Little White Lies

by R. C. Matthews

  “May I ask what is so urgent that you need to speak to him now?” she asked.

  “Confidential business,” Madalyn said.

  “I’m sorry, but it is impossible. His schedule simply does not permit it.”

  “Perhaps you should inform him who is calling and let him decide?”

  “No,” Ms. Burke said. “He made it clear he wasn’t to be disturbed. However, you may speak to him this afternoon. Or would you like to leave him a message on his voicemail?”

  “No, thank you,” Madalyn said and hung up.

  Leave him a voicemail. Yeah, right. Hi Royce, it’s Madalyn. How’re you doing? Call me! Well, at least she now knew he planned to be at the meeting in the afternoon.

  Madalyn searched through the presentation from the company she had received with the agenda and found what she was looking for on the last page: contact information. There was his email address: royce.spencer@innovare.com. If she couldn’t get a hold of him by telephone, then email was the next best choice. She could only hope he checked it regularly.

  Royce Spencer

  From: Madalyn Russell

  Subject: Kick-off Meeting

  Dear Royce,

  I’m in town. I started a new job with Bristol & Bristol and have been assigned to work on your company’s IPO. I’d love to talk to you in advance of the meeting. Please call me at your convenience.

  Madalyn Russell

  Bristol & Bristol

  (313) 555-8000 x255

  She would keep her fingers crossed and leave the rest to fate and her lucky shoes. She looked down and clicked her heels three times for good measure. There’s no place like home!

  • • •

  When Madalyn and Jerry entered the boardroom, they were escorted to a set of chairs on the far right side of the large mahogany table, which commanded the center of the room. She looked around to satisfy her extreme curiosity about Royce’s business.

  The boardroom was very old school and masculine with sixteen brown leather chairs placed comfortably around the massive table. The large screen on the far wall promised state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities. Rich caramel colored wallpaper with matching plush carpet gave a cozy backdrop. A contemporary area rug with a deep burgundy and emerald green pattern covered a large section of the floor; it was a nice contrast to the otherwise traditional decor. Madalyn was enchanted by the mahogany wood ceiling panels, which artfully framed the enormous dome-shaped light resting in the middle. She didn’t recall ever seeing anything like it. Wall sconces in sets of two at various spots throughout the room offered soft lighting for a warm and intimate setting. A single wall of windows provided a breathtaking view of Windsor across the Detroit River.

  She pulled out a few of her business cards from her purse and introduced herself to the others already seated at the table. It was the usual crowd: the lawyers, the accountants and the underwriters. After exchanging a few words with them she made her way over to the sidebar to get a cup of coffee. She longed for a Sprite, thinking that it might help settle her stomach. Why did she feel like it was the first day of junior high school again? Probably because Royce hadn’t responded to her email; she wasn’t even sure if he had looked at it.

  She gazed around the room and hoped something might unexpectedly prevent Royce from joining the meeting. Or maybe as the CEO, he might delegate the meeting to the Chief Financial Officer. It sounded like he was having a busy day when she spoke with his secretary earlier. On the other hand, this was the kick-off meeting of a major undertaking for his family business and it would be customary for him to make an appearance and introduce himself. She looked down at her watch. The meeting was scheduled to start in a few minutes, so she headed in the direction of her seat.

  On her way back, she was arrested by an arrangement of nine framed pictures. The display was stunning and she wondered that she hadn’t noticed it earlier. Her eyes were drawn to the centerpiece, which contained beautifully arranged wild lavender flowers. There was a detailed description of the medicinal properties written in script below the picture; Lavandula angustifolia is a strongly aromatic shrub growing as high as 1 to 2 meters. Lavender essential oil is beneficial in a variety of conditions, including insomnia, stress, anxiety and postoperative pain.

  In fact, she saw now that every frame held a different type of flower, each with a description of the medicinal properties. She shook her head and smiled, remembering the Lavender Lady in St. Croix. It all made sense! No wonder Royce knew so much about flowers. Apparently, he had been telling the truth about his brother being a pharmacist. He hadn’t exactly lied about his own job either. You never probed!

