"The person is on her way up. Would you like me to stay?" Adelaide asked politely, hovering just inside the doorway of his office.
She had noticed how withdrawn and reticent he had become over the last month and wondered what had caused his personality to change. Not that he had been all that friendly to begin with. They shared a very good professional relationship and had done so for over ten years. She supposed they got along because she was not one of those silly girls who keep hoping the boss would abandon his rule never to become involved with an employee, no matter how high up on the food chain.
She was a happily married woman, one who was the same age as his mother. And she valued her job. She was compensated for her late hours, even more than several of the executives on the payroll. For that, plus other things, he had her complete loyalty. And his personal life was just that, his business.
"No." He looked up from the contract he was perusing, his expression inscrutable. "As soon as you show her in, you may leave."
"Shall I reschedule your dinner appointment?"
"No. This won't take long."
With a polite nod, she retreated, leaving the door open. She was packing up her desk when the woman walked in. Sizing her up coolly, Adelaide stepped from behind her desk.
"Mr. Lancashire does not have a lot of time to spare."
"I'll make sure not to waste any." Carrie refused to be intimidated by the chicly dressed woman, with the coiffed dark brown hair threaded through with silver. She estimated that the rust colored wool skirt suit she had on was worth at least several hundred dollars.
"He said to go right in."
Taking a deep breath, Carrie stepped towards the open doorway and just stood there staring at the elegant office. It wasn't fussy. She had seen fussy in magazines. This one was what she wouldcall functional. The desk was wide, a polished mahogany, and suited the man seated behind to a tee. A huge fireplace with flames leaping upwards took up one side of the wall. The view from the floor to soaring ceiling was spectacular. It was dark enough for bright lights to be seen sparkling, vying with the lights from the stars sprinkled above.
He looked up then and she felt a jolt at the power and authority stamped on a face that was too set to be considered handsome. Golden eyes stared into hers and she had to tamp down the desperate need to run.
"You have five minutes." He gestured her in and leaned back in his chair, eyes watching her as she came into the room. "I suggest you use them wisely."
"I..." She moistened her lips and had to keep her hands from trembling. "Mind if I sit?"
He continued to stare at her. When he didn't answer, she sat on the edge of a very plush chair.
"I'm Melanie's best friend." She began and waited. When he still continued to stare without commenting, she felt her fear mounting. "She sent back the things you bought her."
"You're telling me something I'm aware of." He said coldly. He had gone home just two days ago to see them at his doorstep. He had carried them inside and was going to destroy them, or give them to charity, the first chance he got.
"She's not like that." Carrie continued, realizing that she wasn't getting through to him.
"Not like what?" His lips curled contemptuously. "Greedy and grasping? A woman who sets out to con a man out of what she can get?"
"No." Her fingers curled into the lapels of her jacket, bringing his attention to it.
"No?" He nodded towards her clothing. "Tell me this, Ms. Johnson, is it? How much did that outfit set you back? I might not be a fashionista, but I know quality. What do you do for a living?"
She lifted her chin. "I own a salon."
"I recognize you now. You were with her that night, the night we first met. I also recall you hooking up with an acquaintance. How much did you soak him for?"
Shame coursed through her at his obvious ridicule.
"It's easy for someone like you." She told him heatedly. "You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. You don't know what it's like to have the lease due and wondering where the money is coming from to pay it. You never have to clip coupons and put things back when you get to the cashier. All we wanted was to see how the other half lives, that's it."
He inclined his head as if agreeing with her. "And you got something out of it. I gave Melanie clothing and jewelries as well as paintings. Did you get the same? In my book, what you both did, there's a very ugly name for it."
She sprang to her feet, anger overriding fear. "Think whatever you want. Yes, I hosed the son of a bitch for plenty and he deserved it. The asshole was a bigot who thinks people of another race are inferior. I took gifts and told him to go to hell and would do it again. I was the one who urged my friend to go along with the pretense. You don't know her. She's kind and sweet and would never hurt a fly. She lost her parents when she was in college and hooked up with a bastard who got her pregnant and left her to fend for herself."
She took a breath and continued. "She has a degree in business and one in computer science, but she took a lesser paying job so she could go home to her son. She's good and kind and you don't deserve her. But she's in love with you. She's beating herself up for what she did to you."
His eyes flared at her impassioned speech and even though his heart was springing with hope, he ruthlessly tamped it down. He was hurting. He had never believed it possible to hurt so much and yearn, but even after more than a month, he was still aching for her.
"How much does she want? A couple thousand? She sent you here to plead her case, I assume. How much is it going to take for her to feel better? Name a figure." He glanced at his watch. "Because your five minutes is almost up."
