Boardroom Proposal

by Way, Margaret

  Swiftly Eve let her parcels fall to the ground. Cars, mostly four-wheel drives, weren’t all that frequent but one could turn the corner at any time.

  “Suki, Suki, come back. It’s not safe,” Suki’s owner called out in distress.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get him,” Eve flung over her shoulder, and sprinted after the little dog, whistling to it as she went.

  The spaniel turned in swift acknowledgment, seemed about to obey, then decided it preferred the game.

  Eve pressed on, blond hair whipping, wings on her feet. In the heat she was wearing a pink camisole and white shorts, her long legs flashing as she overtook the little dog who was running from right to left and back again as though leading her a merry dance was half the fun.

  When she finally caught him, scooping him up under her arm, applause broke out from the customers who were enjoying coffee under the shade of fringed umbrellas on the pavement.

  “My dear, I can’t begin to thank you,” the lady said when Eve returned the spaniel to her waiting arms. “Oh, you are a naughty dog, Suki.”

  It was said in such loving tones it activated a soft satisfied rumble from Suki.

  “So full of life and they love a game.” Eve smiled and reached out a hand to stroke a black silky ear.

  “Could I ask you to join me in a cup of coffee?” the lady who was beautifully spoken with elegant narrow features asked.

  “That would be lovely.” Eve was surprised but quite agreeable. She had debated enjoying an iced coffee by herself but decided it would wait until she got back to the resort. Now this distinguished elderly lady who somehow looked quite sad had asked her to join her. She bent to retrieve her purchases.

  “Perhaps Sugar and Spice, over there,” Eve’s newfound friend suggested. “We can share a table under the umbrella and I’ll be able to secure this little menace.”

  Of course, when you thought about it. It had to be. The exact part of the world. The trained voice. The classic expensive clothes. The distinguished stage bearing.

  “Eve Copeland, Mrs. Garratt.” Eve smiled back, the kindness and gentleness she had always shown to her mother in her clear green eyes. She felt a little regret their meeting had happened this way. This was the woman they desperately needed to sell to them and although it was a marvellous opportunity to speak, Eve felt loathe to intrude on Elizabeth Garratt’s simple uncomplicated pleasure.

  “Now how does anyone as young as yourself know me?” Elizabeth Garratt asked with considerable surprise, looking back into Eve’s face and liking what she saw.

  “I’ve seen many photographs of you over the years.” Eve smiled. “Alas, not one of your memorable performances.”

  “You must be a very observant girl,” Elizabeth Garratt was moved to say. “All those photographs were taken many years ago.”

  “You haven’t changed.” Which was true. Suddenly Eve needed to be completely honest. “Also, it’s part of my training.”

  “You must tell me.” Mrs. Garratt relaxed in her chair. There was a sweet smile in her still lovely blue eyes, her short naturally curly silver hair blowing gently in the breeze. “I lead a rather lonely life these days,” she faltered briefly, “especially since I lost my husband, my dear companion.”

  Eve knew it was an inadequate response but on impulse she leaned forward and gently squeezed the woman’s fingers.

  “Oh, you know?” Elizabeth Garratt looked into Eve’s eyes, finding them sympathetic and safe.

  “Yes.” Eve lowered her voice. “I lost my mother a few years ago. There’s not a day I don’t feel the pain.”

  “You understand quite a lot for your age, I think.” Elizabeth Garratt gave another sad little smile then made a visible effort to brighten. “Now what would you like to eat with your coffee? I hope you have the time. This is a little treat for me, as well. I’ve never seen you before so you must be up here on holidays?”

  “A few days.” Eve flushed a little uncertain how to handle this.

  “Lovely!” Elizabeth Garrett nodded several times then gestured to the young man who was serving at the tables. “You might be able to find the time to visit me if it’s not too much of a bore to visit an old lady. My home has a truly magnificent view. Perhaps we could have lunch.”

