Conflict of Interest

by N. D. Jackson

  That scorching, soul-searing kiss that made her legs weak had replayed at least a dozen times already today. It occupied her thoughts on the short drive to the office, while she worked and in all the quiet moments she dared to think of something else. Each time she saw flashes of the way in which he grabbed hold of her womanly parts she grew angry at herself and her traitorous body for responding to him so eagerly. The time spent reliving that wonderfully glorious kiss could be better spent trying to stop KitchenMart from ruining her town. She had to stop them before they got the operation up and running or it would be too late. But, how?

  It was the how of the matter that allowed her to be so easily distracted by steamy kisses under the morning sun. After placing a half dozen joint orders for Shelia, Jacques and Paul for beer, wine, flour, eggs, silverware and flatware as well as other essentials for running a bar and restaurant, she cleared her desk and turned her focus to saving Mustang Prairie.

  The first order of business was coming up with ideas so she whipped out her trusty legal pad, one of hundreds she’d received from helping Joshua get his business started years ago. The spotted grey paper no longer haunted her or posed as a reminder of her failed attempt at love, but rather lessons learned a lifetime ago. It seemed those were lessons she was destined to repeat for yet another man too good looking and too charming by half.

  Back to Mustang Prairie, she chided herself.

  Looking down at what she’d had so far, she realized it was just the basics. Protesting wouldn’t work again especially after Noel’s place—her place—had been so thoroughly trashed. Besides the new building wasn’t fully staffed yet so it wouldn’t scare them or play on their conscience, as if they even have one. A benefit would be as good as giving up now since the money would only help business owners like Shelia and Paul until it was already too late. No, none of these old standbys would work because she needed to make the people aware. Aware of what they stood to lose in real terms, not just corporate hyperbole. That would have to be her first order of business, making not just the people of Mustang Prairie but of Upton and Shelby and Lincolnwood Village aware of just how dangerous this new KitchenMart venture would be for them all.

  An information campaign would be the first step and she would need fliers, posters and billboards to pass out to people on the street, place on windshields and storefronts. Then she would have to speak to the people in these towns at small business meetings, town hall meetings and even at the nearby University. Once they knew what was at stake she would move on to the next step in her plan, whatever it was.

  She opened up a graphic design program on her laptop and got to work. Designing fliers and posters allowed her to exercise her creativity a bit more than the typical business she conducted. Although maneuvering and reconfiguring ways to help business owners keep more money without sacrificing product quality was, in its own way creative, fliers and posters allowed her to show off her wit and expertise with words. She knew as she found the perfect phrase for the first flier that this plan would do definite damage to Noel’s career but she couldn’t think about that. Not now. Now she would put aside her own carnal needs and forget that searing kiss, if only she could, and focus on saving Mustang Prairie.

  She would succeed, she had to. The next Council Meeting was less than two months away and they were the only ones who could stop KitchenMart.

  But first she would have to get through the world’s most awkward dinner at home with Noel, and try to keep all her clothes on in the process.

  ##

  “Noel, my man, how is life down in Mustang Prairie?” Rich as usual was bursting with joy.

  Noel dropped his head into his hands. “Not too bad Rich, what’s up?” There had to be a reason for the call. He hadn’t spoken to Rich since he conned him into taking the position in Mustang Prairie.

  “Straight to the point as always, eh Noel?”

  Shaking his head, Noel sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Did you want something Rich, or is this just a social call?”

  Rich’s loud guffaw echoed in Noel’s head. “So I guess the rumors are true, then?”

  “What rumors?” Noel’s frustrated glare quickly transformed into a gritty scowl even though it had no effect on Rich over the phone.

  Still laughing, Rich couldn’t help but give his old friend a hard time. “I guess life in Mustang Prairie is agreeing with you.”

  “Rich, what rumors?” Noel’s temper was rising, “Stop joking dammit and just tell me about these rumors!”

  “Whoa man, calm down,” his laughter was finally fading. “I’ve just been hearing things.”

  “Like?” he prodded impatiently.

  “For starters that some local piece has your underwear all in a bunch,” he laughed again still unable to believe it. “Is it true?”

  Noel and Rich weren’t exactly friends even though they’ve known each other since they were kids. They were more like equals traveling in the same social circles. They certainly weren’t the type of friends who shared personal details beyond sexual conquests. “Rich,” he warned sternly.

  “Damn! I never thought the day would come when Noel Hampton, perpetual bachelor, would be twisted up over a woman.” He chuckled again, obviously still amused by Noel’s predicament. “So I guess you have a good reason to get off your ass and get this project off the ground?”

  Noel smacked his forehead with his hand, frustrated about the many setbacks he’d had today. Two entry level managers had sent their resignations by email first thing this morning. They’d found better offers in the city and had decided to take them, leaving him with two empty department head positions with no time to waste before the Grand Opening. He would send Amelia back to the University in hopes of quickly filling those positions so they could staff those departments without delaying the opening. If the positions were filled by the end of the week he could meet the two month deadline looming over him like a thick rain cloud ready to burst. “It’s not like that.” He ran his fingers through his already mussed waves.

  “Well whatever it is ‘like’ I hope she’s making you forget about your other problem.”

