“I’m not sure that is a good idea, daddy,” Claudia said, pulling out a leather seat from in front of his expansive mahogany desk that was covered in papers. She watched as her father’s eyebrow raised suspiciously and he smiled.
“It might not be, but your mother’s wrath is worse than yours, babygirl. Happy wife, happy life,” he intoned. “She wants you there, so you shall be.”
“Yes sir.”
“She even picked you an evening gown for the event.”
“Oh mercy,” Claudia groaned. “I don’t even get to pick my own dress?”
“It’s a little fancier than denim,” he teased, pointing at her jeans.
Claudia rolled her eyes.
He had a point there.
Since she’d been back, her hair had been cut, highlighted with a keratin treatment, her nails had been done, the esthetician had come by, and her room was fastidiously cleaned to remove any traces of oil, grease, or smoke residue. The house was immaculate, almost like a museum, and all for show. The small office her father kept and the movie room were the most lived in, most well-loved, rooms.
“So what am I attending then?” Claudia teased, “…and where is Mother? Is she making you do the dirty work?”
“She knows that I won’t give in to pouting like she will,” he countered with a wink. “We both know we barely have a backbone when it comes to you – but in this, she’s right. We are making a donation to the Academy that helped save the rig – and on that note - I have a few ideas I want to run past you regarding your rig.”
“That after tonight I can make plans to go back?” she asked hopefully.
“No.”
“It was worth a try…”
“A valiant one too – but no.”
“Daddy…”
“No, Claudia,” he said forcefully, setting his coffee down with a thump. The liquid splashed over the rim and she stopped immediately. Her father meant business.
“If you want to be involved in the rig, then you need to do it from the sidelines and I will help you. I want you to appoint someone to be your eyes and ears on the rig – then step back and focus on other ways to improve the business. Marketing, recruiting, investing, or focus on safety training. Your knowledge and experience on the rig is invaluable… just like your life.”
“Forever?” she whispered, knowing he was right; it just wasn’t the route she expected, but the one she knew was coming.
“Who do you want in charge on the rig?”
“Tito,” she said instantly, looking at her father. His slow smile and nod of approval warmed her heart. They thought a lot alike and were more similar than she and her mother were.
“I think that is a perfect appointment and he will tell you the truth without sugarcoating anything. I’ve known Tito for years and part of the reason I insisted he was on your team.”
“I know that now,” she admitted begrudgingly. “I used to think he was your spy to check on me.”
“Oh, he was,” her father laughed, admitting the truth easily, “but it eased my mind knowing he was there with you. I think he would be a great choice and it would be an easy transition for your team.”
“Yes, it would.”
“He can also oversee the remainder of the repairs onsite.”
“True.”
“And you can focus on hiring a new person that will fit the personality of the team – and that is invaluable.”
“I know,” she said softly, looking down at her hands.
“We need you there tonight,” he coached gently, ducking in his chair to catch her eyes. “Victoria has a statement for you and I think it would be an excellent time to transition forward.”
“Forward with what?”
“Training my replacement,” he admitted with a proud smile.
“Whaaaat?”
“Claudia, I’m nearly sixty and want to travel with your mom. We’ve been unable to unless it’s a work trip or something. She and I were thinking of buying a little property of our own, as a hideaway.”
“I had no idea you wanted to do that.”
“Well of course I do,” he laughed. “Work pays for the fun stuff… problem is that I didn’t realize how fast life would slip me by. I blinked and my little girl is a grown woman with a degree from M.I.T in engineering. Who better than to know the in’s and out’s of my company than someone that would hold it near and dear to their heart? Claudia, we could make the transition something slow so I have a chance to show you the ropes and you still have some freedom too. What do you say?”
“I’m not sure what to say,” she admitted, stunned at the revelation. She looked at her father and for the first time saw the lines around his eyes. He was right. She had also blinked and her daddy that used to throw her into the pool on summer days was an older man now. Time had passed them both by – and quickly.
“Think on it and let me know,” he nodded. “Now, the dress your mother picked should be delivered later today. I’m sure she’s got everything nailed down to an art.”
“I’m sure.”
“You okay?”
“Yes, it’s just a lot to process,” she admitted, getting to her feet.
“If you don’t want to do this, I understand,” he said tenderly, rising to his feet. “Claudia, we’ll never make you do anything you don’t want to do but if something happened to you out there in the ocean, I don’t think either of us could handle losing our only child.”
“No, I know, Daddy.”
“Love you, girl,” he said, drawing her into his arms and hugging her. Claudia wrapped her arms around him and breathed in his cologne with a heavy sigh. Maybe it was time to look at a different aspect, a different change, to her future.
“Love you too, Daddy.”
She stayed there for several moments and then tensed as a thought suddenly struck her.
“You said the event was to celebrate a donation to an Academy?”
“Yes,” he said, looking at her as Claudia pulled away, her heart hammering suddenly in her chest. Did that mean the firefighters would be there? “Disaster City Search and Rescue Academy. What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing,” she said vaguely, “… everything,” and hesitated.
