by Sofia Grey
“I know it’s too soon, and I might be leaping to conclusions and foisting myself on you, but I’m in love with you, Lucas. You don’t have to say it back. Not if you don’t mean it.”
“Say it again.” He closed his useless eyes and focused on her voice.
“I love you, Lucas Wade. Je t’aime.”
He let out a breath he didn’t remember holding. “You know I’m going to be completely blind soon. I might not be able to work.” He needed to remind her of all his faults. If she was going to have second thoughts, he’d rather she had them now.
Natalie chuckled softly. “I told you, I won’t let you push me away. I still love you. Now should we make some plans for how to fix this problem?”
“Yes.” In an instant, his mood lightened. He was no longer alone, and in Natalie he had a future worth fighting for. “If Dave won’t man up to his mistakes and keeps shoving the blame onto me, my hands are tied. It’s my word against his.”
“Does he know your login and password? Did he login as you, when he made the stock switches?”
“I imagine so. We cover for each other—or at least, we did.” The idea of even talking civilly to Dave now left a sour taste in his mouth. “They want to transfer me to the order processing team, Natalie. I used to be their manager.” He’d made his peace with his restricted career options, but the prospect of downgrading to an even more junior role made his gut clench. Especially when it was unnecessary.
“Well, we do work for an IT company. Somebody will be able to check which machine the reallocations were made from.”
Lucas felt like smacking himself in the face. “Of course. It never occurred to me.” He paused, his brain leaping ahead, thinking faster than he could speak. “You’re a genius, Natalie Fontaine. I know what I can do.”
He didn’t want to wait to prove his innocence. It was only after they said goodbye, that he realized he’d dodged the expected response. He hadn’t told Natalie he loved her. No matter. It was better this way. He’d clear up this ugly issue at work, and then tell her. He’d be claiming her love as a confident man, and not a powerless victim.
****
An hour later, Lucas had not only tracked down one of his previous team members in Order Processing, he also had the full record of access to the orders in question. His old team tracked the progress of every order from inception to dispatch, and with little effort, found out the computer names of everyone who’d digitally touched the order.
He had proof the stock changes were made from Dave’s PC, which meant there was no way Lucas could have done them. The question was, what should he do with it?
It was tempting to walk right back into Mark’s office and throw the report at him. Dave would lose his job over this, for sure. His wife had a baby on the way. Much as Lucas wanted to hurt Dave every bit as much as he’d been savaged earlier, it wasn’t Cindy’s fault. Lucas had met her, and she’d been lovely.
He deliberated a little more, and then set off back to the office.
Dave sounded distinctly alarmed when Lucas arrived at his desk and suggested they talk.
“Thing is, Dave, I’ve got proof you changed the orders. I’m giving you one last chance to clear this up, otherwise I take it straight to Mark and HR, and anyone else who needs to know.” Lucas paused and listened to the other man’s rapid breathing. “Well?”
“Will they fire me?” His voice was faint.
Lucas shrugged. “I’ve no idea. But isn’t it better to be honest? If you tell them the truth, that you were scared of losing Masons, you might be able to salvage a decent reference. Maybe.”
“Fuck.” Dave shoved his chair back. “You’re not calling my bluff, are you?”
“Nope. I can e-mail it to you.”
“No need. Fuck.”
“So”—Lucas crossed his arms, and tried to keep the satisfaction from his face—“I think it’s time we had a talk with Mark.”
*
It was amazing how confident Natalie could sound on the phone, yet how much she quaked if she had to meet someone in person. At least since the accident. Prior to that, she’d been fine. The aloof shell she’d developed as a child stayed in place as she became an adult, but she’d been able to put aside her nerves.
If only she could do the same today.
She had, already. She’d told Lucas she loved him, even if he hadn’t replied in kind. His silence on that subject gnawed at her, but maybe she’d leapt in too early. She knew, could tell from every tender gesture, that he loved her too, even if he couldn’t say the words.
It had been an hour since she spoke to Lucas, and now she put her own rescue plan into action. Before she could talk herself out of it, she climbed into her car, drove out of the city centre, and headed for the Highbrook Business Park on the edge of the suburbs. To the Bryce Electronics head office.
Natalie gazed up at the glass-faced building and took a deep breath. It didn’t do much to quash the nausea, or slow the pulse hammering in her veins. Her heart was racing every bit as much as if she’d just run here from the office, halfway across the city.
Her palms were damp, and perspiration gathered on her forehead, made worse by the midday sunshine beating down on her. She felt exposed. Like a bug trying to cross the kitchen floor before it was trodden on.
“I can do this,” she whispered to herself. “In half an hour, this gut-wrenching interview will be over. I can fall apart then.”
Lucas thought she was brave. For him, she would be.
Under the pretence of straightening her long skirt, Natalie wiped her palms dry, and then set off at a smart pace across the car park to the reception. A pretty young blonde girl greeted her, her smile wide and friendly.
“I was hoping to see Chris Fitz, please. I don’t have an appointment, but I was passing and thought I’d drop by.” Natalie was careful how she phrased it, trying to make it seem casual, as though she already knew him.
