by Lola Gabriel
Andrew walked back inside.
“Girlfriend?”
“Excuse me?” Andrew asked, returning to his seat.
“Was that your girlfriend?” Tanya repeated boldly, pointing out the restaurant’s front window.
A scowl came over his face, before he shook his head and resumed eating. “Mind your business, and do your job,” Andrew growled, setting his fork down.
“Is it something I’ve done?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” He continued to stare at the food on his plate, leaving her feeling uneasy. She suddenly wished she were anywhere but there.
A part of her felt as if there was more to Andrew than the eye could see. It was as if he wanted this bad boy reputation to keep everyone away. Tanya had caught a glimpse of a very different person, but she perceived he didn’t want others to see the man behind the mask. Unfortunately, he had allowed her to sneak a peek of that persona, and now he wanted to push her away.
“You’re nice to everyone except me. For some reason, you always find a reason to be rude or dismissive towards me. I don’t know if it was the incident in the elevator on my first day, or the coffee spill, or when you rescued me, but you seem determined not to like me,” she huffed. “Then, you basically told me that I am not suited for the types of events you attend, as if you’re better than me.”
Andrew sat his fork on the table beside his plate, and continued chewing carefully and slowly, never removing his eyes from her face.
“Is that what you think?” he asked, when he had finished.
“That’s how you make me feel.”
Andrew pulled out his credit card and placed it in the folder the waiter had surreptitiously placed at the table.
“Look, someone like you doesn’t belong in my world. Don’t try to push into it.”
He really does feel like I am beneath him! Tanya felt more self-conscious than ever.
He spoke in a softer tone. “Look, it’s not that I don’t think you’re good enough. You have potential to do great things, and I would hate to see that potential go to waste. People aren’t always kind in my world.”
“Excuse me?” she wished she had never opened her mouth and blurted the truth.
Andrew casually tossed his arm over the back of his chair and eyed her closely. “Where do you see yourself five years from now, Tanya?”
Realizing he was waiting on her answer, she finally spoke up. “Okay, I would like to be a training and development manager. I think it’s important to invest in a company’s greatest resource, which is our human capital. I’d like to oversee initiatives that develop the company’s talent to—”
Andrew held his hand up to stop her mid-explanation, just as the waiter picked up the bill folder and walked away.
“Who do you want to be? As a person, I mean.”
She blinked rapidly a few times and thought deeply. “I…I…I’m not really sure. I just want people to respect me. I want to be surrounded by friends and family. I really want to make a difference in the lives of the people I know and those I don’t know. This might sound silly, but I’ve always been a giver, and I just want to hold onto that part of me. I want to make the world a better place.”
“Do you really believe you can accomplish that by constantly worrying about what someone else thinks of you? Do you think you can accomplish that by trying to be a part of the elite social circles? You can’t, so don’t worry about whether or not I like you. And, don’t worry about what other people think.”
“I’m not following you, Mr. Greene.”
“You’re a bright woman, Tanya. And please stop calling me, Mr. Greene, it’s Andrew. I admire your work ethic and your thirst for knowledge. But you’re too eager to please. You have to learn to be confident in yourself. You can’t be worried about whether or not people dislike you, or if they’re rude to you, or whatever they think. That’s their problem. If you don’t drop that self-doubting attitude, you won’t survive in New York for long.”
Tanya felt empty inside as she realized he would probably always dislike her. She still just did not understand why. Admitting to herself they would never have a good working relationship, she did not know if she could continue working for a boss who did not like her.
The waiter returned with the card and the receipt. Andrew placed his card in his wallet, and stood from the table.
“For the record, I don’t dislike you,” he said, before walking away from the table.
She grabbed her purse and coat and caught up with him at the front door, as he called his driver to pick them up.
“Then why do you constantly take offense whenever I’m around?”
Andrew reached out his hands and took hold of her upper arms.
“Because you make me question everything. You make me question my beliefs, my behaviors, everything I’ve done and become in the last few years.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Tanya urged, looking up into eyes that she realized for the first time were very similar to her hazel ones.
Andrew pressed his lips to her softly, and then more forcefully, backing her up against the wall of the restaurant. She returned his kiss hesitantly at first, and then as the heat claimed her, her kiss became more willing.
He slowly ran his fingers down her chest until they reached the top of her cleavage as he pressed her up against the wall a little more forcefully. Andrew reached his arm around her and lifted up the back of her blouse and placed his warm hand against the bare skin on her lower back. He pushed her forward slightly, closing the small gap between them. Tanya felt his erection pressed up against her, and unable to contain her pleasure, Tanya let out an unwilling sigh.
Abruptly, Andrew ended the kiss.
“One day, I’ll have you, and then everything will make sense. And that’s the day you’ll regret you met me.”
The black Range Rover pulled up, and Andrew jerked the door open, pushing her inside. “Take her where she needs to go. I’ll take a taxi,” Andrew advised, before turning to walk away.
Tanya turned in the back seat to watch his cocky and arrogant retreating steps. She still had not found her voice. She was shocked beyond measure.
