Page 31 of Fever

“You as well, Ms. Summers,” Mr. Murdock said.

Josiah nodded, and we traipsed away from the table. In my periphery, I saw flashes from cell phones where people were openly taking our picture. I followed Josiah to a window seat where we were practically put on display.

“Are you sure you want to sit here?” I asked.

“Would you rather sit somewhere else? I thought if we were going to put on this show, we should put it on thick.”

I nodded. “That’s fine. So,” I smoothed down my skirt and crossed my legs, “Summer Rain Industries, huh?”

“Have you heard of them?”

“Of course. I’d have to say they are about as popular as Gemz.”

“Almost.” Josiah offered me that wide sexy grin.

I laughed out loud. “Seems like your father is serious about partnering, or he would’ve picked a company with a lesser reputation.”

“You’re right about that. But I do think you may be on to something about him wanting to see if I’m interested in marriage.”

“Oh?”

“Before you arrived, he mentioned Gemz needing stability to withstand the test of time.”

My smile widened. “It looks like we have him in the palm of our hands, too,” I said.

“Trust me,” Josiah said. “We’ll have to keep this going all the way to the altar before my father reveals his true intentions. Which is one of the reasons I asked you if you would take this all the way if that happens.” He held me with a straightforward gaze. “Are you still game, Santana?”

I smirked. “I’m here, aren’t I, Josiah?”

His smile became bright again, and he picked up his champagne glass.

“To us,” he said. “May we last… forever.”

I kissed his glass with mine, and we sipped. This was going to be more fun than I thought, but I would remind Josiah later we should stick with the theatrics when we’re in public only. The last thing I wanted to do was blur the lines between real and fantasy. Even if I was already feeling fuzzy on the inside.

Josiah and I sat in Chops Lobster Bar for an hour when I received a text message from Carla.

Apparently, she’d been thinking about her job at the school and decided she wanted to use her paid vacation time while she had the chance. The problem was Natalie Rosenburg, the assistant principal, wanted to speak to Carla in person. So, Carla told Mrs. Rosenburg that she and I were out together so she couldn’t come in at that time. Putting it plainly, it backfired, and Mrs. Rosenburg asked for us both to come in.

With much reluctance, I had to cut my time with Josiah short and head to Carla’s apartment.

The door to the brick apartment complex opened, and Carla tugged at a skirt that barely touched her knees. The heels she wore were those stripper shoes I kept telling her might not be the best choice for school when she purchased them in Montego Bay. But she just had to have them, reasoning that school wasn’t the only place she visited. But I didn’t know who she was fooling. Although we’d been acquainted only a short while, Carla’s days and nights had consisted of being at work and going home.

She opened the passenger door and climbed inside.

“Thank you, girl. I appreciate you for coming.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice since you included me in your cahoots.”

“Cahoots?” she said, feigning astonishment. “No cahoots, I promise.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Natalie caught me off guard. You know how she is sometimes. I had no idea she would ask to see you, too. That was the last thing I was banking on.”

I pulled away from the curb and went in the direction of the school.

“I hope this doesn’t take long because I’m supposed to grab drinks with Octavia and Selena later.”

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