Landen

by Holly C. Webb

  “Good morning, Nikki,” Landen said without looking up from the paperwork he was working on. He wasn’t mad at her; he just wanted her to sweat it a little, so he acted as cool as he could. “I have the Tully deposition this afternoon. Have all the paperwork ready and on my desk by lunchtime.”

  “Certainly,” Nikki said, and Landen could feel her eyes burning into him, but he didn’t look up. Instead, he remained focused on the work in front of him.

  “That will be all,” he said, knowing she was waiting for him to make the first move. It took everything he had not to look up at her at that moment, and just give her a smile.

  “Okay,” she said, as Landen could hear the uncertainty in her voice, as she slowly turned and made her way back towards the door. Just as she reached it, Landen looked up.

  “Thank you, by the way,” he said smiling, as she instantly stopped and turned back to look at him.

  “What for?” She asked, and Landen could see the relief on her face.

  “For telling Amelia about our conversation,” Landen explained. “And for sending her to see me.”

  “That was her idea really,” Nikki replied with a shrug, and Landen’s smile widened.

  “Well, either way,” Landen continued. “I’m grateful for your help.”

  “And everything is okay with you two?” Nikki asked giving him a worried look.

  “Yes, Nikki,” Landen replied, Laughing. “Everything is okay between us.”

  “Good,” Nikki nodded smiling, before she added. “And she got to work okay?”

  “I dropped her off there myself,” Landen assured her. “I brought her back to your place to get changed; then I dropped her right outside the building. She is going to be fine. Callum said he would make sure of it. So, you can relax, Mom.”

  Nikki stuck out her tongue then smiled before she turned, walking out the door.

  Landen smiled to himself as he tried to return his focus back to what he was doing, but it was no use. He was thinking about Amelia now, and he really needed to know that she was okay.

  He reached for his phone on the desk and was just about to tap in a message when Nikki appeared at the door once more.

  “What’s wrong?” Landen asked when he looked up saw her standing there with a worried look on her face.

  “Security just called up,” Nikki replied, giving Landen a worried look. “Your mother is on her way up.”

  Landen knew that his mother would never come to his office during the day unless something were very wrong. The last time she turned up without calling, Landen’s father was sick, she had come straight from the hospital.

  “Show her in the moment she gets here,” Landen instructed Nikki.

  “There’s no need, Nikki,” Nell said from behind her, before she walked in past her, taking a seat in front of Landen’s desk. “But I would love a coffee if that wouldn’t be too much trouble, Sweetie.”

  “Coming right up,” Nikki said as she gave Landen a questioning look before she turned, hurrying out of the office.

  “Mom,” Landen said, as he closed the file on his desk. “What brings you here today? Is everything okay with Dad?”

  “Your father’s fine,” Nell said as she stared at her son. Landen knew that his mother had come there for a purpose, and if he was honest, he knew in his heart what she was doing there. “I am here to ask what happened between you and Liam.”

  “Nothing happened between Liam and me,” Landen insisted, but he knew she already knew the answer to the question. One thing Landen knew about his mother; she never asked a question that she didn’t already know the answer to.

  “Then why did you leave so abruptly after breakfast yesterday?” Nell asked, giving him a look that told him she was not there to play games. “And why was Liam in such a bad mood after you left?”

  “We had a disagreement,” Landen replied, still not wanting to admit what had really happened until he was certain she already knew what was going on.

  He didn’t have long to wait.

  “Then it’s not about this friend of yours that is in trouble,” Nell said, surprising Landen with her question.

  He couldn’t believe that Liam had actually told her about Amelia.

  He didn’t reply for a moment, because he knew whatever he said, had to be believable.

  “I take it from your silence that it is to do with her.” Nell sighed, and Landen knew that there was no point in denying it now.

  “Mom,” Landen said as he looked at her. “I know Liam thinks I’m in over my head, but I promise you, I know what I’m doing. He really shouldn’t have told you about it. He should have never involved you in my business.”

  “He is worried about you, Landen,” Nell sighed. Landen knew that his mother knew he was angry with his younger brother. “He asked your dad for advice, then your father told me.”

  “He told Dad too!” Landen exclaimed as he pushed up from his chair, then walked to the window. “Jesus Christ!”

  “Landen, why are you pushing your family away when you need them the most?” Nell asked as she watched her son stand at the window, staring down at the street below. “If you’re in some kind of trouble…”

  “I’m not,” Landen replied without turning to face her. “And I don’t need to go running home to Mommy and Daddy every time I have a problem,”

  “So, there is a problem,” Nell said, and Landen cringed that his words have made the matter worse somehow.

  “It’s nothing that I can’t handle,” Landen replied with a sigh, as he turned, walking back to his seat, but as he did, he thought of his conversation with Amelia, about not falling out with his family for her. “I just need a little more time.”

  “Time for what?” Nell asked, and Landen could see the worry in his mother’s eyes. He hated he was doing this to her again. His mind instantly when back to the night he got wasted and wrapped his car around a telephone pole. Maybe he wasn’t battered and broken lying in a hospital bed, but he could see the fear in her eyes.