  “What would that be?” His frustration was mounting and Rich’s attempt at humor.

  Rich sighed heavily, his tone finally serious when he began. “I hear some hippies are making a big deal out of our opening in their neck of the woods.” He paused for a moment, “Is that true?”

  Noel let out a sigh of his own. “Yeah, it’s true. But it’s also completely under control. They’re just making noise so we know their unhappy.”

  “Let’s hope so, Noel. These small towns have been masterful at keeping our competitors out. Don’t let them do the same to us.”

  He knew Rich’s reputation was on the line as much as his since he’d recommended him for the job. “How do you propose I do that?”

  “You’re a salesman Noel. Do what you do best. Make them see how good this is for them, sell them on KitchenMart.”

  “Right.” He didn’t know how this day could possibly get any worse, but he knew it could. “Can you send me the projections and the research report for the Mustang Prairie proposal?”

  “Sure, why?”

  The hesitation in Rich’s voice gave him pause. There are more than a dozen different legitimate reasons he, as the Regional Manager, would have for wanting to see those numbers. The fact that Rich was now using his serious upper management voice made Noel even more eager to see those numbers. Please don’t let Shellie be right, please, he pleaded silently with the universe. “If I have to sell KitchenMart, I need some numbers to throw at the townsfolk, don’t I?” The smug charm oozing from him made him sick.

  “That’s what I want to hear!” Rich’s voice boomed, giving him a mental back slap. “I’ll have legal email you those numbers within the hour.

  Noel sighed, finally some progress today. “Great. Thanks Rich.”

  “No problem Noel. We have confidence that we’ll all be down in a few months for the Grand Opening. Don�
��t let us down.”

  “Of course not, Rich. Look I have a lot to do today, so--”

  “Sure, sure. Go make us all richer!” The bonus from this new location would buy him a villa in Tuscany. “Oh and Noel?”

  Exasperated, Noel breathed his response. “Yeah?”

  “Since you have a piece in Mustang Prairie, you don’t mind if I take a run at Eva do you? She’s been to the office a few times looking for you and I have to say she’s looking good enough to eat.”

  Noel rolled his eyes. He couldn’t believe that Rich was still the same egotistical, immature sloppy seconds taking guy he was in prep school and college. “Eva and I are over Rich, do your worst.”

  “You’re a good man, Noel!” He laughed greedily, “I’ll make sure those emails get to you ASAP and keep sending those weekly reports. Everything looks good and your plan is right on track. Life is good, bro.”

  Noel cringed. “Sure is. Talk to you later,” he hesitated to find a word that would appease Rich and end this call quickly. “Buddy. Thanks for everything, man. Later.” He disconnected the call and immediately rang Amelia. “In my office. Now!”

  Amelia shuffled into Noel’s office with her trusty notepad in one arm. “You rang?”

  “Are you keeping Corporate in the loop on Mustang Prairie?” He watched her closely for signs of betrayal but she stared him directly in the eyes and her speech was steady.

  “No.”

  “Then how does Rich know everything about Shellie, Amelia? Everything!”

  She shrugged. “I have no idea, really, I swear.”

  It didn’t make sense but he definitely knew more than he said. “Well he knew Amelia, about me and Shellie personally and the protest. He didn’t know both were Shellie, but he knew about them both.” He threw a pen on his desk with more force than was necessary and flung himself back into the chair, his shoulders drooping in defeat.

  “Doesn’t he have family in the area?”

  Noel looked up at her confused.

  “It’s a small town Noel. Remember how quickly our ‘affair’ spread? I couldn’t get a decent cup of coffee for more than a week afterwards!”

  He nodded in resignation. “Ok Amelia. Thanks, and sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it I would’ve asked me too,” she winked. “I’ll have Tam see what he can dig up around town.”

  His face lit up. “Great! Thanks.” He blew out a long breath and with it, the last few minutes of frustration. “It’s going to be a late night,” he warned.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  After an interminably long day Shellie packed up her bag and grabbed her purse before she locked up the office. She made a stop for wine and brandy because she was certain this night would require copious amounts of alcohol. With the day finished relatively early she had time to unwind with a long blistering hot bath and an oversized glass of wine. So much had happened in the last 72 hours that she was sorely in need of pampering and inebriation, both in large quantities.

  When she arrived home, more eager than ever for her bath, she kicked off her shoes near the door and quickly refrigerated the wine, making sure to grab a near empty bottle for her bath. The clock on the wall read 6:07, giving her about fifty minutes until Noel was due home. She dropped her laptop bag near the foot of the bed, just in case Noel ventured into her office looking for a pen or pad of paper. Popping in the bathroom to start drawing the bath, she ran back to the bedroom and shimmied her too binding grey pencil skirt over her hips and kicking it into the nearby clothes hamper. She peeled off the cream colored cardigan set and placed it into the dry cleaning pile. She was sick to death of these lifelessly colored business clothes. They were uncomfortable, they were uninspiring and most important they dampened her usually sunny disposition. She wanted to get rid of them all. Her dresses, by comparison, were colorful and comfortable and made her feel confident and ready to tackle the world and all of her problems. Tonight she would wear one of them to make her strong enough to withstand Noel’s irresistible masculine appeal.

