Thank goodness the girls swam up to us and splashed us both in the process. I don’t know why, but his last statement and look had me feeling a tad warm.
“Girls, I want you to meet someone. This is my boss, Mr. Greyson.”
“The idiot?” Sam said with no regard or qualms.
Courtney giggled.
Apparently, my sister and I needed to quit talking around them.
Embarrassedly I grinned over to Ian who had his eyebrow raised sky high at me, but he didn’t address me. He turned to the girls. “So what else has your aunt said about me ladies?”
“Oh no, no, no …” I cut in.
The girls laughed harder, and I knew I was in trouble. “Well …” they said in unison.
That was it. I jumped in the pool and tried to grab the little trouble makers, but they swam off to the other side of the pool laughing all the way. I looked back up to Ian who was all soaked and grinning evilly at me.
“So, this is what you really think of me?”
There was no sense in denying it. He was an idiot. “Believe me, I’ve thought worse things of you.”
His smile dropped and I felt terrible, even though it was true. Did he not understand how much he hurt me so long ago? But still, I should have held my tongue.
“Ian … I mean Mr. Greyson, I’m sorry.”
“No Kelli, I’m the sorry one.” With that he got up and gathered all his things and left.
I just watched him walk away, and part of me ached. When he was completely gone, I just sank under the water and wondered why I was letting him have such an effect on me.
I didn’t see him the rest of the weekend, which was probably a good thing. His actions confused me, and by Monday I was even more confused. I was finally going to see why we were wasting company funds on Ms. Manselle. I was just happy to know she had actually done some work. Whenever I saw her, she wasn’t designing anything—unless you counted her designs on Mr. Greyson.
Matt and I showed up to the conference room, waiting to be dazzled by her new designs. The meeting was supposed to start at nine, but the two love birds were all cooped up in Mr. Greyson’s office. I guess they needed a warm-up session. I still didn’t get it, and I didn’t get him. What did he see in her? Personally or professionally?
They came in fifteen minutes late; she looked frazzled and Mr. Greyson looked out of sorts. Maybe they had a lover’s spat, I thought, but then the presentation started, and the kindest word I could think to describe it was, “awful.” I could tell Mr. Greyson thought so too, but it didn’t keep him from trying to smooth it over. He kept saying things like, “Just visualize this or that.” It was pathetic.
I just kept my mouth shut, but Mr. Greyson kept looking at me like he was daring me to say something. I didn’t have to; the erratic, incoherent presentation spoke for itself.
And Matt’s comments tied it up nicely. “I can’t work with this. I think it would be better to stick with our current interface,” he said after he threw his pad of paper on the table.
I tried my hardest not to smirk, but it was really hard. It was harder not going and getting my design. I was even tempted to tell Matt about it and secretly show it to him, but I refrained.
Mr. Greyson looked directly at me with eyes of steel. “We’ll get this right.”
I gave in to my urge and smirked at him. Matt just shook his head, and Ms. Manselle pouted.
I will say this, at least it seemed to light a fire under her. I saw her more at work than at play for the next couple of days.
Then Thursday came. It was my birthday, and I was tempted to give myself the best present ever and not go in to work, but Mr. Greyson and I were presenting on Friday for Premier Bank in Nashville. They were a billion dollar asset financial institution, so we needed all the prep time we could get. At least I was going to be able to have dinner with my family that night before they left for the Magic Kingdom the next day.
I came in at a normal time. I figured I deserved the extra sleep. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Delfia had placed a large bouquet of balloons in my office for me before I even arrived. She really was the best. Her hug and homemade coffee cake weren’t bad either. Just the two of us enjoyed the cake together in my office. We didn’t feel like dumb and dumber were worthy of it, but I felt kind of bad about that later that morning when I got a surprise delivery of flowers.
They weren’t just any flowers, either, they were my most favorite of all time flowers, that only one person would know about. I just stared at the beautiful pot full of columbines. I didn’t even know you could order them like this. There was no note, which made Delfia super curious, but I had no doubt who they were from. Columbines are Colorado’s state flower, and they grow wild in the mountains. FYI, it’s illegal to pick them, but Ian, I mean Mr. Greyson, forgot to mention that to me until after it was too late. I still have those illegal flowers pressed in a journal somewhere. I loved the white and purplish-blue petals. I delicately touched the ones right in front of me.
Why did he have to be nice to me and remember my birthday and my favorite flowers? And why did I have to remember lovely hikes in the mountains, breathtaking views, and kisses with the only man I ever loved. I knew I needed to go and say thank you, but I was hesitant. I even considered just sending an email, but I had better manners than that, even though he may not agree. I reluctantly got up and opened my door.
Delfia was still trying to guess who the flowers were from. She listed off five more men. I just kept shaking my head. “Is Mr. Greyson in?” I asked her.
She looked at me funny. “Yes.”
“Is he with anyone?” And by anyone, I meant Ms. Dumber. She just shook her head no.
I could feel her stares from behind as I cautiously approached his door and knocked. It didn’t take long for him to grant permission for me to open the door. I did so quickly before I lost my nerve. I walked in and shut the door behind me as fast as I could, so no one else would see me or hear me. He looked surprised to see me, but his eyes lit up.