  There was nothing else for it, Eve thought. As soon as we’ve eaten I have to make a full confession. Not confession. She’d done nothing wrong. On the other hand Elizabeth Garratt was very plainly a woman who could be hurt, might think Eve had somehow engineered their meeting. A bit unlikely when one thought about it, but a touchy situation. Clearly Elizabeth Garratt had taken to her and Eve had no intention of abusing her trust.

  When Drew returned to the resort late afternoon, he went in search of Eve and found her in the swimming pool. He stood looking for a while, watching her cutting smoothly through the turquoise water in a very stylish freestyle tumble turn fifty metres. Not only was her action stylish, it was fast. Which really didn’t surprise him. She had an athletic look about her and those long legs. He spent a bit of time looking at them he suddenly realised. Hell, he was a man. No, more than that. It was Eve he was looking at. Eve with her mystery.

  But the heat! The blue sky was smouldering and there were dark purple storm clouds massing over the glittering expanse of the sea. Even the air was thrumming with electricity.

  “Isn’t it a bit hot for that?” He went to the shallow end of the pool where she emerged, and gave her a hand out, conscious their joined hands fairly crackled and spat. In her clothes he had thought her too thin. Now in an emerald green Lycra one-piece he realised she had a perfect figure. Model slender, beautiful sloping shoulders, delicate breasts, naturally indented waist, long lean thighs and those racehorse legs.

  “Have you missed anything?” she suddenly asked, more tart than provocative.

  “Evie, Evie, you’re full of challenge,” he replied. “To be honest, I always thought you a mite too thin. Now you look darned near perfect. Anyway, it’s too hot for our first little spat. Come over to the shade and cool off.”

  Under the swaying palms did look idyllic. One part of her wanting to race away. The other desperately wanting to stay. The consequences of falling in love with Drew Forsythe would be swift and severe. She didn’t want it to happen.

  “Did your meeting go okay?” she asked, leading him to her recliner where she had stashed her beach bag and multicoloured straw hat.

  Drew shrugged. “Well, he started putting up objections at first. I thought he might, but I think I addressed all his concerns. I’ll see him again before we go. What about you? What did you do with yourself?”

  “You’re not going to believe this,” Eve said.

  “Let me guess. You ran into an old admirer?”

  “No. Far more significant.”

  “Evie. Now you’ve got me worried.” He sat in a chair watching her lazily while she towelled off then wrapped herself in her new sarong, a brilliant blend of sea colours that made her green eyes blaze.

  “Nothing to be worried about.”

  “Everything you do is safe, Eve.” It sounded like a gentle taunt.

  “You make me sound very dull.”

  He put up his hand to a drinks waiter in the distance, ordered them both a long frosted drink. “On the contrary. I think you’re real cool.” He flicked her a sidelong smile. “Tell me all about it.”

  “I’m determined to despite the teasing.” Eve stretched out on the recliner, scooping up her hair and twisting it into a knot. “I met Mrs. Garratt.”

  He leaned towards her, his relaxed expression sharpening. “I’m sure I told you we were going to work out a strategy first?”

  “Now, now, don’t sound like the boss,” she soothed. “It was a happy chance meeting.”

  “Really?” He gave her a long look. “How did you engineer that?”

  Eve’s casual pose stiffened. “Look, I was hoping you’d hear me through.”

  He took her hand for a moment, thoroughly undermining her. “Fire away, E
vie. I have the time.”

  “So that’s how it happened,” Eve finished a good ten minutes later having been directed to let him in on every word. “We parted the best of friends. I’m having lunch with her tomorrow. I was tempted to ask if you could come along but decided on the softly softly approach as agreed.

  “Elizabeth Garratt is prepared to at least listen to what we have to say. She told me about all her battles with developers. The battles she finally won. But she had to admit TCR has an excellent track record for up-front consultations. On that basis she’ll listen. I’ll start the ball rolling and you of course have to take over. It’s a start.”

  “Bet on it.” Drew gave a low quiet whistle. “We’ll go over all of this at dinner. It won’t require much. You know your stuff.” Eve, he had found in a very short time, was excellent at smoothing paths.

