“I know.” She stopped the cart and both women walked over to the ledge.
“How?”
“I could see it in your eyes. That’s why I decided to bring you back here.” She grabbed both of Cassidy’s hands with her own. “Cassidy I love you so much, you complete me. I’ve never experienced anything close to this in all of my life.” She fought back a tear and bent down on one knee. She pulled a small black velvet box out of her pocket. “I was going to wait to do this, but I can’t wait any longer. Cassidy Harland, I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” She could see the tears falling from the gray eyes looking down at her as she opened the box. A large oval shaped diamond was in the center of the platinum band with one matching smaller diamond on both sides of it. “Will you marry me?”
“Oh my god…I…oh yes…Ian yes, I love you so much.” Ian stood and placed the ring on Cassidy’s left hand. She then picked the smaller woman up against her and held her tightly. When she set Cassidy down they shared a deep kiss, lingering against each others lips with tiny nibbles. Cassidy pulled her head back long enough to examine the giant rock that stood out on her left hand. “This ring is beautiful Ian.”
“I’m glad you like it. After the hearing tomorrow there’s one more place I want to take you.”
“I’ll go anywhere with you, for the rest of my life. I love you.”
“That’s good because you’re now engaged to me, and I love you with all of my heart Cassidy.”
~ ~ ~
The next day went as planned in the courtroom. Rich was the first one on the stand. He spent two hours explaining how he knew nothing about the deals or the involvement of the two women. He was even asked in depth whether or not the involvement bothered him or affected the workplace. At one point he asked Fred Fleming what the relationship had to do with the court case. This got a snicker out both of Ian’s attorney’s.
“Mr. Guthrey, please call your next witness.”
“Thank you. I call Cassidy Harland to the stand.” The brunette stood up and walked down the small aisle, she stopped to put her hand on the book as the others had done before she took her seat next to the judge. “Miss Harland, how long have you been working for Wiley Steel Corporation?”
“Four years next week.”
“And how long have you been the Director of Logistics?”
“Almost three years.”
“When did you meet Miss Ian Wiley?”
“When she came to the plant to pull the records, shortly after her parents passed away and she became the President of the company.”
“So you had no prior knowledge of her?”
“No.”
“Did you speak to her at all during the investigation into these deals?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Only the two or three times that she came to the plant asking questions and meeting with me and Richard Masters.”
“Were you friendly with her during this time?”
“Not beyond professional, no. We started dating long after the two guys were terminated.”
“Good. That’s all I have for you.” He winked and smiled before taking his seat.
“Mr. Fleming, your witness.”
“Thank you.” He stood and walked over to her. “Does your affair with Miss Wiley affect your performance at work Miss Harland?”
“Objection! Your honor, I think we have established that the relationship is not relevant to this case.”
“I’ll allow it. Please answer the question Miss Harland.” The judge spoke with a deep voice.
Ian could see the anger in the gray eyes across the room as Cassidy replied. “First of all, it’s not an affair we’re…” She looked over at Ian, when the blond nodded she continued. “We’re in a loving relationship, and no, I keep my job separate from my private life.”
“So you’ve stated that you had nothing to do with any of the deals or the investigation, is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know Katrina Sylvan?”
“Yes.”
“How well do you know her?”
“We’re best friends.”
“Have you ever been involved with her?”
“NO. Of course not.”
“Are you aware that she works for the firm that audited the Wiley Steel records?”
“Yes.”
“When did you become aware of this?”
“After the two men were terminated.”
“So your best friend of shall we say years, kept the secret from you that she was evaluating your job?”
“Yes. As I have said before, my private life and my job are two different things. My friends and I don’t sit around and talk about our jobs, frankly there’s more to talk about in the world than work.”
“I noticed you’re wearing a diamond ring on your left hand, who gave”
“Objection! Your honor her jewelry has nothing to do with this case.”
“Sustained. Counselor move on.”
“I have nothing more for this witness.”
“You may step down.”
Cassidy walked back towards her seat next to Rich. She exchanged heartfelt glances and quick smiles with Ian as she moved past them. The hearing continued with them calling the two newest additions to the Wiley Steel Corporation, Clark Watkins, then Kenneth Latrey. Finally, they were at recess until the next day. Ian waved for Cassidy to wait up for her, Max and Dan.
“Hey, you did good up there.” Ian hugged her.
“I wanted to kick his teeth in.” Cassidy growled.
“Don’t we all.” Max retorted.
“Hey Maxwell, I want you to know that Cassidy and I are engaged.”
“Congratulations. Although, I figured as much when he called you on the ring.”
“I was about to tell him, but he didn’t deserve to know.”
“Here we go. Stay close and let me do the talking.” Max pushed through the door, him and Dan escorted the women to the waiting car. Giles slammed the door and drove away from the downtown area.
