More Lipstick Chronicles

by Emily Carmichael

  “Why not stick with gifts to accompany the holidays?” Joe asked. He phrased his question carefully, as Elyssa had been throwing visual daggers at him all afternoon. He’d been too negative, she’d eloquently told him with narrowed eyes and a tight mouth.

  He wanted to kiss the annoyance off that mouth, but then, that was part of the problem. Damn.

  Parker faced Joe, exasperation and a trace of annoyance clouding his young face. “Seems to me Allheart shouldn’t stick with the traditional holiday cards because every other greeting card company does the same thing. Allheart should go in a different direction; separate from the pack, so to speak. Elyssa’s been doing that all along and it’s what brought her to the top.”

  “That and our money.” Joe winced inwardly. He didn’t mean to say that. It would tick her off royally. He didn’t look at her. “In any case, you weren’t hired to design new cards.”

  Sighing dramatically, Parker faced Elyssa. “I don’t want to design the cards. Dana and Alix do that. But going in a new direction has become synonymous with Allheart. I think you should at least explore the possibility.”

  Elyssa reached for the phone and pressed a button. “Carole, could you come in here a minute? And get Alix and Dana. I know it’s late but something’s come up and we need some input.”

  Twenty minutes later, the four women were cooing over Parker Quest like hens over a rooster. “It’s brilliant,” Dana said, shrugging her shoulders. “I love the summer basket idea.”

  “Maybe in the graphic design of the cards, we can indicate an item included in the basket,” Alix suggested. “A daffodil on the card representing the daffodils in the spring basket. Apples pictured like the ones in the fall basket.”

  “A cup of steaming tea from the winter basket on those cards.” This from Dana.

  The brainstorming went on.

  Joe finally said, “If you really include all your suggestions the cost of making the baskets will be prohibitive. We’ll lose money.”

  Parker’s look was smug. “Not if we charge enough for the baskets.”

  “But then you run into only a small margin of people willing to pay that much for them.”

  “Elyssa’s image is first class. Anything but Godiva chocolate, exotic teas, RayBans, or Longaberger baskets will diminish the high quality that heralds this outfit, that distinguishes it from Hallmark and their ilk.”

  Looking exasperated at the byplay, Elyssa finally spoke up, “Let’s test market it. Spring’s just around the corner. Can you get the spring basket ready if we have the cards in place by then?”

  “The cards can’t possibly be in place by then.” Even to his own ears Joe sounded like a broken record.

  “Of course they can,” Dana said. “I’ll work on the drawings this week. Alix, can you get a sample ready?”

  “Sure.”

  “Mitch is in Idaho, so I can work over the weekend on this,” said Carole, who’d been silent during much of the back-and-forthing. “We could get this up in as early as a few weeks.” She smiled fondly at Elyssa. “Remember when you had that brainstorm for the sexy card line? We threw it together in ten days and advertisers were clamoring to be part of it. By the end of the quarter we’d brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

  Dana stood. “It’s seven o’clock. I have a date.”

  “Oh, Lord,” Alix said following suit. “I was supposed to meet Marc. Can we leave, E?”

  Elyssa smiled but Joe could tell she was peeved. At him.

  “Sure. Wouldn’t want to keep you away from your honeys.”

  Parker stood. “I’ll be going, too.”

  “You got a honey waiting for you too, Parker?” Carole teased, gathering her things.

  It was just a glance. The quickest, surreptitious stolen look at Elyssa. But Joe caught it. “Nah, no honey in the picture.” He gave them his Huck Finn grin. “But I’m workin’ on it.”

  In minutes they were alone. Joe stretched out his legs and closed his eyes, leaning his head against the chair. “All right, give it to me with both barrels.”

  Elyssa didn’t speak, so he opened his eyes. She was quietly angry, which was eons worse than throwing things or yelling. Arching a brow, she said, “First, don’t ever again bring up our personal relationship, with a word or gesture, like that again.”

  He felt his own onslaught of coldness. “It’s no secret with your staff.”

  “I mean in front of people like Parker. Even a monkey could spot the possessiveness. . . . We just got back from the mountains, for God’s sake.”

