by Casey Hagen
Corrine struggled against tears. “What if he hurts me the way Jordan did?”
Alexa knelt on the floor in front of her. “Oh, honey, he won’t. He’s not like Jordan. Not even close. He would cut off a limb before he intentionally hurt you. You’re going to have to make a decision. Either you’ll keep being afraid, or you’re going after what you want. You’re already doing it with your jewelry line. Why not go for it with Everett too?”
Alexa’s words echoed in Corrine’s head during her drive to the restaurant. Alexa was right. She was hiding. Running scared. She was ashamed of her behavior. She would get through this meeting, confront her mother, and pray that Everett still wanted her when she was ready. But she would make sure she was ready. She loved him too much to go to him with anything less than all of her.
She stepped up to the greeter at the host’s stand with her rolling cart in tow. “I’m here to meet Dustin Powell.”
“Of course, right this way.”
She was led through the dining room into a private dining area in the back. Beautiful exposed brick walls surrounded a massive table covered with crisp white linens, long enough to seat twenty easily. The softly lit room and the warm scent of freshly baked bread put her at ease right away. At the head of the table a tall man with sleek black hair stood as they entered the room.
“Corrine Anderson.” His grey eyes assessed her as he shook her hand. “Wonderful to finally meet you.”
“Mr. Powell. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”
“Please, call me Dustin. Here, have a seat.”
“Thank you.” He pushed in her chair before seating himself.
“Why don’t we get ordering out of the way and get down to business, shall we?”
“That would be perfect.”
With the food ordered and drinks delivered, Dustin nodded toward the case. “So, why don’t you show me what you’ve got.”
She pulled out each set, which he pored over with a magnifying glass. Over the course of their dinner, he asked her about the stones, her thought process behind offering the varying types of metals for the settings, the cost analysis for production and markup percentages, and how many other pieces she saw in the line. Luckily, she’d put together charts and graphs for the financial analysis, and handed him her sketchbook so he could review her designs for the rest of the collection. He took a few minutes to compare the completed pieces to her original sketches.
“Your designs are truly spectacular! The quality in the setting is stellar. So here’s what I’m thinking. I’m in for the full investment, but I want twenty percent of the company.”
Corrine took a deep breath and had to consciously avoid chewing her bottom lip. Twenty percent was a lot, but he was offering her everything she wanted. What would Everett have her do? He’d tell her to believe in her gut. Her gut told her ten percent was the most control she would part with.
“Five percent.”
He narrowed his eyes at her and grinned. “Fifteen.”
She leaned in and interlaced her hands on the table before her. “Seven and a half.”
“Ten. And that’s my bottom line.”
“Ten percent it is!” She reached out to shake his hand. “I look forward to spending your money, Dustin!”
He threw back his head and laughed. “I definitely need to introduce you to my wife. She enjoys spending my money too!”
29 The Call
He struggled to eat. He struggled to sleep. His focus was shot. The only thing that saved him were the calls he made to two colleagues who were both interested in joining his team. He sent them out on assignments right away, so he could get the business details set up there in San Francisco. He moved through the paperwork, setting up accounts, and finding an office space, all on autopilot.
His every thought was of Corrine. What was she doing? Did she miss him as much as he did her? Would she still be meeting Dustin on Monday? He didn't want to interfere, so he didn't call Dustin to ask, although he was dying to know. He drove every thought and feeling for her into his work. He planned to get his ducks in a row and go after her.
He met with Jordan and declined the job. Jordan kept raising his offer to obscene amounts, but nothing could ever be worth giving up Corrine. He was tempted to bring her up. Until that point, he still wondered how their engagement had fallen apart. Just minutes into the meeting, the toe of his shoe caught on a scrap of lace under Jordan's desk, and with that, he knew.
Tuesday morning Dustin called him. "Hey, man, I have to tell you, Corrine is incredible."
"She is impressive, isn't she? So the meeting went well?"
"Went well? She annihilated me. I just invested the full cost of startup for her first line and only managed to get ten percent of her company in return. She had me wrapped around her finger from the first piece of her Fiji line."
"Her Fiji line?"
"Yeah, that's her first line. She brought in twenty pieces with sketches for the other thirty. Incredible stuff. She said she had a deal with a man named Toshi there in Fiji to supply her with pearls for specific pieces."
Everett stopped listening. With the mention of Toshi, he was back in Fiji. Diving. Picking the strand of oysters next to hers. Hearing the story about the soul of the oyster. He pulled the small velvet bag from his pocket, holding the perfect gold pearl, and it all became clear. He knew what he needed to do.
He thanked Dustin for meeting with her and they agreed to get together for drinks soon. Then Everett got to work.
Corrine rang the doorbell and waited. She tensed when she heard the telltale clicks of her mother's heels before the door swung open.
Her mother said nothing, but stood back, opening the door wide, letting Corrine in. "I have a few questions for you," Corrine said.
"All right." Her mother led her to a settee in the sitting room. Corrine loved this room, but she and Hannah were never allowed to sit in there as children. The settee would have made the perfect place to read.
