by Ella Brooke
“It’s on par with competitive prices for similar products, and no one seems to be complaining about it being too much. They like having an option, and they’re excited about the new products SI is offering.”
I glanced at Doug. He nodded at me, smiling. He had been telling me to push up prices for months now, telling me my stubbornness would sink the company. He had been right in some ways, but pushing up prices this way was what I had wanted. This was how I wanted to treat loyal customers.
“Give me numbers,” I said to Stan to wrap up the meeting.
“Our projections indicate that in as little as three months we can quadruple our turnaround. It’s all hypothetical, of course, but I don’t see how this is going to fail.”
“Quadruple?” I asked, incredulous. I had never imagined it could go this far.
“Four hundred percent,” Stan confirmed. “And that’s assuming that we lose a quarter of our client base.”
I frowned. “Why would we lose them?”
“No one likes change. There will be consumers that are unhappy, but we can afford the loss.”
I wasn’t happy to hear it, but Stan was right. In any instance, there would be customers that didn’t like where we were going. But if we could make it work despite the loss, it was terrific news. It looked like we were going to make it, after all.
When the meeting adjourned, Doug came to me.
“I’m proud of you,” he said. “It’s fabulous work, and it looks like this is going to turn everything around. Well done.”
I smiled and shook the hand Doug offered. “Thanks, man,” I said. “But this wasn’t me. It was all Elena.”
Dough raised his eyebrows. “Really? Looks like she’s more involved than I thought.”
“I asked for advice, and she gave it to me,” I said. Elena deserved to be acknowledged for what she had done for the company.
Doug didn’t seem very happy about it, but he didn’t say anything. He clapped me on the back, and we left the boardroom where the meeting had been held.
When I was back in my office, I called Elena in. She hadn’t been in the meeting, but I wanted to share the news with her. She deserved to know how well her idea was working. She deserved to know that she had effectively saved my company.
When she walked into the office, Elena took my breath away. She wore a red and black power dress suit with low heels and pulled-back hair. Her eyes were a spring green and he wore natural makeup that made her beauty stand out more than anything else she had done with her hair and makeup before. Or maybe I was becoming more and more biased.
“How did it go?” Elena asked when she sat down opposite me. I fought the urge to walk around my desk and sit down next to her. I wanted to be close to her. But the last time I had done that we had ended up having sex. It was safer to keep the desk between us.
“It was amazing,” I said with a smile. “I called you in because I wanted you to know how well everything went. You gave us an idea that saved the company, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”
Elena blushed lightly, and I smiled. I loved it when she blushed. It brought her features out even more, and it was like a breath of fresh air. So many women were used to compliments, expecting them, demanding them, that her surprise at my compliments was wonderful every time.
I explained what had happened in the meeting, relaying the numbers to her. When she heard how things had gone with the survey, she was as surprised as I had been about it.
“I can’t believe the surveys went that well,” she said. “I never imagined it would be that good.”
“You and me both, sweetheart.”
When I said the pet name, it hung in the air between us. I wasn’t sure where we stood, we hadn’t labeled anything, so the pet name was a risk.
“Lilly is asking about you,” I said, changing the topic to fill the loaded silence that had developed between us.
“How nice to hear,” Elena said and she was being serious. Her smile was real. She liked that Lilly was asking about her.
“I was hoping, if it's not too much, that you would join us for dinner tonight,” I said. I looked at Elena. I wanted her to come over again. I liked how Lilly was around her, and I loved that she was so good with my daughter. But most of all, I wanted to spend time with her away from work, where I didn’t have to worry about anyone watching us or that we should be working instead of talking about other things.
“Tonight,” Elena said.
“It’s short notice so if it doesn’t work, let me know,” I said.
Elena shook her head. “Not at all. I didn’t have specific plans. I’d love to join you.”
She left my office shortly after that to wrap up the day’s work, and I sat back in my chair, thinking about how things had evolved with Elena. When I’d met her in the first interview, something about her had told me that I needed to have her as my assistant. I wanted to see more of her, to work with her at my side. I hadn’t known what it was then, but her looks had played a significant part.
Now, she was so much more than that. She was still drop dead gorgeous, of course, but she was also a stunning person. She was beautiful inside and out. She was sharp, clear-headed and intelligent, and I enjoyed spending my time with her, whether we were talking about work, about personal business, or about nothing at all. Not to mention she was sexy as hell.
But that wasn’t the half of what I found attractive about her. Everything about her was amazing.
Before I left, Doug stopped by my office.
“I saw the memo about the reveal date,” he said. “I think it’s working out nicely. They’re very happy.”
I nodded. ‘They are. And naturally, that makes me very happy. For the first time in a long time, I can relax about the company, despite how hard we have to work to make this happen.”
“Being busy is always good,” Doug said, and I agreed. Being busy meant the money was rolling in.
“I want to push Elena up in the company,” I said. “After her creativity with these ideas, Elena deserves to showcase her talent.”
Doug nodded slowly. I couldn’t tell what he thought, his face was carefully blank.
