by Kira Blakely
Abby scoops out a pack of colorful foil balls.
I’m a little surprised that he remembered Siberia but if he thinks he can get to me through Siberia, he’s wrong.
“I’m sorry, but I think Siberia has enough toys. Is there anything else?”
Abby raises an eyebrow. “Is there anything else you want to have?”
I blink. Is she for real?
“I have better things to do actually so—”
“I also have a message to deliver.”
I cross my arms over my chest and lean on the doorframe. “Okay. Let’s hear it.”
“Mr. Landers told me to tell you that there are already a few dogs in the dog shelter. You might want to pay them a visit.”
The dog shelter? Surely, Nathan doesn’t think I’ll fall for the same trick twice.
“He also told me to tell you that he’d appreciate it if you would please return his phone calls. He’d very much like to see you again.”
You mean he’d like to sleep with me again.
I snort. “And he can’t say all this himself?”
“Well, he couldn’t reach you—”
“And of course, he’s too busy to come here himself.”
“Well, if that’s what you want, I can tell him—”
“You know what? Tell him this for me.” I stand up straight. “Tell him I don’t care what he does with his life, but I happen to have one, too, and I’d appreciate it very much if he dragged his fucking ass out of it and stayed the hell away from me.”
I slam the door, breathing deeply as I lean on it.
That felt good.
At least until I realize I just lashed out on an innocent stranger.
Shit. What did I just do?
I open the door. Abby is still out in the hall, texting someone on her phone.
Thank goodness.
I walk toward her. “Um, Abby?”
“Yes?” She turns her head.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
“It’s fine.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s not. None of this is your fault.”
“It’s fine,” she repeats. “I’m used to taking responsibility for things that aren’t my fault.”
That makes me feel even more guilty.
“It must be tough working for Nathan Landers.”
“It is,” she admits. “But I can deal with him.” She sighs. “It’s dealing with his women I don’t like.”
Women.
“Have you told him that?”
Abby shakes her head. “Other than that, he’s a good boss. True, he can be a little grumpy sometimes—” She lowers her voice. “Don’t tell him I said that.” She resumes her normal tone. “But he’s reasonable. And efficient. I work hard, but I know he works harder.”
“He didn’t send you to tell me about his good points, did he?”
“No,” she answers quickly.
“Don’t worry,” I assure her. “I won’t tell him a thing. Actually, I don’t intend to say anything more to him.”
“Can I ask why?”
I lean my head back. “I guess I’m just another woman.”
She nods. “Well, yeah. He’s been with a lot of women. I actually thought you were different, though.”
I look at her. “What made you think that?”
“Well, I’m usually sent to deal with his women, tell them to stay away from him, blackmail them, bribe them.”
“That’s horrible.”
“It’s the first time I’ve been sent to deliver presents.”
Really?
“But I guess a leopard can’t change his spots, huh?” Abby asks.
I shake my head. Nathan can’t fool me any longer. “No, he can’t.”
To my surprise, she puts a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry for what he did.”
“Hey, you already do a lot for him. Don’t apologize for him, too.”
Abby smiles. “You know what? I like you.”
“Funny. I feel the same.” I glance back at my apartment. “Hey, what do you say we go inside and have some coffee?”
She smiles wider. “I’d love that.”
See. I don’t need Nathan. There are plenty of better, nicer people in the world to keep me company and work to keep me busy.
For sure, I’ll be able to move on.
Or so I thought.
10
Ruffled Feathers
The Talbot Mansion sits in the middle of acres of land, its grand architecture towering over the trees.
I’ve never seen it with my own eyes before, only on the cover of a magazine. I take a moment to appreciate it now, taking in the marble balustrades of its balconies, its brick chimneys and French windows before walking around the grounds with my camera.
It’s the birthday of Virginia Talbot, the matriarch of the Talbot family. Mattie and I have been invited not only because the Talbots are a family of philanthropists and politicians, but also because Carlisle Talbot, the second eldest son, happens to be my boss’ good friend.
There aren’t too many people yet, but I can already spot some familiar figures.
The peacock and his wife, the hen under a tree. The vulture by the fountain. The hyena by the refreshments table.
Or the camel.
I shake off that comparison, suppressing the memory of that conversation.
No, the hyena. And the mink. And…
Casey Rockford.
Shit.
Slowly, discreetly, I back away, taking pictures here and there so that the camera can conceal my face.
It’s no good, though. As soon as I put down the camera, she walks toward me with a slender redhead in tow, her eyes narrowed in disdain.
She’s noticed me.
Worse, she’s recognized me.
You stand out even when you don’t want to.
Shit. So far, her father hasn’t made any requests to have me fired but that could change tonight.
Time to make a not-so-discreet escape. I look around quickly then make for the gap in the hedge.
