Page 8 of Caught off Guard

I had been in the office since 6:30, after waking up at five to exercise in my home gym. I needed to do something to keep this stress weight at bay since I gained twenty pounds after becoming president only six months ago.

“Hey. What’s going on? I only have five minutes, so make it quick. We can catch up when you come over tonight.”

Every second of my day counted. Although I adored my sister, I couldn’t chitchat with her like it was the weekend.

“Ooh, child. Let’s do that little twin TikTok dance. It would humanize you so others can get to know the Zora Langston I know and love.”

I sighed, refusing to repeat for the umpteenth time why I had to keep my professional game face on. For some reason, Lena thought I could be like her—free-spirited and open all the time. That transparent side of me was reserved for our private times—away from the press and people who wouldn’t extend grace to me if I slipped up. I could not and would not allow the world to see the real me. I’d worked too hard to keep that version of myself at bay. A stupid social media dance wasn’t going to mess that up.

Despite my decision not to argue with Lena, the analytical, responsible side of me reminded my over-the-top sister of the consequences of her actions more often than I liked. For some reason, no matter how wild her antics, she always landed on her feet. I couldn’t afford to gamble with my life and reputation like she could.

“University presidents don’t do common stuff like that. First, my media team would kill me, and second, we are too old to act like teenagers. We left that life behind at A&T twenty years ago.”

I pictured Lena pursing her lips and shaking her head like she wasn’t receiving a word I said.

“Girl, speak for yourself. Life isn’t going to make me old before my time. What’s on your overstuffed calendar for the day anyway?”

I pulled out the printed agenda from my assistant, Whitney. My day didn’t end until 8 p.m.

“Geoff is joining me for a luncheon with potential donors. Since the executive orders are coming fast and furious from the White House to defund diversity, equity, and inclusion, I need to find ways to fund my marginalized students through private donations. Geoff tapped into his network for me at the last minute, so several VIPs are joining me today. The biggest potential donor might be the Atlanta Torch basketball player Cairo Kinney. He represents the foundation he and his late wife created.” I peered at the details on my paper. “Yes, the Cairo and Celicia Kinney Foundation.”

“Girl, he is so fine.”

I wasn’t a basketball fan, so although I knew of Mr. Kinney, I’d have to take a second look in a sea of basketball players to recognize him. From what I recalled, he was an attractive man.

“I suppose.”

“You’ll see. Please don’t leave your mouth on the floor in his presence.”

I shook my head, amazed at how opposite my sister and I were despite being identical twins. She wasn’t afraid to lust after any man over six feet, swinging a package. I didn’t get the hype. Give me a reliable, fiscally responsible man like my banker companion Geoff Washington, and I would die a happy woman. He was childless, sixty years old, and five years away from retirement—calm, cool, and connected with what he wanted out of life. I didn’t even sweat our eighteen-year age gap.

“If that’s all, I’ve got to go.” I was seconds away from disconnecting our call.

“Wait. Seriously, I don’t want you to die alone. You’re too pretty, smart, and funny for an organization to drain the life out of you. I say this because I love you with all my heart.”

Emotion filled my chest as I absorbed my sister’s beautiful words. Since we were both single, we relied on each other to fill several gaps in our social lives. Because of that, I didn’t want to abandon our time together for this demanding job. I just hadn’t figured out how to balance my life yet.

“I promise I’ll try to figure it out. Love you to the moon and back.” I puckered my lips and made several kissing noises before hanging up and going back to work.

Around 11:20 a.m., Geoff showed up at my office door looking crisper than a new hundred-dollar bill in a steel gray suit that fit him to a tee. A white Ivy League shirt and narrow matte black tie completed his ensemble. His lightly salted and heavily peppered beard was full enough to garner attention but neat enough to let people know he was a professional of the highest order with money to boot. The mischievous twinkle in his eye brought a smile to my face, along with his straight teeth that were professionally whitened.

He filled my office with his larger-than-life presence, easing into one of my chairs with his legs crossed over his knee, like he was the president and I was his assistant. My sister called that big dick energy, so I supposed that was my preferred type of man.

Although most might call Geoff borderline cocky, I found him to be an acquired taste with a female type of his own—highly educated, a dominant, yet submissive at times boss babe who could enter the most elite rooms and hold her own yet also knew her place as a woman.

That was the other reason Lena couldn’t stand Geoff—because of the box she said he placed me in. More often than not,when I mentioned his name or invited her to my house when he was around, she scrunched her nose as if he stank like a hog.

“LU is already tearing you apart. Why in the world would you give a pompous, egotistical guy like Geoff power over you to do the same thing?” she’d ask. “Something about his spirit ain’t right.”

Whenever she spoke to me about her disappointment in my relationship choice, I pushed it to the back of my mind, ignoring those little things that irked her.

“It’s better to be with the devil you know than the one you don’t,” I would say, more defensively than I liked.

Lena’s squinted eyes always pierced my heart as she let me be. In her silence, I felt her disappointment. I wasn’t in a place to do anything about it right now though.

Geoff’s words cut through my thoughts. As usual, I offered him a big smile that wouldn’t betray how disappointed I continued to be that Lena couldn’t stand him.

“I see you wore your navy St.JohnKnits power suit and respectable spectacles today. That’s a perfect choice for a meeting with Cairo. He’s a no-nonsense guy who has countless people knocking on his door for handouts. You need to make a good impression.” Geoff poked out his athletic chest. “Remember that he chose Liberation as the place that could benefit most from his generous donation.”

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