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“I can’t refuse,” she said. “I want to, but I can’t. There’s too much at stake. And I know there’s no point in asking you to fund my research without putting a price on it.” She waited, hopeful he would correct her.
He didn’t. He simply looked at her, his expression implacable.
“Right,” she said. “I’ll think about it.”
“How long?”
“I’ll let you know by tomorrow.”
He held out his hand, and she took it. Her hand felt tiny in his, she was dwarfed by both his physical size and the force of his dominant personality.
“Tomorrow,” he said, a gleam in his eyes.
Chapter Six
AMARA MADE AN EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT that afternoon with Jaslene Sims, her financial advisor and friend. Jaslene was a few years older than Amara, and brilliant beyond her years. She worked at one of the most prestigious investment firms in the country.
Amara had met her when she hired Jaslene’s firm to manage Amara’s investment portfolio. Jaslene had been put in charge of her account and they’d had an instant connection what with the two of them being young women of color in traditionally white-male-dominated fields. But it grew to more than that over time, and they shared much in common beyond their initial connection.
Jaslene met her for coffee, insisting on keeping the meeting informal. She was already waiting at a table with two steaming cups in front of her when Amara arrived. Jaslene looked stylish as usual.
They hugged, and Amara sat.
“Thanks for this, I needed it,” Amara said, inhaling the hot coffee as if it could give her sustenance.
“You’re certainly welcome,” Jaslene said. “I haven’t seen you much lately. I knew you’d been busy, but until you filled me in today, I had no idea how busy.”
“Yes, well, having my ex flay me alive isn’t something I’m crazy about discussing.”
Jaslene cocked her pretty head. She was always so put together, Amara thought. Nothing ever seemed to rattle the woman, and she’d never known anyone so capable and forthright.
“Why are we meeting here and not at your office?” Amara asked.
“So I don’t have to bill you.”
Amara laughed shakily. “It’s not a good sign when you ask your financial advisor to look into your portfolio, and the next thing she does is suggest you can’t afford her bill.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.” She sat up straighter and smiled. “I just don’t see any reason to pay them anything. I’ll be leaving my job soon.”
“What?” Amara was shocked. Jaslene was always so driven to success. It was a bolt from out of the blue, to be sure.
“It’s all your fault. You have no idea how much you’ve inspired me, do you?”
Amara shook her head. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’ve always admired you, Amara. The way you put your talents to work for others, but not like a martyr. You know what you want, and you make it happen, and you do it in the service of the world. It’s not all about you. I admire the hell out of that. In my business, you don’t see that kind of thing … ever.”
Amara’s face grew warm from her friend’s praise. “I’m not doing anything special. I’m only doing what I think is right.”
“And that’s exactly why you’re special. Not many people do the right thing. They make excuses and do what they want, and to hell with what they know deep inside is the true, right thing.”
Amara was uncomfortable with the topic, especially on this day. “Well, thank you. Now back to you. You said you’re quitting your job. What are you going to do?”
Her smile was blinding. “I’m going to follow in your footsteps and try to do something that matters in the bigger scheme of things. Or maybe I should say, in the better scheme of things.”
“Good for you. Got anything specific planned out yet?”
“I’m going to invest in your research,” she said in an even tone.