“Where to, Miss?”
After a moment, she regained her voice and gave him the address to her sister’s building.
What was that all about, she wondered, pressing three fingers against her lips, recalling the feeling of his lips against hers. She sat back in her seat and savored the taste of him as she caught of whiff of his scent still on her blouse. She didn’t want to think about what he said, or that he was likely going to meet up with Tiffany and Lexie. The thought disgusted her and made Tanya regret accepting his advances.
5
Over the next few weeks, Tanya tried to ignore Andrew, but he kept finding obscure reasons to call him into her office, such as asking her opinion on paint color choices for his office or to give reports on her clients more often than necessary. Every time she met with him, he withheld smiles and spoke in a cold, direct tone. On several occasions, Tanya came out of Andrew’s office to find Veronica nearby, scowling at Tanya. Rebecca had also asked Tanya to provide reports on the private meetings with Andrew. She didn’t ask for, or even want, the private meetings with Andrew. Tanya felt uncomfortable, but continued to put forth her best effort in her work.
Much of her time was spent pulling together the final pieces of the Isabelle Manning campaign. She met the actress and her agent on a few occasions to understand the image they wanted to redeploy. Tanya had found turning Andrew’s image around to be a greater challenge than that of Ms. Manning’s. Since the scandal, Andrew’s image had started making its way onto multiple magazine covers and newspapers as a billionaire bad boy heartthrob. The stories were embarrassing for Andrew and an embarrassment to the company. With national attention being paid to his exploits, Andrew was careful to cut back on his attendance of social events and tried to stay away from the paparazzi.
On the other hand, people wanted to love
Isabella and forgive her of her past behaviors. They were not as forgiving of Andrew. The perception was that Andrew had taken advantage of Isabelle in a weak moment of her life. Tanya wasn’t completely convinced that belief was false after the way he kissed her and then proceeded to interact with her apathetically.
Tanya questioned why changing the public’s perception of Isabelle was so easy. It turned out that most people believed that Isabelle wasn’t very intelligent or sophisticated because she had become a star at such a young age. After meeting Isabelle, Tanya knew that was far from the truth. The woman was crafty and extremely smart. It turned out Isabelle was ready for a major change in her life. That had been Tanya’s launching point for the campaign.
Tanya used the media’s perception of Isabelle of being naïve and slightly foolish against them. This sweet, innocent woman wanted to work with underprivileged girls. She partnered with a local non-profit that specialized in career services and education readiness. Together they formed a partnership for youth, and the endeavor had overshadowed the previous headlines that linked Isabelle to Andrew.
That new campaign began to roll in donations for the cause and garnered positive media attention for Isabelle Manning.
The final strings of the Manning campaign had been tied up as the actress’s husband dropped the lawsuit, and Tanya was ready for a vacation. She had been working non-stop for the company since January. She often went to the office over the weekends if she wasn’t working at home. Sarah was not pleased with her sister’s workaholic ways. And apparently, neither was her company friend, Thad.
“Surely, you’re going to the company gala tonight,” Thad said, perched on the edge of Tanya’s desk.
“I really hadn’t planned on it. I need some time to finish a few pieces before taking a few days off, Thad,” she replied, saving a file on her computer before shutting it down.
“It’s the company’s annual anniversary celebration, which just happens to coincide with Valentine’s Day. I’m bringing a special someone, and I know whose arm you should be on,” he said, winking at her.
Tanya laughed looking up at him. “And who would that be?” She already knew the answer.
“Who else but the one and only Mr. Andrew Greene?” he teased with a sly smile.
“Are you kidding me? I would never—” but she couldn’t finish as Andrew appeared in the doorway.
“I’ll be seeing you at the party tonight, right?” asked Andrew. He tried to address the question to both Tanya and Thad, but he kept his eyes on Tanya.
Tanya looked at Thad, before turning back to Andrew.
Thad finally answered. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world. And we’ll be there with bells on, won’t we, Tanya?”
“Uh, sure.”
As soon as Andrew left the doorway, Tanya rushed to her door to close it. “Why’d you do that? I just told you I wasn’t going!” she whispered harshly, planting her fists on both hips.
“I didn’t hear you tell him that,” Thad cackled.
“You didn’t give me a chance! And I’m not going with him; he’s my boss for crying out loud. What would give you the impression that I would want to spend time with him?”
“Uh, maybe all the time you two have been spending together lately. And everyone seems to have forgotten about the Top Gossip cover. But, I’ll have you know that I haven’t forgotten.”
Tanya rolled her eyes at Thad’s insinuations.
“Look, I’m going to this party, but not because of Andrew. I’m going to show you I’m just another employee like everyone else, and the relationship my boss and I have is strictly professional.”
“Sweetie, you might want to convince yourself before you try to convince me,” Thad returned, hopping up from the desk and sashaying to the door.
He paused in the door. “One word of warning… Wrap your heart up, place it in a freezer, and don’t let him anywhere near it. I don’t want to have to pick up the shards of another diva’s heartache.”
