Executive Decision: A Romance Novel

by Mandy M. Roth

  “You came out of the womb in a bad mood, didn’t you?”

  “Perhaps, but it beats being born with a silver spoon, sweetie. Some of us had straw instead of a spoon.”

  He smiled and shrugged. “I would love to see you on a farm. I can’t picture it. The only thing about you that makes me believe you ever even lived on one is when you are extremely excited or pissed you get the slightest of accents.”

  I huffed. “I do not.”

  Dale flashed me his boyish “get out of anything” smile. “Liz, it’s kind of cute. Don’t get upset when I point it out.”

  Glancing towards the wall, I focused on one of the many pieces of non-art Charles had hanging around the place. In my opinion the artist had wasted a perfectly good canvas, having only put a red triangle in the bottom right corner with a slash of grey brushed through it.

  Dale lifted my chin towards him. “Aww, did I upset poor Elizabeth?”

  I let my gaze harden and tried not to laugh as I grabbed my pen and jabbed him in the backside. He yelped and lifted off the desk a bit. “Aww, did I accidentally hurt poor Dale?”

  “You’re kissing that if it’s still sore later,” he said, rubbing his bottom.

  “You deserved it for bringing my non-existent accent into this.”

  His bottom lip quivered and I knew he was trying not to laugh at me. “Right then, no accent. Got it. What about your affinity for baseball caps, sneakers and eating? How do you explain those? They’re very ‘not from around here’ if you know what I mean.”

  I readied my pen and he grabbed hold of my wrist. “I happen to like to pull my hair up into a cap when I clean, do your laundry and ... well, I just like to wear one. As for wearing sneakers, why would I want to run around in three-inch heels all the time? My legs are long enough already. If a man is turned off by the sight of tennis shoes then he isn’t the man for me. And if you’re planning on poking fun at me for actually eating then I’ll make sure this pen goes all the way through next time.”

  Dale twisted my wrist slightly and de-penned me. Grinning, he leaned over me and patted my head gently. “Such a cute lil’ defensive thing.”

  I didn’t laugh.

  “Fine. Sorry. I love that you eat. I don’t think I’d ever really seen a woman eat before I met you. Not sure where you put it though.”

  It was sweet that he was trying to backtalk his way out of a pickle with me. But it wasn’t working. “Dale, you have a mother and a sister. Do you mean to tell me they didn’t eat the entire time you were growing up?”

  “Rosy, my nanny raised me, not my mother. I was sent to boarding school at age six and Paige is six years younger than me. I didn’t even see my baby sister until she was almost one and then it was only briefly.”

  Running my hand over the side of my desk nervously, I tried to think of something to say to him. No part of me could imagine growing up that way. Whenever he let something slide about his childhood, it seemed very cold and very sterile. I have two brothers. We all lived at home until we went away to college. We fought like cats and dogs but wouldn’t dare let another person between us. I couldn’t fathom not seeing them. And I certainly couldn’t see my mother handing us over to someone else to raise us while she lived in the same house and was perfectly capable of doing it herself. She did have a babysitter come two times a week but that was because she worked those two days.

  Hearing Dale tell me that he didn’t grow up with Paige did explain why they didn’t ever share childhood stories with me or have any of those special jokes that I shared with my siblings.

  Dale leaned back on my desk and propped himself on his elbow. If it had still been during business hours I would have pushed him off but no one but Charles was still around. It wasn’t like he’d dare say a word to me about it.

  “Don’t you go growing a conscience and getting all sentimental on me, Liz, or I’ll be forced to go get my rubber band gun and handle it.”

  My mouth dropped. “You told me you threw that away!”

  He grinned from ear to ear. “I lied.”

  “I had a welt on my butt for a week after you got me with that!”

  He twisted a bit and laughed. The deep sound wrapped around me and I instinctively wanted to bat it away right after I let it circle me once more. “I know. It was cute and it must have hurt. Sorry about that. But in my own defense--I thought your pants were thicker and I also had no idea you didn’t have underwear on.”

