Amy

by Deborah A. Price

  “Oh, yeah, I guess it would better for me to let you continue to raise your voice because your companion was trying. . .”

  “To?”

  “I’ll call your brother.”

  “I can handle this.”

  “Kyle,” the hostess walked over to him with a quickened pace, “the retirement party is early,” she paused after realizing that she was interrupting a conversation. “Excuse me.”

  “Kyle?” Amy finally averted her eyes and stepped away from him, “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call my brother. I’m in the middle of a very important meeting. It seems that you need to attend to your own job.”

  “Stephanie,” Kyle glanced at the woman beside him, “handle the party. Amy, if I see anything that I don’t like, it is my place to interfere. I hope that we have an understanding.” He smiled before escorting her back to her table. “I hope that everything is found satisfactory.” Kyle stated after noticing the two glasses of wine of the table. “I’ll see you later, babe,” he added before stepping away.

  Darrell watched Kyle leave before lifting a glass towards his mouth. “Boyfriend?” He asked.

  Amy chose not to answer, but to ask questions about what he wished to emphasize in his ad. She took notes, ignoring the salad she had ordered earlier.

  Darrell studied her without realizing that they were being watched. “Are we finished with that now?”

  “For the moment, Mr. Eccard. I’ll get together with my co-workers and have something by the end of the week for your company.”

  “Good, I want to talk about you.”

  Amy glanced at him after placing her notepad in her briefcase, but she hadn’t turned off the recorder she had started before entering into the restaurant. “And why would you want to talk about such an unrelated topic?”

  Darrell laughed before motioning for the waiter. He ordered a bottle of wine and noticed the startled look Amy shot in his direction. “Somebody that looks like you in a position usually held by older men? It seems like you would know exactly what I’m talking about here.”

  “I’m afraid that I don’t, Mr. Eccard.” Amy glanced around to see if Kyle was still nearby. “I am very good at my job.”

  “I’m sure,” Darrell smiled in her direction and poured her a glass of wine ignoring the fact that Amy had stated she didn’t drink. “I’m not ready to end this evening.”

  Amy narrowed her eyes and pushed the glass of wine back towards him. “I hope that you’re not suggesting what I think you are, because I can assure you that I don’t, and won’t, participate in extracurricular activities for a contract.” She hadn’t realized that she had raised her voice until Kyle was standing behind her, “with you or any other client.”

  She felt her chair being pulled back and stood next to her brother’s friend without realizing that she had moved at all. “I think that I should also inform you that your behavior will be brought to my boss’s attention.”

  Kyle escorted Amy away from the table after she had retrieved her briefcase. He tried to control his own senses after they had gone into overdrive and found himself wondering if Amy was feeling the same thing. “I believe that your dinner guest was very rude.”

  “A jerk,” Amy muttered, glancing back towards the table. “But I dealt with it.”

  “Amy. . .”

  “And tell me how you know my name!” Amy snapped. “I’ve never met you.”

  “Does it really matter?” Kyle asked after signing a sheet of paper that had been shoved at him. “I saw you at the park while I was playing b-ball with your brother, and I asked.”

  “Of course. I should go now. The agency runs a tab here, but that bottle of wine. . .”

  “Has been billed to your client.”

  “Can you do that?” Amy was growing increasingly uncomfortable after some of the anger had dissipated, and the stirring made her skin tingle in anticipation. She turned after hearing the hostess that Kyle had called Stephanie laugh from behind them.

  “Sorry, I just think that’s a silly question since you are talking to the owner.” Stephanie shrugged after Kyle stared at her.

  “We’ve done enough business with your agency to know they don’t advocate drinking during a meeting.” Kyle informed Amy while walking towards the door. “I’ll call and explain before that client has time to dial a phone.” He smiled when he saw the anger in her eyes again. “I guess that means that you’re still set on handling everything.”

  “I’ll take care of it, if that’s what you’re hinting.” Amy wished that he would stop talking and glanced wistfully at her car before remembering that her recorder was still running.

  “And your brother?”

  Amy turned towards him and glared. “No, and I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t.”

  Nodding, Kyle watched her walk towards her car and then turned around in enough time to see her client walk out of the restaurant looking angry.

  He waited until after Amy had pulled out of the parking lot before watching to see which direction her client had taken. Smiling, he stepped back into the restaurant, thinking about Amy.

  Stephanie glanced in his direction, shaking her head. “I was beginning wonder about you, dear brother. I say that it’s really past time.”

  “Stephanie, what is past time?” Kyle leaned against a wall and stared at her.

  “The woman, Amy- right? I swear I could see sparks flying around both of you while you talked. Yep, past time.”

  “Your imagination is working overtime again. I play basketball with her brother, so I looked after her. That’s all it was.”

  “I see. It’s your duty to look after the adult siblings of your teammates. Fascinating.”

  “Stephanie, they were going to cause a scene.” Kyle muttered. “I couldn’t very well let that asshole continue what he was doing. It’s simply not the reputation I want for my restaurant.”

  “I’m sure that was the only reason.”

  “I’m not in the mood, Stephie.” Kyle stormed towards his office and placed a call to his step-father.

