As Erika situated herself once again behind her glass topped executive desk; images of the scene she had encountered only moments ago surfaced. Her mouth went dry and her stomach tightened as Ellie’s betrayal became clear. Ellie was the one person Erika had always felt she could trust. Of course, she had other friends, but Ellie had been special. Not in a million years would Erika have ever surmised that she would become intimate with her ex-fiancée. Before that moment, Ellie’s loyalty had never been questioned. She had been surprised by her attitude of late … but never dreamed she could be so devious.
Turning slightly, Erika stared with fascination at the outdoor courtyard seen through her large glass window. Studying those below, Erika wondered how life could go on when her world was falling apart. Not that she had any feelings left for Steve … but the fact that Ellie would consort with him … it was more than she could comprehend. It was like a knife … a dull knife constantly turning around and around in her stomach. What else had changed in her absence, she wondered, as a sinking feeling of dread settled over her.
As if on cue, Erika’s phone began buzzing. Unwilling to throw herself into the fray on the heels of that sickening scene in her office, she let it ring until a blessed silence once again fell over her office. There were stacks of memos, reports and correspondence that awaited her immediate attention. But they went untouched. An overnighted package with a yellow post-it-note that read Cromwell sat on top of her desk blotter. It was addressed to Ellie. She assumed it was the patent documentation she had been waiting for that would revolutionize their company, the industry at large and more importantly, fulfill her uncle’s dream. Not to mention, establishing herself as one of the top business leaders in the country. At the moment, it held little interest to her and sat unopened. Later she would wonder why it was addressed to Ellie instead of herself.
Reclining in her leather chair, Erika’s eyes traveled over her office as if she had never really seen it before. Accustomed as she was to its interior, she had failed to notice that some things had changed since she had first occupied this office. She squinted across the room at the French Provincial conference table. At its center was a floral arrangement Erika had never seen before. And one she didn’t particularly care for. Her eyes traveled to the textured wall above. A puzzled frown wrinkled her brow as she tried in vain to remember when she had replaced her degree certificates and merit awards with a costly still life painting.
Shaking her head slightly Erika decided that she had put off the inevitable long enough. Something had to be done in regard to Ellie. If the Crawford family and company information ever fell into the wrong hands, Capital and Crawford Industries could be vulnerable to a hostile takeover. A takeover her uncle was sure that Steve Caslin could engineer with the right documented information. The empire Lawrence had so carefully built could come crashing down around the heels of her secretary, whom Erika would have previously trusted with her life.
Erika would no longer protect Ellie from her uncle’s scrutiny. Something must be done quickly. Rising carefully, Erika retrieved the express package from Cromwell with the supposed documentation. It was no longer safe in her office. She must bring it to her uncle as quickly as possible. Holding her head high, she breezed past Ellie without acknowledgement, afraid that the pain of her betrayal would be evident, only serving to further humiliate Erika.
“Erika, you just had a call from that London museum a few minutes ago. They said it was imperative that they speak to you today,” she said professionally, as if the scene in Erika’s office had never happened.
Erika was surprised at the curator’s perseverance when she had decidedly told them she was no longer interested in their help. Dismayed that Ellie had to know anything more of her private life and uncomfortable with how to handle the situation she had created back at Priest Lake, Erika responded coolly, “Tell them I have just returned from vacation and can not possibly return their call this week.”
“Well, I think you are underestimating their resolve to talk to you,” Ellie replied unabashedly. “I could meet with them for you,” she offered.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Ellie,” Erika answered sarcastically. “You’ve never had a problem putting people off before. I expect you will do the same with them.”
Without a backward glance, Erika walked quickly down the secretarial aisle to the elevators at the end of the hallway. Many had witnessed Steve Caslin leaving Erika’s office. It was deathly silent as Erika gracefully made her way past the curious.
