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Too Many Bosses

Page 21

by Jan Freed


  “So what if it did, Becker? I did not leak campaign secrets to the enemy camp! What possible motivation would I have?”

  “Oh, spare me the boy-next-door act. Money’s the most powerful motivator in the world, isn’t it, Alec?”

  “Depends on how much you need it,” came the quiet answer.

  An alarm went off inside Laura’s head.

  “You mean someone sold our ideas?” Steve asked, clearly shocked.

  Harold snorted. “You really are a babe in the woods, aren’t you? Guess I was a little out of line, pointing a finger at you. But hell—” a newspaper rustled and snapped “—this is not a mere coincidence. Someone in this agency had an ax to grind, a grandmother’s operation to pay for, a farm to save. God knows what the underlying reason was to sell us all up the river. The result’s the same.” He sighed. “We’re up the creek, gentlemen.”

  Laura frowned at the hallway floor. Why was Alec letting Harold jump to conclusions? Why did he assume there was a Benedict Arnold in their midst?

  “You’ve been awfully quiet, Alec,” Steve said. “Do you know something you’re not telling us?”

  The silence stretched a tad too long.

  Oh, no.

  Steve hissed in a breath. “My God, you know who’s responsible for this ad, don’t you?”

  “The issue here is not who’s responsible, but what we’re going to do about it,” Alec said.

  Please let me be wrong.

  “I wish Laura would get here,” Harold said. “Where the heck is she, anyway?”

  There was her cue. Drawing a deep breath, she walked forward and stepped through the doorway. “I’m right here.”

  Three pairs of eyes widened in surprise. If she hadn’t been focused solely on one, she might have missed the hostile suspicion swept quickly beneath lowered lashes.

  But she did see it. And deep within her something fragile, and infinitely precious, shriveled and died.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  ALEC FLIPPED through the emergency plan on his desk. A week ago, he would have bet his prized Silverado that Hayes and McDonald Advertising was finished, along with Regency Hotels’ breakthrough campaign. But damned if the new marketing strategy didn’t surpass the original.

  Rubbing his bleary eyes, he sank back against soft leather and allowed himself to relax. God, he was tired. A good kind of tired, though, filled with satisfaction from a job well done. The entire staff had been putting in twelve-hour days without complaint.

  As of this morning, all previously booked media had been canceled or rescheduled. The broadcast tapes and composed ads had been recalled for modifications. The Regency Hotel general managers had been calmed and given temporary instructions. Spirits were hopeful, instead of defeated. All thanks to Laura.

  She’d organized the staff into teams and assigned a problem to each, giving complete autonomy to find solutions. There was no time, she’d pointed out, to use conventional corporate planning methods. They needed to act now.

  Acknowledging the need for results, Alec had gritted his teeth and hoped for the best. The joke was on him. Instead of total chaos, he’d seen professionals working cohesively toward a common goal. Just like Laura had predicted.

  Mentally flinching, he remembered the morning after their lovemaking. The morning he’d opened a newspaper at his breakfast table, seen the Golden Door Hotels ad and struggled for a reasonable explanation.

  Damn his accurate memory! It had faithfully replayed the conversation he’d overheard between Laura and her brother.

  Couldn’t you hold off until August? she’d asked, referring to the sale of a valuable stallion. Scott’s voice had sounded weary and resigned. August is too late, I’m afraid. The bank has given us two extensions already. The loan committee won’t approve a third...

  Alec rose from his chair, walked to the window and jammed both hands in his pockets. The blazing June sun penetrated the tinted glass, creating a wall of heat no air conditioner could combat.

  What the hell was he supposed to have thought, considering what he’d heard? His buy-out settlement would obviously come too late to help Laura’s family. She needed money now. Then, too, she probably resented leaving him at the end of their partnership with a prize like the Regency Hotels account. Selling campaign secrets would sure as hell lower the account’s value. And it was exactly the sort of thing a vengeful woman might do.

  But not Laura.

  Swearing, he turned from the window and jingled his change. When Laura had walked into his office later that same morning, she’d noted his expression and stared at him like a kicked dog. He’d known immediately she was innocent. But he’d let her assume otherwise.