  “I met a girl,” he said, knowing he couldn’t lie to her anymore. “I met her a couple of weeks ago.”

  “Okay,” Nell said. Landen could see the relief almost change her entire face, and he knew it was because he was talking to her.

  Landen told his mother about Amelia and about her situation with Pete Reynolds. He knew he was taking a gamble telling his mother the truth, but he hoped that somehow, Amelia would understand. He told her how they had met, about how he had gotten her sacked.

  Landen tried not to notice the tiniest look of disappointment on his mother’s face when he mentioned The Voodoo Club. Then he told her how he had moved her in with Nikki into the apartment Landen had bought for her to live in several years before. He told her everything.

  Well, everything except the fact he had slept with her. He didn’t think she needed to hear that part.

  “That poor girl,” Nell said when Landen was done telling her everything he knew about Amelia and her situation.

  “Mom,” Landen said as he looked at his mother. “I know you’re worried now, but I give you my word, I have everything under control.

  “I know that you do,” Nell assured her son. “I know you would never do anything that could get someone hurt…”

  “But,” Landen said giving his mother a questioning look.

  “There is no but, Landen,” Nell said. “I know you will do the right thing. As you said, right now, that monster is locked up, so for now, Amelia is safe. What we need to do is figure out a way to keep him in there.”

  “We?” Landen asked, giving his mother a questioning look.

  “I can make some calls,” Nell said as she sat forward in her seat. “I know some people who could help us.”

  “So, you’re going to help her too?” Landen asked, surprised by her reaction. “What about Liam?”

  “I will tell Liam I talked to you, that there is nothing to worry about,” Nell replied, surprising Landen even further. “I will have to tell your father be
cause you know your dad and I don’t have secrets, but I think you’re right about keeping who she is a secret. The less that know what’s going on, the better.”

  “Finn knows,” Landen admitted to his mother, deciding there was no point in lying to her.

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me,” Nell said with a smile. “Since you two were little, you have been partners in crime, so I really should have known if you told someone, you told him.”

  “Amelia doesn’t know that I told him,” Landen added, now wishing he had just been honest with her too. “Though, maybe I should tell her the truth.”

  “You like her!” Nell exclaimed suddenly, surprising Landen.

  “Like I said earlier,” Landen sighed. “It’s complicated.”

  “Why?” Nell said. “Why does it have to be complicated?”

  “Because you know me,” Landen sighed once more as he stood up and walked around his desk, then sat on the edge of it directly in front of his mother. “I was never any good at this stuff.”

  “You never gave this stuff a try,” Nell laughed, as she reached out and took hold of her son’s hand. “But you will never know till you try.”

  “And what if I mess it up, Mom?” Landen asked, giving his mother a worried look.

  Nell smiled as she stood up, then she took Landen’s face in her hands.

  “Just be you, Sweetheart,” She said, giving him a smile. “The real you. Not Landen Murphy, the Bulldozer. Be the Landen who took care of his little brother all the way through school. Be the Landen who worried about his brother when he had to go to college without you. Be the Landen who I know that is sweet, and caring. She will love you almost as much as I do.”

  Landen smiled at his mother’s comment.

  “I love you too, Mom,” Landen smiled as he leaned forward, kissing her on the cheek.

  “Not nearly as much as I love you,” Nell replied, as she squeezed his hand. “I should be going.”

  “Thank you, Mom,” Landen said, as he gave his mother a grateful smile. Nell picked up her handbag, then turned and walked towards the door.

  “You should bring her by for dinner,” Nell suggested as she stopped at the door.

  “Why did I know you were going to say that,” Landen laughed as he walked back to his desk, sitting down. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Do,” Nell said with another smile before she pulled open the door. “Goodbye, Son.”

  “Bye, Mom,” Landen replied and watched as she disappeared down the hallway.

  Chapter 10

  Amelia

  Amelia smiled to herself as she stepped onto the elevator. Her first week working for Callum was over, and despite her initial concerns, she found she really enjoyed her job.

  When Landen dropped her off on that first morning, she had for the briefest moment considered not going in. But she knew Landen had called in a favour for her, so she couldn’t let him down.

  She hurried across the modern foyer of the huge glass building that was the headquarters of The Kennedy Group, where a pretty redhead sitting behind the reception desk greeted her with a smile.

  “Welcome to The Kennedy Group,” she chirped pleasantly when Amelia reached her desk. “How may I help you today?”

  “My name is Amelia Da… Coleman,” Amelia said her face instantly burned with embarrassment because she nearly screwed the whole thing up before she even started. The girl gave her a strange look and Amelia knew she was wondering what kind of an idiot doesn’t know her own name. But then the girl smiled.

  “Ms. Coleman,” she said as she set a security access card down on the maple top of the front desk smiling once more. “Welcome to the Kennedy Group. Mr. Murphy is expecting you. Please take the elevator up to the top floor. Mr. Murphy’s assistant, Eloise, will be waiting for you.”

  “Thank you,” Amelia said as she picked up her security card, turning towards the bank of elevators on the far wall of the foyer.

