by Fifi Flowers
“It was by the door, ready to take it back to you. I just threw it on.” Then I moved closer to the table and looked down to get a better view of several laminated pages arranged in stacks. “What’s Liquid Rush?” That name was everywhere featuring a unique water-drop logo along with copyright and trademark symbols.
“I’ve been working on my own company…” He stopped compiling sets to put inside of notebooks he had stacked on the table and I saw that there were more in a box. Then he turned to me and began to explain. “Computer stuff isn’t for me. Being inside in an office every day isn’t for me either.”
My chest instantly hurt and I had to fight back tears knowing he was leaving me.
“My father told me to find my way and gave me a chance to see if cyber security was interesting to me… Maybe it was just to learn from you. You’re professional. You work hard. You respect your employees. Or maybe he just wanted to see if I liked you, Waverly. He’s been known to set people up…but you’re engaged so that can’t be the reason.”
Did I detect sadness in his voice?
Was he really interested in me for more?
I’m sure I was reading too much into it, but I had never wanted to launch myself into his arms more than that moment. I wanted to tell him that I lied to protect myself from him. I wanted to tell him how much he hurt me in the past by using me…
Wake up, Waverly, he just admitted to using you again to learn how to work things for his own company. No different than last time. Maybe worse.
So many thoughts were clouding my mind and I didn’t know how to feel. I just needed to listen to him and wish him well. That was what a professional would do so I turned my attention back to his words. Especially since he had gotten beyond the buttering me up part and was launching into what he wanted to accomplish…start.
“It’s basically a sports network channel or app. It will feature only water sports. I’ve been going to the university’s library… In fact, when you saw me I was coming from the library. I’ve been researching every sport that involves water. I’ve also been talking to professors in the communication department on campus and meeting with copyright attorneys.”
I loved the humbleness of his speech and his determination. There was no cockiness that said I can do anything because I am Butler Industries. I admired that he was out and about doing all of his own footwork and not relying on his family’s name. Not expecting everyone to drop at his feet or roll out the red carpet for him.
“Knowing that sponsorship is important to get the channel up and running, I’ve been studying each sport and what products they use. I need someone who’s good with people… I was hoping to sway you to my side… I’ve been working hard to get a presentation together before I approached you.”
“I just…I…I don’t know any…anything about sports—” Why did he always get me to start stuttering?
He cut me off. “Did you know anything about cyber securities?” I shook my head slowly looking at him. “How is this any different?”
“How do you have that water logo trademark already? It takes three months electronically and up to ten months with a hard copy.”
He shook his head and smiled. “I see you’re avoiding my business proposal, but that’s okay, I’ll wear you down… As for your question, I trademarked it and got the artwork copyrighted a few years back when I thought of starting a business that was water polo influenced. Before I got injured or my hips gave out. I just applied it to the business name with the help of lawyers.”
“Your father must be so proud of you… You must feel proud finding something you’re passionate about.”
“My father knows nothing about this yet. I wanted to do it all on my own. Not to say I didn’t use some resources available through the company and Mason has been helpful. Liquid Rush TV is sponsoring some local water sport events to get the name out there… But I need you, Waverly.” There was a pleading sound in his sexy voice.
I wasn’t feeling very professional at that moment wanting to break down and cry. It was the middle of the night and I should’ve been asleep. That had to be what was making me so emotional. That’s what I said silently as I tried to reason with myself. It was probably a good idea to wait so I didn’t make any hasty decisions.
What he wanted to create…accomplish was amazing and exciting. I couldn’t bring myself to say no to a possibility of travel. I had been grounded for far too long. But could I really work for him? Would I even see him? If he wanted me to deal with clients, where would he be? I was good at troubleshooting and appeasing clients. That was why I was in the office at that ungodly hour and I had solved things within an hour.
“Let me think about it—”
He jumped right in and stalled me from finishing my statement. “I knew it… Great!” I had to admit I loved the smile on his face and the way he lifted me and spun me around in his arms.
Kiss him… Let him kiss you, Waverly. Line up your lips with his, casually.
Logic won out, allowing me to protest. “Put me down! I didn’t say yes.”
Settling me on my feet, he hesitated with his arms still wrapped around me and then, sadly, released me. “You will.” He was sporting a cocky smile I knew well.
“If I was to agree, we could not just leave this company behind—”
“We will use them.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it. We would have to talk to your father… Actually you need to talk to your father about this company of yours.”
“I know. But I have some presentations to make first. I want more lined up. I know I have a strong business plan outlined thanks to my brother Redmond. He is a stickler for detail and he approved it and made it even a bit better. Carter and Mason have been supportive in other ways and said they will back me up with my father. I don’t want to do it family style like they suggested. It will come together within the next few weeks.”
“You’re being a bit too secretive for me to think about making such a big change.”
“I’ll tell you anything you want to know if you’ll commit to me.”
“I need to sleep on it.”
