Page 181 of The Right Sign

I smirk. “You… weren’t jealous?”

“Absolutely not.”

“So that was…” I gesture in the direction of the hostess podium.

Yaya tilts her chin up. “I don’t believe women should be objectified and neither should men.”

“Ah. So you were defending my rights as a man.”

“That’s correct.”

“You weren’t jealous.”

“That’s right.”

“Okay then,” I sign.

She’s cute when she lies.

My phone rings and I glance down to see that Mosely is calling.

“I’ll be right back,” I sign just as the waiter arrives.

“I’ll order for you,” Yaya says, waving me away. I wait there for a beat, staring at her in adoration.

“What?” she signs.

I shake my head to indicate it’s nothing. Well, it’s something, but I don’t think I can explain it.

In the past, I’ve taken calls during dates and got rained down with hellfire by the women sitting across the table. But rather than throwing a fit and getting upset, Yaya is taking it in stride. Really, she goes a step farther, still finding ways to take care of me.

I love her.

The thought is so right, so perfectly fit.

I need to tell her soon.

“Hello? Sir?” Mosely’s voice squawks from my phone. I don’t even remember hitting the answer button.

“Yeah?” I put the phone to my ear and walk away as Yaya starts tapping in her notes app to communicate with the waitress. “Can’t talk long, Mosely. I’m doing something important.”

“I understand, sir. But we have a problem.”

“Those are four words I never want to hear.”

“Remember our after-hours project?”

“Of course.” Cleaning up the Ru-Carpsel mess was what Mosely and I dubbed our ‘eight to five’. The ‘after hours’ work was finding a way to get rid of Carmichael.

“He got wind of our plans.”

“We knew that was a possibility when we froze his secret offshore bank accounts.”

“I just got a letter from Carmichael’s lawyer. He’s claiming your dad evaded taxes, committed corporate espionage and all kinds of crazy things. And he says he has proof.”

My teeth clench. “Dad never did that.”

“We both know that. But Carmichael’s diabolical. Even if all he does is make noise in the press, it’s enough to cause damage. There will be an investigation. Projects will halt under all the scrutiny.”

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