Trent hadn’t called her or stopped to talk since the Amberfield people walked out. When he saw her, he was polite, even cordial, but with a professional distance. Each time they met he treated her as if they were colleagues, nothing more. It hurt. Surely she could get through this infatuation she had for him and get on with her life.
Infatuation? Why kid herself? She loved him. The gambler. Darn it, she loved a gambler who played for high stakes. The highest, everything.
That he obviously didn’t return her feeling hadn’t lessened the intensity of her caring. But she’d survived disappointment before, and she’d get through this. What choice did she have?
None, so buck up, Holly.
Even if he changed his mind, what was the point? She couldn’t live through another twenty-nine years of life on the edge as she had with her father’s gambling. Never sure when the axe might fall—just certain that it would one day cut through her security.
She pressed a hand to her chest and closed her eyes. No, her heart wasn’t really broken; it only seemed that way.
Her private line rang. It was Trent and he sounded jubilant. “Holly, I think we’ve done it. We’re meeting tomorrow with the contracts people from Veritex Communications. Ten o’clock. One way or another, it’ll be over in time for the luncheon.”
He hung up without asking how she’d been or anything conversational. Nothing personal. Did that mean everything would be all right for Marvel? But what about between him and her? No, she’d have to learn not to care. Trent Macleod was still a gambler who risked it all.
***
Trent was on an adrenaline high. Damned if things weren’t going to work out. He’d been wrong not to benefit from teamwork on the Amberfield deal. Now, working with others, pooling ideas and resources, it looked as if they’d averted a shipwreck.
He parked his jalopy in his assigned space and whistled under his breath as he strode into the plant. Danged if he didn’t feel like dancing. For almost two weeks he’d worked eighteen-hour days coming up with the plans and resources to pull this off. He thought of the paper in his briefcase. Looked to him like this deal was in the bag.
Then he could call Holly. Not as a failure, but as the victor bringing home the bounty.
Play it cool, Macleod, he told himself. You aren’t docked in port yet.
“Good morning, Mr. Macleod.” The receptionist smiled.
“Morning, Violet.” Hey, he remembered her name.
“Good morning, Mr. Macleod.” Two people called as he walked toward the elevator.
He nodded and smiled. He couldn’t think of their names, but he’d learn them. Damned if he wouldn’t. He’d made it his plan to learn the name of each employee. Like Holly had.
Ah, Holly, soon he could tell her his plans. He’d promised himself that if he couldn’t work this out, he’d disappear from her life. She deserved a winner, not a loser.
But he couldn’t imagine life without her. Now that he had seen the other side of life, returning to his isolation appeared too bleak to bear. Each step toward his office and the upcoming meeting increased his pulse. Damn, he’d be lucky if he survived the day.
“Good morning, Trent,” Lila greeted him as he entered his office. “It’s the big day.”
“Yes, it is. And not a minute too soon.” He hung his overcoat on the rack and tossed his newspaper on the desk.
Lila brought him coffee and a donut. When he’d first arrived, he’d told her she didn’t have to do that for him. He could get his own coffee. She informed him that she’d been a secretary a long time, and considered mothering him a part of her duties, thank you very much.
“Thanks.” He pointed to the paper. “No bad news today.”
She smiled. “I checked, too. Sometimes, no news really is good news.”
“You can say that again.” He sat down and gave his attention to breakfast. “We have more of these?”
Lila nodded. “I always have those Bavarians when Joe Bob is due. He loves them and Ila Mae won’t let him have them.”
Trent laughed at the picture of regal Ila Mae Grayson reading the riot act to big old Joe Bob.
Lila joined in. “I know he shouldn’t have them but he’d be hurt if they weren’t available. I figure a couple every few months can’t do too much damage.”
She went back to her own desk and returned with a presentation folder. “I’ve placed one of these in the conference room for each person due to attend. Here’s an extra for you.”
Trent gathered his notes and studied the presentation, but he consulted his watch a dozen times before it was time for the meeting. Finally, it was 9:45, and he went to meet Gordon and Vernon. Lila, Joe Bob, and Carl were already there and Gordon and Vernon showed up only seconds later.
