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“I was on campus and thought I’d drop by on the off chance you might be here,” Jaslene said, smiling. “And here I get the treat of not just you, but the sweetest baby in the whole world, too.”
Jaslene bent over Hampton. “Aren’t you the cutest baby ever? That’s right, you are. Cute, cute, cute.”
Amara grinned at the sight of the always put-together Jaslene baby-talking to her son. She was dressed to the nines, as always. At nearly six-feet tall, and nearly as beautiful as a runway model, Jaslene was a presence, to be sure.
They cooed over Hampton for a few minutes, and then Amara offered Jaslene a seat.
“How’s your new venture going?” Amara asked.
“Better than I thought, which is why I’m on campus. I was talking with some people in the economics department. I’ve had some feelers out in Detroit, and I’m looking to find investors for several woman-owned start-ups there.”
Amara nodded. “What kind of companies?”
“Some tech, some foodstuffs, personal hygiene-type products, too. A few would be local only, like this one that wants to open a food truck. Others could go national eventually.”
“How wonderful,” Amara said. “Have you got city government behind you? It can really make all the difference.”
“That’s the plan, eventually. But if I have to go it alone, so be it. I feel great about what I’m doing. This is going to be quite an adventure, don’t you think?” Jaslene’s pretty eyes sparkled as she asked the question.
“Undoubtedly. Good for you.”
“It’s all because of you, Amara. Anyway, how’s it going with the trials?”
Amara filled her in briefly but was interrupted when a colleague, June, poked her head into the office.
“Oh, you do have Hampton with you,” June said. “Wanted to warn you. Frederik’s roaming the halls and, as usual, he’s got nothing good to say about you and yours. You might want to lay low until he goes away.”
A surge of irritation shot through Amara. Frederik. Damn. “Thanks, June. I appreciate it.”
June gave a little wave and sped off.
“What the hell, Amara?” Jaslene asked. “That asshole’s still bothering you? You shouldn’t have to hide out from the likes of that.”
Amara agreed, but there was no escaping the man’s rancor. She wished constantly that she’d never gotten involved with him. But then she’d look at Hampton and realize she wouldn’t have him if it weren’t for Frederik. At least some good had come of the man’s lies.
She gave a “what can I do?” gesture to Jaslene, stood up and headed to the door to close it. She didn’t get there in time.
“So, got your spies out checking on me, do you?” sneered an accented voice from the hallway. Frederik. “Scurry into your hole, little rabbit. The big bad wolf is on the prowl. Or that is what you would have people think, no? That I am the evil wolf preying on innocent women?”
Amara glared at the man and heard Jaslene suck in a loud breath of outrage.
“You need to keep your voice down.” Amara moved to block the door. “I’m sure everyone is listening to you spew your venom.”
“Tsk-tsk,” Frederik said, smoothing his hair back from where it had fallen down on his forehead. He appeared increasingly disheveled of late, his hair not immaculately groomed as it once was, his clothes unpressed and untidy, shoes scuffed and unpolished.
“You mixed the metaphor,” he said. “Wolves do not have venom. That is for snakes. Is that what you tell people? That I am a snake?”
Chapter Eleven
“I DON’T TELL THEM ANYTHING, Frederik,” Amara said. “In fact, I never speak of you, period. You’re not worth the breath.”
“You must think me a fool. You plot against me. Admit it.” He tried to walk past her, but Amara wouldn’t move. He bumped into her. “Come. I heard the little prince is here. I want to see him.”
The situation was escalating. They’d had a verbal run-in or two in the past several months, but this physicality had already taken this meeting far beyond any of those others. Amara scooted in front of Frederik as he ramped up the pressure against her, slowly moving h
er backward.
“Stop it, Frederik. You can’t come in,” she said, trying to keep her voice low but commanding at the same time.
