Brandon (Members From Money Book 19)

by Katie Dowe

  “I have gotten used to it.”

  “What happened?”

  “We drifted apart,” Lori said knowing that she was speaking of her marriage. “He is an insurance salesman and travels all over and me? Well I am kind of committed to my work so I am always here.”

  “Did you love each other?”

  Lori looked startled at that and thought for a moment. “I think we connected with each other and drifted into a relationship but as for the love part I don’t think so.”

  “And yet you would have gone on living together in spite of that.”

  Lori stared at her and then nodded. “We would have.”

  “I am thinking of including an article about the rewards of holding out for the real thing.”

  “What if you never find it?”

  “I think it is better for your peace of mind that you stay by yourself if you don’t rather than being with someone for the sake of being with that person. Society puts pressure on us to find a man and get married before it is too late!” Yanique had pushed away her half eaten sandwich as she spoke. “We end up yielding to the pressure and then find ourselves saddled with some man who either is going to abuse us or ignore us while he looks for pleasure elsewhere.”

  “You sound like a walking billboard for women’s rights,” Lori said half teasingly.

  “I am not basing it off a woman’s perspective alone. Men go through similarly dissatisfying unions as well.”

  “I think it should be very interesting.” Lori glanced at the large clock on the wall behind them and shot to her feet. “My lunch time was up ten minutes ago and I have a deadline.” She started hurrying out and then stopped. “I hope we can do this again some other time.”

  “I am sure we will,” Yanique told her with a friendly smile and wave. She went back to work soon after. Minutes later she realized that she felt much better!

  *****

  Leanne crossed and uncrossed her black clad legs several times as she waited for the woman to come into the restaurant. It was the second week in January and the day looked grey and bleak with the shadow of the sun struggling to make its appearance. The snow lay thick on the ground with an overlay of grey as it mixed with the many footfalls. Leanne had chosen a discreet place not far from where she had her offices. She was a Reynolds and very visible. She straightened as she saw the tall willowy red head make her way towards her and got to her feet when she came near. Claudia had married money and it showed by the way she wore her expensive red silk dress and the thick fur coat thrown carelessly around her shoulders. Her red hair was caught at the back of her neck in an elegant chignon and large oversize shades hid her dark green eyes.

  Leanne got to her feet and they came together for a hug. Claudia hung on when she would have let go and for a moment they were brought back in time.

  “It’s good to see you,” Claudia told her huskily as she let go and took her seat.

  “Same here.” Leanne waited until she had taken off her shades and her eyebrows lifted at what she saw. The woman’s eyes were puffy and red and she looked as if she had not slept in a week. “What’s going on?”

  Claudia waited until the waiter had left with their order of fruit salads and lemon water before saying anything. “I am leaving Bill,” she said quietly as she stared at the woman she had loved throughout the years. “I have tried staying for the children but it has become so unbearable, Lee.” She reached for her friend’s hands and clasped them tightly.

  “Is he abusing you?”

  She nodded. “Not so you can notice. He is too clever for that. He would wait until we are in the privacy of our bedroom suite and he would hit me where it would never be seen. He is doing it more and more these days and has told me that I cannot leave him because I have nowhere to go. He is going to take my children.” She broke off and Leanne felt the tremble in her fingers. “Calvin is ten and Becky is eight. They need me and I need them, I cannot do without them.”

  “Fight,” Leanne said coldly causing the woman to look at her. “You are a victim and you need to move past that. When we were in college you were the voice of the people. What happened to you?”

  “I grew up,” she said wearily. “I started living in the real world and realized that it is not all it is cut out to be.”

  “Get a lawyer. I have the names of several high powered lawyers and together we are going to fight this thing!”

  Chapter 4

  It happened in the middle of February when she was three months pregnant! It was a Monday and it had snowed heavily the day before. She was heading out towards the parking lot during lunch time when she tripped and fell heavily in the snow. Her head was caught on the root of a tree and was hit hard enough to render her unconscious! The guard who had been looking at her going to her car called up to Gabrielle and then called for an ambulance.

  Gabrielle’s hand trembled as she placed the call to Brandon Reynolds. The ambulance had gone off with her and she was praying that she was going to be okay. The girl had become like a favorite to her and she would hate to think that she was hurt badly.

  “Mr. Reynolds, there has been an accident.”

  “What happened?”

  “Ms. Smith fell and hit her head and has been rushed off to the hospital.”

  “How bad?”

  “I don’t know yet, sir. I am sure there won’t be any lawsuit-“

  “I am not thinking about that right now, Gabrielle,” he said impatiently. “Have you notified her family?”

  “Yes, sir. It is only her mother and she is on her way there.”

  “I am in town so I will swing by the hospital and find out what is going on.”

  “Thank you, sir. Would you let us know how she is?”

  “I will.”

  *****

  “Ms. Smith, good to have you back,” Doctor Romaine said with a pleasant smile on his round face. “You have some visitors.”

  “What happened?” she asked hazily.

