Della

by Julie Michele Gettys

  He infuriated her by ignoring her question.

  “Doesn’t seem like slavery to me. You’ve got a great job. Seems like old man Gates is waiting to hand the company to you on a silver platter.”

  “If only Carrie liked me.”

  “She’s a strange one,” Rick said. “Every time I come into the office and she’s there, she looks me over like I’m some kind of control freak or something.”

  He sat up, stroked her cheeks. “Have fun. You’d better get in there. Looks like everyone else is here.”

  “Oh, Rick,” she groaned. “I don’t want you to go.” His secretiveness made her anxious, took the excitement away from enjoying herself. The moment she accepted his ring, a birthday gift, she felt she had a right to know what he did with his spare time. She told him everything she did, and if she didn’t tell him, he asked.

  “I’ll be in the area. Page me when you’re ready to leave. I’ll be here in a flash.”

  Rick always went off, never explaining where and with whom, only saying he could be reached on his pager.

  “Where might that be?” Her attempt at sounding casual failed.

  He shook his head. “Isn’t giving you my pager and being at your disposal good enough?”

  She squeezed his thigh. “No.” Now that they were almost engaged, she wanted their lives totally intertwined. Wasn’t openness and honesty what love was all about? “I don’t see why you need the secrecy.”

  “Babycakes,” he pinched her cheek in a condescending fashion, “I’m just going to see some old friends I haven’t seen for a while. Since you don’t know them, who they are doesn’t really matter.”

  “Never mind.” She blew him a kiss and got out of the car. Same ol’, same ol’. Why some men were so elusive baffled her. Maybe that’s why Lillian chose lust over love. No pain there. Feeling Rick’s gaze on her, she swung her hips provocatively up the wide set of stairs to the front door.

  The autumn breeze and the roar of Rick’s engine pulling out of the drive prickled the skin on her arms. Hadn’t she made a deal with herself that when she fell in love again, she’d accept the man completely, or get out before she had another Kent on her hands? Love was built on trust and freedom. So, where was her freedom–or Rick’s, for that matter? She was suffocating them both. Rick was everything she ever wanted in a man. For a split second, she wondered if she knew what real love was.

  Her mind was so jumbled, she wasn’t aware she had rung the bell until the maid opened the door and ushered her into the study, where the small gathering clustered in a circle around a coffee table.

  The cavernous room, lined on three walls from floor to ceiling with leather-bound books, suited Wes. The scent of fresh eucalyptus wafted through the room.

  Carrie rushed to her side with a glass of punch, and a welcoming attitude that surprised her. Had Carrie just come out from under a rock following six months of hibernation, or what?

  “Della, darling. You look wonderful. Wes has been bragging so much about you, I’m beginning to think of you as the prodigal daughter. He’s told me how fantastic you are with the auditors. They love you, my dear. Where were you hiding all this talent?”

  She took the drink Carrie offered and thanked her. “Wes is the first boss I’ve had who gives me enough slack to do my stuff.”

  “I think you’re going to be doing some traveling soon.” She winked conspiratorially.

  “Oh?” As much as she liked the open road, the thought of leaving Rick behind sent her into a tailspin. If she was having trouble leaving him to his own devices while she attended an evening meeting, how was she going to handle being away for long periods of time? That would be the true test. Her first impulse was to decline, feigning an excuse she needed more in-house training. Wrong M.O. She’d better get hold of herself, give him the space he needed, or sure as hell she’d lose him. Being in love wasn’t supposed to take all the fun out of her job, or her life.

  “You’ll need an extensive travel wardrobe that’s versatile and elegant,” Carrie said. “As soon as we can, I’ll take you to meet Jon Clarin, our designer extraordinaire.”