  As she stepped off the elevator on the top floor, she was greeted by another redhead who introduced herself as Eloise James, before she escorted her down along a softly lit corridor, with glass walls on either side, behind which were endless conference rooms and offices. When they reached the bottom of the hallway, they stepped out into an open space where there were several people sitting behind computer screens, lost in whatever it was they were doing.

  Finally, Eloise led Amelia down another small corridor, then through a door to a smaller open plan office with two large maple desks on either side. Behind each of the desks, there was a door. On one door, there was a brass plate with Callum Murphy CEO printed on it in bold, black letters. On the other door, it said Ellen Murphy, Chairman.

  “This is you,” Eloise said as she walked to the desk that was in front of Ellen Murphy’s door. “Mrs. Murphy’s last assistant retired about four months ago. I have been covering both Mr. and Mrs. Murphy since then, so it’s nice to finally have a little help around here.”

  “I’m working for Mrs. Murphy?” Amelia asked almost stunned by what the girl said. “You do know I have no experience working as an assistant.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Eloise said, giving her a warm smile. “I will help you settle in. Besides, Mrs. Murphy rarely comes in. Mr. Murphy is CEO, Mrs. Murphy is more a figurehead, so there really isn’t that much involved in being her assistant. It’s mostly answering whatever calls come in for her, keeping track of her appointments for Company-related things. Her P.A from her other office will email a copy of her schedule every day at the close of business, and you forward on whatever meeting requests, invitation and charity commitments that may come in to Laney. She is very sweet, so she will help you should you need it too.”

  “Okay,” Amelia replied, still feeling a little like she was in over her head.

  “Don’t look so scared,” Eloise said, giving her another smile. “You’ll be fine.”

  Just then, the door behind the other desk opened, and a man, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Landen stepped out through the door.

  “Eloise, can you get me three copies of these,” he said, but then stopped when he saw Amelia standing there. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were busy. It’s Amelia, right?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Amelia said, as once more her face flushed with embarrassment.

  “Landen tells me that your Nikki’s cousin,” Callum said as he held out his hand to her. Amelia quickly took his hand and shook it firmly. “Nikki is probably one of my most favourite people in the world, so I am happy to have you here.”

  “Thank you,” Amelia said hoping that Callum didn’t ask her too many questions. She and Nikki had gone through Nikki’s background over and over, making sure that Amelia knew everything that a cousin should know, but right at that moment, her mind was completely and utterly blank. “And thank you for this opportunity.”

  “My pleasure,” Callum replied. “It’s almost never that my brother asks me for a favour, so I knew it was important when he asked me for this.”

  “I’m still very grateful,” Amelia replied, almost embarrassed to be having this conversation in front of his assistant.

  “Well, I will leave you in the very capable hands of my amazing assistant,” Callum said as he took a step back toward his office. “Welcome to the team, Amelia.”

  “Thank you,” she said again cringing, knowing she sounded like a stupid parrot.

  “Come on,” Eloise said with a grin as she pulled out Amelia’s chair. “Let’s get you settled in. Do you know anything about computers?”

  And just like that, Amelia was working for The Kennedy Group. The week had flown by so fast, but now she was looking forward to the weekend off

  When the elevator stopped, she stepped off, making her way across the foyer to the glass, revolving door that exited the building. She couldn’t wait to get home to call Landen. She knew he would want to check in on her, but she hoped that maybe he would want to drop by her apartment later.

  As she hurried down the steps in front of the bu
ilding, she looked up and was surprised to see Landen leaning against his car.

  “What are you doing here?” She asked unable to keep the smile from her face.

  “I was passing by, so I thought I would see if you wanted a ride home,” Landen said with a grin as Amelia closed the distance between them. When she was close enough, Landen stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. “I was also missing you, and I was thinking how much I really wanted to kiss you.”

  He leaned down and softly kissed her on the lips.

  “Hello,” he whispered as he looked down into her eyes as he pulled his lips from her.

  “Hi,” Amelia replied as she slipped her arms up Landen’s broad chest and allowed herself to melt into his embrace.

  “How was your day?” Landen asked as he watched her closely, giving her a smile.

  “It was really good,” Amelia replied. “Thank you for getting me this job. I really am very grateful.

  “You don’t have to keep thanking me, but I am happy you like your job,” Landen said as he softly kissed her once more. “Would you care to join me for dinner tonight? You know, to celebrate finishing the first week of your new job.”

  “I would love to,” Amelia replied. “But I promise Nikki I would …”

  Before she could even finish the sentence, Landen reached for the handle of the door, opening it. Amelia looked into the car, surprised to find Nikki sitting in the back seat of the car.

  “You didn’t think I would get away with not bringing Nik did you,” Landen asked with a laugh. “I have a table booked for us at the Four Seasons.”

  “Thank you,” Amelia said with a grateful smile, as she leaned up, kissing him on the cheek before she climbed into the back seat next to Nikki. Landen slammed the door, before he climbed into the front, next to Mike.

  Thirty minutes later, the three friends were sitting at a table in one of the most exclusive restaurants in San Francisco.