by Sandi Perry
"Oh for goodness sakes!" she stalked off to the back of the loft and threw herself onto her bed.
They stood silently for a moment; finally, Alex extended his hand. "I'm sorry about that."
"Yeah, me too."
She lay silently on her bed hoping the truce between the two men in her life would hold.
Then she heard Alex speak, "So, I'm not clear on what type of relationship the two of you have, I'm not threatened or anything, but you seem to hang around her a lot."
"The thing is, mostly I'm gay, but I realized it my fourth year at college. Let's say I logged quite a few hours undercover. So, there are still a couple of women that can straighten my wigwam, and Ally's one of them. I guess my hard drive switch wasn't a complete process."
"So, why not just go for it—unless you already have."
"Our friendship is too valuable to take a risk like that. If you're waiting for my approval—"
"I'm not—"
"—You have it," Kenyon said. "And now let's focus our energy on keeping Ally safe. I'll keep my eye on her when she's home."
Alex nodded, "I'll keep an eye on her when she's at the office."
She heard them gathering the food wrappers and hastily curled to her side, feigning sleep. Their words touched her and she didn't want them to see how vulnerable she was feeling right now.
Kenyon went to peek in at her, "She's fast asleep."
"Now what do we do? We can't leave the door unlocked, but I have a feeling she'll be asleep for the rest of the night."
Ken said, "I have her key. Stay here a minute while I go grab it. We'll lock things up nice and tight."
Alex nodded, "I'm sure she'll 'appreciate' that."
Ken smiled, "How many times did she tell you she 'appreciated' you today?"
"About ten."
"Her voice sounded real formal? Teacher-like?"
Alex nodded.
Ken let a low whistle out through his teeth, "Sorry man, looks like you've been downgraded."
"Sure looks that way," Alex sighed. "But don't worry about me; I'm the king of the rebound."
Allison grimaced at his parting words and before she could formulate a coherent thought, she was fast asleep.
Chapter 26
Allison dreaded the business meeting she had to sit in on this morning. Stanley Garvey was going to chair the meeting and he spoke in such a monotone, she swore even the fresh flowers wilted from boredom when he opened his mouth. She was just heading towards the office building when she thought she saw Ritchie Patrick across the street. She waited for him to get closer and was surprised to note how great he looked in a Brooks Brother's suit and gray wool overcoat.
"Well, you clean up real nice!" she exclaimed.
"Hey, what a surprise. Do you work in this building?"
She nodded, "Don't tell me you do too?"
"Nah, I have a client I'm on my way up to see." He looked at his watch. "And they're a real stickler for time. How about we do coffee sometime?" he asked as he backed his way toward the elevator.
She nodded her assent fervently and went up to her office with a smile pasted on her face.
*****
The Board of Directors at RossAir was convened and Stanley Garvey, the Chief Operating Officer was updating the group around the polished, wood table on the monthly earnings report.
Miraculously, they had managed to recover from the initial hit when Daniel Ross passed away and now, with rumors about the possibility of foul play, the company was once again flush with orders. Allison wondered about the salacious need of people who liked to be two degrees separated from tragedy. She certainly didn't have the stomach for it. The sooner she could pass her responsibilities over to someone worthy, the happier she would be. She was barely keeping it together at the gallery. She needed to give Emily a substantial raise, maybe even take her out to dinner to show her appreciation. And now she had the added stress of Kaitlin's portrait. She was worried about her mom, and with Kenyon and Alex convinced a murderer was lurking around the corner, following her every step, it was no wonder...It's awfully quiet in here, she suddenly realized. Several pairs of eyes were focused on her as they waited for her to add her thoughts to what Stanley had said.
"Stanley, great job, yes, thank you," she stood up abruptly. Everyone was still staring at her. She sat back down, "Er... meeting adjourned. Thank you all."
She watched as they filed out in pairs, talking and shaking their heads. She grimaced. "Boy do I have to get things together," she said aloud as she looked out the window.
