Page 33 of Tempt Me

Jamila nodded, a blank expression on her face.

“I didn’t take time off for the first three years. Not one sick day because I believed in Jamila when hardly anyone else did. Sometimes it was just Winslow and me. And, sure, I could’ve retired a couple years ago if I sold my stock options, but I stayed. Didn’t even want a promotion up here to the executive floor—”

“You refused it,” Jamila interrupted.

“Damn straight,” Rhiannon said. “All I want is to make great software. I don’t want a villa on the beach. Not yet. But when I do, believe me, I’ll be fine. As long as Jamilow’s shares don’t tank.”

I closed my eyes. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Like Winslow’s and Jamila’s, Rhiannon’s wealth was tied up in Jamilow. She had zero incentive to sabotage the company.

“I’m really sorry,” I said. “It was wrong of me to try to bribe you.”

“You tried to bribe Rhiannon?” Jamila’s voice was loud enough to hear in the next ZIP code.

“I did. I’m sorry. I won’t doubt you again, Rhiannon.”

Rhiannon said nothing. I was not forgiven.

“I let you talk me into doing this PR bullshit. Don’t make me regret it.” Jamila’s voice was icicle sharp. “Stay in your lane, Natalie. Only public relations. Leave my employees alone.”

“I…I…”I was only trying to help.“I understand.”

“Natalie’s heart is in the right place,” Hannah said in a voice almost too soft to hear. I blinked at her. She never said anything in front of Jamila. Jamila terrified her.

“I don’t care where Natalie’s heart is. I need her to keep her goddamn nose in her own business. Got it?” Jamila barked the last two words at me, but Hannah cowered.

“Got it. Sorry. Again. Now, we have a list of ideas—”

The office door swung open, and Felicia stood in the doorway, hands on her hips. “Time’s up. Everybody out. Jamila needs some peace and quiet.”

“But—”

“Email it,” Felicia said.

My shoulders slumped under the weight of my disappointment. I’d screwed up my chance to help Jamila.

Rhiannon sailed out, chin held high. “See you later, Jamila.”

Hannah scuttled out, and I slunk behind her. After Felicia shut the door, I lingered at her desk. “Any chance I could get five minutes with her later?”

“No. She’s leaving for a trip this afternoon.”

“A trip? Where?”

“Austin. They’re kicking off the coding camps this week. She never misses the first day.”

“Wait. She’s going down to Austin and hanging out with girls who code at a camp she founded?”

“Uh-huh.” Felicia opened her drawer and pulled out her purse. She slung it over her shoulder, a clear signal it was time for me to leave so she could go to lunch.

“That’s perfect! We’ll snap some photos and feed them to the media. Everyone will know how amazing she is.”

Felicia pursed her lips. “I don’t know how excited Jamila will be about all that. She’s not one to exploit teenage girls.”

“It’s not exploiting the girls. It’s drawing attention to the good Jamila is doing. Don’t you want people to focus on that rather than on her media missteps?”

“Of course I do. I’m not sure Jamila will see it that way, though.”

“Send me her flight info, and I’ll go with her. We’ll keep it low-key. I’ll take some photos and post them on social media. No journalists. I’ll even book my travel. Okay?”

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