“Come sit down, you didn’t wake me by the way.” Cassidy brushed her hair back with a swift motion from her left hand and sat on the couch facing Ian. That was a safe distance she thought as the embers from the fire glowed just enough to cast a shadowy haze of light in the room, the twinkle lights danced on the walls. “I’m going to go change, will you be here when I come back?”
“Sure.”
Ian ran upstairs quietly and changed into dark blue satin pajama bottoms that matched her eyes. She tossed her pants into the hamper, along with her sweater and bra. She put on a thin baby blue tee shirt that hugged her nicely, and went back downstairs.
“That was quick.” Cassidy tried to breath, but found her lungs compressed tightly as she took in the sight before her. She’s so incredibly sexy, even in pajamas!
“I even brushed my teeth.” She smiled and shrugged. “Do you want something to drink or anything to eat?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you. Did Giles go to bed?”
“Yeah about a half hour ago.”
“Oh.”
“So you like the tree huh.”
“Yeah, it reminds me of being home.” She stirred unconsciously.
“If you don’t mind my asking, why aren’t you with your parents for the holidays?”
This caused even more stirring from the smaller woman.
“They…uh…they went on a European Tour…and ..well..”
“Abandoned you huh.” Ian knew the feeling, she had felt as if her own parents had abandoned her, but for the rest of her life. She got up and walked over to the other couch and sat down next to Cassidy, their thighs almost touching. Cassidy was trembling. “Are you cold?”
“Uh…no.”
Ian looked into light gray eyes that seemed to reach into her heart. “You know you don’t have to be so shy around me, I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
“Your…but…you’re my boss.”
God damn it, not again. I’m just trying to be your friend right this minute, not have my way with you! “I know that, thank you for reminding me again. You sounded sad, I‘m trying to be a friend.” She drew out a long breath and sighed.
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, we obviously know we’re attracted to each other, there are ways around it.” There, I said it. Ian’s mind was racing and her heart was doing back flips.
Change the subject, change the subject, change the subject. Don’t have this talk with her, not now, not like this. “Uh…so…uh…uh Giles, he seems to be a very nice man.”
What the hell? “Uh…yeah, yes he is. Giles is the only family I have. He’s a very big part of my life.”
“That’s good, I’m glad you have him. I wouldn’t…I mean…I’m sor…” Ian sensed exactly what Cassidy was trying to say as she fumbled her words. Ian reached out and placed her fingers under Cassidy’s chin and gently turned her so they were facing each other.
“Cassidy, I don’t talk about my parents, well to anyone besides Giles. Yes, he has been a big help to me since their death. I miss them so much, I don’t know where I’d be if Giles wasn’t here with me. I was going through the worst part of my entire life when you met me. I’d given up on the world and to be honest, thought about not living anymore. I spent most of my days and all of my nights so drunk that I couldn’t see straight. It helped me forget for those few hours, until the pain of reality would come back, then I’d start all over. I was slowly killing myself. Giles found the courage to go against anything and everything that he knew as a servant basically, and tossed me around a little bit until I woke up. He made me see life for what it was worth, he taught me how to miss my parents and respect their death as a part of my life.” A few tears fell from her blond lashes and rolled down her cheek. “I owe him so much.” She took her hand away from Cassidy’s face but continued to gaze into her eyes. Cassidy could feel the pain radiating from the woman next to her.
“I…I’m so sorry…I…” Ian cut her off.
“No. I’m sorry, very sorry that you met that side of me, a side that I hope never surfaces again.”
Cassidy broke the eye contact and looked down at the table in front of them. “Are you sorry I…found out about you?”