Joe Bob clapped him on the shoulder. “Looks like you’re gonna pull this one off.”
“Thanks to your help.” He looked at the others in the room. “Thanks to all of you for your help.”
“Teamwork, that’s what it takes. But it’s been you who sold the deal so far and it’s up to you to wrap it up today.” Joe Bob grabbed a second roll. Or maybe it was his third.
Holly appeared just as Carl rapped on the table for attention. “I have an announcement before the others arrive.”
He looked at Holly and then Trent. “I’d like to announce my engagement to Geneva Tucker.”
Joe Bob stopped with his roll midway to his mouth. “You crazy, Carl? There’s no fool like an old fool. Hope it’s worth it to have that woman’s mouth on your”—he looked at Holly and coughed, then looked back at Carl—“You have any idea what you’re getting into?”
Carl waved a hand as if dismissing any remarks. “I know, I know. She’s a devil woman and a gold digger, but she’s scared of being alone and on her own. I’m lonely, too. Besides, I get a kick out of being around her and taking her places. We’ve reached an understanding.”
Trent thought ‘devil woman’ was a good name for Geneva. He speculated that her interpretation of the situation would differ greatly from Carl’s. “She know about the family trust?”
Carl laughed. “No, that’s part of the understanding. You see, she tells me what she thinks I want to hear, and I do the same for her.”
He chuckled again. “But we’ll do fine. I’ve saved back enough to keep her in baubles and take care of those two girls as well. Matter of fact, we’re going skiing tomorrow. Be gone a week.”
Carl laughed until he had to sit down, take out his handkerchief, and wipe his eyes. “Spending a week at Purgatory, Colorado. Get it—devil woman, Purgatory?”
Joe Bob shook his head. “I’ll think about you freezing your tail off while Ila Mae and I are enjoying the sunny beach on Maui.”
Holly kissed Carl’s cheek. “Congratulations. I hope you’ll be happy.”
“Thanks, Holly. I know it’ll be a relief to you to be sure your sisters are taken care of. Give you my promise I’ll do right by them. That ought to ease things a bit for you. Geneva and I will be fine, too.”
Holly hugged him. “I hope so, Carl. You mean a lot to our family. I want the best for you.”
Before anyone else could offer congratulations, Bruce Jacobs and his contracts people arrived and the meeting got underway.
The business people picked at wording. At one point, the lawyer for Veritex shook his head. “This gives all the advantage to Marvel. We pay for the new equipment, we buy the product. Why not manufacture it ourselves?”
“You’re not set up for it.” Vernon, also a lawyer as well as comptroller, glared. “That’s Marvel’s business.”
The Veritex attorney shrugged. “Could be Veritex’s for about the same cost.”
Trent shook his head. “No it couldn’t. Not without Marvel’s permission.”
Everyone in the room turned his attention to Trent. He held up the prize document he’d snared. “Fitzroy’s patent. Manufacturing fiberoptic cable as small and precise as Veritex needs requires a special tool to draw the silicon strand out thin enou
gh. Marvel now has exclusive rights to the patent on that tool.”
He faced the Veritex group and smiled. “Unless you plan to reinvent the wheel, gentlemen, you’d better go with Marvel Wire and Cable.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.” Joe Bob slapped the table and laughed. “You fox, Trent. How’d you manage that?”
“Went to Boston and paid a call on Fitzroy last week. Presented our plan and agreed to his terms.” He met Bruce’s gaze and smiled. “I think Marvel’s won this round.”
The attention of each person in the room focused on Trent. In their gazes he saw not only the friendship they’d already offered, but newfound respect and admiration for his business savvy. No longer would he be the seaman turned landlubber. He’d won; he’d proven himself as a CEO. If only he hadn’t lost Holly in the process.
Bruce looked at his company’s attorney. “Macleod’s right, he has us. Let Marvel manufacture our cable, we’ll take care of the rest of the business.”
Over the balance of the morning they hammered out a joint venture in which Marvel Wire and Cable and Veritex Communications Corporation would partner for a ten-year period. Negotiations lasted until a quarter of twelve.