How much did she want to say about the whole event? Her father had insisted she keep the more intense details of the fire to herself to prevent her mother from having another panic attack or fainting again.
Her mother was delicate, to say the very least, like a beautiful hothouse orchid. Stress, anxiety, and fear made her shut down. Claudia was a lot more like her father in temperament – and she was glad for it. It took sterner stuff to run a rig… much less a company!
“Babygirl, what are you thinking?”
What was she thinking?
She couldn’t get the image of Tobin’s surprised expression nor the heat in his eyes out of her mind. She wondered if he would be there at the event or if he would get word of the donation her family was making? What would it be like to meet him outside of a battleground when tensions weren’t running quite so high?
“Daddy, let’s make our announcement at the dinner,” Claudia said suddenly, brightening up. “I’ve got a lot to learn and need to get started. Do you know if the firefighters that saved my rig will be there at the event?”
“I certainly hope so,” he said gruffly, hugging her again. “I need to thank them all for saving the future of Jenkins Oil – and my daughter.”
Claudia let out a little laugh and eagerly hugged him back.
She suddenly couldn’t wait for the benefit for the Academy that had put her onto another path – one that could potentially cross the handsome Tobin Randall once again. She hoped that this was a sign everything was coming together for a bigger plan for everyone involved.
Tobin hung up the phone, stunned.
He was exhausted and ready to drop into his bunk after a shower. The four-alarm fire they’d just returned from had him completely worn out. Even Domino had trotted past where he stood making
the phone call to drink some water and collapse into the bedding beside his bunk.
Poor fella!
Domino had found a child hiding in a closet in the nick of time and it always broke Tobin’s heart to see them there. No matter how many times you taught, instructed, or repeated it – children hid when they were frightened, waiting for their parents. It hurt because not every time he was this lucky. The little girl had clung to his neck as he’d carried her out to the ambulance to get checked out. Thankfully she was okay – they all were.
It seemed like there had been fire after fire, nightmare after nightmare, since he’d left the oil rig fire that had left him completely off-kilter. He’d thrown himself into his work to try and get his life back to some sense of normality.
He couldn’t stop thinking of Claudia.
Her bright blue eyes, those killer lips, and that breathy sigh he’d felt against his mouth when she’d kissed him. The memory was driving him crazy! He knew what it felt like to fall… and fall hard!
She had a terribly caustic mouth when she spoke, but if she just stood there she took his breath away. He was insane for thinking anything like that could even have a chance between them. When he’d returned to San Antonio after the oil rig fire, he never expected to hear from Tex Daniels again.
She’d left two messages at the station while he was out and assumed it was an emergency – not an opportunity. Daniels was calling in the firefighters from that fateful day for the Academy. There was some crazy media event being hosted that would benefit the Academy and draw more attention to what they did. Apparently Jenkins Oil was going to be giving a hefty donation as well…
Tobin was hooked.
“Will Claudia Jenkins be there?” he suddenly asked, feeling embarrassed, and his words coming out almost in a croak. It was like he suddenly couldn’t swallow and all the fatigue he felt had just gone out the window.
“I’m not sure. I can ask though…”
“No, that’s not necessary,” he stammered, mortified.
“Don’t you wanna see your girlfriend again, Randall?” Daniels teased in the earpiece. “We’ve all heard about your hot little smooch on the rig. I’m only sad I missed it! We had to add that little tidbit to the charter for the Academy. Who’d have thought that kissing your rescue could be construed as misconduct? You’ve got brass, Randall.”
“WHAAAT?” he gaped, utterly appalled. “You’re kidding, right? Tell me you’re kidding! Who else knows?”
Daniels laughed merrily.
“I’m teasing you, ease up, Fabio,” she snickered with delight, using the moniker that Claudia had called him repeatedly on the oil rig. “Now, will you be here or not? I’m trying to get a headcount since I got the request.”
“I can be there.”
“Good – and it’s dress uniforms,” she informed him. “Come dressed to impress, Fabio, just in case your girlfriend actually is there.”
Tobin ended the call. He noticed when he put the phone down on the receiver that his hand shook. He was driving up to Dallas and could very well run into the one person that rattled his cage quite thoroughly. He needed to get some rest, shower, shave, and hit the road.
He was bound for the Academy once again.
Chapter 6
For the first time in forever, Claudia enjoyed getting ready for a public event. Normally, she dreaded these functions. The primping, the memorization of speeches, practicing curtseys and nods, or simply eating lightly to prevent bloating the day of… because if the dress her mother picked out didn’t fit?
Heads would roll, she thought, smiling.
Her mother had excellent taste too. A beautiful Dior gown had arrived and it was unlike anything she’d ever donned before for these events. Usually, it was a sedate, businesslike suit, or a party gown that came to the knees. This looked almost like something out of a dream.
The shoulders and sleeves were a faint blue gauze that was fitted, running directly into a bodice that reminded her of Cinderella. It had to be buttoned up the back like a prom dress, but cascaded from the waist into panels of satin and chiffon. The gown whispered as she walked, making Claudia smile at her reflection in the mirror.
