Bad Intentions

by Carmen Falcone

  Cole shook his hand, with a nice professional smile. “Same here. I need to steal Ms. Brady for a few minutes.”

  “She’s all yours. Excuse me,” Mr. Fairchild said, walking on the opposite direction.

  She bridged the gap between her and Cole. Sara had sent him some information he’d requested, but she imagined they needed more stuff. “Do you need more numbers?”

  He perched his hand on his waistline. “Yes, I do.”

  “All right. I’ll be happy to help,” she said. Maybe she could work with him directly and send him the files instead of her assistant. Anything to divert his attention away from what she planned to do behind the scenes.

  His eyes darkened. “You can start with the number of residents you’ve harassed with your silly petition.”

  Cole stretched to his full height, fully aware she seemed even smaller next to him. The color disappeared from her face for a moment, and a touch of fear flickered in her rich brown eyes. “I know you’ve been cornering a few residents to get them to sign a petition to keep them from moving to the new location,” he said, his shoulder blades tightening and threatening to burst out of his suit. How could she go behind his back? Thankfully Mrs. Cartland had been so concerned, she phoned his assistant who texted him as fast as possible. “This is grounds for an immediate termination.”

  “No.” She shook her head quickly and stepped forward as if he was some kind of medieval beast and she was prepared to offer herself as sacrifice. “I’m sorry. Please, don’t fire me. I was desperate and made a mistake.”

  “We hadn’t even made the merger official to residents, and now I’m dealing with a lot of phone calls I don’t have time for,” he said. If his father found out a woman he’d kissed now planned to highjack the relocation, he’d misjudge the entire situation. Hell, he may even remove Cole from the project—and squash any chance of repairing a broken relationship between the two of them.

  After he slept with his father’s assistant and she blackmailed him and then his father, Craig Myler had been adamant about giving Cole one last chance. What would happen when Craig retired? He’d sell his stocks to anyone who wanted them but his own son. Apprehension trickled down his spine. If Keith had been alive, things would have been different.

  “I’m all my grandma has left,” she said, a touch of helplessness in her voice that almost made him second-guess himself.

  He curled his fingers into a fist. Of course she loved her grandmother and was loved back. That was the difference between them. Her grandmother would love her no matter what. “I sympathize, but I can’t trust you. You betrayed the company, and going forward, I don’t think you should retain your job.”

  Color drained from her face, and he fought the instinct to protect her from the truth. “What are you saying?”

  He uncurled his fingers and looked at her square in the eye. “You’re fired.”

  She shook her head violently, lifting her hands in denial. “What? No. Listen, I made a huge mistake, but all I wanted was to show you guys that the majority of residents opposed the idea. I wanted to be their voice, not start a revolution.”

  “I’m sorry but I can’t have people who are a threat to what we’re doing working here. I’ll call Steinberg and explain to him what happened. For now, please go home and we’ll let you know when you can collect your things.”

  Tears brimmed at her eyelids, and his gut clenched. An urge to shield her from the news zapped through him, making his fingertips tingle. He wanted to hold her, for some strange reason he didn’t dare to dwell on. Hold her and tell her all would be well—but he couldn’t.

  He’d made a mistake before, and this was his chance to make amends to his father. If he gave her a second chance, his reason would be self-serving and not for the good of the company.

  “Look, I know we kind of started on the wrong foot,” she said, threading her fingers together. “This isn’t about how we met, right? You aren’t using the kiss as some kind of—”

  Sourness rose from the pit of his stomach. “Funny thing you bring it up. Seems like you’re the one using it as leverage. But if you’re considering waving that flag and getting anything from me, you’re wrong. It won’t hold water in court.”

  She tilted her head to the side, like she didn’t hear him correctly. Then, she perched her hands at her waist. “Court? You really think I’d use a fucking kiss as some sort of… leverage?”

