by Dinah McLeod
"My former Vice President, Mark Patterson, convinced my board of directors that it would be best if I were replaced."
"I see."
As I was wondering how to plunge ahead and get to my point, Linda returned with a tray of coffee and Danishes which she slammed on the desk.
"She's a gem," Mr. Fern said lightly as she slammed the door shut.
"So I see." I reached for a coffee cup and poured in coffee and added cream and sugar, grateful to have something to do to delay the inevitable. It might give me a few minutes to figure out what I was going to say.
"I'm sorry to hear about your changed…situation."
"That's nice of you to say."
"What can I do for you, Ms. Donahue?"
"Please, call me Karen."
"All right, Karen then. Is there some way I can help you?"
"Ah, well." I set the coffee cup down and tried to smile. "Actually, I was hoping you would consider giving me a job." The irony wasn't lost on me—essentially, I was asking him for a job when I would have taken his away if things had gone to plan. The deal would have made him rich, too, but he would have been out of a job nonetheless.
"I see. Well, you certainly have considerable skills."
My stomach was churning with nerves. Was he actually considering it, or was he stringing me along to make me feel like a bigger fool than I did already? It was a wonder he hadn't laughed me right out of his office. "I was thinking we could…that with your help, I could regain control of Dusty Records."
"Ah. Forgive me for being blunt, but why exactly should that interest me? Your vice president is the reason I still get to sit in this chair. It's a very comfortable chair, Karen."
I cleared my throat as I smoothed my skirt. When I was ready to speak, I looked him straight in the eye. "I've given this a lot of thought, Mr. Fern. I want to work with you, I want you to assist me in getting my company back. Once I've done that, we'll become partners. Our companies could merge—a true merger, where you would be an equal partner."
He leaned back in his chair, studying me. "It's a very tempting offer, Ms. Donahue. I'm sure you know that already."
I was holding my breath and hoping he couldn't see it. Everything hinged on what he'd say next—my entire body was taut as I waited for him to speak.
"Except for two things. First, you aren't CEO, you aren't even working for the company any longer if I understand correctly."
All I could do was nod miserably.
"With that in mind, I find it hard to see how you will manage to regain your position. And secondly, how do I know I can trust you? What if you become CEO once more and take my company anyway?"
"I can't have anything in writing, or I'd sign a contract." I waited, my hands balled into fists and my heart pounding. It didn't do a thing to help my argument, but I had to tell him the truth.
"Of course. You couldn't afford to."
"I know you don't have a single, solitary reason to do so, I know I've lied and manipulated and tried to steal your company. I know what my reputation in this industry is, Mr. Fern, but I'm asking you to please, please trust me. I won't let you down, I promise."
He studied me for several long minutes that seemed to stretch on endlessly as I was perched forward after my impassioned speech, waiting for the verdict he would hand down.
The answer would be no. I could already feel it charging the air between us, the inevitable word that would tear yet another chance away from me. But I'd had to try.
"No, I don't think you will."
It took me a minute to realize what he'd said. My body had already deflated at the expected no and it took me several long seconds to process the rest of the sentence. When I did, I blinked several times before meeting his eyes and asking, almost shyly, "Does this mean…"
"It certainly does and let me tell you why. First, I've always admired your spunk, young lady. I definitely don't always agree with your business practices, but I admire your intelligence and your business savvy. We could use people around here like you. But you will have to work for my trust, I hope you understand that."
"Absolutely, Sir."
"Good. And secondly, I'm going to take you on because I believe everyone deserves a second chance."
This time, I did deflate, but for entirely different reasons. I was incredibly humbled by this man's generosity. Twice in only twenty-four hours I'd been given grace where I deserved none. Maybe things really were turning around. Maybe I was, too. "Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Fern."
"It's my pleasure, Ms. Donahue."
"Karen, please."
"All right. See you in the morning, Karen. Be here by eight."
I smiled as I stood up. "I'll be here at seven."
***
I was bursting with happiness and feeling relaxed for the first time since this whole mess had begun. I was dying to tell someone my good news and who better than the one I loved most? Brandon wouldn't be home for hours yet and I couldn't wait that long so I made a quick stop by the high school where he taught.
By stroke of luck, I ran into Ms. Simpton as soon as I hit the hall. We'd met once before at a school dance and she recognized me.
"Karen, honey, what are you doing here?" she exclaimed. She looked like every kid's dream grandma, but I knew she had a dirty sense of humor. "Oh, let me guess. A quickie during Brandon's planning period?"
I choked on a laugh and she continued before I could answer.
"You should know that his planning period isn't for another hour, so I guess you'll have an audience."
"Ms. Simpton," I was trying to force down my laugher, "Brandon would be appalled to hear you talk like that."
"This is a school, dear. We know at least half of them are doing it and probably doing it wrong, so why not provide some instruction?"
That did it. I burst into full-fledged peals of laughter that continued until I was gasping for breath. "You really are too much."
"You're the one who thinks I'm being funny, dear. Now, did you need me to show you where his room is?"
"Yes, please." I wiped at my eyes that had teared up during my laughing fit.
"Follow me."