"I couldn't agree more," Alex said.
She whipped her head back. She hadn't noticed he had remained in his seat.
"I didn't see you were still there. Why are you here, anyway, you aren't even a board member."
"Stanley asked me to sit in. Apparently, he thinks I'm a forerunner for the CEO position, and he wanted my thoughts on the meeting. The more important question is do you think I'm a forerunner?"
"Maybe, if it turns out you're not a killer; I would say you're a very strong candidate."
He laughed and reached over and pulled her out of the chair and leaned her against the table. He flanked her on either side with his hands and ran them sensuously along the shiny surface. "This fine mahogany would surely feel warm and sumptuous beneath your squirming body...," he whispered in her ear.
"I don't squirm!" she said indignantly.
"I believe you do, my dear."
"Alex, stop it!"
"No, absolutely not, surely you would know if you were kissed by a killer?" His eyes glinted mischievously as he reached in to kiss her long and deep.
She felt herself swim up to the surface. She looked into his eyes, "I'm not sure..."
He smiled. "Then I deserve a second chance," he bent his head again.
"Stop, you can't..."
"I most definitely can."
"It's too..."
"...decadent? Decadence is my specialty. You know how much I like whipped cream."
"...complicated."
"Ain't nuthin' complicated 'bout it, sugar. With you and me it's easy as one-two-three."
She pushed him off her while holding firmly onto his tie. She pulled him behind her toward the back of the room.
He splayed her against the wall and whispered in her ear. "Too many windows?"
She shook her head. "This is a really bad idea."
"You're right, that's what makes it so much fun," he breathed. "I won't let things get out of hand," he promised. "I don't want our first time to be at the office." He dropped to his knees. "Now, where were we?" his voice was muffled by her dress and her moans of rapture.
****
A few hours later Allison was staring out the office window once again, a smug, self-satisfied smile playing about her lips. I've got to regain control of the situation, she admonished herself. How did I allow Alex to get me in such an uncompromising position? In a conference room? Come to think of it, he's always been pleasing me, she frowned, and not the other way around. I think I've just come across a master manipulator, in every sense of the word. Her cell phone rang, and she was happy to hear Emily's voice on the other end.
"Ally, I had to call you. I hope I'm not disturbing a meeting or something," Emily said.
Allison groaned inwardly, her meeting had gotten disturbed all right, but she shook herself back to attention.
"You'll never believe who wandered in here off the street. An old friend of yours."
Ritchie Patrick came on the line. "Allison, what a crazy coincidence. Of all the gin joints in town, I walk into yours. I came to buy a painting for my mother. She moved into a new apartment last month, and I was looking for a housewarming gift for her."
"It's really strange, first we bump into each other in the morning and now this," she responded.
"I'd say it's Kismet."
"It sounds like you're a fan of old movies," she said.
"My mother always felt I had an old soul. And it just so happens the client I
was supposed to take to the James Taylor concert at the Garden tomorrow night came down with the flu. Would you happen to be a fan?'
"I love him! Ever since I saw him on Sesame Street many years ago, I've been a follower. I couldn't get anyone to go to that concert with me."
"So are we on?"
"You betcha. I'll meet you at the gate at 7:30."
"Great."
Emily came back on the line, "Hubba, Hubba, where do you find these guys?"
"What guys?"
"Alex, Ritchie..."
"They're just friends. And according to Kenyon I have no social life to think of."
"Oh, I forgot about Kenyon, him, too. Could you do me a favor? When you vote one of them off the island, can he be mine?"
"Emily, go sell some paintings; I'll be in tomorrow."
Chapter 27
"Emily, I'm running out to the corner to mail these bills."
"I'll do that, it's part of my job."
"No, it's fine; I need a little air to clear my head."
A minute later Allison came dashing back in. She grabbed Emily's hand and yanked her to the back office. "I spotted Alex up the block. He looked like he was headed this way."
"So, where's the panic? I thought you two were finally getting along."