  I pushed him hard but it barely budged him. “I did too have on underwear.”

  “Sweetie, a thong doesn’t cover much cheek now does it?”

  “Go file something, Mr. Silver Spoon Man, and let me sulk.”

  “Sulk?”

  “I found out today that my date for my reunion isn’t going to be able to make it. In one respect it’s good because I had no idea what in the hell I was going to do with him during Daddy’s sixtieth birthday party. Daddy hates all men that have anything to with me, except you.”

  He shook his head a bit. “Kind of late in the game to bail on you considering you’re flying out this weekend.”

  “Tell me about it. Next time I’ll be sure to pick a more reliable guy.”

  He smiled wide. “Want me to come? You were already planning on someone being there and I can finally meet your family. I feel like I know them, yet I’ve never really met them. Plus, I think I found the perfect gift for your father.”

  “Pierce Dale Corbin, you do not need to buy my father a birthday present.”

  “Liz, every time I answer the phone at your house and it’s him, he grills me on when we’re going to begin dating so he can get planning on grandchildren. Never in a million years did I expect a girl’s father to beg me to hurry up and start doing his daughter.”

  Nodding my head, I did my best to block the knowledge out. I failed. “I’m sorry he does that to you. Has my mother cornered you yet? She thinks we’re lying to them and ‘living in sin’ but she promises not to tell my father. I think she’s itching to get to plan a wedding and has put all her hopes in you being the man on the cake topper.”

  Dale laughed so hard he shook the desk. “Want me to videotape a message to her telling her how much I’m not getting from you?”

  I jabbed him with my pen, lighter this time and in the arm. “No.”

  “I’ll tell her in person then. When I meet her in person. This will be great. I’ll get to see where you grew up, meet your family and some of your old friends.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind going? I thought you were going out with Ashley.” I asked, still surprised that Dale seemed genuinely excited about going.

  “Liz, I haven’t gone out with Ashley in two years. And, no. I don’t have a date planned. I’d love to go. I’ve got as much vacation as you built up and since we aren’t taking on the Becker account I’m not busy here. We’ve got two weeks. We could spend as much time as you want with your family and maybe do something together.”

  I thought about it a minute. Dale was right. He could get the time off, and he wouldn’t think twice about coming with me. “I’m flying. I hate to fly and you fly everywhere you go. You’re going to have to sit by me while I clutch the seat and sweat.”

  Dale chuckled. “I think I’m up for that. Though, if you leave claw marks on my arms, I’m telling your mom she was right about us and I’ll use that as proof. She’ll know you’re a wild one then.”

  I snorted. That was something Dale would do. “Are you sure you don’t mind? Ohio isn’t anything like New York.”

  “I just told you that I’d love to see you on a farm. I’m game.”

  I tried to hide my excitement. Dale had just single-handedly saved me from being the one woman who wouldn’t be showing up with a man on her arm. The best part of it all was that I could take him to my father’s birthday party. Charles was not going to go to that. I don’t think my father would be pleased to learn I’d been seeing an older man. I beamed. “Thank you, Dale.”

  “It’ll be fun.”
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  “Yeah, fun to watch the boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth on a farm. I will be taking a camera.”

  “I may have been born with it in my mouth, but I don’t carry it around with me as an adult. Now, Paige on the other....”

  Tossing my hand in the air, I snickered. “Say no more. It’ll only get you in knee deep with her.”

  “I often fear my five foot five baby sister.”

  “You’re trouble you know.” I stood, grabbed my Isabelle Fiore handbag and took a deep breath in.

  Charles appeared outside my office door and I waved him in. He glanced at Dale, still half lying on my desk and then back at me. His eyebrow went up in question. I shook my head and Charles relaxed. This time when he looked at me, it was filled with lust rather than suspicion.

  “Elizabeth, do you have a few minutes? I’d like to talk with you in my office.”

