“I’m on it. You’ve got a half hour before your presentation.”
Liam nodded. “That’s enough time.” He called up the security company he used and was confident by the time he exited the vehicle that Joan would be kept safe. She would be watched over without her knowledge, this way she would not feel like she was living under a microscope.
In the elevator, he pulled up the press on Joan wanting to see the interview again. There was a picture of her in mini shorts and a tight burned out t-shirt. Her hair looked soft, hanging in tousled ringlets over her right shoulder. She looked like she was flashing bedroom eyes at the camera man. The headline read Sexy Girl Next Door Snags Billionaire.
He swallowed. The whole world was going to be looking at her like this. This is my fault. She should have gone home last night with a protective crew. Shit.
“Mr. Wainwright, the board and our guests from the national guard are in the meeting room already. They arrived early and have been waiting for you.” His secretary Agatha informed him the moment he stepped off the elevator. Her red and white hair was in a tight French twist, her makeup carefully applied.
She was older for an executive secretary in the world of business, but she was smart, quick, thick skinned, and most of all, Hansen had it bad for her even if he wouldn’t admit it.
“Bring them coffee, water, and tea. I’ll be in soon.” She waved her hand, something she did when she could see he was in a foul mood so that he wouldn’t bite her head off for interrupting. “Yes?”
“I’ve already served them beverages.”
“Then give them refills.”
She nodded. “Yes, sir, and may I say that I am thrilled that you found such a lovely girl.”
Liam forced a smile. “Thank you.” He closed the door behind him as he entered his office. He dialed Evelyn.
“Yes?”
“I want a retraction of the picture of Joan. You know, the one you didn’t show me.”
She coughed. “Uh, yes, sir.”
“I want a formal apology for her and to her family. Nix the job of this voyeuristic photographer.”
“Fired?”
“Did I stutter?”
Evelyn sighed. “She’s not naked. Just in pajamas. She looks great. At least it wasn’t worse.”
“Get it done.” Liam hung up the phone and went to the meeting room to give his presentation on his latest invention. He’d already given Crenshaw the same presentation and Liam transitioned into autopilot. His thoughts were with Joan. He’d been so angry at himself that he’d acted like a jerk.
He needed to see Joan and tonight at dinner didn’t seem soon enough. Evelyn was right. She wasn’t prepared to be dealing with the paparazzi.
Liam finished up and smiled when his presentation was met with applause. “Questions?” he asked in a tone that conveyed questions were unwelcome, but it didn’t work. He was stuck answering questions for the next forty-five minutes.
When he finally got out of the meeting and was making a b-line for the door, his secretary slid into his path. “You’ve got a call on line two. It’s urgent.”
“Is it from Joan? If not, I’m busy.”
Agatha tilted her head considering his question. “Kind of.”
“What?”
“Well….”
Liam left her standing there and went to her desk punching line two. “This is Liam Wainwright.”
“What an honor to speak to you at last. It seems like I should have heard from you, not the other way around.”
Liam tried to place the voice but couldn’t. “With whom am I speaking?”
“This is Joan Taylor’s father. You can call me Mr. Taylor since you never bothered to come meet her family or ask for my permission for her hand.”
“That’s a dated tradition I didn’t know your family still practiced. I apologize. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Yes, I’d like to know what makes you think you’re good enough to marry my daughter?”
Is he serious?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“And there he is again.” Joan pointed out the man in the blue button up shirt. He had a scar, red, from his ear to his chin. It was too memorable to forget. “He’s everywhere today.”
Mae and Amanda looked where she indicated. “Who is he?”
“I have no idea. I saw him walking through the ER this morning after first rounds. Then again at lunch.” Joan held up a second finger counting the incidents. “When I had to meet with legal council upstairs, he was in the elevator.”
“Why did you have to go to legal council?” Amanda asked.
Mae, who’d witnessed the incident, jumped right in with the answer. “This guy came in, and Joan starts asking him the basic questions about why he’s come to the ER. So the guy says he needs a flu shot.”
“I hate it when we get those. There’s an urgent care right across the street for non-emergencies.” Amanda grumbled. “He could go to the pharmacy at the grocery store and get a shot.”
“Anyway,” Mae said no longer able to wait. “She gives him the shot and he starts ranting that she gouged him. He says he’s going to sue her and her husband for a million dollars for pain and suffering.”
Amanda laughed. “That’s stupid. No way. Is he really following through with that? Is that why you had to go up to legal?”
“Well, he was until he found out I don’t have any money and that my “prenup” details that I have no claim or right to the Wainwright fortune.”
“Prenuptial agreement with those kind of strings? Yeah right. Did he buy it?”
“Yeah. I’m glad he did because, well… you know.” Joan shook her head. “It’s been like that all day. People keep asking me about Liam or calling me a gold digger. How do people have so much time to come find me and call me names? Don’t they have jobs?”
Amanda was watching the guy who kept showing up everywhere as Joan had pointed out. “You know how the economy is right now. We see poverty right here every day. This one,” she said nodding toward Joan’s shadow. “He’s watching every move you make.”
