Kitabı oku: «Temptation», sayfa 4

“I had instructions,” he said simply. “I was to have this envelope delivered to you, one day after the official opening of Liaisons.”

“What? Jordan didn’t even know that I would go through with it.”

“Perhaps. But, if and when you did, you were to receive this letter.”

Noelle exhaled heavily. “Is there anything else I should know, Joseph?”

The pain in her voice almost touched him, but he pushed it away. He was no longer obligated to her. The last retainer check had been cashed upon delivery of the letter. But why did she have to look at him with those eyes so full of anguish? Something inside of his chest twisted.

He cleared his throat. “There is a codicil to your late husband’s will.”

“What are you talking about? I was there when it was read.”

Joseph nodded indulgently. “Yes and according to my instructions, the codicil was only to be read by Trent Dixon.”

Her head began to pound.

“I see.” She stood up. “And I suppose I’m not to be privy to that either?”

“I’m afraid not. My instructions were quite clear.”

“Thank you for your time, Joseph,” she tossed at him, more annoyed at herself for having thought that their encounter could have been any different.

He rounded the desk, reaching the door a step before her.

“I wish there was something else I could tell you, Noelle,” he said with as much sincerity as he could summon.

Noelle only nodded as she crossed the threshold.

Joseph had a rare attack of conscience as he watched her leave.

“Maybe Mr. Dixon would be willing to tell you. I understand he’s here in Los Angeles.”

Noelle halted her step and turned around. “How do you know?” Her heart thundered.

“I called the headquarters in Sudan yesterday. I was told he’d come to California two days ago.”

Trent finished the last of his paperwork. Languidly he stretched his tight muscles. He had to get out of this room. Hours on the phone and behind the computer had left him numb. A long flight around the countryside would be ideal about now. But what he really wanted to do was return to Liaisons and see Noelle. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. She seemed to creep into his thoughts at the most inopportune times. Like now.

The throbbing between his thighs was almost unbearable. Maybe what he really needed was a cold shower.

He switched off the humming machines, grabbed his denim jacket and headed out of the door.

Noelle exited the building and proceeded to walk, oblivious to the rows of boutiques and the flow of human traffic.

Trent Dixon was somewhere in Los Angeles. He was the only one who had the answers to her questions. The thought of his proximity unnerved her. Why was he here? Had he come to spy on her? He could be anywhere, walking right beside her and she wouldn’t know it. That fact raised her blood pressure. She didn’t have the faintest notion of what he looked like. He’d never accompanied Jordan on his trips to the U.S., since he was responsible for operations in Jordan’s absence. Trent Dixon could run her over with a Mack truck, right this minute, and she wouldn’t know it was him. Her temper rose as her thoughts ran in circles.

The head-on collision knocked her purse from her hand.

“Noelle?” Trent instinctively grabbed her shoulders to steady her, then reached down to retrieve her purse. “Are you okay?”

“Y-es,” she stammered, surprised and embarrassed to see Cole Richards in the middle of Los Angeles. “I’m fine. Sorry. I guess I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“You must be deep in thought.”

She gave him a weak smile. “Something like that.” She took a quick look around, observing her surroundings for the first time. The large marquee of the hotel loomed above her head and her thoughts scurried off in a dangerous direction.

He was probably there to meet someone, she thought. Did he spend the night here after he’d left her weak from his kisses?

An unfamiliar wave of jealousy swept through her. Her body tensed.

“Did you think about my request?” she asked in a tight voice.

Confusion registered on Trent’s face with the swift change in Noelle’s mood.

“Is something bothering you, Noelle?”

“What else could be bothering me?” she almost snapped. She looked away unable to meet the questioning gaze.

Trent avoided answering the question, by posing one of his own. “I was going to get something to eat. I’d like it very much if you’d join me. Then we can talk. Would you?”

When she dared to look back at him, she was, once again, consumed by those onyx eyes that had haunted her nights, by the lips that she longed to taste again and by the captivating scent that heated her blood.

He’d begun to think that she hadn’t heard him or had chosen not to respond—when she finally answered.

“Do you know your way around?” she asked in that sexy faint accent that drove him crazy.

“Maybe you can give me the tour again,” he replied, his tone intentionally intimate.

Noelle cleared her throat. “There’s a great outdoor café about a block down. I’m sure you’d like it.”