“I can gently wake you in the morning.” I shook my head and he grinned.
“Finish up here.” I was pointing to his compiled stacks. “Get some sleep for yourself.” I started walking toward the door to escape while I could still stand, I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open. “We’ll talk soon. Show me one of the folders first.”
“See you in the morning… And Waverly…” I turned back to him. “I always loved those glasses on you. So sexy…beautiful.”
I couldn’t hear anymore and continued to the door, saying goodbye to the people I walked past. I had to walk quicker and not look back. I could not be trusted with him. Good thing people were in the office or I may have allowed him to take me right there on the conference table and allowed him to wake me the next morning.
Chapter Fourteen
Morgan
Things couldn’t have gone any better than I had imagined. Just having Waverly’s approval mixed with her excitement for my project…my business was everything. And she didn’t say no to me when I suggested that she turn over the reins of cyber security to someone else. She was going to say yes, I just knew it. I felt it way down deep in my soul. She was mine for the taking!
Only she wasn’t mine. She belonged to another man. She seemed happy. I wanted her to be happy. But the cheap ass hadn’t even given her an engagement ring. If she was marrying me, I’d make sure everyone knew it. A big rock would announce my claim. I hated to think of anyone claiming her. I had her first. She gave herself to me. The thought of her in the arms of another man had me seeing red.
If she was to work for me…with me, the possibility of seeing them together was higher. And yet, I had never seen him. What was his name? I needed answers and then I needed to figure out how to get him out of the picture. Offer him a position with Butler Industries with the stipulation that he move to Siberia permanently.
First, I needed to finish the booklets, get some sleep and then go see my father for breakfast at the crack of dawn. Even if I never got any sleep, I needed to know more about this mystery man.
Maybe I should’ve shown more restraint when I busted into my father’s office without a proper greeting. “Who is Waverly engaged to? I know you know everything going on around here.”
I was literally running myself ragged every day during the week between working out with the water polo team, training with Mason, working alongside Waverly. I had no time to pussyfoot around. I needed answers and I needed them right away along with a solution for making the fucking fiancé disappear—that still sounded like the best idea.
The look on my father’s face was pure shock and I wasn’t sure if it was because I crashed through his door, he was surprised that I knew about the engagement or that he knew abso-fucking-lutely nothing about a fiancé.
Cool as ever, my father regained full composure before speaking. “Good morning, Morgan. Would you like some coffee? It just finished percolating.” He smoothed down the front of his suit jacket as he stood and moved away from his sofa.
I nodded and followed him across the room.
“So you say she has a fiancé? Why does that upset you? Last time you came storming into my office about her you said something about not wanting to work for her.” He poured two cups and turned to hand me one. “What is your problem with her man or is it with her engagement, period?” He moved back to his sitting area and, again, I followed like a puppy dog with his tail between his legs.
Damn it! I hadn’t thought my actions out clearly. I had just laid my cards on the table. There was no way to stop my confession…my profession of love for Waverly. He would never believe anything else from my mouth.
“I kind of know Waverly from years ago… She acts like she doesn’t remember me. I think that pissed me off the most when I saw her in the office I assumed was mine. She’s perfectly professional and things haven’t been so bad. She treats me as an equal…she treats everyone as if we’re in a big partnership…” I stopped to drink my coffee so I didn’t say too much. I was pretty sure that was enough about our past.
“And the fiancé part? Why is this an issue?” I detected a smirk behind his cup in front of his lips. “Is he someone you work with?”
I had absolutely no idea who he was… I didn’t even know his name.
“I’ve never seen him that I know of…” I realized that I had made a mistake and was trying to figure out what direction to go. “He hasn’t even given her a ring. I just hope he knows what he’s got with her. She deserves the best and I don’t think he is…”
Shit! That wasn’t what I meant to say. That was throwing back to my feelings for her.
“Do you think you’re better suited for her?” I knew he would ask that.
“I just want her… I just want her to be happy.”
“Maybe she is. Unless she has told or made you feel otherwise.”
That was the end of our conversation. I had been looking for him to take my side and tell me that everything would be alright. That we should be together and he would get to the bottom of things to find this man. And if he was an employee he would transfer him off the face of the earth. But I never did come right out and say that I wanted her to be mine and that I was madly in love with her. My father was a smart man, I never had to say more than my first few words when I burst into his office.
I finished my coffee and talked about other things that were safe. Then I committed to make the next family gathering and slunk out of his office with my shoulders slightly drooped. It was time to face the woman who held my heart.
On time for work after meeting with my father, I walked into the conference room where I had the pleasure of seeing Waverly a couple days ago wearing my t-shirt. There she was again as beautiful as ever—professionally dressed—making a cup of coffee and loading a small plate with cut-up fruit and a muffin. She always brought treats in for her staff at least once or twice a week.