"What did you dream of being when you grew up?"
"What kind of question is that? Now you're being silly." Lanelle frowned.
"I think for the first time, in a long time, I'm being honest. What did you dream of being?"
Her mother didn't look her in the eye. "I don't see why any of this matters now."
"Because you gave up your dreams to make Daddy's come true. You sacrificed. I would really like to know."
Her mother picked at her perfect manicure, then sighed. "I wanted to have my own bridal shop. I wanted to make women's dream weddings come true."
"Why did you give it up?"
"Well, your father had to put so much time into the hospital. Then we moved here, and it was all I could do to keep up with social events. When we joined the country club, certain things were expected of Dr. Anderson's wife. You can't possibly know what it was like watching your father. He was so driven, so smart, and he worked so hard, all the time. He's an excellent doctor. Not just with his knowledge, but the way he is with his patients. He's never lost his bedside manner. Someone so rushed usually loses their softer interpersonal skills. He didn't. I wanted him to be able to help as many people as possible."
Her mother had just described Everett. Her heart ached constantly without him. She’d cried through every piece of jewelry she put together for her meeting with Dustin. Thank goodness she held it together through her business meeting. She had focused on getting the best deal possible, and now, in three months, she would be launching her very own jewelry line.
"I found an investor for my jewelry line. He's financing the whole startup and production in exchange for ten percent of my company. I understand what you did for Daddy. I'm just sad that you didn't get what you wanted for you. I hope you can understand, I need to do this. For me."
"How does Everett feel about this deal?"
"We're no longer together."
"What? When?"
"I haven't spoken to him since he dropped me off, after our visit here."
"
Oh, Corrine, no! Why?"
"Jordan offered him a job. He was considering it. I’m afraid of what will happen. Of him doing to me what Jordan did to me."
"What makes you think he will?"
"It's like a good ol’ boys’ club. What if he falls into those behaviors?"
"I know I was skeptical of your relationship, but I was wrong. And I was wrong to invite Jordan here. The minute I saw the way Everett takes care of you, I knew my mistake. It's just hard to admit. I think I've spent too much time with the biddies at the country club. I had to take a hard look at myself that night, and I'm not sure I like what I see."
For the first time in years, Corrine saw a glimpse of the woman who’d taken her to her first tea. Tears rolling down her face, she hugged her mother tight. "I've missed you, Mom."
"Oh, sweetheart. I know you have. I'm so sorry. Things are going to change. I promise you."
"Do something for me, Mom? Go after your dream."
"Honey, I'm too old now."
"No, you're not. If you don't want to start a business from scratch, do some consulting with wedding design. Do it part-time. Make yourself happy too."
Her mother brushed away her tears, much like she had when she was little. Corrine closed her eyes and enjoyed being taken care of again.
"On one condition…go make things right with Everett. He loves you, Corrine. He's proud of you, he cherishes you, and he wants to make you happy. Don't throw it away because of Jordan's actions."
Her mother's words played through her head over and over. She stared at his picture on her phone for hours, missing him. He didn't try to call her. No texts. Nothing. What did she expect, though? She didn't even look at him when he left. She couldn't. She couldn't see the pain on his face. She couldn't face what she was doing to him. To them.
Before she could think better of it, she called his cell. He answered on the third ring. "Hello."
He sounded tired and wary.
"Hi."
"Are you okay?"
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"I miss you."
30 The Pearl
They agreed to meet for dinner at Chapeau. She pulled her car up to the valet and turned over the keys. Her hands shook as she adjusted her purse strap over her shoulder.
Corrine stepped up to the hostess and gave her name. The woman led Corrine through the dimly lit tables. The room vibrated with hushed conversation, interrupted by the occasional sound of a cork popping from a wine or champagne bottle. Corrine followed her to a back room, offering privacy from the other diners, where Everett waited. He stood there, turned away slightly, as he watched the world go by outside. She took the moment to take him in.
He’d lost weight. Not a lot, but enough that she noticed. His face was pale. His posture stiff. His shirt sleeves were rolled to his elbows. His hands were tucked in his pockets. Nervous, her stomach rolling, she stepped forward.
"Hi, Everett."
His eyes snapped to hers. "Corrine Anderson."
The sound of his rough voice scraped her nerves raw. Unable to move, scarcely able to breathe, she stood there while he stalked her. One step at a time. Reaching out, he clasped her face in his hands and ravished her mouth. Sinking in deep, he kissed her possessively, his tongue invading her, coaxing whimpers and shudders.
"That's some hello, Mr. Harden."
"I've missed you, Angel."
"I've missed you too. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I let my fear get in the way of us. If you want to work for Jordan, you should. I should have supported you—"
He pressed his forehead to hers. "Shhh. I'm not working for Jordan."
"Then what are you going to do?" She curled her hands over his forearms, holding him there, as he held her face in his hands.
"I started Harden Financial last week. I already have three employees and I hired my new secretary today."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"What about us?"
"Well, I was going to wait for our other dinner guests, but I can't. I need to do this."
