The Savvy Sistahs

by Brenda Jackson

  Jesse glared at Mike. “This isn’t funny.”

  Mike chuckled again. “Trust me, I can very well see that and I’m curious as to what you plan to do now?”

  Jesse took a seat at the desk in the room. “I spoke with John Kline a few minutes ago and things are being taken care of.”

  Mike’s brows rose sharply. “John Kline?”

  “Yes. I want to see just how stubborn she is when she’s faced with losing her company.”

  The next morning Carla and Amber met for breakfast. Just before leaving home Carla had received a phone call from a friend who was a brilliant player on the New York Stock Exchange.

  “She wanted to know what new product my company was coming out with for the recent movement in my company stock’s prices,” Carla told Amber, after taking a sip of coffee. “And she’s heard it will really hit gold tomorrow and was calling looking for a hot tip. I told her we didn’t have a new product coming out on the market. Now that has me concerned.”

  Amber raised a brow. “What? The fact you don’t have anything new coming out?”

  Carla shook her head. “No, the sudden movement of Osborne’s stock. When stock prices jump that rapidly and it can’t be linked to any

  type of new innovation, it usually means one thing.”

  Amber lifted a brow. “What?”

  Carla met her inquisitive gaze. “Someone is buying up a lot of shares of stock.”

  Two days later

  “So what did you find out, Stanley?” Carla asked the man sitting across from her desk. Stanley Jerrott was Osborne’s senior attorney and if anyone could find out what was happening with the company’s stocks and why, he could.

  “I made a few phone calls, Ms. Carla Osborne, and the news isn’t good. Osborne Computer Network has become the target of a hostile takeover bid.”

  Color drained from Carla’s face and her eyes widened in shock. “But—but, I don’t understand…why? It’s not like we’re some Fortune 500 company. We’re a little guy compared to other major computer companies, so why us?”

  Stanley shrugged big, massive shoulders. “I wish I knew, but the only person who can answer that is the man behind the takeover. But in a way, I’m really not surprised given the current merger fever in this country. However, like you I am surprised they would want us. It’s not like we make millions every year, so this doesn’t make sense.”

  Carla nodded. She then stood and walked over to the window, not wanting to believe what Stanley had just told her about the takeover attempt. Mergers happened to big companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard. In fact, Osborne Computer Network wasn’t even listed in the top one hundred computer companies in the nation. And their clientele was basically regional, although a lot of discussion had been done lately about expanding those boundaries.

  She turned back to Stanley. “Have papers been filed with the SEC?”

  “Yes.”

  Stanley’s voice had been low when he’d answered but she’d heard his response just the same. She also knew what it meant. Anyone going after more than a certain percentage of a publicly held stock had to register their intentions with the SEC. With that out of the way, whoever the person was who’d set their sights on Osborne was free to begin acquiring vast quantities of the shares on the open market. All that he needed was enough shares to give him control of the firm.

  Carla sighed. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing the company and not just for her sake—her main concern was her employees. If the company was forcibly taken from her, what would become of them? She’d heard numerous stories of how long-time, faithful employees got tossed out in the cold with mergers and she couldn’t stand the thought of that happening. A good number of them, like Stanley, had planned to retire in a few years and now with the threat of a takeover even that was threatened, since the company’s retirement plan could be eliminated.

  She walked backed over to her desk but couldn’t sit down. She was too angry to do so. “Who is he, Stanley? Who’s the person trying to take over Osborne Computer Network?”

  Stanley didn’t have to open the folder he held in his hand. The man’s name had been branded onto his memory. A few calls to friends he’d made on the West Coast had basically told him everything he needed to know about him. He was well known as a corporate raider; his reputation for taking over companies was legend. However, most of those Stanley spoke with were surprised he had ventured so far south for his newest acquisition. “A man by the name of Jesse Devereau.”

  Stanley’s expression took on a high degree of concern at the sound of Carla’s gasp, as well as the way she suddenly sank down in her chair. Her features appeared in shock. He immediately stood. “Carla, are you all right?”

  It was awhile before she answered, and even then he noted she was trembling. “Yes, I’m fine,” she said in a soft voice that had Stanley not believing her. Her reaction to Jesse Devereau’s name had him curious so he pressed forward.

  “Do you know Mr. Devereau?” he asked, and had a feeling she did even before she answered.

  Carla nodded slowly. “Yes, Stanley, I know him.”

  The next morning

  Carla picked up the phone. “Yes?”

  “Have you seen the newspaper this morning?” Brandy asked quickly.

  Carla raised a brow. “No, I just brought it in but haven’t had a chance to open it yet. Why?”

  “Open it, read it, and call me back.”

  Carla frowned. Whatever Brandy wanted her to see had to be important. “All right.” Hanging up the phone she reached for the paper on the table and opened it. She inhaled sharply when she saw the headline on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel.

