When The Lights Went Out...

by Judy Christenberry

  In the cafeteria, not crowded because it was not quite ten yet, Jack chose a table for them and asked her if she wanted coffee.

  “No thanks. I’m going to have a soda.” One a day wouldn’t hurt her, the doctor had said. And she needed it this morning.

  He insisted on buying her soda for her. “I’m the last of the big-time spenders, Sharon,” he said dryly, “a whole half-dollar.”

  “But I should be treating you, Jack. After all, you’re my client.”

  “Ah,” he said, a gleam in his eye that worried her. “Then I can expect to be wined and dined occasionally?”

  Sharon was completely at a loss. She knew Kane Haley wouldn’t hesitate to treat a customer, but she’d never—“I’m sure Mr. Haley will—”

  “Aha! I hear my name being used in vain,” Kane exclaimed behind Sharon, shaking her up even more. “Good morning to both of you. How’s it going?”

  “Mr. Haley!” Sharon exclaimed, turning in her chair.

  “Mind if I join you?” he asked, pulling out the chair beside Jack.

  Of course, Sharon didn’t object. But she wasn’t sure Kane Haley being part of the group was any better than being alone with Jack.

  Especially when he asked his question. “What is it I’ll do, Sharon? You need something?”

  She didn’t know what to answer. As she considered her options, Jack took over.

  “It was my fault, Kane. I think I startled Sharon when I asked if I was going to be wined and dined as a customer.”

  “Any time you want,” Kane agreed, a smile on his face. “In fact, I’ve got tickets to opening night for the Bulls. We could eat and then catch the game. I’m not promising Michael Jordan-quality ball, but it’d be fun.”

  “Ringside?” Jack asked, and the two men talked basketball, leaving Sharon time to catch her breath.

  “Actually, I was teasing Sharon, because I can’t even get her to have breakfast or lunch with me. The best I’ve managed so far is coffee here. I’m not complaining, Kane, but your break room doesn’t have a lot of ambience,” Jack said with a grin.

  Sharon caught Kane’s quick look, which told her she’d be visiting with him later, but she didn’t say anything.

  Kane then smiled at Jack. “She’s an unusual employee, Jack. Likes to keep her nose to the grindstone. How about the Bulls game and dinner to make up for her neglect?”

  “Sure, Kane, I’d enjoy it. But if you had other plans for those tickets, don’t change your plans for me. I’m well-satisfied with the deal we struck. Sharon visited the site today and charmed my entire crew.”

  Kane beamed at him. “Good for her. And she’ll be even better at managing the funds and keeping details. Andy swears she’s the best.”

  Sharon wanted to hide under the table. Such glowing praise was a bit excessive in her mind.

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Jack said.

  She had to get out of there. “Since you’re here to entertain Jack, Mr. Haley, if you don’t mind, I’ll excuse myself.” She stood abruptly, and both gentlemen leaped to their feet. “Oh, sorry, please sit down.”

  They ignored her. Kane said, “Stop by my office sometime this afternoon, Sharon, and, please, call me Kane. You know we’re informal here.”

  “Yes, sir, of course. I’ll check with Maggie for a time.”

  “Good idea. You know she’s a martinet about my schedule. But I’d be lost without her,” he added with a smile.

  “Yes, sir.” With a nod in Jack’s direction, she started to leave.

  “I’ll call you later,” Jack added with a smile.

  “Of—of course.” Just what she wanted. More contact with Jack today. But at least it wouldn’t be in an elevator!

  * * *

  “Did I get her in trouble?” Jack asked abruptly after the two men had sat back down.

  “No, of course not. But she’s new to being in charge. She doesn’t know about expense accounts and extending invitations to our clients. I should’ve thought of that earlier.”

  “You should’ve seen her with my crew today, Kane. They were eating out of her hands. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Jack added, trying to make sure he hadn’t done any damage to Sharon’s reputation.

  “Well, she’s a beautiful woman. We men tend to react that way. But, you know, it will be a little awkward—her taking you out as a client. After all, she’s new to management duties.”