Ian grabbed Cassidy’s hand. Minutes later the car turned into the cemetery and circled around to the back. Giles opened the door and handed a small bouquet of yellow orchids and pink carnations to Ian she turned around and stuck her hand out to Cassidy when she stepped away from the vehicle. Ian led the way as they walked hand in hand through the grass. She stopped in front of a large marble statue of ‘Apollo and Daphne’. “Cassidy, this is the resting place of my mother and father, Leland and Lorraine Wiley. Mom and dad, this is Cassidy.” Ian bent over and laid the flowers against the stone angels.
“Oh Ian this is beautiful.”
“Thank you. It’s Bernini, my Mom loved him, hence all the statues in the house.” She smiled.
“Wow.”
“I wanted them to see you since you’ll be part of the family soon. This is a part of me that I have never shared with anyone, and will never share with anyone else. Unless, I have a child of course.” Cassidy squeezed the hand she was holding.
“I understand. I’m glad you brought me here. I love you so much Ian.” She backed away as the tears fell from the blonde’s eyes.
“I love you Mom and Dad.” Ian bent over and kissed the marble statue as she usually did when she visited her parents. She stood back up and turned towards the car.
As soon as they were settled back in the car Ian smiled and took a deep breath. She felt a large weight lifted from her shoulders. Deep down she knew her parents approved, maybe they did know all along.
“So, do you want a long engagement or”
“No. Well, not if it can be helped. I want to get married whenever you do.”
“It’s up to you. I would like to have it at the house though. My parents were married there, I believe my grandparents were too if I’m not mistaken.”
“Sure, that sounds wonderful.”
“Well, we should probably set a date so we can send out the invitations.”
“Yes. How abo
ut six weeks? The trial should be over by then, and we can celebrate more than one thing.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“I want you to go with me to Colorado Springs this weekend to meet my parents. Do you think you can manage that?”
“Sure. I’ll call for the plane when we get to the house.”
“Plane?”
“Of course, we have a private jet readily available. My parents always took the tra…um…they believed in the…railway system. I…uh…I don’t…not anymore. So I fly when it’s too far of a drive. I don’t own the plane, I rent it when I need it.”
“Okay. I’m going to wait until I get back home to tell Trina and Wendi.”
“As soon as this mess is over with we’ll make a statement to the press together. After that we should be clear of them for a while.”
“That’ll be great. I’m definitely not one for the limelight.”
“There is one thing we need to discuss. I…well…I guess I should’ve done this before proposing. How do you feel about children Cassidy?”
“I don’t know, I mean I like kids, I always thought I’d have one, I just never gave it much thought after I came out, you know.”
“Yeah. Uh…I…I’m a Wiley, the last Wiley, and I need a blood heir to take my place one day. I’m not saying tomorrow, but I’ve given it a lot of thought this past year and I do want a child. Only one, my great grandfather, grandfather, and father all had only one child.”
“I would love to have a child with you Ian, you are the most wonderful, loving person that I’ve ever met.”
“That’s good, I guess we can still get married then.” They both laughed. “I promise not to knock you up on our wedding night.”
“IAN! Giles can hear you.”
She shrugged and laughed. “So, you think he can’t hear you in the house?”
“Oh my god!” She smacked the blonde’s arm. “You said he couldn’t.” She whispered harshly.
“I’m only kidding honey, he couldn’t hear anything that goes on upstairs, he never could. That’s why he put a baby monitor in my room when I was a kid so he could keep an eye on me.”
Chapter 20
Rich and Cassidy drove back to Grand Junction late Wednesday night. Thursday morning Cassidy was at the plant bright and early as usual. Rich stopped her at the coffee machine.
“That’s a beautiful rock your sportin’ there tiger.” He winked at her. “Guess your trip went better than mine. All I got outta her was a hundred dollar dinner.” Cassidy smiled and smacked his arm. “Congratulations Cassidy, you deserve to be happy, even if it is the boss.”
“You know coming from you Rich, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Thank you.”
“Good, you’re one of the guys, remember?”
“Oh yeah, I’ll never forget.” She laughed and went back to her office and dialed a number on her cell phone.
“Wendi Blanchert.”
“Hey Wendi, doing anything tonight?”
“No why? Hey by the way how did the hearing go?”
“Not bad, stop by my place about seven, let’s have a girls night. I’m gonna call Trina and make sure she’s there too. I’ll tell you guys all about it over a bottle of wine.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Cassidy closed her phone then opened it again and dialed another number.
~ ~ ~
“Mom?”
“Hey Cassidy darling, how are you?”
“Good. Have you heard anything about the hearing?”
“No, our news people aren’t the sharpest sticks in the woods.”
“Don’t we know that. I don’t think they can spell news. Anyway, I was hoping you and dad would be home this weekend.”
“Yes. Why?”