  He looked deep into her eyes, not proud of himself for the pain he’d inflicted. He wanted to believe her, wanted to trust, but following his instincts wouldn’t get him to the finish line. If anything, it’d set him back for miles and that he couldn’t afford.

  She cleared her throat. “You’re an asshole.” The anger in her voice sent a chill to his heart. She strode away from him before he gave her a comeback, and emptiness sneaked its way into his chest. He’d done the right thing. Stopped her in her tracks, prevented a senior care rebellion. But he didn’t feel an ounce of victory.

  Cole set aside the paperwork he’d been signing for two hours. Shit. Ever since he’d fired Nikki earlier, his mind kept darting doubts at him. Why? He’d done the best for the company—he followed the rules. As time passed, his signing paperwork in print or on the digital version on his laptop became more mechanic. He sighed loudly, rocking back and forth in the chair.

  He glanced at the paperwork he’d had Brian start about Nikki’s dismissal. He lifted the sheet, playing with the edges. Certainly Steinberg was busy, and Zach probably swamped with all the changes they had to implement.

  So he’d taken it upon himself, but didn’t manage to go through with it. He would, of course, see to her termination, but needed time to understand he wouldn’t be seeing Nikki anymore. If she crossed him on the street by accident, she’d probably ignore him. Could he blame her?

  He thought she’d screw his goal of a smooth merger, so assuming she would, he got rid of her for his own peace of mind.

  “Cole?” Brian, his assistant, popped his head into his office. “Sorry to bother you. We have a situation on Building B and the manager in charge can’t find Nikki.”

  “What is it?”

  Brian readjusted his sleek glasses. A shade of pink spread across his face. “One of the residents has become romantically linked to another one.”

  “And?” He made a mental note to brush up on the policy for this kind of situation. Because his job was to successfully merge and transfer the residents, he hadn’t but glanced at the operational manual yet. That was… Nikki’s job. Annoyance crept up his spine.

  “And his wife who doesn’t live at Great Escape found out and she’s having a meltdown in the downstairs restaurant. She already broke two vases.”

  Excellent, he thought sarcastically. If the local media got their hands on this, especially given what they were about to do, it wouldn’t bode well for the company. The board would get mad. Acid spread into his stomach. His father would be furious. “Where’s the manager of operations?”

  “He’s off-site running some errands.”

  He rubbed his fingers down his face. Maybe firing Nikki without an immediate replacement had been a bad call. “Okay. I’ll take care of it,” he said, surging to his feet. He’d deal with the amount of stuff to do later.

  4

  “Mommy, can we have mac and cheese for dinner tomorrow night?” her son David asked at the other end of the line. Luke had taken him and his brother to a checkup at the dentist and then to sleep over at his place.

  “Sure.” Why not? If she didn’t find another job, she’d have to dip into their college savings or introduce them to the wonders of Ramen noodles. Frustration expanded in her chest, floating up her throat and clogging it. After Cole had fired her, she didn’t talk to anyone. Too angry and upset, she’d picked up her dry cleaning and headed home.

  What would happen to her grandmother? Without the special discount Nikki received, she wouldn’t be able to afford the retirement home. I’ve failed her. Grandma had been the one perso
n who had cared for her during her childhood without a hidden agenda after her parents divorced. And how did she repay her?

  A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. “I have to go, sweetie. I’ll talk to you when you get home tomorrow.” She tossed her phone on the couch, then crossed the living area and made it to the foyer. Taking a deep breath, she clasped the handle, weighing it in her palm. She was in no shape to talk to the girls. Please let this be some salesman or the new neighbor across the street saying hello with a Bundt cake in hand. Cake would definitely make things better. Preferably chocolate.

  Her lips parted and her breath caught in her throat when she opened the door to find Cole in front of her. She shuddered. The devil himself. “Did you come to accuse me of stealing staplers or Post-it notes?” If he did, he wouldn’t be so off the mark. Over the years, she’d been grateful to have full access to stationery and office supplies in case the twins had last minute activities for preschool and then kindergarten. She sighed. Another disadvantage after having been fired.

