Grinning from ear to ear, Zacari paused when a sound from her bedroom reached her. The door was closed, but someone was in there. The alarm clock had just gone off, followed by a male grunt and a slam she assumed was him hitting the snooze button.

  “Oh hell no,” she muttered. That cheating ass was still here. She didn’t know why she’d thought otherwise. His name was on the lease just like hers, and just like her he had no family he could stay with.

  Why he didn’t go stay at her friend’s house, she didn’t know, but Zacari wasn’t sticking around to find out. She’d spend this weekend looking for somewhere else to live. The next time she laid eyes on that bastard, she hoped it would be at his funeral.

  Zacari tiptoed around the apartment looking for the duffle bag she knew was there. She found it and waited for her ex to get in the shower before she hurried into her bedroom and stuffed a few needed items into the bag. After he was gone, she’d come back for the rest. With her toothbrush and other essential toiletries in hand, she dropped the bag by the front door and headed across the hall to her neighbor’s place.

  Melvin, her ex, was what some called a metrosexual male. Zacari knew he’d be in the bathroom a good hour, maybe longer. She could shower, dress, and be gone before he ever knew she’d been there. With some lame excuse about calling maintenance about her plumbing, she convinced her neighbor to let her use the shower, and then Zacari was on her way.

  She caught a taxi downtown to retrieve her car at the bar and then ran across the street to a coffeehouse where she could nurse the pain in her head with caffeine and look in the paper for rentals. Something month-to-month would be perfect for now. Within an hour, she found what she was looking for and dialed the number on her cell.

  “Hi, is this Richardson Rental Properties?” she asked when a woman answered mumbling something incomprehensible.

  “Yes, it is,” the woman sang too cheery.

  “I understand you have month-to-month. Can I come in there today and move in on tomorrow or Monday? Do you have a unit ready?”

  “Wow, sweetie we’d need to check your references and things—”

  “What if I give you three months rent up front plus security?” Zacari crossed her fingers under the table and cringed at having to dip into her savings, but she had no choice. She’d call her current apartment manager and tell him what was happening. Hopefully, he’d understand.

  “Let me ask my manager. Hold on.”

  Zacari waited. She deliberately called one of the hotel converted to apartments places having heard that they would cut a deal with just about anybody. As long as she had the cash, they didn’t care. She hoped that still held true.

  The woman came back on the line. “Okay, sweetie, if you can get here before we close with the cash, you can move in on Monday.”

  “Not tomorrow?”

  “Sorry, Monday’s the earliest. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, that’s fine.” She wrapped up the call and slumped in her chair cradling her coffee. All of a sudden, when she’d thought her life was in perfect order, she was slung into chaos. Worse, for two days, she’d be homeless. Zacari prepared to accept what she couldn’t change. Her mother might have died when Zacari was twelve, but in the little time she’d known her, her mother had taught her to be strong and independent. One way or another everything would work out.

  * * * *

  Zacari snatched her note pad off her desk, fiddled with the run in her pantyhose, and hurried to make a meeting on time. From the first step into the conference room, she couldn’t take her eyes off Jack O’Connor—that is until he looked back at her. Then everything in the room was more interesting than him. Did he know she’d had sex with his son Friday night, probably in a car he used? When she thought of it that way, it seemed so sleazy.

  Saying nothing, she slipped into a seat as far away from Jack as possible. The notepad clutched between numb fingers became her focal point, a safe haven. This was ridiculous of course. She wasn’t a child, and neither was Keary. She could chant those facts over and over, but the flutters in her stomach didn’t care.

  “Zacari, is there a problem?”

  Her mouth went dry at Jack’s question, but she straightened and cleared her throat. “Oh, no problem. Just have a lot on my mind this morning.”

  Jack’s friendly smile unsettled her more. Everyone spoke of how personable he seemed. Jack had a trick he used to remember all the employees’ names, from the clerk in the mailroom to the seasonal temps. The day she met him and he laid his hand on her shoulder offering that same smile had warmed her and made her glad to be a part of his vision for Connor and O’Connor.