We winded through the hallways before Ms. Simpton stopped in front of a closed doorway and nodded. I leaned forward to peek through the pane of glass and saw Brandon standing at the front of the classroom, talking. Just the sight of him was enough to stretch my smile wider and set my thighs to tingling in hopeful anticipation. Not now, I scolded my eager sex. It would have to wait, regardless of what Ms. Simpton said.
"You should come to dinner sometime," the woman said, grinning at me. "Bring that hunk of yours."
"Yes, ma'am."
With a chuckle to herself, Ms. Simpton left me standing in front of the door. What was I supposed to do? I knew I should probably wait until the bell rang, but I couldn't wait that long. I lifted my closed fist and rapped gently on the glass, smiling when Brandon looked my way.
I saw him gesturing to the class as he spoke, then he walked my way. He looked happy to see me, which was a relief. I knew I was getting close to pushing him too far. Maybe now, things could go back to normal, or at least some semblance of normal.
"Hey, Kar," he greeted me warmly as he slid out the door. "What are you doing here?"
"I just got some great news and I couldn't wait to tell you. I guess I could have texted you, but…"
"No, this is great. I'm glad to see you."
"I just got a new job."
"You're kidding! Already? Who with?"
"SunFilm."
His brow furrowed as he took the news in and his gaze turned quizzical. "SunFilm? Isn't that the firm you were trying to buy out?"
"Well, yes."
"Then why would they hire you?"
"I have a lot of skills," I informed him, unable to stop myself from sounding defensive.
"Of course you do, honey, but it just doesn't make a lot of sense that your rival would hire you."
"I thought you'd be happy for
me," I pouted.
"I am happy for you, Karen, I'm just a little confused."
Knowing that he had a point was probably what irritated me the most. How could I have been so stupid to think that he wouldn't see the oddity in this situation? But I couldn't explain why James Fern had hired me—if I launched into that story, I knew everything would come tumbling out and it wouldn't be good for anyone.
"I really should get back in there. Let's talk about this later."
"Why bother?" I muttered. "I already said everything I had to say." I turned to leave, but Brandon stopped me with a hand on my arm.
"Please don't be that way. I'm really trying here, Karen, but something just isn't adding up."
Oops.
"I'd love to know what."
"Everything is fine!" I burst out, yanking my arm out of his grasp. "Except that my boyfriend can't be happy for me when I get the first good news I've had all week!"
"I never said—"
"You didn't have to say it," I snapped, narrowing my eyes. "It's written all over your face. I thought you loved me." I knew it had been exactly the wrong thing to say when his jaw hardened. That only meant one thing and it wasn't good for me.
"Don't you go there. I told you I've had quite enough of this moody attitude of yours and I meant it. We will be having a long conversation about this later."
"I think I'll be staying home."
Brandon frowned down at me. "Fine, have it your way, but I'm only going to say this once. If you take the punishment you have coming tonight, then it will only be my hand. For every day you stay away, it ups the ante."
"That's not fair," I hissed.
"You know what isn't fair? The way you keep jumping down my throat every time I ask a question. It's getting old quick, Karen. You know I care about you and I'm sorry you lost your title, but if you keep on being angry at the wrong person it's only going to hurt our relationship."
"Fine. I'll be there."
He nodded curtly and turned to leave. His hand hovered over the doorknob before he turned back to face me. "I love you, Karen. I'll see you tonight." He leaned forward and kissed me quickly, ignoring the fact that I was stiff and unresponsive.
So much for sharing my good news, I thought dourly as I turned to leave. My stomach dropped when I caught sight of Ms. Simpton standing mere feet away, staring at me. Oh, no. Could this day possibly get any worse? But of course, I already knew the answer to that. It would get much, much worse when Brandon got home from work, because I already knew that just because he would be using his hand didn't mean I'd be getting off easy.
My cheeks flagged with color as I began to walk toward her. I would have fled in the opposite direction if I could have gotten out of the school that way.
"Lovers quarrel?" she asked, tsking sympathetically as I neared.
"It'll be fine. We'll be fine."
She surprised me by putting her hand on my arm. "Of course you will, honey. Any fool can see that he loves you, or he wouldn't bother."
I swallowed hard. I had a feeling she'd heard everything.
"And anyway, what's a stinging bottom, anyway, when you have a man like that to put it out?" She must not have expected me to answer, because she laughed to herself and began walking down the hallway.
"Easy for you to say," I muttered as I headed off in the opposite direction. "It's not your ass in the line of fire."
***
My belly churned with a nervousness that only grew worse with every passing hour. Each one brought me closer to facing Brandon and I was nowhere near looking forward to it. Was it wrong to hope for a surprise faculty meeting? It wouldn't stop him from punishing me, I knew that, but it would delay it a bit.
I tried to sleep, but I couldn't nap with the threat of a spanking hanging over me. I paced the house instead and when I got tired of that I went for a walk outside. It's your own fault, my big-mouthed angel told me smugly. If you'd just come clean with him—
Fat chance of that. If I did, I'd be looking at more than a spanking. He might even break up with me—a thought that pierced me to the very core. I didn't know how I'd gotten along for the past thirty-six years without him, but I knew one thing for sure: I didn't want to go even one more day without knowing I had him by my side.
