by Jana Mercy
“How did you end up in Boston?”
“Long story.” She shook her head in wry humor.
“Maybe we could check out one of Boston’s restaurants tonight, and you could tell me all about it.”
Her eyes widened. He had been flirting with her. And he was asking her out on a date. Mousy, boring Adrienne.
“That sounds lovely, but I really don’t know you.” She suppressed her laughter.
“Go out with me tonight, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.” The way he looked at her made her laughter die and her skin crawl.
“I don’t—”
“She’s not going anywhere.” Chase’s barked words startled both Adrienne and the man who leapt from her desk.
She pulled her brows together in a frown. She was glad to no longer be alone with Mr. Edwards, but glared at Chase all the same.
“I’ve been blessed with a tongue of my own and am quite capable of answering for myself.” She gave him a pointed look. “I don’t need a man running interference in my life.”
Chase’s eyes narrowed, and his lips drew in a tight line. His stance warned not to push him. Who put a bee in his bonnet?
“Just what did you have in mind?” she asked the slinking man who’d been watching her exchange with Chase. His face lit up, but quickly faded at Chase’s sharp glance.
“Dinner on the Charles?” His suggestion didn’t sound too inviting. Adrienne shook her head at his lack of backbone. Even if she weren’t supposed to be homosexual, she wouldn’t go out with this measly spined man.
She lifted her chin defiantly at both men.
“Sorry, but there just isn’t anyone in this room that would make interesting dining company for a woman like me.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Chase couldn’t believe his ears. Adrienne was giving him the cold shoulder again. How many times did that make?
He looked at the man from Miller RXs in distaste. When he’d realized the man hadn’t followed the rest of the group to George’s office, he’d made an excuse to go back. Something about how the man had stared at Adrienne when she’d brought a fresh pot of coffee into his office set alarm bells off.
Thank God he’d come back. The jerk had actually been hitting on her. Anger rose in his chest. He shot the man a look that had him scurrying from the room.
Adrienne turned away from him and began typing.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
Her fingers stilled on the keyboard.
“I’ll see to it he doesn’t bother you again.”
She spun to face Chase. “Maybe you didn’t understand me earlier. I don’t need your help.”
His anger faded at her flushed cheeks and vivid eyes. No unfashionable glasses could hide the beautiful blue-green flashes of her eyes. His groin tightened. He swore under his breath at his body’s unwanted reaction.
What was it about her?
“I’ll make a note of it for the next time you need rescuing.” He spun on his heel and left the room before he made a fool of himself in front of her.
“Chase!” Adrienne tried not to jump up to throw her arms around him as he walked out of the elevator. God, she’d missed him during his trip to Chicago this week. He’d barely spoken to her before leaving. No wonder after his parting words after the Miller Rx guy incident.
He stopped to stare at her with red-rimmed eyes, but didn’t speak. Was he still upset with her? Or just at what a mess things were at Morrigan’s? That she fully understood.
“I take it things didn’t go well.” Okay, so she knew they hadn’t. Had insured they wouldn’t. Dear Lord, she hated seeing him so tired looking.
“You might say that.”
He walked over to stand in front of her desk. “The board is torn in two over who should replace Ted Morrigan. Stock prices dropped another forty cents a share.”
She flinched. That part she hadn’t heard yet.
“I take it Drew Steinberg was not voted in?”
“No, but if Hillington doesn’t walk down the aisle with the Morrigan woman soon, I’m going to switch sides. I won’t be a willing participant in tearing Ted’s company apart, and that is what’s going to happen if a decision isn’t made. Soon.”
So Roger hadn’t told anyone about her attempt to return his ring. She’d wondered if he would and had taken precautions in case he started to reveal their broken engagement to the other board members.
“So you sided with this Hillington?”
He raked a hand through his hair, looking tired, and nodded. “Of course, George took the same stance as I did. I helped Hillington plead his case, and the board voted right down the middle. I hope I haven’t made a mistake.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve made a powerful enemy of Drew Steinberg by siding against him. If the board votes him in, I’ll be one of the first to get axed.” He sighed. “George, too.”
“No.” She’d never let that happen. If she had to marry Roger and give him every share she owned, she wouldn’t let Drew hurt George. Or Chase. Never.
“After last night, I’m pretty much convinced I screwed up.”
“What happened last night?” She was almost afraid to ask.
“I spent all evening and most of the night planning with Hillington. It seems he’s lost his trump card.”
Her. But she had to ask. “What trump card?”
“Morrigan’s daughter dumped him, then disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” she gulped.
“She told everyone she was going to tour Europe with friends. Hillington tracked down this group of friends in Madrid. She wasn’t with them.”
