by Jenna Brandt
As an added side benefit, Conrad had been working closely with Tiffany, allowing them to casually joke and flirt with each other. Though they hadn’t kissed, Conrad could see Tiffany was comfortable with him again. What was more unexpected was that Roger wasn’t hostile towards him anymore. He wouldn’t go as far as to say they were friends, but they were definitely not enemies any longer.
“I think by the end of the month, everything will be ready for the first shipment of the solar technology,” Tiffany beamed with pride from her chair behind her desk. “I can’t believe how quickly we got this back on track.”
“That’s because we’re a great team,” Conrad recognized, as he reached out and placed his hand on the top of hers from across the desk. “There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you.”
“What’s that?” Tiffany set down her pen and gave him her full attention.
“I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner with me tonight.”
“Conrad, I don’t know if it’s a good idea…”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Conrad argued with a grin. “We’re great together when it comes to business. I think we can be even better together if we throw in some romance.”
“I just worry what people will think. I don’t want—”
“What if I promise to take you where no one will recognize us? We won’t have the pressure of performing for anyone. It can just be us.”
Tiffany looked as if she was debating her response. “If you can guarantee that no one at the company will know about it, I suppose one dinner couldn’t hurt anything.”
“Good, I’ll pick you up later today at three.”
“Why so early?”
“After all we’ve been through, we deserve as much time off as we want. I figure a couple of hours out of our workday isn’t too much to give up for a fun date.”
Conrad spent the rest of the afternoon putting together the plans he had in mind. By the time he arrived at Tiffany’s apartment, he was charged with drive to make this the best night of Tiffany’s life. If he got only one chance to impress her and convince her they should be together, he was going to pull out all the stops.
He climbed out of the limo, greeted the doorman, and made his way up to her penthouse apartment. He knew it was old-fashioned to want to escort her to the car, but he wanted to treat Tiffany like the lady that she was.
Conrad knocked on the door and waited for Tiffany to answer. When she did, his mouth fell open in admiration. She looked gorgeous in a plum knee-length dress that hugged her body in all the right places.
“Wow, you look amazing.”
“Thank you,” she returned as she came out and locked the door behind her. “I kind of had to guess what to wear, considering you wouldn’t tell me where you were taking me.”
“You know, I figured it would be more fun to surprise you.”
“You’re lucky I don’t mind surprises. Well, at least in my personal life. When it comes to business, I like everything planned out.”
“I noticed that, but I took a chance and hoped you might be a little more relaxed off-duty.”
Tiffany laughed as she shook her head, causing her golden hair to move around her face in the most alluring way. He wanted to reach out and pull a lock through his fingers but realized it might be a little too soon for a move like that.
“You make me sound like a cop,” she joked.
“Well, you’re definitely the warden when we’re at work,” he pointed out, then gave her a mischievous smile. “Not that I mind it. You can lock me up any time.”
Conrad escorted Tiffany downstairs, then helped her into the waiting limo. He climbed in beside her, then told the driver they were ready to go.
The limo weaved through traffic along the streets of Manhattan until they arrived at the airport an hour later.
“We’re flying somewhere?”
“We sure are,” he said with a giant grin as the limo took them to a private hangar where a Lear jet was waiting. “We’re going to fly in that?”
He nodded. “I figured you’ve been on hundreds of massive private jets with all the bells and whistles, why not try something different.”
“I’m not sure I’m up for something different. Is it safe? I don’t think I’ve ever flown in a plane that tiny.”
“It’s not the size that matters,” Conrad harassed with a smirk. “It’s the quality of the pilot.”
“You had better have hired a great one then. Who’s even going to fly us?”
“I am,” Conrad revealed with pride. “I got my private pilot’s license and bought my first plane when I made my initial million. It was always a dream of mine.”
“Please Lord, don’t let me die,” she prayed as they climbed the set of metal steps that led to the jet.
Tiffany glanced around, and Conrad could tell she was trying to figure out where to sit.
“Why don’t you come up into the cockpit with me. I could use a co-pilot.”
“Seriously? I don’t know if I want to watch where we’re flying. I might be better off in the back.”
“No way, you want to be in the front. It’s the best view, trust me,” he said, taking her by the hand and pulling her forward. He took his position behind the control wheel, placed his headphones on his ears, and handed a set to Tiffany.
“Take the seat next to me and put those on,” he gently ordered with a grin. “Relax, this is going to be fun.”
Conrad went through the pre-flight checklist, making sure everything was in order for their flight. He had a team of mechanics and pilots that kept his fleet of planes in perfect working order, but he always liked to check things himself before each flight. When he was done, he radioed the tower, informing them they were ready for departure.
A few minutes later, they were high in the sky and cruising along the coastline.
Conrad looked over at Tiffany, who was gripping the edge of her chair so tight her knuckles were white. Her eyes were squeezed tight, and she looked like she might pass out at any moment.
“Tiffany, relax,” he whispered as he reached out and patted her hand.