  Jack’s gaze sharpened on Kane. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s the man-woman thing. I hadn’t really thought about that because my managers are all men except one, and she’s married, usually includes her husband.”

  Jack held up his hands, palms out. “I wouldn’t cross the line, Kane. Not on a business dinner. She’s beautiful, of course, but I know a lot of beautiful women. I’ve never had any complaints.”

  “I know. I didn’t mean you’d do something wrong. But it might be better if Andy or I come with the two of you. Just to keep everyone comfortable.”

  “Or I could invite my mother to play chaperone,” Jack added, his voice full of sarcasm.

  “Not a bad idea.”

  Jack leaned back and laughed. “Which proves you’ve never met my parents.”

  “No, I haven’t, but at least you’ve got the idea. We men have to be careful in today’s world not to give the wrong impression. There’ve been times when I thought I’d take Maggie to dinner when we’re working late. What’s the difference between that and ordering in food? But—but we haven’t—” He stopped and sighed.

  “Yeah, I get the picture, Kane. We’ll keep it to a crowd.” He smiled at him and picked up his cup and drained it. “Well, I’d better get to work and stop wasting my day,” he added, shaking Kane’s hand.

  It appeared the only place he’d ever be alone with Sharon again was on the elevator. And she wasn’t happy about that.

  chapter six

  Maggie scheduled Sharon’s conference with Kane at two-fifteen. That made lunch problematical for Sharon because she was afraid to eat. It might come back up at an inopportune moment.

  She mentioned her appointment to Andy, and he offered to come with her, but Sharon knew she had to face the music alone. If she wanted the benefits of her promotion, then she had to bear the responsibilities, too. So she turned down Andy’s offer.

  She reached Maggie’s office a few minutes early. “I’m ahead of schedule, Maggie. I didn’t want to be late. May I wait here?” she asked, gesturing to the sofa.

  “Of course, Sharon. Is everything all right?”

  “I’m not sure. I think I mishandled Mr. Waterton today. I was caught off guard. I’m hoping Kane will excuse me on grounds of inexperience rather than incompetence.”

  Maggie smiled. “He’s a fair man.”

  Sharon smiled in return and breathed deeply. Stay calm, she repeated to herself. The most important thing was the health of her baby.

  At two-fifteen, Maggie announced her arrival to Kane, and he stood as Sharon went in. “Close the door, Maggie,” he said, then smiled at Sharon.

  Taking another deep breath, Sharon remained standing until Kane gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk. Nice chairs, covered with soft green leather.

  “I owe you an apology, Sharon.”

  Surprised, Sharon gaped at him. “You do?” She cleared her throat so her voice wouldn’t sound like a baby bird begging for food. “I mean, I can’t think of any reason, sir.”

  “I didn’t prepare you for all your responsibilities, like entertaining the client. I should’ve made sure you understood that aspect of the job,” he said, still smiling.

  Was he going to tell her she had to take Jack out for an evening on the town? Sharon wasn’t sure she could manage that. Would her promotion, the extra money, disappear so quickly?

  “Do you have a credit card?” Kane asked, surprising her again.

  “Yes, I have one.” Only one, for emergencies. She tried to pay cash for everything.

  “Good. When you need to spend
money on a client, charge it on your card and write an expense report. We’ll reimburse you the amount before your credit card bill comes in.”

  “I—I see.”

  “Good. The other problem is you taking Jack out alone. Do you have a—” He broke off and frowned. “Hell, I should’ve asked Maggie to do this.”

  “Do what?” She thought she was in real trouble this time.

  “Well, I’m just going to ask. Do you have a boyfriend?”

  Now Sharon was thoroughly confused. “No, sir.”

  He stared at her as if she were an oddity. “Well, okay, then Andy or I will accompany you a time or two, to give you some support.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, relieved that her problem was being solved.