“Why don’t you talk to HR about it?” he asked. “It might be good to get her out from underneath your feet.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Doug shook his head. “I mean that someone like Elena could be a temptation, and that could ruin the company. So it would be better to put her somewhere she won’t make you think of other things than the business.”
I swallowed. If only Doug knew.
“Well, I’ll talk to HR about it,” I said, not answering him directly. I started packing up my things to leave. “And I’ll see you in the morning. We have a lot to cover.”
Doug nodded and took his leave. I let out a long breath. I had to be very careful with Elena. Doug was sharp, and I didn’t want to cause trouble.
But we could figure it out.
Chapter Fourteen
Elena
I arrived at Noah’s house when the sun was setting and parked the car in my usual spot. The front door opened, and I leaned over to the passenger side to collect the plate of cookies I had brought with me. When I opened my car door, it wasn’t Noah coming out to greet me, but Lillian.
“Hello, Lilly,” I said, smiling. She came right up to me, wriggling her way into my arms for a hug, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “You look like you feel a lot better than when I last saw you.”
“I’m all better, now,” Lilian said. “What did you bring?” She looked at the plate of cookies.
I handed it to her. “Do you want to take it inside for me?” I asked. “It’s for dessert.”
Lillian nodded and ran inside with the cookies, passing Noah who held the front door.
“Careful with that, pumpkin,” he said. “Don’t drop it.”
Lillian called something over her shoulder that we both missed, and Noah shrugged at me.
“You’re spoiling her,” he said.
I
shook my head and walked to him. “I can’t arrive empty-handed. It’s for all of us.”
Noah chuckled and pulled me into a hug. I hadn’t known how much physical contact was appropriate, but he had gone ahead and taken the lead. I was relieved about that.
“She seems much better,” I said.
Noah nodded. “She is. She still has a stuffy nose that I’m struggling to get rid of, but she’s back to her energetic self. It’s a relief.”
I could tell it had been hard on Noah when Lillian had been sick, and I was happy for his sake that it was over.
“She’s happy to see you,” Noah added.
“I think it’s because I always bring something,” I said.
Noah shook his head. “I don’t think so. I mean, she likes it that you bring things, but she’s never like this with strangers.”
“I’m not exactly a stranger anymore.
“No, you’re not,” Noah said, letting me walk into the house first. “But she was never shy and closed off with you, even when you were. I thought it was the food you brought, too, but she asks about you. It’s rare for her to do that.”
I smiled. “Well, I take that as a compliment. I don’t often spend time with children, so I don’t quite know how to act.”
Noah looked surprised. “Really?” he asked. “It doesn’t show. You’re a natural with her. You don’t act like someone that doesn’t have a lot of experience with children.”
“Well,” I said, trying not to act like it was anything more than a straightforward compliment even when I wanted it to be more, “you don’t act like you’re a single dad, either. You’re way too relaxed and cool.”
Noah laughed outright at that. “Thanks. We’ll see if she agrees once she’s a teenager.”
Dinner was delicious and beautiful. We sat down in the dining room around a dark wood table that had chairs for ten. Noah’s place was made for hosting parties although I doubted he did much of that. The dining room was tastefully decorated with grayscale photos blown up so the subjects were life size. Luscious plants filled the corners. The drapes were light, fitting in with everything else.
We ate chicken and roast vegetables with a side salad.
“Do you cook?” I asked Noah when we were halfway through the meal.
“I try,” he said.
“It doesn’t work,” Lilly piped up, and I laughed.
“Well, that’s not very nice,” I said.
Noah shook his head, looking embarrassed.
“Since it’s just the two of us, I get food when Diane doesn’t prepare a meal.”
“Diane?” I asked.
“She’s my nanny,” Lilly said. “She can cook, and she plays with me. She takes me to school, too.”
I nodded. For a moment, I had felt dread when he’d talked about Diane. We weren’t exclusive at all, but I had felt a pang of jealousy when I hadn’t known who she was. I still felt unsure about it. Knowing that he had another woman around, even if she was only a nanny, made we wonder what I was doing. He could very well be with her if he wanted to, couldn’t he? He owed me nothing, and I couldn’t make demands on his time or his affection. Maybe we had to change that, talk about it. But what if that pushed him away? I would rather sleep with him and play happy family like this as if it was all normal than not have him at all.
“Elena,” Lilly said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Can we have the cookies now?”
I realized Lillian had finished her food. I looked at Noah. He was her dad, after all.
“Did you eat all your veggies?” Noah asked.
Lilly looked at her plate, eyeing the broccoli floret that was staring back at her.
“What happens if I don’t?” she asked.
Noah shook his head. “No cookies.”
Lilly sighed and put the floret in her mouth, making a terrible face while she chewed. I tried not to laugh. There were no kids in my family – I was one of the youngest of all the cousins – and my friends were only getting married now, but I loved children. I loved how full of life they were and how they never expected the worst or asked what if to everything. It made them so naïve and so pure.
When the broccoli was done, Lillian jumped up to fetch the cookies.
