by Sandi Lynn
“Sierra, I’m sorry,” he said as he wiped a spot of blood from his lip.
“SORRY. YOU’RE SORRY!” I screamed. “I’m sorry too. I’m sorry for the day I ever met you. You, Ryan, never existed in my life. Yep, that’s right. So from now on, when we see each other on the streets, we’re total strangers. Strangers who never met and never will. Do you understand me?”
He nodded his head as he stood up and stared at me.
“Good. Let’s go,” I said as I yanked my arm away from Cameron, grabbed my Prada bag from Kirsty, and walked back to the limo.
We climbed in and I immediately put up my hands. “I had a temporary moment of insanity and now it’s over. I don’t want to talk about it ever again.”
Chapter 30
Cameron
I lightly brushed the strands of blonde hair away from her face as she slept. I was still in shock that Sierra did what she did. She took tough to a whole new level as far as I was concerned. I had hoped now that she saw him and got out all her pent-up anger that she would start to see things more clearly where relationships were concerned. She opened her eyes and looked at me as my finger traveled down her cheek.
“Morning.”
“Morning. What time is it?”
“It’s almost six o’clock. Your alarm will be going off in a few minutes.”
“Why are you up already?” she asked with a sleepy voice.
“I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about you and what you did last night.” I smiled.
“Ugh,” she said as she rolled over and hit the button of her alarm. “We better get up. I have to get to the office,” she said as she kissed my lips.
I lay there and watched as her naked body climbed out of bed and strolled to the bathroom. Today was going to be the day I started to win her over.
“Sierra, I’m going down to my place to get ready. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“Okay,” she said.
I went downstairs and Rosa was just coming in. “Morning, Rosa.” I smiled.
“Good morning, Builder Boy. Is she up?”
“Yes. She’s in the shower.”
“Good. Breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Thanks, Rosa.”
****
Sierra
“Congratulations. You made the front page of the newspaper. What the hell happened last night?” Rosa asked as she handed me a cup of coffee.
“Great. Just fucking great.”
A few moments later, Cameron walked in. “You have that look. What’s wrong?”
“Senorita made the front page. Here, see for yourself,” Rosa said.
Cameron took the paper from her and followed me to the table. He began to laugh as he was reading.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“This picture. Look at you. You were pissed as hell.”
Of all the pictures for the paper to print, they had to pick the one where I was on top of Ryan and looking like the daughter of Satan.
“Oh my God,” Kirsty said as she stormed into the kitchen. “Did you see this?”
“Yes,” I said as I waved my hand.
“I’m going to have to do damage control. Our clients aren’t going to want a firm that beats other people up representing them. We’re going to have to say it was joke. A publicity stunt or something.”
“We aren’t saying anything. It’ll blow over.”
“How scandalous is this?” James smiled.
I rolled my eyes. “He deserved it. I don’t have any regrets and I’m certainly not going to apologize to anyone.”
“I would have given anything to see that,” Rosa said as she set a plate of French toast on the table.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Cameron asked as I got up from my chair.
“No. I’m going to take two aspirin and go change handbags. It’s a Michael Kors kind of day.”
When I walked into my room, my phone was ringing. It was Delia. I hit ignore because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with her. I was sure she saw the newspaper. I changed handbags and fetched Kirsty and James to start the dreaded day that I knew was coming my way.
I walked into the building of Adams Advertising and, just as I expected, all eyes were on me. People were trying not to stare, but I could see them out of the corner of my eye. As I walked through the lobby and to the elevator, I stopped, turned around, and put out my arms.
“What? He deserved it. Seven years and he deserved it,” I said as Kirsty pushed me into the elevator.
“Stop that. Don’t feed into it.”
Sasha was waiting for me, like she always did every morning, holding a cup of coffee in her hand. Today, she had a huge grin on her face.
“I put a little something extra in there for you. I figured you’d need it.”
“Thank you, Sasha.” I smiled as I took the cup from her.
I pulled my ringing phone from my purse. It was Don calling.
“Hello, Don.”
“Sierra, I love you. Don’t take that in a sexual way; it’s meant as the love of friendship. Whatever you said to Marta, it worked. I am forever indebted to you.”
“You’re welcome, Don. Remember our little agreement.”
“I do and I will. I saw you in the newspaper. Good for you. I always knew you had a wild side, girl. Have a good day. We’ll talk soon.”
I hit end as my mouth curved up into a small smile. Kirsty went to her office and Sasha came in with some news.
“Excuse me, Sierra. The Board of Directors called a meeting for tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.”
“Of course they did, the sexist pigs. It’s fine. I’m sure they want to discuss my actions of last night. I’ll be prepared to fight back.” I smiled. “Send Kirsty in here, please.”
Just as I turned on my computer, Kirsty came through the door. “What’s up?”
“The board called a meeting for tomorrow morning.”
“Uh oh,” she said.
“I want you and Sasha to spend the day digging up everything recent on every board member. I want to know what they’ve spent their money on and where they went.”
