Bands of Gold

by Angela Benson

  When Christina stepped out of the shower, she looked at herself in the mirror, something she didn’t often do. Her breasts were not as firm as she would have liked, and her belly could have been tighter. But overall, not bad for a thirty-year-old woman who had at one time weighed more than 220 pounds. She wondered what Jackson would think of her body.

  Tired of looking at herself, Christina put on her nightgown. She liked the way the silk felt against her skin. There was something sensual about it. When she rubbed the fabric against her skin, she felt a tingle throughout her entire body.

  Shutting off the light in the bathroom, Christina headed for bed. She settled herself under the covers and closed her eyes. She quickly opened them and stared at the ceiling. God, she was fantasizing about Jackson. She’d done it before, but never with him this close. He was so close she felt he knew what she was thinking. She turned over on her stomach, afraid to close her eyes again.

  You are a successful, intelligent woman, not some starry-eyed schoolgirl, she told herself. Get a grip on yourself. Jackson is only a man. You’ve known men before.

  She stopped there. That was the problem. She hadn’t known, in the biblical sense, a man before. Horny at thirty. She could see the headlines now. FEMALE EXEC ATTACKS MALE EMPLOYEE. That made her smile. She didn’t think she’d have to attack Jackson. He’d be more than willing to help her out. She guessed he’d be a thorough lover. God knows, he was thorough in his work. No, it wasn’t the night of love that concerned her; it was the day after. She didn’t want to think too closely about that.

  ***

  Christina and Jackson arrived at CL headquarters at eight-thirty and took the elevator to the fortieth floor. The day had gotten off to a good start. Breakfast had been surprisingly easy for Christina. She and Jackson had dressed in their respective rooms with no embarrassing moments. He had been seated on the couch in the living room when she’d walked out of her bedroom. They ate breakfast in the hotel while going over the day’s agenda. The awkwardness of the previous night had passed. They were back on safe ground.

  When they arrived at the meeting room, Liza was already there.

  She stood up when Jackson and Christina walked in. “Good to see you both this morning. How was your flight?”

  Christina looked at Jackson. He held up both hands. “I’m not the person to ask.” He extended his hand to Liza. “It’s about time we met.”

  Liza shook his hand. “Good to meet you, Jackson. I’m eager to get to Atlanta to work with you and Christina.”

  “We’re ready for you to start, too,” Christina said. “We have our work cut out for us.” Christina looked from Liza to Jackson. “I know you two want to get to know each other a little bit, but for the sake of time, can we get started now with business and plan to have a relaxing dinner together tonight?”

  “It sounds good to me,” Jackson answered. “How about you, Liza?”

  “Great. Robert, my fiancé, came to Boston with me. He’s taking this time to get to know my parents. We had planned to take you two to dinner tonight, anyway.”

  They seated themselves at the conference table and started to work. As the morning progressed, Christina marveled at the way they clicked. Not that they always agreed. That was not expected with minds like theirs, but they were able to reason together to reach consensus pretty quickly. That boded well for the project.

  The morning passed quickly. When it was time for lunch, Liza said, “I can’t go to lunch with you. Something came up at my office late yesterday that I have to address. I’ll be back for the afternoon meeting.”

  ***

  Jackson and Christina walked to Walter’s office. Christina was nostalgic as she travelled the corridors of her old workplace. She paused to look in her old office. Someone new had moved in and the office now bore no resemblance to the place where she’d worked for over four years. Nothing stays the same, she thought.

  They met Rosalind at the door to Walter’s office.

  “Perfect timing,” Rosalind said. “Walter’s waiting.” She led them in.

  Walter turned around in his chair. He beckoned them to seats while he finished a telephone call. After he hung up, he said, “We’re having lunch in the private dining room.” He looked at his watch. “We’d better get going.”

  Christina walked alongside Jackson and they followed Walter and Rosalind to the dining room. Though Christina had eaten there many times before, the room still overwhelmed her. It was too much, too rich. She felt out of place so she took a seat quickly. She hated eating here. She always worried that she’d spill something on the thousand-dollar tablecloth or break one of the hundred-dollar crystal glasses.

  Walter’s voice brought her out of her thoughts. “So, Jackson, is Atlanta all that we told you it would be?”

  Christina watched Jackson. “It’s a good city,” he answered. “The people are open and friendly.” He nodded in Christina’s direction. “The work is great.”

  Christina commented, “I’m glad Jackson joined us. He’s been a great asset to Optima.”

  Walter nodded. “I knew you two would make a good team. Things will only get better when Liza gets there.”

  They spent the rest of lunch talking about Optima. Christina listened as Jackson shared their accomplishments, his concerns, and his ideas for bringing the product to market. She loved listening to him. Though his gestures were toned down a bit, his voice exuded excitement. There was something charismatic about Jackson. You believed him; you trusted him; you knew he could do it. And, most important, you wanted him to do well. Christina smiled at him.

