Page 8 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Hearingthe ding to her coffee machine, Sana grabbed the cup and poured in her creamer.Life back in Seattle, however, wouldn't have been that much better, shereasoned. Just thinking of all the surprise introductions to possible suitorsher mother had tricked her into over the years actually helped the weight inher chest lessen a bit. No, this wasn't a mistake. If anything, the simplechoice of putting some distance between herself and her parents was more thanenough to help her put things into perspective. Life in Seattle had become amonotonous chore of visiting her parents, work, a lackluster social life, andmiserably failed dates. There was nothing left for her in Seattle. Somethingdeep in her soul told her that her future was here in Tarki, she just needed togive it a chance.
Drinkingthe last of her coffee, she rinsed out the mug and set it in the sink. It wastime to start the first day of her new job.
Withvery little acceleration, Sana drove her SUV down the narrow drive from herhouse towards the small cluster of the five other houses located on her street.Each house was appropriately positioned from one another to give each personthe illusion of solitude but the simultaneous feeling of community. In Tarki,people wanted their space. They wanted to feel independent of the majority, thefeeling of being king of their territory while at the same time knowing theyonly needed to wave for a helping hand. Like links to a chain, in Tarki, yourneighbor was an extended member of the family. They were the first person youcalled for help and the first person you invited to the party. They were yoursupport whether you wanted them or not.
Witha groan, Sana reluctantly looked over to the first red house on the right.Standing on his porch with a mug in one hand, wearing a pair of jeans and a redpolo shirt, Zachariah Waatese leaned one shoulder casually against the woodenporch pillar. As if waiting for her, his golden eyes cut to hers with alarmingaccuracy before giving her a nod with a slow smirk. Ripping her gaze from him,she forced herself to stay focused on the road. Damn that man, damn him tohell! She could not believe he was her actual neighbor. A large part of her washoping he was lying or exaggerating. Maybe he just owned the house but didn’tlive in it, or it was currently under his property management company, and heplanned to rent it out. Nope, nope, and nope. He was her actual neighbor, forheaven's sake. Glancing back up to her mirror, she watched in shock as he flungthe remainder of his mug's content into the bushes and walked purposely towardshis truck.
Ifthere was a moment of doubt as to what Zach was doing, it was quicklyobliterated with certainty as he followed her all the way to the city hall.Doing her best to ignore him, Sana carefully stepped out of her parked car andgrabbed her thin leather briefcase. Getting in and out of cars while wearing apencil skirt was an art form that should be carried into the Olympics, in heropinion. Closing her car door, Sana tried to ignore the sound of anotherheavier door closing not too far behind her. With purposeful steps, she crossedthe parking lot and climbed the steps to the city hall stopping at the top atthe sight of a familiar smile. Just as big as she remembered, Adam Waatesestood like a bear of a man above all the rest. With short-cropped black hairand a large warm smile to match his gentle amber eyes, Adam Waatese was theonly man she had ever met that intimidated her and filled her with joy at thesame time.
"Sana,my dear girl, you have grown into one of the most beautiful women I have everseen. Get over here and give me a hug." With his arms spread wide, Sanagladly rushed forward and complied.
Hishug felt just like they always did, strong and full of love.
Releasingher, Adam stepped back, and she finally noticed he was standing next to anotherman who she could only assume was related in some way. With the same darkcomplexion, all the Waatese clan had and the same jet-black, silky hair. Theman gave her a friendly smile before averting his warm gaze to look over hershoulder. Sana didn't need to look behind her to know who the overwhelmingpresence approaching her belonged to. Focusing on the men in front of her, sheignored Zach.
"Thankyou, Mr. Waatese," she smiled softly at the tall jovial man. "Howhave you been?"
Adamlaughed. "My sweet girl, you do not have to be so proper anymore. Yourbossy parents aren't here, and I think you’re old enough now, so please call meAdam."
Feelingthe heat rush to her cheeks, she gave a sheepish nod before replying. "Ok,Adam," she tested slowly, the name feeling foreign on her lips.
Bothmen laughed good-naturedly at her attempt.
"Myname is Kevin," the second man introduced himself, offering her his hand."I'm this scowling person's cousin." He nodded to Zach, who wasstanding directly at her right now.
"It'sa pleasure to meet you," she replied politely just as the wind blew herhair from around her shoulders and into her face.
Turningto face the wind so that she could straighten her hair, Sana caught Zach'spenetrating golden gaze. Flustered, Sana scooped her hand under the weight ofher hair and gathered it to the side before stepping towards the building'stall glass doors with every intention of getting out of the wind and away fromZach.
"Iam here to meet with the mayors of all three cities," she began to explainas she reached for the door.
Kevinwas faster than her. Opening the door, he politely held it open for her to gothrough.
"Oh,we know," Adam spoke as he and the other two men followed her into thebuilding. "We are here for the same meeting."
Theclicking of her pumps against the tile floor stopped as she turned around toface all three men with evident confusion.
Thistime it was Zach who spoke, his deep, dangerous voice resonating off the wallsand directly through her. "We will be the local team that helps assist youand whatever field engineer you hire."
Firsther home, then turning out to be her neighbor, and now this. It was more thansimply purposeful; this was a plan of attack.
"Isthere a problem Ms. Bhatt?" Zach's dark voice taunted smoothly. His blackeyebrows moved up a fraction of an inch at his inquiry, forcing her eyes totravel further over his beautiful dark skin and silky black hair. Pulled into alow bun at the base of his neck, his hair shined like an obsidian jewel in thesun. Damn him.
Straighteningher shoulders, she cast Zach a cold look. "Of course not, Mr.Waatese."
Aflash of worry passed through Adam's kind eyes, not missing the note of mockeryfrom Zach and tension from her.
Turningon her heel, Sana put her back to Zach and walked to the receptionist.
~*~
"So,what you are stating, Ms. Bhatt, is that the wind turbine initiative we hadplanned wouldn't be feasible?" The disappointment on Monique Foundry'sface was clear.
Asmayor of Tarki, she sat sandwiched between Thomas Janssen, the mayor of AntorFalls, and Gabriel Masak of Gaulding. Out of the three, Monique was theyoungest and, from what Sana could tell, the ringleader of the two. Shereminded Sana of every one of her aunts and her mother. The type of woman whocould get her master's in physics while juggling a baby on her hip and keepinga watchful eye of a toddler at her heels and still graduate Suma Cum Laude.
Shakingher head with a smile, Sana quickly tried to dispel the cloud of disappointmentthat hung over the three officials. Taking some copies from her portfolio, Sanaslid the documents across the table for them to take.
"No,that's not exactly the case. It’s just that the initiative as you havedocumented in your proposal, well…" Sana gave them a gentle smile lookingfor the best way to say what needed to be said. "Let's just say that ithas very generous numbers when it comes to production versus cost."
