I’m sure he expected me to get pissed off, but I found it extremely humorous. “Um, isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black or whatever that saying is?”
“You know damn well that was different. I moved in with Rose because I was leaving rehab.”
“True, but you could’ve gone to your parents, or even here.” That shut him up for a minute, long enough for me to add, “Pearson, Sylvie and I are two grown people who are fully capable of making sound decisions regarding our lives. Not that it’s any of your business, but I am completely and totally head over heels in love with your cousin. I promise not to do anything to hurt her. Does that make you feel better?”
“Wow. I didn’t expect that.” I heard his fingers thrumming on his desk.
“What’s your hesitation regarding us?”
“Honestly, I don’t have any now. You just pulled the rug out from under me.”
“Why? You of all people should’ve known this was coming. How many women have I brought to my real home? How many women have I taken to meet my parents? How many women have I taken to Canouan? How many women have flown on my private jet, other than my mom?”
“Damn, you’re right. I wasn’t looking at all those clues, stupid me.”
“I’m waiting,” I said.
“Waiting?”
“For your apology, dickhead.”
“Right. Sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusions, man. I seem to be doing that a lot with you two.”
“I must’ve really set a bad example for you along the way.”
“It was after Tiffany when you went on your use and lose streak. I just had it in my head that…well you can figure it out.”
“And you should know me better, that after your wedding if I kept trying to get her to go out with me, that use and lose streak didn’t count towards Sylvie. I’ve already spelled it out for you and she’s the real thing for me, man. I never thought it would happen, but it did. Now will you stop having all these doubts about me?”
“Done. Is Sylvie really going to give up her job?”
I blew out a breath because this was something I didn’t want unless it was absolutely necessary. “That’s completely up to her. I want living in the city to be easy, not difficult on her. I haven’t told her this but if she doesn’t like this situation, I’m not opposed to buying something between our two places of work. There are a lot of options, Pearson.”
“True, or you could even buy a place out here and split your time between here and the city.”
“I’ve thought of that too. The thing I want the most is her happiness and if that includes her staying at Flower Power, then we’ll work it out. I was going to talk to her about that tonight, so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention any of this to Rose. Can you do this for me?” Haley walked into my office, but I held up a hand.
“Sure thing.”
“Hey, I hate to cut you off, but my admin just walked in. I have to go.”
“Catch you later.”
“And the next time, I hope it’s not an ass chewing.” I ended the call before he could respond.
“Sir, I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s someone at reception who’s insisting on seeing you. She says it’s urgent.”
“Who is it?”
“She refuses to give her name.”
“You know the policy. No name, no entry.” I turned to my computer, but Haley didn’t leave.
“Sir, she’s, um, making quite a scene.”
“A scene? How?”
Haley fidgeted and seemed unwilling to answer. She finally said, “Well, Sharon called and said she was saying all kinds of horrible things about you when Sharon refused to let her go back. Security is there now.”
“Are you going to tell me what kinds of horrible things?”
“I don’t want to repeat them, sir.”
I picked up the phone and called Sharon. I heard someone ranting in the background.
“Sharon, what’s going on?”
“Mr. Thomas,” she whispered into the phone, “this woman is crazy. She says she’s your ex-fiancé and is demanding to see you.”
“What does she look like and please be specific.”
“Bleached blond hair, um, shall I say very enhanced chest and lips, and she’s wearing a dress that can hardly be called that.”
That doesn’t sound like the Tiffany I once knew and who I suspected it might have been. “Sharon, reiterate to her that not even my parents are allowed back unless they give their names and identification.”
“Yes, sir.”
I heard her do this and she screamed like a banshee. Sharon asked me if I heard it. Everyone in the city probably heard it. I told her to have security escort her out and to make sure the police were there as well. The woman was off her rocker. I turned on the video feed in my office and connected it to all the security cameras. Then I watched my security team drag her out of there. I would have a talk with them because she never should’ve been able to get to this floor in the first place. Her face didn’t look remotely familiar. What in the hell did she want with me? She must’ve been just another crazy person who had seen my picture in the media.
My phone rang and it was Carl from security.
“I was just getting ready to call you. How did she get to the executive floor?”
“She must’ve been watching when a group of employees came through. She came through the main entrance and there were several people at the front desk inquiring about appointments, and she walked through behind the group of employees with badges.”
“Who was on assignment at the front door?”
“No one, sir.”
“No one?” I began to seethe. This was one of the things I had stressed to the team repeatedly. “And why was that?”
“Our usual doorman had to leave for a moment to use the restroom.”
“So the guard had to take a piss and you couldn’t get anyone to cover for him? Did I get it right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Carl, would you and Joe come up to my office, please?”
“Yes, sir.”
My body twitched from head to toe. I was angry. Whoever was running ground floor security had fucked up. I punched my desk, in order the relieve my frustration and anger, and ended up bruising the shit out of my knuckles. As I was massaging the pain out of them, Haley came in and asked if I was ready.
