The Love Game

by Regina Hart

“Let’s not.” Lily continued stirring the pot of chicken stew. Her curvy five-foot-three-inch frame was clothed in faded blue jeans and a bright orange sweatshirt featuring the logo of the Cincinnati’s NFL team. Her dark brown hair was a riot of curls that fell past her shoulders.

  “Why not?” Rose crossed her arms over her bloodred sweater. With her sleek dark brown hair swinging above her narrow shoulders and her honey-brown features subtly made up, Iris’s thirty-four-year-old sister looked more like a runway model than an attorney.

  “Because I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to cook this dinner and I don’t want it ruined with an argument.” Lily’s attention remained on her stew.

  Iris arched a brow at Rose. “Does it have to be an argument?”

  Lily answered. “No, it doesn’t. But lately the two of you can’t even agree on the weather.”

  “That’s not a recent development.” Iris’s tone was dry. “Rose and I have never agreed on anything, especially since she thinks she knows everything.”

  “Here we go.” Lily shook her head as she turned off the burner under the stew.

  Rose uncrossed her arms and straightened from the counter. The two-inch heels of her black boots added to her five-foot-eight-inch height. “Maybe if you stopped to consider my advice instead of ignoring it to charge full-speed ahead, you’d realize that sometimes I do know what I’m talking about.”

  “And I know what I’m doing.” Iris dropped her arms. “Why can’t you accept that?”

  “You think you know what you’re doing but I’m not so sure.” Rose’s expression was heavy on the irritation but tempered with concern. “Why did you leave a perfectly good job with a stable company to start a business during a horrible economic climate?”

  Cupboards opened and shut as Lily began serving dinner.

  Iris arched a brow. “Because it was obvious I wasn’t going to advance there.”

  “At least you had a steady income.” Rose threw up her arms. “You could pay your bills. You had health insurance, life insurance, a retirement account and sick days. You won’t be able to stay home when you’re sick now.”

  “I rarely used my sick days when I had them.”

  “Here.” Lily forced a soup bowl into Rose’s hands, then crossed back to the counter.

  “But at least you had them.” Rose remained focused on Iris.

  “That’s fine for you to say.” Iris gestured toward her sister. “People at your company respect you and your experience.”

  “You have to pay your dues, Iris.”

  “Pay my dues?” Her head was going to pop off her neck. “I’d been with RGB for six years. Meanwhile, new employees were coming in without my experience and leapfrogging over me up the corporate ladder, getting more money and more seniority, while I was doing all the work.”

  “So you bit off your nose to spite your face.”

  “What are you talking about?” Is Rose even hearing me?

  “Rather than stay and fight, you jeopardized your career and your financial security. Meanwhile, the people you were trying to get even with will be fine.”

  “This isn’t about revenge.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’d been fighting for six years, Rose.” Iris crossed her arms. “It was clear I wasn’t going to win that war.”

  “Here.” Lily shoved the stew at Iris.

  Iris took the bowl. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to eat my dinner in peace.” Lily carried her stew and ice water toward the dining room.

  “You’re just going to leave us?” Iris frowned at Lily’s back.

  Her middle sister turned to face her. “Do you think it’s fun for me, listening to the two of you argue all the time? Why do we have these family dinners if it’s not to enjoy what’s left of our family?”

  Iris glanced at Rose. “I—”

  “It’s just us.” Lily sounded tired. “Dad’s been dead almost three years. Mom died less than a year ago. I’m in this house, surrounded by happy memories of our past. Then you two come in and shout them down. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m not going to do this anymore. Eat your food, then leave.”

  Iris’s skin heated with shame as Lily walked away. “She seems pissed.”

  “Yes, she does.”

  “She never gets pissed.”

  “No, she doesn’t.” Rose sighed. “And she’s right. We’re lucky to have each other. We shouldn’t forget that.”

  Iris nodded. “We should apologize to her.”

  “Let’s do it.”

  Iris squared her shoulders, then led the way into the dining room. Lily sat alone at the table set for three. Iris took the seat at the place setting across from her. Rose settled beside Iris. Lily ignored them.

  Iris waited a beat. “I’m so sorry, Lil.”

  “So am I.” Rose’s voice was soft, contrite.

  Lily looked up. Iris held her breath, waiting for her sister’s response. Lily was the only one who even tried to understand Iris’s feelings. She’d never meant to repay her sister’s love and support with pain.

  Lily spooned more stew. “So how was everybody’s day?”

  Their laughter shattered the tension. Hours flew by as the sisters enjoyed dinner with seconds and dessert, and good conversation. They shared kitchen duty after the meal. Then Rose and Iris left. The outdoor lights illuminated the porch and driveway. Iris stood on the other side of the front door and listened as Lily connected the locks.

  She joined Rose on the driveway. “Be careful driving home.”

  “You do the same.” Rose paused beside Iris’s Camry. “Listen, if you decide to go back to work, I’m sure I can help you get a position with another company. I have connections in the business community.”

  “I am working.” Iris struggled to keep a hold on her temper.

  Rose held up her hands. “You know what I mean.”