  Madalyn sat down and prepared her notepad and pen.

  “Did you bring copies of the agenda and presentation they sent us?” Jerry asked.

  “Yes,” she said and retrieved them from her briefcase, placing a copy in front of him.

  “Thanks,” he said. “Take thorough notes.”

  “Of course.” she said.

  At one o’clock sharp, the door at the far end of the boardroom opened and four executives entered the room, taking their seats at the opposite end of the table from her. Royce wasn’t one of them. She exhaled a deep, long breath. What a relief. There was no doubt that she was anxious to see him again, but perhaps it would be better if they met the first time in private. She should have insisted on speaking with him.

  A tall redhead dressed in a light gray pantsuit with a pale blue silk top stood at the head of the table to address the group. Based on the small crinkles at the corners of her eyes when she smiled, Madalyn guessed her age to be somewhere in the mid-forties.

  “Welcome,” she greeted everyone. “I’m Stacy Williams, the CFO of Innovare Incorporated.”

  Madalyn felt proud of Royce for hiring a female CFO, though it didn’t entirely surprise her. He had been so complimentary of her career during the cruise.

  “I’ve been with the company for the past four years in this role,” she said with a smile. “I appreciate everyone’s timely arrival. We have a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time. As this is our kick-off meeting, I thought we’d begin by going around the table and introducing ourselves. We’ll be spending a lot of time together in the coming weeks.” She took a seat at the far corner of the table and nodded to the man directly to her left to begin.

  “Good afternoon,” he said. “I’m Andrew Moore, the corporate controller.” He was young, but exuded confidence.

  The door opened in a flourish and Royce walked briskly into the room. He was concentrating on his iPad screen, followed closely by his assistant. Ms. Burke was lovely. Madalyn felt a momentary pang of jealousy, but she quickly shook it off. His assistant placed a notepad, pen and his coffee at the head of the table then turned to leave the room. Royce was deep in thought.

  Her memory did not do him justice. He looked fabulous in his dark suit, crisp white shirt, and red and silver patterned tie. She could see his five o’clock shadow making an early appearance. Her heart thundered in her chest like a torrential down pour. Holy shit, this was a bad idea. What was she thinking? Had he read her email? No, he couldn’t have. Otherwise, he would have called her or looked for her when he entered, wouldn’t he?

  Royce took his seat and briefly looked up at the CFO. “I apologize for being late,” he said. “Please continue. I’m listening.”

  Madalyn’s palms were sweating as one by one the accountants made their introductions. Was he going to recognize her voice? It struck her that there were only four females present out of twelve participants, one each from the executives, accountants, lawyers and underwriters. This did not bode well. Her voice would surely stand out. She was grateful that her introduction followed that of the female accountant. It might be her saving grace. Royce appeared deep in his own thoughts. With any luck, he had tuned everyone out.

  “Good afternoon,” Madalyn said with her eyes trained on Royce.

  His head shot up and she was confronted with blazing emerald green eyes. She
stared brazenly back at him, exuding more confidence than she felt. Her belly tingled. She could recall the feel of his strong arms around her, holding her close to him. Speak, Madalyn! She cleared her throat.

  “I’m Madalyn Russell, an associate with Bristol & Bristol. I just recently moved back to the Detroit area. It’s a pleasure to be here today.” She tried to gauge his reaction. Was that shock registered on his face? She wasn’t sure. But it hadn’t been so bad. Her voice had barely trembled.

  When Jerry began his introduction, Royce turned and leaned over to the CFO. He was furiously whispering to her and she shrugged her shoulders, seemingly unable to answer his questions. Madalyn turned to Jerry, a bit confused, but Jerry simply continued. Within minutes the underwriters were done and turned the floor over to Royce.

  Royce grabbed the ends of the table and spoke to the group while making eye contact with the various parties in the room.