  A small smile formed on the corners of his lips. “No. I need to talk to you. May I come in?”

  Or they could argue at her doorstep, but then if Mrs. Farrow walked her white Pomeranian dog like she usually did at this time, she’d spill the beans to the entire neighborhood with ultrasonic efficiency. That woman used her workout as an excuse to keep tabs on everyone. “Fine.”

  She gestured for him to enter and stepped back so their limbs wouldn’t touch. A remnant from her failed marriage, the two-story house had always been spacious and open, but his presence in the middle of her living area managed to diminish the textured walls and set of tan sofas. “I’d ask if you want to drink something, but I only have tap water and juice boxes.”

  Liar. She also had a bottle of wine somewhere, but this wasn’t that kind of visit. Right?

  She stood in front of him, hesitant to invite him to sit. For a moment, a warm energy passed between them, so strong it nearly took shape. Lust coursed through her as the awareness of them being completely alone in her house dawned on her. A man—a strong man, who had just fired her, stoked a fire within her. Was it anger from what he’d done, or the scorching desire she tried so hard to ignore? “Sit,” she said, teeth gritted.

  He took a seat on the sofa where a patterned brown throw blanket blended with sparkly, beady pillows. “Thanks for letting me in.”

  She chose the sofa across from him and crossed her legs tightly, in hopes to send her body a message. The trick backfired and a tingle of excitement sizzled up her thighs. “What brings you here?”

  “I have a proposal for you. You can go back to your old job, and your grandmother can stay at Great Escape.”

  She touched the back of her ear, unsure. Was this a test or a real offer? “But if all her friends are gone, why would she stay?” Especially if they only left the residents needing high levels of care. Many of them no longer spoke and stayed in their rooms or shared units with nurses and technicians watching over them. And how about the other residents, the ones she spoke to? The ones who would have to move regardless of her solving her grandma’s problem.

  He ran his fingers down his face. “You’re really stubborn, aren’t you?”

  “I’m a loyal person. Besides, as much as you think this is me being selfish, I care about the residents who have families in town. I’ve heard about their stories and struggles for too long to just let them go through this without a fight,” she said, scooting to the edge of the sofa. Damn it, how many times did she have to repeat herself? Her heart galloped in her chest. Maybe she still had a chance to convince him—he needed her, or he wouldn’t be here.

  He sighed. “When I get old, remind me to keep you in my corner.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him, envisioning him as a senior citizen, still attractive but likely dating a woman half his age, like her father. Not only that, but he didn’t visit his own mother enough at Great Escape. Frustration thickened her throat. “Now’s not the time to be cute.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be cute. You’re an annoying social justice warrior,” he said, flashing her a look of… hmmm… admiration?

  A flutter spiked her pulse points. Maybe she’d lost her common sense altogether. First, a failed attempt at backstabbing The Man. Then, reaching out to the idea he admired her at some level.

  “Thank you. And here I thought you weren’t good at compliments.”

  He shot her the slightest wink. “Didn’t mean it as one.”

  I know. “What happened to make you come to my house and ask me to go back to work?”

  He touched his forehead, and her gaze fled to his long tan fingers. “One of our residents is having an extramarital affair.”

  She chuckled. There had to be something about reaching a certain phase in your life and not caring about society’s norms anymore. In her line of work, she’d heard more steamy stories about affairs than from her group of girlfriends. “Ah. Mrs. Grant?”

  He stood, restless, shaking his head. “Her too? I meant Mr. Reeves.”

  “What can I say? Life’s complicated,” she said, waving her hands. She didn’t condone cheating but refused to change the course of their conversation. He needed her enough to pay her a visit, and she’d be a fool not to use the leverage. She lifted her chin, feeling the pulse beat madly at the base of her throat. “What else?”

