Chapter 14
Samaria took a last look at herself in the mirror of the ladies restroom. She had tried to look her best without overdoing it on the makeup. She opened her new Prada handbag and removed a bottle of her favorite perfume. Passion. It was sure to lure the man of her dreams to her. One more squirt on the neck. She didn’t want him to smell her coming down the hallway, but she did want to arouse his senses. She sniffed the scented air. Perfect.
Just as she returned her perfume to the bag, her cell phone rang. Tom Cooper. She recognized the distinct ring tone she’d assigned him.
She pushed the button on her earpiece. “This is the third time you’ve called me.”
“Who was that street hood you were with last night?” Cooper asked. Vexation was evident in the way he growled.
“My date,” Samaria answered. “Who was the old bag on your arm?”
“Don’t get smart with me, Mair,” he said, using the nickname he’d given to her. She hated being called Samaria. Cooper thought Sam was a guy’s name, and as he’d remarked to her many times, she was all woman. “I thought you were coming with April.”
“She cancelled on me. I didn’t want to sit alone. Not like I could go with you.”
“I didn’t give you money for a dress so you could come with your rapper wannabe boyfriend.”
“Consider me charity, Coop. Write it off on your taxes. Now I know you couldn’t be calling to ask about last night, so what do you want? I’m in the middle of studying.”
He paused, and then made the statement she knew was coming next. “I want to see you.”
Samaria reached into her handbag and pulled out mascara. She applied a little more to her eyelashes.
“Mair . . . Mair are you there?”
“Of course I’m here.” He might be more trouble than he’s worth, she thought. “I can’t see you tonight. I have a big exam on Tuesday evening, and I have to study all weekend.”
“It’s been almost two weeks since you’ve made time for me. What’s going on? Are you sleeping with that—”
“I’m not sleeping with anyone, including you, in case you don’t remember. We are supposed to be friends. Have a few dinners, help each other through our problems. I didn’t promise you a permanent spot on my calendar.”
“But—”
“But nothing. I’ve got to go.” She ended the call. Samaria knew he’d be fuming. She’d compensate him for his trouble soon enough. Especially since the dress was such a show stopper. Jonah couldn’t take his eyes off her, and that’s exactly the precursor she wanted for today’s meeting.
Cooper was such a sucker. She loved his type. He was spending money, and she hadn’t even had to give anything up. Jonah wasn’t going to be so easy. Although he wasn’t an obvious dog, he was a man. Push the right sensory buttons and they all eventually succumbed. Plus she had an added advantage. She could tell Jonah wasn’t happy. He’d come in the office too many mornings looking miserable and stressed. That wasn’t work related, not first thing in the morning. It was “My wife’s gonna make me lose my mind, up in here, . . . up in here . . .” stress.
Samaria was actually feeling a twinge of guilt. Jonah’s wife had always been so nice to her. Nicer than most women, and she was pretty in a classic way, but so plain. One couldn’t even tell she was married to a successful man; not from the way she dressed. Every time she’d come to the office, she was so casual. Sneakers and sweats. Last night was the first time Samaria had ever seen her dressed up, and she’d chosen an old maid dress.
“Borrrrring,” Samaria said, removing a tube of lip gloss from her bag and adding another layer. But she did have to give the sister some credit. That jewelry she was wearing cost mad money. She hadn’t missed the diamond necklace or the watch.
Samaria tugged at her tube top, and then pulled down her daisy duke denim shorts. Her body looked great in this outfit. She’d been wearing the same one when she met her last boyfriend, a married lawyer, who she’d been sure was going to leave his wife last summer. Samaria sucked her teeth. Married men were so unpredictable. They complained about their wives, but then she never knew which ones were full of crap and which ones were genuinely looking for someone like her. A woman who would be devoted to satisfying all his needs . . . in between shopping trips, of course.
She put her lip gloss tube away and ran her fingers through her hair. Her watch read 8:25 A.M. Except for one of the accounting people and a medical records technician, the building was empty. Jonah would be there in five minutes. He was always on time.
She fluffed her hair one last time and picked up her backpack. It was time to go get her doctor. Then she could throw away these stupid books forever.