“With you, I’m sure I would.”

For a brief moment they both stared at each other, the busy world around them going totally unnoticed.

“We’re going to cause a scene in a minute,” Trent said, his smile teasing. “People are beginning to stare.”

Self-consciously Noelle looked around, feeling that everyone could see what was going on inside of her.

Her voice was slightly tremulous. “Then I guess we should be going.”

Trent slipped her arm through the curve of his. “Lead the way.”

Lunch was brief, almost strained. Both of them were harboring their own thoughts and skirting the real issues that bubbled like molten lava beneath their composed surfaces.

“You were right about this place,” Trent offered, breaking the rather long train of silence. “The food here is great.” He smiled. “But they can’t touch Liaisons’s with a stick.”

“I hope that everyone who comes will feel the same way.” She fiddled with her napkin to avoid looking at him.

Trent reached across the table to still her fingers. He covered her hand with his. The immediate warmth spread through her.

“I thought about your request to…find out what happened.”

She looked directly at him and his stomach lurched with longing.

“And?”

“And I’ve decided to help you.”

The brilliant smile that he received was worth all the deceit.

“Thank you. I’ll make it worth your while. Whatever the price.”

His brows creased both in disbelief and guilt. “I couldn’t possibly take any money from you.” His voice rose in agitation. “I’m not doing this for the money.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you, but I think it would only be fair. In fact, I insist.”

Trent’s jaw clenched. He looked away. How could he possibly accept money from her knowing that the person she was looking for was sitting right in front of her and that he would have to do whatever was necessary to keep that information from her until the time was right.

His gaze returned to her. “I won’t accept anything from you until after the job is done. That’s the only way,” he added firmly.

Noelle considered for a moment. “If that’s the only way you’ll agree, then I guess I don’t have a choice.”

“Then it’s settled.”

She nodded.

Trent leaned back in his seat and exhaled deeply. What in the hell had he gotten himself into?

“Do you have plans for the rest of the day?” he asked.

“No, I don’t, actually. I was supposed to call the villa and send for a car and driver, but after my visit with Joseph Ma-lone…”

The mention of Malone’s name caused Trent’s pulse to gallop. He’d completely forgotten about the carnivorous attorney. He was the one person who could identify him on sight.

“…so your job may not be so difficult after all.”

Trent slowly returned to the conversation. “What? I’m sorry.”

“I said, Joseph Malone told me that Trent Dixon was here in Los Angeles.”

Just great. “That will make things easier,” he said lamely.

A thought occurred to Noelle. “You spent time in Sudan with Jordan,” she stated more than asked. “Did you ever meet Trent Dixon? What does he look like?”

Oh, God. Trent cleared his throat. “I never had the chance to meet him. I guess our paths just didn’t cross. Why don’t we get out of here?” Trent suggested, before Noelle had a chance to respond. He swiftly wiped his mouth and pushed away from the table.

Before Noelle knew what was happening he was standing behind her chair to help her up.

Her eyebrows arched. “Why are you in such a rush all of a sudden? Is something wrong?” she asked in bewilderment.

“Of course not. But there’s no point in sitting here when we can be exploring. You did promise to show me around.” He forced a smile as they walked toward the door.

Noelle shrugged to camouflage her confusion. “I guess we could drive out to the movie studios, or into Beverly Hills.” She looked at him skeptically. “What do you want to do?”

He wanted to say, get as much distance between me and Malone as possible, but instead, “How about a drive out to the beach? Next to flying, the waves always help me to think. The sun will be setting in a few hours. It’s been a long time since I saw the sun set over the water.”

His full lips curved into that sensuous smile that made her feel weak.

“It sounds wonderful.”

Her voice felt like the brush of silk against his ears. “My car is in the hotel garage.”

The mention of the hotel caused Noelle’s initial misgivings and jealousies to resurface. It was ridiculous to feel this way, she knew, but for whatever reason, she couldn’t seem to help it.

Trent watched the warm brown eyes turn suddenly cold and distant.

“Noelle, for the last time, what is it?”

“If we’re going to the beach, we should get started,” she answered in a cool tone.

Trent fell in step next to Noelle. He kept his confusion to himself in the hope that she would eventually reveal what was bothering her.

