by Lara Earlman
She turned and slid her arm through Dill’s, parading him, red-faced, into the office where Reggie awaited. Wallace Dillsworth was shy, especially around women, but he was a genius. He was no slouch with technology, either. Although, when it came to women he seemed out of his league – thus his flush at Lexi’s touch. His older brother Stan was a special friend of Reggie’s; in fact, they shared a condo.
“Dilly, Dilly, Dilly,” Reg said reproachfully. “What’s this I hear about a beautiful blonde?” If possible, Dill’s face deepened in color, before his brows came together in a grimace.
“My brother has a big mouth,” was all he said in reply. “Now, if you don’t mind?” He motioned for Reggie to move so that he could study the monitor.
“My two little nestlings are growing into their sexuality,” Reg cooed, as he vacated his chair for the accountant. Dill looked up at Lexi as if to roll his eyes at their companion’s audacity. She just kept the satisfied grin she’d been sporting all morning, plastered across her face, although, couldn’t help being a bit curious. Blonde? – she mouthed to Reg, her eyebrows raised.
“Oh yes, my sweet, sexually contented little red-head…” Lexi’s grin faltered slightly, but even her pseudo-sibling’s ridicule couldn’t erase it completely. “…Dilly here, has a honey of a blonde buzzing around his pollen cone – don’t ya, Dill?”
Dill ignored him, focusing instead on the information shown on the screen, but a crimson blush again rose from his neck revealing the fact that he’d heard the uncouth remark. Ducking down, he pulled a tablet out of his briefcase and positioned it next to the monitor to compare figures.
The office was still set up the way her father had arranged it when he was alive, with the personal assistant’s desk in the opposite corner from his. Dill was seated at the PA’s desk, now Reginald’s, so Lexi moved to sit behind the other, which was hers. She knew that Dill may be occupied for a while and wanted to get started checking her email for correspondence and hopefully new orders.
Alberton Technologies had patents on several hundred items that were used regularly by corporations worldwide. Lexi concentrated their labors on those mainstays, making sure that they shipped out to customers in pristine condition. High-grade materials, extensive testing and quality control were foremost in Lexi’s efforts. She was determined to bring back Al-Tech’s reputation – no matter the cost. She knew it was already paying off, and a slew of new orders confirmed it. Still, her parents’ company had also been the lead inventor of innovated technology, bringing the future into the palms of humankind. Unfortunately, that took money – a lot of it, and had to be put on the back burner, for now. She knew her scientists were getting antsy and only hoped that they could be patient for a while longer. She glanced over at Dill, hoping to find a sign of encouragement on his face, but it remained unreadable. There was a quick tap on the door and Edith’s head popped in.
“Miss Lexi, there’s a woman here, a Contessa Arrivista, who claims to be the new owner of the house. She says she wants to tour it and get an idea of what she wants to have shipped here from overseas.” Lexi frowned.
“Is the realtor with her?”
“No, she seems to be alone.” Edith’s tone relayed that she thought it strange.
“Try to keep her from wandering. I’ll make a quick call and be right out.”
After speaking with Jean, the realtor assured her that she would be right over. Lexi then made her way to the front parlor where she knew Edith would have made the woman comfortable. Approaching her guest, who was circling the room with critical appraisal, she held out her hand in greeting.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, I’m Alexiah Alberton. The realtor will be here shortly to show you around. Your visit was quite unexpected,” Lexi was polite, but firm in her disapproval of the stranger’s unorthodox visit. The woman turned around and, ignoring her outstretched hand, openly accessed her from head to toe, before dismissing her as unimportant. The contessa stepped closer to a painting of Lexi as a young girl, posing with her parents. She glanced back at Lexi as if verifying her resemblance to the portrait, and then focused on the artist’s signature.
“I really do not understand what the fuss is all about,” she declared with a British accent. “I merely wish to see the house, before I move in.”
“Jean gave me the impression that the buyer was already familiar with the estate,” Lexi rejoined. “Surely it wasn’t purchased sight unseen.”
