Victoria gave him a sly wink. “I’m gonna say forty-four. . . forty-five.”
“Very good, I’m forty-five.”
“Wow.”
For some reason, her “Wow” made him feel old. “What does wow mean?” he asked, munching on his croissant.
“It’s just that you look much younger.”
“Good save.”
“No, I’m serious. I guessed your age because I knew your background, but if I didn’t, I’d think mid to late thirties . . . easy.”
Ted tried to hide his delight. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Do you have children?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Why not? I only ask because I see how you are . . . I mean, how kind you are. Despite your corporate suit of armor, you’re a very patient, gentle person. You’d make a great father.”
He took a sip of his orange juice. “Thank you,” he said, almost as an afterthought. He let the question and her compliment breeze by, hoping to avoid the subject.
“So, either tell me to mind my own business or satisfy my curiosity,” Victoria pushed. She wasn’t going to stop until she got an answer, or he backed her down.
“It’s a long story.”
“I love long stories over good food.”
To his surprise, Ted found himself telling Victoria about his marriage to Trudy. About how she’d deceived him, and how their life together was a big sham. He even admitted to having indiscretions of his own, a result of their separate lives. Victoria looked for a sign of anger, bitterness, sadness or anything that reflected the gut wrenching hurt of a shattered love. But she saw nothing. He was virtually emotionless in the telling of his story, as if he had extrapolated the ability to feel from the last two decades of his life.
“My God, Ted. How could you stay in a loveless marriage for all these years?”
“At first I was worried about my reputation and my career. Now I’m worried about my money. I should’ve divorced her a long time ago, but now I have entirely too much to lose. Especially given that I’m five months away from having control and part ownership of the company.”
Ted had managed to keep Trudy in the dark about the true extent of the wealth he’d accumulated over the years. He had no intention of splitting any of his material possessions, from the rental properties in LA and fifty percent ownership in his friend Barry’s consulting firm, to the significant stock and real estate holdings in Boston that he’d inherited when his father passed away several years ago. “I won’t let her take anything else from me,” he said.
“Ted, she’s taken your freedom and your joy. I’m speaking from experience, from what I went through in my last relationship. You’ve got to let it go and free yourself. That’s the only way you’ll be able to really enjoy life again.”
Ted shook his head. Where have you been all my life? he wanted to ask. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, Victoria.”
They ate, listened to music, and talked well into the late afternoon. They discovered that they shared many things in common. They talked about how they’d grown up, their families and friends, and their likes and dislikes on everything from sports to politics. Victoria told him the details of her relationship with Steven, and the emotional pain she’d suffered from it. But she kept silent about her plans with Divine Occasions. Finally, after spending over half of his day with Victoria, Ted reluctantly left for home. “Remember to follow the doctor’s orders, I’ll be checking on your progress,” he smiled before heading out the door.
Later that evening, Victoria thought about Ted. She remembered how he made her feel when he rubbed her leg. He knew how to touch a woman just so. There was something hidden and seductive in his fingertips. It was slightly erotic and had made the seat of her panties wet.
But she reminded herself that he wasn’t a viable option. He was a sign that screamed STOP: CAUTION AHEAD! So she concentrated on putting him out of her mind, allowing her thoughts to turn to Mr. Gorgeous. He was out there, somewhere. She remembered that the night she’d seen him in the restaurant, he hadn’t been wearing a wedding band. Ted was married, but he didn’t wear a ring, so that wasn’t a solid indicator of commitment. The woman he’d been with that evening could have been his girlfriend, fiancée, or just a casual lover. Victoria didn’t know and didn’t care because she could still dream, and there was no harm in that. Thinking about him, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter Nine
A Bowl Of Milk...
“Girlfriend, you’ve been falling on your ass a lot lately,” Denise said into the phone. “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong, physically? You might have vertigo.”
Victoria laughed. “No, I don’t have vertigo. The doctor thoroughly examined me at the hospital, and aside from my predilection for good desserts and bad men, I’m healthy as a horse.”
“So you’re gonna be out for the rest of the week?”
“That’s the doctor’s orders.”
Initially, Victoria wasn’t going to tell Denise about the more personal details of what happened between her and Ted over the weekend. But she found herself divulging everything, starting with his offer to let her coordinate SuperNet. She tried to control the smile that kept creeping into her voice each time she mentioned his name. Their new friendship was turning into something she hadn’t expected.
When Victoria first heard about the new CEO that Lamar Williams had hand picked to take over the company, she found herself oddly intrigued by the industry insider. Ted’s reputation preceded him. He was known for his fearless leadership style and shrewd business negotiations.
She remembered the first time she met him. He’d shown up unannounced during an HR Department meeting on the day she was to present a proposal for the SME evaluation she’d developed. She had worked on her presentation for weeks.