Tanya growled before resting her forehead in the palm of her hands. She did want to go to the party, but not for the reasons she admitted. For some unexplained reason, she felt the need to be at the party. Now the committee had completed its task and Isabelle’s reputation had been saved, there was no other reason she and Andrew would need to spend any time together. Yet, she felt drawn to him.
I’m always drawn to the wrong men. Tanya shook her head and tried once again to convince herself that she didn’t want Andrew up against her every time she saw him.
“You are going to blow his mind!” Sarah said, jumping up and down. She had a date that evening, but she had taken the time to help Tanya get ready for the gala.
“Would you stop? This isn’t about him. I’m simply attending an event hosted by my company.”
“But he stopped by your office to personally invite you, and on Valentine’s day at that,” Sarah gushed.
“He did not! You are just like Thad. You two turn everything into a dramatic movie, and there’s nothing like that going on here.”
“Then tell me what it is then?” Sarah asked, crossing her arms over her chest and twisting her lips. “You forget that Andrew and I have a lot of friends in common. Everyone is asking about you and what is going on between you two.”
“I’m going to a company event, and I want to spend time with my coworkers,” Tanya replied unconvincingly.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she was over or underdressed. She hadn’t planned on going, but Sarah had a closet full of gowns, many of which had never been worn. Tanya chose a red, satin sheath gown a that complemented her skin tone. The modest V-neck that exposed her cleavage was studded with faux-diamonds, which matched her strapped stilettos.
Looking in the mirror she felt beautiful, but she couldn’t help but think back on Andrew’s words.
You have to learn to be confident in yourself.
She blew out a deep breath as she looked in the mirror again. Her hair was tied into a chignon on the side of her head. The sparkling diamond teardrop earrings glistened against the dark shadows of her dark brown hair.
In that moment, Tanya realized she had fallen hard for a man, who along with others, had warned her not to fall for him. She was dressing up to impress him.
“How can I be a fool twice?” Tanya asked her mirror image.
It was Sarah who responded. “You’re not a fool! If he doesn’t see what a wonderful woman you are, then he’s the fool. Just be careful. You know he’s not the relationship type.”
The look of concern in Sarah’s eyes tugged at Tanya’s heart. How could she tell her it was already too late?
“He’s my boss,” Tanya explained patiently as if to a little child. “Nothing’s going to happen,” she lied.
Sarah threw her arms around Tanya. “You’re beautiful, inside and out. Just relax and have fun.”
A knock at the door broke their embrace.
“Is that your date?” Tanya asked, blinking back the wetness framing her eyelashes.
“If it is, he’s too early, and he’ll have to wait another hour,” Sarah complained, stalking off towards the front of the apartment.
Tanya continued staring into the mirror. She knew why she was no longer confident. Brian was Tanya’s high school sweetheart, and the two dated throughout most of college. When Brian slept with Tanya’s best friend, it ruined her. He caused her to feel as if she weren’t pretty enough or even worthy of his love. Tanya thought her way through an inner pep talk. I am worthy of being loved. And if Andrew only wants to sleep with me, then he isn’t good enough for me either.
“Tanya?” she turned from the mirror to look at her sister’s mysterious smile.
“Yes?”
“Your chariot awaits,” Sarah said, motioning her hand towards the hallway.
“What are you talking about?”
“It seems as if the impressive Andrew Greene has sent his driver to escort you to the gala.”
Tanya grabbed her clutch and her wrap and rushe
d after her sister down the short hall. Standing at the front door was Andrew’s driver, who tipped his hat towards her.
“I’m here to escort you to Greener’s annual gala.”
Tanya’s eyes sparkled as she looked at her sister, and then turned to the driver who held a hand out to escort her to the Range Rover waiting downstairs.
“Ma’am, this is for you,” the driver stated, after pulling to a stop at the hotel’s front entrance.
She took the black and red masquerade mask he offered, and turned it over in her hands, before pulling it down over her face.
“I was told to inform you if you did not have one of your own, it would be provided for you.”
“I had no idea it was a masquerade ball.” The driver handed her his business card so she could call him when she was ready to go home. He opened the door for her, and Tanya followed the signs to the ballroom where the gala was taking place.
The red and silver decorations of the hotel’s ballroom were exquisite. Tanya gasped as she took in the beaded and sparkling décor. A chandelier candelabra hung from overhead providing romantic lighting. Glass vases holding elaborate floral arrangements were decorated with beads and silver masks on the front of each. It was as if the floral arrangements transformed the tables into works of art. Everywhere she looked, guests wore masks, transforming their identity.
How did I miss the part that this was supposed to be a masquerade ball? She should have read the invitation more closely.
Moving across the floor as if she were walking on water, Tanya found herself mesmerized by the scene. The guests were coworkers and affiliates of the company, yet, on this magical night, everyone was transformed by gorgeous gowns and tailored tuxes. She didn’t recognize anybody, so she wandered around for a while until she found an empty table.
A part of her wished Sarah were there to ease the discomfort away. Tanya wished she had gone with a date so she wasn’t wandering around alone. What if Andrew saw her? She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she didn’t care what Andrew thought.