by Shana Burton
She rolled her eyes and stirred cream into her coffee. She didn’t care how cute he was. It was too early in the morning to be either clever or charming or to tolerate anyone’s stab at it.
“So, what did you say your name was again?”
“Catt,” she uttered. Hadn’t she just told him her name two minutes ago? Catt assumed he was probably the type who had a lot of women’s names he had to remember.
Jamal sat down. “I once dated a Catt. She was a hellcat too. Of course, by the time I was through with her, that hellcat had become a sweet little pussycat. She just needed to be tamed, you know what I’m sayin’?” He winked and grinned at her.
Catt crossed her arms in front of her and pierced him with an icy gaze. “Tamed? Women aren’t dogs, Mr. Ford, or cats, for that matter.”
He smirked. “I’ve known a few who were both.”
“Then I guess you should watch the company you keep. You know—birds of a feather and whatnot,” she added sweetly.
Jamal took the hint and turned off the charm, easing back into business mode. “Well, could you go tell Miss Marshall I’m here?”
Before Catt could tell Jamal exactly where he could go, Oni breezed in with two cups of coffee and a coy smile. “I see the rumors are true,” she teased and handed him a cup. “The pictures I’ve seen online really don’t do you justice, Mr. Ford.” Jamal blushed and Catt rolled her eyes, facing her computer again. “I see you’ve met Miss Catt Cason. She’s definitely on the fast track to being one of our top chemists around here. I anticipate the two of you working together rather closely, especially now that we’re moving her up from the teens’ to our women’s line.”
“She was just filling me in on how hard she works around here,” added Jamal and made a face. “Maybe she works a little too hard . . .”
Catt glared in his direction.
Oni stepped in to diffuse the obvious tension. “Why don’t you come with me and let me give you the grand tour, Mr. Ford. Then we’ll come back and let you two finish getting acquainted. After all, with both of your offices being down here in the lab, the two of you are going to be spending a lot of time together.”
Jamal accepted the tour offer, and the two of them jaunted off together.
“And good riddance!” muttered Catt after them. It was rare that she took an instant disliking to someone, but there was something about Mr. Jamal Ford that unsettled her spirit. Maybe it was the way he strutted about like he owned the place or the arrogant aura about him. Nothing good could come from a man like that.
Just as Catt had gotten acclimated to her peaceful surroundings again, Jamal and his cocky smile blazed through the door.
“That Oni is something else!” he remarked, more to himself than to her.
“Well, she’s our boss,” replied Catt from behind a test tube. “That’s all that matters.”
“She’s a trip. I like her already.”
“As a businesswoman and professional, I’m sure she’d rather have your respect than your admiration.”
“She has it. You know what I like most about her? She’s not afraid to chill out and have a little fun. It’s a concept you might want to look into.”
Catt looked up from her test tube. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means maybe the Catt needs to be stroked a little to put a smile on your face instead of that evil frown.”
The implication wasn’t lost on Catt, and it was the third time that day that he had managed to rile her. She decided right then that it was also going to be the last. “You know—this is not going to work!” she stated, setting the test tube back in its place.
“What isn’t?”
“My working with you. You are egregious and unprofessional, and I don’t think that you’re a good fit for this company. In fact, I intend to talk to Oni about it right now.” She gathered her things.
“Talk to Oni about what?”
“Let’s put it this way—I wouldn’t start getting too comfortable around here if I were you.”
He seemed both amused and annoyed. “Then it’s a good thing you’re not me, isn’t it?”
“Do you even know who I am?” she asked, raising her voice an octave. “I could have you fired just like that!” She snapped her fingers to illustrate.
“On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that I refuse to work with you! It’s going to be either you or me, and, believe me, Oni is not going to let me walk. I’ve been here too long and have contributed too much to this company.”
“Catt, Telegenic paid big bucks to buy me out of my contract. They’re about to launch this new line, and they need my help. I’m at the top of my game, sweetheart,” he boasted. “I don’t think that they’re going to be in a big hurry to fire me because you can’t take a joke. Or maybe it’s the fact that what I said is true that’s got you all beside yourself.”
She huffed and marched out. “Oni,” she screeched, making a beeline straight to her office. “We need to talk right now!”
Chapter 4
For once, Catt was dreading the elevator trip down to the lab, not so much because Jamal would be working there, but because she would have to tread in with her tail between her legs following her diatribe with Jamal and her pointless attempt to get him axed from the company. Perhaps fate would be kind and let Jamal forget that she had threatened to have him fired.
“I heard you talked to Oni. Do I still have a job, or should I start packing?” asked Jamal the moment she stepped off of the elevator. Apparently, fate was a cruel and heartless bastard.
“You’re safe,” she replied coolly, walking across the tile to her office.
Jamal followed her. “What did you tell her?”
She donned her lab coat and turned on the computer. “I voiced my concerns, but I also added that I’m willing to give you another shot, provided that you’re willing to put forth the effort of being a team player. After all, I am a professional, and I realize that certain allowances must be made for the good of the company.”
He leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed in front of him and a smirk on his face. “Basically, what you’re trying to say is that Oni told you what you could do with all your threats to quit and have me fired.”
Her face contorted into a snarl. “Don’t push it, Ford,” she warned him. “Fear not, though—I fully expect for you to live up to my lowest expectations. You’ll dig your own grave without my having to tell Oni anything.”
“My work will speak for itself. It always does.”
“Well, let’s hope so.” She skimmed through her e-mails. “Speaking of work, we need to come up with some sort of schedule or arrangement. I think it’s better for everyone if we work together as little as possible, don’t you agree?”
“No, I don’t.” He stepped inside of her office. “Oni told me all about you. You’re bullheaded but more than that, you’re smart and an asset to this company. I need you.”
She mocked him. “So, the great and powerful Jamal Ford is admitting that he needs my help?”
“I’m admitting that we could make one heck of a team if you’d let it happen. I know that we got off on the wrong foot, and I apologize for my part in that, but we’re stuck together now. How about we just start over; pretend the last hour or so never happened. The last thing I want to do is sabotage our working relationship before it even gets started.”
She was stunned. “That’s mighty big of you. I appreciate it.”
“In that case,” he cleared his throat and stood upright, extending his right hand with a conciliatory grin, “I’m Jamal Ford, the new R&D chemist around here. What’s your name?”
A reluctant smile crept across her lips. “Catt Cason. Everyone calls me Catt.” When she enveloped her hand into his, an electric shock circulated from his hand through her entire body, sending enough heat to warm the Arctic. She quickly snatched her hand back. The exchange didn’t appear to have affected him the same way.
They walked out into
the lab. Jamal rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “So, Miss Catt Cason, show me what you’ve got. Let’s see what you’ve been working on.”
Catt reached over to her test tubes and pulled out one of the samples. “This is a combination I’ve been toying with. It’s sort of strong yet soft. It’s for the woman who wants to run with the big boys but can still pull off femininity and grace.”
Jamal inhaled the swab and shook his head. “No, too strong—try again.”
“You didn’t like that, huh?” She was a little miffed. Not one to be deterred that easily, she handed him another sample. “Okay, how about this one? It’s my personal favorite. I think it’s perfect for a young woman, maybe a college student, who’s into natural, clean scents. What do you think?”
Jamal smelled it and thought for a moment. “Nope; too light.”
Catt suppressed her annoyance and passed him a third fragrance. “Maybe the third time will be the charm,” she replied through clenched teeth.
After sniffing it, Jamal closed his eyes and shook his head again.
Catt rolled her eyes, fuming. “You said that the last one was too light; the first one was too strong. Can’t you make up your mind? What’s the problem now?”
“Catt, you’re a woman . . . I’m assuming. Would you wear this, let alone buy it?”
“I don’t see anything wrong with it, just like I didn’t see anything wrong with the last two fragrances you rejected.”
“That’s because you’re used to creating products for the teen and young adult lines. This new clientele you’re aiming for is very sophisticated and has more discerning tastes. They’re not about to plunk down fifty dollars on something that smells like mouthwash. You’re in the big leagues now, Catt; no more of that bubble gum stuff.”
“I’ll have you to know that Ingénue was the number-one fragrance for six months and was our biggest seller last year,” she hurled. “I was the mastermind behind that.”
“Stop being so sensitive. This isn’t about you, it’s about expanding and creating a better product.”
“Derrick never had a problem with my work,” she uttered in reference to the former R&D head.
“And where is he now? Standing in line at the unemployment office. Overall sales plummeted under his watch, which is why they recruited me. I’m determined to put Telegenic back on top, and I need for you to stop fighting me on this.”
“And I need you to stop being a tyrant. That’s not the way we do things around here.”
“Maybe it should be. Doing things the old way has cost this company millions.”
“Look, Jamal, I know that you think the cosmetic sun rises and falls on you, but the reality is, I don’t know anything about you. I don’t trust you, and until Oni, who is my real boss, directs me to do otherwise, I’ll keep doing what I know works, thank you very much!”
Jamal eyed her with disapproval. “You know, I honestly thought that we had settled all of this animosity and attitude.” Catt smacked her lips. “Yeah, that’s real mature, Catt. Now I understand why they put you in charge of the teen line.”
Catt immediately took offense. “I take my job very seriously, and I’m good at what I do. I don’t appreciate you stomping in here out of nowhere and crapping all over my hard work!”
“What, so I’m supposed to be impressed because you’re good at your job?” he fired back. “You’re supposed to be good; otherwise, they don’t need you. I’m not here to coddle you. This is a business, Catt. People’s lives and livelihoods are dependent on this company being a success, and that can’t happen if I let you turn out subpar products to keep from hurting your feelings. If you have a problem with me or my way of doing things, you don’t have to work. There are plenty of people willing to do what you aren’t for the same salary.”
“You didn’t let me—”
“This conversation is over, Cason. Now get back to work and get it right this time,” he ordered and charged into his office, slamming the door behind him.