  He had to be kidding me. I’d already told him I was going out with my friends tonight, yet he still wanted a quickie.

  “Mr. Baum, I’m actually getting ready to head out. Can this wait?”

  Or, translated—no sex now.

  Charles glanced at Dale and smiled. “Dale, I’m surprised you’re still here. I hear the ladies talking when they don’t think I’m listening. They all seem to be fighting for a chance to take you out.”

  Dale chuckled. “I don’t think it’s quite like that, but thank you. I’m waiting for Liz to finish up.”

  Instantly, Charles had his light blue eyes locked on me. His face tightened and I could only imagine the things running through his head. “My apologies on my comment, Elizabeth. I wasn’t aware you were one of the women as well.”

  That made Dale sit up. He tapped his fingers on my desk. “As nice as that would be, Mr. Baum, Liz is not one of those women. I actually feel bad for any man who dates her. She’s always working. He’d have to apply for a job here if he ever wanted to spend any time with her.” He sent a large paperclip spinning in my direction upon his last comment and cast Charles a questioning look.

  “Yes, our Ms. Rogers is quite dedicated to her job. Since you’re on your way out I will meet with you Monday ... ahh ... no I won’t. You’re on vacation starting next week, aren’t you?”

  Way to point out that you won’t be getting any from me for two whole weeks.

  Dale stood and I heard his keys jingling, or rather my keys. He carried my house keys for me. I didn’t bother. “That reminds me, Mr. Baum. Liz, told me we didn’t take the Becker account and that she could use some rest and relaxation. Our team will be dead in the water for a few weeks since we finished the last of our month’s projects already, I’d like to take a couple of weeks off myself.”

  Charles looked as though he’d tip over from shock. “Really? I’m almost upset the rest of the office is gone. No one will believe me when I tell them you actually took some time off. You are just as bad as Elizabeth. At the rate the two of you are going, you’ll have enough vacation time built up to take four years off before you retire.”

  I laughed softly because he was right.

  “Is that a yes?” Dale asked.

  “Of course, Dale. Enjoy your time. Any idea what you’ll use the time for?”

  I sucked a sharp breath in and crossed my fingers for there to be no fireworks.

  “I think I’ll take some time, see the countryside and just relax with friends,” Dale said, looking directly at me as if he knew better than to tell Charles he was coming with me. How he knew was beyond me but the look in his eyes said he did.

  “Wonderful, enjoy yourself.” Charles caught my gaze and just held it for the longest time. My neck and upper chest warmed rapidly as if his stare did have the ability to scorch me. “Dale. Elizabeth.”

  I watched as Charles walked down the hall. A tiny piece of me thought about running after him. I didn’t.

  “Yoohoo, Liz.” Dale waved his hand before my face and I jerked. “You okay there? You were here then gone.”

  Did horny qualify as fine?

  “I’m good.”

  “Hey, do you mind if we stop by my house quick?”

  “Nope, you want to grab a cab?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Chapter Three

  Dale set his keys down on the black countertop and hit the lights. The room lit up and I stood in awe, just like every other time I came to his place with him. The light oak, hard wood floors matched the cabinets in the kitchen section perfectly. The only thing on the countertop was an answering machine phone combination.

  “You have forty-two new messages.”

  I rolled my eyes as his answering machine did a popularity callout, announcing just how in demand Dale was.

  “Hi, Dale, this is Fawn. I was just hoping you were feeling better. I’ve been worried about you. German measles just sound horrible.”

  I stood rooted in place as at least five more messages with the same—you were too sick to keep our date—messages played before I couldn’t hold my laugh back.

  Dale turned and grinned sheepishly at me. “What?”

  “German measles? Scarlet fever? Tonsillitis? Are these for real? They actually bought those lame-ass cop outs?”

  “It would appear so.”

  I followed him into the open room as he headed for an oversized glass coffee table. Dumping a pile of mail, he let it scatter and paid no more mind to it. I looked down at the floor and smiled.

  “Hey, you picked up a rug. I like it.”