  “I’m Royce Spencer, the CEO of Innovare Incorporated.” His voice was that deep rich baritone she remembered. But he looked so serious and professional in this setting. Gone was Tony Manero. “I appreciate your attendance at this meeting and look forward to working with all of you in the coming months. Each one of you is here because you are the best at what you do.”

  He paused a moment and looked down. When he resumed, his eyes bore into hers. “We embark today on a short, but important journey. It was the express wish of my father to take this company public and I’m proud to stand here today to take the first steps toward an IPO.”

  He was awesome to behold—so tall, eloquent and confident. Madalyn felt mesmerized.

  “I know—and you know—that there will be long hours ahead of us,” he said with an apologetic smile, his gaze moving on to the accountants. “I want to thank you in advance for your commitment to this journey. Believe me when I say it means everything to me.” He paused another moment, allowing the sincerity of his message to sink in.

  “But now I must apologize,” Royce said. “There is a last minute change to my schedule. Please continue. I leave you in the capable hands of Ms. Williams.”

  He wasn’t staying. Madalyn had survived their first encounter! Could her unexpected presence have anything to do with the last minute change in his schedule? Perhaps it was too uncomfortable for him? She sincerely hoped not. Knowing how important this transaction was to Royce, she would hate to have caused him discomfort. When Royce stood to leave, he looked directly at Madalyn. And she had her answer.

  “Miss Russell, I’d like to have a word with you in private,” he commanded in a tone that did not brook opposition. “Now!”

  Oh crap!

  • • •

  Royce stalked out of the boardroom leaving Madalyn to scramble behind him. Every set of eyes stared at her in abject shock. Her boss looked horrified. How was she going to explain this?

  What had she been thinking? She should have talked to Royce first. She should have told her boss. Madalyn suddenly wondered if this was how Charles felt when she left him standing at the altar. It served her right. She shrugged her shoulders and held her head high. Collecting her purse, she followed the path Royce took out of the boardroom.

  He waited silently for her on the other side of the door and refused to look her in the eyes. The second she arrived he walked down the hallway in long, purposeful strides. She felt like an errant schoolgirl sulking at the principal’s heels. They made the short walk to what she presumed was his office. It must be the executive suite, she could tell by the expensive paintings lining the wall—Hessam Abrishami originals if she wasn’t mistaken. He had exquisite taste, of course.

  Royce ushered Madalyn through an office door then closed and locked it. Damn! His office was huge. Nice view, too. Her mind wandered back to their first meeting over drinks. “I help run my family business.” What an understatement!

  He stood there for a moment with his back to her. Madalyn had never seen Royce so rigid. She had an odd feeling he was trying to gain control of himself. This was not a good start. She gazed around the room, wringing her hands, and waited for him to say something. Did he expect her to talk first? He finally took a deep breath, ran his right hand through his hair and then turned to face her with stone cold emerald eyes. He was furious.

  “What the HELL are you doing here?” he hissed at her in a cold, venomous tone. Madalyn had the distinct impression he wanted to shout at her, but was trying to control the level of his voice. Perhaps this wasn’t a conversation he wanted to broadcast. She hoped the walls were thick because he looked like he was going to lose the battle.

  He glared at her waiting for a response. But Madalyn was dumbstruck. Their first meeting wasn’t supposed to happen this way. She had imagined their first meeting over and over again last night. Yet in all of her imaginings, never once had she dreamed he would be furious with her. What should she say?

  She decided to go for the obvious answer. “I’m here to work on your company’s IPO, Royce.” She gave him a radiant smile, hoping it would deflect some of his anger. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

  “Madalyn, don’t be obtuse,” he fired back at a near shout. He wasn’t smiling. “You know that’s not what I meant!”

  Ouch. What happened to his sense of humor? She decided to try for honesty.

  “I’m not sure what you mean, Royce. My firm was hired to assist in the IPO and my boss asked me to be a part of the team.” She paused for a moment. She couldn’t think so well on her feet with a dragon breathing fire on her. “I realize now that I should’ve talked to you first, but I thought we parted on good terms. So what’s the big deal?”

