by Alice Ward
I collapsed onto her, then lifted on an elbow to release her from my crushing weight. But she pulled me back down, her lips on mine, our bodies connected.
“I love you, too,” she whispered against my lips as I rolled us onto our sides. Her breath was warm on my face as she kissed me. And I kissed her. And I counted my blessings for this woman.
There, holding the woman I adored in my arms, I thought I had the world under control. I’ve never been more wrong in my entire life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Auggie
I floated home that morning, having left a rumpled but empty bed as Worth left for work. I lounged a bit and sipped coffee and juice, making notes on my phone regarding what had to be done next.
I called the architect. She agreed to meet me for lunch and I quickly scooted home for a shower and a change.
Beverly Dexter was prompt and even as she approached, I was struck by her beauty. She moved like a gazelle, long-legged and rhythmic and my instincts were immediately on fire.
We shook hands and I invited her to sit down.
“How long have you known Worth?” was the first question out of my mouth.
She seemed a little suspicious by my question but then apparently decided she would be dealing with me from now on so she may as well form a good relationship. “He only called me last week. Are you two an item?” she asked, taking me by surprise.
It peeved me that she should begin questioning me before she’d even shown me the plans. I just looked at her, and she must have gotten the message because she opened a tube and rolled out blueprint paper across the table.
“He’s very good-looking, you know,” she began. “I could get close to that very easily.”
Was she freakin’ insane? She had a huge customer in Worth and even if she was as stupid as she was beautiful, she had to pick up on the fact that Worth was turning things over to me. Therefore, I must be involved with him and wouldn’t like her intimate remarks.
“You’re his secretary, right?” she suggested boldly.
I was so astounded at her behavior, I decided to let her dig her own grave. I nodded.
She looked relieved. “Oh, lucky girl. Wish I were in your shoes… well, actually I’d rather be in his bed,” she gushed, brushing her hair back from her forehead. “What’s his type?”
This was going to be fun. “Oh, I really couldn’t say but most of the women I’ve seen him with are tall, dark-haired, long legs… actually a lot like you now that I think of it,” I baited her.
“Really?” she gushed, her fingers now stroking her bottom lip. “Where does he like to hang out? I mean… where could I sort of accidentally run into him?”
In hell, maybe?
“Hmmm… well, he’s moving into the first farmhouse on the property where you’re building. In fact, he should be doing some of that tonight. You can find him there. Also, I believe he takes most of his dates to the Hilton so maybe the bar there, not really sure.” I leaned forward and lowered my voice. One girl telling a secret to another. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t mention where you got that information. I’d lose my job for sure and he might fire you as well.”
“Oh, I won’t. He won’t fire me, though… there’s too much at stake.”
“Oh, really, why is that?” I was interested in what she knew.
“Well, he’s on such a tight time frame and all,” she explained. “There’s no one else in town who could pull this off but me. I’m calling in all my favors to get it done especially this time of year with the holidays coming.”
She was very sure of herself. What was the line about the bigger they are, the harder they fall? I decided to jerk her chain a bit.
“So, Ms. Dexter, since I’m in charge here, perhaps it would be a good idea if we got down to business and let me approve some plans,” I suggested.
“Oh, I see. Well, you’re welcomed to look at things, but I’m not supposed to let you actually decide on anything except… how did he put it… ‘fripperies?’”
I felt myself go cold. “How do you mean that exactly… just so I understand which part of the process I’m responsible for.”
“Dr. LaViere said he was to have the ultimate power of decision over all the construction details. I have the power of making decisions on his behalf on site and you are supposed to be consulted for the little things I’m guessing like drapes, wall colors, where to hang mirrors — that sort of mundane detail.”
“I see,” I said, forcing my teeth to stop grinding. “What did you call it… fripperies?”
“Yes, I think that’s the term he used. I don’t think he wanted to overwhelm you and I’m guessing he’s leaving most of the decision making up to whomever he eventually marries. So, I thought we’d keep the house as vanilla as possible and then whoever she is…” she giggled as her eyes glazed over in desire, “can put her own personal sense of style on the place.”
I nodded. “That makes total sense.”
“Now about the barns,” she continued and I wondered how someone so dumb had gotten this far in business. “I have some equine experience but I know that the appropriate facility is better designed if you know what kind of horses he’ll be keeping. I guess I should consult with Mr. McLean on that?”
“Mr. McLean? Oh, the man he bought the farm from. Is that what he told you?” I was setting the trip wire.
“Well, not in so many words, but he indicated that Mr. McLean would be responsible for the horses over the longer term so I assumed he would be the best person to ask.”
“Yes, I suppose you should do just that, Ms. Dexter,” I agreed and she sighed with satisfaction. I could see her already picking out an engagement ring and the heavy class ring I wore on my neck chain was burning a brand into the tender skin of my tummy. “Well, let’s get on with the decision making, shall we?” I encouraged her.
“Oh, of course. Now, let’s see. He requested a traditional Kentucky-style home on the exterior with a modern, more open concept look on the inside,” she began.