  Jack decided not to join them for dinner. He’d had a long lunch with a friend and thought enough was enough, but he was enormously pleased to hear Eve had not only made contact with the reclusive Elizabeth Garratt but had even secured entree to her home. No mean feat if one was to believe all one read.

  Towards seven, Drew picked her up at her beachfront bungalow two up from his own, escorting her along the lantern-lit paths flanked by lush gardens that gave off the scent of gardenia and ginger blossom, to the main building where the restaurant was housed. Once as he lifted away an overhanging palm frond his hand rested very briefly on her shoulder, long fingers curving around her bare nape. What are you doing to me? Eve thought in alarm. Didn’t he know the sensations his slightest touch could provoke? She couldn’t ignore it but it was vital it all went away. One step, one tiny step over the boundary and it would be impossible to return. It was with a sense of relief Eve made her way out of the intoxicating darkness into the pool of light from the main building.

  The Fountain Room was beginning to fill with guests but she just knew they would get a top table overlooking the beach. A copper moon was riding a black velvet sky but the air out in the garden had been sulphurous with the continuing threat of a late storm. There were smiles all round as they walked to their table, people looking at them in a certain way. If most didn’t actually know who Drew was he had such an air of glamour he had to be someone. Maybe a movie star.

  “This okay?” Drew asked when they were seated.

  Eve glanced over her shoulder, her hair swinging. “I would probably say it’s the top table.”

  “Ah, well, the owner knows me,” Drew mocked. “Now what are we going to have? Seafood, right?” He shot her a smiling glance, picking up the wine list.

  “Something light. I’m not used to a lot of food.”

  “Hey, you could do with a few pounds more.”

  “It’s not what you said this afternoon. I thought I was perfect.”

  The deep attractive creases appeared in his lean cheeks. “The point is a few more pounds wouldn’t show. Things should be easier for you and Ben now, shouldn’t they?”

  “I bless the day you hired me.” Eve stroked the yellow heart of a frangipani in the small flower arrangement.

  “Do you?” His eyes moved over her face, dipped to her breast. She was wearing a simple slip dress in a deep shade of violet which the grace of her body made elegant. Already her skin had picked up a pale golden colour.

  The princess behind her tangled web of thorns, he thought. Breach it at your peril.

  Eve nearly knocked over her wineglass at what she read in his eyes.

  “What’s that look supposed to mean?”

  “Like the rest of us, Eve, you give out little messages.”

  “Such as?”

  In the soft glow from the table candle her eyes had gone darkest emerald.

  “Something about me still troubles you.”

  “I don’t think it wise to get personal.”

  He saw the guardedness that entered her face. “Except we’re human. And, Evie, though I know it’s the last thing you want, we’re attracted to each other.”

  Suddenly it was out, the secret that ran deep.

  “You must be used to that.” She tried to dismiss it with a gesture.

  “And you’re the expert on men.”

  Eve thought she was safe for quite a while. Over dinner of succulent scallops on the shell followed by roast lobster with a mesclun salad they discussed the details of the proposal Eve would take to Elizabeth Garratt, allowing her to consider the project as a whole. If on reflection she found it acceptable Drew would take over the negotiations with Eve as the executive assistant who had made the initial impression. The atmosphere which had become quick-fire and businesslike was suddenly dispelled over coffee.

  “So what about it, Evie.” Drew spoke satirically, very smooth and confident. “Can we pick up on our conversation?”

  She met his challenging dark eyes.

  “I have a bit of a problem with breaking the rules.”

  “I can see that.” He gave her a half smile. “Is having dinner with your boss breaking the rules? A divorced man, to boot. I take it that’s a big strike against me.”

  “How could it be?” Eve took another sip of her drink. “A lot of people get divorced every day. In any case, it has nothing to do with me.”

  “I thought at the beginning it almost enraged you.” He gave her a dubious smile.

