Page 9 of Jordan
"Why me?" She could not believe she was entertaining his ridiculous offer.
Removing his hand from hers, he patted his pocket and started to draw out the case but decided against it. "Let's just say you're of the right complexion."
Her eyes glittered. "Meaning, I am Black."
He inclined his head, eyes glimmering in amusement. "I want to taint the precious Wainwright blood."
"Get someone else to play your sick game--"
"I remember the day when she punished your mother by making her stay later than her shift. All because you had an accident and ended up in the ER. Mother only cared that she was late to prepare for the dinner party she was hosting."
Tears and anger glittered in her eyes as the memories came fast and furious. She had fallen out of the oak tree at the edge of her aunt's property. Julesa recalled how stressed and anxious her mother had been because she had to rush with her tothe hospital. Fortunately, she had only suffered from a broken collarbone and scratch and bruises. But taking her there had cut into her work time and Jacquline Wainwright had been furious, only caring about her precious dinner party.
"That was a long time ago," she muttered.
"You still remember, and it pisses you off."
"Not anymore." She shook her head as he lifted his brows.
"She cannot hurt me anymore."
"But now you have a chance to pay her back." For the first time since the idea germinated inside his mind, he realized how much he wanted her to say yes.
"I cannot marry you."
"Why not?"
She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "Because--what you're suggesting is crazy."
"Then let's get crazy together." His voice was persuasive and Julesa could not believe she was even considering it.
"I--"
"Think about it." He rose. "I'll give you a couple of days."
"I'm not going to change my mind."
"We'll see." With a mocking salute, he left the room.
She sat there as if turned to stone. The rapidly cooling tea was forgotten as well as the biscuits he had placed in front of her. Her head was buzzing. He wanted her to marry him. No, she shook her head, hands clasped on the counter. It was crazy. Yes, he had hit the nail on the head when he said she wanted revenge. She could taste it. After thinking that she had gotten over the way those people had treated her and her mother, it had surfaced viciously as soon as she stepped foot on the soil.
She hated the Wainwright's. Hated them with a passion that twisted her in knots. She wanted nothing more than to rub their faces in her success. And it occurred to her that being a bestselling author with books that had been turned into box office success meant nothing to them. They were untouchable, powerful and it did not matter to them that she had beaten the odds.
"No," she whispered. "I cannot be considering it. There's no way." Picking up the tea, she swallowed it down. It could have been plain water, she never even tasted it.
*****
Cursing beneath his breath, he almost stepped back out of his suite when he saw his sister sitting on the edge of his bed. After the way he had left things the other night, his family was barely speaking to him. Which was fine with him. His mother had stonily told him that he had embarrassed the family and Sally.
"Whatever it is, will have to wait. I am heading out."
"I won't take long."
On closer inspection, he saw that his sister's face was stained with tears. What were the odds of having two women crying in his presence, he wondered wearily.
Closing the doors, he kicked off his shoes and left them by the bed. "What's wrong?"
"I had a miscarriage." Her hands were gripped so tightly together, the knuckles were showing white.