  His heart, so full of her and her professed devotion over the last few days, clutched in his chest. “I see. Anything else?”

  “Yes. Parker’s ideas were great. You shot down every one of them.”

  “I liked his Valentine’s Day suggestion.”

  “The seasonal cards and The Great Big Gift Baskets were a stroke of genius. They’ll set us apart from all the other companies. You know damn well it’s good business. He’s brilliant.”

  Joe remembered a conversation . . . from long ago . . .

  You surround yourself with brilliant people.

  It’s why I chose you. . . .

  “Ah, that’s right, you’re attracted to brilliant people.”

  Her shoulders relaxed, losing the stiffness of anger. “Joe, I thought we were past this.”

  Well, he’d blown it. He stared at her, noting the soft flush the outdoors had given her over the long five days together. “Joe?”

  “We are past it,” he lied. “I didn’t like the ideas.”

  She folded her hands together under her chin and said nothing.

  “You don’t believe that.” His tone was clipped.

  “No, I don’t.”

  He stood abruptly. He’d promised himself there would be no more fights over this guy. “Let’s drop it. You made your executive decision, overruling me, in front of three members of your staff, I might add.” He dug his hands into his jeans. “I’m hungry. We haven’t eaten since breakfast. Let’s stop at J. Paul’s before we go home.” He didn’t know what he’d do if she refused to go home with him. If this turned into another full-blown argument.

  He was grateful when she stood, picked up her purse, slid into her jacket, circled the desk and linked her arm with his. “All right, let’s go home.”

  As they left her office, Joe silently pledged he’d be better. He’d be more objective. He wouldn’t let his feelings for her interfere with the business.

  When he caught sight of the flowers on a table in the outer office, he stopped dead. He could just make out her name and the note, “Welcome back,” on the tag attached to the big yellow bow around a cut crystal vase.

  She stopped, too. A smile split her face.

  His hands fisted.

  She was grinning like a schoolgirl as she approached the wild mess of bright yellow daisies—her favorite because they were wildflowers. “Oh, Joe, they’re lovely. When did you do this?”

  Fury bubbling inside him, he snapped, “I didn’t.”

  Chapter 3

  Elyssa was exhausted as she dragged herself into her office Monday morning. She’d been exhausted for two months, ever since they’d hired Parker Quest and launched the ancillary products program at Allheart. The seasonal cards and The Great Big Gift Baskets had been more successful than anyone dreamed, and business was taking off like a rocket. Allheart was solidly at the top of its game, thanks in many ways to Parker.

  No other employees had arrived for work yet and she welcomed the quiet. Mornings used to be like this, when she first founded the company, and before they moved into their new digs. In some ways, she missed that time: the excitement of new beginnings, the awe at first successes. Maybe it was time for a change.

  That’s what life’s all about, kiddo. Elliot had made the comment when he’d told her that he and Mary were getting married in June. Elyssa had felt like everything was shifting under her feet, an emotional earthquake of sorts, and Elliot had seen right thro
ugh her.

  It’s time for you to move on, too, Lyss.

  Maybe professionally. There’d been hints at a buyout, and a couple of companies had even approached her about selling her baby. In a few weeks, they were meeting with Highwire to discuss the possibility.

  But personally, things weren’t good with Joe—who’d turned into a veritable Othello. He erupted over things Parker did, like sending the welcome-back flowers, or the business dinners between just her and Parker that went late, or the fact that Parker always seemed to be around the office. Damn! Joe’s jealousy was wearing thin and the strain on their relationship had become unbearable. They were spinning their wheels most of the time, backpedaling the rest. They definitely weren’t going forward, as Elliot suggested.

  With a malaise she couldn’t shake, she booted up her computer and stared at the screen as all her new e-mail queued up in front of her. Lord, the number couldn’t possibly be right. One hundred messages?

  That’s success for you, Lyss. And it’s what you wanted, isn’t it?

  Among the dozens of pieces of e-mail she noticed there was an Allheart greeting card.