As soon as the Veritex team hurried off to their own holiday office celebrations or their homes, Trent excused himself.
“Gordon, I have to leave. Please make the announcement about Veritex at the luncheon. We’ll issue a formal press release after the holidays.”
***
Holly was dumbfounded. Why had Trent all but ignored her at the meeting then rushed away without so much as a word to her? Everyone around her was laughing and excited, but she couldn’t join in. She pasted on a weak grin and wondered if she could skip the luncheon.
Grandpa hugged her shoulders. “Come on, little Holly, let’s get to the party. We’ve sure enough got something to celebrate today.”
The annual Christmas buffet was a long-standing tradition. Tons of barbecue, potato salad, beans, and trimmings were catered into the plant. Cafeteria tables were set up in the open area for a buffet. Bonus checks were passed out, and Grandpa always made a little speech.
This year, he cut it short so Gordon could announce the new agreement with Veritex. All over the room, people cheered. Their jobs were safe; they’d all go home relieved and ready to enjoy the holidays with their families.
Holly hurried back to her office and packed away the decorations while Sara was still at the party. Before anyone cornered her, Holly escaped.
Back at home, Grandpa watched her and frowned. “What’s wrong? You took off like a shot while things were in full swing. Now you look like it’s a funeral instead of Christmas.”
She forced a smile. “Sorry. I’ll try to do better.”
He put his arm around her. “No, honey. You didn’t answer your old Grandpa. Something’s upset you. What’s wrong?”
“I—I thought, well, Trent just rushed out without a word. I don’t even know where he’ll be for Christmas.” She felt a fool for caring so much, for letting it affect her.
“Look here, Holly. That boy is crazy for you.” He squeezed her shoulders.
She shrugged. “Funny way to show it. He hasn’t called, hardly spoken to me since the day that newspaper article came out.”
“Now you know he’s had a lot on his mind lately. And he sure did a fine job. Set up the merger, snared that patent, and convinced those stiff-necked Veritex people to follow along with his ideas. I believe that fellow could sell coal to the devil.”
He turned her to face him. “If you want Trent, don’t sit and wait for him to come around. Go after him.”
She shook her head. “Grandpa, he’s a gambler. Like Dad.” She sat down and folded her hands on her lap. “Oh, he doesn’t bet on the horses or hang out in Vegas, not that kind of gambling. But he gambled everything on Marvel.”
She looked up at her grandfather. “I can’t trust him with my future. If this thing with Veritex hadn’t worked out, he would have lost everything, just like Dad did. We’d all have lost everything.”
“Now listen, there’s always gambles in business. Why Walter Sr. and I almost lost every dime we had a time or two. We were sweating blood, I can tell you, and that’s for sure. Had to borrow money from Carl.” He pulled at his chin. “Holly, I don’t want to criticize your father to you, but Trent Macleod is ten times the man your father was.”
“I—I don’t know what to think, Grandpa. He just rushed out of the meeting and didn’t even speak to me. Not even a ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘see you around.’”
“Must have been a reason. I know he’s hung up on you. Seen the way he looks at you. I’d have to deck him if I didn’t think his intentions were honorable.” Grandpa cupped her chin. “You love him?”
“Yes. Yes, I love him in spite of the gambling. I just don’t know if I could live that way after all we went through with Dad. It’s a big decision.” She took a deep breath. “Grandpa? Would it hurt your feelings if I don’t go to Hawaii?”
He shook his head. “No, I reckon you got things here need seeing to and thinking about. Let’s go break the news to Nana.”
Holly drove her grandparents to the airport and saw them through the security check. Throngs of people were jostling to board or deplane. Others were saying goodbye or welcoming arrivals. Walking through the crowd, a sense of total loneliness descended on Holly. Everyone had someone it seemed. Everyone but her.
“Thanks for the lovely sweater and the bonus.” Marnie hefted a suitcase. “You sure you’ll be okay here, Holly?”
“Sure, Marnie. I’ll probably go to the lake.” And it looked as if she’d be alone.