  “Pop,” Kyle mumbled while shifting through the papers on his desk in search of a pen.

  “Kyle, is everything alright?”

  “Tell me about the client that met with your executive tonight.”

  Kyle listened to the rave reviews that his stepfather recited over the phone and sighed. “Do you really need his business?”

  “Contracts pay the paychecks, boy. Do you have something on your mind?”

  “Yeah, Pop. I’m fixing to head your way.” He placed the receiver down wondering if he should call Nate even though Amy had asked him not to worry her brother.

  Chapter 4

  Amy glanced over the notes she had taken, but barely noticed them while she listened to the recording she had playing beside her.

  She hadn’t noticed that her boss had walked into her office, because she was facing towards the window while clenching and unclenching her hands.

  “Amy, were you going to tell me sometime today? I mean, I’ve already heard about the meeting from my son.” He stared at her when she laughed. “Amy?”

  She swiveled the chair and looked at him, turning off her recorder. “I guess that if you’ve already been told, I don’t need to worry about it then, sir. I mean, Mr. McDonald.” Amy picked up the recorder and was about to shove it in her top desk drawer when he reached out his hands. “It’s just some notes that I need.”

  “I wasn’t born yesterday.” Sonny McDonald studied his newest executive and frowned. “And I have a feeling that you caught more than your notes on that recording. Am I right?”

  Amy frowned and placed the recorder in his outstretched hand. “I can handle this job, Mr. McDonald.”

  “I have no doubt, but I should’ve known better than to send you off by yourself.”

  “I said that I could handle it.” Amy paused before standing from behind her desk. “Who is your son?”

  “He’s actually my stepson,” Sonny answered, “and
that would be Kyle.”

  Amy tilted her head and watched as Sonny sat on the edge of her desk. “I handled everything just fine without your son’s interference.”

  “Oh, should we listen to the recording together, Amy?” Sonny asked curiously while watching for her reaction. “No?”

  “I need that for my notes.”

  “Actually, you don’t.”

  “Are you going to take me off the campaign because of what Kyle told you? There are two sides to every story.”

  “I’m sure that you have a different way to tell it. I’ve heard some of what was on this already so I’ve made my decision. I’m going to tell Eccard and company to take a hike. They can find another advertiser.”

  Amy sat, stunned, shaking her head. “That’s a very big account to toss out because somebody acted like a child.”

  “A child would’ve known better, Amy, and it’s my decision to make.”

  “But?”

  “You have another dinner in a few nights, and this time you won’t be flying solo.”

  Amy glanced down at her notes, rubbed her eyes, and sighed. “Is that because you don’t trust me?”

  Sonny stood, pocketed the recorder while studying her as if he had never really taken in the way she looked before then. “I’m sorry, Amy, but there are a lot of men in this world who think that they’re God’s gift to women. It’s funny that I’ve never really realized that you were so striking before Kyle had mentioned it. Bombshell is the word that I think Kyle used. You look startled that he would.” He smirked at her expression before continuing. “Men like Eccard have a tendency to forget the manners that they were raised with sometimes. Amy, that’s just a cold, hard truth.”

  Amy rolled her eyes before responding. “I’m sure that Kyle will be hanging around the restaurant at the next meeting, so I want another crack of so-called flying solo.”

  “Kyle is his own boss and makes his own schedule. It’s one of the perks of being the sole owner.” Sonny answered. “I’ve never heard him as upset as he was last night, but his mother brought him up right. My daughter commented on what happened when she picked up her kid. It seems that Kyle had been very distracted.”

  “I understand your concern, Mr. McDonald, but if I’m going to do my job here. . .What I’m trying to say is that I’ve pushed myself to get where I am, and I’m not about to let one experience define who I am or what I can do.” Amy stated with the determination she always drew on when she felt cornered. “I’m sure that if your stepson hadn’t interfered, the situation would’ve resolved itself.”

  Sonny straightened, smiled and applauded her. “I haven’t talked to Mr. Eccard yet. Do you think that you can really pull this off?”

  “Am I breathing, Sonny?” Amy chuckled after dropping the formalities. “He’s got a great product; plus, I think that we need to remember that an unhappy customer can slander a company right into its grave.”

  “Okay, Amy. You’ve made a solid argument, but while you deal with Eccard, you will have a shadow. I don’t think that I would trust him with my own daughter, so I sure as hell won’t trust him with you for a second time. That decree is nonnegotiable.”

  Amy leaned back and nodded after resigning herself to accept his declaration.

  “I’m relieved that you agree with me. You can pull Kenny when you meet Eccard again.”

  “Kenny?”

  “Is there a problem with Kenny?”

  Amy lowered her eyes remembering how Kenny had treated her when she first started working for Sonny’s company. “No, I guess he’s alright.”

  “Good.”

  Amy waited until he left before she stood, fuming about what had happened and imagining Kyle falling flat on his face after she was done with him. At least, she’d be able to continue working on the Eccard account. That was something anyway.

  She had no idea how long she had sat at easel drawing up her suggestions for the shoes before rubbing her eyes and reaching for the cell phone that was ringing beside her. “Amy Brannan,” she muttered, focused on one of her slogans.