When Ted walked into the room, everyone sat at attention. Victoria recognized him from the photos she’d seen in Technology Today, and realized that the pictures hadn’t done him full justice. The other directors made a big fuss over him—offering up their seats, shaking his hand, and making congratulatory remarks. Victoria thought the whole scene was a bit much.
Instead of sitting at the conference table in one of the seats that her fellow ass-kissing colleagues had willingly offered up to him, Ted chose to sit in the back of the room. He said he wanted them to go on with their meeting as if he weren’t there. Yeah, right! How can we pretend he’s not in the room? Victoria thought to herself.
Bob Hoffman, the Vice President of HR, asked everyone to go around the room and introduce themselves. When it was Victoria’s turn, she had to stand slightly so she could make sure that Ted saw her from where he sat, even though she knew that not seeing her would be like not seeing a fly floating in a bowl of milk. When she spoke, she noticed that he didn’t look in her direction; he was too busy writing in a leather portfolio perched atop his loosely crossed legs. Probably taking notes on everyone. Shit!
When the moment arrived for her to give her presentation, Victoria stood and gave a quick and virtually flawless performance, detailing the benefits that could be gained from having employees evaluate their supervisors.
“This type of evaluation won’t work,” Patricia threw out. “You can’t seriously expect to get honest results using this method,” she said, looking over at Ted, giving him a wicked smile. “Our non-exempt employees don’t have the skills to evaluate us.”
The truth was that Patricia was terrified at the thought of her staff evaluating her work performance and management skills. She began citing unfounded reasons as to why the new evaluation wouldn’t work. But for each negative objection she hurled, Victoria countered with a positive resolution.
“I think it’s an excellent idea,” Ted’s voice cascaded from across the room. Victoria was shocked, as were the rest of her colleagues. “It looks like this department is on the right track with new ideas. Have a good afternoon,” he nodded, then quickly left the room. He’d made a lasting first i
mpression.
After Victoria finished telling Denise about the details of her weekend with Ted, she waited for her friend’s reaction. “So, what’re you thinking?”
“Why ask a question you already know the answer to?”
“Denise, Ted and I are becoming friends, that’s it.”
“Girlfriend, you know he likes you, and it sounds like you’re beginning to like him too.”
“Yeah, as a friend.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Denise, he’s married. And frankly, I’m shocked that as a married woman you’re advocating infidelity.”
“I’m advocating you gettin’ some . . . A whole year!”
Incoming Mail. . .
After Victoria talked to Denise, she applied her medicated cream like a good patient and rebandaged her ankle. She was amazed at how quickly her leg was healing. Even though the bruising had mildly discolored her skin, the swelling to her ankle was already starting to subside. Pleased with her progress, she retrieved her company-issued laptop from her computer bag, grabbed one crutch, and hobbled downstairs. She logged on to the ViaTech system and checked her email while she ate a bowl of cereal. She was about to log off when she received a pop-up alerting her of incoming mail. It was from Ted.
Date: Mon. October 11, 8:45 a.m.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Progress Report
Ms. Small,
Just checking on your progress. I’ll have Jen set up a meeting to discuss SuperNet when I return to the office next week. Also, please remember to follow the directions we discussed.
Best,
Thornton
Victoria smiled, quickly typed a reply, and hit send.
The Defining Moment...
Later that night, Ted smiled as he re-read the email that Victoria had sent from earlier that morning. His day had been stressful, ending with a meeting in which the newly appointed VP of Operations informed him of the disappointing production numbers for the New York office. The pressure of the telecom industry’s forecasted decline, and how to save ViaTech in its midst, required all his waking energy. He was tired, but Victoria’s message had put a bright spot on the tail end of his long day.
Date: Mon. October 11, 8:50 a.m.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: It’s Me . . . . . . V
Mr. Thornton,
Thought I’d send you this address for future correspondence concerning my progress and other subjects. I’m pleased to say that things are coming along nicely, thanks to your assistance. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
V.
She’d sent him a message from her personal account. “I am SMALL” . . . he smiled to himself. It was an ironic title for someone who he thought was larger than life. Ted was thrilled that she wanted to share private conversations with him, and that she was looking forward to seeing him when he returned. This was another small step. He’d already started putting a new plan into action before he boarded his flight earlier that morning.
He’d be forty-six in five months, and he couldn’t afford to play it safe any longer, especially not with a woman like Victoria. Each day that he waited brought the possibility that she might find comfort in another man’s arms. In their long conversation the day after her accident, she’d told him that she was ready to start dating again. He couldn’t stand the thought of her with someone else, so he knew he had to move fast and make changes. That morning, before he left town, he’d done just that.