“The land, the location, the outside of the house…” She waved her hand around flippantly and strode through the foyer to the formal dining room. “A bit small…” she observed, as if to herself. “I suppose it would do for intimate parties.”
Although, the woman was attractive, her personality could certainly do with an overhaul, Lexi thought. She appeared to be in her mid fifties with dark blonde hair pulled up into a fashionable twist. Her tweed slacks, green silk blouse, and dove gray cardigan, screamed casual chic – and the black pearl necklace and earrings shouted money. Not that any of it impressed Lexi, though it appeared to be the woman’s aim. However, she had to admit that the huge ring on the contessa’s left hand was interesting, if not a bit garish. Large diamonds and garnets wove intricately around the ring finger, forming a vine-like motif. The way the woman brandished it about, as heavy as it appeared, had Lexi worried she would smash something with it.
Abruptly, the woman took a sharp turn, elbowed her way passed Lexi and headed down the hall leading to the offices and Alicia’s bedroom, which had been remodeled to connect with her home lab after she’d become ill. It had comforted Lexi’s mother to putter around in the lab during her lucid days, and later it became beneficial for her care to have a bedroom downstairs. Since her mother’s passing the rooms had been kept locked. One of the items on Lexi’s to-do list was to sort through the objects in both rooms; she just had yet to be motivated.
After a disinterested glance into the open door of Lexi’s office, the contessa caught the eye of Reggie and gave him a flirty smile. Floored by the complete change in the woman’s demeanor, Lexi couldn’t resist teasing her assistant with a jiggle of her eyebrows.
“Why are these doors locked?”
Lexi’s attention was drawn back to her intruder. “They were my mother’s rooms. I’ve not yet had a chance to arrange her things.”
“I’ll take that into consideration,” she said, pointedly.
“Look,” Lexi’s temper surfaced, “I don’t care if you’re the queen of England, you have no right to come into my home uninvited and order me about...!”
“It’s alright, Miss Alberton,” Edith interrupted, “the realtor is here and I have the keys.” The housekeeper opened the door, and Jean led the contessa in with an apologetic smile to Lexi.
“What did you say your name is?” Jean asked, politely.
“Contessa Arrivista,” the woman answered, as if astonished that she wasn’t recognized. “My son bought the estate to use when he has official business at the capitol, and I’m sure I will be entertaining many important heads of state here as well.” She examined the room in surprise. “Well, I can see how you would be embarrassed about showing these rooms,” the contessa huffed indignantly.
Lexi stepped inside her mother’s bedroom and gasped. It had been ransacked! Clothes and personal items were strewn about the floor. A quick glance at the bathroom, and then the laboratory, showed the same results. She looked at Edith.
“I’m so sorry, Miss Lexi. I cleaned it myself after your momma passed, and then locked it up until you could go through it. I had no idea… it must have been your uncle!”
»ɞ»ɞ«ɞ«
Dane drove up to the house and was surprised to see so many cars flanking the driveway. Harold Jensen waved him over to the garage and guided him into a slot. The elderly man handed him a garage remote, security code, and a set of keys, offering to help him with his bags. Dane gave him a friendly slap on the arm.
“I’ve got it, ol’ man,” he said. “What’s going
on, here?” He gestured toward the cars at the front of the house, as the garage door slowly closed.
“Well, Mr. Reginald is here, as you know,” Harold’s eyes sparkled with amusement. Of course the Jensens must have overheard his earlier ranting. “And that young accountant, Dillsworth, is in the office with Mr. Reginald.” Hmm, Dane looked forward to meeting the so-called whiz kid. He pulled his bags from the trunk and started for the door, but Harold wasn’t finished. Blocking Dane’s way into the house, he continued.
“And, a taxi cab dropped off a woman who insisted upon seeing the house, so the real estate lady was called to come over.”
Dane’s radar perked up.
“A woman… who is she; what does she want?” Dane reached into his pocket for his phone. He wouldn’t put it passed that low-life scum, Billy Chen, to send someone in to case the place for him. There has to be more to his story, why all the interest in Lexi? Dane dropped his bags and tried to shove passed Harold, as he tapped for his phone contacts. The old man placed his hand on his to stop him.