  Iris Hartman sat between Harold and Barney, two top CPA’s Della spent most of her time with, learning the financial ins and outs of Gates International. They exchanged smiles. Iris was stunning in her tailored black suit and steel gray silk blouse. Della glanced down at her own Wonderbra’d cleavage, the milky skin of her overexposed thighs, and flushed with embarrassment. She tugged at the hem of her green miniskirt. She was doomed to be all tits and legs for the rest of the evening. Maybe Rick was right for those times away from work, but on the job, she wanted to look professional. Why was Carrie showing this sudden interest in her? Something was afoot here that she didn’t understand.

  Wes called the meeting to order. “Della,“ Wes wiped his mouth with a linen napkin, “I’m sending you to New York for a couple of weeks. You’re gonna love the assignment.”

  She gulped. “Two weeks?” she squeaked out. “I’m not ready.” That’s all she could think of to say.

  “You’re ready. Our New York auditors will be with you. Jack Davis won’t even be aware that you’re involved.”

  She set her plate on the coffee table with a thump. “Jack Davis? What concern is it of his whom I audit?”

  “Word’s out he needs quick money. If the figures look good, I might be interested in helping him. We’re looking at his business.”

  Was this to be one of those hostile takeovers she’d heard so much about? Jack Davis would never willingly let his business go. Globe Travel was his life. “Why audit him in New York? Why not here?”

  She prayed she could stay in L.A. Her anxiety level had reached its limit; she felt dizzy. This was her future, her career. She did have a career–and what a coup to be in a position of power relating to Jack Davis, her nemesis.

  Every eye in the room focused on her. She wasn’t thinking like a career woman, she was thinking like a fool, worrying what Rick Courtney might be up to while she was away.

  She couldn’t let Wes down. More than anything, she wanted freedom to travel and pursue her career. She’d done everything Wes asked her to do without hesitation. Travel was part of her job.

  “Davis requested the audits be performed out of the New York office. Our auditors back there are ready to go. I have two choices–help him, or buy him out,” Wes said. “Since you’ve been so close to his company and you enjoy the auditing end of things, I thought you should assist.”

  “What if he learns I’m involved?”

  “He’s not going to New York. He’s not interested in the audit, he’s interested in the outcome. We’re not the only company taking a look-see. Two other companies will also be auditing.”

  Ruminating over her exit from Globe and Jack’s deceitful enticement to get her back started her thinking more of the game she was about to embark on. The thought of Jack Davis working under the Gates umbrella was a hoot. An even more delicious thought was the possibility of Wes putting her in charge of his company.

  Nothing Wes did surprised her. Did he care enough for her to get even with Jack for firing her, or was his interest merely his good business judgment at work, and Della dreaming of sweet revenge? She couldn’t imagine Globe Travel going down. Still, Jack had overextended himself in the past.

  The rest of the meeting was a blur. All she thought of was leaving town for two weeks. Wes walked her to the door after she paged Rick. “How do you feel about going to New York? Too soon?”

  Saying yes wasn’t an option. “No. I’m looking forward to going to New York and doing the audit.”

  He cocked his head. “Two weeks is a long time.”

  “You know me and traveling.” She tried to sound like her old self. “When do you want me to go?”

  “As soon as you can book a flight.”

  He wasn’t giving her any time to waver or change her mind. She could be on a flight tomorrow. She shuddered, filled with excitement, fear, and a host of other feelings she h
adn’t sorted out yet.

  She stopped him on the front porch in the cool night air. “Why are you doing this, Wes? There are hundreds of travel companies out there who’d love some of your money and expertise.”

  “Let’s just say, I have a special interest in seeing Jack Davis pay his dues. You aren’t the only one he’s screwed over. He’s in need of a reality check.”

  She smiled up at him. “You have a bit of the Devil in you. I love it.”

  Rick pulled up in front, got out and walked up the stairs to greet them. His swagger and his piercing eyes sent a shiver down to the base of her spine. All she thought of was getting him home and into bed.

  “Hi, Wes.” Rick extended a hand.

  “Hello, young man. Nice to see you.” Wes shook hands.

  On the way to Rick’s car, they said their goodnights over their shoulders.

  “Well?” he said as they drove down a crowded Sunset Boulevard. “How’d it go?”

