Chapter 5 #2
From that point on, they became a couple and his life took a turn.
He started experiencing a joy that he never knew existed.
He laughed freely and got involved in sports.
She would tease him about being rich and entitled and only interested in sports like golfing and hockey. She was a daredevil and fearless.
She changed him for the better and included his sister in most of what they did. And he was her first. It had shaken him to the core that she had never done it with anyone before; it made it all the more special. She had been his first as well.
He closed his eyes as he recalled how he had fumbled around, terrified of hurting her.
And how she had kept reassuring him, giving him encouragement.
He had held her to him, his heart racing, his young body so flushed with pleasure that he could hardly bear it.
He had pledged to love her until he drew his last breath.
They made plans. Like most teenagers with the first blush of love, they had been completely na?ve and foolish.
Life was black and white. His parents never disapproved of her, but even so, he never felt comfortable taking her to his home.
They spent most of their time at her place because her parents were often out.
Then his world fell out from under him one year later.
Just like that, he had to leave. Lifting his glass, he tossed back the drink, grimacing as it hit his throat and burned a path to his stomach.
Putting the glass down, he gripped the railing and stood there as the chilly air washed over him until he started shivering.
Only then did he turn and walk back into his large and depressingly lonely bedroom.
***
"What?" Kady looked up with a distracted frown from the document she was scribbling on to see her assistant standing just inside the doorway.
"He's on the phone again."
"Tell him I'm busy."
"Kady, this is the third time he's calling and this time, he's insisting on speaking with you." Helen firmed her lips. "I love you dearly, but I don't appreciate being in the middle of whatever is going on with you and Mr. Crenshaw. He's our boss, after all."
Flinging down the pen, she looked up and glowered.
"All right, transfer the call."
She scowled at the flashing light, jabbed her finger on the button, and lifted the receiver.
"I don't have time for a conversation."
"I'm afraid you're going to make time." His voice was cool and authoritative and had her bristling with resentment.
"Is this your way of showing who's in charge?" she asked coldly.
"Call it what you may, but we're going to be working together. I've tried to be civilized about this-"
"Civilized?" she snorted indelicately. "If you had any decency at all or any remorse for what you did, you would stay the hell away from me."
There was silence for a few seconds, and she waited, her hand tight on the receiver.
"Kady-Ann, I'm in charge of a project, and this will only work if we're willing to put aside our differences and be united. I need a meeting to discuss the way forward. Today."
"I cannot make it-"
"Today." His tone was implacable, warning her that his patience was at an end. "I will give you the choice of it being here at my office or I can come to you."
"You're not giving me a choice," she told him tightly.
"I've been trying to speak to you for a week, and you refused to take my calls. Now, I'm taking matters into my own hands. Here or there?"
Leaning back, she closed her eyes and fought down the panic.
"What time?"
"Seven. I have a full day and can only accommodate you after hours. Where would you like to meet?"
Kady struggled with the decision. After hours meant that they would more or less be alone, and she was not sure she could endure being alone with him. She was much too vulnerable.
"Here," she murmured, wondering fleetingly if she could ask Helen to stay back. Dismissing the thought immediately, she straightened her shoulders. This was going to prove that she was on her way to being over him. It was time.
"Good," he said briskly. "I will see you then.
" He hung up before she could respond. Replacing the receiver, she sat there as if frozen in time.
He was coming here. She had wanted him in her domain, not facing him in that towering office building where he had the authority.
He would have had the authority: the upper hand. That would not do.
Her peace of mind was in tatters as it was; she could not bear another battering. It would be business, she decided firmly. Strictly business between them and nothing more, no matter what she was feeling.
****
Leonora studied her boss' face discreetly as she took her notes and tidied up a contract he had sent to her.
He hid his feelings well, of course. Landry Crenshaw had learned over the years to keep his emotions at bay.
But after working with him for years, anticipating his moods and his needs, she knew him.
And she loved him. Not like a prospective lover, God forbid! But like a mother would love her son.
She was aware that his own mother was a cold fish of a woman who cared more about personal appearances than her own children, and it made her heart ache to realize that the beautiful young man was lacking in parental love.
She kept her feelings to herself, of course, because he would have shied away and certainly wouldn't welcome anything else than professionalism and her complete dedication and loyalty.
But she could not help but notice the tension, the nerves that he was trying not to show.
She also knew that the young lady had been a part of his past. He would not bring it up and neither would she. There were boundaries that had been erected by him, ones she would not dare to cross.
He looked up suddenly to catch her staring at him. His only acknowledgement was a lifting of one thick blonde brow.
"Are you sure you're fully prepared for the meeting?" she asked swiftly, trying not to show her own concern.
"You've prepared the reports I asked you to, haven't you?" he deliberately misinterpreted her meaning.
"Landry-"
"No." He shook his head decisively. "I'm as prepared as I'm ever going to be." He checked the time, and when he spoke again, his tone was brisk. "I need a quick meeting with the finance department. Set it up, please."
"Of course." Taking her cue from him, she gathered her notes and rose. "I will prepare a detailed file for you to take along with you."
"Thank you." He offered her a brief smile before returning to the screen in front of him.
As soon as she closed the doors, he settled back in the soft leather chair, his expression brooding.
He was not prepared, of course. He was taking a chance venturing onto her territory and being alone with her.
It was a mistake, but he did not have a choice.
What they had to do couldn't be done over the phone and dammit!
He had to face her sometime. It might as well be now.
They were going to be working together, after all.
He was going to have to take the emotions out and try and work with her.
Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes as the weariness descended like a thick fog.
Now more than ever, he was starting to wish he had stayed in Europe; it had been less complicated then.
***
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" She had caught him between surgeries, and he was taking ten minutes to revive and reboot.
Kyle lounged back on the narrow bed in the on-call room and closed his eyes wearily.
He was going to have to fortify himself with a gallon of coffee before going into that operating room.
And the sandwich he had hastily swallowed this morning was a distant memory.
"Good or not," he insisted.
"Well, technically he's your boss."
"Please don't remind me. I've been avoiding him for a week."
"And you're going to be alone with him."
"There will be guards downstairs."
He had to laugh at that. "You make it sound like you're preparing for an attack."
"No. No." Kady sighed and rubbed her forehead slowly.
She kept looking at the clock, and it seemed like the time was ticking by so quickly when she wanted it to slow down.
"It's just going to be business. He has plans for the airlines and that's going to be the only priority.
I have to move away from the past and that's what I'll do. "
Kyle opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. His sister was spiraling and certainly did not need him to add to her stress. His telling her that it would not be that easy was only going to make things worse.
Instead, he decided to brighten her day. "Jason asked after you a few minutes ago."
"Kyle." He smiled as she sighed.
"He's a catch."
"I'm sure that's why he's still single at the age of forty, as well as divorced."
"His ex-wife hated his long hours. You're accustomed to being holed up at the office for long stretches. You would be perfect for each other."
"I don't need you matchmaking for me."
"Just looking out for you," he told her mildly. "And if you had a man, it would get mama off your back. She's reminding us about the benefit next Saturday."
"I just remembered that I have plans."
"If you dare to make me endure that tiresome evening with only our mother as company, I will never forgive you," he warned.
Chuckling, she felt her dark mood dissipating. "You could always ask that blonde doctor who's always panting after you."
"She found someone else to pant after: an intern." The disgust in his voice had her laughing.
"I'm sure it's not too late for you."
"Not interested." His expression sobered. "Are you going to be all right?"
"Yes," she told him decisively. "I'll be fine."