She jumped and a small squeak came out. Her eyes snapped open as her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. “I don’t know what that was.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just look at the sunset over the ocean. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Tiffany hesitantly did as Conrad suggested. Slowly, her body relaxed, and a smile formed on her lips. “That’s magnificent.”
“This is why we had to leave early. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching the sunset over the water from above.” Then looking over at Tiffany, he amended his statement. “Correction, it’s the second most beautiful view in the world.”
Tiffany’s cheeks tinged red again as her eyes locked with his. He could see she appreciated the compliment, and her eyes were sparkling with joy. If he wasn’t flying a plane, he would be tempted to lean over and kiss her. Since he barely got her to calm down though, he suspected that wouldn’t be the best idea. Besides, there would be plenty of time to kiss Tiffany later tonight.
They spent the next few hours talking about their favorite movies and music as well as their favorite places to eat in Manhattan. The time passed rather quickly, and by the time they arrived at the airport in Key West, both of them were in a terrific mood and ready to spend the rest of the evening on the tropical island.
“Have you ever been here before?” Conrad asked with curiosity.
Tiffany shook her head. “My family tends to vacation in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean when they want to spend time in the tropics.”
Conrad rolled his eyes with a snort. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Hey now, I can’t be judged for where my parents took me for vacation, now can I?”
“I suppose not,” he admitted, opening the car door of the Ferrari that was waiting for them at the airport. “No more than the fact that Key West was the only place we went on vacation growing up because it was within dri
ving distance of Miami where we lived.”
He closed the door and then came around to climb into the driver’s seat. Tiffany looked over at him and smiled. “You look good behind the wheel. I’ve never seen you drive.”
“No need to in Manhattan. It’s much easier just to have a car and a driver.”
“Agreed, if you want to know a secret, I got my license in college just to irritate my parents, but I’ve never used it.”
“Are you serious? You’ve never driven a car?” Conrad looked over and asked with shock.
“Nope, growing up in Manhattan, I never needed to.”
“Well, that changes tonight,” Conrad insisted as he climbed back out of the sports car and came around to her side. He opened the door and gestured for her to get out. “You’re driving.”
Tiffany hesitated for a moment, then got out of the passenger seat. “Be forewarned, I might very well end up wrecking the car.”
“That’s okay. I’ve got great insurance,” Conrad jested.
They got back into the Ferrari and settled into their new spots. Conrad programmed in their location right before Tiffany pushed the button, causing the engine to hum to life.
Gently, she eased the car forward. Conrad could tell she was nervous as she was clenching the steering wheel tightly and her eyes were darting around to make sure she wasn’t near anything she could hit.
“Tiffany, why don’t you calm down a bit and enjoy yourself,” Conrad coaxed. “Let the car do the work. Keeping such a tight grip on the steering wheel won’t make a difference.”
She pressed her lips together, then slowly she loosened her grasp. Her lips curved up in a smile as her speed increased.
“That’s it, now you’re getting what this car is all about,” Conrad encouraged. “Go faster.”
She must have taken the hint because she pressed her foot to the pedal and the car lurched forward, increasing in rapid speed.
“Woohoo!” Tiffany yelled, as the wind whipped through the car, blowing her blonde hair around her face. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“You sure are,” Conrad shouted back. “Look at you go.”
The GPS dinged, telling Tiffany where to turn until they reached their final destination.
“Where are we?” Tiffany asked as she pulled the car up to the valet and climbed out.
“We’re at my favorite restaurant from my childhood,” Conrad explained, as he took Tiffany’s hand, then placed it in the crook of his arm. He escorted her inside the restaurant where a hostess took them to the rooftop. It was empty except one table, glowing by candlelight, with black linens and fresh roses in the center.
“Your server will be right with you, Mr. Gaines,” the woman said as she handed each of them a menu after they took their seats.
Tiffany opened her menu and looked through it. She glanced up over the rim with an arched eyebrow. “You mentioned you came here as a child, but the only thing you’ve ever mentioned was being in the foster care system. Did one of your foster families bring you here?”
Conrad frowned, remembering that most of the families he had stayed with had only wanted the check that came with him. “Hardly, almost all of them were in it for the money. They wouldn’t waste any of it on taking me on a vacation. My mom brought me here every summer until…she passed away.”
“You know, that’s the first time you mentioned your mother. I can see you cared about her a great deal. What happened?”
“She died from kidney failure when I was eight. My father was never in the picture, and she didn’t have any family, so I ended in the foster care system.”
“I’m so sorry,” Tiffany whispered, reaching out and squeezing his hand with her own. “That must have been so difficult.”
“It was. I missed my mom, plus it was difficult growing up without any family, and being shuffled from one foster home to another. The worst was when there weren’t any foster families available to take me in, and I ended up in a group home. The kids in them were the worst—bullying was an everyday sport for them, which is why I worked so hard to get out and make something of myself. I ended up getting a full-ride scholarship to Yale and left when I was seventeen.”