“Oh, nooo, no, no,” I jumped in quickly. “You must have misunderstood entirely. “I swear, he has so much on his plate that sometimes he says things almost backward. He wants a Kentucky-style house, for sure, but inside and out. He wants every room to be paneled in cherry with pocket doors between the rooms so they can be closed off for private conversations. He’s a businessman, you understand.”
She looked confused, but nodded and she paged through her notes again.
“And as for the exterior, he will want as few windows as possible. He hates the glare from the sun and loves dark shadows and deep, deep colors of interior paint. Nothing but plaid carpeting throughout. Two bedrooms, one bath. The kitchen should be smaller… hmmm… more like a kitchenette with huge cupboards that reach from ceiling to floor. Now, in the basement, he wants a cat room. This is to be absolutely the largest room in the house. The walls should be lined with carpeting so the little guys can use their claws to climb wherever they want. There should be all sorts of little ladders and platforms installed so they can jump around and have fun. He probably has fifty cats… did he tell you that?” I waited for her reaction.
“Oh, really? Are you sure? He said just about the opposite to me.” Even idiocy did not mar her beautiful features.
“You must have misunderstood him. You probably thought you were hearing what he didn’t want, when in fact he was telling you exactly what he does want.”
“I’m not sure about this,” she sounded very confused. “He was quite adamant.”
“Look, I’ve worked for Dr. LaViere for some time now. I think I’ve heard him talk about his dream house a hundred times. Are you really willing to risk his disapproval by giving him exactly what he doesn’t want and not include a single feature of what he does want?” I leaned even closer. “I leave it to you to decide.”
As her face went through a flurry of emotions, I settled back in my chair, my pencil tapping on the tabletop in a rhythm to distract her and make her even
more uncomfortable and indecisive than she currently was.
“No, I completely believe you,” she said finally. “I just can’t believe I heard him so wrong.”
I patted her hand. “Well, you did mention how handsome he is,” I reminded her. “It could have distracted you from whether he was saying he wanted or didn’t want everything he was talking about.”
She nodded, biting her lip.
“Oh, one more thing,” I ventured, forcing my face to stay carefully blank. “He did tell you he’s going to be out of the country for the next three months and you’re not to start construction until he returns, right?”
“Oh, now, no… that’s wrong. He wants to move in three months from now. We even talked about the extra hours and workmen it would take. I’ve already got crews on assignment. In fact, we were going to start today after you and I had our meeting.” She sat up straight, her head shaking in denial.
“Oh, dear…” I murmured and clucked my tongue. “He’s done it again.”
“What’s that?” she asked, concerned.
“Well, promise not to let him know I said this?”
She nodded in a conspiratorial gesture.
“He’s dead broke.”
“What?” I seriously thought she might faint.
“Yes, yes… his father has disinherited him. He was to come into millions but they had a falling out and as a result, he was kicked off his father’s farm. He’s living with a decorator friend of his right now. It’s just awful. In fact, he was to buy the practice from his partner and now that’s all fallen through. I wouldn’t doubt that his partner will kick him out as well. He’s very tight with the senior Mr. LaViere. I’m afraid Worth is literally ruined.” I leaned forward, lowering my voice until it was nearly a whisper. “He probably told you to speed up so he’d have somewhere to go soon, but he will figure out some way to delay paying you. He’ll claim something is wrong, some wall is crooked or you put a window in the wrong place. I’ve seen him do it before… making a fuss over details until the contractor just walked away for fear of losing referral business from the senior Mr. LaViere.”
“Oh my God!” she cried out, alarmed completely. “I had no idea. I just assumed… well, you know… he is a LaViere, after all.” Her voice had morphed into a whine.
“You wouldn’t be the first to fall for his lines, I’m afraid. In fact, I’ve had to be on my own guard all these years. Why do you suppose he still lived at home with his parents? He’s a total failure. No money, no patients, his reputation is ruined.” I grabbed her arm, digging my fingers in until I was sure I had her full attention. When her glazed eyes turned back to me, I went on. “Now, remember… don’t tell him you heard this from me. I can’t help you if he thinks I’ve ratted him out. The best I can do right now is to get the contract you signed with him and sneak it out of the building at night so you can destroy it. Then, if I were you, I’d completely disavow knowing him in any way. Pretend you never met him. Did anyone see you meet him?” I asked, pretending great concern.
“No, I don’t think so,” she sighed with relief, tears gleaming in her eyes. I stomped down a wave of guilt. “I can’t thank you enough. This could have ruined my firm and my entire reputation I’ve worked so hard to build. Here, at least let me get the lunch. You’ve done so much for me. Woman to woman… I can’t thank you enough.”
“That’s quite all right — let’s just say we women stick together. Now, I’ll find that contract and either destroy it personally or get it to you. Deal?”
“Thank you again, so much, Ms. Langford. I’m quite indebted to you. If there was any way I could repay you…”
“Oh, that’s just fine.” I soothed, then kicked immediately into Part Two of my plan. “Oh, my goodness! I just realized!”
“What?” her eyes held alarm.
