Vicki leaned across the coffee table, speaking in a low voice. “You’re very lucky there’s an office full of people outside those doors, otherwise I’d do something about your attitude.”
April bit back a smile. “What exactly would you do?”
“I’d bend you over my desk and spank you.”
Desire flared inside April’s body
. Vicki’s commanding gaze had April mesmerized. At that moment, April knew that if Vicki ordered her to bend over her desk right now, she would be powerless to refuse.
No, she wouldn’t even want to refuse.
Vicki straightened up and brushed her fingers through her hair. “But, like I said, there’s an office full of people out there. And we have business to attend to.”
April blinked. Right. She pulled herself together. How was it that after all this time she was still susceptible to Vicki’s charms?
“You want to discuss options for the library?”
“Yes.” April recalled Eliza’s advice. Be civil. Be open to compromise. “The problem is, the solution Oasis is offering is practically a death sentence for the library.” She explained that their funding was tied to how many people used the library. “If our patrons can’t get to us, we won’t be able to keep our doors open.”
“Do you have any other ideas?” Vicki asked.
“There are other sites in West Heights that Oasis owns that are sitting there, empty. Why not lease one of those to us instead?”
“Most of those have been earmarked for future development. The ones that aren’t are far too valuable to lease to a library.”
“Then give us more time to figure something out,” April said. “We can try to fundraise enough money for a better location or think of an alternative.”
“Look,” Vicki said. “Oasis is already behind on the Oakmont Street project. We can’t afford to put it off anymore. We can’t give you any longer than the 90 days you were already given.”
“Then what was the point of this?” April’s voice rose. “Why did you agree to meet me if you were just going to tell me the same thing again?”
“Because I thought you were going to suggest something reasonable.” Vicki finished her drink in one long sip. “We’re not a charity.”
April clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into the heels of her palms. “So that’s what it comes down to for you? Making money no matter the consequences?”
“It’s just business.”
April stood up, shaking her head. “Here I was, thinking we could work things out. That you actually had a heart and cared about helping the library. I was so wrong.” April had tried to be civil. She had tried not to let her feelings control her. But she couldn’t contain herself any longer. “You don’t give a damn about anyone or anything other than yourself. I hate you, and Oasis, and everything you stand for.”
Vicki looked up at April from her chair, somehow still managing to seem like she was looking down on her. “We both know that’s not true.”
April fumed. “I’m sick of your presumptions. You don’t know how I feel.”
“Yes, I do. You don’t hate me, not really. You don’t hate me because I’m working for Oasis. You don’t even hate me because you think I’m selfish.” Vicki stood up, facing April. “You hate that I’m the only person who can give you what you crave. And you hate that what you want more than anything is to submit to me.”
April’s skin began to burn. She was certain her red face betrayed the fact that Vicki had hit a nerve. It didn’t matter. Because April had Vicki’s measure too.
“Maybe you’re right,” April said. “But I’ve figured something out. You want my submission just as much as I want to submit to you.” She leaned across the table and spoke into Vicki’s ear. “I’m the one who is choosing to give it to you. So which of us is really in control here?” Without giving Vicki a chance to reply, April picked up her purse and strode out of the room.
April left the building more determined than ever. Although the meeting had been a disaster, it hadn’t been a waste of time. It had proved something important to April—she couldn’t rely on Vicki’s help with the library. Moreover, she and Vicki were on opposite sides of this fight.
If April wanted to save her library, she would have to do it herself.
That night, she sent Vicki her photo at exactly 11:59 p.m.
Chapter Twelve
“Is everything okay with you?” Lexi asked April.