  “You had an accident in the parking lot and you fell and hit your head. The baby is fine by the way.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered. They both looked towards the doorway as they heard a noise and Yanique felt her heart slam into her chest as she realized who it was. “Mr. Reynolds, you may come in.”

  Yanique plucked at the covers on the bed and avoided his dark blue eyes for a moment. “Gabrielle failed to tell me that you are expecting.” He looked at her frowningly. “If you had lost the child we would be facing a lawsuit.”

  “She does not know.” Yanique looked at him squarely taking in the ruggedly handsome face and the expensive coat he was wearing. Since that time when he had come upon her in the library she had not seen or heard from him again.

  “Why?” The single word sounded like a shot from a high powered weapon.

  “I was going to tell her this month.”

  “Where is the father?”

  “MIA.”

  “What?”

  “He does not want to have anything to do with either me or the baby,” she said defensively. “I made the decision to have my child and raise him or her by myself. My mother offered to help.”

  He stared at her for a moment as if wondering at the strange situation. “You were pregnant when you were employed and did not say anything to anyone. That’s cause for termination, Ms. Smith.”

  Yanique stared at him in horror. “I was afraid!” she burst out. “I need this job and I wanted to prove myself first–” To her mortification, she burst into tears!

  Brandon sat there staring at her for a moment and then he got up and went towards the corner of the room to pour her a glass of water. He felt like a heel threatening her with termination. “Here.” He handed her the glass and she took it drinking down the water. She handed him the glass after she had finished.

  “Sorry about the waterworks. I am usually much stronger.”

  “What do you suggest we do, Ms. Smith?” he asked as he sat back down.

  “Keep me on and pay me full m
aternity benefits,” she said with a watery smile.

  He stared at her for a moment and then smiled slightly. “I understand that you are very good at what you do.”

  “So you won’t fire me?”

  “No.” He leaned forward suddenly and brushed back the hair from her wet cheek. As if realizing what he was doing, he pulled back his hand abruptly and got to his feet. “Your mother is outside waiting. I will speak to the doctors and find out when you can be released. I will also speak to Gabrielle in terms of your condition.” He stared down at her, his blue eyes taking in her tangled hair and her full lips devoid of makeup. Even without artifice she was quite exquisite. He turned away abruptly and headed for the door.

  “Mr. Reynolds?” He turned back to look at her. “Thank you.”

  He nodded and then left.

  Yanique leaned back on her pillows and closed her eyes for a moment heaving a sigh of relief that the hurdle had been passed.

  *****

  “I cannot believe that she never said anything to me about her condition,” Gabrielle said fretfully as she stared at the powerful man sitting in front of her. When he had told her about Yanique’s pregnancy she had been so shocked that she had sat there staring at him. She did not want him to think that she was inept in carrying out her duties.

  “That’s beside the point now,” he said impatiently. “I have promised her that she would not be fired.” His blue eyes bored into hers and she looked away swiftly. “She is to get the full benefit as if she has been working here for the requisite amount of time. I trust that her work is up to par?”

  “She is an excellent editor,” the woman said stoutly.

  “Good.” He got to his feet. “I am in town for two weeks so I will see how she is doing.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Reynolds.”

  He nodded and left. Gabrielle stared after him thoughtfully before picking up the phone. “Let me speak to accounts please.”

  *****

  “I think he was thrown off by my tears,” Yanique told her mother wryly as she took the hand she held out. “I have a feeling he feels sorry for me.”

  “Well, I am just so happy that you and the baby are okay and that you are not going to lose your job. Honey, I thought you told them.”

  “I kept putting it off. I am three months pregnant and I am not showing so I was rolling the dice to see if I could wait out for a week or two,” Yanique admitted.

  “Nothing remains hidden for long.”

  “True,” she said with a sigh. “I had to call Gabby and apologize to her.”

  “How did she take it?”

  “She was pretty offended at first and then she calmed down when I told her that it was something I didn’t like talking about and I tried to bury it.”

  “When are you getting out of here?”

  “Tomorrow. They just want to see that I don’t have a concussion and that my baby is really okay.”

  “I will come by when you are discharged.”

  “No.” She squeezed her hand. “You have already taken off today. I will be okay.”

  *****

  “Mr. Reynolds!” She stared at the tall imposingly handsome man standing in the hospital lobby in shock. “What are you doing here?”

  “I am taking you home.” He nodded to the doctors and nurses and came towards her. “Doctor Romaine told me that there are no after effects. My driver is waiting.” He went before her and expected her to follow him and she did. It was a large dark brown Range Rover and the uniformed driver sprang to attention as he opened the door for them. Brandon stepped aside and allowed her to enter first and then climbed in beside her. Yanique scooted to the far corner as she felt his imposing presence in the vehicle. “How are you feeling?” he asked after they had started off.

  “I am okay, thank you. You really did not have to come and pick me up.”

  “I know.” He looked at her for a moment, his eyes roving over her face. Her hair was loose and fell in straight waves past her shoulders. She looked young and vulnerable and suddenly he felt the elusive emotion he had been experiencing ever since he saw her. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. How is the baby?”

