shook his head, looking slightly flustered by the sliver of jealousy that blew over her spirit. “She’s a friend of your brother’s. She’s helping us out.”
Mama Hill looked from him to Simone and back. “Take Simone downstairs with you and introduce her. Then the three of you come back up dem stairs and get you some breakfast. Tell Liza Mingus is here.”
Paul nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Simone sat for a second too long before the older woman admonished them both. “Y’all ain’t got all day now!”
Mingus laughed, a deep belly guffaw that made Simone shift her annoyance in his direction as she stood and followed Paul to the basement.
“Dude! Did you know that the pharmaceutical industry raised prices on thousands of drugs this year? Including medications to treat arthritis, high blood pressure and diabetes? Some of these guys hauled in over $25 billion in profits last year. That’s some serious price gouging!” Liza looked astonished as Paul and Simone went downstairs.
Paul nodded. “Americans routinely pay more for prescription drugs that are just a fraction of the cost in other countries. The bigger question is why we’re the only industrialized nation that allows pharmaceutical executives to raise prices with zero consideration for public health.”
Liza pointed her index finger at him. “This really is some shysty mess!” She shifted her gaze toward Simone. “Who are you?”
Paul tossed a look over his shoulder. “Liza, this is Simone. Simone, this is Liza, Mingus’s friend.” He emphasized the word friend so there was no doubt in Simone’s mind about his association with the young woman.
“You a friend of Mingus’s, too?” Liza questioned.
“Mingus is my brother. He’s upstairs, by the way. He got distracted by the food.”
Liza’s excitement shimmered across her face. “Cool beans! It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Simone said, her eyes sweeping the room and taking in all the technology in the space.
Paul could see the questions that caused her brow to furrow. “Liza is trying to find some information for me.”
“I see. And how many laws are we breaking right now?”
“You really don’t want to know,” Liza answered, shooting her another look.
“Were you able to find anything?” Paul asked.
Liza pointed to the printer. “You know none of this is admissible in a court of law, right?”
Paul nodded, moving swiftly to the stack of paper spilling out of the machine.
Liza stood. “The CEO of Lender Pharmaceuticals is a freak, too. He has all kinds of porn on his computer.”
“Porn?” Simone questioned. “What kind of porn?”
“Golden showers seem to be his perversion of choice. Some real nasty stuff. But his emails make for interesting reading.” She suddenly jumped up excitedly. “And do you know that if he leaves the company his severance package will pay him over eighty million dollars? How crazy is that mess!”
Paul was shifting through the printed documents, having barely heard Liza’s last comments. His focus was singular, his attention distracted. He was surprised by the volume of information Liza had managed to obtain and a lab report had him crunching data in his head.
Liza shrugged her shoulders and headed for the stairs. Simone started to follow but Paul suddenly called her name, looking up abruptly from the documents he was reading. She turned around to see what he needed.
Paul was staring at her intently, emotion flooding his face as he struggled with how to make things right between them. How to assuage her anger and get her to understand how much he appreciated her help. He was searching for the right words and struggled with finding them. How best to give her an out before they were both too deep in the midst of it to find their way out.
“Yes?”
“I would understand if this is too much for you to handle. If you didn’t want to see this through with me.”
Simone bit down against her bottom lip, twisting her hands together anxiously. “Does that mean you don’t want me to help?”
“It means I understand if you think it’s too much for you to handle.”
She gave him a nod and turned, her hand on the railing. He called after her a second time.
“Simone?”
She took a deep breath before turning back a second time, her brow raised ever so slightly. Her tone was soft, just a hint above a whisper. “Yes, Paul?”
“I still love you. I never stopped. I don’t know what may happen, but I needed you to know that.”
When Paul admitted his love for her, time seemed to come to an abrupt halt, the minute hand on every clock stalling. Words caught in Simone’s chest, a wealth of emotion smothering her thoughts. They stood staring at each other, something shifting in their relationship that clearly neither had anticipated. Unable to find the words to respond, Simone could only give him a nod of her head and then she turned, almost running back up the stairs.
Hearing his declaration had been everything Simone had wanted. He still loved her. He had never stopped. Despite the time that had separated them, they had slid back into sync with each other and all she needed to do was say the words back. He needed to know she felt the same way, and she needed to ensure she didn’t screw it up like the last time.
When Paul finally joined them at the breakfast table, Simone was regaling the two women with a story about Mingus and one of his many exploits as a child. Mama Hill and Liza were both laughing heartily. The matriarch gave him a stern look as she passed him the plate of bacon.
“Sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean to take so long.”
The old woman tossed Mingus a look and he was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “I like this one,” she said, nodding eagerly. “Yes, I do. I like him a lot.” She shifted her gaze toward Simone. “He’s a keeper. Not that you asked my opinion, but if I were you, I’d hold on to him. Hell, if I were a few years younger I’d give you a run for your money!”
“No, we’re…just…” Simone started, suddenly unsure how to identify the two of them. There was still so much they needed to figure out and even more that needed to be said. Telling people she’d barely known for a hour that Paul was the love of her life had her feeling completely out of sorts.
“Friends. We’re just friends,” Paul concluded.
Simone gave him a quick look, then dropped her eyes down to her plate.
Mama Hill looked from one to the other and then she burst out laughing, her head waving from side to side. “Friends my ass!” she said. “You young people kill me! Even a blind man can see the kind of friends you two are!”
As soon as the meal was finished Paul headed back to the basement with Liza and Mingus. Simone hesitated just long enough for Mama Hill to point her toward the sink and the pile of dirty dishes. Her eyes widened and for a moment she almost balked, catching herself when the old woman pressed a wrinkled hand against her cheek.
“Why are you so sad?” she asked, eyeing Simone intently. “You know that young man has deep feelings for you.”
Simone