She pursed her lips, "Yeah, a little too well."
Emily's eyes brightened, "No way."
"Yes way, and I'm deeply ashamed while being ridiculously turned on. But listen up—tell him I'm not here. I can't allow him to continue to push my buttons."
Emily sighed, "I vaguely remember that the button pushing was something pretty spectacular. It's been so long..."
"I heard the door open. GO," she urged and gave her a gentle shove.
Emily smiled as Alex entered the gallery, "Oh, hello. Aren't you Allison's work colleague?" She extended her hand. "I'm Emily, the gallery manager."
"I remember you," his eyes flashed. "I make a habit of keeping a mental rolodex of all the beautiful women I encounter."
Allison watched from her hiding place behind her office door. She had it open a fraction so she could watch their exchange. His eyes are twinkling at her too! And she's buying it!
"And speaking of beautiful women—is Allison around? She wasn't at the office today."
"No, she's left for the day."
He looked at his watch, "Five o'clock is pretty early for the boss to leave. Was there an emergency?"
It seemed to Allison that he was fishing.
"No, everything's fine. She went for her riding lesson," Emily said.
"Riding lesson? On a horse? In New York City?"
"There are stables near Central Park, you know. But she went back to her old neighborhood. It seems she hooked up with an old acquaintance, and he promised to help her get over her fear of horses."
"Is that so?" Alex crossed his arms over his chest. "And about how old is this old friend?"
"I'd say he's about your age." She cocked her head, "About your height and build, with dark, wavy hair and soulful, brown eyes."
Allison clapped her hands silently, you go Em.
"I see, and does this cowboy wear a blue pinstriped Brooks Brother's suit and gray coat—when he's not riding, of course."
Allison nearly gasped aloud, so that's what this visit was about. But how did he know? Maybe he had seen them talking in the building yesterday. The same day he...
"Yes," Emily said. "That would be him."
Alex began to pace. Emily got busy with another customer in the gallery and Allison wondered frantically how long he could hang around. She didn't want to be stuck in her office for hours.
After circling the room, Alex found Emily again. "I don't suppose any Samantha Steele paintings are lurking around in the storage area?"
Emily shook her head mutely.
"Would it be okay if I checked for myself?" he asked as he headed toward the back.
Emily quickly ran in front of him, stopping his movements.
"I know all about it. Don't panic," he whispered conspiratorially.
"I'm not panicking. I'm surprised."
"I know about a lot of things. Tell Allison her dignity would best be preserved if she didn't hide from me like a runaway teenager. I guess I'll take my leave now." He flashed her a toothy smile and made for the door.
A minute later Emily poked her head into Allison's office and found her sitting at her desk with her hands covering her eyes.
"He's gone," Emily said.
"I'm so humiliated. I'm supposed to be smarter than this," Allison replied. She started rummaging around in her drawers. "Where's my secret Tootsie Roll stash?"
"You said to hide them and not reveal their whereabouts under penalty of death."
"Well, I'm about to die from embarrassment and only sugar can save me right now."
Emily opened the bottom of the filing cabinet and pulled out a bag. "Only take two. He didn't know you were here; he was just bluffing."
"He knew," Allison said drily. She grabbed five chewy, taffy rolls from the bag before Emily yanked it back.
"What'll you say the next time you see him?"
"There won't be a next time. I'm joining a nunnery."
"Speaking of time; shouldn't you be leaving to get ready for the concert?"
Allison looked at her watch, "It's five-thirty already. I have a nice evening planned with a great guy, not some manipulative mind-reading delinquent and I'm about to blow it before I even gave it a chance. Why don't you go instead of me? I don't deserve a guy that treats me right," Allison mumbled, her mouth stuffed with Tootsie Rolls.
"I would, but I like and respect you too much to allow you to beat up on yourself. Go and have a good time with the sexy cowboy. I'll be rootin' for ya!"