  No use beating around the bush. “I’m going to New York for two weeks, as soon as I can book a flight.”

  “Hey, great! You’ll have a ball.”

  He wasn’t the slightest bit disappointed, which devastated her no end. The least he could have done was put on an act to make her feel better. “You don’t care?”

  “Not at all. I think you going on your first assignment is great. What’s the gig?”

  “Better grip that wheel. Wes is having me help audit Globe for a bail-out or a buy-out.”

  “I didn’t think Wes gave two shits about Jack.”

  “He knows a good business opportunity when he sees one.”

  The traffic crawled to a complete stop. He glanced over at her. “Is he doing this for you?”

  “Maybe a little.”

  “This guy got the hots for you? Is he traveling with you?”

  “Don’t say that again, and no, he’s not. He’s old enough to be my father…grandfather.”

  Rick being jealous of Wes did comfort her a little. She paused and chuckled. “I think he enjoys creating a little fracas now and then. Maybe that comes with getting older, and needing a little sport in his humdrum life.”

  As they drove, she wondered why Rick was so anxious to see her go. She dreaded being alone, eating alone, wanting to be with him. Why didn’t he feel the same? She sighed. “You’re not bothered I’ll be away so long?”

  He reached over, lightly touched her neck. “You know the old saying, absence and all that. Separation keeps the romance alive.”

  Why did so many men feel that way when most women she knew felt the opposite? She dreamed of going away and doing all the things she wanted to do, and not feel the gut-wrenching pull that her man might just be having a good time without her.

  What a way to live.

  7

  Della arrived at JFK International airport to a New York of rainy skies and near-freezing temperatures. Sullen and already lonely, all she thought about was seeing Rick waving as she entered the jetway back in L.A.

  Here she was, arriving in the most exciting city in the world, auditing the man who nearly ruined her career–a dream, under normal circumstances. But no, she wished only to be back home and in Rick’s arms.

  Her niggling feelings over Rick’s secretiveness were a product of her imagination. He’d been loving and considerate with her at all times. Right this minute, she visualized him in front of his computer, working through the night as he had before they’d met, earning money for their future. The moment her plane had whisked her away from him, she knew she was going to marry Rick.

  By the time she checked into the Plaza Hotel and unpacked her suitcase, she got hold of her emotions. She had a job to do.

  She slept well that night, rose the next morning refreshed, dressed, and ate a continental breakfast on the run.

  Globe’s office was on the Avenue of the Americas in New York’s shopping district. Too bad. Once she started, she wouldn’t have time to rub two minutes together, let alone shop. When she returned to L.A., she’d take Carrie up on her offer to replenish her meager wardrobe with designer clothes by Jon Clarin.

  The rain had stopped, the air was crisp. No soot specks on her makeup today. She entered the double-glass doors, marveled at the elegance. This place beat the L.A. Globe offices by a mile. She handed the attractive young blonde receptionist her card.

  “Hi,” the young woman said. “The other auditors from your company haven’t arrived yet. They said you should begin without them. Follow me.”

  Della’s heart pounded with excitement as she walked behind the woman down the long gray and blue hallway. The woman opened the door and stepped aside. Della entered and gasped when she saw Jack Davis sitting behind the sleek table-style desk with an expression on his face as shocked as her own must look to him.

  “I thought you weren’t planning to be here during the audit.”

  He leaned back and grinned. “I wasn’t. Wes must think I just fell off the turnip truck. I decided I should be here in case the auditors couldn’t find something. However, I’m surprised Wes sent you. Didn’t know you knew anything about auditing.”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Jack. Maybe if you’d taken the time to learn, you wouldn’t be in this pickle.”

  “It’ll be like old times, Della. Maybe we can go out and have a few drinks together. You can tell me all about your new life in the fast lane.”

  She sat in front of the desk and stared at Jack in disbelief. She had to admit, he looked good for a man on the brink of disaster. He’d made his business his life, and sitting here with someone he dumped who now held the trump card must be traumatic for him, too. That old saying, “What goes around comes around,” was true.