  “Yes, Rosie, I’m afraid I do.” Why are we forever at odds? “I appreciate your offer. But I don’t need my family’s help to get a job. I can do this on my own.”

  “Iris—” Rose stopped herself. She exhaled a familiar, frustrated sigh, then started over. “I know you want to do this by yourself and I commend you. But promise me that, if things get too hard to handle on your own, you’ll come to Lil or me for help.”

  “I promise.” But she wouldn’t need help. She was going to succeed on her own. She could do this. If only she could land a big enough account.

  * * *

  “Earth to Ty. Are you in here?”

  Tyler glanced around at the sound of his cousin’s voice. Xavier Anderson, the company’s vice president of finance, strode into Tyler’s office Thursday afternoon. Donovan Carroll, their friend and vice president of sales, joined him.

  “What?” Tyler was still clearing his thoughts from the computer programming problem that bedeviled him.

  “We knocked three times.” Donovan jerked his clean-shaven brown head toward the door behind him.

  Tyler followed the gesture, then returned his attention to the two men. They were both tall and fit, and similarly dressed in dark pants and long-sleeved jerseys.

  “I didn’t hear you.” Tyler pressed a couple of keys to save his computer file.

  “That much was obvious.” Donovan shoved his hands in the pockets of his gray Dockers. “We should assign someone to check on you in case of a fire. I’m sure you wouldn’t hear the alarm.”

  “Van and I are going to lunch.” Xavier stopped behind a guest chair. “Do you want to join us?”

  “No, thanks. I packed.” Besides, Lauren Cobb, Xavier’s girlfriend of two months, would probably be there. He’d rather eat alone.

  “You’re going to make me be the third wheel?” Donovan sounded as though he was only half joking.<
br />
  “Sorry, man.” Tyler gave him a sympathetic look.

  “You need to get out of your office once in a while, Ty.” Donovan pulled his hands from his pockets and folded himself onto one of the two gray guest chairs opposite Tyler’s desk.

  Xavier took the other. “Have you heard from Kimball & Associates?”

  “No, I haven’t.” Tyler looked at his black Movado watch. It was almost noon. “I thought you were going to lunch.”

  “We have a few minutes.” Donovan shrugged. “So what’s the status on Kimball?”

  Tyler turned away from his computer. Obviously, they weren’t going to let him get back to work. “They haven’t acknowledged my request for a proposal. They haven’t even responded to my emails or returned my calls.”

  Xavier blew out a breath, sounding almost as disgusted as Tyler felt. “We’ve been working with them for years. Why are they now giving us poor service?”

  Donovan glanced at Xavier. “I heard a couple of their account representatives recently left the company.”

  Xavier ran a hand over his close-cropped hair. “You’re going to have to go with the other company.”

  “You know I can’t do that.” Tyler leaned back on his chair. “This is our summer product launch. It needs to carry us into the fall. Iris Beharie’s a solo operation. One person can’t handle a project this big.”

  The other men knew what was at stake. He’d told them. If he didn’t put together a successful product launch, Foster would name a chief executive officer from outside of the family. He couldn’t allow that to happen on his watch.

  “It’s March nineteenth.” Donovan shook his head. “‘Osiris’s Journey’ drops July tenth. We only have sixteen weeks before the release.”

  “I know the schedule.” Tyler rubbed his eyes with his thumb and two fingers. “I’ve found a couple of other companies to contact.”

  “We don’t have time, Ty.” Xavier pinned him with his onyx stare. “You’re going to have to go with The Beharie Agency.”

  Tyler frowned at the other two company vice presidents. He hated not being in control and that’s what had just happened. He’d gambled on hearing from the larger company. But the clock had run out, leaving him in the risky position of having to work with Iris Beharie. The threat came on two fronts. Professionally, Tyler wasn’t confident Iris could deliver a successful launch, which he needed to ensure Anderson Adventures remained in his family’s control. Personally, he didn’t know whether he’d be able to resist his attraction to the marketing professional. He didn’t know whether he’d want to.

  Tyler sighed. “I just need another week.”

  “Why are you resisting working with The Beharie Agency?” Xavier gave him the penetrating stare that made Tyler think his cousin could read his mind. “You were impressed with her proposal. Van and I read it, and we agreed with you.”

  Donovan nodded. “It was detailed, creative and unique to our company. So what’s wrong?”

  There was too much at risk. “Suppose halfway through the project, she’s unable to meet her contractual obligations?”

  “We’ll deal with it—if it comes to that.” Donovan spread his hands.

  “If it came to that, it would be too late.” Strain made Tyler’s voice brittle.

  “You don’t have to prove yourself to us.” Xavier broke the momentary silence. “We know you’re a genius when it comes to game design and programming. And you know everything there is to know about this company.”

  “That’s not good enough for my father.” The words were even harder to admit today. Would he be able to reach the bar his father had set for him?

  “Foster wants you to spend more time getting to know our associates. And he’s right.” Xavier’s casual shrug belied the intense look in his eyes.

  “What am I supposed to do?” Tyler jerked his chin toward the frosted-glass door of his office. “Walk up and down the hallways, asking people how their day’s going?”

  “That’s what I do.” Donovan’s hazel-brown eyes twinkled with irreverent humor.

