by Zena Wynn
Years of protecting Uriah’s secrets froze my tongue, and all I could do was nod instead of shouting, “He’s a damned liar!”
“Uriah said he’d give me a week to allow you to complete any unfinished projects but after that, he really wants you by his side. I don’t blame him. Imagine, after all these years of bachelorhood, not only is he marrying but the two of you are expecting. Congratulations! It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving couple.” Henderson positively beamed at me, as though he were responsible for bringing the two of us together.
I remained silent, all but choking on my fury.
“Go ahead. Get out of here. If you decide to take off a little early, I’ll pretend not to notice.” He winked.
Forcing myself to unlock my gritted jaw, I said, “Thank you, sir, for being so understanding.”
As I left Henderson’s office, my hand’s clenched into fists. I could barely think through the red haze of fury. Wait until I got my hands on Uriah Baine. The man was fast becoming the bane of my existence.
Chapter Four
Uriah
The door slammed with a force that rattled the windows. I looked up to see an avenging angel standing in my office. Maze’s eyes blazed with emotion, and I swore I saw sparks of energy crackling in the air around her. She pointed one trembling finger at me. “You....You...!”
I set my pen down on the paperwork I’d been reviewing and gazed at her with deep fascination. Over the years I’d known her, I’d seen Maze in many moods but never apoplectic. Hoping to be helpful, I asked, “I...what?”
“You...YOU...!” Her hand shook violently and she heaved in deep breaths between flared nostrils.
Grinning, I said, “Sweetheart, we’ve already established that it’s me.”
“You...got...me...fired!” she roared.
Inwardly wincing, I reached up and rubbed an ear. The woman had a set of lungs on her. “You no longer need Henderson. You have me.”
Fists clenched by her sides, she glared at me through narrowed eyes as her body literally vibrated. I waited for her to fly at me, fists pummeling as she vented her fury. “I...hate...you!”
I reclined in my chair and gave it a little push so it rocked. “I love you. You’re my heart.”
Tears leaked from her eyes and as I watched, her face crumpled. Tears sprang from her eyes and she folded in on herself as she sank to her knees. Alarmed, I jumped up, skirted the desk, and rushed to her side to clutch her by her shoulders. “Maze!”
Maze thumped me weakly on the chest with her fists. “Why are you doing this to me? This isn’t a game. This is my life you’re toying with.”
The sobs made her words hard to comprehend but I got the gist. I pulled her into my arms and rocked with her. “I know it’s not a game. I’m miserable without you. I bought us a house, and the baby a puppy. By the time she’s born, the mongrel should be house trained. Every child needs a dog. They can grow up together.”
Sniffling, she dried her cheeks on my shirt before gazing up at me. “You can’t be serious.”
I stroked her hair out of her face. “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
“Why now? Why not a year ago when it would have mattered? I have a plan, damn it, and it doesn’t include you,” she muttered.
“A dating agency and artificial insemination?” I scoffed. “As if I’d let that happen. We belong together. If you’ll stop being so stubborn, you’ll acknowledge it’s true. You understand me better than anyone else in the world. Together, we make a great team.”
Maze pushed away from me and though I didn’t want to, I released her. She rose gracefully to her feet and walked to the desk where I kept a box of tissues. After blowing her nose and drying her face, she turned to me. I stood, waiting to see what would happen next. I’d laid my heart bare. The ball was in her court.
"I'm not working for you,” she insisted.
Sliding my hands into my pants pockets, I shrugged. “Okay. I make enough money for you to be a stay at home mom, if that’s what you want to do. Might be nice, though I’d rather have you by my side.”
Shaking her head, she slumped against my desk, balling the tissues in her fist. “I don’t know how to deal with you when you’re like this.”
I crossed to stand in front of her and engulfed her fists in my hands. “It’s easy. Say yes, Maze. Marry me and let’s spend the rest of our lives together.”
Maze searched my face, trying to see into me to the truth. I tried to be as open as possible but it wasn’t something I did well. Finally, she sighed. “I wish I could believe you.”
I gave her my shark grin. It’s not like I planned to give her a choice. “You will.”
She tugged her hands free and crossed her hands over her chest. “Thanks to you, I no longer have a job, right when I need medical insurance the most. I don’t have time to search for another. Even if I found one today, I’d have to get past the probation period before benefits would kick in. You’d probably get me fired from it, too,” Maze muttered, glaring at me.
“I would.” With money came power and I had no compunctions about using both to get what I wanted.
She heaved a longsuffering sigh. “Fine. I’ll be here Monday morning. I want my benefits reinstated with no waiting period and a raise—ten percent. I now have a family to support.” Her expression dared me to argue.
“Deal.” If Maze demanded I take my heart out of my chest and stomp on it, I’d do it. More money in her paycheck was nothing. Besides, the woman had a screw loose if she thought I’d allow my child to go without.
We stared at each other in silence. I wanted to kiss her, hold her, lay her body beneath mine and renew our acquaintance with each other. My cock was hard, and my heart beat so heavily it’s a wonder she didn’t hear it.