“I made those,” I said to her.
“Really?” Noah asked, surprised.
I nodded. “My mom always insisted we make them ourselves, and they’re so much better than store-bought cookies if you do it right.”
“How did you do it?” Lilly asked, biting into one.
“I think I’ll have to come over and show you how, some time,” I said.
Lilly nodded excitedly, still chewing. I glanced at Noah who was grinning at us, watching the conversation unfold.
When dinner was over, and Lillian had had way too many biscuits, it was time for bed. Noah sent her to put on her pajamas and brush her teeth before we walked with her to tuck her in for the night.
I stood at the door, watching Noah with his daughter. He kneeled at her bed and asked her what she was going to dream about so she wouldn’t have nightmares.
“Making cookies with Elena,” she said, and I smiled.
“That sounds like fun,” Noah said and kissed Lillian on her hair before we left the room, pulling the door shut.
“I enjoyed dinner tonight,” I said when we were in the living room each with a cup of coffee. “Lillian is a pleasure.”
“I’m still surprised at how comfortable she is around you. Lilly is often very shy. She doesn’t like strangers, and she doesn’t say much unless she’s forced to. With you, she’s a different child.”
I felt the same about Noah and Lilly, although I didn’t mention it. I felt comfortable in their home, able to open up, although I didn’t usually, and able to be myself. Maybe it was that some people fit better than others and there were no two ways about it.
“Does she miss her mother?” I asked.
Noah glanced up at me. I was suddenly unsure if I should have asked that.
“If it’s not an impertinent question,” I added. I knew that Lilly’s mother had left, but that was it.
Noah shook his head, and he looked so sad I felt terrible for asking. “There’s nothing wrong with you being curious about her, seeing what we are.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I started, but he shook his head.
“I know. But I’m not going to pretend that she’s not a question mark hanging between us. You’re spending time with her daughter, after all. Cheryl. That was her name. And Lilly doesn’t miss her because she was too young to know her mother before Cheryl left. I am grateful for it every day.”
I was burning with curiosity, but I didn’t want to push Noah. If he wanted to tell me more, he would. Otherwise, it wasn’t my business. No matter how much I wanted to know. Noah took a deep breath, and his face changed as if he wasn’t talking to me anymore as much as recalling the events for himself.
“She wasn’t a bad mother, initially. We were happy. Or at least, I thought we were. I guess we couldn’t have been that happy because she started looking for satisfaction somewhere else.”
“An affair?” I asked, ready to hate the woman.
“God, that would have been simpler,” Noah said. “No, she fell into drugs. It started off small, something that only happened now and then. She claimed she could control it. We all have our fun, she would say. We all do it in different ways. Well, her way took over.”
He took a deep, shaky breath.
“You don’t have to share this with me if it's too hard,” I said.
Noah shook his head. “No, I think you deserve to know. Besides, I like talking to you.” He smiled at me, a genuine smile that disappeared as quickly as it had come.
“It didn’t take long before I had to fight for a space in her life, for her to pay attention to Lilly at all. We got a divorce because she had conveniently decided it was easier to tap out. She hadn’t even made an effort to be at the custody hearing. I was there all alone, so I got full custody of Lill
y. I haven’t heard from Cheryl since. Her family cut me off as if it was my fault. Lilly doesn’t see Cheryl’s parents at all.”
“That’s horrible,” I said. My heart broke for this man. He had been through so much, and he didn’t deserve any of it. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he said, and his smile was genuine again. “I am happy, and Lilly is doing well. It’s better this way, so she doesn’t have heartache about a mother that’s never around. I am a grownup. I can heal.”
I understood what he was saying, but it was still awful to hear. I couldn’t believe someone could do that to their husband and child. Divorces happened often, but for a mother to walk away from her daughter? I didn’t understand it. I wasn’t a mother ,and I would never be able to do it. How much worse would it be if I had given birth?
“Thank you for telling me,” I said. I knew it had to have been hard for Noah to share it with me. But it allowed me to understand him more, to know what he was going through. It was a big deal that he had let me into his life and introduced me to Lilly. I appreciated it now.
The topic changed, and we talked about happier things. Before I knew it, it was midnight.
“I have to get going before my coach turns into a pumpkin again,” I said.
Noah chuckled, and we walked to the door. “You’ll stay a princess no matter what happens to your ride.”
I stepped out into the night air and headed toward my car. Noah walked with me. I opened my door. Noah stepped closer so that I was trapped between him and the car but I liked being this close to him. He kissed me, and this time it was filled with so much more than merely attraction, or lust. What we had been running on before. This time there was trust and understanding and it meant something different.
“Goodnight, Elena,” Noah said in a husky voice when he finally broke the kiss.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said and got into my car.
Chapter Fifteen
Noah
When I arrived in my office on Friday morning, I had urgent messages from my investors. They had given me two weeks to prove myself to them, but they wanted proof that something was happening. They were running out of patience with me, and I understood why. I hadn’t given them a lot to work with, and they were putting a lot of money into the business.