“Where are you going?” Mattie asks, noticing me fleeing. “I’ve heard Mrs. Talbot is about to come out of the house. And her daughter told me her outfit is worth a quarter of a million dollars, and she’ll auction it off afterward.”
“Restroom break,” I hastily mumble, not stopping. “I’ll be right back.”
Mattie frowns. I can tell she’s considering accompanying me to make sure I do come back and in time but then the hen talks to her, making her discard that idea.
Now, I just have to worry about Casey.
I go through the gap and make my way through the hedge maze. At the end, I reach a pool and I sit on a chair, out of breath.
Well, it seems I’ve lost Casey.
Why am I even running away from her? I didn’t do anything wrong. Nathan kissed me without my permission. I didn’t want him to.
And what about the kisses after? And the sex? You didn’t want those, either?
I sigh.
Right. Even though I shudder to think of it now, no matter how much I regret it, I ended up being one of Nathan’s women.
Whereas Casey never was.
And she probably blames me for it, so it’s best to stay away from—
“There you are.”
Casey emerges from behind the hedge with her friend right beside her.
I quickly stand up, a lump forming in my throat.
“M-Miss Rockford?” I say, stuttering.
“This is the woman Nathan dumped you for?” her friend asks with raised eyebrows.
Dumped?
I swallow. “I think there’s been some misunderstanding, Miss Rockford.”
“Really?” Casey puts one hand on her hip. “Are you saying you weren’t the one Nathan was kissing at that gala earlier this month? And don’t you dare say you didn’t enjoy it.”
“I was but I didn’t—”
“She doesn’t even deny it.” Casey’s friend steps forward, interrupting m
e. “What? Do you actually have feelings for Nathan?”
“I don’t. I—”
“Do you think he’s going to marry someone like you?” Casey’s friend stops right in front of me, grabbing my ID. “Samantha Willis, huh? Prima Vida magazine. Archibald Media.”
“Archibald?” Casey asks.
Shit. Now, she knows who I work for. Not good.
I snatch my ID away.
Her friend just chuckles, her nose turned up as her gaze sweeps me from head to toe.
She’s a snooty hawk — no, a duck pretending to be a hawk.
And she’s starting to get on my nerves.
“You’re not from a rich family, are you?” she asks.
Are you? I want to ask. I don’t even know who she is, after all.
I hold myself back, though.
Calm down, Samantha. Show some class. Don’t stoop down to her level.
“No, but—”
“What’s with this thing around your neck?”
Duh? “Um, it’s a camera.”
“A camera? You’re a spy?”
Um, spies don’t have big cameras hanging from their necks. Besides, didn’t she read from my ID that I work for a magazine? Either her short-term memory is much shorter than average, or she didn’t understand what she read.
She’s even stupider than a duck.
“No, I’m a photographer.”
She snorts. “So you say.”
Bitch.
“For all I know, you’re just using that camera so you can get close to Casey and Nathan.”
So, she admits she’s not one of the rich and elite.
“You mean like you’re pretending to be rich, smart and classy just so you can be friends with people like Casey?” The words slip.
I can’t help it. A person can take only so many insults.
Once I start, I can’t stop.
“You’re just trying to impress her, aren’t you? That’s why you’re acting all sassy with me. Why? So she’ll keep taking you on shopping sprees? So you can keep getting manicures and massages for free?”
She gasps.
Yup, she’s not the only one who knows how to say something insulting.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I actually am a professional photographer,” I continue. “If you want, I can take a picture of you right now. Not that I think it will get published. After all, I’m not really sure anyone knows who you are.”
She puts her hands on her hips. “I’m Denise Glenn, Casey’s friend.”
I mirror the gesture. “Oh, is that all?”
Her arms fall to her sides, her fists clenching along with her jaw.
Boy, is she mad now!
What? Is she going to slap me? Pull my hair? If she does, she better be ready because I’m not going to back down.
This squirrel is going to bite and scratch.
She doesn’t do any of those, though. Instead, she takes a deep breath, her gaze going to my camera.
“Give me that thing.”
I step back, my hands instinctively shielding my camera.
Anything but my most prized possession.
“No.”
“Come on.” Denise steps forward. “I just want to make sure it’s working. What’s there to be afraid of? Unless, of course, it’s not working and you’re really lying about being a photographer.”
Lying? Didn’t she see my ID?
“Well?” She extends her hand.
Liar or no liar, there’s no way I’m going to hand over my camera, especially not to someone who doesn’t even know what a camera is.
“No,” I repeat. “Surely, you’ve had enough education to understand those two letters.”
Again, she seethes. “Give it to me.”
“No.”
“I said give it to me.”
“And I said no.”
“Why, you…”
She reaches for the camera around my neck, and I do my best to hold on to it while freeing it from her fingers.
“Give it to me,” she demands, tugging.
“Let go.” I pull back, holding my camera tighter.
That goes on for a few seconds — her pulling and me pulling back harder.