  He paced, then settled for sitting in the same sofa as her. “The cleaning staff found a collection of dildos in Ms. Morrison’s room.”

  “So?” She hated herself for the nervous chuckle escaping her mouth. She meant to add that she didn’t care about the dildos, but his manly scent near her made her squeeze the pathetic giggle. The rich, woodsy fragrance of aftershave, or whatever the hell that was, was messing with her senses.

  “Thirty of them. She’d been stealing from other residents when she volunteered. I never imagined people their age could get so…”

  “Aroused?” She angled closer.

  His gaze dropped to her lips. “Yes.”

  Heat flooded her cheeks and neck. “That’s a typical assumption, to desexualize senior citizens. Some of them are more active than people my age,” she said, adding internally, than me. Though now, by his side, every part of her vibrated with sexual need.

  “I guess. Anyhow, I’m too busy to take care of their love lives.”

  “Isn’t that ironic? If you try to move them, I’m sure some of them would opt out and who knows, maybe be relocated to other places far from the loved ones from Great Escape.”

  He drummed his fingers on his knee. “Doesn’t matter what I do, I’m the bad guy, huh?”

  “You fired me in cold blood without letting me explain. You’ve showed up at my door with a half-ass offer and still haven’t apologized for kicking me to the curb. So yeah, from where I sit you look pretty bad right now,” she said. A shot of excitement traveled through her, and her inner cheerleader rejoiced.

  He captured her eyes with his. “I’m sorry. I was an ass, you’re right.”

  “Go on.”

  “You said something I wasn’t ready to admit. I’m attracted to you and thought it was easier if you were out of sight.”

  Her heart skipped a beat, then resumed its pace at an alarming rate. She should be mad about what he’d done to her, and the consequences of his selfishness. But a part of her softened, shoulders sagging with a drop of relaxation. Perhaps after what Luke had done, cheating on her for months and not being honest about it, she appreciated Cole’s confession.

  “You’re not mad,” he said.

  “I’m not ecstatic, but I’m glad you’re being honest,” she said in a tone similar to the one she used when Henry told her about breaking her favorite vase by accident before she found out herself. She cleared her throat, blinking. Cole was certainly not her son. He was a corporate fellow, one who had fired her in broad daylight without any warning. She tilted her head to the side, watching his expression shift, and hated herself for listening to him. Listening
and believing.

  He thrust his fingers in his hair, ruffling it. “Look, I don’t want to mess this assignment up. My father and I have a strained relationship, mainly because of me, and this my chance to show him I can take his place sometime soon when he retires,” he said, the powerful emotion from his voice reverberating through her.

  She swallowed. Damn. What had he done to mess up his relationship with his father so much? “Is that what you want?”

  “That’s what I need to do. I’ve made lots of money on my own, building a vending machine business from the ground up. This isn’t about his wealth—this could be my last chance to show him the business he also built from the ground up will still be thriving after he’s long gone.”

  Vending machines. She added it to the list of search words she’d punch on Google later next to his name. Who would have thought? “Did you start remodeling the new place?”

  “No. We’re close.”

  She cleared her throat. “I have a proposal of my own—I’ll go back to The Great Escape as a manager. If you’re open for me to take a look at your business plan and counter with a new one, in a closer location. You can come with me to scout a couple of different places, and if financially it becomes as viable, you’ll keep an open mind and at least share the idea with the board.”

  “What if they say no?”

  “Then they say no and I won’t be a pain in the ass.” But at least I’ll have tried. Her parents hadn’t done much for her to keep her as a child. They were too comfortable when she’d decided to live with Grandma Sue for her last couple of teenage years, and married young. Before she moved to Grandma’s, they’d divorced. They never cared about anything other than themselves—and acting like them would make her just like them. She’d promised herself she’d be different. She’d fight for things, people she cared for.

  “All right,” he said. “I also need for you to talk to the people you did and squash the petition idea so it doesn’t become a thing—that document can ruin the chances of the board saying yes.”