  “Good. It’s not a question of your competence, you understand. Just—propriety. Protecting ourselves and Jack of any possible misunderstanding.” He sighed with relief and leaned back in his chair. “Do you have any questions?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Jack was very complimentary about your work so far. You’re making me look good, and I like that,” Kane added, smiling. “Even if Jack doesn’t drop any more hints, an occasional dinner or tickets to something he’d like to see is a good idea. Keep the client happy.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “There’s not anything between you two already, is there? I’m picking up on something.”

  Okay, so she wasn’t out of the woods, yet. But she’d already told Andy, so she might as well tell Kane, too. “Actually, sir, there is one little thing.”

  “Yes?” Kane leaned forward, frowning.

  “Jack is the man I was trapped in the elevator with.”

  “What?” Kane roared with horror, leaping to his feet. “Why didn’t I know that? Good Lord, it’s a wonder he ever signed with us. Maggie!”

  Sharon didn’t move, not sure what she should do. Maggie came rushing in. “Kane, what’s wrong? Everyone in the building will hear you.”

  “Jack was the man in the elevator with Sharon. He must think we’re indifferent to his suffering. Get him on the phone and set up a nice dinner this evening. At a very expensive restaurant. Sharon and I and Andy, yes, call Andy and tell him when and where to meet us. We’re taking Jack to dinner this evening. And tell Jack to bring a lady friend if he’d like. Whatever he wants!”

  “Yes, sir,” Maggie agreed briskly, making notes on a pad in her hand. “Would Le Cirque be appropriate?”

  “Perfect! Thanks, Maggie,” he said. “In fact, you come, too. You’re good at social situations. That’s not a problem, is it? You can come?”

  “I can, Kane, but I’m sure you don’t need me.” Maggie was already backing out the door, obviously hoping to escape, or anxious to start calling.

  “I need you. I’ll pick you up at whatever time you say so you’ll have time to go home and change. Leave when you have to.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes at Sharon and left the office. “You’re available tonight, aren’t you?” He seemed to take her agreement for granted. “You can leave early, too. Take a cab to the restaurant and put it on your expense report.”

  He was pacing the room and Sharon watched him in fascination. She’d known Kane was bright, kind, hard-working. But she’d never seen him like this.

  “The time in the elevator, was he shaken up by it? Did it upset him, make him angry?”

  Sharon managed a smile. “No, he was quite calm and—and tried to soothe me. He was—was quite the gentleman.”

  “Good. Of course. I guess that’s why he seems more familiar with you. You two were trapped for quite a while. I had the elevators checked immediately. They’re perfectly safe now,” he assured her. “Yes, that’s what Maggie said.”

  His door opened and Maggie entered, saying, “I have a reservation for five at Le Cirque. Jack will be there but without a date. Andy agreed, too. You’ll need to pick me up at seven as the earliest I could get a table was seven-thirty.”

  “We could’ve gone later,” Kane said, frowning.

  “You maybe could, but I need my beauty sleep,” she said stiffly and left the room.

  Kane grinned. “She’s a pip, isn’t she? Like she needs to be more beautiful, even if she tries hard to hide it.” He chuckled to himself, as if unaware Sharon was his audience. Then he focused on her. “Okay, so everything’s arranged. If you need directions to the restaurant, ask Maggie. We’ll see you there at seven-thirty. Oh, and the restaurant is French.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Sharon hurried from his office, not bothering to tell him she’d had high-school French and three years at college. She loved the language even if she seldom had an opportunity to use it.

  No, her problem wasn’t French. It was more common to women worldwide.

  “Maggie, what do I wear?”

  “No little black dress?” Maggie asked, smiling sympathetically.

  Sharon shook her head no. Her life had been class, studying and family. Nothing that required dress-up other than church.

  “Okay, go to Filene’s Basement. It’s nearby and they have the best selection and prices. Get a simple black dress that you can change by wearing different accessories. It will come in handy now that you’re management,” She added with a grin.

  “But I don’t have time.”

  “Sure you do. Go pack up and leave. Kane gave you permission. Explain to Andy. It won’t be a problem.”

  Maggie's soothing calm helped Sharon gain control. Good thing she had that charge card for emergencies. “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure. Remember Mr. Waterton is an important client. By the way, why didn’t you tell me he was the one in the elevator?”