She’d seen his picture, a thirty-something thin-faced man with a long nose and a receding hairline. He looked stern, as if he never smiled. She would need every ounce of charm she’d ever possessed.
The blonde glanced at her computer screen. “He might be free now. Who shall I say is here to see him?”
Natalie forced a smile. “It’s Natalie.”
The blonde nodded, tapped a message on her keyboard, and then smiled back at Natalie. “He’ll be five minutes, if you don’t mind waiting?”
“No problem.” To hide her nerves, she turned and went to look at the artwork adorning the lobby space.
The reception for Bryce looked more like an upmarket hotel than a cutting-edge electronics company. One painting caught her eye. The work similar in style to her father’s, the artist had captured a view of Paris by night. It was a good representation, but she’d seen better. Engrossed in the details of the brushwork, she failed to notice the man stepping to her side, until he spoke.
“You must be Natalie? I’m Chris Fitz.”
“Oh.” She lifted a hand to her mouth. “Yes, I am.” Caught by surprise as she was, her wits deserted her.
He nodded to the painting. “What do you think of it?”
Should she be honest? It was art. Everyone had different opinions. “I think he captures the architecture well enough, but the lighting could be better. The artist has focused too much on the intricacy of the reflections in the windows, and that makes them look artificial. Don’t you think?”
His eyes widened, and Natalie saw a hint of a smile. “Yes, exactly. That’s what’s wrong with it. I’ve been puzzling over that since I first saw it.”
Talking about art was safe ground for her and helped her put off the moment when she had to talk business. “Have you seen the Paris Reflected series by Claude Fontaine? He chose a single street and painted it at different times of the year and in different weather, and showed how the reflections changed according to the different light.”
“Yes, I have. They’re among my favorite paintings.” Chris Fitz smiled fully
and extended a hand. “How may I help you, Natalie…?”
She took his hand and gave a firm, polite squeeze. “Natalie Fontaine.” His eyebrows shot up, and she managed a smile. “Claude was my father. I’m biased about his work, and it’s lovely to meet someone who also enjoys it.”
“Your name sounds familiar.” He held onto her hand. “Have we met?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Natalie walked back to her car, her head spinning. She’d done it. She’d done it. She’d saved the Bryce account. Chris Fitz had been more than willing to talk to her over lunch. Even though they’d mainly discussed art, he’d agreed to continue with them as primary supplier, for the short term at least. They’d conduct a six-month review as normal, but he was happy to accept the mistakes at face value.
It probably helped that Natalie had set him up with the painting loan scheme, from which he could lease some of her father’s works. He made her promise to have lunch again sometime, and to bring her partner with her. There was no romantic intent on Chris Fitz’s part; he genuinely enjoyed talking art with her.
God, it had been nerve wracking. Her hands still trembled from the aftermath of the day’s events. She let herself into the car, and then checked her phone for missed calls. There were two voicemail messages, the first from an unrecognized number.
“Hello, Natalie, this is Elsa Stafford. We met when I was Procurement Manager at Bryce Electronics. I moved recently, to head up the Contracts Team at Jen-Tech, and I’d like to invite you to bid for a big implementation we’re planning. Please call me back. I’m hoping we can continue doing business together.”
Natalie listened to the rest of the message in a daze. She had to be dreaming. Not only did she save the Bryce account, but also had another to potentially add to her client list. She had to share the good news with Lucas.
The second message was from him. “Hey, it’s me.” His voice bubbled with tension. “I don’t know what to say, apart from thank you. You made me stop wallowing and get things sorted out.” He paused, and she heard a muffled noise in the background. A woman’s voice, slightly distorted. Where was he? “I have to go now,” he continued. “I’ll ring you later. Talk to you this evening.”
Natalie stared at her phone, puzzled, and then hit speed-dial and rang his number. It went straight to voicemail.
“Lucas, I just picked up your message. I have so much to tell you, and yes, I’ll wait for your call this evening. Looking forward to talking to you.” She blew a kiss down the phone, and then hung up.
Happiness warmed her chest. Taking back control in one tiny part of her life felt pretty good, and she hoped Lucas had been equally successful with whatever he was doing. She couldn’t wait to find out, but for now, she had work to do.
*
One of the things Lucas learned on his recent course, was that asking for help didn’t make him weak. Instead it empowered him, weird though it felt. This morning he’d asked his colleague for help and had an amazing result. Lucas had been re-instated in his role, and Dave was currently suspended while they discussed his options. This afternoon, though, was even more important.
He stood at the check-in desk at Wellington Airport, and handed over his ticket. His luggage was minimal—one bag—and like last time, he was travelling without Molly.
Sarah took his arm and walked him to a sofa, where they could wait until he boarded. She was as excited as him, and her enthusiasm buoyed Lucas’s spirits. It would be okay. He couldn’t think otherwise.
The details had fallen into place with ease. A seat on a late afternoon flight to Auckland. One of the counsellors from his course to meet him when he landed. A room at The Langham in Auckland, one of the city’s five star hotels. Too easy. Something was bound to go wrong. What if Natalie said no?