“Sierra, you’re playing with fire.”
“No, Kirsty. They’re the ones playing with fire. This is my company and they’ve had it out for me since my father died. Well, now they’re the ones who are going to get burned.”
“Okay. If you say so,” she sighed as she walked out.
I went over to my wall safe and put in the combination. As I opened the door, I pulled out a black book with a leather cover that my father gave me right before he passed away. I sat back in my chair and recalled the day he handed it over.
“I want you to keep this in a very safe place. This book is yours now and it’s filled with information on every board member. Information they never want anyone to know. I already know they aren’t going to be happy about you taking over the company, so this is your firing weapon if you should need it. Use the knowledge that I gave you over the last many years, Sierra. Use what I taught you to your advantage.”
A few hours later, and as I was studying the pages in the book, my phone rang and, when I looked at it, Cameron was calling.
“Hey you,” I answered.
“Are you hungry?”
“For food or sex?” I replied.
“Both sound good to me. But I was referring to food.”
“Yeah, I am kind of hungry. I didn’t eat breakfast, remember?”
“I do remember.”
I heard my office door open and, when I looked up, Cameron was standing there, holding up a brown bag from the deli down the street. I smiled as I hung up and he walked in, closing the door behind him.
“I bring you food. Solid food, not liquid food.”
“What a nice surprise. Thank you. Shouldn’t you be at my house, working on my office?”
“I should and I was, but I got hungry and I remembered you didn’t eat, so I called Kirsty and asked her what I should get you.”
“That was sweet, tha
nk you. Have a seat.”
I cleared off my desk as he took the sandwiches out of the bag.
“It looks like you were reading.”
“More like studying.”
“Studying?” he asked.
“The Board of Directors called a meeting for tomorrow morning. They’re going to scold me for last night. So, I’m preparing to fight back.”
“I have no doubt you’ll win. From what I can tell, your father taught you very well.”
****
Cameron
I drove back to the house and when I walked through the door, Rosa noticed my smile.
“What’s going on with you, Builder Boy?” she asked as she stopped dusting.
“I’m happy, Rosa. I just had lunch with Sierra. Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course, but it’s no secret to me that you’re in love with her.”
“That’s right. I am in love with her and today was day one of doing something special for her. Rosa, I want Sierra to fall in love with me. I want us to have a real relationship.” I smiled.
She walked over to me and put her hand on my face. “You are a good man and she’d be crazy not to love you. I’m on your side.”
“Thanks, Rosa,” I said as I kissed her cheek. “If you’ll excuse me, I have an office to build.”
After a few hours, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. I turned around and Sierra was standing there, staring at the room.
“It’s looking good in here, Mr. Cole.”
“Thanks. It’s coming along.”
“Don’t forget we have our dance lesson in about an hour. I sure hope you’re going to shower. I don’t want to have a stinky partner or I may have to pawn you off on Kirsty and take James.” She smiled.
“I was just finishing this piece and then I was going to get myself cleaned up.”
“Okay. Then I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I smiled.
We met Kirsty and James at the dance studio. During our dance lesson, Sierra seemed off. She seemed sad and I hated that something was bothering her.
“How about we go for a swim when we get back,” I said as I drove us home.
“Sure. We can do that,” she said with a small smile.
We finally reached Sierra’s house and I told her that I’d meet her in the pool. I went and changed into my swim trunks, grabbed a towel, and jumped in. After doing a couple of laps, I wiped the water from my eyes and looked up to see Sierra staring down at me. She was holding a bottle of wine and two glasses.
“You in?” she asked.
“I’m in.”
She poured the wine and handed me a glass before stepping into the pool.
“What’s wrong, Sierra? And don’t you dare say ‘nothing,’ because I can tell something’s bothering you.”
“I’m just a little pissed off and worried about tomorrow’s meeting. When my father was sick, they tried to talk him out of leaving me the company. They said that I was too young, a woman on the mend of a broken heart, and a pushover to be running one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. They never had faith in me.”
“But you proved them wrong. Look at you. You’re fierce. You have fire and passion for your company and I think you do a damn good job.”
She smiled as she took a sip from her glass. “I am fierce, aren’t I?”
“The fiercest woman I’ve ever met.”
“I know I’ve asked you this before, but why don’t you have a girlfriend?”
I chuckled. “I guess I haven’t found anyone that I want to spend my time with.”
“Well, when you do, she’ll be very lucky to have you.” She smiled as she poured more wine in our glasses.
I hoped and prayed that she’d be the one who felt lucky when the time came.
Chapter 31
Sierra
I scoured the bar and couldn’t find any Baileys. Shit. Shit. Shit. I went through each bottle and even all the travel-size bottles were gone. Damn it. I drank too much. I walked over to the door, opened it, and looked at Sasha.
“Can you come in here for a minute?”
“Sure,” she said as she got up from her seat. “Is something wrong?”
“If you consider my coffee liquor gone, something being wrong, then yes. Your number one job working for me is to make sure my bar is stocked at all times.”