At the elevator, she quickly punched the upward arrow, hoping it wouldn’t keep her waiting long as she felt the intensity of inquisitive eyes boring into her back. Momentarily the doors swung open and Erika was relieved to find an empty elevator stall. If she could just make it to her uncle’s office without meeting anyone, she knew her confidence would return.
“I think Caslin trusts me now … or at least the millions I am offering him in return for the patent documentation the key that will unlock his future,” T.J. Morgan retorted snidely.
“Good. Good,” Lawrence replied absently. “I wonder what is keeping Erika,” he said once again.
T.J. sighed as he looked at his platinum watch as well. “I’ve got to get some money transferred if I’m going to finalize this deal tonight. I may just have to meet her later,” he said hurriedly.
“What time are you meeting him?” he asked impatiently.
“Eight o’clock at Roman’s.”
“Oh, that’s good. Best Italian food in L.A.,” he said. “Listen, T.J., I know you’ve had your doubts about Erika but I assume you have done your homework in that regard?” he questioned with knowing confidence.
“Yes, I have. I know you haven’t understood my reserve about her but I promised you that I would get to the bottom of this and that meant investigating her as well.”
“I’m glad that you did because she had nothing to hide. I trust her implicitly.”
“Actually, I’m sorry I won’t be here to meet her. I’ve heard nothing but glowing reports about her business prowess and evidently her kindness,” T.J. said somewhat ruefully, “to say nothing of her apparent beauty.”
“Evidently and apparently?” Lawrence questioned with amusement. “You do not have much fondness for women do you, boy.”
“I don’t usually care for heiresses, frankly. I find them somewhat … unpalatable,” he replied carefully.
Lawrence chuckled as he slowly shook his head from side to side. “What do your parents think of that, son?”
“It doesn’t matter what they think,” T.J. replied casually. “It only matters what I think.”
“As a member of one if not the wealthiest families in the world, I would think your choice of a mate would be a matter of the utmost concern to your family.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say it isn’t ‘of concern’”, T.J. said.
“Well, I guess this woman that you told me about is one lucky woman. I take it she isn’t … an heiress,” Lawrence said with amusement.
T.J. returned the delightful smile with one of his own. “To be honest, I don’t know her financial status and though I could be wrong … I don’t think she is a member of the … elite, so to speak.”
As Lawrence’s eyebrows raised, T.J. continued.
“In fact, confidentially speaking, and I trust this will never leave the room, she doesn’t know what my financial status is either. As soon as I wrap up this business with Caslin, I’m going back to tell her my feelings and to be honest with her about who and what I really am. I would have told her earlier but with the accident … it was impossible.”
“An accident, you say. That’s too bad. I hope she’s all right,” Lawrence said softly as his thoughts once again turned to Erika. Once again, he checked his watch. The gesture reminded T.J. that time was fleeting.
“If you were ever to meet my Erika, you would change your mind about heiresses,” Lawrence said suddenly.
T.J. smiled knowingly, confidant that he w
as very wrong. Not only did he hold heiresses in disdain from his first-hand encounters with them; he was particularly uninterested in Erika Crawford. He would never put a lot of stake in a woman who would consider marrying a man who plotted to bring down her family empire.
“Would you like to see a picture of her,” Lawrence was saying, drawing T.J. back into the conversation.
“Sure,” he answered with a shrug, not wanting in any way to offend a man he had a great deal of respect for.
Lawrence carefully made his way to the upper tier of his office to retrieve a photograph, beckoning T.J. to follow.
“Here it is,” Lawrence said smiling down at a large picture frame. “This is the one I love best. Her eyes,” he said making a hand gesture toward the picture. “She looks just like her mother,” he said while tears moistened his eyes.
Lawrence’s devotion to his niece was touching … it was also alarming.
“Lawrence,” T.J. remarked sharply. “You do remember that Erika is not to be told about my involvement with Caslin or about where my loyalties lie. At this point, it could ruin everything we have accomplished. You gave me your word that if we are to meet before this thing is done that you will allow her to question where my loyalties lie. If she discovers that Caslin and I might be working together. So be it. It is important to me that I know you remember that,” he said.