  Wealthy West Coast Industrialist sets sights on Osborne Computer Network

  After completely reading the article, Carla angrily tossed it aside. Jesse wasn’t wasting any time letting his intentions be known, which left her at a disadvantage since she hadn’t made any type of announcement to her employees. Seeing the article in the newspaper was a lousy way for them to find out that their jobs might be in jeopardy. To counteract the damage caused by the newspaper article, she would schedule a meeting with all of her employees once she got to work and follow it up with a brief press conference.

  But what really tore her heart in two was the statement in the newspaper that her mother had sold her shares to Jesse, thus giving him enough shares in the company to control it. Angry beyond belief, Carla picked up the phone to call her mother only to be told moments later by Charles, her mother’s second husband, that Madeline had left that morning for Memphis and he didn’t expect her back for least three days. Carla hung up the phone thinking, How convenient, but she intended to confront her mother when she returned.

  Although they were not what one would consider close, nevertheless Madeline was still her mother, and as far as Carla was concerned that constituted some sort of loyalty. But her mother had betrayed her and had turned her back on her in the worst possible way. She had literally yanked from under Carla’s feet any financial stability she’d had for herself and Craig.

  Carla inhaled deeply as she picked up the phone to call Brandy back as she’d promised she would. She needed the support of her friends now more than ever.

  Book Three

  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray,

  and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

  Psalms 55:17

  Chapter 14

  T he three women in Amber’s office stood in a circle, their hands joined and their heads bowed in prayer.

  The sistah-circle.

  They had always encouraged and uplifted each other, been supportive of one another, and in times like these they had also been there to pray together.

  Today was a day to celebrate Amber’s success, the second anniversary of Amber’s Books and Gifts. It was also a day for the three of them to focus on their current trials and tribulations and to thank God for their friendship and faith, and to ask Him for the strength to endure whatever lay ah
ead and to keep their spirits high. They also asked for protection, guidance, and Divine intervention. They knew the power of prayer. It worked wonders and a person’s prayers did get answered. Brandy, Carla and Amber admitted to being living witnesses of that fact.

  When the praying was finished they hugged and cried while reaffirming their love for each other, their friendship and bond, and most importantly their faith and belief that no matter what, their Father would never forsake them.

  Grey stood leaning against a bookcase with a steady eye on the closed office door. As soon as he and Brandy had arrived, Brandy and her two girlfriends had gone inside and closed the door behind them. That had been over twenty minutes ago and he was beginning to wonder just what was taking so long. There couldn’t be that much talking in the world. He then remembered just how much yakking went on whenever the females in the Masters family got together and reclaimed that thought.

  He glanced around the room. More people had arrived and most had headed straight for the tables that were loaded down with food and punch. He checked his watch again. Once Brandy came out he intended to stick to her like glue. That last note had him edgy, pissed off and in the ripe old mood to hit somebody just for the hell of it.

  The call he’d gotten earlier from the Bureau in D.C. hadn’t helped matters. The lead, which had looked promising yesterday, was now a dead end and he wasn’t too thrilled about that. He sighed deeply. There had to be something that he was overlooking. Something was staring him straight in the face that was so damn obvious and simple he just couldn’t see it for shuffling through the more complicated stuff.

  He had questioned Brandy’s secretary, subtly of course, to find out how she’d come in possession of that letter. The forever cheerful Donna Fields had told him that Perry Hall, the security manager, had given it to her to pass on to Ms. Bennett. Quickly following that lead he had then spoken directly with Hall, who seemed just a little bit annoyed that he was asking him anything. Grey had lied, saying that Brandy wanted to know where the letter had come from in order to thank the person who’d sent it, but unfortunately there was no return address. Hall had simply shrugged and said that someone had placed the letter in his mail slot by mistake, which was the reason he had given it to Donna Fields to pass on to Brandy.

  For some reason, there had been something about the entire scenario that didn’t sit well with Grey. Another thing he found rather interesting was that the man he’d hired to keep a close watch on Thomas Reynolds had reported that on occasion Reynolds would drive out of his way to the hotel after closing his restaurant. He would circle the parking lot just to see if Brandy’s car was parked in its usual spot. That information didn’t sit too well with Grey, either.

  Before his thoughts could darken any further, the office door opened and the three women walked out. Each one could be considered gorgeous. They were women who could take a man’s breath away just by entering a room, women who looked like they meant what they said and said what they meant and dared you to think differently, women who enjoyed good times but knew how to deal with the bad. To his way of thinking, there was only one word to describe the kind of women they were.

  Savvy.

  His gaze locked on one in particular. Brandy Bennett could make his blood heat without even trying. He swallowed deeply. Now was not the time for his thoughts to turn sexual. He needed to stay focused and keep his mind on getting the case solved and not think on how to get between Brandy’s legs. But damn if the thought didn’t constantly cross his mind.

  A lump formed in his throat and he swallowed hard again when she glanced over in his direction. She was staring at him like there was a possibility she would need to be kissed senseless again. Soon. Maybe even right now.

  He could handle that.

  Grey wondered, if he breathed in deeply enough would he be able to smell her scent? As he watched, Brandy excused herself from her friends to walk over to him. The woman had a pair of legs that made him want to weep. And her skin was awfully soft too, he thought, as a flare of heat shimmered through him.