Perspiration beaded on the back of her neck. “Maybe she’s heartbroken over her father’s death, and has gone somewhere to figure out what she really wants in life.”
“Hillington is worried Steinberg may have her locked up somewhere.”
“No!”
Chase’s brow lifted at her shocked whisper. “Wherever she is, she’d better get her butt home and marry Roger Hillington or her father’s company is going to be run by Steinberg or torn apart and sold bit by bit to the highest bidder.”
“I think I’ve messed up.” Adrienne sank onto the sofa in Sheila and her apartment.
“Oh? What did Chase do this time?” Sheila clicked the television off.
“Told me to marry Roger.”
“What?” Sheila’s eyes bugged out. “He knows?”
Adrienne sighed. “No, but I’m considering telling him.”
“Wow. I think you’d better tell me exactly what happened today. Chase got back from Chicago, right?”
“Yes. He sided with Roger who told him we were no longer engaged.” Adrienne rubbed her temple and told Sheila of what had taken place. “I have to call Roger.”
“Why?”
“He thinks Drew has me locked up.”
Sheila’s mouth dropped open.
“Just because Roger ignored the fact that Drew hit on me doesn’t mean I want him concerned about my safety.”
“He’s probably more worried about Morrigans.”
“True, but I can’t let him worry. Even if I don’t love him, I do care about him as a person.”
“I’ve seen pictures of the guy. He’s a hunk, Adrienne. Maybe you should reconsider and marry him. Or at least try him out in bed while the getting’s good.”
Adrienne tossed one of the sofa cushions at her friend. “I can’t believe you said that. I’m trying to have a serious conversation here.”
Sheila smiled, lowering her head. “I know. But Roger really is dishy, and bottom line is, you have to do something soon. Time’s run out.”
Adrienne met Sheila’s gaze. “What if Chase hates me when he finds out everything he knows about me is a lie?”
“What does it matter what Chase thinks?”
She averted her gaze.
Sheila leaned forward. “The plot thickens.”
“Oh yeah.”
“So how thick
is it?”
“Thick.”
“Gravy thick or brick wall thick?”
“I don’t know. I just know that when I look at him my body does strange things, and I’d like to find out what they mean. As Adrienne Morris I can’t do that. Then again, I don’t want to worry that any interest he shows in me is me as Ted’s daughter. I want to be wanted for me and me alone.”
“Maybe you should just tell him you aren’t gay. After he’s had a few days to adjust to that idea, you can see how he reacts. Then if it feels right, tell him that in reality, you’re his boss.”
“Chase?” Sheila caught his sleeve and gave a tug. “Can I have a few minutes with you please? It’s about Adrienne.”
Now what? Hadn’t Miss Man-hating Mouse wrecked enough havoc upon him for one day? He’d managed to avoid her since her latest rebuffing. Not an easy feat to stay away from one’s own assistant, but he’d managed.
“Make it quick.” He followed her into her office. She’d caught him on his way out of George’s office. Sheila’s office was also located on the main floor of Weston Tower.
When they were both seated in her office, she began her explanation.
“I need to ask a favor.”
Chase raised his eyebrow. He stared at the pretty blond. Blondes. His preferred form of the opposite sex, but after last night with Starr, he’d come to the conclusion he’d become bored with blondes. If the beauty he’d been with couldn’t get a rise out of him, literally, he must have had his fill of the fair-haired species. Maybe he should start dating brunettes.
Or eat more oysters.
An image of Adrienne’s slicked back hair flickered into his mind. Hell no. He didn’t go for mouse brown. Nor assistants. And certainly not women who preferred women.
Even ones who fed him oysters.
“I want to borrow Adrienne on Friday,” Sheila continued.
Her words grabbed his attention.
“What do you mean? Borrow Adrienne?”
“I want to take her shopping. Several of us have scheduled the day off to pamper ourselves. We want to take Adrienne along with us. Get her hair done and a facial. Take her to the mall and help her pick out something spectacular to wear.”
“Adrienne’s decided to go to the party?”
“Not yet. But she will before we’re through with her.” Sheila smiled knowingly, then met his gaze. “I know she hasn’t been here long enough to have built up any time off, but I’d like your permission to kidnap your assistant for the day.”
Kidnap Adrienne for the day. That would keep her out of the office so he wouldn’t be distracted by her sexy ankles.
Sexy ankles? Hold on, since when had he decided her ankles were sexy? Had to be because he couldn’t see the rest of her body.
He did not think her ankles were sexy.
He took out his wallet and pulled several large bills from its folds. No price would be too great to get rid of his fascination with what she hid beneath her clothes.