“Bring them in,” I said. A muscle ticked in my jaw as I prepared for the upcoming confrontation.
The two men, who were much bulkier than I was, and that was saying a lot because I was no small guy by any means, walked in. “Take a seat.” My tone was not inviting.
They sat on the couch I’d indicated while I paced for a moment. I drew in a sharp breath to control the rage that swept over me.
“My first question to the two of you is this. What if she’d been a terrorist wearing a vest loaded with C-4?”
They mumbled some gibberish, but I answered for them. “I’ll tell you what. We don’t know how many deaths would be on your heads because you didn’t have a better hand on your team downstairs. Who’s in charge down there?”
“That would be—”
“You are, Carl. I hired you because of your past experience. You are the head of security. Everything they do falls under your umbrella. If one of them screws up, it’s your fault. Now I want whoever’s in charge down there in my office immediately.”
“Yes, sir.” Carl pulled out his phone and made a call. “He’s on his way, sir.”
“When this mess is resolved, you are to immediately conduct a meeting with your team, followed up by a memo, reminding them that if at any time they need to leave their posts, they must find a replacement. From now on I want two people at the door. I want line markers at the desk so if more than two people show up at once, they form a line and don’t confuse the guards. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
Haley came in and said Aaron Blankenship was here. I looked at Carl and he nodded. “Send him in.
”
He walked in and was told to take a seat. Then I busted his balls too.
“Aaron, what is going on down there? Did the circus come to town and no one informed me?”
“No, sir.”
“I’m only going to say this once. If one of your guards has to use the restroom, get a replacement for him or her. Is that so difficult?”
He glanced at Carl. “Aaron, Carl didn’t ask you the question, I did.”
“Yes, sir, it is because we’re shorthanded.”
“And why is that?”
“Because two replacement guards haven’t been hired yet.”
“I see. Carl, how many entry points does this building have?”
“Eight, sir.”
“And how many guards are on the other seven.”
“None.”
“How long have we been shorthanded, Carl?”
He squirmed. “Two weeks, sir.”
I wanted to chew nails.
I directed my question to Aaron. “Are you telling me that you’ve been shorthanded all that time?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you, Aaron. You can leave.”
He walked out, leaving Carl and Joe. I told Joe, “You can leave too. Carl, you stay.”
Joe left and I sat down across from Carl. “What the hell is going on and don’t beat around the bush.”
He sighed. “I guess I haven’t been paying as close attention as I should’ve been.”
“You guess.”
Suddenly, he seemed deflated, as though the air went completely out of him. He put his head in his hand as he sat there.
“What is it, Carl? This isn’t like you.”
“I should’ve come to you earlier, but I didn’t want to mix work with my personal life.”
Carl had always been a straight shooter, so I was baffled by this behavior. “What do you mean?”
“My wife left me a few weeks ago. It’s messed with me in a bad way. I’m sorry. I should step down because I can’t focus like I should. Like Aaron said, there are issues that I’ve let go and things have fallen through the cracks. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too, Carl. Do you need to talk to someone? You know the company offers assistance with that.”
“Maybe. I don’t know what I need right now. But if you want my opinion, Joe should take over for now.”
“Okay. Why don’t we do this? Why don’t you take a medical leave of absence to get your head straight? When you feel better, come back and a job will be waiting for you.”
“Yeah, I think that’s best.”
“Have Haley call HR for you and they’ll guide you through the proper steps.”
“Thanks, Mr. Thomas. This will be a big help.” He left the office and then I realized I had to get Joe back in here and let him know he would be acting head of security until Carl returned.
When he came back, I didn’t divulge any of Carl’s information, but we got to work on the meetings he would have to run with his team and then the hiring of new guards. I made sure he understood the importance of having two people at the front entrance at all times and that I wanted security detail at all entrances from now on.
Joe was onboard and eager to please. He would implement these things immediately.
I checked the clock and it was only ten. What a morning so far. At noon, I called Cole.
“Hey, you busy for lunch?”
“No, s…Evan.”
“Let’s grab a bite somewhere.”
“Sure.”
We met in the lobby and walked across the street to this great little deli. While we ate, I picked his brain for Christmas presents for Sylvie.
“So, you two are still together?”
“Yeah, we actually are. I think she’s ready for the jewelry gift.”
He grinned. “Wow. You work fast.”
“Not really. It’s because I’m so old and know what I want.”
“Uh huh.” He chomped on his sandwich. “Still, that’s fast, but I’ll go with it. What are her favorite things?”
“You mean in jewelry?”
“Yeah. Does she like bracelets, earrings, rings?”
“She wears them all.”
“Okay. How fancy do you want to get?”
“What do you mean, fancy?”