“About what? The fact that I was a drunk? Or sleeping with women? Or both?” She took a deep breath. I never meant for the conversation to go this far, now what? “Cassidy, Giles was the only person that knew about what happened to me when my parents died. He never judged me, just did the best he could to take care of me. I never told my parents I was gay, and frankly, I never told Giles for that matter, but over the course of the last six months I’m sure he noticed.” She bent forward and put her head in her hands. “I’m the soul heir to a multi-million dollar family fortune, I can’t be outed. That would ruin the reputation of the company, and the media would tear me apart because I can’t produce the next Wiley heir!” Ian let out the deep breath that she was holding when she felt a warm hand rub gently across her back. “Not only do you know about me, but now your friends too. Maybe it was a mistake to bring you all up here.”
“I don’t think it was, just like I don’t think meeting you the way I did would change anything. In fact, it makes me not only see, but feel how human you really are.” She felt Ian shift under her hand. “Ian…if I had met you at work, with your title and everything that went with it, well I can tell you for sure I would not be sitting here with you right now. You scare the hell out of me in your power suit!” There I said it. Ian sat up and gazed into her eyes once again. Cassidy didn’t want to blink, afraid she’d lose the feeling of those beautiful blue eyes staring deeply into her.
“Cassidy, I never meant to scare you, I’m not the person you met in that bar, and I’m not the power suit either.”
“Then who are you? All I know is your name is Ian Wiley and you own a major corporation, plus you happen to like alcohol and women.”
“That’s just it, since my parents death I haven’t known who I am. I’m just existing, trying to do what is right. I get up everyday and go run that company just like my father and grandfather did.”
“What do you want to do instead?” Cassidy could see the wet tears on the blonde’s face in the glowing light of the fire burning close by.
“I…want…” She sniffled. “I want to call home and talk to my dad, have him tell me the latest news on Wiley Steel, and speak to my mom about everything else in my life. I want to sit down and tell my parents that I’m gay and I’m sorry.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I will never be able to do any of that, I have to accept it and move on, I guess that’s what I’ve been doing.”
“You’re an incredible young woman, with everything you are going through, you seem to put yourself aside to do what you were meant to do, no matter what.”
“It took me a while to learn how to do that, I was very selfish after they died, that’s how I was when you met me.”
“Maybe, but you’re a very strong person Ian.”
“I don’t want to be this overbearing power suit that scares you Cassidy.”
“I know you have to be at work, but here, now, you’re not scaring me at all. Just be yourself, Wiley Steel is on hold until Monday morning.” I can’t believe I just said that. Where is this confidence coming from? She’s so confused, hell I’m confused, I’m falling for her, oh my god . Cassidy stiffened all of a sudden and pulled her arm back to her own body. Ian noticed the sudden change.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I …uh…I…”
Ian turned her body slightly towards the smaller woman. “I see the scared deer in the headlights looking at me again, please, talk to me Cassidy”
I can’t. “It’s nothing, I just realized how everything has changed between us, it’ll be very hard to see you in the office and forget I know so much about you. That’s all.”
“Yes, that’s an obstacle, but it’s not like we’re sleeping together, or in love for that matter.” That would be impossible.
If anyone found out, no, Wiley, don’t tell her. “We’ve just become friends, there is nothing wrong with that. But, you’re right, in the office I can’t let on that I personally know you. It’s not like you see me often anyway. Although….” She wasn’t ready to tell her, but now was as good a time as any. “You will see me again, probably a few more times within the next few months. That leads me to something that I need to tell you.” She reached over and grabbed Cassidy’s slightly smaller hand, the warmth stung her skin. “Please promise that you will not be mad, and if you have to be mad, take it out on me.”
“What?” Cassidy stiffened. “Why would I be mad at you? What are you talking about?”
“You know there is a serious issue going on with the corporation, no one knows exactly accept for myself, I’ve involved no one.”
“Right?”
“All of the records and accounts that I had all of the departments pull for me didn’t make sense, so I hired an account auditing firm,” She watched the color fade from Cassidy’s face. “You understand that you cannot say anything to anyone about this.”
“Yes.”
“The auditor only found a few minor irregularities that I’m working on now.”