  “The baby is fine.” She shifted uncomfortably not wanting to discuss something so personal with him.

  “I spoke to Gabrielle about your maternity package.”

  “She told me and I cannot thank you enough.”

  He nodded and looked out the window at the passing scenery. Yanique studied his profile and noticed his stubborn chin. Suddenly he turned around and his eyes caught hers. She looked down at her hands quickly as she felt the shift of something passing between them.

  “We are here,” he said softly as the vehicle came to a halt. She looked out the window swiftly not realizing that the time had passed.

  “Thank you.” She hurried to open the door but the driver did first and took her hand to help her out. She smiled her thanks and had just turned back to say thanks again when she realized that he was not in the vehicle.

  “I will be a few minutes, Gray,” he told the driver.

  Yanique started as she realized that he was coming in with her. “I am really okay-”

  “I am making sure.” He indicated for her to go before him and stifling a sigh she did so. He dwarfed her small living room and seemed quite out of place in the simple room with its colorful throw rugs and faded sofa. It had been hers and Shelly’s. She had thought about moving out but she could not bring herself to do so. She felt closer to her friend here. Her mother had been here because she could smell the mouthwatering aroma of beef stew. She stood there for a moment and then asked him. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “No.” He looked around at the cozy place and his eyes zeroed in on a large framed photo of her and Shelly hanging from one wall in the living room.

  “My best friend,” she told him hollowly as she answered his unspoken question. “She died almost a year ago on her way to work at the hospital where she was a nurse.”

  His eyes searched her face and he wanted to pull her into his arms and erase the sadness there. He moved away quickly. “I am sorry to hear.” He looked around swiftly as if trying to find something and then looked at her. “Will you be okay?”

  She nodded. “My mother left food so I am going to eat something and go to bed.”

  “Good. You are out for a week.”

  “Oh no, I could not possibly-”

  “That was not a question, Ms. Smith,” he told her brusquely.

  “Oh. I am going to go nuts staying home for an entire week.”

  “I am sure you will find something to occupy your mind.” He turned and reached the door.

  “How did you know where I live?”

  “I asked,” he said briefly. “Get some rest.” With that he was gone. Yanique hurried to the window and watched as he walked with long strides out to where the driver was waiting for him. He did not turn and look but she felt the sense of awareness as if he had done just that. She waited until the vehicle had driven off before she moved and went into the kitchen. For a moment a feeling of intense longing and loneliness filled her and she had to sit on one of the stools to get her bearings.

  *****

  He brooded in the apartment he stayed when he came to town. He had asked the driver to take him to the club where he had changed and engaged in a strenuous round of tennis with another member. But it had not been enough. He was still thinking about her and he was doing so more and more each day especially since he had found out she was pregnant. What kind of bastard would get a woman pregnant and leave her to fend for herself, he wondered furiously as he pummeled the bag hanging from the roof! And was she in love with him? He stopped abruptly as he realized where his thoughts were leading. He used his teeth to release the Velcro clasp from the boxing gloves and pulled them off angrily, dumping them on the floor. He went to the mini fridge and got a bottle of water, drinking it down in one gulp thirstily. It was none of his concern! She was one of his employees and he had
never gotten involved with a person employed to him. That was a cardinal rule of his. It was a recipe for disaster and besides that she was carrying another man’s child! He bit off a sigh as he reached for his towel and headed upstairs to the bathroom. He wished her all the best! But that night he could not sleep as he pictured her over and over in his head!

  *****

  “Do you know William Lakeside?” Leanne asked her brother as she passed him the glass of wine. He had come over for dinner and their mother had excused herself to go to her suite of rooms to sort out some orders for tomorrow. It had been two days since he had taken Yanique home from the hospital and he had to be telling himself that she was not his concern.

  “Lakeside Carpets.” He nodded as he sipped the dry red wine. “Why?”

  Leanne twirled her fingers around the fragile stem of the glass and waited before answering. “He is married to a friend of mine from college and they have two children.” She looked at her brother. “He is abusing her, Bran.”

  “She is still with him?”

  Leanne nodded. “I got her a lawyer but she signed a prenup. She does not get a cent and she stands to lose the kids.” She bit off a sigh and got to her feet restlessly. An electric fire burned in the mantel and the room was cozy and warm but Leanne felt cold and desolate. She had spoken to Claudia every day and was not any nearer to a solution.

  “There has to be a way around it,” Brandon suggested. “Has she spoken to the lawyer?”

  “She does not want to do so without paying him and when I told her that I would foot the bill she will not hear of it. She looks like a ghost, Bran, and I have a feeling he does not give a damn if she just disappeared.”

  “Who did you get?”

  “Larry Baker.”

  “He is one of the best.”

  “And one of the most expensive. She wants me to take the case but I am not a divorce lawyer and I fear that I would mess up.”

  “I will talk to him.”

  She turned to look at him gratefully. “Thanks, darling.” She finished her wine. “Now it is your turn.”