She couldn’t keep doing this, she thought. It was unfair to Cole to suspect him of anything. And what if he was in the hotel with another woman. There were no strings tying them together. But still, she didn’t like how the thoughts made her feel. If nothing else, they had to work together to find Trent and the truth.

If there was any possibility that what she was beginning to feel for Cole could ever be reciprocated, she needed to know what else or who else was in his life. She needed to put her concerns to rest.

As casually as she could, she asked the question that had been burning her tongue.

“So…what brought you into L.A.? I thought Liaisons had everything that a person could want. Please don’t say that we’re lacking something.” She kept her eyes straight ahead as they continued toward the hotel.

Trent struggled to keep from smiling. So that was it! She saw me coming out of the hotel and thought I was with someone. A woman.

“Well, I came in town earlier this morning. I had a business appointment with a potential client.” She could feel his eyes looking down at her with that smile that made her believe he could read her mind.

Noelle felt her whole body heat with embarrassment. Now she felt totally ridiculous again. Cole Richards had an uncanny knack for having that effect on her.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Oh” was all she could say.

They turned into the garage entrance. Trent handed the attendant his ticket stub and they waited for his car to be brought out.

Trent turned toward Noelle and tilted her chin up with his fingertip. The intensity of his expression caused Noelle to tremble beneath his gaze. She held her breath and when he looked into that face, all the promises that he’d made to himself vanished.

His voice was low, penetrating. “I want to kiss you again, Noelle.” His eyes swept searchingly over her face.

“What do you say to that?”

For a moment she couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, as his head slowly lowered. His muscular arms encircled her.

His lips gently touched down on hers, once, then twice ending with his tongue awakening every nerve in her body.

Involuntarily, she grasped his forearms, mostly to keep her balance, but also to assure herself that this was no dream.

But the intimate moment was cut short when the roar of the Lexus engine filled the torrid air.

Reluctantly, Trent eased away, planting one last kiss on Noelle’s parted lips. “There’s more,” he groaned in a thick voice. “Believe that.”

Chapter 7

“But why did Daddy have to leave so soon? Why didn’t he wait for me?” Kai demanded, her wide dark eyes piercing her mother’s.

Tempest absorbed the pain of her daughter’s disappointment so potently, it felt like a steel weight that had leveled her heart. Damn you Braxton! How could you do this?

Tempest sat down on the couch and pulled Kai down next to her. She put her arm around her daughter’s slumped shoulders and eased her closer.

“Listen to me baby,” Tempest said softly. “It was very, very important work that your daddy had to do. You know how much he loves you.” She kissed the top of Kai’s head. “He would never miss a chance to spend time with you if it weren’t very important.” How many more lies will I have to tell my child?

Kai forcibly tugged herself away and sprung up from the couch.

“It’s always something,” Kai said, her ten-year-old voice rising in anger. “He’s never around anymore.” She spun around to face her mother. Those large black eyes, identical to her father’s, were glistening with unspent tears.

“I’m tired of traveling all over the world. I want to live like the rest of my friends. I want to have a regular life and a regular family.”

Tempest rose and took Kai into her embrace, fighting desperately to hide her own tears.

“It’ll be all right, baby. I promise,” she cooed. “We’re going to be a regular family. I promise you.”

Tempest peered over Kai’s head at Mrs. Harding. Clara Harding had been a part of Tempest’s life since she was six years old. Clara was more of a second mother than a housekeeper and she treated Tempest and Kai like they were her very own children.

“Clara would you run a bath for Kai, please? Then afterwards I’ll take both of you on a tour of Liaisons. We’re going to make the most of this visit.”

She forced herself to smile when she looked down at Kai’s upturned face.

“And I think my beautiful daughter hasn’t seen anything until she’s seen Liaisons.”

She turned Kai toward Mrs. Harding. “So get moving. There’s plenty to do. And I know your godmother is waiting to see you.”

Kai smiled slightly at the mention of her godmother, Noelle. Reluctantly she did as she was told and followed Mrs. Harding out of the room.

Tempest smothered a sob with her hand. “I’m not going to let you keep doing this Braxton. You’re not going to keep hurting us like this. No more!”

She stormed off into her bedroom and placed an overseas call to Brazil.

“I’m glad I keep a blanket in my trunk.” Trent stretched his long muscular limbs. “Old habit.” He turned his head to see Noelle perched gingerly on the edge of the blanket.

