His mom noted her determination to make the cake and said, “Welcome to our family, Vivi. I don’t recall welcoming you formally.”
Vivi opened her mouth to object but decided against it and simply replied, “Thank you.”
Chapter Nine
Terry Mcgallan wasted no time confronting his brother when they were in the privacy of their father’s office, “Why did you bring her here, Richard? You know how she feels about men of our status.”
“Let me worry about Vivi, Terry, stay out of my business.”
Terry stared at his brother, “Listen, I know you probably don’t want my advice on this but test the waters before you dive in, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Richard walked over to the bottle of wine his dad had retrieved, from the stock in his secret storage behind a rotating bookshelf. He poured some into his glass, “Don’t you think I’d know if she had something up her sleeves?”
“Okay…, I’d say we make the most of our time here by watching some sports and you can brief me on the recent merger,” their dad told them.
He turned on the television to a tennis match. Both of his kids loved the game and had even competed at the college level.
Just as the players rallied for game point, Abigail announced dinner was ready.
With a click of a button, Albert turned off the television.
“Dad,” Terry called out to him, obviously unhappy.
“Your mother called and we have to go, sons. You know I always do as she says.”
He heard the chuckled of his sons and said, “I’ll tell you my boys, it is the secret to a happy marriage.”
Richard thought about those words as they reached the dining room. He looked over at Vivi and his heart swelled with happiness.
Was it the kind of happiness his dad was referring to? Why was he even associating that remark with her when his father had been referring to what makes a happy marriage?
Vivi was aware that Terry continued staring at her with cagey suspicion as if she were a poisoned apple his brother had just seen. If it were in a court room, she’d bet he was about to unleash a shocker that would tip the case in his favor. She ignored him, choosing to enjoy the delicious meal and hospitality of her hosts.
“So Rich, mom tells me that she saw a kid who could pass for yours?” Terry asked.
“We are all aware that mom is quite ready to be a grandma.”
“But she said the kid was adopted so you might not want to rule out the possibility. You know mom is usually right when she has a hunch.”
“Yes, following up on my hunches were critical in helping me during my career as a lawyer,” his mother replied.
“Adoption could complicate any intent to file for custody should an absent parent even try, don’t you think.”
Richard took a sip of his wine, “If I had a kid who was given up for adoption, I’d use every resources possible to gain custody.”
“Not if the defense enlisted the expertise of a renowned lawyer like Elvira.”
He studied Vivi’s reaction then continued, “You still work pro bono on such cases, do you not, Elvira? And I understand you’ve never lost a case to date in your career?”
Vivi had silently listened to the conversation knowing that Terry had been building a case for this question. She didn’t want to get involved in the conversation because it was close to home.
What was Terry getting at? Was he trying to warn her off his brother with instigations that Richard might have a child out there? It should not matter to her since she was not really having an affair with his brother but it did. What if Terry was right? What if Richard had a child with another…? She stopped; she didn’t want to entertain such thoughts. Terry knew how to play his cards but she would not buckle down.
She smiled politely, “You are right Terry, I have never lost a case but each situation is different. And I will continue to work pro bono as long as it is not conflict of interest.”
Her phone rang and she reached for it, turning it off.
Richard was sitting next to her and saw Emmy’s picture on the screen.
He wanted to change the conversation that his brother was intended on continuing and what better way than to talk about the woman giving him sleepless nights?
“Was it Emeline?” He asked Vivi.
“Yes, I will call her back.”
Vivi looked over at Terry and saw the change that came over him, softening his once hostile expression. She knew she had to take a jab at him to turn the focus on him.
“Emmy tells me that you will be sending her over here to learn to use the new software, Terry?”
“I do not wish to discuss the financial department matters with you.”
“Just so you know, she’ll probably master that skill in no time and be ready to return to her fiancé by the next day.”
Emmy was extraordinarily brilliant and the most fun loving person Vivi had ever known. She was concerned that Terry had an ulterior motive for wanting to bring her to LA.
His jaw twitched at the mention of Emmy’s fiancé. It annoyed him that Vivi would bring up Ryan. He had not met him but he was no fan of Ryan.
“Who is Emmy?” Albert Mcgallan asked.
“Why don’t we have Terry answer that question, dad,” Richard challenged his brother.
“She is the granddaughter of Mr. Weisener,” Terry replied, trying to sound detached.
“I’ve seen a photo of her. She is absolutely gorgeous,” Abigail Mcgallan added.
“Who’s ready for dessert?” Megan asked coming to the rescue of her brother.
She rose to get the dessert from the kitchen.
“I’ll come with you,” Vivi followed her glad that she’d gotten her point across to Terry.
Richard took a slice of pineapple upside down cake, “Mmm…, this is absolutely delicious. It seems like you added something to it. What is the new ingredient, mom?”
