“Vicki it is,” Mayor Collins said. “Vicki is in charge of the Oakmont Street project. She’s going to tell us a little about the development, then we’ll open the floor for questions. Vicki?” The mayor handed the microphone to Vicki and sat down on a chair behind her.
Vicki began to speak, but April didn’t hear a single word. She was too busy trying to calm the emotions warring inside of her. Disbelief. Betrayal. Anger.
Desire.
Why, despite everything, did Vicki still provoke this reaction in her? In April’s mind, it was clear—Vicki was the enemy. But her body said otherwise. Even though Vicki was more than twenty feet from where April sat, just being in the woman’s presence stirred something deep within her. Hearing Vicki’s compelling voice brought back the memory of her lips on April’s ear. Watching Vicki command the stage made April feel breathless.
Lexi nudged April in the ribs.
April blinked. “Huh?”
Lexi cocked her head at the stage where to where Vicki sat next to the Mayor. When had she finished speaking? Why was it that whenever Vicki was in the room, April would lose awareness of everything around her?
“Anyone?” Mayor Collins asked. “Based on the number of emails I get, I know you all have questions. Vicki is here to answer them. The floor is open.”
The room remained silent. Clearly, no one wanted to be the first to go head to head with this corporate heavyweight. April didn’t blame them. But she refused to be intimidated by Vicki.
She stood up.
“Ah, Miss Reid.” Mayor Collins failed to keep her disappointment from showing in her voice.
Someone walked over to April and handed her a microphone. April’s palms were sweaty. She usually didn’t have a problem speaking in front of people. But her mind was awhirl with thoughts of Vicki.
She looked up at Vicki. If Vicki was surprised to see April standing there, she didn’t show it. Maybe she didn’t recognize April with the bright lights of the stage in her eyes.
Or maybe April was just a forgettable one-night stand to her.
“When you’re ready, Miss Reid,” Mayor Collins said.
Pulling herself together, April began. “I’m speaking on behalf of the Oakmont Street Library, and all its staff and patrons.” She had gone over these words in her head countless times, but she stumbled over them, her voice trembling. “It’s been an important part of West Heights and the surrounding suburbs since the sixties. The library building is over one hundred years old. It’s been a part of West Heights longer than any of us.”
April took a deep breath and continued, her voice echoing through the hall. Slowly, she regained her focus. She had a job to do. She was not going to let her feelings about Vicki distract her from her goal. She was not going to let Oasis win.
She was not going to let Vicki win.
April finished her prepared points about the library, but she didn’t stop. She was all fired up now. And she had so much to say. “This isn’t just about the library. Other important, historic buildings and landmarks are being demolished all over West Heights. People’s homes are in the firing line too. It’s been happening the same way, over and over. Some rich developer will buy a block of apartments, then double, even triple the rent, sometimes illegally, until the tenants can’t afford to pay anymore. They end up getting evicted, tossed out onto the street, unable to find anywhere to live because everywhere else in the area has had their rent raised too. Meanwhile, developers like Oasis will come in and bulldoze the buildings so they can build high rises, pocketing millions of dollars. They’re destroying our beautiful suburb, our community, and the library is just a small part of that.”
When April finished, her heart was pounding. She dropped her arms to her side, microphone in hand.
To her surprise, the entire audience started clapping.
Buoyed, April fixed her gaze on Vicki, her glare containing all her anger toward Oasis Developments, and all the other corporations taking over her suburb, and Vicki for being a part of it.
“Thank you, Miss. Reid,” the mayor said. “Passionate as always.” She turned to Vicki. “Vicki, is there anything you’d like to say?”
“Yes. Miss Reid, was it?” Vicki asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. “I agree, that was a very passionate speech.”
There was no mistaking it—Vicki recognized her. She knew April was the woman she’d seduced and tormented. The woman who had been more than willing to yield to her command. And even now, Vicki’s devilish smile—the very same one that had lured April to her that night at the bar—almost made April’s legs give out from under her.
April stood up straighter.
“You should know that Oasis is taking all of this into consideration,” Vicki said. “We’re aware of
the valuable services Oakmont Street Library provides, and we’re arranging talks with the library’s leaders to discuss how we can minimize the effects of the new development on the community.”
“That’s funny,” April said. “Because I run the Oakmont Street Library, and I haven’t heard a thing from Oasis since you bought the building.”
Vicki tensed, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.