  He looked like she had slapped him on the face. “We left on good terms?” His voice raised an octave. “What’s the big deal?” He paused as if struggling to master his emotions. Unfortunately the battle was lost. “What the hell were you thinking? Yes, you should have talked to me first!”

  Madalyn was confused and at a loss for words. She had never seen Royce angry. “Why are you so mad at me, Royce?” she asked chastened and looked down at her hands.

  “Why am I mad at you, she asks?” His voice was thick with disbelief.

  Her eyes shot up. His face was contorted with anger. She just didn’t get it. Why all the anger and sarcasm? Seriously—he was the one who left her! Now she was getting angry too. She straightened her back and prepared to put her boxing gloves on.

  “Why are you acting like such an asshole?” she asked. Somewhere in the back of her head she knew she shouldn’t speak so familiarly with him. He was the CEO of her firm’s new client. But she had slept with the man. Didn’t that afford her a little leeway?

  She might as well have kicked him in the family jewels, his shock was so evident.

  “I’m acting like an asshole?”

  “Yes, you are. I get it, Royce. I should have insisted that I talk to you when I called this morning, but your dragon-lady secretary wouldn’t put me through. Please accept my heartfelt apology.” She struggled to hide her irritation, but for Jerry’s sake she made a small effort. “It’s also not my fault that you can’t be bothered to read your email. I just started my job yesterday and found out we’d be working together. What did you expect me to do? Can’t we move on? I mean … why all the anger and sarcasm? If you don’t want me on the account, then just say so and I’ll leave.”

  “You are something else,” he said, pacing back and forth. “You didn’t call or email me!”

  “Really?” Madalyn said. “Is this conclusion based on your omniscient powers? You know what, forget it. If that’s the way you want to act, then fine.” She grabbed her purse, pulled out the Marquise diamond ring and placed it on the corner of his desk. “I want to give this back to you.”

  He stared at the ring a moment then looked at her. “Keep it, Madalyn. You can consider it as payment in full.”

  She gasped at his crude remark. Madalyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Had he really just said that? She opened her eyes and felt the familiar sting
of threatening tears. Her heart constricted—like a boa slowly squeezing tighter and tighter—but she refused to allow him to see her pain. Two could play at this game.

  “And here I thought the casino winning was my payment in full,” she said.

  “Not for someone so skillful at their trade!”

  Her knees buckled. It took all of her strength to remain upright. How could she have misjudged him? Who was this person? She didn’t recognize him!

  “Whatever,” she snarled and, gesturing with her middle finger, pushed past him to the door. Madalyn turned the knob, but couldn’t get the damned fancy lock-a-ma-jiggy to open. Her traitorous hands were shaking violently. She was furious and on the verge of tears.

  “Open the door, Royce!” She stood a moment to collect herself, but her voice trembled. “I’ll collect my things and go. Please don’t hold this against Jerry. He didn’t know of our affiliation. And I did try to call and email you this morning. Check with your secretary or look at your email.”

  Royce didn’t move. Madalyn waited impatiently, shaking with her back to him and tried desperately to gain some semblance of control. Oh why wouldn’t he just open the damn door?

  “Turn around and look at me, Madalyn,” he commanded in a calmer voice.

  Why did he make her feel like such an errant child? She hadn’t done anything wrong. She dutifully turned, her chin raised high.

  He was staring at her with a bemused look. “Did you just flip me the bird?”

  “Yes. I did,” she replied firmly and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. She started to gain control over her shaking hands. He would not intimidate her. She didn’t care if he was the damn CEO. She had reached her limit; enough with this bullshit.

  “I wonder how your boss would feel about that if I told him,” he said, taking a small step toward her.

  He was so close now she could smell his familiar scent. She closed her eyes to collect her thoughts, but was already melting inside. Stand your ground, woman. When she opened her eyes again, he was inches away. She instinctively backed up … right against the door. He closed in.