“Why? Isn’t Liam the one with the money? I’m a nurse paying off student loans.”
“As far as he’s concerned you’re the heart’s desire of a billionaire.” Mae put in. “He’s probably part of some kidnapping ransom scheme. It’s happening more and more in Arizona. They pluck you up, take you to Mexico, and hold you for ransom.”
Joan was ready to laugh at Mae, but the guy was talking into his wrist as he casually adjusted his glasses.
Holy crap! He’s here to kidnap me and he has a whole team.
“Mae, you’re scaring her.” Amanda rubbed Joan’s back in a soothing motion. “But with all the attention you’re getting, it wouldn’t hurt to have security walk you to your car.”
“What good will that do? They’ll just run her off the road.” Mae gestured pointing right at the guy with the glasses.
Joan watched as he stood up and started to leave. “Oh no you don’t.” She sprinted forward catching the guy and blocking his path. “Listen to me, okay?”
He took a small step back. “Um, okay.”
“I’m not rich. I have so many bills that if they were dollar bills I’d be as rich as Liam. You’re wasting your time.”
He squinted at her, the twitch at the corner of his mouth forming a smile.
This guy doesn’t believe me. “He is not going to pay a cent for me. Do you understand? You’re wasting your time.”
“I think you have me confused with someone else,” he said and stepped around her exiting through the swinging door.
Oh no. He wasn’t a kidnapper. Hospital security probably, right? And with all the people trying to get in here to take pics, ask questions, and try to sue me how could they not send security?
“I am so stupid,” Joan said aloud, turning back toward her friends.
Mae had her hand on her chest. “I’m so sorry that was my fault. You must be so embarrassed.”
�
�Yeah, I am. Thanks for pointing it out.”
Mae’s name came over her lanyard intercom to see to a patient. “Sorry, I owe you okay?” Mae dashed off.
“I took a picture of him. Mae had me going too. Don’t feel bad.” Amanda put away her phone. “I gotta go assist Dr. Hodges.”
As she walked away, Joan noticed Earl leaning against the wall smiling. “Not a cent. Really? That’s got to be humiliating.”
Joan exhaled blowing out the instant annoyance his presence brought. “Missed seeing you at the benefit. Didn’t get an invite, huh?”
“He’s going to call off your engagement. You know that, right? You’re just buying time. That’s all.” Earl stood and took a step toward her. “I can wait.”
“Are you afraid I’m going to tell that nurse you’re eyeing how anticlimactic your performance is? Don’t worry, I won’t,” Joan said in a no nonsense clear tone that carried and had the nursing station silent and ears open.
Earl laughed looking directly at the nursing station. “She’s kidding.”
“No, I promise, Earl. I won’t tell anybody about your private difficulties in stamin—”
“Enough,” he said, his breath blowing back the wisps of curl that framed her face. “I am the one who showed you how to behave at those functions, how to dress, and how to laugh without crinkling your nose. It’s because of me that Liam even noticed you.”
He was hurt, she realized. Not in the heart of course but his ego was cracked. “You nit-picked my every move. I was not the woman for you and you weren’t the man for me. All you had to do was be a gentleman and let us part on good terms.”
“You were going to dump me. I could tell. I’m not stupid, Joan.” He glared over at the nursing staff still watching them. “I want you gone because I knew you were cheating on me. It was the only thing that made sense. Why else would you hold back from me? You never let me anywhere near your heart.”
Joan blinked. “You thought I was cheating on you?”
“You were. Do you really expect me to buy the story you’re telling? The way you look at him, talk about him. You are in love with him. That doesn’t just happen overnight.”
I’m not in love with Liam.
“You should believe it because it’s the truth.”
“And you two just happened to show up together at the airport? You coincidentally had to get off the plane with him to spend a romantic weekend in the Keys? I’m not stupid, and I’m not blind.”
That’s why you were acting like such a jerk?
“I never cheated on you, but you’re right. I didn’t allow you to get any closer than I was comfortable.”
“Well you screwed up letting Liam Wainwright have your heart. He’s going to crush it, and when he does, I won’t have to try to get you out of here. Do you know why? Because you’ll be too humiliated to show your face when everyone looks at you and sees a woman who used to be special.”
Like a punch to the gut, Joan lost the breath in her lungs. Earl was wrong about a lot of things. He was right about one thing. When Liam called off the engagement she would be pitied and talked about. People would ask her about him years from now and try to pin a still broken heart on her sleeve.
“I feel better having got that off my chest. Goodbye, Joan.”
Mae rushed up as Earl walked away and put an arm around her. “What did he say? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
“I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “I’m going to be late.”
I’ll be just fine because no matter what anybody else thinks, I’m not in love with Liam.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. He just said he’s not going to pursue getting me transferred out of here, so no matter what happens next, at least I know my job is safe.”
Mae hugged her. “That’s awesome.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you later.”
“Hey.” Mae stopped her. “Go to my place and borrow any of my dresses. Okay? And have fun.”
Joan pasted on a smile. “You know I will.” She was too caught up in what Earl said to pay much attention as she crossed the parking lot and got into her car.