All of a sudden, Catt was back in third grade getting yelled at by her teacher for spilling glue all over her desk. As she did then, she masked a stern face but was a blubbering mess inside. Catt stopped a tear before it had a chance to escape down her cheek. Then she heard his door creak open a minute later.
“Sorry,” he said in a huff. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that.”
She sniffed. “I’m a big girl inside and out, and my skin is a lot thicker than you seem to think it is.”
“That’s good. You need a tough hide in this business.” He emerged from his office and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to upset you.”
She snatched away from him. “You didn’t, okay? Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”
He turned her toward him. “Why don’t we work on it together?”
“I’ve got it,” she insisted. “I don’t need your help.”
“You need my help, and then some. This is never going to work if you can’t learn to give up some control and trust that you’re not the only one around here who knows what they’re doing.”
She brushed off his comment with a brusque, “I just can’t figure out for the life of me why God and Oni saddled me with you.”
“Maybe I’m that thorn in your flesh that’s supposed to keep you on your knees,” he replied good-naturedly. “Or maybe I was sent here by the Lord to drive you crazy and, ultimately, turn you into a better person.”
“God sends us good and perfect gifts,” she retorted.
“He sends you what you need, even if you don’t know you need it yet.”
“Oh, so you’re a prophet too?” she asked flippantly.
“Hardly. You’re doing good if you catch me in church most Sundays, but I am a chemist, and I know another good chemist when I see one. And you’re good, Catt.” He moved in a little closer and lowered his voice. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t make you better.”
Catt backed up. Having him so close made her inexplicably nervous. “You’re very arrogant. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“All the time,” he admitted. “But eventually they come around.” He began toying with some of the other fragrances that Catt had been working on.
“Those aren’t ready to be scrutinized yet,” she told him. “They’re still in the developing stage.”
“Kind of like the two of us,” he mused. Jamal inhaled one of her samples. “This fragrance is a lot like you . . . bold, sassy . . . complicated.”
“Does this mean you like it?”
He returned the sample to its socket. His eyes washed over her body. “Let’s just say that the data is inconclusive,” said Jamal and walked out of the door, still as much an enigma to Catt as ever.
Chapter 5
At the end of her long work day, Catt sought the comfort at the bottom of a quart of triple-fudge brownie ice cream and a rerun of Oprah. As Oprah’s expert de jour was expounding on the dangers of emotional eating, the doorbell rang.
“When did you get back?” asked Catt when she found her best friend and hairstylist, Toria Turner, on her door step.
“Are you going to let me in or not? It’s hot out here!” she exclaimed, lifting her thick mass of braids to get some air underneath.
Catt crossed her arms and frowned. “I don’t know. You look a little empty-handed.”
“Don’t worry.” Toria pushed her way into Catt’s living room. “Mama sent you her sweet potato pie just like she promised. It’s at home.” Toria slouched into the sofa, making herself comfortable as usual. “So what have I been missing around here?”
“A lot.” Catt sat down beside her. “And take your feet off my coffee table.”
Toria smacked her teeth and begrudgingly complied. “Can’t too much happen in a week,” she deadpanned in her deep, Southern drawl.
“Maybe not in your world but in mine, a week can hold a lifetime of drama.”
Toria exhaled. “All right, who or what has Oni done—or not do
ne—now?”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with her directly. It’s about this new R&D they burdened me with.”
Toria absently twisted her braids into a thick rope. “What’s the problem?”
“The problem is that he’s arrogant and—”
Toria stopped. “Oh, it’s a he?” she asked, intrigued.
“There are a few other things I can call him if you’d like! I can’t stand the way he flaunts about all self-righteous with his fancy suits and smooth tongue and worms his way into everyone’s good graces, especially Oni’s. I don’t know why I’m the only who sees through this guy.”
Toria picked up a copy of Essence lying on Catt’s coffee table. “Is he incompetent?”
“No, not really,” admitted Catt. “I mean, I’ve seen better, but he knows his stuff.”
“Has he been giving you a hard time?”
“Not in any obvious way but . . . I can’t describe it, Tori. It’s all very covert and indirect.”
Toria looked up from the magazine. “Okay, so, what exactly is it about him that you don’t like?”
Catt was stuck. “I don’t know. There’s no one glaring thing. It’s lots of little things.”
Toria snickered. “It sounds to me like you might have a thing for him.”
Catt was aghast. “What? I just told you that I can’t stand him. How could you possibly think that based on what I just said?”
Toria directed her hands toward Catt. “Look at you—you’re all worked up over this guy. The only time you get like that is when you really like somebody.”
“Toria, I think you were out in that sun too long down in Miami.” Catt got up and disappeared into the kitchen.
“So, what are you going to do about what’s his name—the chemist?” asked Toria loud enough for Catt to hear her.
Catt returned with two sodas. “Who, Jamal?” She passed a soda to Toria and popped the can on hers. “I don’t know. Obviously, getting him fired isn’t the answer. I already tried that. I’m just going to sit back and wait for him to hang himself. He can’t go on fooling everyone forever.”