It was breathtaking.
The satin pumps that waited in the box almost looked out of place because she kind of expected glass slippers with the getup. It was stunning. Even her hair was stunning in its simplicity. A simple tiny bun was formed at the base of her neck to keep her hair that fell just below her shoulders away from the dress. Her makeup was simple with tinted lip-gloss and a light dusting of iridescent powder across the bridge of her nose, almost as a highlight to her face.
Thankfully, Victoria’s statement that she was supposed to read was easy to memorize this time. Her father had the longer speech, followed by her mother, and she would wrap it up at the end. Her nerves were thrumming with excitement as she stepped into the entryway of the house. Her father looked brilliant in his tuxedo and her mother stood there looking ethereal in a pale peach ensemble that looked practically regal.
In the limousine, she listened to her parents chat about tonight’s event. It was being held onsite at the Academy and they were excited about the chance to show their thanks at what the team had done for them. Turns out the rig and all their lives were saved due to their quick thinking and prompt evacuation. The metal was able to withstand the incredible heat, and the repairs included shoring up the platform, updating a few items, and repairing part of a damaged outbuilding – but that was due to the high winds of the hurricane that hit just after their own evacuation. She was incredibly grateful for all they had done – even if she had resented being bossed around at that moment by the handsome firefighter.
Pulling up in front of a building, Claudia looked at her mother nervously. She saw everyone was in dress uniforms and few people were dressed as nicely as they were. She was practically wearing a ballgown!
“Mother, are we overdressed for the occasion?”
“Nonsense, Claudia.”
“It will be fine dear,” her father interrupted, patting her on the knee that was covered in tons of tulle and satin. “The press will see a unified front and that this benefit is just like any other we choose to hold. We honor them with the utmost respect and want to show it.”
“Of course, Daddy.”
“Let’s go,” he said, as the door opened. They emerged from the limousine and promptly began shaking hands as they were greeted immediately – long before ever entering the building. Claudia just smiled, nodded, and shook each hand enthusiastically. This was expected of her – especially as she moved upwards into her father’s position with the company. She watched her father work the crowd gathered around him, her mother chatting amicably and moving towards the front doors of a large building that looked like an auditorium. Walking down the sidewalk to join her mother, she looked around at the buildings illuminated by the fluorescent lamp posts that looked like they had halos around them from all the bugs flying around. The sky above still had that faint inky glow from the sun off in the horizon, as if it was seconds from turning completely dark.
Walking into the auditorium, she heard music playing and smiled. The building reminded her of what it would have been like to attend a high school prom. Growing up, she had the best tutors money could provide and really didn’t have a chance to experience a lot of what other kids got to do. If she wanted to go to a football game with friends, they went to see the Dallas Cowboys play and shared a box with amazing views of the field. If she wanted to go to an amusement park, her father would rent out the facility and they would make it a company event for all employees and their families.
She took a deep breath and smelled the wooden floors, knowing they’d been buffed for this evening’s event. The rafters were full of balloons with long curling ribbons that made it look like the building was engorged with fluffy clouds of blue, silver, white, and red. Glittery table arrangements lined the buffet tables that were heavily laden with finger foods, containers full of iced
beverages, and bottles of water.
Feeling her heart lightened from the anxiety she felt, she found herself smiling happily. Maybe there was something to this side of the business and she just never understood it before, she mused. Slowly turning around, her eyes taking in every inch of the decorated expanse, her eyes met Tobin’s.
He was here!
Her breath caught as she saw his tentative smile as he started crossing the floor towards her. How had she ever called him Fabio, she wondered, when Tobin put every other man out there to shame? He was stunning in his dress uniform that fit him like a glove. Crisp pleats, starched seams, brilliant white gloves, he practically glowed as he walked towards her, stopping short.
“Miss Jenkins, I believe?” he said politely, nodding slightly.
“Mr. Randall, is it?” she replied in the same tone, playing along.
“Please call me Tobin… or Fabio,” he shrugged, a smile touching his lips.
Claudia burst out laughing and quickly covered her mouth with her hand to muffle it. Nodding, she grinned widely at him.
“Then you must call me by my given name too,” she announced formally.
“Napoleon or Claudia?” he whispered, taking the spot directly beside her and extending his arm politely to her. “You are a pro at ordering people about. I was quite impressed. Would you care to dance?”
“I should probably mingle about, don’t you think?”
“Are you here with someone?”
“My parents.”
“No husband or boyfriend?”
“Are you asking me if I’m available?”
“I might be,” he admitted, looking away. She noticed that he had the cutest tinge of pink touching his cheeks. Awww, he’s shy! she realized, her heart fluttering nervously in her chest.
“I think I’d like to dance,” she replied, feeling her own face flush as she laid her hand on his gloved one. He nodded and led her out onto the makeshift dancefloor in the center of the room where several others were swaying to the notes of some of her favorite composers. Tobin placed his hand gently at the base of her back and held himself stiffly as he began to move slowly to the music.
The Oil Tycoon Rescue Page 4