  “No.” She shook her blond head.

  “Yes, Evie, you were very mistrustful. In fact, you were positively looking for something to blame me for.”

  She saw that it was useless to deny it. “I suppose it might have been something to do with my past. Ben and I are the children of divorce.”

  He nodded. “And I sympathize. But you feel in most cases it’s the guy’s fault?”

  “Isn’t it?” she asked with more bitterness than she intended.

  He stared at her, looking very serious and analytical. “Under your cool exterior there’s a very angry little girl. But you can’t right the wrongs by getting mad at all men. I tried very hard to make my marriage work.”

  “Please, Drew.” She didn’t want to discuss his marriage. She didn’t want to think of him in love with another woman God, was she mad!

  “Why are you frightened of this conversation?” he questioned her.

  “What it could lead to.” She didn’t care if for a moment her panic showed. Already he was looming far too large in her life.

  “Look at me, Evie.” There was an echo of tenderness in his deep voice.

  “I want you to be my boss,” Eve protested, staring fixedly out the window.

  “The difficulty is our relationship has progressed beyond that point. Is it wrong for me to want to get to know you?” Get to know everything there is to know about you, he thought.

  “Drew.” She turned her head, looking far from her composed self. “I must tell you I’ll never be the one to get hurt.”

  “And it will happen if you allow yourself to fall in love?” he asked a little harshly.

  “I saw my mother’s devastation,” Eve said. “Not for weeks and months. I saw it day after day for years. In my experience men don’t allow themselves to get as deeply involved as women. They have their professional lives. Their big careers. I made a decision early on not to expose my heart in the same way as my mother.”

  “Poor little Evie,” he said gently. “So you haven’t had any serious involvement with a man?”

  “For very obvious reasons.” Sexual hostility flooded her. “I’m going to act as a man does. I’m going to place my career first.”

  “You don’t want marriage, children?” he continued, still in that quiet voice, his dark eyes enigmatic.

  “I didn’t say that.” She shook her head. “I mean I don’t want to be utterly, completely in a man’s power.”

  “The worst fate. Have you had any sexual relationship at all?”

  “Come on.” Evie made a fiery elegant little gesture. “That’s an extraordinarily private question.”

  “And I don’t ask it lightly,” he state
d back at her, noting her faint trembling. “Have you?”

  I can retreat now. Right inside my head. “I have no intention of telling you. I’ve had one or two little romances.”

  “But you turn off when your friends want to turn into your lovers?”

  “I don’t have a mania for sex, Drew,” she drawled. “I can take it or leave it.” Which was probably true.

  “Obviously you haven’t met the person who can release all that hostility and anger,” he ventured.

  “Love transforms, Evie. I’ve seen the light of love in your face when you talk about your brother. I know you’d do anything to help him. But one day he’s going to become fully independent. He’s going to find the right woman, fall in love and marry. Start a family of his own.”

  “Surely you haven’t formed the notion it’s not my great wish,” Eve said with more than a touch of frost.

  “But you want the opposite for yourself?”

  Why, oh why, did he want to figure her out? Couldn’t he see danger lay thick around them? “Drew, I love working for you,” she said. “I admire and respect you as my boss. Forgive me if I see you in my private life as one great big threat.”

  “Can’t you tell me why?” He looked deep into her eyes.

  “You damned well know why,” she answered in a taut voice.

  “Do you think I’m looking for an affair?”

  The psychoanalysis continued. “You can’t deny you don’t have them?”

  “Many of my friends are women,” he freely admitted. “Women are glorious creatures. Strong, capable, possessed of great warmth and compassion. The women of my family on both sides were like that. I draw repeatedly on memories of my mother. I adored her. She was so brave, so full of fight, but she lost the battle with cancer.”

  She brushed one side of her long blond hair from her face. “I’m sorry, Drew. I’m sure she was a wonderful woman, but your father married again.” A pause. “A much younger model,” she added with deep irony.

  “Women are drawn to powerful figures.”