  “You do a lot of things I wouldn’t do.” For example, agreeing to share a meal with Lauren Cobb.

  “Then maybe Foster’s right.” Xavier frowned. “Despite your programming genius, your design creativity, the decades you’ve spent learning every aspect of the company, maybe you aren’t the right person to lead Anderson Adventures. If the only thing standing in the way of your goal is getting to know the people who actually keep the company going, Foster is better off looking outside for his successor.”

  The rebuke stung, just as Xavier had meant it to. “Why does he have to look outside of the company? Why can’t you or Van take over?”

  “That’s a good question. Why can’t you ascend to the throne, Xavier?” Lauren Cobb’s amused voice preceded her into the room.

  At her entrance, Tyler stood with his cousin and his friend. What is it about her that makes me want to leave my own office?

  Xavier kissed her cheek. “I thought you were going to meet us in the reception area.”

  “You kept me waiting.” There was a light scolding in her reply. “I had to come looking for you. I wasn’t going to wait with the receptionist.”

  An image of Iris Beharie laughing with Sherry formed in Tyler’s mind. They’d seemed to enjoy each other’s company after only a few minutes. Even following their disappointing meeting, Iris had smiled at Sherry and called her by name as she’d left their offices. In contrast, Lauren had met Xavier for lunch several times a week for months. Did she know Sherry’s name wasn’t The Receptionist? In fact, Sherry’s name was on a wooden plaque that sat on her desk. Had Lauren bothered to notice it?

  Xavier took Lauren’s hand. “Then let’s go. I invited Van to join us.”

  “Oh.” Lauren glanced at Donovan before returning her gaze to Xavier.

  Donovan exchanged a silent question with Tyler, who shrugged. Why would his friend have agreed to join the couple for lunch? Xavier must not have been completely forthcoming with his invitation.

  His cousin arched a brow at him. “Are you sure you won’t join us?”

  Positive. “Thanks anyway.”

  Lauren put her free hand on Xavier’s chest. “I’m still waiting for my answer. Why can’t you take over Anderson Adventures when your uncle steps down?”

  “My passion is numbers. But numbers are only a small part of the company.” Xavier smiled. “Tyler’s passion extends to everything: numbers, distribution, software, hardware, technical support.”

  “Saint Ty.” Lauren gave Tyler a cool smile. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”

  “Ty was born to run the company.” Donovan met Tyler’s gaze. “And he’d be good at it.”

  The pride in the other men’s voices humbled him. Tyler braced his hand on his desk.

  “Make the call, Ty.” Xavier’s words were quiet but firm.

  “I will.” He waited until the trio left his office.

  Tyler resumed his seat, then loaded The Beharie Agency’s website. Iris’s contact number was on the home page. He tapped it into his phone.

  She was his last resort. Would their partnership help him achieve his goal? Or by this time next year, would an outsider be sitting in his father’s office?

  There was only one way to find out.

  Chapter 3

  Iris turned her cell phone back on as she left her client meeting Thursday afternoon. The voicemail message icon popped onto her display screen. She played the recording as she strode across the parking lot toward her car.

  “Iris, this is Ty Anderson of Anderson Adventures.”

  The unexpected sound of his warm baritone made her knees tremble. Iris paused to steady herself before continuing to her Camry.

  “Could you meet with me this afternoon?” He
left his phone number and asked her to call him back. His message was time stamped at twelve-eighteen.

  Was it possible he’d decided to work with her? Or perhaps he wanted to return her business card. Iris’s hands shook as she unlocked her door. She tossed her briefcase onto her backseat. After their last meeting more than a week ago, she’d been pretty confident it would be years—if ever—before Anderson Adventures showed any further interest in her agency. Now, perhaps she was getting that opportunity she’d been hoping for.

  She slammed her car door shut, then glanced at her silver Omni wristwatch. Two o’clock in the afternoon. She’d already kept him waiting almost two hours.

  Iris got behind the wheel of her Camry and turned the ignition. She took a deep breath, then put on her hands-free device before calling Tyler. Her hands continued to shake.

  His line rang three times before Sherry picked up. “Anderson Adventures. Tyler Anderson’s office. May I help you?”

  “Sherry, it’s Iris Beharie. How are you?”

  “I’m fine, and you?” There was a smile in the other woman’s voice.

  “Living the dream, Sherry. Living the dream.” Iris pressed the button for her heater. Was it the temperature or her nerves making her hands shake? “I’m returning Ty’s call. Is he available?”

  “Let me check.”

  While she waited, Iris navigated out of the parking lot and headed toward her townhome about fifteen minutes away.

  “Iris?” Sherry returned to the phone. “Ty’s back in his office. Let me put you through.”

  “Thanks, Sherry. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon.”

  Iris braced herself for her conversation with Anderson Adventures’ vice president of product development.

  “Thank you for calling me back.” Tyler’s voice caused a tremor of pleasure to roll down her spine, in contrast to the tension tightening her shoulders.

  She took a settling breath. “Of course. What can I do for you?”

  “I’d actually wanted to meet with you in person but your website doesn’t have your business address.”

  Iris stopped at a red light. “I work out of my home.”