  It would be much easier to keep his distance if she despised him, if she finally admitted he was bad news—an explosive waiting to detonate.

  “Alec, you in there?” Steve’s voice jerked him back to the present.

  He turned toward the intercom speaker. “Yeah, what’s up?”

  “Can you come to the art room a minute? I just finished the print-series revisions.”

  “On my way.”

  He headed down the hallway to the undisputed hub of the agency. Ever since Laura had bought the round granite-topped table from a disbanded law firm two weeks ago, the conference room had become the site of all major agency decisions. She insisted that this table, unlike the more traditional rectangular shape, fostered productive communication and team spirit. For his own part, he enjoyed the excuse to rub elbows with the woman he’d come to respect as much as desire.

  Harold, Brenda Lee, Sharon, Laura and Jim stood huddled around Steve’s work, blocking the art director from view. Since Laura’s back was to the door, Alec indulged in a long hungry look.

  Not smart.

  She wore red pumps, a slim tomato red skirt and a billowy white poet’s blouse. The combination of modern sleekness and romantic ruffles intrigued him, like the woman herself. As she leaned forward and propped her elbows on the table, the red fabric cupped and molded her bottom like a lover’s hands.

  Definitely not smart.

  He dragged his gaze upward. “Is this a private party or can anyone come?”

  Laura’s spine stiffened.

  Ignoring the queer little twist in his chest, he walked forward and slipped into the gap Sharon had opened up. Conscious of Laura inching as far away from his left side as possible, he waved for Steve to continue his discussion of a layout.

  Brenda Lee glared at Alec across the table. She’d caught him in the hall two days ago and torn into him, relating Laura’s theory about how the Regency campaign had been stolen. He hadn’t admitted he’d already deduced who the culprit was. Brenda Lee would have told Laura immediately.

  Steve looked up from the magazine layouts and turned them toward Alec. “We won’t have to take a single new photograph, can you believe it? And since we already have the color separations, these puppies can go out in a matter of days, not weeks.”

  The elegant somewhat generic advertising strategy of before had been abandoned in favor of a more direct no-nonsense frankness. It was risky, but a hell of a lot more interesting, in Alec’s opinion. He reached forward and pulled one of the magazine layouts closer.

  A large photograph featured a woman applying mascara at a well-lit vanity table in her Regency Hotel room. A cup of coffee steamed beside scattered makeup on the table. In the distance, stylish clothes could be seen laid out on the bed. Matching pumps and an attaché case sat on the floor at the foot of the bed.

  A penciled headline above the photograph read Remember The Dark Ages When Hotels Catered Only To Men? Centered below was the headline We’ve Finally Seen The Light. Copy focused on the custom-built vanity area that was a standard feature in every room, just one more way Regency Hotels was the preferred choice of women travelers.

  Alec raised his head. “I don’t remember talking about this one. Is it new?”

  Steve nodded. “Laura came up with it yesterday.”

  Against his left t
high, Alec felt the faint stirring of Laura’s hip. His groin reacted as if she’d stroked him with her long delicate fingers. He ground his teeth.

  Across the table, Jim pushed up thick glasses, blinked owlishly and cleared his throat. “Um...maybe this is out of line, but what’s the big deal about a lighted vanity, anyway?”

  “Isn’t that just like a man?” Brenda Lee drawled. “Try checking your compact mirror after leaving a hotel and seeing Bozo stare back. Then you’d understand how important a well-lighted mirror is to a woman.”

  Alec laughed along with the rest of the impromptu gathering. He couldn’t deny the increased camaraderie since he’d loosened the reins of command. Once again, Laura had been right. Too much control stifled creativity. Allocating responsibility had not only eased his stress, it had also been a damn sight more productive than trying to make every decision himself.

  Harold gestured to the boards. “This series will be perfect for Vanity Fair and Working Woman, don’t you think, Alec?”

  “I agree.” He glanced down at the cloud of chestnut hair to his left, and remembered it mink-soft against his skin. “Nice job, Laura.”

  Profile rigid, she nodded once.

  And people said he was aloof and unapproachable. Hell, she could give him lessons. He pushed back from the intimate circle, perversely angry at the coolness he’d encouraged.