“There’s more, son.” His voice was serious, as he locked eyes on him. “She calls herself Contessa Something-or-another, but I’m not one to forget a face – especially a pretty one. It’s your mother, boy – I’ll bet my life on it.”
“How can you be certain, as far as I know she’s never been here before?” Dane tried once again to open the door leading into the house. Harold stood firm.
“She was here once, before you were born. She couldn’t have been more than about sixteen, a pretty little thing. Your grandfather brought her with him when he stopped by for a short meeting with Mr. Alberton. I guess she got bored waiting for him. I caught her out back in the work shed with Mr. Alberton’s young brother.” Harold looked sheepish, his face red. “They were in the throes of… well, you can figure out the rest on your own. I didn’t hesitate to give them hell, either.”
Dane stared him down. Yeah, it sounded like her. Shit, so she knows Richard? Acid churned in his gut – something is definitely up and it sure wasn’t good. He punched in a contact on his phone.
“Ferguson, there’s a woman at the Alberton estate. She came here in a cab. I’d like whoever’s watching the house to follow her when she leaves. I want to know who she meets with and what she’s up to – understand?” Ending the connection, Dane slipped the cell phone back in his pocket and grabbed his suitcase. Harold gave him a nod, picked up the smaller briefcase and stepped aside, allowing Dane to enter before him.
Chapter Nineteen
“What are you doing here, Cara?”
Dane had no trouble finding his mother; he just headed the opposite direction from where his instincts were telling him to run. Sure enough, he could smell her expensive perfume before he got within fifty feet of her. The question that immediately popped into his head was why she would be interested in Alicia’s workroom. He took some time to scrutinize her, before he made his presence known. She was searching for something – he would put money on it. His voice startled her; and she abruptly turned toward him with guilt leaking out of every pore, giving credence to his hypothesis, until she quickly pulled herself in check.
“Darling,” she drooled, “I could ask you the same thing.” Her eyes wandered to Lexi, as if noticing her for the first time.
“I’m a guest here,” he emphasized, “you?” He wasn’t about to allow her to maneuver her way off the subject. Taking hold of her arm, he steered her out the door and into the hall. Worried about Lexi’s reaction to his mother’s unwarranted intrusion, he glanced over his shoulder, back into the room. Oblivious to the drama unfolding around her, she was intently studying the metal relief of an angel, hanging on the wall. He released his breath, not realizing that he’d been holding it. One challenge at a time, he told himself, as he forcefully escorted Cara to the foyer.
“Kindly call a cab, Mrs. Jensen. The contessa is leaving.”
“Why is it a crime to be interested in my son’s new purchase?” Cara asked. “I may wish to send you a housewarming gift, and how am I to know what would be appropriate without having first seen the place?”
“My understanding is that you have seen the place, before. Not only that, you are also intimately familiar with Richard Alberton – a previous resident of this estate. Has he asked you to find something in this house for him? Whatever he’s agreed to pay you, I hope you realize you’ll never see a dime of it.” Cara’s face turned pale.
“I don’t know why you believe such awful things about me. Is your grandmother still filling your head with fantasies?” The last word spat out of her mouth with a slant of mockery. “Has this woman, the media’s been pairing you with, gotten you so captivated that you’ve forgotten everything I’ve taught you about being a real man?” Leave it to his mother to make him feel emasculated. She glanced over his shoulder and gave a satisfied smile. Dane turned to see Lexi watching their interaction with a stunned look of confusion.
“Ma’am, your taxi’s here,” Harold announced, reaching across her to open the front door.
Cara kissed Dane on the cheek, “Do enjoy your new…” she glanced around depreciatively, “…house. I’m sure the object of your affection will appreciate your kind gesture.” She slithered out of the door and delicately footed her way to the awaiting cab, as if tiptoeing through mud.
Dane watched to make sure the taxi drove his mother off the Alberton property, before closing the door. He exchanged a look of exasperation with Harold and then turned to face his next challenge. But, Lexi was gone.
