Seduced By The Hero

“It’s weird not having my cell phone,” she said quietly, glancing in his direction. “I keep putting my hands in my pocket, expecting it to be there, but it’s not.”

“That’s normal, especially for someone who uses their phone as much as you do.”

“How do you know I use my phone a lot?”

Immanuel searched his brain for a suitable response, came up empty, and said the first thing that came to mind. “Most people do,” he said with a shrug. “Myself included.”

“My family thinks I’m addicted to my cell, especially my mom, but she’s old-school and doesn’t understand the nature of my job. I run my own company, so it’s important to be available for my staff and clients...”

Immanuel didn’t want to miss anything she had to say, so he turned off the radio and gave her his full attention. It was a challenge, with their arms touching and her heady perfume sweetening the air. But he listened closely and filed information away in his mental Rolodex for a later date.

“How long have you had your business?”

Pride filled her eyes and seeped into her tone. “It will be ten years in January.”

“That’s a remarkable feat. Most small businesses don’t survive the first two years, so you’re obviously doing something right.”

“Damn right I am,” she said. “I’m working my ass off!”

And what a nice ass it is.

“Well, if the life coaching business doesn’t work out you can always become a boxer. You have one hell of a right hook.”

Dionne cracked up. It did his heart good to hear her laugh. Talking to her about Pathways Center was obviously the way to go, so he asked questions about her business.

“What’s your secret?” he asked, wanting to hear more about her journey to success. The research he’d done on Dionne revealed that she was also a best-selling author and motivational speaker. She charged five figures for every speaking engagement, and was one of the most sought-after life coaches in the nation. “How have you managed to create a successful life coaching business when so many others have failed?”

“Hard work and perseverance are the keys to my success. I wouldn’t be here today if I’d wavered, even for a second, about my life’s purpose.”

“Do you have plans to expand your business in other markets?”

The smile vanished from her lips. “My clinics in LA and Seattle were supposed to open this past summer, but construction has been delayed indefinitely.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Immanuel said, shifting gears as he switched lanes. “Who’s the builder, and why haven’t you sued them for breach of contract?”

“Because my hands are tied.” Her voice broke, cracked with emotion, but she quickly regained her composure. “This project was in the works long before I filed for divorce, but if I’d known my ex would deliberately sabotage the project, I never would have used his family’s construction company. The project has been on hold for months, and work probably won’t resume until the divorce is finalized.”

“How long have you been separated from your husband?”

“Almost a year. Out of respect for his family, I agreed to keep quiet about the separation, but once I filed for divorce the story hit the newspapers and things turned ugly...”

Immanuel frowned. His thoughts returned to weeks earlier. During an hour-long meeting with Jules Fontaine, the businessman had called his estranged wife a conniving manipulator who used her looks to advance her career. He claimed he’d kicked her out of their Buckhead estate once he’d learned of her infidelity. Immanuel liked having all of the facts and sensed that Dionne was telling the truth. She didn’t bad-mouth her ex or blame him for their failed marriage. He respected her for taking the high road.

“Do you mind stopping at the AT&T store on Town Road?” she asked. “I’m expecting several important calls this afternoon, and I’ll go crazy if I don’t get a new iPhone.”

“I don’t know,” he teased, faking a frown. “Dr. Pelayo ordered me to take you straight home, and I’d hate to get on her bad side.”

“Don’t worry. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

Immanuel chuckled. “No problem. We can go anywhere you want.”

At the intersection, he turned left and found a parking space in the plaza. They entered the store, and Dionne immediately selected the latest iPhone model, and then approached the cash register.

“With the extended warranty, that comes to $649,” the clerk said.

Dionne nodded. “Charge everything to the account on file. I’ll be keeping the same plan.”

“In order to do that I’ll need to see two pieces of ID.”

“I don’t have any ID. My purse was stolen last night.” Dionne peered over the clerk’s shoulder and motioned to the door behind him. “Is your manager around? I spoke to her earlier, and she assured me getting a new cell phone would not be a problem.”

“I’m sorry, but she’s gone for the day.”

“Call her. I explained my situation to her, and she was—”

“I can’t.” He shrugged his bony shoulders. “Come back tomorrow with the proper ID.”

Dionne spoke through pursed lips. “Go. Call. Your. Store. Manager. Now.”

“Ma’am, you’re being rude. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Hoping to defuse the situation, Immanuel opened his leather wallet, took out his Visa Black Card and handed it to the clerk. “That won’t be necessary.” He was ticked off that the guy was giving Dionne a hard time, but he didn’t let his frustration show. “Charge everything to my account.”

“No,” Dionne argued, adamantly shaking her head. “I don’t want you to pay. All he has to do is call his manager. She’ll straighten everything out.”

“Don’t worry, Dionne. I got this.” Winking, he patted her good-naturedly on the hips. That earned him a smile. His chest inflated with pride, filled to the brim. “Hang tight. We’ll be out of here before you know it, and you can go home and get some rest. I promise.”

To reduce the tension, Immanuel chatted with the clerk about the weather and sports. The man was a huge baseball fan and screeched like a parrot when Immanuel told him Demetri Morretti, the star slugger of the Chicago Royals, was his cousin.

“The Royals will be in town at the end of the month,” the clerk said excitedly, rubbing his hands together. “I can’t wait to see Demetri play. I hope the game goes extra innings.”

Immanuel chuckled. “Thanks for everything, man. You’ve been really helpful.”

“Helpful my ass,” Dionne grumbled, snatching the plastic bag off the counter.

“Thanks for choosing AT&T,” the clerk said. “Have a nice day.”

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