  “I’m relieved,” Nate laughed into the phone. “Where are you, sis?”

  “I’m at work, you big dope. Why?” Amy turned away from her campaign and frowned at the clock before blowing out her breath. “Give him my apologies.”

  “I don’t think so. We’ll wait for you.”

  “I really wish that you wouldn’t, Nate. I have no idea how much longer I might be.”

  “Yeah, that's not going to happen tonight. You missed last week.”

  “Nate. . .”

  “I don’t want to hear any excuses. Oh,” Nate paused before he added, “I’d like to hear about last night.”

  “Last night?”

  “Don’t play like you don’t know why I want to hear about it, Amy.” Nate snapped.

  “Nate, will you let me grow up already. If you want children, find your dream girl and settle down. Get off my back.”

  “Just get here. Okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “Soon.”

  “Okay, Nate.” Amy glanced at her boards before stacking them together and placing them beside her desk. She had lost herself in the project, forgetting that this was the night that she and Nate had set aside to meet with their father. It was the constant that had never changed since her grandmother’s death, which was a time in her life that she had chosen to bury.

  However, occasionally those memories would sneak up on her, emerging only long enough for Amy to swallow them again. After realizing what she was thinking, Amy scolded herself, grabbed the phone she had tossed on the table beside where she had been working, locked her office behind her and headed out of the office to spend an evening with her father.

  She pulled up at the steak house where her brother and father were waiting. Sighing, she left the Mustang and walked inside in time to notice that the waitress was placing their orders on the table. “Sorry,” she mumbled when Nate shot her a look. “What?”

  “I watched for you this afternoon.” Nate answered. “And for some reason, my friend was, too. He was pretty upset, but I couldn’t get a thing out of him except. . .”

  “Your friend as in Kyle?” Amy smartly asked. “If anyone has a reason to be upset, it’s me.” She placed her napkin on her lap and added, “That’s all I’m going to say about the subject.” Amy glanced at their father after cutting her steak. “You look sad, Dad. Is Barbara alright?”

  “Your stepmother is fine, Amy.” Nathan Brannan placed his fork next to his plate and sighed. “I did receive some sad news today.”

  Amy glanced at Nate, and they both lowered their utensils, waiting for him to continue.

  “Your uncle Nash passed away this morning. Your cousin was the one to call me.” Nathan watched his daughter’s reaction to the news and arched his eyes when he noticed the relief. “Amy?”

  “I think that’s great news. Actually, the best news ever. He wasn’t a good person.”

  “If you’re talking about the way he treated others, I agree.” Nathan frowned again. “What happened that my mother would disown him? What happened on the day of her heart attack that would have her call and tell me that she never wanted to see her favorite son ever again?”

  “How would I know the answer to that question?” Amy quickly lost her appetite and grabbed the glass of water from in front of her, noticing that both her hands were shaking.

  Nate studied his sister, remembering the shock that had been in Amy’s eyes when they had met at the hospital. He had thought it had been because they had lost a woman who had meant a lot to them both. Studying Amy’s eyes, he frowned. “I’m beginning to think that you do,” he mumbled.

  “I think that I need to let you both in on what your mother and I had never wanted to share. Not with you.” Nathan pushed his plate away from him while he studied both of his children. “Nash was never a great guy, but he was my brother, so we got along. Amy, he had raped your mother. It happened the week before we were to get married.
”

  Amy felt the color drain from her face and lowered her eyes while the words bounced around in her thoughts.

  “He had this obsession with her, and I never saw it until it was too late.” Nathan continued. “And when we found out that she was pregnant a few months later. . .”

  “Please don’t tell me that Nash is my father.” Nate almost whispered.

  “We never had a paternity test, Nate.” Nathan placed a hand over his son’s. “As far as your mother and I were concerned, you were our boy. That's why we gave you my name.” Nathan sighed before glancing at Amy again. “You’re the spitting image of your mother, Amy. My heart broke every time I laid eyes on you, and if something. . .”

  Amy shook her head, pushed back on the table, and stared at him in shock. “You’re lying. If you were telling the truth, then Nash would’ve been in prison.”

  Nate glanced around the restaurant and noticed that Kyle was being seated with his family. Biting his lip, he wished that Nathan had chosen another place to have the conversation before he stood to calm Amy.

  “Amy?”

  “He’s lying, Nate. If that had happened, why didn’t Granny know? Why was Nash always hanging around the house?”

  “We told her, Amy, she chose not to believe us, and your mother didn’t file charges against him.” Nathan waited until Amy was sitting again before continuing. “Your grandmother had always favored Nash, and a mother never wants to believe that her son can do something like he did. Your mother had begged your grandmother never to let Nash be alone with you. I begged. I know that the day she had her heart attack, Nash had taken you, using a driving lesson as an excuse. You had just gotten your learner’s permit.”

  Amy felt sick thinking about that afternoon. “Granny knew what he had done.”

  “Amy, I want to know. I have to know.” Nathan stood and stepped over to her chair, kneeling after turning her so that she was staring at him. “Barbara told me to leave this alone, but I can’t.”