»ɞ»ɞ«ɞ«
“Sorry about the interruption, guys.” Plopping down in the chair, Lexi rested her elbows on the desk and ran her fingers through her hair. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and turned her attention to business. Actually, it was the easy way out. She just didn’t have the energy to sort through the emotions and disbelief that were battling their way through her thoughts. “So, do you have any questions for me?” she asked the accountant.
“I believe Reggie satisfied any incongruities I came across,” Dill answered, picking up her cue. “Al-Tech is at the crawling stage right now, but at least it’s moving forward. I would like to stress once again that you raise your prices…” Lexi was emphatically shaking her head, so he raised his voice a notch and continued. “…just minimally,” he insisted. “The price of the components purchased to produce your product has gone up, it would be a natural progression. A very small increase would be virtually ignored by your clients, but would go a long way in hastening your company’s recovery.” He looked to Reggie for support. “At least give it some thought,” he requested.
“All right,” Lexi agreed, reluctantly nodding her head, “I promise I’ll think about it.”
“Good, I’ve taken the liberty of programming some suggested increases into your data files, along with projected stats. Now, what have you got in mind for your next move – do you want to continue upgrading your core product, work on bringing in new clients through an advertising campaign, or maybe start some fresh product ideas?”
“Lexi, we need to talk,” Dane strode into the office and commanded her attention.
Lexi’s heart jumped at the sound of his voice even as acidic emotions flowed through her veins. Involuntarily, her forehead found solitude against her fisted hand. Quickly gaining control, she looked up and smiled.
“Yes, of course, Dane – later,” she said. “Right now I’m in a meeting with my accountant, and we’ve already had one distraction. Later?” she repeated, softening her tone.
Lexi watched as the man she loved absorbed the tenor of the room. He nodded apologetically to the two men, obviously in the middle of a serious conference, and brought his attention back to her. As he studied her, it occurred that he’d never before seen her in the part of a business woman, and she felt her body warm when his eyes reflected admiration and pride. Realizing the rollercoaster of emotions he’d ridden today, Lexi felt her own burst of admiration for him as he reined them in. Excus
ing himself, he bent down to give her a soft kiss next to her ear.
“Just making sure you don’t run out on me,” he whispered. “We do have unfinished business from this morning, remember.” Goosebumps rose on her skin and danced down her spine. Lexi was unsure if it was from the suggestion in his words, the tingle of his kiss, or his warm breath in her ear – probably all three, she decided.
Reggie and Dillsworth left on a positive note. Yes, Al-Tech was back in business, but they both seemed to agree that they should quicken the pace. Lexi wanted nothing more than to bring her parents’ business back to its former glory and reputation. She just worried about pushing too fast, becoming greedy and alienating the customers who’d shown faith in her through sticking with Alberton Technologies. Upon bringing up Dill’s proposal report, the benefits of even the slightest price increase became crystal clear. Still, the accountant’s question as to where they go from here was not in anticipation of a price increase – that had been to simply ensure that the company could continue to keep its head above water. No, although obviously reluctant to put it into words, he was referring to the money coming in from the sale of Alberton Estate. Dane’s money.
Lexi’s insides twisted, wrestling with anger and pride. Dane knew how important it was to her, to work things out for herself! Still, he’d snuck behind her back, finding a way to rescue her. He’d insinuated himself… dominated… well, the bottom line was, he didn’t believe in her abilities. And, that hurt. And the fact that she loved him so much made her feel weak. Tears threatened to well in her eyes, as she struggled for strength.
“I refuse to be weak!”
“Liebling, accepting help is not weakness.”
Lexi’s head jerked up at the sound, and she watched as Dane strode over to her. He had no right to command her body to heat up at his presence! Wearing jeans and a pale blue Henley with the sleeves pushed up, his masculinity was displayed to perfection. And, remembering the feel of his taught muscles under her hands brought that heat to the melting point. Arrrgh, weakness! He reached down, pulled her out of the chair and into his arms. Yep, liquid. She dissolved against his chest as he glanced at the screen she’d been contemplating and shut it down.