As she reversed out of the parking space her cell started ringing playing a noise that sounded like kissing noises. Laughing, Joan picked up the phone seeing Liam’s name on the caller Id. “Mae, you think you’re so funny.”
Joan hit the answer icon and the speaker. “Hello?”
“Your phone has been turned off all day,” Liam said in a gruff tone. “Are you still being bothered by the press?”
Joan smiled, realizing that aside from the few loonies who’d come into the ER, she hadn’t had reporters bothering her since before work. None waiting by her car or hiding in her backseat. “No, I think they got their story from me this morning.”
“Good. Are you on the plane?”
Joan swiped her card to raise the gate to get her out of personnel parking. “No. I’m just leaving work.”
“There’s a dress on the plane. Evelyn will get you ready.”
“This isn’t another benefit. Why am I getting so dressed up?”
Liam sounded far away and he was talking to someone else. “Because Crenshaw will be there. We have to convince him we’re in love. A woman in love wants to look good for her man.”
“Does she?” Joan asked attempting to mimic his voice. She smiled to herself as he inhaled the sound that let her know he was annoyed. “Clearly you’ve never been in love.”
“Well, I am still very young while you’re what? Forty-six? Forty-seven?” She bit her lip to keep from bursting into laughter as she glanced in the rearview mirror waiting for his response.
That guy with the glasses was two cars behind her at the red light.
“…thirty years old as of two months ago. But I can see how you’d think me older considering my success.”
Joan turned right on the red instead of going straight. I’m just being paranoid because of what Mae said. He’s not following me.
“No smartass response for that one, huh?” Liam asked.
“What? You were talking to me? I thought you were just enjoying the sound of your own voice. What did you say?” She parked on the shoulder in front of a wide red truck.
Liam laughed, surprising her. “My voice is pretty terrific. And I’m pleased you’re in such a great mood because I just got off the phone with President Little.”
“And?” Joan asked.
“We both think it’s a good idea for you to take a week off and let all the attention on you die down.”
The guy drove by meeting her eyes in her side mirror before he quickly put his attention back on the street.
“Hey, Liam?”
“I know you don’t like me going over your head, but it’s for the best.”
Joan pulled a u-turn and made a right back onto the main street. “I’ve got someone on my tail, Liam. I’ll call you back.” She floored the gas pedal and the tires squealed. No way was she going to become somebody’s leverage.
Weaving through traffic she spotted the sedan pulling onto the main street at an accelerated speed. He was chasing her.
“Joan, slow down.”
“Why are you still on the line? Hang up. I’ll call you back.” She turned left taking the onramp to the freeway. The black sedan was not far behind and the black sports car behind him was picking up speed as well. “There’s two of them?”
She pressed the pedal again gunning her car into traffic. “How fast are you going? I can hear the engine roaring. Joan, slow down.”
“I’m not about to be kidnapped and taken somewhere to see if you’ll pay a ransom. I’m driving fast, that’s all you need to know.”
“Kidnapped? That’s not possible. I wouldn’t let that happen.”
Joan looked at her phone as if she could give him the incredulous look she was wearing. “And just what can you do about it? You’re in California.” He didn’t answer and she found without his voice only her fear was k
eeping her company.
The traffic ahead was going slow.
“What do I do? What to do?” She glanced in her rearview mirror. The black car was right behind her. Glasses guy was starting to make his move to pull ahead and in front of her.
She started to switch lanes but the black car pulled to her right keeping her in place.
“They’re boxing me in.” Her heart was slamming in her chest like it was trying to break out. Glasses guy’s brake lights came on slowing her down. She couldn’t let them take charge and lead her into a corner where she had no way out.
Joan hit the gas screaming out a high pitched squeal as she squeezed between the wall and glasses guy’s car up the left-hand shoulder on the freeway. When their eyes met again, his were huge.
She was still screaming but smiled as she passed him and continued down the shoulder. The men following her slammed on their brakes to keep from smashing into the slower cars in the heavy traffic.
“Joan,” Liam yelled her name.
“I thought you hung up. You’re not going to believe what I just did.” Joan was breathless, her heart still thumping quickly. “Actually I’m still doing it.”
Liam said her name again, his voice loud and tight. “Slow the hell down. You’re running from the security guards I hired to protect you.”
“What?” Joan gripped the steering wheel. Red and blue lights were flashing and the loud siren piercing through the fear and adrenaline that coursed through her. “You didn’t think to mention that to me earlier?”
“I didn’t think you’d mistake them for kidnappers. You don’t like my interference. I thought you’d turn down the security guards. You’re so stubborn. Are you slowing down? I hear sirens?”
Joan eased her foot off the gas pedal and onto the brake. What am I going to tell them? They’re going to arrest me for reckless driving.
“Pull over, Joan.”
Checking to make sure she was clear, she moved over until she reached the right side of the freeway. “I am. This is all your fault, Liam Wainwright.” She pulled to a stop.
“My fault? When I got your bodyguard on the phone he said you were driving well over a hundred miles an hour.”
An I.O.U. from a Billionaire Page 19