“Sierra, I just stocked it last week. There’s no way you went through that already.”
“Oh,” I said as I twisted up my face and looked up.
“Hold on,” she said as she left the office.
A few moments later, she came back in with a pint of Kahlua. “This is the emergency stash I keep hidden away.”
“I love you and you’re getting a raise.” I smiled as I took it from her and poured half coffee and half Kahlua in my travel mug.
“Good luck with the board,” she said.
“You should be wishing them luck.” I winked as I walked out and over to the boardroom.
Kirsty was placing the booklets I had her make yesterday at each member’s place. As I walked in, my phone beeped with a text from Cameron.
“Fierce. Good luck.”
“Thank you. Would you like their numbers so you can wish them luck?”
“That’s my girl.”
I read that last text and a funny feeling erupted in my stomach. Then it got worse as the board members strolled in one by one. Walking proud, holding their Styrofoam cups in their hands and file folders under their arms. Preparing themselves to launch their attack on me and the integrity of my company.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” I said as I took a long sip of my coffee. “Please have a seat.”
I took my seat at the head of the table and Kirsty took hers to the left of me. I pushed the intercom button on the phone and asked Sasha to join us with her notepad and pen.
“Sierra,” William spoke. “The reason we called this meeting is because we’re concerned about your—” He cleared this throat. “Your mental stability and how it’s going to affect this company.”
As I sat there, I stared at him with a smile plastered across my face and my hands folded neatly and resting on the table.
“We weren’t happy seeing your picture all over the front page of the newspaper. You attacked that man.”
“And that’s not how a CEO represents their company,” Julian spoke.
I looked down along the table at the twelve men that sat before me. I studied them as they all agreed with each other, nodding their heads like a bunch of Boy Scouts playing Follow the Leader.
“We’re concerned that your reputation is going to become the downfall of this company and we can’t have that. We want to make a suggestion to you,” Bill spoke.
I picked up my cup and took the last sip of coffee. “What’s your suggestion, gentlemen?” I asked in a polite manner.
“We think you should take some time off and go seek some help. Maybe go to one of those Zen retreats or something,” Doug said. “We can appoint an interim CEO until you get back. We were thinking maybe a six-month hiatus would be good for you.”
THE. NERVE. OF. THESE. FUCKERS. I looked over at Kirsty and she smiled at me. Not her bright and cute smile, but her evil smile. The show was about to start.
I smiled as I got up from my seat and walked around the table in a complete circle before I singled out each member personally.
“Gentlemen, first of all, he’s no man. He’s a mere boy. A boy with tiny little balls. A boy on whom I took out my three years of anger because, after a seven-year relationship, he called me on the phone from wherever the hell he was and said he was never coming back. So, excuse me if I was feeling a little hurt. Did I mention he did it through a voicemail?”
Once I reached my seat, I took the pile of file folders from Kirsty. “Before I go over these files, I would like you all to take a look at the numbers and profits for the last quarter. Numbers are up over sixty percent. It must be my inner crazy that did that.�
�� I smiled.
“Sierra, this doesn’t—”
“Ah, William,” I interrupted. “Your file just happens to be the first on top,” I said as I threw it down in front of him and leaned in closer. “How’s your son doing at Yale?”
“Have you been drinking? I swear I smell alcohol on your breath,” he said.
“Of course not. I barely drink at all. I really can’t stand the taste of alcohol. What you’re smelling is the Kahlua-flavored coffee that Sasha just bought down the street at The Beanery. She can make you a cup if you’d like.”
“No, that’s all right.”
“Now, back to your son. How does he like Yale?”
“He loves it and he’s doing well. Why are you asking?”
I walked around to the other side of the table. “Is he doing well, William? Because word on the street is he’s struggling. I wonder why that would be. You have to be uber smart even to be considered a potential candidate for Yale, and your son is uber smart, right? I mean with his 4.0 average, which really was a 3.1 until you had his transcripts doctored, along with his ACT scores. I wonder how Yale would feel about that,” I said with a twisted face.
His face was turning red as he opened the file and saw the proof sitting in front of him. “You can have that file. I have a few more copies.” I smiled.
The room was dead silent. You could hear a pin drop on the carpet if you listened close enough. Next, it was Julian’s turn. I walked over and threw his file folder in front of him.
“How’s your wife, Julian? Does she know anything about the hundreds of thousands of dollars you owe in back taxes? How’s that sporty little red Porsche of yours? Still hiding it in that storage facility so she won’t find out about it? Oh, and how’s that friend of yours doing? What’s her name?” I asked as I brought my finger to my lip.
“Alyssa,” Kirsty replied.
“Ah, yes. Alyssa. She’s how old again?”
“Eighteen,” Kirsty said.
“Yes, that’s right. I bet little eighteen-year-old Alyssa loves that red Porsche. In fact, I do believe there’s a picture of the two of you kissing in it.”
“Damn you, Sierra. That’s enough,” Julian yelled as he slammed his fists down on the table.