His nerves kicked into high gear when he sank into his seat on the plane and fastened the lap belt. He had to be crazy. Natalie said she loved him, but did she love him enough? He’d find out soon. In the meantime, he had to figure out how to survive the flight without freaking out.
He disembarked into hot and humid Auckland in the late afternoon, and walked slowly to the concourse, on the arm of one of the flight crew. They’d been fantastic and treated him with respect and dignity. In a world filled with people who treated him as a freak, he appreciated that.
The moment he switched his phone back on, it trilled into life with a message from Sarah. She sent him good-luck vibes and told him to go get his girl. After seeing Natalie over the weekend, Sarah now liked her. Approved of her. Would she grow to love her?
“Are you here for business or pleasure?” The chirpy flight attendant sounded young, but her innocent question put a smile on Lucas’s face.
“Pleasure. Definitely.” Despite his heart racing and stomach churning, he managed to get to the Arrivals Hall without making an ass of himself. There, waiting, was Paul, his counsellor. So far, so good.
Lucas’s nerves shredded more with every minute that passed. He debated whether to phone Natalie or just turn up at her door. He preferred the second option, with the element of surprise. Paul was completely behind his plan, which boosted Lucas’s confidence. Get your girl, said Sarah. Well, that was his plan.
“This is it,” murmured Paul. “Should I wait with you? In case she’s not home?”
Lucas nodded. His mouth was so dry, he feared he’d not be able to speak all night. His stomach tied itself in a giant knot, and he had a buzzing stress headache. He didn’t feel very empowered.
He knocked on Natalie’s door and waited, listening for any noise inside the apartment.
Footsteps. A handle turning. A door opening.
A very feminine squeal. “Lucas? Mon dieu, what are you doing here?”
“That’s my cue to go.” Lucas heard the smile in Paul’s voice, as the man clapped him around the shoulder. “See you, Lucas.”
Natalie’s scent hung in the air, and he breathed it deeply. “Lucas,” she repeated and wrapped her arms around him. “I can’t believe you’re here. It is so wonderful to see you. Come in, please.”
He followed her lead, stepping with care into the unknown space. Man up, he told himself. You’re here. Now, just do it.
“Natalie.” He caught her hands, and tugged her to stand close. “There’s something I need to tell you, and something I want to ask you.” He squeezed her fingers when she tried to speak. “Please, let me finish.”
He shuffled his feet, and satisfied the floor was clear, dropped to his knees, still holding her hands. “Natalie Fontaine, je t’aime. I love you. I’m in love with you. I could spend the rest of my life telling you that, and it still wouldn’t be enough.” She gripped him tightly, her breathing ragged, and he plunged on before he could change his mind. “Marry me, Natalie. Tu es l’amour de ma vie.” You are the love of my life.
There was a bump next to him, and he realized Natalie knelt too. “Oui. Yes. A thousand times yes.” Little kisses rained over his face. “I love you so much.”
Epilogue
Six months later
Natalie stood back and watched Lucas check them into the hotel. His French flawless now, he charmed the receptionist into upgrading them to a view of the Mediterranean, and then turned back to take Natalie’s hand. She led him to their room and guided him round the layout, so he knew where the doors and windows were and could avoid bumping into the furniture.
“We’re early. Grand-mére won’t be here for ages. Two hours at least.” She sank onto the double bed with a happy sigh.
“I need time to get ready for meeting all your cousins.”
“They’ll love you. Grand-mére adores you.”
“She’s pretty special.” Lucas sat beside her and reached for her hand. They laced their fingers together, and Natalie admired again the way her golden wedding band sparkled in the sunshine.
“Are you glad now that I insisted you continue with your French?” Natalie had brought him to a quiet village in the southern-most tip of Provence, to meet the re
st of her family, since not everyone had been able to attend their wedding in Wellington. The trip also doubled as their honeymoon.
“What do you think?” He kissed her knuckles and played with her ring, sliding it up and down her finger.
He made her stronger and more confident, and she knew he felt the same. If she’d never bought Molly the Frisbee, would they have ever taken the first tentative steps into friendship, and from there into love?
“Your grandmother told me you don’t need your eyes to fall in love. Your heart sees it first.” His voice was warm and tender. “Le coup de foudre. For me, it really was love at first sight.”
THE END
~*~
If you enjoyed seeing Sofia Grey’s blind hero, Lucas, find love, click here to purchase Crash Into Love. Talented guitarist Jonah struggles to get past the accident that left him mentally and emotionally scarred, and is locked in a near-silent world until he meets Cass.
~*~
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Extras
Playlist
Music is interwoven so tightly into my writing that I can’t untangle the two. Either I’m listening to a playlist on my iPod, have music seeping from my laptop speakers, or there’s a song playing in my head – sometimes on auto-repeat.
If Seeing the Love had a soundtrack, this would be the playlist:
Stereophonics: Dakota
Foo Fighters: Everlong
Lorde: Yellow Flicker Beat
Incubus: Wish You Were Here
Manchester Orchestra: Shake It Out
Soundgarden: Fell On Black Days
P.O.D.: Lost In Forever
Grinspoon: Passerby
Villainy: The Answer