“Relax, Noelle,” he urged, raising up on one elbow.

She laughed nervously. “This outfit isn’t exactly beachwear.”

He took a quick glance at the lemon yellow, sleeveless linen dress and matching strapless shoes. He wanted to tell her that he could fix all that by simply helping her out of it. But he knew that wouldn’t go over too well.

“What was it like living in New Orleans?” he asked instead. “It’s one place I’ve always wanted to visit.”

Noelle visibly relaxed. She sighed with a wistful smile. “It was all I knew for most of my life. Mardi Gras, hundreds of tiny cafés, seafood, crowds. I thought every place in the world had all-night jazz clubs, and hordes of people roaming the street in bizarre costumes on holidays.” She laughed at the recollection, then sobered. “We were poor, and I thought I was happy.” She peeked at him over her shoulder. “I guess that’s how it is when you have nothing to compare it to.”

“And now?”

“Hmmm. Well, I suppose most people would think I have the perfect life. Clothes. Money. The ability to travel whenever and wherever I want. I’ve seen my life displayed in so many magazines and newspapers I almost started to believe the stories myself…” Her voice trailed off. “But I think deep inside I’m still that simple girl, working in my aunt’s café. I still have dreams and hopes.”

Trent traced circles in the sand with his finger as he listened. Hesitantly, without looking up he said, “I would think that with Jordan all of your dreams would have come true.” He instantly saw her withdraw at the mention of Jordan and regretted uttering his name.

“Things aren’t always as they seem,” she said.

He inched closer, needing to know. “This may be none of my business,” he ventured, “but—were you really happy in your marriage?”

Noelle lowered her head and hugged her knees to her chest. Trent strained to hear her.

“At times. I think Jordan truly believed that showering a person with gifts and buying them anything that they could ever dream of would make them happy. But that kind of happiness is only temporary.” She looked off toward the horizon. “That’s not to say that we never shared joyful times together, because we did. Then at others I felt like I was trapped in some sort of nightmare.” She shook her head as visions of ugly fights sprung before her eyes.

“If you were a real woman you’d find a way to satisfy me.” Jordan had yelled. “Go on, find yourself another man! I’ll even pay for it. Like I’ve paid for everything else in your life.” With those painful words he’d stormed out and locked himself in the guest room leaving her alone in their enormous bedroom. Yet she’d stayed because she saw beneath the outward rage. It was never her that he was truly angry with. She was simply his available target.

She’d always felt that if she could somehow destroy the barrier that Jordan had constructed around himself, he would release all his insecurity.

She shook off the vision with a toss of her head.

“What about you?” she asked, needing to change the subject.

Trent chuckled softly. “I definitely didn’t have the fantasy storybook life. I was adopted when I was about two. I never knew my natural parents. But I was always happy. I had two of the greatest people as parents anyone could want. They made sure I had the best they could afford, which included four years at Columbia University.

This revelation deeply touched Noelle. She could sense by his tone the depth of his feelings for his parents. And she envied him. Then something he said struck her. “You said you had two of the greatest parents.” She hesitated a moment. “Did something happen?”

Trent inhaled deeply remembering all too vividly the day of James Dixon’s heart attack.

“My father died when I was in my sophomore year of college. Heart attack.”

Instinctively Noelle touched his arm in a comforting gesture. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, knowing all too well the feelings of loss.

Trent nodded. After several moments he went on to tell her about his two adopted sisters who he obviously adored, and his twin niece and nephew who both swore that they were going to be great pilots just like their uncle.

“They all live in Philadelphia,” he concluded. “We don’t see each other much,” he chuckled in that deep baritone, “but we do have a helluva phone bill!”

Noelle laughed with him as she realized how their lives were parallel in some respects. She felt that invisible bond, that had been present since their first meeting, intensify. Her one regret was that she didn’t have the loving family that she so much wanted.

“Do you plan on having a family someday?” she asked tentatively.

“Most definitely! I want a house full of kids, so I can give them all the things that I had. And more.” His eyes roamed slowly over her face. “Most of all—I want a wonderful woman to share my life with.”

She felt breathless and hot as he stared at her as if she were the only person in the world. “That…sounds…wonderful.” Her eyes held his as he leaned, slowly closer.