  “Yeah, you said your feet were cold the last time you were over. Since it’s a losing battle to get you to keep shoes on your feet when you’re in the house, I thought some area rugs would help.”

  Why in the world would he go to that trouble for me?

  To one side of the coffee table sat an oversized white couch, with a two cushioned back and seat. It lacked arms so it wasn’t ideal to watch movies together on. On the other side sat two matching black suede armchairs. When I looked towards the six panel window with French doors that opened onto a small balcony that showed the view from his twenty-first floor apartment on Park Avenue, I found a high, bar height, round stainless steel table with two stools next to it. He had a white, square linen tablecloth laid so that the pointed edges set off some of the roundness. As a centerpiece, he had the potted Lady Slipper orchid I’d given him. When I’d seen the deep purple in it, I thought of Dale and picked it up for him.

  “Dale, why do you do that?”

  He made his way past the flush-to-the-wall, grey marble fireplace and then stopped at the base of the white floating staircase that lead to the upper level. “Do what, hon?”

  Did he just hon me?

  “When did you get the new table?”

  “The day after you wanted to eat while we watched it rain. You made me sit on the floor by the window. Is there something wrong with it? I almost ordered the oak one but I’ve got a soft spot for steel. I can get the other if you think it would work better in here.”

  I rubbed my temple, wondering if I did it hard enough would I understand Dale’s thought processes. It didn’t help.

  “It’s perfect. But why did you get it?”

  He shrugged and looked at me like I was the odd one. “So we didn’t have to sit on the floor again. And after I thought about it, I realized that if I got one that had chairs high enough, you could see out and over the city. Though, why you enjoy looking at it baffles me.”

  “I give up.”

  Dale took being best friends to the extreme. I had to be careful what I said around him or he’d go buy the closest thing he could find to it. He had the money to do it. That wasn’t the point. The point was he didn’t need to do it. I was his friend for him, not what he did or had.

  He ignored me and started up the stairs. I went to check to see if the flower needed water. “Liz, you coming?”

  “I was going to check....”

  “I have my cleaning lady water it. Don’t worry.” He grinned from ear to ear as he continued up the stairs. “Hey, you kno
w how you’re always talking about flowers and their meanings?”

  I kicked my heels off and followed him up the stairs. “Yeah, why?”

  “Do have any idea what the meaning behind the Lady Slipper is?”

  I was so struck with the extra plush white area rug that now spanned over his entire bedroom floor that I forgot to answer. A rather childish urge to sink my feet into it and touch it came over me. Since it was only Dale who was with me, I gave into it.

  I hopped onto it and it felt as though I were standing on a cloud. It was soft. Bending down, I ran my hand over it and smiled. It was not only soft and perfect, but it went beautifully with his loft styled bedroom. The white wall behind his bed had a row of six large framed photos on it. They were black and white Ansel Adams’ prints and they tied into the other side of the room where he had a large black and white photo he’d taken while traveling around Europe. It was of an old limestone abandoned farmhouse on a hill. It was overgrown and had flowers sprouting up all over it. He’d come home with it, had it sectioned off and printed onto three large, six foot tall canvases. He didn’t have them pressed together, rather they were spaced about two inches apart making the person viewing the photo work a bit to see its beauty.

  “Liz, why are you petting the rug?”

  “Because, it’s as soft as a baby kitten.”

  Dale laughed. “You don’t like cats.”

  “I know but just because I’m not a cat lover doesn’t mean I don’t know how soft a kitten is.” I went to stretch out on it and found myself being lifted into the air. “Hey!”

  Dale flopped onto his king sized oak platform bed and took me with him. We bounced up and almost off the bed. “No you don’t.” He hooked an arm around my waist and kept me from actually shooting off it.

  I laughed so hard that I snorted, making Dale laugh too. I thought I was just about done when he took hold of my sides and ruthlessly began to tickle them. I squealed and tried to push his hands away. Moving a mountain would have been easier than moving Dale.