A Masquerade Affair

by Elin Magdelene

  “I love you so very much,” he said hoarsely.

  Her hand caressed his face gently, “I love more.”

  Richard scooped her in his arms, “That is an argument you’ll have to defend for the rest of our lives, counselor.”

  “I’ll be obliged to,” she responded as she her hands encircled his neck.

  Key to Her Heart

  By

  Elin Magdalene

  Dedicated to all who dream big the American way

  May your dreams come true

  Chapter One

  Terrance Mcgallan glanced quickly at his wrist watch and stood up. There were still empty chairs but he assumed everyone who needed to be present was already in the room. They had trickled in gradually but were finally all there―hopefully. He walked over to the door and closed it decisively.

  “Okay, I believe we can start the meeting now.”

  Willie, one of the employees looked around the table, “Umm, I think Emeline is on her way. Perhaps we should wait on her.”

  “It is a minute past the time we should have begun. She can join us later. We will begin with the chief accountant’s presentation,” he dismissed the suggestion.

  The room was quiet as the employees stared at each other. He waited to hear from the chief accountant.

  “Actually, Emeline is the chief accountant,” one of the ladies responded.

  Before he could respond, he heard the clickety, click sound of a lady’s stilettos drawing near the closed door.

  He walked towards the door, hoping to stare down this chief accountant who presumably had no respect for time. He pulled open the door, totally unprepared for the beauty that greeted him with an unusual red hair.

  “Hi, sorry I’m late,” she apologized cheerfully as if it were no big deal that she was late for the meeting.

  She looked breathtakinly gorgeous. Am I awake? Terry wondered or did I just fall into a trance? He recovered smoothly but had she noticed his reaction? He hoped not.

  He’d seen many beautiful women but no one as stunning as this one so it was almost refreshing to just gaze upon her. He gawked into her sensual dreamy eyes, shaped like an almond. Those were the highlight of her face and her lips were as full as the carpel of a juicy, ripe orange. Were they as tasty as the fruit would be in full bloom? He realized he was staring so he stepped aside to let her into the room.

  She exuded warmth and energy. Suddenly, it seemed like a ray of sunshine had streamed through the open blinds making the room seem brighter and warmer. He heard the room come alive as he turned around.

  She chatted away greeting each person and apologizing to the group. She laughed as they chided her about her tardiness.

  “I apologize again. I promise to work on it.”

  “You will definitely need to if you want to work for Mcgallan Corporation.”

  That was the response from the man who had opened the door for her. The room became quiet again.

  Emeline turned her attention to the man speaking to her. Standing at about 6”9’ and a shoulder width nearly the length of her arm, he filled the room. No doubt, his suit was tailored especially for him. He was powerfully built with a dashing physique so that she found herself wondering if she should have waited a month longer before accepting Ryan’s proposal.

  She caught herself on the thought. Was she already having second thoughts about her engagement just because of a stranger? Granted there was no harm in appreciating a hunk but having second thoughts about one’s fiancé? That was not what a woman in love would do. She shook off the thought and opened her mouth to respond to him.

  “Actually, I work for my grandfather and he doesn’t mind if I am a minute or two late for a meeting.”

  “It’s more than a minute or two late and I hate to be the one to tell you but your grandfather just signed over his company to Mcgallan Corporations.”

  She didn’t believe him so she took out her phone and she speed dialed her grandfather. He had gone on vacation to the Caribbean but he always picked up her calls wherever he was. This time, the call went to his voicemail so she called again but got the voicemail a second time. She panicked, wondering if he was okay.

  Terry watched her attempt to call her grandfather. He went over to his seat, opened a folder and took it over to her. Emeline looked over the legal documents and noted that it had being signed that day.

  She still needed to know that her grandfather was okay so she excused herself, “I need to make a call.”

  “You’ve already wasted enough time making calls. I need to see the financial report and I’m sure my secretary communicated with you the urgency of this request.”

  “I need to know that my grandfather is alright. This has nothing to do with doubting you or these documents. He always takes my call so this is a first for me. I will be back as soon as I know he is good. Please excuse me for a minute.”

  Emmy did not care that under the circumstances she could get fired for insubordination. She was concerned about her grandfather not her job. After all he was the only family she had and it was unlike him to ignore her call. In fact he would stop in the middle of negotiations to take her call.

  Her mood change could be compared to dark clouds hovering over the sun on a sunny day. Terry couldn’t explain what may have influenced his next action except to tell himself that he needed to get on with the meeting. He picked up his phone and dialed Howard’s number. The older man answered the call on the first ring.