  “Good,” Jack said, “I’m glad to hear it. I know you were out yesterday, but I wanted to bring you up to speed on the changes taking place at C-O-C.” That was Jack treating her like an executive and not just an assistant.

  “Cock,” someone coughed followed by a few titters. That joke was getting old. Jack liked to shorten the company name to initials, but many called it Cock instead. It had been funny the first half a dozen times.

  “As you know, Zacari,” Jack said, ignoring the joke, “and everyone else, we’re having some issues in our branch in Cairo right now. A few fires, nothing we can’t handle. I sent my son Keary to take care of it—”

  “Keary?” Zacari almost shouted, and everyone turned to look at her. She cleared her throat and tugged on her hair before lowering her eyes. “I mean, go on.”

  Jack chuckled. “Yes, Keary. Trust me, if there’s anything to be done, he’ll do it. I know how people think just because a man owns a large corporation, he places his incompetent children in positions of authority. No way! I spent a fortune on Keary’s education and training. He can handle Cairo.”

  Zacari found it odd that the original Connor who had begun the corporation was just a name. No one had ever seen him, but then the rumor was that he had the money to begin the venture, but Jack had the brains. The other man seemed to be happy with the fact that his name came first and he collected a huge paycheck.

  “That’s what I like about you, Jack,” one of the VP’s cut in, “you shoot from the hip. You’re right up front in addressing the real issues, and you don’t pull punches.”

  “Yeah, just like he ‘punched’ you out last week for that software flub,” another man teased.

  The VP reddened, but Jack wrenched control of the conversation again and continued his report. Zacari’s thoughts were no longer on the meeting. She couldn’t help thinking of Keary. They’d made no plans to see each other again. In fact, she’d made sure to hop out of the limo when it pulled up to her place, and with nothing more than a wave and a “it was amazing” tossed over her shoulder, she’d disappeared inside.

  Zacari didn’t indulge in one night stands, but that’s all Friday night was. What she needed to do now was put it behind her. If she revisited the night in her thoughts, it should be to enjoy the fact that she’d seduced a sexy rich dude and leave it there. Besides, Jack didn’t behave like he knew anything, and from what she knew of the Cairo mess, Keary would be gone a while. So no awkwardness at work—bonus!

  By the end of the day, Zacari was much more relaxed and feeling positive. She’d spent the night in her car on Sunday which wasn’t so bad since the warm weather held. Now she was moved into her place. On her way out of the office, she checked her watch. On Tuesday after work, Melvin hit the gym. This was a perfect opportunity to slip into the apartment and grab the rest of her stuff.

  She found her car in the company parking lot and headed out. Fifteen minutes later, she arrived and hopped out of the car. If her head wasn’t filled with questions of what she’d have for dinner later, she might have noticed the purple bug. Not until she’d pushed her key into the lock and opened the door did she realize.

  Pam came from the bedroom wearing a short teddy that showed off her long curvy legs. Her weave with blond streaks sat wild and sexy about her head. Even though she wasn’t dressed for the day, Pam had already donned her makeup including false lashes and heavy eyeliner. Zacari knew from going with her the day she got them that Pam had piercings and tattoos that would have any man’s tongue hanging out in lust.

  “What are you doing here?” Pam demanded. “I thought you moved out.” Her hand went to her hip. “Melvin’s going to need that key back.”

  “Excuse me, but my name is still on the lease,” Zacari informed her while she slammed the door. “Yours isn’t. And I have to get the rest of my stuff.”

  “Well hurry up.”

  Zacari paused on the way to the closet. “What’s with the attitude, Pam? Maybe you forgot, but I was the one wronged, not you. You were supposed to be my best friend, and we’d been through a lot together long before Melvin came on the scene.”

  Pam sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “Whatever, that’s old news. He’s with me now.”

  “Don’t sound so threatened,” Zacari spat. “Trust me, I don’t want him back.”