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before this. It just so happens I’m going to be hiring an architect myself. I have a charitable foundation with a new project at Sunset Village. All the best families are donating and it could really be quite a plum for the right firm to do the design work. But…” I slumped back into my chair, a sad look on my face, “then, we’re just starting out and there’s no way I could afford your fees, I’m afraid. Forget I said anything.” I began packing up my paper, pencil, and purse.
Beverly Dexter’s hand covered mine, stopping me from completing my task. “Ms. Langford, please. Would you allow me to donate my services? After all, you quite possibly saved me from ruin this afternoon. And… I happen to have crews on standby. I would only be too happy to donate everything I can do to help your worthy cause. Perhaps you could tell a few of the other patrons of my involvement and in that way, one hand covers the other, so to speak?”
I beamed. “Oh, Ms. Dexter, would you? I can’t imagine how generous that would be! The residents will be absolutely thrilled to be living in a property in which you had a hand. You are well-known for your creative insight and innovation. I just don’t know what to say,” I gushed all over her, even managed to produce a tear.
“Please… say no more. Just tell me who to talk to and we’ll get started this very afternoon.”
“I just don’t know how to thank you. Here’s my attorney’s card. Just tell him I sent you. I’ll fill him in on the details before you call him. Just give me a half hour.” I smiled and stood to hug her. “I just can’t thank you enough!”
“Say no more,” she gushed. “I’ve got lunch and I’m headed back to the office to talk to my crews and call your Mr. Knotts. I’ll be in touch with him this afternoon.”
“Oh, and Ms. Dexter?” I said as she was leaving.
“Yes?”
“I just wanted to tell you, and I hope it doesn’t embarrass you… but when you walked in I was struck by how beautiful you are. You have such a sense of style. May I ask where you bought your dress?”
“Oh… I bought it in New York, Ms. Langford. I’m sorry…”
“No problem. Have a wonderful afternoon and thank you again.”
She got no further than the door when I dialed Brandon and filled him in on the fact that the famous Ms. Dexter was calling him to begin architectural drawings. I knew this would go a long way toward getting the projects completed and still comply with the administrator’s concerns about excess noise and construction debris. “Don’t talk about Worth or me, Brandon. Not one word. Just deal with her. She’s donating all her services and she’s ready to get started today.”
“How in the hell did you pull that off?” Brandon asked, utterly amazed. “Good thing I already applied and received the permits.”
“It was Worth who made it possible,” I said dryly and hung up.
I quietly sat and sipped my iced tea, watching the minutes flip by on my iPhone. I gave her ten and she beat me by one.
My phone rang… and it was Worth.
“Hello?” I answered sweetly.
“Elizabeth Augusta…” was as far as he got before I hung up the phone, finished my tea and went shopping.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Auggie
The conference room was full. Brandon sat at the head of the table and Dad sat at the other end. Beverly Dexter, a few of Dad’s friends and some people Brandon had invited were also there, including the administrator from Sunset Village. I sat to Dad’s right.
Architectural drawings covered the table as well as various sheaths of paperwork which were being circulated for the appropriate signatures.
Everyone there, it seemed, had an ulterior motive for their participation, but the end result was that things were moving rapidly forward.
Brandon’s eyes were on me. He suspected Worth and I had a falling out and when the beauteous Ms. Dexter showed up in his office, he figured he knew the reason why.
Beverly Dexter, fresh from her life-saving warning from me, owed me a certain amount of loyalty but she also was there to court some clients from Dad’s friends. Much to her delight, she discovered that Brandon was single as well and knew t
hat his family was well-received and he could be considered quite a catch. It was like Christmas for her.
Dad was there to get away from Mother and to support me, just as he’d promised. The administrator from Sunset Village was amazed that someone would make it their mission to improve his property, and therefore his vacancy rate. The rest of Dad’s friends all had mothers or fathers in the age range where they were becoming caretakers and having an investment in Sunset Village could mean a solution to the vast commitment and interruption about to impede their lives. Therefore, I learned that no matter the reason, people must have some stake in order to participate.
Worth had been neither notified nor invited. His check still sat in my purse and I was debating whether to turn it in. If I did, it meant he would have a seat on this board and in the decision making, and that sting had not yet worn off for me. I hadn’t spoken to him since the meeting with Ms. Dexter. I either refused his calls or texts and didn’t answer the door when he came to call. Dad and Mother had respectfully looked the other way and that left Worth standing outside the door like a foundling. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could do it, but he had to know that he couldn’t treat me like that and get away with it. The question was… how far could I push him?
We had managed to put offers on the parcels of land all around Sunset Village. I hoped that when Dad’s friends left today, their donations would allow the actual purchase. We had architectural designs to show how the additions could be added without impacting the existing structure and how the entire plan with stables and other external buildings could be integrated into an interesting and accessible way. Ms. Dexter’s knowledge and expertise, luckily, had come in extremely handy. I kept my fingers crossed that she wouldn’t learn the truth of my lies until our project was completed.
When the meeting concluded, we parted with more than a half million dollars in our coffer, promises of more participation, an approved plan and the intent to break ground the very next day. I was on top of the world… until, that is, I thought about Worth and his betrayal of me. I sighed. And my betrayal of him.