You can do anything you want to me but no one, and I mean no one, takes away my camera.
She sure isn’t giving up. Shit, she’s strong.
But I’m smarter.
Suddenly, I stop pulling, sending her reeling back. She falls ungracefully to the grass, her arms getting dirty.
Oops.
Casey rushes to her side to help her, then glares at me. “My father and my brother will hear about this, Samantha Willis.”
I smirk, savoring my victory for a moment, but stop once Casey’s threat sinks in.
Oh, shit. I’m in a load of trouble now.
“Mr. Archibald will see you now,” Henry’s secretary, Lisa, announces.
I get up from the couch where I have been nervously fidgeting with the tassel of the throw pillow for the past half hour.
I’ve been nervous since last night, actually, hardly able to sleep and eat. I’m even more nervous now as I head inside Henry’s office, doing my best to keep my hands from shaking and my teeth from chattering.
But there’s nothing I can do to keep my heart from pounding.
I take a deep breath, bracing myself for the lecture.
I know there’s going to be one, probably the same one Nancy and Mattie gave me. But this is the most important of all.
After this lecture, I’m going to find out my fate.
“G-good afternoon, Mr. Archibald,” I greet him as I step in the room.
“Ah, Samantha.” He looks up from his phone and smiles.
He’s smiling?
“Please sit.” He gestures to one of the empty chairs in front of his desk. “I must say that was quite a party yesterday, wasn’t it? The food was great. The women were fabulous. The wine was divine.”
I feel confused. Isn’t he going to get mad at me?
“As usual, the Talbots know how to throw a party. And I believe you had fun, too, didn’t you?”
I hold my breath. Here comes the lecture.
“Honestly, Samantha, I’m surprised.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“And impressed.”
Impressed?
“I didn’t know you’d made such strong connections while covering these parties. I must say it’s clever. I told you to use this job as a stepping stone and you definitely have.”
My eyebrows crease. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.” He pushes a sheet of paper toward me. “Anyway, you won’t be working for Prima Vida anymore.”
My heart sinks. “I’m not?”
I knew it. He’s going to fire me.
“In two weeks, you’ll be working for Seeker.”
“Seeker?”
I can’t believe it. Seeker is the company’s adventure magazine, focusing on quiet getaways, secret destinations, natural retreats and wildlife encounters.
In short, it’s the magazine I’ve been wanting to take pictures for, the reason why I joined the company.
It’s my dream job.
“You’re assigning me to Seeker?”
It’s too good to be true.
“Yes.” Henry nods. “I believe your first assignment is somewhere in Cambodia.”
“Cambodia?”
Now, my heart is racing for a different reason.
But then my mind catches up.
Wait. Why am I suddenly being assigned to the Seeker?
“Did someone resign?” I ask curiously.
“No. We created this opening just for you.”
Just for me.
“Don’t you want it?”
I do. Oh, God, I do, but there’s something holding me back.
The knowledge that this couldn’t have happened just because of me.
“Does this have something to do with what happened
yesterday?”
“In a way,” Henry answers. “Truthfully, Allen Rockford wanted me to fire you on his daughter’s request and I was going to, but then I received another phone call.”
Another phone call.
“Let’s just say your connections paid off.”
I frown.
In all my months covering parties, there’s only one connection I’ve made.
Nathan.
“So, I guess I should congratulate you.” Henry offers his hand. “And clear your desk. You won’t be needing a desk anymore.”
I nod, absently shaking his hand.
Fine. I’ll clear my desk.
But first, I have something else to clear.
11
Lion’s Share
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go upstairs,” says the blonde, snub-nosed receptionist in the lobby whose name tag reads Sarah with another shake of her head.
Ever since I came up to her and told her I wanted to see Nathan, she’s been shaking her head, unconvinced by every argument and plea I’ve presented. Even the one-woman-to-another appeal didn’t work. She’s still cold as ice, straight-laced as that white blouse she’s wearing.
“Fine.” I sigh. “If you can’t let me go upstairs, then ask Mr. Landers to come down here.”
“I’m sorry, Miss.” Sarah still has the same expression. “But that is out of the question.”
“Can you at least tell him I’m here? If you only tell him that Samantha Willis is—”
Another shake of the head. “Sorry, Ms. Willis, but I can’t do that. Mr. Landers is very busy and—”
“Oh, I know he’s busy,” I interrupt, running out of patience. “Though he apparently still has time to send me flowers and try to call me. Do you know how many times he’s tried to call me? I don’t know. I’ve lost count. But if he finds out I was here and you didn’t let me see him, I’m sure he’s going to be very upset.”
“Perhaps you can call him then?”
I pout. Really? If I could, I would have, but I’ve already deleted his number.
“Look, if you can just—”
“Mr. Landers gave strict orders that no woman is to bother him while he’s at work at any time.”