“Of course, T.J. Although as I’ve told you before, she knows that you are returning a favor and that you are investigating Caslin. I have much more at stake in this company than you do, Morgan,” he reminded sharply. “I appreciate your help, but I will decide who knows what. I just happen to agree with you for the moment. Now, come here. I want you to see this.”
T.J. made his way to the third level of the office suite and walked over to the side table where the portrait was displayed next to a few other family pictures.
Quickly he glanced at the photograph. “She is beautiful,” T.J. responded politely. “You can be very proud of her,” he said preparing to remove himself from Lawrence’s office. But something caught at his memory and then as if magnetized, his eyes were drawn back to the photograph of the beautiful woman with the elegant French twist. His eyes widened as they finally traveled to the brilliant blue orbs shinning back familiarly at him.
“No,” he breathed. “It couldn’t be,” he said almost to himself. His heart grieved as recognition shredded his reality. Astounded beyond belief, T.J. just stared at the photograph. A wrenching pain seared his heart. It was overwhelming. Denial surfaced as he told himself that the elegant woman could never be his Marie … his love.
In a flash, T.J. remembered her long brownish-black tendrils blowing in the wind. He remembered her smile of delight as the engine of his wooden racing boat roared with power. He remembered the eyes that told of her every emotion; of anger when they first met, of fear when she first arrived at the lake and of molten tenderness as they shared a first kiss. It just couldn’t be the same woman, he said softly. Life couldn’t be that cruel.
In the back of his mind, he heard a door opening. There was conversation … laughter even … but it was so far away. He couldn’t tear his eyes from the photograph … from this poignant moment when his world was collapsing.
And then, as if in a dream, a lilting voice drifted up two levels until its breathiness worked its way around his body and into his heart. Time seemed to stand still as he was slowly pulled to its source. And at that moment, as if drawn by the inevitability of two worlds colliding, Erika’s eyes slowly traveled upward to meet her tumultuous fate and his icy stare.
The room began to swirl as memories flooded her mind, propelling a mental journey from the tiny inland northwest airport to that fated green meadow littered with late blooming autumn flowers. So real was the memory that she could almost feel the breeze teasing her silky tendrils and smell the poignant fragrance of autumn. If only, she told herself, if only we could go back there.
And then out of the corner of her eye, she recognized her uncle’s confounded expression, threatening to boil into a full-fledged fire alarm as he inevitably sensed the emotional eruption in the room.
But just as quickly as Lawrence entered her consciousness, his presence evaporated. As did Crawford, and Los Angeles, and everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. Erika’s emotions propelled her forward, trying unwittingly to cover the distance that separated her from Tim and the reconciliation she knew was forthcoming.
“What are you doing here?” Erika asked in a breathy whisper as an unspeakable joy began to flood her soul. She thought she would feel anger over his betrayal after the accident. But she didn’t. She just wanted to be near him, hear his expected apology. And then his eyes finally sliced into her delusion, finally penetrating her consciousness, freezing her emotions. Bewilderment came first, followed by a stunning shock as reality of his utter hatred and anger registered, his ice-cold eyes savagely ripping her fragile heart into pieces. All the excuses she had made for him, all the hours of rationalization over his behavior came crashing around her.
The cold, unbelieving stare continued until she swore her bones had frozen from the frigidity of his body. The harsh silence ensued until T.J. felt the steely, rock-solid composure he was known for begin to replace his devastation.
“I suppose I could ask the same of you,” he almost spat.
“You two know each other?” Lawrence asked rhetorically.
“No,” T.J. responded quickly and concisely. “All I know is what I’ve read. Other than that, I don’t know her at all, Lawrence.”
Erika, wounded to the core, felt comfort in her anger that was now nearing a boiling point.