He'll find out, my angel insisted. And when he does, he'll break up with you for keeping it a secret.
But he wouldn't find out—couldn't find out. There was no way I would let that happen. The best thing to do would be to take the punishment I had coming like a good girl and keep my mouth shut. That was the only way.
By the time I made my way back to the house, it was past two. It would be time to face the music soon. I made my way to the kitchen and riffled through the cabinets, looking for something to make. A man with a full belly was easier to deal with and besides, I needed something to do to keep my hands busy. It was the only way to get me cooking, period, because only disaster followed when I was let loose on a kitchen.
This time will be different, I told myself as I rummaged through the contents of his cabinet. I settled on a box of Rice-a-Roni that looked like it had been in the back of his cabinet since 1995. He'd probably forgotten about it, but that stuff never went bad, right? When the universe imploded, Rice-a-Roni would outlive us all. I could cook that and add peas and carrots. Easy peasy, even I could do that, right?
Wrong, as it turned out. By the time Brandon opened the door, calling out "Karen!" the house was full of a dim haze of black smoke.
"In here!" I shouted as I turned on the fan on top of the stove. It kicked in immediately, but even that wasn't enough to dissipate the fumes.
"Where are you?"
"Over here!" I shouted, running to open the window.
"What happened, sweetheart? Are you okay?"
"I'm okay." I felt Brandon's hand clamp over my wrist and turned to face him.
"You're sure you're all right?"
"Of course." I smiled, realizing he'd called me sweetheart. Maybe he'd cooled off after all.
"Let's open the rest of the windows."
I nodded my agreement and we scurried around the house, unlocking and opening every window. By then, I was coughing.
"Go out back. I'll be right there. I'm going to get you something to drink."
"Thank you." I slid through the open back door but by that time, my lungs were burning and I couldn't stop coughing. Brandon was by my side in minutes, handing me a glass of ice cold water which I gulped down gratefully.
"Take slow sips or you'll just start coughing again," he cautioned.
I nodded, taking another sip before handing it back to him.
"Feeling better?" he asked as he set it down on the patio table.
"A little."
"What happened, Karen?"
"I, uh, I was trying to cook dinner."
"Ah." The tone said it all, as well as the repressed laughter I caught in his eyes.
"I swear I only turned away from the stove for a second!"
"It's okay, honey. As long as you're all right, no harm done." He reached over and took my hand giving it a squeeze. "We probably shouldn't go back in there for a little while though. Want to take a walk?"
I nodded and fell into step beside him. Brandon's backyard consisted of an acre and a half of land which meant we didn't even have to leave his property to take a walk.
"You sure you're okay?"
"I'm more than a little embarrassed, but otherwise…"
"Don't be embarrassed. Maybe we'll sign you up for cooking lessons, hmm?"
"I think I'd just prefer it if you cook," I admitted sheepishly.
"Okay, tell you what then. How about we go out for dinner tonight? You can pick the place."
"That sounds great." I smiled warmly and felt some of the tension leave my body. Maybe this evening wasn't going to suck after all.
"I'll get changed and we'll go out…right after we tend to business."
Uh-oh, that didn't sound good. "Business?"
"You di
dn't forget, Karen, so please don't pretend that you did."
"I'm not pretending." I scowled at him. "I was just asking a question."
"Fine, I'll remind you. When I saw you earlier today, I promised you'd get a spanking when I came home. Does that refresh your memory?"
"You don't have to get cute about it," I muttered under my breath.
"You know, I think you still need to learn to think before you speak, honey. This is not the time or the place to make snide little comments. One more and you'll be picking your own switch."
I winced, looking at the dozens of trees all around us. It was no idle threat. "I'm sorry."
"That's better. Now, why are you going to be spanked?"
Why did he always ask that? It was embarrassing and pointless besides, since he already knew the reason. "Because I snapped at you."
"That's part of it, yes. I told you just this morning to watch it, didn't I?"
"Yes, Sir."
"What's going on with you, Kar? I know there are things going on right now that are out of your control and I know that's hard to deal with, but I can't help but think that there's more to it."
"Of course that's all it is," I denied, but I couldn't meet his eyes. "What else could it be?"
"You tell me." He hooked a finger under my chin and tilted it up so I had to look him in the eye. "Now."
"I…I…"
"I know you're hiding something. You have a very simple tell, Karen. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but let's just say I know when you're lying."
He did? How was that possible? Damn it, I used to be such a better liar, before him. "It's nothing."
"Let me be the judge of that."
I couldn't tell him. He couldn't know. His eyes were stern now, but if he found out…God, imagining the pain that would fill his face wrenched my heart. I couldn't do that to him and selfishly, I couldn't do that to myself. I couldn't lose him.
"Karen? You're starting to worry me." He tried to laugh and make light of it, but I could see the frown lines creasing his brow.
"It really is nothing," I insisted. "I was just upset that you weren't happier when I gave you my news today."
"I see." He still sounded doubtful. "I'm happy you got a job, I'm just a little concerned. Have you thought of the possibility that he might have hired you with an ulterior motive in mind?"