I was shocked by the first words out of her mouth. “Show me your presentation.” No good morning, nothing, just a demand. Not in a commanding way, but more like I’m ready to see what you have to offer me. At least that was the way I took it and there was a feeling of promise in the air. I wondered for a minute what made her all of a sudden so interested but thought better than to question her.
“Sure… Come up to my apartment tonight. Change, eat, relax for a while and I’ll have it ready for you by seven or eight.”
She was quick to retort with her own ideas. “Right after work is fine. I’ll change. You order takeout and six o’clock works for me.”
I loved her idea even better than mine. Another chance to have her alone was the best part. I was determined to get her to drop the charade between us. She knew me. And even if she didn’t admit to our past relationship, our current one was filled with sexual vibes…and more.
The look on Waverly’s face when I hinted at our life together in Marseille was priceless. And when I had mentioned her glasses I was pretty sure that my comment got to her and was why she practically ran out of the office. I couldn’t wait until she was in my apartment again.
Thankfully the workday rolled along at a nice pace and the end came before I went out of my mind thinking about her. Keeping my cool, I stayed a few minutes after closing time before racing off. Reaching my place, I let Mersea out and gave her a bit of attention before rushing around to straighten up. Then I ordered food I knew Waverly loved in France, took a quick shower, set up my presentation, ran down—via the elevator—to pick up the food delivered to the front desk, and then I waited.
The knock on my door never sounded better. Opening it, Waverly stood with a bottle of champagne, two glasses and my t-shirt folded up. I wasn’t sure what the mixed message meant; why give me back the shirt and bring… “Are you planning to get me drunk? And I do have glasses.” Going with a smart ass attitude seemed like the right choice.
She shook her head and smiled. “I know your presentation is going to be brilliant and we need to celebrate… You don’t have these glasses. They’re special ones… Now, where’s that delicious food I smell?”
Before I could answer, Waverly shoved the items that were in her hands into my chest and leaned down to scoop Mersea up into her arms. “Bonsoir, mon amie.” She cooed and petted my cat who was loving every minute and purring like crazy.
“You speak French?” I played dumb.
“Not well, but I’m not sure how much English you taught Mersea. You spoke to her in French the last time I was here. I thought I’d greet her in words she’s familiar with.” She was right, I did carry on full conversations with my cat in French. She knew all of my secrets and I was pretty sure that like me, she instantly fell in love with Waverly.
Pulling my attention away from their love fest, I had her follow me to the kitchen where I had two plates with napkins and silverware ready alongside food containers.
Let me just say that my motive was pure evil. I planned to explore her face and movements closely as I opened each plastic container. First course, garlicky mussels with a crusty baguette I had warming in the oven. While she looked down quietly, I removed the bread and sliced it at angles perfect for dipping in the buttery goodness after eating the meat from the black shells.
“You do like mussels, don’t you? I know they can be an acquired taste.”
She nodded and skipped the plates I had set out in favor of eating right out of the container, dipping her bread, and making yummy noises. “These are delicious,” she said casually.
I could play along too. “Good. I wasn’t sure if you would like French food.” I had to look away to keep from grinning and went to grab a bottle of wine that was from a village we visited. “Wine?” I asked, showing her the bottle.
Damn! She was good. She just nodded and said “yes, please.” So I took things a step forward and spoke to her in French telling her that I had a wood-oven pizza like our
favorite place in Marseille. She didn’t say a word, but she did say, “I love this” when we moved on to our next course. “So many carbs but who cares… I hope you have a cheese plate and dessert to feed me.”
Knowing she anticipated things we had eaten ten years ago was good enough for me and I enjoyed the rest of our feast before we moved into my living room where I fired up the seventy-inch flat screen television mounted on the wall.
“I can’t wait.” Waverly clapped her hands together. “Pretend I’m the Board of Directors and give it all to me.” Those were not the right words to say to me, but I maintained at that moment.
Launching into my ideas, I handed her a booklet that outlined everything I was showing her on the screen. Even I was impressed with how well the graphics and videos came out. It all worked like we were actually watching a TV station and I handed the remote control to her so she could navigate through it and select what she wanted to watch.
“How do you have this all put together already? When do you sleep?”
I explained to her as we watched a few minutes of each video that I had purchased rights to use—some videotaped segments, documentaries, year old events along with current events and ones to be televised after filming. Our biggest original programming would be the triathlon Mason and I were participating in under Liquid Rush TV’s sponsorship.
“Hey, that looks like a younger version of you!” Bingo! Around the time we met.
“I included videos from college days and the current water polo team I’m working with. My brothers each helped me with videos too, some old and some new that they shot with a film crew. Redmond—ironically enough, the stick in the mud—surfed a bit when we were younger and had old footage. Carter went over to Coronado Island where they have a lot of individuals participating in water sports like paddle boarders, kayakers and a few other activities going on in Glorietta Bay. Mason, of course, contributed swimming segments and friends—”
She didn’t let me go on.