He dropped down to one knee and took her left hand in his.
"I love you, Corrine Anderson. More than anything. I want to be beside you as you achieve your dreams. I want you beside me as I achieve mine. I want to wake up looking into your beautiful eyes every morning. I want to watch our own little girl snuggle into your embrace, knowing her mother would never let anything happen to her. Be my family. Marry me?"
He opened the black velvet box, and in the center was a delicate yellow gold ring with diamonds set in varying heights, cradling the gold pearl from Fiji.
She nodded as tears poured down her face. "Yes," she whispered. He smiled wide, showing a hint of those dimples. He slid the ring on her finger and stood before her, wiping away her tears.
"You're mine, Corrine Anderson. I'm yours. Only yours." Pulling her to him, he kissed her. She savored the taste of him, the saltiness of her tears mingling with their kiss. She pulled away, to a chorus of cheers from his family and hers, who had crowded into the doorway.
"You did this?" she asked.
"I meant to do it in front of them."
"You did it just right."
"You're going to be Mrs. Corrine Harden."
"I'm proud to become your wife, Mr. Harden."
She sealed her vow with a kiss and didn't give one damn who watched.
Epilogue
The past year had been full of surprises. Corrine’s line was a huge success. Enough that she was able to devote her time to designing while her employees—yes, she had employees—created the pieces.
Everett had taken an interest in gemstone shopping and trade shows. Now, since his employees had proved as competent as he, Harden Financial was under solid footing and growing rapidly. With so many trusted employees, he took more time to travel with Corrine and support her jewelry line.
He’d worked some miracles too, in his downtime. He convinced her dad to start his own practice, handpicking the doctors with the same dedication as he. Her dad devoted some newfound time off to romance her mother. Corrine had never seen her mother so light and carefree. He also used that free time to take up golf again, and started taking Everett and Josh on regular golf outings.
Lanelle hadn’t started up a full-blown wedding consulting business, but she did work independently and part-time. They’d put the mausoleum up for sale and moved into a massive, newly renovated Victorian in Berkeley. On occasion, Lanelle hosted small, intimate weddings there on the property, but more often than not, she hosted Everett’s family.
The changes her parents had made in their daily lives spilled over into their love life. Although they would likely never be as demonstrative as Everett’s mother and father, they started holding hands and, when they thought no one was looking, her dad would steal a kiss, leaving her mother blushing like a teenager.
Their parents had grown close, and had recently teamed up to hound Everett and Corrine to give them grandkids. One would think Emily and Mike’s new daughter, Sierra, and Hannah and Josh’s son, Tristan, would be enough to keep them occupied, but no.
Today marked the final day of their honeymoon. They’d returned to their bungalow in Fiji with their immediate families to get married two weeks earlier. They were pleasantly surprised to find out Toshi was ordained to legally marry them. She could thank her mother for that nugget of information. Her mother took her new profession seriously.
So, under a brilliant Fijian sunset, Everett stood before her, barefoot, in tan chinos and a white cotton button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows. He held her hands in his and, through tears of his own, promised to love, honor, and protect her for all of their days. She was so choked up, witnessing his raw emotion, that she almost couldn’t speak her own vows.
She chose an teal silk dress with dainty straps. The fabric flitted in a shimmering wave with the slightest breeze. She kept her feet bare, like Everett, and had daisies painted on her toenails, just like Everett loved.
There was just something about standing there, only the two of them knowing their child lay protected in her womb, that made the moment of their union so overwhelmingly special. The day was pure magic. She couldn’t help herself—she played it over and over in her mind daily.
“What’s going on in that head of yours, Corrine Harden?”
Tears leaked from her eyes as he pressed those enticing lips to her slightly rounded belly that had formed in the past week. He greeted their baby the same way every morning and every chance he got. There were so many perks to sleeping naked—his attention to her belly being one.
She started sleeping naked every night she spent with him. After proposing, that was every night—whether it be at her condo or his, he refused to go one night without her sleeping in his arms.
“I think it’s time to put our parents out of their misery.”
He propped himself up on his pillows and opened his arms to her. “I think you’re right. You know, though, they’re going to be relentless once they find out. We’ll be buried under clothes, diapers, baby furniture, and booties before the week is out.”
“And inundated with baby names for the next six months.”
“And that.” He gently cupped her full breast. She thought she wanted larger breasts, but now that she had them, she wasn’t so sure. They didn’t seem to fit right into anything, but they were so sensitive, just touching them brought her to orgasm. Many times.
“Mmmm, I like the way you think, Mr. Harden.” She crawled over his lap and curled into his strong arms. She pressed her lips to the sensitive flesh under his jaw, right in the spot that made his heart race, and smiled when his fingers flexed on her thighs. Needing him, all of him, she buried her hands in his hair, rose over his hard length, and looked him straight in the eye as she lowered herself. The feel of him, hard inside her, stretching her, driving her out of her mind, never ceased to amaze her.
“God, Corrine.” His hands flexed on her hips as he guided her, with great care, back and forth.