“Let me rephrase that. How much do you want to spend and don’t give me a dollar amount? Just say money is no object or I’d like for it to be modest.”
I swallowed my bite before answering. “Money’s no object.” It never would be where Sylvie was concerned.”
“Go to Tiffany’s. Every woman’s dream is to have something from Tiffany’s or that’s what my wife says.”
“You think so?”
“Uh huh. Or if you know any of her friends, ask them.”
A crew from the office walked in and waved. I smiled and waved back. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“My wife always says, men only think with the brain in their pants and not with the one in their heads.”
I nearly choked on my water. Not at the statement, but because it came from Cole. He looked so straight-laced and geeky, who would’ve thought he married someone like that?
He pounded me on the back. “Jeez, I didn’t know that would choke you up.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to have to meet your wife. She sounds absolutely brilliant.”
Cole chuckled. “She is. She married me, didn’t she?”
I glanced at him and he wore a goofy expression on his face that was only matched by his goofy bow tie and glasses. There was no way I was going to hold back the laughter. If his wife was attractive, the man must have something going on between the sheets.
Twenty-Nine
Evan
I hit Rose up that afternoon for Christmas presents. She didn’t agree with the Tiffany idea.
“Sylvie is a one of a kind girl. I’d go to one of those boutique jewelers and get her something there. Tiffany’s is cool, but that’s not her style.”
“You’re right. She doesn’t really wear traditional jewelry now that I think of it. Thanks for the heads up.”
Robert called and said he was on his way to pick up Sylvie and wanted to know if I had any desire to go. I would’ve loved to, but I wasn’t quite ready yet. “I’ll have to meet her at home.”
I finished up at the office around six and took a taxi home. When I got upstairs. Whatever Rita was cooking had the place smelling amazing. I had all intentions of sneaking into the kitchen and peaking, only she was still in there.
“Dammit.”
“What’s wrong, Mr. Evan?”
“I was going to taste whatever you had cooking in here. But you’re still here.”
“All you have to do is ask.” She opened the lid to a pot of bolognaise that looked scrumptious. “What time will your new roommate be here?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Anytime now. Robert is picking her up.”
“Ooh. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Don’t you spoil her worse than me. I might get jealous.”
She laughed. “I’ll spoil you two equally.”
I heard voices then. “They must be here.” I hurried to the foyer in case she had a lot of bags.
“Hey,” I said, wrapping her in my arms. Then I kissed her. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too.”
“Your bags?”
“Here’s the first load. Robert is getting the second.”
“Is there more?”
“Nope. This was all I brought. I figured I could get more later. But I do want to unpack some of this, so it doesn’t look completely crushed.”
“Come on.” We went to the master bedroom and I showed her to her own closet.
“I thought I would share with you. I had no idea there were two.”
“Yes, ma’am. So you can buy more shoes if you want.”
“I’m pretty well set, thanks.”
She rolled her suitcase in and set it on the floor where she ope
ned it and began to take her clothes out. I had more than enough hangers in there for her, so I asked if she needed help.
“I’m good, but you might want to help Robert. I feel sorry for him. The next one is huge.”
“On it.”
Robert was struggling to get the thing out of the elevator. “How in the world did you get that thing out of the car?”
“Well, sir, it wasn’t nearly as bad as getting it in. I didn’t know they made suitcases this large. Ms. West could fit in here, I believe.”
“She probably could. Let me take it from here. Thank you, Robert. We’ll see you in the morning around seven thirty.”
“Yes, sir. Enjoy the evening.”
By the time I got to the closet, the other bag was empty.
“Your big boy is here.”
“Aww, I’m so glad because you are a sight for sore eyes.”
“I was talking about this gigantic suitcase. Were you planning on killing someone and stuffing their body in here afterward?”
She just eyed me. “No! A girl needs stuff when she travels.”
“Seriously. If we go anywhere longer than a week, are you going to take that?”
“Sure am.”
I’d definitely have to add some major back exercises to my workout regimen.
“Meet me in the kitchen when you’re finished. I want you to meet Rita. She’s dying to meet you.”
Sylvie stopped what she was doing, hopped to her feet, and said, “I’ll come right now.”
We stepped into the kitchen and Rita exclaimed, “Oh, Ms. Sylvie, it’s so nice to meet you. I knew you would be beautiful and perfect for Mr. Evan.” Sylvie beamed as Rita hugged her. “I told Mr. Evan I couldn’t wait to spoil you. All you have to do is tell me what your favorite things are and I’ll get them for you. And I love to cook, too, so please let me know what you like.”
“Thank you. Evan tells me wonderful things about you. It’s so good to finally meet you too.”
It was easy to see Rita already loved her by her huge smile. I knew Sylvie would be spoiled, just like I was.
“How soon will you be ready to eat so I can prepare the pasta? Everything else is done,” Rita said.
Sylvie looked to me for an answer.
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