“Wow, I…I don’t know what to say…I’m sorry Ian, I can’t even begin to imagine what that must be like for you, or that anyone would steal from the company.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far, I don’t think it’s that bad, so far anyway. But, that’s not all.”
“There’s more?” Oh no, my department, it’s my department isn’t it?
“The auditor…it’s Katrina Sylvan.” Ian released her grip on the smaller hand when Cassidy pulled away and stood up.
“What! How could you?!” Her voice seemed to travel through the entire house.
“Ssshhh, you’re going to wake the house, sit down.” Ian tried to calm the woman. “Listen to me, I didn’t know who she was and she wasn’t told it was my company until she arrived here. I knew I recognized her, but I thought I had maybe slept with her and didn’t remember. She informed me about how we really met, anyway, she was highly recommended and did a very good job.”
“Let me get this right…you hired my best friend to audit my records? How could you do something like that?” Cassidy was shaking. Oh my god I’m yelling at my boss in her home in the middle of night, I am so fired! Her voice was still higher than Ian wanted it to be, so she stood up and grabbed the smaller woman, forcing her sit back down on the couch.
Ian‘s voice took on a higher tone this time. “Listen to me please Cassidy. She audited the entire company and I didn’t know who she was, I called the best company that I could find and asked them to send me their best, she arrived the next day. I only found out that she knew you a few days before she was finished.” Both women turned towards the doorway when they heard footsteps. Wendi and Trina were standing there staring at the two women on the couch yelling at each other.
“Uh…is everything okay?” Wendi asked quietly.
“How could you Trina?!” Cassidy turned away from her.
“I told her, I had to. I’m sorry.” Ian stood up and walked over to the window, afraid to look back at the chaos that she’d just caused. And to think, I stopped myself from kissing her at least ten times. What the hell am I doing?
Trina and Wendi walked over to the couch and sat across from their angry best friend.
“I’m sorry, it was a private meeting, I had no idea who she was or even the company’s name. It was very confidential, besides Cass, you know I have a confidentiality agreement clause with my contracts. I couldn’t tell you, I would lose my god damn job.” Trina ran her hand through her sandy colored hair and shook with frustration.
“She felt terrible Cass.” The redhead added softly.
“You knew! What the hell!” Cassidy was yelling at both of them.
Ian had had enough and marched back over to the couch, she stopped a foot from the couch. “For crying out loud, it’s one o’clock in the morning! So we had a business deal that involved you and we couldn’t tell you about it, grow up Cassidy!” No one noticed Giles come into the room in his dark green pajama bottoms and matching button down top. His hair was disheveled and he was wearing glasses.
“Is everything okay Miss Wiley?” He asked patiently. Ian shot ice cold blue daggers at Cassidy as she turned towards the doorway.
“Yes.” She caught up to him and placed her hand gently on his forearm. “It seems that Cassidy didn’t agree with my most recent business decision and she’s voicing her opinion. I’m very sorry we woke you.”
“It’s no trouble. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. May I get you anything?”
She laughed. “No Giles, we’re fine, please,” She nodded towards the hallway. “Go back to bed, get some sleep, I’ll handle this.”
“Goodnight then.” He turned and left the room. Ian ran her hands through her short hair and sauntered back over to the couches.
“I think everyone should call it a night before too much is said that no one really means.” She turned her back to them and began to walk out of the room. Cassidy stood up and moved in Ian’s direction. She felt horrible for what happened, they had become so close in a matter of a few hours and now everyone was fighting. She couldn’t imagine how Ian was feeling at that moment.
“I’m very sorry Miss Wiley…uh…Ian…”
“You don’t trust me, you’re back to acting reserved.” Ian turned around to face Cassidy after she spoke.
“After everything that we talked about tonight how could you say that to me?” She felt a tear escape her eyes as she tried to choke it back. Ian leaned forward and wiped it away, completely unaware of the two friends sitting a few feet away watching every move.