“Here, I’ll contribute to the cause.” He tossed the bills onto her desk. “Just make sure the dress doesn’t come past her knees, and you can have her for the whole day.”
“Deal.”
Chase stood to leave. He didn’t like the curious gleam in Sheila’s eyes as she stared at him.
“You live with Adrienne?” He just didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. Well, he knew--just didn’t seem capable.
She nodded.
“How long have you known her?”
“Since we were ten.”
Chase’s eyes widened. Recall of the other horribly unsuited applicants on the day he’d interviewed Adrienne confirmed his suspicion he’d been had. His head shook ruefully. “Has she always been…” he paused.
“Been?” Sheila prompted, amused.
He looked away. His gaze landed on a metallic sculpture of a man and woman in a fluid motion embrace. Great. Just what he needed to see. “You know.”
She snickered. “You mean has she always liked women?”
Chase’s gaze lifted to the woman laughing at him. He nodded.
“Oh, not long. Her sexuality is definitely a recent development.”
He frowned. “Are you?”
“Me?” She laughed out loud. “Haven’t ever met a woman who tempted me to cross that line, but if I ever do, I’m not averse to an alternate lifestyle. Maybe if I hadn’t known Adrienne so long she would have…” She paused, gave him a knowing look. “Well, you know.”
Right. He had the distinct impression he’d said too much. With a slight wave of his hand, he left her office.
“But I’ve got work to do!” Adrienne protested Friday morning when Rosie, Sheila, and Lucy showed up at her desk a little after eight.
“Yes, and it’s with us. Don’t worry. We got an okay from Chase. Actually, he encouraged us to do this after I told him what we had planned.” Sheila informed her.
“But what is it you want?” Adrienne didn’t trust the glint in her roommate’s eyes.
“We’re going shopping,” Lucy Stephens, Sheila’s secretary answered.
“And to this great spa Lucy knows of!” Rosie’s excitement bubbled.
“Uh-huh, not me. I don’t need to go shopping,” Adrienne protested. Her nerves were already shot. The last thing she needed was to shop. That was how Adrianna Morrigan dealt with life. Spa, shop, spend her daddy’s money and enjoy life without a care in the world. Even through college, she’d been a whiz and she’d effortlessly achieved top honors. Why hadn’t she realized while her father was alive how spoilt she was? Why had it taken losing him to open her eyes?
“Of everyone I know, nobody needs to shop more.” Lucy piped up with an exaggerated eye roll.
Guilt slamming her, Adrienne grimaced. If her new friend only knew that once she’d been the queen of shopping. That in Chicago her closet held more clothes than Adrienne could wear in a year.
“Besides, we’re not giving you a choice.”
“Come on, Adrienne. We all pitched in for this.”
“Don’t make us resort to kidnapping.” The sparkle in Sheila’s eyes warned Adrienne that her roommate meant business.
Adrienne frowned at her friend. Sheila knew better than this.
Still, seeing the determined light in her friends eyes, she put away the project she’d planned to work on, grabbed her purse from her desk drawer, and faced the smiling women.
She had a lot to decide before the party tonight.
“Let’s get this over with.”
“Take the ace wrap off your boobs before you put that dress on,” Sheila ordered from the other side of the dressing room door.
Adrienne gave a wry smile and unwrapped the bandage that helped keep her full chest from attracting attention.
She lifted the shimmery, blue-green dress and let the silky material glide over her body. The material hugged against her, exposing more curves and skin than it covered.
“It’s too little,” she called out to keep in character. In reality she loved the dress. Surely, if she planned to tell Chase the truth anyway, it wouldn’t hurt if she quit dressing like a nun?
Or was that her vanity talking? Truth was she wanted to knock the man’s socks off…and other pieces of clothing.
“Step out and let us be the judge of that,” Sheila demanded from outside the door.
Adrienne tugged the skirt down lower on her thighs, but only managed to expose more of her breasts. Frustrated, she opened the door and stepped out with her arms crossed over her chest.
All three women and the saleslady who’d joined their party stopped their conversation and stared.
“Do you think it’s too short?”
“Something’s not right.” Sheila circled Adrienne, eyeing her carefully. “The glasses. You don’t really need them, do you?”
Adrienne kept one arm over her chest as she placed her glasses in Sheila’s outstretched hand and pretended to squint.
Sheila still wasn’t satisfied. She reached up to Adrienne�
��s hair and pulled out one, then another of the clips holding her hair in place. She removed all the pins and fluffed Adrienne’s long tresses out. The swish of her hair tickled the bare skin of her back.
“Much better,” Sheila assured.