Chapter 9 #2
She was also aware that they shared something. It was not just her. He could not fake what he was feeling. He had been as affected as she was. Did he still love the actress? Could he still be in love with another woman after what they shared?
She had no idea. All she knew was that she was bloody prepared to fight for her man. He was her husband, and she was keeping him.
The meeting was being held in her very spacious office. She had a small space for her rich mahogany desk, several filing cabinets, a refreshment table, two chairs and a conversation area, with the rest dedicated to her marketing and design area. Here she had spared no expense.
The table was long, facing the window, where the city's buildings speared up towards a leaden November sky. The table was strewn with designs, catalogs, marketing tools and files.
She had a very capable and efficient assistant who anticipated her every need and was now pissed that she had not been invited to the wedding.
"I thought we were more than employer and employee." Mel sniffed, her tight black curls bouncing as she threw back her head. She had brought over coffee and a plate of croissants from the kitchen.
"Take it up with my grandfather." Picking up her cup, she eyed the woman who was two years her senior. "He was calling the shots along with Kyle's grandfather."
"So it's true then?" Mel was a little mollified at the answer. "It's an arrangement?"
"Not anymore." Ingrid's smile was smug. "And that's all I'm prepared to say on the topic. We have work to do."
"That's not fair. I..."
"We have work to do and since we've been out of office for the past four days and yes, I'm counting Saturday and Sunday as well, we have a lot of catching up to do.
" She lifted her hand and glanced at the expensive time piece on her wrist, unwittingly catching sight of her diamond wedding ring.
"In about two minutes, the team will be coming through those doors.
Finish setting up the refreshments and if we need anything else.
.." She glanced over at the table where there were coffee pots, OJ, lemonade and tiny sandwiches and morsels of pastries and shook her head.
"Send word to the kitchen. These people eat like they haven't been fed in days.
Okay, let's get moving. I have a lot to cover in a short amount of time. "
As she took a steadying breath, Ingrid smoothed the front of her blazer and reminded herself that she was in control here.
This was her domain, no matter how much her personal life had turned upside down.
There was comfort in the familiar rhythm of work, and she clung to it as the sound of footsteps approached from the hallway.
It shook her when she was in the middle of a discourse, and he walked in. She was not the only one affected. Her entire team turned to stare as he made his way into the room and over to where she was standing with Brad, going over the finances for the project.
"Carry on, please. I'm only here as an observer. My wife..." The emphasis on the word had Brad moving a few steps back. "She's still in charge."
Giving him a look that clearly said they were going to have words after the meeting, she picked up the thread and continued.
The meeting ran over and with the team wandering over to the table to grab food, it was further delayed.
By the time the last person had left the room, she was pressed for time.
"I need a minute." He snagged her arm and gestured with a nod of his head for Mel to leave and close the door.
"You have thirty seconds."
"I can work with that." Pulling her into his arms, he cupped her face and closed his mouth over hers. "I love seeing you in charge. It sets me off."
"Apparently, anything does." She pressed a hand on his chest, her senses swimming. "Dammit, McCreary, I have a meeting with the contractors and need a clear head."
His smile was smug. "I have a board meeting, and this will keep me going through the boring process."
Her gaze sharpened. "A board meeting? I was not informed."
He flicked a finger down her nose. "It has to do with the shipping side of things, of which you have no part of."
She sniffed. "Don't think we're not going to talk about you walking in and calling me your wife in front of my employees."
"You are my wife." He grinned. "I give you permission to invade my meeting and call me husband."
"Don't think I won't. I have to go."
"Let's go out later. There's a musicale happening at the theater later on. Let's have a real date."
Her heart skipped several beats. "What time does it start?"
"Around eight."
"If I can get done by seven, that's fine. If not, raincheck."
"We have the Dewberry black tie deal on Saturday." He kept his arms around her. He had meetings to attend and a pile of files on his desk, but he was reluctant to let go.
"I know." Giving in, she wrapped her arms around him and indulged in one very steaming kiss that almost blew his brain. "Now, I really have to go. Let go, McCreary."
"You'll pay for that later." He promised, his voice hoarse with emotions.
"Counting on it." She patted his cheek and stepped away. "I'll tell Mel you need a minute." Her eyes dropped to his crotch and had him grimacing. Pulling his jacket close, he thanked God he had decided to keep it on.
"Witch."
Laughing, she took his hand as they made their way towards the door. He was disappointed when she let go as soon as they stepped outside the door.
That will end soon, he vowed as he veered off into the opposite direction.
*****
He took the call after careful consideration and the fact that he had been avoiding her for the past few days. Pressing the buzzer, he informed his assistant to put it through.
"I don't have much time."
"There was a time not too long ago that you would push everything back for me. When did that change?"
Her sultry tone no longer had an effect on him, and he marveled at it.
"Things changed and I do have a meeting in exactly five minutes. What do you need?"
She laughed bitterly. "I see I've been replaced. Wasn't it just recently you told me you wished it was me you were marrying? Don't tell me you've fallen for that dumpy wife of yours."
His temper reared, and he had to tamp it down. "Leave her out of it."
There was a pause and the sound of shaky breathing. "Then it's true? I've been replaced by her?"
"Look." He rubbed the back of his neck where he felt the tension building. "It just happened. It was not something I anticipated, but I... we're making it real. We want to start a family. I told you this was going to happen."
Another pause, this one longer. "You dumped me for her. You made me hope..." Another shaky breath. "I'll never forgive you for this. I loved you!"
"Calm down." He ordered icily. "I had to marry her, and you knew that well enough. Like I said, I never thought I would..." He broke off and closed his eyes. "The point is, we're in this thing for real and we want to try and make it work."
"Go to hell."
He winced at the sound of the dial tone in his ear. Before he had time to reflect and ponder, he was being called for the next meeting.
*****
It felt strange being here with her. In the past, it had been him and his current fling. More recently, it was with Carly. And he found himself scanning the crowd for any sight of her.
They hadn't bothered going home to change but had left the office and came straight to the theater.
Within minutes he was relaxed in the very comfortable VIP section, his legs stretched out and his hand holding hers.
His wife sipped champagne with her eyes glued on the stage where lights dazzled and people whirled in time to the music.
He had eyes only for her.
She was completely absorbed and had one foot thrown over his. He loved that she didn't possess an ounce of coyness and could laugh out loud or sigh, depending on what was happening.
"It's lovely, isn't it?" She whispered.
"Hmm."
She turned to look at him, meeting his amused green eyes. "You're jaded."
"I've seen it several times. I cannot believe you haven't."
"Well excuse me if I never had a date and was too busy working to just take in a show."
Lifting their joined hands, he nipped at her knuckles. "Never had a date, huh?"
"Not for any lack or anything like that. Men tend to find me intimidating."
"I wonder why." He grinned at her dark look and was about to say something else when she shushed him.
Settling back in the chair, he wrapped his arm around her neck and placed her head on his shoulder. He scanned the crowd again and saw several friends of his. Jackson was a few rows below with Jerri and he could make out Kane and Kelly.
He supposed he was going to have to socialize as soon as the show was over and answer some questions.
A few weeks ago, he was going out exclusively with Carly and now he was married to Ingrid.
Turning his head, he gazed at her and felt his heart stirring. She had spent a full day at the office and the job site and still looked like she could go another round. He realized that work energized her. When he suggested they go on home, she had told him she was not tired.
"And you did promise to take me out. I hope you're not backing out on me, McCreary."
Now he was happy they were here. The press was out in full, and he had no problem them being caught on camera.