  He wondered if he could convince her that tonight they needed to move beyond the kissing stage. In fact, he was game to go back to the hotel and strip naked right now if she was. He shook his head, wondering if he had suddenly lost it. He needed to concentrate on keeping her safe and not getting her in bed. Hell, getting her, period.

  “Hi, Grey.”

  “Brandy,” he acknowledged, trying to keep his gaze on her eyes and not let it drift lower to her lips. “For a moment I was beginning to wonder if I would have to come in there after you,” he said, reaching out and tucking a wayward braid behind her ear. “Must have been some discussion.”

  “We weren’t talking.”

  He lifted a brow. “You weren’t?”

  “No.”

  “You mean the three of you were locked up in that office all that time and weren’t doing any talking?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what on earth were you doing?”

  “Praying.”

  He couldn’t hide his surprise. Everyone had some kind of beliefs but he hadn’t expected her to be the pray-every-day-wherever-you-are kind, and found that rather interesting. He cleared his throat and asked, “Think it will help?”

  She smiled at him, the kind of smile that made him appreciate being a man and doubly appreciate her being a woman, and said, “Of course. Prayer always helps. I’m a living witness of that.”

  He started to tell her that he was, too. As an agent he had come close to death numerous times and had had to pray himself out of several sticky situations.

  Moments later Brandy said, “When I first arrived, I was really worried about Carla, especially after what I read in this morning’s paper. But now I know in my heart that she’ll be fine and things will somehow work out for her.”

  Grey nodded. He decided not to tell her that he didn’t share her optimism. He had also read the article in the newspaper that morning and it didn’t look good. Whether Brandy wanted to accept it or not, Carla Osborne was about to lose her company.

  “This place is getting crowded. Amber has to be pleased with this turnout.”

  Grey nodded again, wondering how soon he could let her know that he would be pleased if they were to head back over to the hotel.

  “Ready to mingle, Grey?”

  He sighed deeply. Evidently her thoughts weren’t riding the same range as his. In fact they weren’t even close. “I’m ready when you are.”

  Together they moved into the crowd and with every step Brandy took, Grey was right by her side.

  Amber’s heart began pounding and her pulse began racing when the crowd shifted and she spotted Cord Jeffries.

  He had come.

  And he was staring right at her. A shudder swept through her under his gaze and she wondered if he felt it. She tilted her head back to continue to make eye contact. His eyes were dark, totally electrifying, and oh so sexy. He was standing next to the table with a cup of punch in one hand and a cookie in the other. It was one of the cookies that she had baked herself, carefully following the recipe her sister had given her the week before. It was a long-standing joke in her family that she couldn’t cook and that anyone eating her food would be at risk, but she had been proud of how the peanut butter cookies had turned out and Cord seemed to be really enjoying his.

  She thought it was a total turn-on to watch him nibble the cookie and wondered if he would nibble on her flesh the same way if given the chance. Ever since that first day he had walked into her shop she’d been trying to convince herself that she wasn’t interested in a relationship, and even if she were, she lacked the confidence to handle a man like Cord Jeffries. He had the ability to make heat flare all through her with just a smile and a glance. She didn’t even want to think what his touch would do.

  As she continued to watch him, deciding at some point she needed to start mingling with her guests, she saw him wipe his brow several times like he was getting extremely hot. Then he slo
wly loosened his tie.

  Her eyes widened with concern when the empty punch cup dropped to the floor and he suddenly seemed unsteady on his feet, almost to the point of staggering backward.

  She made a move to cross the room to him but found she hadn’t been quick enough. He tried to grab hold of something to keep from falling but instead got thin air. Horrified, Amber watched as Cord Jeffries gave up trying to stand and crumpled lifelessly to the floor.

  Chapter 15

  Carla took off her shoes the moment she entered her house. Now if she could only get rid of her headache just as easily, she thought, as she immediately headed to her son’s room. She felt an overwhelming sense of love when she entered and found him asleep in bed cuddling the stuffed animal Sonya had given him last Christmas.

  Her gaze then shifted to Mrs. Boston, who was asleep in the rocking chair not far away from the bed. Her hands were still clutching the book she’d evidently been reading from when both she and Craig had fallen asleep.

  A shudder suddenly passed through Carla when she remembered the look on Jesse’s face that day when he had left her office. She was smart enough to know she had pushed him too far and now he was deliberately trying to hurt her. The question of the hour was, just how far would he go? He had already set the wheels in motion to take over her company, and she wondered what was next. Would he try and gain custody of Craig?

  Her anger defused at the thought. There was no way on God’s green earth she would let him or anyone take her baby away from her. She would fight him with everything she owned before she let that happen. She would mortgage her house twenty times over if it was necessary. Craig meant everything to her and she would not lose him. He was her life and she would do anything to keep him.

  Walking closer to the bed she glanced down on him. The glow from the nightlight illuminated his features. Even in sleep he looked so much like Jesse it was uncanny. Even if she had lied and said Craig was not his son, all it would take was for Jesse to see him and it would be obvious.