  “As if you could get him.”

  Zacari sighed. “Whatever.” She walked to the bedroom and opened the closet. All of her clothes had been dumped into a pile in the corner of the walk-in. What she didn’t get was what all the hostility was about. Hell, she could have told them to take it somewhere else and she would keep the apartment. She’d never begged or cried demanding to know why they treated her like this. She didn’t even yell or curse either of them out. Most people would have. Zacari just walked away and cried in private then attempted to drink herself silly. And here she was subjected to this crap, her stuff thrown aside like she’d done something wrong.

  Pam, obviously wanting a fight, followed her into the bedroom and stood over her like Zacari tried to steal something. “See that’s how you are, Zacari, a cold heartless bitch. Melvin told me how you wouldn’t react when he told you stuff you didn’t want to hear. You never argue or fight back. You just do what you want to do, and he has to find out later that you didn’t give a damn what he did or said.”

  Zacari whirled on her. “And that’s where you came in right, all loving support?”

  Pam flipped her hair, the teddy straining over her breasts and outlining her nipples. Zacari wanted to throw up as she thought of how Melvin must have loved seeing her ex-friend like that. Pain tightened her chest. Pam was so off base thinking she didn’t have a heart.

  “Why not?” Pam admitted. “Melvin is a young black man going places. He’s already pulling in fifty thousand a year, and he’s ready to go into business with his boy. That’s on the side until they make it full time. After that, he’s going to blow up huge.”

  “So that’s what it’s about, the money?” Zacari went to the kitchen to grab a couple trash bags and came back to dump her stuff into it. “You’re eye candy, and he pays for it with his wallet.”

  Pam purred. “Don’t hate because I have what you messed up and lost.”

  Zacari stood up and gathered her things. “Trust me, it’s not hating. Just like I told Melvin when he asked my opinion, this business deal is a bad move. He’s going to get burned. I keep my ears open at work, and I learn a lot. In school I’m taking tons of business classes. I know what I’m talking about.”

  “You are a secretary, Zacari, and you only have your Associates degree. What do you know?”

  “I may be an assistant, but that doesn’t make me an idiot. Melvin doesn’t have a degree, and he got where he is riding his uncle’s coattails. If you think that qualifies him to know business, you’re the fool. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I wasn’t as supportive as I could have been, but I’m out of it now. You can save the attitude for someone else. You won’t be seeing me again.”

  With that, Zacari headed down to her car. Behind the wheel, she slipped on sunglasses and blinked away the moisture in her eyes before pulling off. Pam had been so wrong about how she felt. Sure she didn’t let people see her cry very often, but that didn’t mean she had no feelings. And so what she was independent and strong. There was nothing wrong with that. Melvin should have been man enough to break up with her if he wasn’t happy not sneak around behind her back, and it was for damn sure he wasn’t with Pam because she was the sweet supportive wife type. Pam represented slutty sex, nothing more, and by her own admission, she just wanted Melvin’s money. Well, he would learn. Zacari had every intention of moving on.

  Chapter Three

  Three weeks later

  Zacari glanced up at the mirror over her bathroom sink and grinned. A promotion and relocation couldn’t have come at a better time. Twice in her big ass city, she’d spotted Pam and Melvin together. Once they’d been shopping at the mall in a furniture store, and another time, she’d seen them downtown on the street. Both instances, Melvin pretended he didn’t see Zacari, and Pam cast her triumphant looks without shame. Why couldn’t the girl just move on and be happy with what she had? Why’d she have to act like she could only have something good if it spited someone else?

  “I don’t care,” Zacari chanted and wiped the steamed over mirror. Jack had personally told her about the new opportunity. She would have a step up in position, not exactly defined, but more money and she wasn’t answering phones all day—at least not for everybody. That alone was a reason to celebrate. The executive she reported to answered his own calls. On top of everything else, she was moving to Chicago.