  She pulled out a floor length cotton dress of cream, orange and brown. She didn’t often wear the dress because it was much too long for her but it was strapless and drew attention to her still tanned skin and freckles. If his handsome features and dazzling smile were going to wreak havoc on her nerves all night then he would have to suffer unfulfilled desire as well. She tossed the dress on her bed, grabbed her robe and added three different aromatherapy scents to the bath. Calming vanilla bubble bath, relaxing lavender bath oil and anti-anxiety jasmine bath salts all went in.

  With peppermint and vanilla candles burning, she slowly slid into the nearly full hot bath with the intention of forgetting work and Noel and her lonely solitary life. She wasn’t alone, of course she knew, there was always Alexis. But she knew her friend-- beautiful inside and out—would soon fine love and have the family she’d always wanted and leaving Shellie as she had been since Charlie. Focused on worked to the exclusion of all other things.

  She threw her head back, attempting unsuccessfully to relax. Her thoughts turned to the four fliers she had created today to keep Mustang Prairie and its economy strong. She was satisfied with the designs she created. They were smart and fun and to the point. Three of the fliers would circulate to those living in Mustang Prairie and surrounding towns and one would be dotted around the nearby college campus. Tomorrow they would go to the printers and she could begin implementing stage one.

  At least her plans for saving Mustang Prairie were progressing better than her relationship or whatever with Noel. No, she told herself, she would not think of that. They were having dinner tonight to talk and she could worry about it then. A look at the daisy clock on the wall told her she had about twenty minutes until Noel would be home so she drained the tub and finished her grooming and her wine.

  Thirty minutes later Shellie found herself nearly through a fresh bottle of wine and staring blankly at the television. Noel was just a few minutes late but she knew he would likely be much later. Her phone beeped. Alexis. “So?” She greeted enthusiastically.

  “So…nothing,” she said dejectedly.

  “Nothing? What do you mean nothing?”

  “I mean ‘nothing’,” she said slightly annoyed, “he’s not even here yet.” Saying it aloud made her realize that she had been stood up. In her own home, no less.

  “Well where the hell is he?” Alexis was getting upset.

  “My guess would be the office. He lives for that job.”

  “Did you call him?”

  Shellie shrugged even though she knew her friend couldn’t see the useless gesture. Calling would just make her feel more pathetic than she already felt. He probably forgot because he thought her so unforgettable when they weren’t alone or he’d chosen work over her. Like she always knew he would. “No Al, I didn’t call. It would be pointless.”

  “What do you mean pointless? He requested this meal!” Alexis was incredulous. She hoped Noel wasn’t playing games with her friend. If so she promised she would do more than ruin his precious career. I’ll ruin his pretty little face!

  “Even still,” she sighed and took a gulp of wine, “he isn’t here and he’s ninety minutes late.”

  “Oh Shellie I’m so sorry. What are you gonna do? Do you want me to come over?”

  “No I’ll be fine, Thanks Al.” She realized that while she was angry now she would be fine. “I’m going to cook dinner and get some work done.” She was angry with herself for allowing excitement to override her good judgment. There was no way this thing between them could work. Tonight was just another reminder.

  “You aren’t going to wait a bit longer?” She knew the answer, but felt somewhat responsible for encouraging her friend to pursue a relationship with Noel.

  Shellie sighed heavily. “Alexis it’s almost 8:30, he’s an hour and a half late. I may be pathetic and lonely but I still have some respect for myself.” No matter how ill-advised that respect may be at the moment, she thought to herself.


  She accepted that her friend wanted to be alone, even though it hurt her to see Shellie obviously in pain and trying to hide it. “Ok Shel, I’m here if you need me. If you want to vent or you need an alibi, I’m your girl!”

  Shellie chuckled half-heartedly. “Thanks Al, you really are the best.”

  “Anything for you, love! Bye.”

  “Later,” she said to a dead line and stood up. She grabbed the wine and her glass and went to the kitchen to make dinner. She knew her night would be just as long, if not longer, than her day. “At least I have wine and lamb,” she said bitterly into the empty kitchen.

  ##

  The clock on his computer screen taunted Noel. He looked down into the right hand corner after every line of the report was written, willing time to slow down so he could make it home in time for dinner with Shellie. He knew she would find it impossible to forgive him, but he really couldn’t leave tonight. These reports needed to get done if he wanted the money needed to get everything done. Getting a top notch chef to live and work in the middle of nowhere was next to impossible, but Amelia had it narrowed to two candidates but they required money. Big money.

  He glanced down again, 7:35. “Dammit,” he cursed. He should just call her now and let her know dinner would have to be rescheduled. But that would be admitting that he wasn’t going to make it, and that was something he was unprepared to do just yet. This was Amelia’s fault, he told himself. If she hadn’t snuck up to his place he wouldn’t have to work so hard to prove himself to Shellie and if she weren’t so damned ambitious he would have an assistant who could stay late to finish this report. He knew it wasn’t fair to blame Amelia for this. She had her own department to run and she was doing a fantastic job while performing double duty as his assistant.