“Ms. Bryant.”
“Um … Mr. Greyson.”
“Please have a seat,” he offered.
I just smiled and shook my head. “That’s ok. I just wanted to say thank you.”
He ran his fingers through his hair like he was nervous. “For what?”
I knew he was lying, but I wondered why he would. “I know the columbines are from you. You and I may be the only ones in this state who knows what they are.”
He smiled warmly. “Or that it’s illegal to pick them in the wild.”
It was my turn to smile now. “Anyway, thank you.”
“Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks for reading my employee file and remembering.”
His smile instantly went away. “I’ve never forgotten,” he said, quiet and steady.
All of a sudden I felt very warm. I was also surprised, but I’ve always remembered his birthday too, June 16.
His eyes burned into mine from across the room, and suddenly I wanted to cross the professional boundary line, so I quickly said thank you again and ran out the door as gracefully as possible.
I didn’t even react to Delfia’s detective work and knowing looks as I walked past her. “Did you know that columbines are Colorado’s state flower?” she called with delight in her devious voice.
I just ran straight to my bathroom and stared at my flushed reflection in the mirror. What was wrong with me? I decided not to answer, because the answer was stupid. I just went back to my desk and I tried to concentrate on my presentation for tomorrow before I sent it back to Mr. Greyson. His new laptop was better than mine, and he thought it would be better to use his for tomorrow’s presentation. No matter how hard I tried to concentrate, my eyes kept drifting toward the beautiful flowers, and my mind kept landing on the man that sent them to me. By four, I decided to call it a day. It was my birthday after all.
With my balloons and flowers in hand, I made a beeline for the exit. It took me a while to exi
t the lobby as I had lots of birthday wishes. It was a nice way to leave work, but I wanted to make a quick exit; I wasn’t feeling like myself.
I was so out of sorts that on the drive home I debated whether I should cancel my birthday dinner with my family or not. Physically, I was well, but I just felt weird, if that made sense. Even driving home with the top down wasn’t helping any.
When I arrived home, I carefully placed my flowers front-and-center on my kitchen table. I put the balloons on my coffee table; I didn’t want anything to distract from the beauty of those darn flowers. They had become like the stupid note he wrote about the coffee filters. I kept staring at them like they would reveal some secret. I finally had to force myself to walk away and get ready for dinner. There was no use in canceling. I knew my excuse of “I just felt weird” would never fly with my sister. She would be over here before I knew it and psychoanalyzing me if I gave her such a reason.
As soon I as I walked into my sister’s home, I was happy I hadn’t given into my odd feelings. Court and Sam immediately flew into my arms with birthday greetings and hugs and kisses. They pulled me into the kitchen where it smelled amazing and where my sister and brother-in-law waited for me. They, too, were enthusiastic to see me. I was definitely feeling the love. For dinner, my sister was making one of my favorites: sweet and sour chicken and homemade fried rice. I felt terrible she was going to all the trouble right before she was leaving on vacation.
She waved off my concern. “I love you, Kelli Jelly,” she said.
And I sure loved her.
Dinner was beyond amazing, and the cake that followed was just as good or better. Amanda made another favorite: lemon cake with blackberry frosting. She really was Betty Crocker, and I adored her for it. I especially enjoyed the company as I listened to my nieces excitedly talk about flying to Disney World the next morning.
“It’s not too late for you to come,” Zane and Amanda said. I just shook my head and sighed. Amanda gave me a knowing look.
I put the girls to bed while Zane and Amanda cleaned up. I definitely got the better end of the deal, but I had a feeling the girls wouldn’t be sleeping well. It was like the night before Christmas for them. They each promised to bring me something Disney related.
“Do you think you could bring back Prince Charming for me?”
They giggled hard at me. Too bad I was serious.
I came down to say goodbye to Zane and Amanda. I figured they would want to get to bed, because they had a very early flight, but Amanda pulled me into the living room to talk to me for a bit.
“So what’s wrong, Kelli? You’re not acting like yourself. Did something happen at work today?”
Both she and Zane looked interested in my reply.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I had a … good day.”
Amanda smiled mischievously. “Did Ian bring in another blonde?”
“No.” I hesitated, but then added, “Actually, he sent me flowers today for my birthday.”
Both of their faces immediately shone.
I just shook my head. “It was nothing.”
Zane laughed at me. “Kelli, I know we’ve raised you better than to be this naïve.”
I couldn’t help but laugh when Zane got all parental on me. He was only like eight years older than me. “I’m not naïve. Ask Amanda, she’ll tell you.”
She grinned at me, but didn’t jump to my defense. I kept looking at her expectantly and getting more annoyed by the minute as she just stared at me with amusement on her face. I finally blurted out, “Why are you staring at me like a fool?”
“I think we were wrong about the hussy.” She could barely contain her laughter.
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t agree, but even if it’s not what we think, so what?”
“Kelli …You need to open your eyes to the truth,” Zane jumped in with his two cents.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He took my hands in his like he was talking to his daughters. “Ian loves you,” he said point blank.