  “I didn’t know until I met him in Kane’s office the other day. I only knew the name Jack.”

  Maggie’s eyes rounded in surprise. “That must’ve been a shock,” she murmured.

  “You can say that again,” Sharon said with a sigh and hurried out of the office.

  Jack got to the restaurant early. He was embarrassed about the invitation. He’d been teasing Sharon, hoping to have a meal with her, just the two of them, when Kane came along and thought he was. hinting for freebies. Not that Kane couldn’t afford to show him some hospitality since he would make a considerable amount on this particular job.

  So he’d accepted the basketball tickets and dinner invitation. But the sudden invitation to Le Cirque, one of the most popular and expensive restaurants in Chicago? Tonight? He didn’t understand what was going on.

  Rather than entering the restaurant, waiting in the lobby with crowds of other people, he decided to stand outside in the night air and watch for Sharon’s arrival.

  Would she wear a suit? He hungered to see her in something feminine. Could he manage to sit by her tonight? Or would the two guard dogs, Andy and Kane, surround her?

  He would just like a little personal conversation with her. Like asking her if her father was in construction. And if she had any boyfriends. If she was involved with anyone. Did his making love to her cause her any problems?

  He should’ve contacted her at once. He knew that, but the timing had been off. What if her boyfriend had dumped her because she’d been intimate with him? Then he’d owe her, big-time. He could offer to escort her when she needed one.

  With a laugh at his self-sacrifice, he turned to see Maggie and Kane getting out of a sleek black Jaguar. Maggie was an attractive woman. Jack was glad his secretary was sixty years old and motherly. No temptation there.

  “Evening, Jack. Wouldn’t they seat you?” Kane asked, frowning as he handed his keys to the parking attendant.

  “I didn’t ask. I thought I’d enjoy the fresh air for a few minutes. It’s crowded in there.”

  “Come with us. We’ll have them seat us at once and get out of the crowd,” Kane insisted as he led the way, his hand guiding Maggie in front of him.

  In no time, they were seated at one of the prime tables, on a raised tier of the floor to one side. Jack knew it took a lot of pull to get one of the
se tables on short notice. His estimation of Kane went up several inches.

  “Nice job, Maggie. I’ll never know how you do it,” Kane said, destroying Jack’s admiration for him. “Will they be able to get Andy’s chair up here?”

  Jack had forgotten about that complication.

  “Yes. There’s a ramp the waiters use. They promised it wouldn’t be a problem.”

  Kane lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You always think of everything.” Maggie seemed discomfited by his behavior.

  Jack had a few questions for Kane after his careful discussion earlier today. But Andy’s arrival distracted him.

  Which left only Sharon.

  Jack kept his eyes glued to the front of the restaurant, eager for her to appear. Only when Kane began to explain the reason for their dinner did he look at him.

  “Sharon told us you were the one trapped in the elevator with her,” Kane said, apology lacing his words. “I can’t believe I didn’t discover that until today. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I was glad it was kept secret.” And he wished it still was. What exactly had Sharon said? Surely she hadn’t told them he’d made love to her.

  “She told me you were—” Kane began and then broke off, standing. “Good evening, Sharon. Glad you could make it,” he said with a smile.

  Jack turned at once and stared at the woman in front of him. Sharon’s hair was swept up in a complicated twist, reminding him more of her appearance in the elevator, when her hair had been pulled back. She wore delicate gold earrings, but no other jewelry, and a lace shawl that complemented the black simplicity of her dress, a formfitting sheath with a V-neck that hinted at what was beneath.

  He took a deep breath. There was no boxy jacket to hide her figure tonight. If she’d been dressed like this on the job this morning, he wouldn’t have gotten any work out of his men all day long.

  He rose to pull out the chair next to him, grateful it had been left for her. Andy would be on her other side. “You look lovely, Sharon.”

  Her lashes swept down and her cheeks pinkened.

  With a murmured thank you, she sat down in the chair. “I hope I’m not late. The cabbie got lost.”