  Still bubbling with excitement, she left the bathroom and headed to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. Passing the calendar on the wall, she paused, and her heart felt like it hammered in her throat. Today is the twenty-third? No, it can’t be. Please, no!

  Her period came like clockwork with a half week of headaches and crankiness to warn of its arrival. Yet, she realized that it was late by several days. “Don’t panic,” she told herself while she flipped to the previous month. She counted out the days two and then three times. The breath she blew out seemed to whistle in her tightened chest. “Okay…panic.”

  Zacari didn’t waste a minute debating what to do. She hightailed it over to the drug store and bought three different brands of pregnancy tests. None she’d chosen required the first pee of the day, so she got right to it. Within a few minutes the horror of her situation hit her hard, and she sank onto the bathroom floor crying her eyes out.

  A thought occurred to her. Was this even Melvin’s baby? Like before when she’d been calculating the date of her last period and when she should have expected it this time, she thought back to the date she’d last been with Melvin. It had been at least four or five weeks before they broke up. Hell, now that she thought of it Melvin had a high sex drive, and for him not feel in the mood said he’d already been cheating. That meant her baby’s father was no one other than Keary.

  What had she done? Why had she done it? She didn’t know Keary like that. He could have been sleeping with half the female population for all she knew, which meant she could have picked up something. On top of that dumbness having no condom, she wasn’t on the pill because her system went psycho when she did. The worse thing about it all was this was all her fault. Keary hadn’t seduced her. She’d seduced him, had refused to take no for an answer. Now, with her irresponsibility, he was going to be a father.

  For an instant, Zacari considered not telling him, but that was wrong. Keary had a right to know. She’d just make it clear that she didn’t expect one thing from him. She didn’t make a whole lot of money, but since the raise, there was no reason she couldn’t support herself and her baby. And C-O-C health insurance was top notch. Jack had made sure of that.

  Calmer now, she stood up and wiped her face. The first move she needed to make was to find out Keary’s address. At her office, she had access to everyone’s personal information being that she worked for the executives. She hoped it wasn’t a breech of privacy since it wasn’t like she wanted to stalk the man. All Zacari wanted to do was send a letter to Keary. He’d get it when he returned to the U.S., and then he could either ignore her or come find her and talk it out. Just like Zacari had access, so did Keary.

  Her plans made, Zacari went about preparing to move to Chicago. Out-of-control emotions, which she attributed to being psychological, had her crying often. Zacari went through the motions of her transition coupled with changes in her body. Over the next six months, all she felt she did was vomit and moan because she felt like vomiting.

  * * * *

  Keary slung his suit bag over his shoulder and took hold of the other case by its handle. Used to travel but long past his tolerance of the desert, he was glad to be home. A low tone caught his attention, and he dug his phone out of his pocket. The message made him grin. That was the best part of getting back. He would be able to see Debbie in the Chicago office. Their relationship had been casual when he left, but over skype, it had heated up. He looked forward to seeing how much further it would go.

  Of course office relationships were frowned on, but Debbie was an executive not a secretary or a clerk who others would feel he was taking advantage of. She was great in business and had an excellent head on her shoulders. Keary admired that and more. When he wanted to recall that last sexy picture she’d sent him, his mind switched to Zacari instead.

  As he stepped into the waiting limo that would speed him back to his luxury apartment, he couldn’t help remembering how she’d felt under him. Her body had been perfect, smooth tawny skin, curvy hips, and breasts to fit into the palms of his hands. He sighed. That had been a fling, something he would never repeat. After all, she’d been exercising some demons and getting some of her own back after her boyfriend cheated. Keary hoped he’d left her with a sigh of satisfaction the next morning rather than more regrets. He knew he didn’t regret it, not for an instant. If the circumstances had been right, could he…No, he’d look like he was taking advantage of her. Keary valued his position in his father’s company, and he wasn’t going to give the old man or himself a bad name by going after a woman who was not at least management level. Besides, she was too sweet a woman for him to screw her over like the last asshole. Better to just move on and remember the pleasure they shared for one night.