“If you’re sure, then I’ll go to my daughter’s. It’s noisy there with all the kids, but I love seeing them.”
“Merry Christmas.” Holly hugged Marnie.
After Marnie had left, Holly phoned Trent. No answer. Darn, you’d think he’d at least have voice mail or an answering machine. She phoned Laura and they decided to meet for dinner at the country club. Laura was sure to cheer Holly up with her zany stories.
When Holly entered the dining room, Laura waved and motioned for Holly to hurry. No sooner had Holly slid onto her chair than Laura started talking.
“Guess what? I think Rob’s going to give me a ring for Christmas.”
“That’s wonderful. Does his mom know?” Holly spread her napkin across her lap and reached for a breadstick.
“Maybe she suspects.” Laura laughed. “The girl his mom had picked out just turned up ex-pec-ting.”
Holly tried to picture Mrs. Vincent’s reaction to that news. “Wow. Guess that takes her down several pegs on the desired daughter-in-law list.”
“Fast.” Laura nodded. “Turns out the father is a mechanic who works for the girl’s uncle.”
“Ought to up your appeal to Rob’s mom.” Holly didn’t add that just because Rob’s mother was angry with the other girl didn’t necessarily mean she had warmed to Laura. Obviously that hadn’t occurred to her friend.
“Right, and about time.” Laura slapped her hand on the table.
The server, who apparently thought the whack at the table was directed at him, appeared and took their orders.
“So, I thought you’d be on your way to Hawaii with your grandparents.” Laura leaned forward and grinned. “Did that hottie Macleod make you a better offer?”
Holly’s bottom lip quivered and she couldn’t speak. She shrugged off the question.
Her friend reached across the table. “Holly? This is me, remember? Tell me what happened.”
After a couple of deep breaths, Holly told Laura the entire story, from the time they left her grandparents the Sunday after Thanksgiving until Trent rushed out today. With very few interruptions—well, few considering she was talking to Laura—Holly finished.
Their food arrived and both women were silent until the server left.
Laura patted Holly’s hand. “Oh, honey. How do you feel about him now? I mean really feel about him?”
/>
“I love him, but I told you he’s a gambler. You know how hard Dad’s gambling made life for my family.” Holly shook her head. “I can’t go through that again. Never knowing, never secure. It was a nightmare I don’t care to relive.”
“Holly, he’s not that kind of gambler. He didn’t take food out of the mouths of his children or get them tossed out of their house.” Laura’s face flushed. “Sorry, I know you loved your father, but he was a rat to act the way he did. Trent Macleod would never do that to you.”
“Oh, yeah?” Holly made a vicious stab at her dinner. “Trent could have done that very thing today if this deal hadn’t worked out.” She met her friend’s gaze. “Laura, he gambled every dime he had on his ability to secure a new fat contract for Marvel. How can I trust a man who’d do that?”
Laura leaned back. “Oh, and did he succeed?”
“Yes, this morning. But if he’d lost, he’d have wasted almost twenty years of saving and investing, to say nothing of what would have happened to the company.”
“Well, duh. Clue phone, hello, it’s for Holly.” She waved a hand. “Businessmen do that every day. How do you think my dad makes his living? Corporate lawyers draw up deals like that practically all the time.”
Laura looked embarrassed. “I know I told you he was after you to use you, but once I’d met him I realized I’d misjudged him. I saw how he looked at you, and that man is nuts about you.” She pointed a fork at Holly. “You are making a big mistake if you think Trent is anything like your father. While you’re at the lake, you need to give yourself a good swift kick in your rear and adjust your attitude.”
“Dear Lord, what will I do with ten days alone feeling like this? Nothing to do but worry and eat a ton of chocolate.” Usually she was involved in a dozen activities around the holidays that kept her busy nonstop.
“Well, it was your choice. You wouldn’t serve with me on any of my committees because of your father’s death. Then you gave me that story about transition at work, yada, yada, yada.” Laura shook her head. “You and your chocolate are on your own, kiddo. Unless you want to help with the New Year’s Eve bash here.”
SNOWFIRES Page 17
