to my girlfriends. They said that you weren’t in love with me if you had to give me a prenup.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “All I’m asking for is a second chance.” She wiped another escaping tear.
The more that Vanessa reiterated her point, the more Grant withdrew. No part of him wanted anything to do with Vanessa. He had made the mistake of settling for her, letting his ego get the better of him, rushing toward a fantasy that had remained elusive.
When he thought of beauty, brains and a sexy body that could cause a fantasy or two, only one person came to mind—Tamara Wendell. But he was wiser and much tougher now, and he knew that there was no real connection with Tamara. How could there be? The sexual nudge to his system when he was around her or even thought about her was only a tiny spark. He didn’t want to call it anything more significant.
“Let’s end this conversation on a civil note, shall we? Good-bye. And I wish you well, Vanessa.”
More tears welled in Vanessa’s eyes. Underneath the sorrow, he could see the anger of being scorned. The niggling sense that this might not be over hung in the room. He knew that she could go from sorrow to rage in an instant. A relationship that had started as a blind date had now turned into a recurring nightmare.
Vanessa gathered up her purse. “Since you are a man who hasn’t given up on his dream, then you should recognize a kindred spirit. I won’t give up on mine.” She stood with an erect posture, turned and walked away from him with her head held high. In a final show of anger, she flung open the office door and marched past a bewildered Latrice, who had to scoot back to get out of Vanessa’s way.
Grant didn’t move. He wasn’t worried about Vanessa’s new obsession, at least not in a way that made him worry about his safety. Instead, he wondered how much of a bother she’d be, especially once he notified security that she was persona non grata. Her mother! Like hell that would happen. He shook his head at the thought.
Grant wasted no time in calling Latrice and passing on his new instructions about Vanessa. Now that he’d wasted an hour, he had to get back to work. On his list of things to do was to call Tamara with his decision.
By the time he’d wrapped up pending items on his desk, he had changed his mind about calling Tamara. “Latrice, get in touch with Tamara Wendell. Let her know that I’m on my way to her academy to talk to her.”
Paying a visit to Tamara wasn’t on his to-do list, but dealing with Vanessa had royally screwed his mind from concentrating on anything. Tamara’s face had been popping into his head all day, and he wanted to see her. Plus, what better way to observe her than on her turf?
Grant left Rockville and headed over to the academy on the other side of the Beltway that wound around Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The academy was nestled on the outskirts of College Park, near the main campus of the University of Maryland. The mainly residential area had been split into several subdivisions along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
As he crested a steep hill in his car, New Horizons Leadership Academy popped into view. The red brick building had been a middle school. Its former name was still etched in the bricks arched over the entrance. The area looked worn around the edges. There were a few homes nearby that had For Sale signs or whose doors and windows were boarded shut. A dog ambled down the road, barking halfheartedly at his car. He pulled into the parking lot, surveying the area for any signs of life. A few cars were already parked. Otherwise, there weren’t signs of anyone.
The grass around the school had been recently mowed, and there was a small flower garden outlining the property. A fenced-in play area with new playground equipment was situated off to the side. Despite the dreary neighborhood and dated style of the school, a fresh coat of paint had been applied to the trimmings and
The more that Vanessa reiterated her point, the more Grant withdrew. No part of him wanted anything to do with Vanessa. He had made the mistake of settling for her, letting his ego get the better of him, rushing toward a fantasy that had remained elusive.
When he thought of beauty, brains and a sexy body that could cause a fantasy or two, only one person came to mind—Tamara Wendell. But he was wiser and much tougher now, and he knew that there was no real connection with Tamara. How could there be? The sexual nudge to his system when he was around her or even thought about her was only a tiny spark. He didn’t want to call it anything more significant.
“Let’s end this conversation on a civil note, shall we? Good-bye. And I wish you well, Vanessa.”
More tears welled in Vanessa’s eyes. Underneath the sorrow, he could see the anger of being scorned. The niggling sense that this might not be over hung in the room. He knew that she could go from sorrow to rage in an instant. A relationship that had started as a blind date had now turned into a recurring nightmare.
Vanessa gathered up her purse. “Since you are a man who hasn’t given up on his dream, then you should recognize a kindred spirit. I won’t give up on mine.” She stood with an erect posture, turned and walked away from him with her head held high. In a final show of anger, she flung open the office door and marched past a bewildered Latrice, who had to scoot back to get out of Vanessa’s way.
Grant didn’t move. He wasn’t worried about Vanessa’s new obsession, at least not in a way that made him worry about his safety. Instead, he wondered how much of a bother she’d be, especially once he notified security that she was persona non grata. Her mother! Like hell that would happen. He shook his head at the thought.
Grant wasted no time in calling Latrice and passing on his new instructions about Vanessa. Now that he’d wasted an hour, he had to get back to work. On his list of things to do was to call Tamara with his decision.
By the time he’d wrapped up pending items on his desk, he had changed his mind about calling Tamara. “Latrice, get in touch with Tamara Wendell. Let her know that I’m on my way to her academy to talk to her.”
Paying a visit to Tamara wasn’t on his to-do list, but dealing with Vanessa had royally screwed his mind from concentrating on anything. Tamara’s face had been popping into his head all day, and he wanted to see her. Plus, what better way to observe her than on her turf?
Grant left Rockville and headed over to the academy on the other side of the Beltway that wound around Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The academy was nestled on the outskirts of College Park, near the main campus of the University of Maryland. The mainly residential area had been split into several subdivisions along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
As he crested a steep hill in his car, New Horizons Leadership Academy popped into view. The red brick building had been a middle school. Its former name was still etched in the bricks arched over the entrance. The area looked worn around the edges. There were a few homes nearby that had For Sale signs or whose doors and windows were boarded shut. A dog ambled down the road, barking halfheartedly at his car. He pulled into the parking lot, surveying the area for any signs of life. A few cars were already parked. Otherwise, there weren’t signs of anyone.
The grass around the school had been recently mowed, and there was a small flower garden outlining the property. A fenced-in play area with new playground equipment was situated off to the side. Despite the dreary neighborhood and dated style of the school, a fresh coat of paint had been applied to the trimmings and
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