His charming smile disarmed her. “Janeshia I was hoping you would have dinner with me tonight.”
“After those beautiful flowers you sent, I can’t say no,” she said.
Ramsey grinned wide. “So where do you want to go?”
“Do I have time to change my clothes first?”
The old building had a retro elegance that reminded Janeshia of an old night club right out of the 1950’s. Lively modern music met them as they entered. They were shown to a round table with two chairs. The elegance and charm far exceeded Janeshia’s expectations.
Ramsey ordered champagne.
They conversed easily over dinner and talked about their likes and dislikes about everything from art right down to their favorite subject in college. Finally, Ramsey asked how Janeshia’s day went and she filled him in.
Ramsey’s eyes gazed over. He smiled softly and inclined his head and studied her. He watched her finish her dinner.
“I’m sorry, was I muttering? I must be boring you to death with my stories about work.”
“Oh no,” he smiled. “I enjoy hearing you talk. I talk about business all the time. Talking with you is such a wonderful diversion. It’s like talking with a long-lost friend.”
A glimmer of appreciation appeared in Janeshia’s green eyes.
“So Janeshia, how did you like the lobster dinner I ordered? I hope I didn’t go too far imposing my love for hollandaise sauce? You could have ordered something different if you wanted.”
His smile told her how much he appreciated her. It made her feel special. “The lobster was excellent. I too enjoy a great hollandaise sauce,” she said her long fingers playing with her champagne glass. She took another sip.
“Wow! I’m dining with a girl that loves the same food that I do. It gets better and better.”
All throughout dinner she caught Ramsey gazing at her. Each time she caught him staring he shifted his gaze.
Janeshia felt herself relax.
“You’re growing on me Janeshia!” He said abruptly. “You are easy to get along with and you’re beautiful and you’re smart,” he smiled. “I can’t believe you’re not married. You would think some guy would have realized you were a prize and scooped you up by now.”
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