  “Looks good to me, Steve. We’ll need Sam’s approval to go into final production, of course, but I don’t foresee any problem. He loved the preliminary concepts.”

  “When is he due for your meeting?” Steve asked.

  “About four o’clock. Can these be tightened up by then?”

  “No sweat. I’ll have them on your desk by three.”

  Alec nodded and cast a meaningful look around the ring of faces. “We’ll leave you alone so you can get to work.”

  Like waves from a dropped pebble, the circle widened and disappeared. Satisfied, Alec continued on to the reception area and picked up a stack of mail from the desk. Ripping into the production invoice for a TV spot, he caught a whiff of lavender at the same time someone tapped his shoulder. He gathered his defenses and turned.

  Laura stepped back, her expression wary. “I wanted to talk, but I can see this is a bad moment.”

  This was the first time in a week she’d spoken to him voluntarily. “No, I can look at this later.” He threw the invoice down in disgust. “We’ve salvaged most of the campaign, thanks to you. But there are some things, like that weekend-escape TV spot, that just won’t fly. Some of the vendors might cut us some slack on payment, but most will be nipping at our heels in thirty days.” He glanced at Laura’s thoughtful expression and shut up.

  “That’s one of the things I wanted to talk with you about, Alec.” She nodded toward the invoice. “You’ve been supplementing the operating account with your personal money, haven’t you?”

  His mind scrambled for an answer she would accept.

  She narrowed her eyes. “I’ve reviewed the receivables and payables with Jim, so don’t bother denying it.”

  He hedged. “So what if I am?”

  “It’s not part of our agreement, that’s what.”

  “Neither is dealing with account espionage, but that doesn’t seem to bother you.” Wincing at the flash of pain in her golden eyes, he made his voice cynical. “The company will pay me back every penny over time. I always collect my debts.”

  “And I pay back mine,” she snapped. “I expect you to subtract your personal investment from the buy-out sum, whatever it happens to be at the end of August. Agreed?” Her chin lifted.

  “Agreed.” How had he doubted this woman’s integrity for even an instant?

  His gaze followed the soft white ruffles of her V-neck blouse to where they met at a point. The fabric trembled with the force of her heartbeat. “Laura, I—”

  “Don’t.”

  The choked whisper brought his head up. Her stare was smoky with memory—and accusation.

  He glanced away, knowing she was right. “What else did you want to talk about?” In control now, he met her eyes squarely.

  She furrowed her brow.

  “We talked about one of the things on your mind,” he reminded her. “What was the other?”

  Distaste, embarrassment and rebellion flickered like heat lightning across her face. “I wanted to... I promised Jason I’d ask...” She inhaled deeply, obviously struggling for composure.

  Fear clenched his stomach. “For God’s sake, what?”

  “Can you go on a picnic with me and Jason on Sunday?”

  * * *

  HE’D NEVER LAIN on a grassy slope and watched the stars come out before. He’d never listened to a chorus of crickets, bullfrogs and cicadas in full symphony, either. But then, today had been filled with firsts.

  Alec dropped his gaze to Jason and Laura, who duplicated his sprawled position on the blanket. Hands clasped behind heads and ankles crossed, they stared at the darkening sky as if a movie was about to start. Jason reached down, slapped a mosquito, and tucked his hand back under his head without taking his eyes off the panoramic screen.

  Contentment, warming as mulled wine, seeped into Alec’s bones. He turned his face upward, his mind on inner thoughts.

  For one perfect afternoon, he’d experienced what a family could be. He’d eaten pimento-cheese sandwiches salted with blowing dust and enjoyed them more than the finest rack of lamb. He’d swung on a swing set for the first time in twenty-five years and realized it still made him laugh. He’d caught a perch in the lake with a cane pole and felt as proud as if he’d landed a trophy marlin.

  There’d been no fighting, no gut-clenching anger threatening to explode into violence. Only laughter and play and joy. Lots of joy.

  Jason and Laura adored each other. Watching them together tapped a deep tenderness, a well of protectiveness that was both his rebirth and ruination. Because the more he cared, the greater he feared.