  He rose. “I’d like to make something perfectly clear. I’m not selling my business. I want a bail-out, that’s all. Short term.”

  “Why not the bank?”

  “I’m overextended. If I screw up, someone gets the business.” He walked around the desk and sat on the edge next to her. “Believe me, ducks, I won’t screw up.”

  Right now, all she wanted was to do the job and get home to Rick. The moment she thought of him, she remembered Jack spilling his guts about her past to a perfect stranger. “Why did you tell Rick about my past? That was between you and me.”

  “He got me drunk and pulled the story out of me.”

  “You’re a snake, Jack.”

  “You haven’t changed, girl. You still have a mouth on you.” He eyed her up and down. “Glad to see you’re dressing a little better. I taught you something.”

  “I try to take good advice. Maybe you should take mine, and cool it with the booze. Seems you get loose-lipped. We might have still been working together if you hadn’t come into the office half snockered that afternoon.”

  “You’re right. So, what do you want from me?”

  For the first time, she felt she had the upper hand over Jack. What a heady feeling! Too bad that upper hand wasn’t working in her relationships.

  “Seems we both have a little growing to do.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll take you to your office, so you can do what you came here to do. I want this fast-tracked.”

  She had touched a nerve. He was angry.

  He had set up a special office for the auditors with a walnut desk piled high with ledgers and manila folders, and the computer turned on and ready. Time to roll up her sleeves and dig in. She wanted out of this place, and quick.

  Late that evening, Della dragged herself into her room at the hotel and threw herself on the bed, exhausted. Rick hadn’t called. She returned Wes’s call and told him her news. He was surprised Jack showed up, told her he should have known. “If you’re okay with it, finish the job and get home. The other auditors called me and said you did a terrific job prior to their arrival. Jack’s future is in your hands.”

  His words stunned her. He was going to let her make the decision.

  She showered, ordered soup from Room Service, ate, then crawled into be
d with a book, waiting for Rick’s call. She picked up the receiver to call him five times and put the receiver back five times; then, like a baby, started crying. When she wasn’t in love, being alone was fine, but with a man in her life, being alone was almost unbearable.

  The phone shattered the silence. She sat up, primped her hair, adjusted her nightie and picked up the receiver.

  “Did I wake you?” Rick’s mellow, deep voice sent a shiver through her. Her heart danced with joy. Her man hadn’t let her down.

  “I was just dozing, waiting for your call. What took you so long? It’s after midnight here.”

  “Sorry, babycakes, I was working late. Just got in five minutes ago.”

  “You work in. What’s this ‘just got in’ stuff?”

  A long silence followed. She went on, “Sorry. I’m just tired and, Rick, I miss you terribly. I hate being here alone.”

  “You left too quickly for me to drop everything. I’m getting a lot done. Maybe Wes will give you a couple of days off, and we can go to the mountains.”

  “I’d love that.”

  “I told you, absence is good for the heart. I miss you every moment of the day.”

  “You do? I thought you were glad to get rid of me.”

  “Never, honey. You sound tired. Get some sleep, and I’ll call you tomorrow night. Same time?”

  “I’ll be waiting.” She hung up the phone and felt warm inside, more secure knowing Rick missed her and was anxious for her to come home. She fell into a contented, restful sleep.

  She worked through each day, refused Jack’s daily offer for dinner and drinks, went to the hotel, ordered food in and talked to Rick each night before bed. By the middle of the second week, they had nearly completed the audit. The New York boys told her to wrap it up, and left her to finish the job. That night, Rick told her he couldn’t meet her plane. He’d be in Reno on business.

  “Rats!” she exclaimed, her heart near the breaking point.

  “I’m leaving in the morning,” he said.

  “When will you be back?”

  “Sunday night.”

  She was scheduled to land in L.A. on Sunday morning at two a.m., arriving alone. “I might as well stay in New York and come in on Monday,” she said in a resigned tone.