She took another deep breath and broke our staring contest. “I’ll see you Monday.”
Lowering her head, she scooted around me and headed for the door. I spoke when her hand was on the doorknob. “Maze, I don’t know why you’re afraid to admit it, but I know you love me, too. You told me so that night.”
Maze glanced over her shoulder, her gaze solemn. “I don’t remember. Even if I did, I was drunk and therefore not responsible for my actions.”
Turning, she left me without further comment. I stared at the empty space where she’d been. Did she truly not remember our night together? Or was she just being ornery, refusing to admit what we both knew to be true?
I pulled the ring box that I carried with me at all times out of my pocket. Opening the box, I stared at the solitaire diamond engagement ring I’d purchased for Maze over two months ago. “If you’ve forgotten what amounted to one of the best nights of my life, I’ll just have to trigger your memory.”
Walking over to the window, I gaze down at the parking lot. Maze exited the building and strode to her car. Never once did she look back or up. I remembered the day we met. She’d done the same thing then.
My business had taken off. It had grown to the point where my social life had become intertwined with my business one. In the business world, once you reached a certain level, business deals and connections were just as likely to be made during social events as in the boardroom. There was no way my secretary could keep up with both calendars. I needed a personal assistant to keep me on track, remind me of engagements, and keep me from double-booking myself.
Maze had been one of twenty applicants who’d applied for the position. Most were business majors, hoping to use my success as a means of launching their careers. Already I had gained the reputation as being one of the best—the man to watch. They had ambitions of riding my coattails to the top.
She’d been different. Only twenty-three years of age and already her resume was two pages long. Her record of employers was many and diverse. She’d been a health care worker, secretary, receptionist, call center representative, collections agency rep, substitute teacher, and cook. Education-wise, she had an associate degree in Humanities and certificate degrees
in bartending, culinary, and computers.
Unlike the other candidates who’d worn business suits, she’d come into the office wearing a plain dress shirt and slacks. Her hair had been pulled back into a no nonsense bun and she wore sensible flats. No makeup graced her face.
I dispensed with the pleasantries and then got down to business, motioning to the resume. “This is quite a list. On average, you switch jobs every six to eight months. If I hire you, what guarantee do I have that you’ll stick around?”
She stared me straight in the eyes. “How long I stay depends entirely on you. I have a low boredom threshold. Are you a boring person?”
Leaning back in my chair, I examined her. All of the other candidates had given me speeches as to why they should be the person chosen for the job. This woman had just challenged me to prove the job was worthy of her time and effort. “Is that what happened with these others?”
Maze shrugged one shoulder. I noticed she’d crossed her legs and her foot swung back and forth, as though she had nervous energy to burn. “They began well enough. Then they became tedious.”
“And the schooling? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such diverse fields of study,” I said.
“I like to learn.” Abruptly, she stood. “Look, thank you for your time, but it’s obvious I’m not what you’re looking for.”
I pointed at her. “Sit down. The interview isn’t over.”
Staring like I’d suddenly sprouted a second head, she sat perched on the edge of her chair.
I glanced down at the paper in front of me. “It says here you’ve been an Uber driver and part-time bartender for the last two years. Why?” These were the two outliers. No matter what other jobs she’d bounced in and out of, these remained consistent.
“Uber allows me to set my own hours. I never know who I’ll meet or where they’ll have me drive them. Bartending is the same. I work events—weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthday parties, reunions—you name it. I like people. I like that no two events are the same. Can I go now?”
“No.” I began to understand how Maze’s mind worked. She’d never be content to sit at a desk, plugging away at the same job for twenty years. Her brain wasn’t wired that way. I was the same. It was the secret to my success. “Why did you apply for this job?”
“The money. It’s more than I make doing the other two put together.”
“And?”
For the first time she floundered and the underlying hint of defiance disappeared. I saw the vulnerable woman it hid. Maze had come in, knowing she wasn’t qualified and had little hope of being selected, but still she’d tried.
“I think I’d be a good fit,” she said.
“Why?”
She spread her hands wide. “Precisely because I’ve had so many jobs. I’m a jack of all trades. If you need a secretary to take notes, I have experience. Need someone to take phone messages or run interference, I can do it. Having a business party and need someone to supervise the staff? I’m trained. I’ve been a professional driver for two years, which means I can chauffer you to meetings. If you get sick, I’m CPR and First Aid certified.”
I stared at her for long minutes, and she resolutely held my gaze. Maze didn’t intimidate easily. Good. It was a quality she’d need working for me. “You’ll need to sign a confidentiality agreement. Since you’ll be privy to confidential information, it’s nonnegotiable. I work long hours, which means you’ll work the same. I hope you have a passport because I travel frequently and expect you to be with me. You’ll be my right hand. Where I go, you go. If I’m up, you’re up unless I say otherwise. Use this weekend to kiss your boyfriend goodbye and tell him to get used to your being gone.”
Maze had blinked at me, her stunned eyes uncomprehending. “I got the job?”
“Report here Monday morning at seven. Bring lunch. Something quick but filling that you can eat on the run. I rarely stop long enough to eat. Stop by Human Resources on your way out and complete the necessary paperwork. Now, you can leave,” I said dismissively.