The warmth of his lips brushed her shoulder like the whisper of a breeze. A tremor rushed through her and her eyes slid closed.

Trent slipped his arms around her, sliding his hands down her thighs. He eased closer, pressing his chest against her back.

Her hands grasped his roving fingers, locking them above her knees.

“Cole,” she whispered in a strangled voice.

“Shhh. No…time for…talking.”

The setting sun cast a brilliant orange glow across the horizon, bathing them in its iridescent light. Giving this intimate moment an almost surreal aura.

He planted a row of kisses along her neck, her shoulders. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered in her ear.

Instinctively she arched her back when his hands trailed teasingly up her waistline. She’d fantasized about this moment from the very first night that they’d met. She imagined his strong hands roving freely across her body, tasted his lips against her own, inhaled his scent until it became a part of the very air she breathed. Now it was real. She’d never felt such a powerful attraction towards anyone. Not even when she first met Jordan. This was different. And for her this wasn’t something totally physical. She trusted Cole. She trusted him with her heart.

Trent smoothly leaned Noelle back into the cradle of his arm until his face was only inches above her own. He felt his heart hammer mercilessly and he was sure that Noelle must think he was some oversexed gigolo on the prowl. But he couldn’t stop himself as he moaned against her neck. He couldn’t stop the waves of excitement that shook his body.

Yet, even as he kissed and caressed her, seeping between the vapors of his longing were faint strains of doubt. Noelle had been married to and loved by one of the most powerful black men in the world. A man who had made one of the greatest impacts on his life. His friend. His mentor. A surrogate father in his young adult years. Yes, he’d had his share of romances, crisscrossing all the barriers. But Noelle. Noelle, she was different. Whatever happened between them, he knew, would change them both forever.

He wanted everything to be perfect. He wanted to be sure that with every move he made, her moments with Jordan would dissolve from her mind like sugar in hot water.

As he held her like she was the most precious and delicate of jewels, she felt herself come alive for the first time in her life. She wanted him. Desperately. She wanted to know and feel, fully, what it was like to be totally loved—like a woman. She wanted what she had been denied for all the years that she’d been with Jordan.

She felt herself being swept away by the hunger of desire that seemed more powerful than the force of the crashing waves.

But she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t allow this man, her husband’s friend, to discover what had been kept secret for the duration of her marriage. She couldn’t dismantle Jordan’s image in Cole’s eyes.

Trent lowered his head to, once again, kiss her the way he’d dreamed.

Noelle suddenly turned away, and with surprising strength, pushed him off of her, forcing him onto the sand.

“What, the…”

“No…Cole…I’m sorry…I can’t.” Her heart thundered. Her skin was aflame. She couldn’t face the accusing look, the disbelief and hurt that she knew hung in his eyes.

With as much grace as she could summon, she rose from the blanket, purposely keeping her back to him, wrapping her arms protectively around her body.

Trent pulled himself onto his hands and knees until he was in a crouched position. He dropped his head onto his knees. He felt like a first-class fool.

He was so sure that this was what Noelle wanted too. This time. The atmosphere, the fire between them. All perfect. He’d gone against his better judgment. He knew he shouldn’t get involved with her. It was too complicated. But he couldn’t seem to help himself. He was falling for her. Hard. And that fact made what he was doing to her that much more despicable.

“I’m sorry.” His voice barely reached her.

“No. I’m the one that’s sorry,” she said solemnly. “It’s not your fault.”

She turned around to face him and he looked up. Her brown eyes glistened with tears and it pierced his heart. Trent believed them to be tears of sadness, but they were tears of longing. She wanted him so desperately it was an almost physical pain and to see the look of anguish on his face only added to her own misery. She trusted him. But could she trust him enough to tell him the truth?

Slowly she knelt down in front of him. “Cole,” she began softly but then couldn’t go on.

He looked at her with an intensity that set her soul on fire. She gently stroked his bearded jaw and he clasped her hand against his lips, kissing her palm.

“Whatever it is, Noelle, you can tell me. I’ll understand. If you’re not ready, if I’m not what you want, you can tell me.” He kissed her palm again. “You can,” he whispered urgently.

Sadly she shook her head. “It’s all so complicated.” She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth. “And sordid, and I…don’t want to talk about it. Not now. I can’t.” She looked away.