“You know better than anyone that there are parts to me, I‘m not one whole person, I have several ‘costumes’ if you will. There are things that I cannot share with you, not because I don’t want to, but because you’re an employee and…well...I’m your boss.” She looked past the shorter woman standing in front of her. “Goodnight ladies, I’m sorry for all of the confusion. I hope we can all get past this and enjoy a nice day tomorrow. It’s suppose to be beautiful, I’d like to show the estate to all of you before you go back. It’s not often that I have guests up here.” She worked out a smile, then turned and left the room. Goodbye what little happiness I was starting to feel, welcome back depression and hostility.
~ ~ ~
Ian came downstairs to find her house was completely empty. There’s no way everyone’s still asleep. “Giles!” She walked around the first floor of the house, no sign of the salt and pepper haired man. Hmm. She went back upstairs, quietly knocked on the door of the room she knew Cassidy had been given. When she didn’t here anything she opened the door and peered in. No one was in the room and the bed was freshly made. “What the hell?” She went back downstairs, the Grandfather clock in the living room chimed. nine a.m. and no one is here. All of a sudden the color drained from her face and she sat on the sofa. The only rational thought that came to mind was the women woke up and wanted to leave so Giles took them back. I didn’t get to say goodbye, we ended on such a bad note, everything went horribly wrong. She was too busy sulking in her own self pity to hear the door open.
“Good morning.” Ian turned around to see Cassidy standing in the doorway, her two best friends and Giles all behind her in the foyer. “I’m sorry we didn’t wake you, Giles said you’d still be asleep when we returned. We needed to go shower and change into clean clothes.” She hoped her shyness didn’t show on the surface. Ian ran a hand through her short blond hair and stood up, she walked past Cassidy and glared at Giles, she did however stop and tell her it was okay, they weren’t her captures.
The three women followed her to the dining room table. Ian sat in her customary seat at the head of the table. Cassidy sat to her left, Wendi and Trina sat to her right. Giles walked into the dining room from the kitchen.
“May I get you anything Miss
Wiley?” He silently counted…and habitually she answered him.
“Four Mimosa’s and four pieces of cinnamon toast.” Ian said solemnly. All three woman looked from her to Giles and started to object. He smiled and raised his hand for them to not speak. Cassidy looked at Trina and shrugged, Wendi’s eyes went as round as saucers, but no one spoke.
“So, I only have two snowmobiles, we’ll have ride in pairs today. Is that okay?” Everyone nodded, no one wanted to speak, they were still in shock from the breakfast order.
Alcohol and a god damn piece of dry toast, there is no way I’ll last all day on that. Is she nuts?! Cassidy thought to herself. Maybe she’s a Looney Tune, what the hell was I thinking? Giles appeared carrying a small tray with four tall glasses of chocolate milk. Seconds later he sat four plates of banana nut pancakes down, one in front of each of the women. Ian nodded to him then took a long swallow of the milk. Cassidy, Trina, and Wendi weren’t sure what the hell just happened, they all looked at each other dumbfounded while Ian began eating her flapjacks. Cassidy shrugged and started eating, the others followed.
~ ~ ~
Ian opened the first bay of the garage to get the snowmobiles out. The three women followed her inside. Wendi happened to notice the little black sports car sitting on the other side of the Bentley, next to a large black SUV.
“Who’s car is that?” She asked with a smile. Ian looked over her shoulder at her prize possession, black Lotus. Then she turned back around like it was nothing.
“That’s Giles’.” She said with a thin grin, but continued to act as if it were only a simple automobile with no meaning to her.
“No way!” Wendi was thinking the older man was sounding sexier by the minute. She stepped around Ian and walked over to the car that was backed in. The license plate read: YLESGRL. One rust colored eyebrow raised up and a sly smile crossed her face as she walked back over to them. Both of the snowmobiles were now sitting in the thick white snow to the left of the garage.
Just Me Page 9