She’d stood, gazed around like a woman in a daze, and quietly left my office without another word or second glance.
I knew my Maze better than she realized. I’d figured out long ago that she suffered with a mild case of Attention Deficit Disorder. She was a good, dedicated employee, as all of the glowing references had stated. Unfortunately, it took a lot to hold and keep her attention.
Maze was a creature of habit. It was how she’d taught herself to cope. She tracked everything on her calendar: personal and business. She logged appointments and used the calendar functions to remind her of things to do, bills to pay, what she ate, when and how she exercised, and even her menstrual cycles. Because of her short attention span, she was compulsive about tracking details on her calendar.
The first thing I’d done after hiring her was to give her a company phone. I linked phones, giving Maze permission to access my documents, spreadsheets, and most importantly, my calendar. She could add, delete, and edit appointments to keep me on task. I could do the same with hers.
Maze still had the phone. Had likely forgotten that she didn’t own it since it had been years since I’d forced her to upgrade it. The last thing I intended to do was let her go, so I hadn’t mentioned the phone when she’d turned in her badge. Human Resources believed it had been given to me.
For ten years, I’d managed to keep Maze’s mind engaged, her boredom at bay, and her tethered to my side. God willing, I’d do the same for another fifty. Only this time instead of the boss, I’ll be her husband.
Chapter Five
Maze
A little before seven on Monday morning, I turned into the parking lot of Baine’s corporate headquarters. At this hour, there were very few cars. Most of the employees arrived between eight and nine. I spotted Uriah’s vehicle, and cars belonging to the Information Technologies Department and Security.
I collected my small box of personal items and strode into the building, barely resisting the urge to skip. Though I’d never admit it to Uri, I was so damned happy to have my old job again. It had been ages since I’d been on an airplane, ridden in a helicopter, or eaten in an expensive restaurant. With Henderson, I’d gotten my desire for straight work hours but had lost all of the perks that came with working for Uriah. The main one being Uri himself.
The hallways and elevators were empty. When the doors opened, I stepped inside and placed my hand on the palm reader. Only a limited number of people had access to the top floor where Uriah’s office was located. Even while I worked for Henderson, Uri had never denied me access.
The elevator rose and deposited me on the executive floor. I walked to my old office, pushed open the door, and switched on the light. The room was completely empty. There wasn’t a stray stick of furniture, nor a lone piece of office equipment.
I set down my box and marched to Uri’s office. His secretary hadn’t arrived and wouldn’t for another hour or so. Barging in without knocking, I flung open the door and stepped inside. “Where’s the furniture? My office is empty.”
My feet stuck to the floor as I gaped in amazement. Over the weekend, Uri’s office had undergone a transformation. Instead of occupying the center of the room, Uri’s desk now sat to the left near the bank of windows. A small seating area with a couch occupied the center, and the elegant workstation from my old office was situated on the right near the bathroom. My desk was covered with several large bouquets of flowers in oversized crystal vases.
“Good morning, sweetheart. Hope you got plenty of rest this weekend. Have you eaten? Would you like a cup of coffee? I have your favorite,” he said, glancing up from his laptop.
The blue dress shirt he wore was unbuttoned at the neck and the tie loosened. He already had his sleeves rolled up on his forearms, which indicated he’d been here hard at work for over an hour. Uri’s thick, beautiful hair flopped onto his forehead, giving him a boyish charm.
The combined scents of coffee, air freshener and flowers hit my nostrils an
d my stomach rebelled. Or maybe the stars in the sky aligned and my body took exception. Whatever the case, I clamped a hand over my mouth and dashed into the restroom. The meager contents of my stomach erupted as I hung over the toilet.
Uri entered the bathroom on my heels, wet a wash cloth, and pressed the cool material to the nape of my neck. With his other hand he supported me around my waist. I leaned against him, too weak to be self-conscious.
“What triggered it? The coffee? The flowers? I knew I’d gone overboard. Smells like a florist shop in here, doesn’t it? Should have bought plants instead. Does this happen frequently?” he asked, his words almost too fast for me to follow.
“First time.” I indicated the need to rinse my mouth and he assisted. Reaching into the medicine cabinet, he pulled out a travel size bottle of mouthwash and handed it to me.
As soon as I finished, Uri swept me up into his arms and carried me into his office, placing me on the couch. “Lie still. I had your office furniture moved in here with mine so that I could be close in case something like this happened.”
Though the smells were still intense, this time my stomach didn’t react. My body still trembled with weakness but suddenly, my appetite kicked in with a vengeance. I pushed up to my elbows. “I feel better now. I don’t think it was anything in here that triggered it. I probably should have skipped my morning coffee.”
“Don’t move,” he ordered. Uriah walked away and returned with a bottle of ginger ale and a pack of crackers. “Drink the soda and nibble on these. They’re supposed to settle your stomach. If you manage to keep this down, I’ll call the chef and have him prepare breakfast.”
“What chef? You think he’ll make a cheeseburger?” I asked.