  She smiled. Only one person ever sent her own company’s cards to her. Joe. Immediately she opened the mail. This one was from their anniversary collection. Elyssa herself had suggested the idea for this line. Not your typical schmaltzy anniversary greetings for a wedding, opening of a business, et cetera. The line targeted unique anniversaries: congratulations for a kid on the anniversary of his taking his first step; a card for a teacher, remembering her first day on the job; all of the others had the same unusual theme. Red Door, their major competitor, had copied the idea right away.

  The card Joe sent her was a couples card. The front pictured a sun, peeking over the horizon, its sky pink and purple and utterly lovely. Inside the simple text read, “A new day dawned when I met you and my whole life changed. Happy anniversary, love. Joe.”

  She closed her eyes and rested her head in her hands. They’d met a year ago today, when he’d strutted into her office full of masculine grace and cocky arrogance. March fifteenth.

  She’d totally forgotten.

  Maybe he’s right. Maybe you are neglecting him. Maybe you’re spending too much time at work. Or with Parker.

  Hmm. Parker. Who grew more amenable as Joe got more and more surly. Who grew more understanding as Joe dug his heels in deeper. Who grew more patient as her time with Joe became less frequent and he complained loudly. She had to admit Parker was easier and more fun to be around lately than Joe. Had she been spending too much time with him?

  Shaking off the thought, she checked the clock. Seven A.M. She and Joe hadn’t spent the night together because she had to come in for a breakfast meeting.

  You didn’t spend the night together because you couldn’t handle the tension and it seemed like he didn’t care, either.

  The whole situation with Joe made her sad so she picked up the phone and dialed his number. If he was in bed . . . she smiled as she pictured him sleep-rumpled, unshaven and totally sexy. He’d love some naughty talk on the phone, even this early.

  It rang six times and Elyssa was about to hang up. Then a soft slurred feminine alto answered, “Hello?”

  When she got her voice back, Elyssa said, “I’m sorry, I must have the wrong number. I was looking for 965-2422.”

  “This is that number. Just a second. I’ll get Joe.”

  Stunned, Elyssa clasped the phone tightly. Her mind reeled with possibilities. There was a woman at Joe’s apartment at seven A.M.? A woman who’d obviously been asleep?

  In a few minutes—too long—Joe came on. “Hello.” He sounded sleepy and a little annoyed.

  “Joe?”

  “Lyss?” Immediately, his voice warmed. “Hi, sweetheart.”

  She said nothing.

  “How are you?” he asked.

  “Just peachy. Doesn’t it even bother you I caught you shacking up with another woman?”

  “Shacking up? Oh, you mean with Beth?”

  Ah, the beautiful Bethany.

  There was a pause. “Just a second.” He partially covered the mouthpiece. She heard his voice. And another. “Hmm. Thanks.” It sounded like he was sipping something.

  Elyssa’s heart turned over, the horrible picture of Joe’s ex-wife serving him coffee in bed flashing through her mind; she placed her hand on her chest to alleviate some of the pressure. As far as she knew, there’d been no one else for either of them since they met. A year ago today.

  “Isn’t the anniversary card—I don’t know—ridiculous?” she asked when he came back on the line.

  “Lyss, you—”

  “Never mind. I don’t want to hear your excuses. Goodbye, Joe.”

  Dropping the phone in its cradle, Elyssa stood, walked across her office to the window and stared out. She wouldn’t cry. She never cried. And she certainly wouldn’t shed a tear over a man who cheated on her. Looking out at the canal, she thought about a year ago today. . . .

  Highwire Industries allows people to fulfill their dreams. We give them the necessary capital, business experience and direction to do that. . . . We’ll work with you on your vision and business plan . . . it’ll take about two weeks of your time . . . What do you have to lose, Ms. Wentworth?

  Little did she know what she had to lose. Emotion crowded her throat, as she realized what she’d let happen. Why had she given her heart to him? Why had she let him become so important to her? Somewhere inside she’d known intuitively not to trust him so much. Why hadn’t she listened to her fears?

