Man at Work by Chanta Jefferson Rand Page B

rescinded their offer to
you.”
    “ What?” Candace sputtered.
“Why? What’s happened?”
    “ I’m afraid they can’t be
involved with questionable people. Their projects are faith-based.
It doesn’t look good for them or for us to collaborate with
partners who don’t promote good Christian values.”
    Candace wanted to scream, but instead kept
her composure. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ms. Smith.
My reputation is beyond reproach.”
    “ That may well be, but in
light of what happened last night, we don’t have warm and fuzzy
feelings about this relationship. The contract you signed also has
a morality clause indicating it can be declared null and void at
the slightest sign of impropriety. Roland is our client. If he has
reason for concern, then so do we.”
    “ But…you
can’t…just...”
    “ Good luck in your future
endeavors, Ms. Jones.”
    Dumfounded, Candace stared at the phone. No,
it wasn’t a dream. Yes, the woman had hung up on her. Well, she’d
said goodbye, but she’d effectively shut the door on everything
Candace had accomplished. All that hard work gone down the drain.
The opportunity of a lifetime had just slipped through her fingers.
She’d lost her deal, her man, and her family member.
    Lord, can my life get any worse?
    She forced back the tears that threatened to
steal her joy. She’d cried enough yesterday. And it hadn’t resolved
a damn thing. New day. Same problems.
    She dialed Ronnie’s number. Her big sister
always had the power to make her feel better. Ronnie never let
circumstances keep her down. She’d survived the death of her
husband and her mother, and she was handling single-motherhood like
a pro.
    “ That girl has some
explaining to do!” Ronnie declared when Candace told her about Toye
and what had happened last night. “I’m calling her ass right
now.”
    “ She just came by and
apologized.”
    “ And what did you tell
her?”
    “ The truth. It’s going to
take time to get over this. I really liked Gabe. I thought I had
found my Mr. Right.”
    “ Well, I’ve heard the best
way to get over your old man is to get a new man.”
    “ I don’t think I can
handle another man right now. I just want to bury my head in the
sand and forget this whole thing ever happened.”
    Fat chance! There was no way she’d ever be
able to forget Gabe Hunt. The man left a lasting impression on her
mind and body.
    “ Sister, the best thing to
do is to jump back into your work. Don’t let this setback deter you
from your dream. If Zion Realty doesn’t have the good sense to keep
your contract, start lining up another client. I can talk to my
boss. He represents a property management group. They may have some
ideas too.”
    “ Thanks, sis.”
    Candace felt her mood lift
a little, but she still felt her carefully crafted dream slipping
from her grasp. She glanced out the window again. The sky was
ominous. It looked as if Miami would get some much-needed rain.
She’d better go check on the house and put the For Sale sign back up.

    # # #

    Gabe drove his truck through the pouring
rain. Relentless needles of water pelted his windshield. High winds
rocked his vehicle. He gripped the steering wheel, trying to keep
the truck from hydroplaning on the slick, rain-soaked streets.
Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to go for a drive after all.
Normally, driving was the one thing that soothed his mind. After a
sleepless night, he’d found himself traveling along I-95 this
morning with no planned destination. He hadn’t even bothered to
turn on the radio. He must have driven over a hundred miles. Just
thinking about nothing in particular. His life. Candace. Finally,
when he was sick of listening to his own thoughts, he turned
back.
    Now, for some inexplicable reason, he found
himself headed for the neighborhood where Candace’s rental property
sat. Maybe he wanted to see it one last time—the place where they’d
first made love.
    Dammit, man! Why are you