“That is a secret,” his mother answered smiling.
She looked at Meggie and Vivi who were apparently amused at her response. Although Vivi was trying her utmost best to keep a straight face, she chuckled.
“Whatever it is, it’s good,” Richard replied.
“Do you prefer it to the previous recipe I have been using?” his mother asked him.
His father spoke before he could respond, “Don’t answer that question, son. Knowing your mom, I suspect it is a trick question.”
“I respect dad’s judgment on this so I’ll have to plead the fifth, mom.”
Meggie laughed, “You’d better because that cake was prepared especially for you by Vivi.”
“It’s for everyone, Vivi offered. “It’s the least I could do to contribute to such a gourmet meal.”
“Well, since you didn’t want to see him disappointed, I think you made it especially for him,” Megan countered.
Richard was looking at Vivi with such tenderness that she felt her heart skip around in a delightful dance. He reached over and covered her hand on the table.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
She nodded, unable to get her words out as his eyes caressed her in a way that only she could notice. Tearing her eyes away from him, she reached for her glass and sipped some wine.
He watched her drink the liquid, reminding himself that they were at the dinner table with his parents. He wanted to feed her a piece of the cake but not with his parents looking on. So he ate the cake on his plate instead.
Richard had informed the staff that they should not wait up for them but his butler had waited around until they arrived.
As they neared the stairway Richard said to Vivi, “You look tire. Would you like to take the elevators instead?”
Hoping to spend more time in his company, she opted for the stairs, “No the stairs are good.”
When they reached the stairs, he lifted her in his arms and carried her until he reached her room.
Vivi did not object. She leaned her head against his chest and just enjoyed
the moment.
At the door to her suite, he let her slid to her feet then his mouth captured hers in a kiss that was mind blowing and breath taking. Their lips engaged in a private conversation as their hands reeled in on the excitement.
How did he get her to let down her defenses of many years? Here she was in his world yet she did not feel like a stranger in it. What would he think if he found out about the secret that had haunted her for years?
Richard wanted to do more than stand before her door and kiss her. He felt her heart thudding or was it his own racing to meet hers? Was it even important whose heart it was? All he wanted was her response to his kisses.
Her moans were soft and inciting. She shivered as his firm and muscled torso sent warmth seething through her.
Was his mind playing tricks on him or did it seem like the smell of her fragrance was permeating the air around them? Was that evidence that she warmed up at his every touch.
His hand roamed over her and he pleaded hoarsely, “Invite me in Vivi, please?”
“I’m not ready for…you know…”
“Would you invite me in if I promise to wait until you are ready?”
Vivi did not understand. Hazel brown eyes stared at him, “If you will wait until I am ready then… why would you still want to come in?”
One large hand cupped her face. He wasn’t sure how they could spend the night either but he didn’t want to let her go. Not yet, so he replied, “Because I just want to hold you tonight.”
She wanted that as much as he did, “Then could you be my roommate for the night, Richard?
“It would be a dream come true,” he replied and holding her hand they stepped into her room.
Vivi stirred and snuggled closer inflaming Richard’s desire for her. He lay awake to her warm body spooned against him and her head cradled on his arm.
They were both fully dressed in the clothes they wore to dinner. He would not risk giving her a chance to change her mind so he’d just pulled her to the bed and into the crook of his arm. They had talked long into the night until she fell asleep.
The glow of the morning sunlight filtered through the window panels reminding him that it was far past the time he usually woke up. His wrist watch confirmed it was two hours past his wake up time.
He had made it through the night without doing more than talking. It was a historic first for him but given the choice of sleeping alone or simply lying next to Vivi, he would chose being cuddled with her.
An alarm clock went off and Vivi reached over for her phone then switched her position so that she was lying on her back.
She looked up at him and smiled, “Good morning.”
Had he ever seen a radiant smile so alluring or heard a greeting so heartwarming? Why did he feel like this was what he wanted to wake up to for the rest of his life?
He could tell that there was a well-kept secret she had yet to reveal. He hated secrets and was skeptical about women who kept them from him. So why did it not matter when it came to this woman? Didn’t he consider secret a game changer in his affairs? It seemed as if he was consistently modifying his rules to keep her in his life. Was it because he was falling for her?
He smiled at her then leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her lips as his hand reached up to cover one of her mounds, “Good morning, babe.”
She shivered at the endearment and put some distance between them, “I have to get ready.”
He raised a brow wondering why the hurry to get ready. As far as he was concerned on a Sunday there should be no rush to get out of bed.
“How far away is the nearest church?”
Okay, that was the reason for the rush. “It’s only about five minutes away.”
“Can Martin give me a ride there?”
“Certainly,” he replied getting off the bed to give her privacy.
He walked to the door, turned to her and said, “Thanks for a great night, Elvira. It was amazing.”
