Page 54 of Tempt Me
“In five minutes, I can help you clean all this up.” I gestured at the takeout containers.
“Fine.” She scooped up a few, and I snagged the rest and followed her to the kitchen.
When her phone pinged, she walked me to her front door and swept her thumb over my kiss-swollen lips. “Night, baby girl. See you Monday.”
17
The next Fridaywhile I was scheduling social media posts, Hannah let out a squeal.
“Check your email,” she said. “Right now.”
“Was that a good squeal or an oh-crap squeal?” I asked, switching windows on my laptop.
“Look, look, look!” She scurried around my desk and leaned over my shoulder pointing at an unread email. “It’s theBuzz Bizzarticle and the photos. Open, open, open!”
I clicked the email and opened the attachments. I scanned through the article. The wordscomposed, self-assured, rational,andforthrightpopped from the page. All good signs. I’d have to go back and read it later.
“Look at the pics.” Hannah snatched my mouse and clicked to open them.
Jamila filled my screen looking sophisticated and graceful but also down-to-earth. Or as down-to-earth as someone wearing a thousand-dollar dress could appear. “She looks great, doesn’t she?”
“Fabulous.” Hannah’s grin showed her perfect teeth.
“And the article? You read it?”
“It makes her out to be a goddess on earth. Totally the opposite of how she looked in that clip on TikTok. You did good, boss.”
Excitement bubbled in my belly. “I’ll ask if we can get the video from the interview so we can put some clips on TikTok. We’ll drown out the bad stuff.”
“Already asked. It’ll be a total win.”
I stood and held out my arms for a hug. “We did good. Thank you.”
She crushed me, crinkling my starched shirt. “I think you’ve got a future in PR.”
I’d never felt like this in any of my other careers. Not even when I’d made a pie crust that didn’t completely suck. “Maybe you’re right.”
A throat cleared at the doorway. Felicia stood there with an envelope in her hand.
Releasing Hannah, I stepped around my desk. Felicia handed me the envelope.
“What’s this?” I asked, slipping a finger under the flap.
“Paycheck.” She turned to leave.
“What about Hannah?” How had I gotten a paycheck and she hadn’t?
“I set up direct deposit,” Hannah said. When I looked at her blankly, she continued, “My paycheck goes directly into my bank account. Have you never done that before?”
I scrunched up my face. “I’ve never had a paying job before. Just volunteer stuff and unpaid internships. My stepfather took care of the flower shop’s finances.”
She chuckled. “Must be nice.”
Felicia let her disdain show in her curled lip. “Must be.”
My face heated. “I-I…” I couldn’t take Jamila’s money. All I’d wanted to do was help her. I also couldn’t be the entitled rich girl in front of these two hardworking women. “I need to see her.”
Pinching the envelope between my fingers, I marched to Jamila’s office, rapped on the door, and shoved it open.