“And just how is it, Mr. Morgan, that you know my Uncle? Or did you finally realize what my net worth could do for you, how comfortable you could be. No more handyman jobs, no more house-sitting. Why,” she jeered. “you could have your own Bear Creek Lodge.”
“Erika!” her Uncle snapped, astounded and ashamed. “What has gotten in to you! T.J.,” he said turning toward the staircase, “she is very unlike herself. It must be the accident.”
“T.J.?” Erika questioned her uncle hesitantly. And then with dawning clarity, “T.J. … Morgan?” And without waiting for the confirming nod from Lawrence, Erika’s eyes flew to the man who had stolen her heart, a man she could never trust again. A man whose reputation of wealth and leisure appalled her.
And with mock civility, T.J. nodded, “The one and the same. And for the record, Erika, I have my own Bear Creek Lodge, one that you in all your garish new money could never recreate. But perhaps you knew it all along. Perhaps it was all a game to you. Need a little extra cash to bail out a failing investment? Or maybe just wanted to take the easy way out. Buy yourself some culture. If I didn’t know your uncle better than I do, I would guess this whole charade about a hostile takeover was just a ploy to use my influence and immense wealth.”
“T.J.,” Lawrence boomed. “That is enough! You will not speak to my niece this way. I thought you said you had never met her! No one treats her that way in my presence!”
“Maybe you need to become a little more acquainted with your niece and her habits, Lawrence,” T.J. retorted angrily. “Maybe you need to teach her a thing to two about honesty and ethics…”
“Honesty and ethics,” Erika screeched. “How dare you bring up such virtues to me of all people! You are angry with me because I was not completely honest with you about my identity when I had a reason, yet you were completely dishonest with me about who and what you were. I even gave you several opportunities and you chose not to tell me the truth!”
“And I didn’t give you any opportunities to tell the truth? You deliberately lied. You were dishonest and you used me and you used Maime and all the others. How dare you lecture me about honesty.”
“Lawrence,” T.J. said through an angry haze, “we need to think about this little arrangement we have. I’m not sure there is anything more that I can do for you. I’m sorry, I’m really sorry that your
niece had to spoil everything, that she couldn’t be just a little more like you.”
“T.J.” Lawrence answered civilly. “I want you to sit down here for just a few minutes.”
“Sorry, I have a plane to catch,” he said as he grabbed his briefcase and headed toward the door.
“T.J.,” Lawrence boomed, successfully gaining the younger man’s attention. “I am your elder and you will respect me or your parents will have a thing or two to say! Now you sit down here, and I mean it.”
T.J. fought for control. His jaw clenched like a ticking clock trying in vain to control the anger and disillusion he felt. His eyes were hazy from rage. Never had he felt so out of control. And now Bancroft was telling him what to do like an adolescent child. But, nonetheless, he unwittingly complied, a mere physical reaction to years of breeding.
Erika thrilled at T.J.’s obvious humiliation. He deserved that and so much more.
“Young lady, you sit here,” Lawrence snapped.
“If you don’t mind, Uncle Lawrence,” she petitioned. “I will remain here. I couldn’t stand to be near him.”
“You will do as I say!” he boomed.
“But…”
“No buts, Erika! I said you will sit, now!”
Shocked over his treatment of her, Erika quickly followed suit and soon was sitting far too near to the man she detested.
“I do not know what is going on here,” Lawrence said after a time. “You two are acting like children. And to think that I have put so much stock into each of you. You shame me and you anger me. Now, I don’t know what has transpired between the two or you and furthermore,” he said when each tried to be the first to explain, “I don’t care! What I do care about is that you two either resolve this here and now or you put your differences behind you and resume some semblance of professionalism. You both owe it to me!”
“T.J.,” Lawrence spoke sharply. “I expect to hear from you tomorrow morning or you’ll be hearing from my attorney. And from this moment on, you will never speak to my niece that way again. What goes on between the two of you will be done in private. No more outbursts. Am I understood?”
Whispers of the Heart Page 30