I couldn’t help it; I laughed in his face and pulled away my hands. “Have you been inhaling laughing gas at work?”
Both he and my sister were looking at me like I was the high one.
I stopped laughing. “Guys, you know that’s not true.” They still kept staring at me and then looking between each other. It was making me very uncomfortable. “Why do you think that?” I finally decided to ask.
“Besides it being completely obvious, he said some things while we were golfing that cinched it,” Zane answered.
I began to feel weird again. All I could do was stare, with my mouth wide open. Amanda lovingly closed it for me and laughed a little.
“Ok, fine. I’ll play your sick little game. Did he say he …,” I could barely say the word in relation to him, “loved me?”
Zane smiled kindly. “He didn’t say the exact words.”
I smugly smiled.
“Kelli, the man loves you.”
“No, Zane. The man left me crying and calling his name with no thought at all. Then he went years without contacting me, and when he did show back up, he stole my job and made me call him Mr. Greyson. Does that sound like love to you?”
Both he and my sister gently took a hand. I was on the verge of tears, and I had no idea why, other than I was frustrated with their insinuations and the way my life had been ever since Mr. Greyson showed up.
Zane smiled kindly. “Can I tell you a little something about Bryant women?”
Both Amanda and I gave him the look.
He laughed, but braved speaking. “You are the most terrifying creatures on this planet,” but he quickly added before we really did terrorize him, “but there’s nothing greater than being loved by one.”
I rolled my eyes at him as Amanda said, “Awww,” and kissed him a little more sloppily than necessary.
“Ahem,” I interrupted. “Ok genius, if that’s the case, then why did Mr. Greyson leave me?”
He smiled again. “Kelli, did you ever stop to think that maybe he did what he did because he loved you?”
Chapter 14
I froze. I had never had thought of it that way, but that thought didn’t make any sense at all. You don’t leave the people you love, and that’s exactly what I told Zane, and that’s the thought I held on to as I drove home. I tossed and turned in bed that night thinking about Zane’s conjecturing and how irked I was at all of them. I begged Zane to tell me what Mr. Greyson said, but he said what happens on the golf course between men, stays on the golf course. He added in, “You’re a smart girl, Kelli. You’ll figure it out.”
I woke up tired, and my brain felt muddled. Calling in sick crossed my mind more than once. If only we didn’t have that meeting with Premier late that morning. And what would’ve been my excuse? Sick of my boss, perhaps? Or maybe I could blame it on the weird sensation that kept coming over me whenever I thought about Mr. Greyson. In the end, I just threw off my covers and started my day by showering and sighing more than was necessary.
I wore my best bone-colored suit that fit me like a glove, and I curled and styled my hair beauty-queen style. I looked in my floor length mirror when I was done and sighed some more. I looked ok, but there was still something different about me, and I really didn’t feel like myself. I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed again, but then I threw my hands up in the air. I knew what my problem was: it was that stupid man.
He continued to consume my thoughts as I drove to work. I became increasingly more upset and confused by the mile. I was angry that he would talk to my brother-in-law about me in the first place and that my brother-in-law, whom I trusted, and whose children I took care of on a regular basis so he and my sister could still pretend to be newlyweds, wouldn’t even tell me what he said. If he would just tell me, I could clarify for him what Mr. Greyson really meant, because surely he didn’t love me. But what upset me more was the thought, what if he does love me? I tried so hard not to entertain that thought, because it was co
mpletely ludicrous.
I mean really, the man had been married, and let’s not forget that he left me and took my job. And let’s certainly not forget all of his professional boundaries mumbo jumbo and of course, Alexa. But I also couldn’t forget that he came to my rescue and brought me a tissue and he saved me from an awful date and he remembered my birthday and bought me the most beautiful flower arrangement ever. Not only that, he was giving me opportunities at work that I had never had before.
“AHHHH!” I screamed out in my car on the highway. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t let him back into my head, or worse, my heart, the heart he ripped out and just casually tossed away like day-old take-out cartons.
By the time I arrived at work, I was frazzled to say the least. I wasn’t in a mood to deal with what I had waiting for me when I made it upstairs. I knew immediately something was up by the way Delfia’s eyes were bulging. She didn’t even say good morning. All she did was rush me into my office and shut the door, then she hauled me to my bathroom and shut that door. I was so stunned I didn’t even object.
“Delfia.”
“Shhhh,” she whispered.
“What’s going on?” I inquired.
A big evil smile broke out across her face. “This morning I came in earlier than normal, and little miss thing was here. I was surprised because Mr. Greyson wasn’t here yet, and I wasn’t even sure she worked,” she whispered ever so quietly.
I shook my head in agreement with her assessment.
“She was talking on the phone to someone in the conference room, and she obviously didn’t know I was here; either that or she’s as dumb as we first suspected.”
Delfia and I had discussed her at length. We decided she was either really dumb or very smart.
“So what did she say?”
Delfia grinned evilly again. “She said, ‘I may need a little more time, but I’m not sure how much longer I can play the incompetent angle. Also, there’s a snag in our plan. Ian appears to have feelings for the regional manager.’ Then she went on to belittle you, the little wench.”
Professional Boundaries Page 15