  Alec’s muscles slowly tensed, his peace fading with the diminishing daylight. Today had been wonderful, a fairy tale to cherish. But the day was over. Reality was raising a small boy who required every ounce of self-control he possessed. He simply didn’t have enough to spare for a woman who shattered his restraint as easily as cracking an egg. The thought of what might spill out terrified him.

  Jason was stuck with him.

  But Laura wasn’t.

  “See that bright star, Jason?” Laura pointed to a dot glowing in the twilight. “That’s really the planet Jupiter. You can’t see them, but there are four little moons surrounding it.”

  “For real?” Jason squinted at the single pinpoint, obviously doubtful. “How do you know?”

  “My father showed me. He used to set up his telescope on nights like this and let me look at all the planets and constellations. If I stood on my tiptoes, I could just reach the viewer.”

  “You were prob’ly smaller’n me, huh? I bet I could reach it.”

  Laura shot Alec an amused glance before answering seriously, “I’ll bet you could, too. Although I was about your age when he first started teaching me. We would sit on the back porch for hours at a time.” Her voice grew absent. “I think it gave him some peace after losing Mother.”

  “Where’d you lose her?”

  Obviously startled, Laura rolled to one side, propped her head in hand and regarded him gently. “She went to heaven to be with God.”

  “Like my mom,” Jason said matter-of-factly. “Were you sad?”

  Laura’s eyes met Alec’s once again, questioning. He nodded, ashamed of himself. He’d been too busy coping with his own disrupted life to think about a small confused boy. He’d never once talked with Jason about his mother’s death.

  “I was very sad at first,” Laura admitted. “Then my dad told me she was happy and healthy in heaven with Grandma and Grandpa Davidson, and I felt a lot better.” She reached out and rubbed Jason’s stomach in slow circles with her fingertips. “What about you, sweetheart? Were you
sad when your mom went to heaven?”

  He lifted his elbows an inch. “I guess. Mostly I was scared. Nanny Howard cried an’ said she couldn’t take care of me anymore ‘cause I had to go live with my dad. I didn’t like bein’ alone.”

  Laura’s hand stilled. Jason instantly slipped an arm from beneath his head and held it out for her attention. She continued her soothing ministrations from wrist to elbow. “You don’t feel alone now, do you?”

  Like a lizard being stroked, Jason’s eyes drifted shut. “Nope. I got Dad now. An’ you. You’re better ‘n Miss Howard.” He yawned, ending with a sleepy smile. “Can you teach me the consuh...consuhla...”

  “The constellations?” she asked huskily.

  “Yeah, those. Can you teach ‘em to me sometime?”

  Starlight illuminated her stricken eyes.

  Alec fought the urge to tell Jason of course she would teach him; she would teach him that and a thousand other things throughout his life. Swallowing painfully, Alec clamped his lips together and looked up.

  “We’ll see,” came Laura’s throaty whisper. “Just look at those stars now, would you?”

  During the last ten minutes, it was as if someone had unfurled a vast bolt of ink black velvet, then scattered a fifty-gallon bin of diamond chips from end to end. A dazzling sight.

  Too bad his vision kept blurring.

  * * *

  LAURA SIGNED her name with a flourish, slipped the thick stack of papers into an envelope and dropped the plain brown square into her desk drawer. Exhaustion battled with relief.

  She’d been pushing her stamina to the limits, arriving at the office before seven and staying past midnight. Other than meeting an old friend for lunch to call in a marker, she hadn’t eaten a decent meal in the three days since the picnic. When her stomach had grumbled too loudly to ignore, she’d simply grabbed a snack out of the vending machine and continued working.

  Tonight she would pick up something on the way home. Something nice and healthy—like a greasy burger and fries. She checked her watch. The only thing open at one o’clock would be a fast-food establishment.

  Lifting her arms high, she uncurled her fingers in a mighty stretch, then collapsed back against the chair. Alec’s phone line glowed, although she couldn’t imagine who he might be talking to at this hour. No doubt he was waiting to escort her to her car as he’d done the past two nights. Considering how he avoided her during the day, she found his chivalry more baffling than flattering.

 

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