“Noelle,” he turned her face toward him. He kept his hand on her cheek and she cradled it against her shoulder. “Whatever you want, I want for you. Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.”

She smiled weakly. “Thank you, Cole.”

Each time that she said the name Cole, his gut twisted with guilt. How much longer could he keep deceiving her? How much longer before she discovered the truth on her own? Then what?

“I’ll tell you what,” he offered, forcing cheer into his voice, “why don’t we head on back and have one of Paul’s fabulous meals and relax?”

Noelle nodded with relief. But the mention of Liaisons brought back her conversation with Joseph Malone.

Frowning she looked at Trent. “If Trent is in L.A. why hasn’t he contacted me? He wasn’t scheduled for another two weeks. What do you think he’s up to?”

Trent looked away toward the darkened horizon, forcing his thoughts to catch up with the change in topics. He stood up and brushed off his jeans, but kept his eyes focused on his shoes as he continued to brush off his clothes.

“Maybe your attorney got his information wrong.”

Noelle shook her head emphatically. “Joseph Malone never has the wrong information.”

Don’t I know it. He began to move restlessly, eager to change the topic.

“Then maybe Dixon decided to visit friends,” he shrugged dismissively, “or relax for a while before he came to see you.” Please change the subject.

“Maybe,” she sighed, not totally convinced.

“Just wait until he turns up,” he advised, finally daring to look at her. “There’s no point in stirring things up. And I’ll find out what I can until then. I’ve already sent for the FAA report.”

She slipped the dark glasses in her purse. “I guess you’re right,” she admitted half-heartedly. Trent relaxed a little. “I just wish I knew why he was here two weeks early.”

He put his arm around her waist, and snatched up the blanket with his other hand. Noelle tucked her purse under her arm.

“I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough. In the meantime, let’s get back. Your guests await!”

Noelle grinned up at him. “Thank you,” she said softly, but her eyes said so much more, and Trent wondered again what secret bound her heart.

After Trent dropped Noelle off at Liaisons, she headed straight to Gina’s office to get a rundown on the day’s activities.

“I know there’s nothing we can do right now,” Gina said softly into the phone. “But we have to be patient. You know that. Everyone will just have to understand. When the time is right.”

The sharp knock on Gina’s office door made her jump.

“I have to go. Someone’s here. Yes. As soon as I can. Bye.” She quickly hung up the phone.

“Yes. Come in,” she said in her cheeriest voice.

Noelle stepped into the small, neat office and closed the door behind her.

“Sorry to disturb you, Gina.”

“No. No problem, Mrs. Maxwell.” Gina cleared her throat as she stood up. “Please sit down. I guess you want the report.”

Noelle looked at her quizzically. “Is something wrong? You seem…edgy.”

“Oh. It’s nothing. Just a slight headache. Nothing that two aspirin won’t cure.” Noelle noticed that Gina’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Well be sure to take care of yourself. I know how hard you push yourself. Tomorrow is your day off isn’t it?”

Noelle tucked away every bit of information about her staff in her head. It was a gift that constantly amazed Gina. And she was sure it was one of the reasons why Noelle had such a good rapport with her employees. That’s why it made her so damned angry when she’d hear some of those wealthy bitches talk about Noelle as if she were some incompetent child who’d gotten lucky. Noelle had more class and intelligence than all of them rolled up together.

“Yes it is,” Gina answered. “I think I’ll just stay home and relax.”

“You be sure you do that,” she admonished, pointing a flawlessly manicured finger at Gina.

“I promise,” Gina grinned. “Here’s the report.” She picked up the two-page report from her desk and handed it to Noelle.

“Thanks.” Noelle rose from her seat. “Don’t forget what I said,” she warned.

“I won’t Mrs. Maxwell.”

“See you when you get back. And how is your father by the way?”

“Oh,” she smiled, “he’s doing very well. As a matter of fact he may be going over to the Sudan on behalf of the United Nations, depending on what happens over there in the next few weeks.”

“If anyone can have an impact on the rebel forces, Kenyatta Nkiru can,” Noelle offered, remembering quite clearly the dynamic impression that he’d left on her when he’d come to see this “magical place” that his headstrong daughter had opted for instead of a career in politics. He was certainly a man to be reckoned with.