  “Howard, someone would like to talk to you.”

  Terry handed her the phone and was pleased with the relieve that overcame her. He couldn’t suppress the joy that tugged at his heart when he realized he’d done something she appreciated.

  “Pops, are up okay?” I was worried sick and would have taken the next flight if you had not responded.”

  She listened to him then responded, “We have to talk but I will call later. Make sure to answer your phone or I’ll be there on the next flight and will not return without you.”

  She hung up minutes later and murmured thanks as she gave Terry his phone. Then the perkiness was back in her voice and all about her.

  He looked at his watch and noted that he had spent nearly ten minutes trying to mollify Emeline Weisener. He knew he would go out of his way to see her light up the room any day and it bothered him. Why should he care that she was spoiled rotten?

  Emeline wasted no time but went up to present the report requested. It was the best presentation he’d seen a chief accountant make. She responded knowledgably to the questions asked providing detailed information.

  Terry was glad that the meeting had gone well besides the setback with Emeline at the beginning. He still had one matter to take care of. He wanted her to know he expected nothing less than hard work and efficacy from his employees.

  He would be her immediate supervisor so he wanted to establish some guidelines without necessarily spelling it out. Besides her report was so clean that he had to check beyond the three years point to identify any flaws which may have been covered.

  As was her entrance, she was the last employee to exit the room which was fine by him this time around. Before she could leave the room he stopped her, Ms. Weisener, may I have a hard copy of the monthly reports from the last five years, please?

  “You can’t possibly mean the monthly report from the last five years?”

  “Yes, I mean exactly that. Will that be a problem for you?” He challenged her, holding her gaze.

  She shrugged, “No, I was just asking to make sure I understood you right.”

  There was the sound of the keyboard clicking then the printer in the conference room began to spit out papers.

  “Well, there go the reports you requested. Do you want me to stable them together as well?”

  “No, thanks.”

  Emmy went to the printer and stood waiting for the papers so that she could take them to Terry. She thought watching the papers fall out of the printer was better than sitting at the table wit
h him.

  Terry felt he could wait for the papers and she could get on with her work so he walked over to the printer.

  “I can get them…”

  She had not heard him come up behind her until he spoke. Startled she jumped, falling into his arms as she turned around.

  Emmy stared into the most amazing large brown eyes she’d ever seen. He held her gently but firmly and his eyes roamed over her. Strangely, she felt as if she belonged in his arms. It was a thought that frightened her yet she made no attempt to extricate herself. She’d never felt this way in Ryan’s arm. Was it wrong to feel this way in another man’s arms?

  Why did he smell so good as if he’d just showered minute ago? The aroma of lavender with sandalwood and another spice filled her nose. It emphasized his masculinity and heightened sensual awareness. She could not resist the thought of these powerful arms tenderly exploring her body.

  Terry held on to Emeline, feeling proprietary for the first time in his life. It was mind boggling for him since he did not know her. She was soft, excitingly warm, and admirably glamorous for his comfort. Who was this woman and why was she having such effect on him?

  He never lacked the attention of beautiful women but it was more than her beauty that attracted him. Her mouth was inches away from his. He was tempted to have a taste of her lips. Didn’t he have a no-employee policy for his relationships? Why was he not thinking of that policy now? He thought as he let her go.

  “Sorry, but I’m engaged,” he heard her say raising her left hand to show him when she was out of his arms.

  Did she just remember her engagement now, when she’d seemed willing to remain in his arms earlier? How had he not noticed the ring on her left finger? Was it because he had been so busy admiring her captivating beauty or was it because he did not want to see it?

  “How convenient that you just remembered that commitment.”

  She stepped away from him and went to get her computer and notepad then she walked to the door. At the door she stood for a while then walked back to where he stood arranging the papers he’d taken out of the printer.

  “Here, you might need this,” she told him, holding out a key.

  Terry held out his hand and she placed the key in his hand. The key had a heart-shaped bow. He stared at the key.

  “What do I need this for?”

  “It is the key to a room in the basement of this building where I keep the hard copies of invoices since I began working here. You might need that while you conduct an audit on the financial reports.”

  She walked away leaving him to stare after her disappearing radiance. He gave her a one-over noting the killer stilettos she was wearing. He felt the heels were unreasonably high for comfort but she appeared comfortable walking in them. Her legs did justice to the stilettos but even more enthralling was her tantalizing feminine curves.