Chapter 28
It was Saturday once again, and Allison could not believe how the week had flown by. She was expecting Kaitlin Essex to come at any minute for her next session. Allison started to think of them as sessions because it was important to form a bond with the young girl before she could attempt to capture her on canvas. Kaitlin was an intelligent and composed young girl—far more composed and serious than most girls her age were. She had grown up without a mother and it had left its scars. Allison was determined to draw her out and see if she had a playful side. She must be entirely different around her friends, Allison thought, it might be an idea to observe her in their company the next time.
She heard voices and footsteps outside the loft and went to open the door.
"I hope it's okay that we came up unannounced. Your neighbor was coming into the lobby, and he let us in," Kaitlin said. She looked fetching with her pink, wool ski cap pulled over her lustrous strawberry blonde-colored curls.
"It's perfectly fine," Allison's eyes were busy following Michael who had walked into the room and was making a circuit around it, much in the manner that his daughter had done the week before. This time he was wearing jeans and a leather jacket, but he was still immaculately groomed. She found herself staring at him, wondering how he could enter her sacred workspace and command it for his own. It took a certain amount of brio, and she found herself bristling at the unintentional transgression.
Michael lifted up a charcoal sketch of her grandparents and turned to look at her, a question in his eyes.
"I did that from memory, several years after they passed on." She did not enjoy having to explain herself to him. Her back stiffened, but she kept her mouth shut. It would not do to piss off a man as powerful as Michael Essex.
He set the sketch down and walked over to her. His sharp, almost-black eyes looked intently at her, through her, it seemed. "Well, I'll leave you to your work."
She stared dumfounded after him as he left and let out a shaky breath.
"Sorry about my Dad, he can pretty be intense. He doesn't mean to be intimidating. He just is."
"Kaitlin, sweetie, you don't have to apologize for your Dad—he's a busy man. Now, I have a great idea. There's still plenty of snow left over from the stor
m in the front courtyard. How about we build the first snowman of the season?"
"Sounds great. Do you think that's allowed, aren't there some rules about these kinds of things?"
"Rules? We are not followers, my dear—we are leaders. Rules be damned. Any old fart that has a problem with our snowman had better see me about it."
Kaitlin giggled, "I guess that would be my Dad...some kids from our building built a snowman yesterday, and he had the doorman knock it down."
Allison let out a dramatic gasp, "Really, and did you happen to be one of those kids?"
Her eyes sparkled merrily as she nodded.
"Maybe your father forgot how much fun snow can be."
They spent the better part of the next hour constructing a rather drunk-looking snowman and had a splendid time doing it. Several times Allison glanced at Kaitlin as she was immersed in her task and was glad for her company. Kaitlin seemed to be getting more comfortable with her and the child beneath the shell was starting to emerge.
"My toes are numb," Allison said, "Let's go inside and warm up. I happen to have some marshmallows and graham crackers. How do you feel about s'mores?"
"They're only s'mores if you have chocolate," Kaitlin said.
"I'm pretty sure I have some chocolate lurking somewhere in the kitchen."
The time flew by and a couple of hours later Michael came by to pick up Kaitlin.
"Thank you Allison," she said. "I had a lot of fun."
"I'm glad, so did I."
Michael Essex watched the exchange wordlessly and nodded at Allison, "You might want to tell the super that some kids built a ghastly-looking snowman in the front courtyard. There seems to be an epidemic of them in the city this week."
Kaitlin's eyes went wide as she covered her mouth with her gloved hand.
"See you next time," Allison called after them as they walked toward the steps. She wished for Kaitlin's sake that her father would learn how to chill. She was a darling of a girl and Michael Essex had no idea whatsoever about how to raise her in the next phase of her life.
Chapter 29
Allison entered the sumptuous Grand Ballroom of the Pierre Hotel and headed to the front looking for Kenyon's table. She spotted Mrs. James in a glorious caftan of her own design and smiled inwardly at what Ken's reaction must have been when his mother showed up wearing it to this very formal affair.