  ***

  Walter listened as Jackson spoke. He and Rosalind had talked a lot about the best team to support Christina in Atlanta. He knew their recommendation of Jackson and Liza was a winning combination. He glanced at Christina. She had done a hell of a job in Atlanta. The woman had a career at CL, if she wanted it. Sometimes he wondered what Christina Marshall really wanted. She was excellent at her job, but Walter had the feeling there was something more she wanted. That something was behind her decision to move to Atlanta; he was sure of it.

  At that moment, Walter noticed a soft smile cross Christina’s face. It took him by surprise. The smile carried a vulnerability that he’d never before associated with her. Walter followed her gaze and saw that the smile was directed towards Jackson, who was wrapped up in a discussion with Rosalind. Walter shook his head slightly. Who would have ever thought it? He glanced in Rosalind’s direction. He wondered if she had picked up on anything. He couldn’t believe it. Christina and Jackson. Of course, he didn’t know anything for sure, but he’d bet something was going on. His next thought was of the effect their relationship would have on Optima. He knew Christina and Jackson were consummate professionals, but intimate relationships in the workplace . . . Yes, he’d have to talk to Rosalind about this.

  Eight

  Christina and Jackson got back to the hotel around seven o’clock. He stopped at the desk to inquire about a room. Luckily, they had one for him. Jackson took the key from the clerk and turned to Christina. “Looks like you’ve lost your roommate.” He could have sworn she looked disappointed.

  “I’m glad you have a room,” she said. “Where is it?”

  “I’m on the eleventh floor,” Jackson answered. “Let’s go. I can move my clothes, get settled, and be ready to meet Liza and Robert for dinner, if we hurry.”

  They were silent for the elevator ride up. When they got to her room, Jackson packed his bag while she waited in the living room.

  “That’s about it,” Jackson said, walking out of the bedroom. “Thanks again for letting me stay.”

  “No problem. I’ll see you downstairs for dinner.” She checked her watch. “In exactly fifteen minutes.”

  “Yes. I’d better get hopping.”

  Christina stared at the door after Jackson left. So much for It Happened One Night. She wondered again if ignoring her feelings for Jackson was the right app
roach. She stopped looking at the door and dropped down on the couch, closed her eyes and cleared her mind. Then she got up and changed for dinner.

  When Christina walked into the bar, Liza and Jackson were seated with a man Christina assumed was Robert. Liza glanced around as Christina walked up.

  “There you are, Christina.” Liza waved her forward. “Come here, we’ve been waiting for you. I want you to meet Robert.”

  A tall, dark, bearded man held out his hand to her. “Glad to meet you. Liza has told me a lot about you.”

  Christina was happy for Liza—a little envious, but happy. “It’s about time, Robert.” Christina took his hand. “Liza sure can keep a secret.”

  Liza smiled and leaned into Robert. In return, he pulled her to him, placed his arms around her shoulder, and squeezed. “I wasn’t keeping him a secret, Christina,” she said. “We just lost touch for a while.”

  Christina tapped Liza on the shoulder. “I’m only kidding. I’m happy for you two.” She turned to Robert, “So, what do you think about moving to Atlanta?”

  Robert told Christina of his plans to open a public relations office as the group moved to their table.

  “Liza’s lucky to have you,” Christina said. “Not many men would have been agreeable to relocating with their wives.”

  Christina was surprised when Liza chimed in. “You’re right. I am lucky.” Liza was seated on the other side of Robert. Her hand covered his on the table.

  Robert looked at Liza, smiled, then turned back to Christina. “I’m the lucky one. I’d follow this woman anywhere.”

  “Are there any more like him stashed away anywhere?” Christina asked Liza. “I’d like to get in line for one.”

  Jackson answered for Liza. “That’s easy, Christina. There are plenty more like Robert. He’s an Omega, and there are thousands of us around.”

  Liza laughed. “Can you believe the first thing they learned about each other was that they were in the same fraternity?”

  “Surely they couldn’t tell by looking at each other,” Christina said. “Did they bark?”

  Liza laughed harder.

  Robert answered with mock sternness. “Omegas don’t bark. It was the pin. We’re both wearing frat pins.”

  Christina looked and sure enough they both wore frat pins. “Do you always wear yours, Jackson? I don’t remember seeing it before.”

  “I rarely wear it to work, but I usually wear it to social functions.”

  “I guess that means you two don’t see each other much outside of work?” Robert asked. “I thought you ran in the same social circles.”

  “No,” Jackson answered. “This is the first time Christina and I have been out for a social evening.”

  “This evening is not really social,” Christina clarified. “It’s business.”

  “If this is a business dinner, I’m leaving,” Robert said. “I want to relax tonight and I want my baby to relax, too.” He looked from Jackson to Christina. “How about it?”

  Jackson answered first. “Sounds good to me, man. How about it, Christina?”

  Christina hesitated. “What does it matter what we call the evening, business or social?”

  Robert held up four tickets. “If it’s social, I have tickets to the late show at a comedy club in Cambridge. If it’s business, we have to leave early because I have an early meeting.”

  Liza punched him softly. “When did you get the tickets? I thought the show was sold out.”

  “That’s me. I’m your miracle man. I pulled a few strings and got us tickets.” He looked again from Christina to Jackson. “What’ll it be, guys?”

