A Sin and a Shame Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Don’t you know to say, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ to your elders? My goodness, you’re as rude as that woman, Sheila, who used to live in that apartment.”
    It was because of her manners that she didn’t tell the woman what she really thought at that moment. She crossed her arms and only said, “Yes, I’m new. Just moved in two weeks ago.”
    The woman stared at Jasmine for a moment and then one side of her mouth upturned into half a smile. When the elevator doors opened to the lobby, the woman motioned for Jasmine to exit first.
    Fine, she thought, anxious to get as far away from this ornery old lady.
    “Good morning, Ms. Larson.”
    She barely nodded at Henrikas, the Lithuanian doorman who seemed to be in the lobby whenever she came or left, no matter what the time.
    “How are you today?” he asked, as he moved toward the glass doors. “Do you need a cab?”
    Given that she was already late, her only choice was to say, “Yes.” But not before she eyed the sleek limousine parked at the curb. She sighed with longing. “One day,” she whispered, imagining the time when a car would be waiting for her.
    “Did you say something, Ms. Larson?”
    “I need a cab, please.”
    “Certainly.” He closed his overcoat and then pushed open the door for Jasmine’s elevator partner. “Good morning, Ms. Van Dorn.”
    The woman nodded at the doorman and then turned to Jasmine. “Do you need a ride somewhere?” she asked in the same tone that she’d used in the elevator.
    You’ve got to be kidding. There was no way she was going to get into any car with this cantankerous biddy. And anyway, Jasmine could imagine what this woman drove—probably a barely moving Lincoln Continental that was as old as her coat, and that probably held the fragrance of the perfume that had overwhelmed her since the woman stepped into the elevator.
    “No, thank you,” Jasmine said, resisting the urge to add a sarcastic, “Ma’am.”
    The woman did it again—stared for a moment and then one side of her mouth curled into a smile. “You have a good day anyway,” she said, still sounding as if she were pissed off.
    Jasmine’s eyes followed Ms. Van Dorn as she rushed through the door. The driver jumped from the limousine’s front seat and a moment later, Ms. Van Dorn disappeared into the back.
    Minutes later, when Henrikas waved for Jasmine to come to the cab he had flagged for her, she was still standing in the middle of the lobby with her mouth wide open.
     
    “I’m jealous, Malik. If Jasmine had been with us when de Janeiro first opened, it wouldn’t have taken two years to break even.”
    Jasmine tilted her head to the side, letting her bone-straight, auburn-streaked hair swing over her shoulders. She smiled as J.T., Malik’s friend from his ball-playing days, licked his lips.
    J.T. said, “What would a man like me have to do to get a woman like you?” He paused. “For our club, of course.”
    Before she could answer, Malik interjected, “Don’t get any ideas, J.T. Jasmine is with me for the long haul. She’s a partner, you know.”
    “That’s right,” she added with a smile, knowing that there was a lot more to J.T.’s question. She was aware that Malik knew that too. But her godbrother was all about the business.
    “Too bad.” J.T. grinned. “We could make beautiful menus together.”
    Jasmine’s glance wandered to the platinum band on his left hand.
    “Well, I think that covers it all,” Malik said and stood.
    Jasmine packed up her computer as the friends exchanged parting words. She’d been almost an hour late for the meeting, but blessedly, Malik, J.T., and J.T.’s partner, Lamont, had used the time to bond over talk of basketball and women. Once she rushed into the conference room and began reviewing the final plan for Rio with the three men, she knew her godbrother (and his boys) were beyond impressed. She’d pulled together the budget and the timetable, and pointed out all the areas that still needed to be