“And then my brother and his friends did exactly what those kids did to you back in the group home. Is that why you were so upset with Roger?”
Conrad nodded. “It was like being debased all over again. I worked so hard to prove I belonged, but every time I thought I might be able to escape my past, they were right there to remind me that I didn’t belong.”
“Did you ever think that maybe you shouldn’t try to escape your past? You’re a strong, independent, survivor, Conrad, and that’s because of what you went through, not in spite of it. If you embraced who you are and where you came from, you could change so many foster care kids’ lives for the better by showing them they can make something of themselves too.”
“I never thought of it that way,” Conrad admitted. “I’ve always just tried to cover up my past or avoid it when that didn’t work.”
“I think that’s a mistake, Conrad. I respect so much who you are and how you got here. You shouldn’t hide it.”
The server came, opened a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass. Next, he took their order before leaving.
“I know I said it at the funeral, but I’m really sorry about your father passing away. I understand how hard it is to lose a parent.”
Tiffany nodded. “I know you do, and I appreciate your caring. It hasn’t been easy. Some days I feel like I can’t get out of bed, but I remind myself that my father would want me to push through and take care of his legacy.”
“You know the company isn’t his legacy, right?”
“What are you talking about?” Tiffany asked in confusion. “It most certainly is.”
“No, it’s not, you are his legacy. He raised a smart, strong, determined woman who also happens to be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Whatever you choose to do, that will be your father’s legacy.”
Tears formed in the corner of Tiffany’s eyes. “I didn’t expect our date to get so deep,” she whispered, brushing away the tears. “I’m typically not a crier.”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to do or say anything for my sake. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
The rest of their dinner passed with excellent food and friendly conversation. When it concluded, a string trio entered the roof deck and started to play classical music.
Conrad stood up and stretched out his hand. “Would you like to dance?”
Tiffany nodded, giving him her hand. He pulled her up from her chair and into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her, tucking her in against his frame.
They swayed to the music, letting the perfectly cool weather wrap around them as they stared into each other’s eyes. Tiffany felt wonderful in his arms, and he knew he couldn’t be happier than he was in that moment. He leaned down and let his lips touch hers, a gentle kiss, that completed the perfect first date.
The new couple danced to several more songs, enjoying each one more than the next. By the end of the evening, Conrad knew he was in trouble. He was falling in love with Tiffany Boswell.
As Tiffany waited for Conrad to show up at church, she prayed that everything would go smoothly. Though going to church and having a relationship with God was new to Tiffany, it had become an important part of her life. She hoped Conrad would feel the comfort and peace she did when she first started going to Journey Church.
He arrived wearing a pair of jeans and a gray sweater. He looked great, though she wasn’t used to seeing him out of a suit.
“What? Why are you looking at me that way? Am I dressed wrong? I’ve never done this before,” Conrad confessed.
Tiffany hadn’t realized her surprise had been so obviously written on her face. She shook her head. “No, I’m just not used to seeing you in casual clothes. When you’ve been around me, you’ve always worn suits. I wasn’t even sure you had anything other than t
hat in your closet.”
He let out a chuckle. “Contrary to what you—and most of the world—think, I do have more than one mood. I’m not all business, all the time.”
Tiffany’s lips curved up in an appreciative smile. “Good, there’s no point to life if all you do is live to work.”
“Says the woman who does exactly that,” she heard her brother Roger jest as he came up. “Who are you to lecture Conrad on having a personal life when you so clearly don’t have one of your own?”
“I’m working on that,” Tiffany admitted, glancing at Conrad out of the corner of her eye. She wanted to add she was working on it with Conrad, but she wasn’t even sure what was going on with them or whether she was ready to go public with it. The last thing she needed was her brother lecturing her again about not getting mixed up with him on a personal level. She was surprised her brother had been okay with her inviting Conrad to church today when she had brought it up to him via text.
Everyone has a right to establish their own relationship with God, Tiff. I won’t be the one to keep Conrad from the peace and joy I’ve found.
Thanks, big brother, I appreciate your understanding.
Just promise me, you’ll be careful. We still don’t know if Conrad has told us the truth about what he is really up to.
Do you have to be so skeptical?
I have to be, since it seems like you’ve decided to not be when it comes to him.
I don’t want to fight about this. Thanks for understanding about church. I’ll see you tomorrow.
“What do we do next?” Conrad’s question brought Tiffany back to the present.
“We go inside for the service,” Tiffany explained.
“Celeste is saving all of us seats,” Roger added as they headed towards the sanctuary doors.
Before they could enter though, Diane greeted them with a smile and look of curiosity as she eyed Conrad. “Good morning, Tiffany, and who’s with you today?”
“This is Conrad Gaines,” Tiffany paused for a moment, debating about how to introduce him further.
“Good morning, ma’am. I’m pleased to be here. I work with Tiffany at Boswell Energy.”