He’d called his attorney to set the wheels into motion. He was finally going to divorce Trudy. He knew that Victoria would never consider getting involved with a married man, but if he was legally separated and awaiting divorce, that might help his case. Next, he called his Realtor and asked her to start scouting properties because he planned to move as soon as he could.
He knew he had strong feelings for Victoria, but he began to wonder about her feelings for him. He was reasonably sure there was at least a small attraction on her part. He remembered the way her leg trembled when he touched her. He didn’t think his age would be an issue. It never had been with any of the women in his past, and he’d been with women younger than Victoria. But that was just for fun, for the pleasure of it. He didn’t think their working relationship would pose a problem either. He knew that her time with ViaTech was short, especially once SuperNet ended next June. Her future plans were a mystery to him, but his instincts told him that ViaTech wasn’t a part of them.
And then another thought crossed his mind. Maybe she doesn’t date white men? But he quickly dismissed the notion. She has white friends, and they seem very close, more than just casual acquaintances, he reasoned.
Ted had been with a black woman in the past. He hated to admit it, but it had been in large part due to curiosity. It was during his senior year at Princeton, and the young woman was in one of his classes, a blow-off elective he took to even out his grueling schedule.
She was a pretty girl, with a pretty face and a bright smile. She wore her hair in a neat ponytail, and smelled of freshly picked flowers. Jake, Ted’s roommate and one of his closest friends, who’d introduced him to jazz, took him to clubs, and who also happened to be black, had called her an “Oreo” because he’d never seen her hang around other black students on campus. Ted thought that Jake’s statement was out of line. She was clearly a black woman, at least to him.
When Ted approached her after class, they hit it off right away. She was smart, with a lively personality, and seemed very interested in going out with him. After nearly a month, and several dates, Ted took her back to the off-campus apartment he shared with Jake. They slept together, and the most vivid memory he held of the evening was that it was nothing out of the ordinary. No spectacular acrobatics or forbidden sexual acts that he’d expected. The next week she cornered him after class and asked where their relationship was going. She said she wanted a commitment if they were to continue seeing each other. That was the defining moment; he thought—all women are the same.
Other Subjects...
Mondays were Victoria’s longest days, and her prescription-ordered bedrest had made it seem to drag along even slower. But her evening livened up when she received a call from Debbie, sounding happy as a kid on the last day of school. After only two days of searching, she and Rob had found the perfect house, but the most exciting news was that she thought she might be pregnant.
She wasn’t sure, but this was the second month she’d been late. She planned to take a pregnancy test after they returned to town. She asked Victoria to cross her fingers. She’d suffered three miscarriages over the last two years, so she was cautious. “Have faith,” Victoria told her, “everything’s gonna be all right.”
This had been the perfect news to cap off her evening. Victoria was happy that her friends were moving ahead, living their lives to the fullest. It was something that she intended to start doing.
As her day came to an end, she decided to check her email one last time before going to bed. She lit up when she saw the message from Ted.
Date: Mon. October 11, 10:14 p.m.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Other Subjects
Hello V,
I’m glad you sent your message from your personal account. I’ve returned the favor so we can discuss other subjects without peering eyes. I’m happy to hear that you’re doing better.
V, I need to talk to you when I return next Monday, but not in regards to SuperNet. It’s of a more personal nature. I’ll be in meetings all day, and would prefer to meet in the late afternoon. Please let me know if you can fit me into your schedule. Be well, and know that I am thinking of you.
Ted
Victoria thought it was cute that he referred to her as V, the way she’d penned her previous email for privacy. But she wondered what he wanted to meet about. If not SuperNet, then w
hat? “A more personal nature?” she repeated to herself, reading his email again. After a moment of contemplation she typed a reply. “This is going to be interesting,” she mused, then headed to bed.
Ted checked his email one last time before turning in for the evening. He’d sent Victoria an email and was hoping that she’d stayed up long enough to receive it and respond back before she went to bed. To his delight, he had incoming mail.
Date: Mon. October 11, 11:01 p.m.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Other Subjects
Ted,
Thought you’d appreciate not having our emails censored by the IT Department. I can always make room for you in my schedule. Monday afternoon sounds fine. I love a good mystery so I’m curious to know what you want to talk about??? But please know that whatever you need to discuss, I’m there for you with a listening ear and an open mind. See you next week.
V.
Wrong Address. . .
The next morning Victoria rose early, taking extra care to attend to her leg, which was continuing to heal nicely. After breakfast she sat at the desk in her home office, going through several files for upcoming events in the next two months.
So far, Divine Occasions had three parties lined up for the holidays. The first was for Sherry Smith, her Realtor. The second was a dinner party for one of her Black Business Women’s Coalition members, and the last event was the granddaddy of them all, Tyler’s YFI Christmas fundraiser.
Unexpected Interruptions Page 13