  She heard a buzz outside in the foyer. Her first meeting today was early, with a catered breakfast. In the last two months, Allheart had taken off and to keep the five employees motivated and employed here—they’d almost lost Alix to a competitor—nonvoting stocks in the company had been made available to Carole, Robyn, Alix and Dana. If there was a buyout, the women would be well rewarded for their efforts and their loyalty. Her company was healthier, more successful than she could ever have imagined.

  But not her personal life. She’d had clues that something was wrong, mainly Joe’s irrational behavior over Parker. But Elyssa had had no idea Joe was sleeping with other women.

  “Damn it, Robyn, how could you have forgotten that?” Elyssa snapped at her young assistant who, instead of tossing back a sassy remark, stared at her with wide green eyes. All of her staff had been working countless hours to keep up with the influx of business.

  “Elyssa.” Carole’s quiet voice penetrated her pique. Carole was often the voice of reason and had been a good friend to Elyssa. She looked like Sela Ward and had the heart of Mother Teresa.

  Her gaze swung to Carole. “What?”

  “You’ve been snapping at everybody all morning.”

  “I have?” She made eye contact with all three women and met Alix’s quiet, affirming gaze, Dana’s pretty half-smile of agreement. “Oh, God.” Burying her head in her hands, she couldn’t look at them. “I’m sorry. It’s . . . it’s . . . it’s everything. We’re up to our ears here. There’s even talk of a buyout; I—”

  Carole placed her hand on Elyssa’s arm. “Hey, we’ve had stresses at work before. You never took it out on us then. What’s going on?”

  At first, she balked at sharing such a personal thing with her employees. But they were more than coworkers. They were friends. They’d all trusted her with their love lives. Maybe it was time to do the same.

  “Joe sent me an Allheart card. Today is the one-year anniversary of the day we met. I called him at seven o’clock this morning and a woman answered. She obviously got him up. Pardon the pun.” Tears formed in her eyes. She sniffed them back. “Then she had the nerve to bring him coffee while he talked to me on the phone.”

  A stunned silence. Every woman in this room thought Joe was a prince.

  Finally, Robyn said, “I don’t believe it.”

  Elyssa glanced over her shoulder. “You think I’m making this up?”

  “No way. But m
aybe there’s some kind of misunderstanding.”

  Shaking her head, Elyssa stared out the window. “You’re young, Robyn. After a certain point there aren’t misunderstandings anymore. Just choices people make. And it looks like Joe’s chosen to be with someone else.”

  Dana said, “Things haven’t been good for a while, have they, E?”

  She shook her head. “Not really.”

  “Since Parker Quest came on board,” Alix added.

  Elyssa’s shoulders sagged. “Please don’t start on me about Parker. I get enough of that from Joe.”

  Dead silence behind her. She turned. They were all staring at her. Carole finally said, “Elyssa, this thing with Parker? You may not be seeing it clearly. The guy, well, he’s a cutie, and we all adore him, but . . .”

  “He’s got the hots for you, E,” Robyn blurted out. “Anybody can tell.”

  Elyssa thought about the way Parker touched her sometimes, casually and slightly, but somehow suggesting that they were more than business partners. And the way he complimented her about her clothes or her hair. She winced. Had she unconsciously encouraged his familiarity? “Even if that is true, I can’t control his feelings.” Again the stares. “Look, he’s taken the business in a direction it needed to go. I can’t fire him and I couldn’t have not hired him, just because he might be attracted to me.”

  “You spend a lot of time with him. Marc would easily be as jealous as Joe is,” Alix observed.

  “Why can’t you recognize this, Elyssa?” Dana asked. “It’s so unlike you.”

  “Recognize what?”

  “That you’re putting more distance between you and Joe each day. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s hardly around anymore.”

  “Are you spending any time with him outside of here?” Carole asked.

  She shook her head. “Not enough.” Several nights in the last month they’d not only slept apart, but hadn’t spent evenings together, missed their usual dinners. Had she even realized how their relationship was fraying at the edges? She buried her head in her hands again. “Oh, God. No, I didn’t see this coming.”

  Carole rose and came toward her. “It’s not too late. Call Joe.”