  Jackson looked at Christina with a silent question. They all waited for her answer. She knew she was making a bad move, but she wanted to enjoy the evening. She liked being with Robert and Liza; she liked looking at their love. It was something tangible. She could feel it and she could see it. It made her wonder what she was missing. She looked at Jackson and saw that he was still looking at her. “Which comedy club is it?” she asked.

  ***

  “Jackson’s a great guy,” Liza said. She and Christina had taken a run to the powder room during intermission. “What’s he like at work?”

  “As arrogant as he is here.”

  Liza gave her a puzzled look.

  Christina knew that look meant Liza would probe until she had the answer to her question. “There’s something about that man. Don’t get me wrong, we work well together, but he’s so, so…”

  Liza finished for her, “So attractive? So manly? So fine?”

  Christina rolled her eyes. “That’s not exactly what I was going to say, Liza.”

  Liza snapped the cap on her lipstick and placed it back in her purse. “You mean you don’t think that’s a fine brother out there?”

  Christina hedged, “Sure, he’s attractive.”

  “I hear a but in there somewhere. What’s wrong with the man? He’s attractive. He’s fun to be with, easygoing. He has a good job. Damn, if the man were any more perfect, he’d be Robert.”

  Christina laughed. “You and Robert have something really special, don’t you?”

  Liza stood behind Christina and watched as she freshened up her makeup. “I can’t explain it. We’re one in every sense of the word. When relationships are good, they’re really good, and right now we’re really good. It gets better every day.”

  “The man looks at you like he could eat you up. If I wasn’t so jealous, I’d be nauseated.”

  Liza laughed. “Robert isn’t the only man looking hungry tonight.”

  Christina stopped putting on her lipstick and studied Liza’s reflection in the mirror. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Come on, Christina. I see the way Jackson looks at you.”

  Christina resumed putting on her lipstick. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Liza inclined her head. “Sure you don’t. So, what’s up between you?”

  “There’s nothing but business between us.”

  “Right,” Liza said with obvious sarcasm. “That man was not giving you business looks out there.”

  “What kinds of looks was he giving me?”

  “That territorial thing. ‘Me, Tarzan; you, Jane. I want to jump your bones.’”

  Satisfied that her face was together, Christina placed her lipstick back in her purse. “That’s terrible, Liza. He’s giving me no such looks,” Christina lied. She knew Liza was right. Jackson had given her a few looks tonight that had almost scorched her. She just didn’t think anyone else had noticed.

  “If you say so.” Liza let it drop. “Let’s get back out there before the men think we’ve flushed ourselves.”

  Christina followed Liza out of the restroom and they made their way through the crowd back to their table. Jackson and Robert were in intense conversation when they walked up.

  “Hey, what are you guys talking about?” Liza asked.

  Robert looked up at her. “I was telling Jackson how great being engaged is.”

  Liza looked at Christina. “They’re not going to tell us. Compliments like that are a sure sign.”

  “Now wait a minute, Liza,” Jackson said. “Robert was telling me how good being engaged is. He practically had me wishing I was engaged.” He leaned closer to Liza and spoke softly. “Of course, there probably aren’t many women like you around.”

  Liza slid her gaze to Christina. “I don’t know about that. There are still some women out there who haven’t been taken.”

  Jackson followed Liza’s gaze to Christina.

  “No telling how long they’re going to remain available, though,” Liza continued in a low tone. “Good things are usually snapped up pretty quickly.”

  Still looking at Christina, Jackson said, “I hear you.”

  “Now who’s keeping secrets?” Christina asked. “What are you and Jackson whispering about?”

  Liza answered, “I was giving Jackson pointers
on making art acquisitions.” She leveled another look at Jackson. “Good pieces last only when they’re hidden. As soon as people know where they are, they snap them up. You’d better get that piece before someone else does.”

  Christina sensed they were discussing more than art. “What have you found, Jackson?”

  “A unique piece by a new artist. I’ve seen the work for a while now and it’s growing on me. I made an offer to buy it once, but the artist wasn’t selling.”

  “You should try again,” Christina said. “He may have changed his mind.”

  Jackson studied Christina for a long second and then let his gaze go back to Liza. “Maybe I’ll do just that.”

  ***

  Robert stretched out on the bed and watched Liza read. “How much longer are you going to be, baby? I want to get some sleep.”

  Liza looked up from her notes. “You’re nothing but a big baby yourself. You can go to sleep without me.”

  Robert crossed his ankles and put his arms behind his head. “I know I can sleep without you, but I don’t like it. I sleep better when you’re near.”

  Liza closed her notebook and placed it on the table next to her chair. “Are you sure you want to sleep?”

  Robert didn’t change his position. “Of course I want to sleep. What else could I want?”

  Liza sashayed over to the bed. “Oh, I can think of a few things.” She began to undress. “What did you think of Jackson and Christina?”

  “I liked them. It’s a real coincidence that Jackson and I are in the same fraternity. He says they have a strong chapter in Atlanta. He’ll introduce us to some people.”

  Liza stood in her bra and panties. “What did you think of Jackson and Christina as a couple?”

  Liza watched Robert as she unhooked her bra.