That compliment put a smile on her lips and she hummed as she did her morning care.
Chapter Ten
Vivi sat next to Richard in a comfortable sofa as they went over the legal papers for the new acquisition. He briefed her on his ideas for the new company and she listened attentively.
Later, he excused himself to call his grandparents, “They called me when we were in the church and I make it a priority to call them as soon as I get the chance.”
He continued to show her his soft side in little but sincere ways. He had even surprised her by accompanying her to the church.
When he had shown up at her suite to walk her to breakfast, he was dressed in a light blue designer long sleeves shirt and a tie with matching dark blue pants.
She’d hoped he was going with her to church but wasn’t quite sure until he took her hand and led her to the waiting car in his drive way. She had requested something simpler than a limousine so he had asked Martin to bring around his Maybach Mercedes Benz.
Now, she was touched that he prioritized talking to his grandparents over work, “Please go ahead and call them.”
At the sound of his voice, his grandmother came on, “Carl, look who finally decided to call back.”
“Sorry, about that grammy, I was in church when you called.”
“Church? You went to church? Carl, you need to hear this, Richard went to church today.”
He saw his grandfather come running over. He had made sure all his grandparents were set up on skype. By seeing them on skype, he could assure himself that they were fine. They relished their quiet life out of the limelight but he provided maximum security regardless.
His grandfather said, “Well let’s see, it is not Easter or Christmas and you are not visiting me so…”
“I took a friend to church.”
“You mean you took Elvira to church?”
He chuckled, “Do you know about Elvira?”
“Everyone knows about Elvira. She is having a good influence on you too, I can see that,” his grandmother said.
“Where is she anyway? Could we talk to her?”
“She is busy right now but I’ll see if she can spare a moment.”
Elvira had been focused on the documents before her, trying to block out the conversation going on few feet away from her. But when she heard Richard’s last comment, she put the papers away and stood up.
She did not want his grandparents to think she and Richard were having an affair but there was no harm in greeting them. So she stood up and walked over to where he sat skyping with them.
“Oh…there you are, Elvira. Meet my grandma and grandpa Mcgallan.”
“It is very nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Mcgallan.”
“You can call us gramps and grammy, my dear,” his grandmother said.
She turned towards Richard and asked, “Could I, Richard?”
He nodded, “Why not?”
“I like her already,” his grandfather said.
“Yes, she seems smart and polite,” replied his grandma.
“She is all that and pretty too. I’d say we are on the way to being great grandparents, don’t you think Betty?”
It was time to correct all the assumptions. She looked at Richard but he seemed to challenge her to argue about his grandparents’ speculations.
“Sorry to disappoint you but Richard and I are just…friends.”
“Yes, yes, we heard,” both grandparents responded.
At that moment his skype signaled another incoming call.
“Grammy, gramps, we have to go now. Gramps and grammy Anderson are on the line.”
Vivi sat at the conference table in the company’s head office and pointed out clauses and pointers of the proposed contract that needed renegotiations. She presented her arguments regarding the recommended changes and defended them convincingly.
She had spent the day before scrutinizing the papers and researching like she did when she prepared for a case. She barely noticed Richard who sat quietly, observing her make the case for her
suggestions.
He was glad he had called Vivi to look at the papers. He trusted his team of lawyers because he hired the best but she brought a fresh perspective to the negotiation table.
He admired her tenacity and appreciated her concern not only for the company but for the wellbeing of the employees. Now he understood why she had been as successful in her career as she was.
Her phone rang shortly and she got up, “I have to take this call. Be right back.”
When she walked back into the room he knew something was amiss. She appeared frightened and he saw her hands shake as she lifted up a stack of papers and passed them to the nearest corporate lawyer, “I highlighted some lines that you might want to recheck. I also wrote comments where necessary.”
She had earned the respect of the team and her colleague asked, “Why don’t you present them? It might have the most effect if the team heard it from you.”
“Sorry, I’ve got to go…family emergency,” she said by way of explanation to the group.
She sped out of the room unaware of the stare from the group around the table.
Richard hurried after her instructing his team leader to continue with the meeting and get back to him.
“Hold on, talk to me Elvira. What’s going on?”
She was busy on her phone, dialing airline numbers. “Can’t talk now, I have to find a flight back to San Francisco.”
Did she even realize that he deserved an explanation? Granted he’d asked her to come over mostly because he wanted to see her but it was only polite to explain why she had to leave in such a rush.
“You can take the jet.”
He punched numbers and issued instructions.
“You parents need your jet, Richard, I am calling an airline,” she responded as she was put on hold by the ticketing representative.
He held her hand and pulled her to the elevators, pushing the button for the lower floor. She was so upset that she just appeared to be forcing air into her lungs. He had to do something to calm her down.
He pulled her into his arms, “Whatever happened, it will be alright.”
A Masquerade Affair Page 7