“I’m coming to town. Actually, Ian and I are coming to town. We’re flying out Saturday afternoon so we should be there by two. We’ll be flying back Sunday morning.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to meet her. It seems like forever since we’ve seen you darling.”
“I know. Anyway, I’m at work so I need to go, but I wanted to make sure it was okay. We’ll be on a private plane so you and dad can pick us up at the hangar. I’ll call you with the details Friday night when I get into Aspen after work.”
~ ~ ~
“So, tell us all about the hearing.” Wendi spoke as Cassidy poured the white wine into three glasses. The three women sat lazily in Cassidy’s living room.
“Well, your name came up Trina, that jackass drilled me for an hour about you, he even asked if we had an affair. I was about to knock him out when Ian’s lawyer changed his line of questioning. What a dickhead.”
“Man, that sucks. I actually figured I’d get subpoenaed, I usually do when it comes to a lawsuit.”
“Nah, they knew you didn’t have anything, they just wanted to drive a wedge into me and Ian.”
“I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that kind of shit at work.” Wendi sipped her wine.
“Hell, I never thought I would either, are you kidding? Who falls in love with their boss, has the perfect relationship, then lives happily ever after?”
“I don’t know, you’re the only one I can think of.”
“Me too.”
“See, I was taken by surprise.” Cassidy leaned forward to pour herself another glass of wine, that’s when the light caught the rock on her hand. Trina’s eyebrows disappeared into her hair and Wendi spit wine all over the table.
“What the fuck is that?” Wendi spat, still choking on her wine.
“Ian asked me to marry her Tuesday night.”
“Oh my god!” Trina grabbed Cassidy’s hand. “That thing is huge!”
“No shit!” Wendi examined the diamonds just as closely. "I could hock that and pay off my car and buy a house! it's beautiful."
“I don’t know what to say Cass, congratulations.”
“Yeah, congrats girlfriend.”
“Thanks guys. I love you both dearly.”
“Wow, I can’t believe our little Cassidy is getting married.” Wendi looked at Trina. “The first of the musketeers.”
Cassidy laughed as she ran her hand through her thick black hair. “What can I say? That adorable blue eyed blond swept me off my feet the night I met her.”
“So when’s the big day?”
“Six weeks from this Saturday.”
“What! Excuse me?”
“Yeah, it’s a little sudden, but we’re just ready to be together. It was actually my idea to do it so soon. The trial should be over before then, so we’ll have a lot to celebrate.”
“Holy shit! This means we’ll need to start planning immediately.” Wendi was about to blow a gasket.
“Have you told your parents?” Trina asked as she poured herself another glass of wine.
“No, we’re flying out there this weekend to tell them, and so they can meet Ian.”
“My god, this is happening so sudden.”
“Yeah. I know it’s a shock. I think I’m still in that phase. Reality will hit me two months after the wedding I’m sure.”
“So where will you do it?”
“We’re going to have the ceremony and reception at the estate. It’s a big family tradition.”
The three women clinked their glasses together. “Here’s to love, life, and lots of hot sex!” They all laughed and took a sip of their wine. “Again, congrats Cass, we’re both really happy for you. Ian is an amazing woman. You two are perfect together.” Trina finished.
“Thanks.”
~ ~ ~
The plane landed smoothly on the concrete runway and taxied slowly to the private hangar on the side of the main airport terminal. Cassidy took a deep breath. She smiled when she looked down at the glistening ring on her left hand.
“Shall we?” Ian’s blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight coming through the cabin window.
“Now is as good a time as any.” She stood up and led the way to the door. Ian stopped behind her to speak to the pilot quickly. Bo
th women made their way down the small staircase. Cassidy’s father was average build and a few inches taller than her mother, who was already taller than Cassidy. He had brown hair that seemed to be going gray rather quickly, it matched his thick mustache. Her mother was thin with jet black hair and gray eyes, next to Cassidy, her mother looked like a slightly older version of herself.
“Hello darling.” The mother hugged her daughter and kissed her cheek, followed by her father.
“Mom, Dad, this is Ian Wiley, and my boss.” Cassidy smiled, then remembered she forgot to take her ring off before they got off the plane. Oh shit. “Ian these are my parents, David and Eileen Harland.” Ian stepped forward to shake their hands.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
“You too. Cassidy has told us so much about you.” Eileen spoke first.
“She never told me that she looks so much like you Mrs. Harland.”
The older woman smiled. “Please, call me Eileen.”
“Thank you.”
Everyone climbed into the large SUV and David drove them towards the house that Cassidy grew up in. The house was two stories with hardwood floors throughout, partially covered by various oriental rugs. On the flight Cassidy had explained how her mother was a high school history teacher and her father worked as a supervisor at the coffee plant downtown.
“This is a beautiful house you have Mrs., I mean Eileen.”
Eileen smiled at Ian and winked at her daughter. “Thank you.”
“Come on Ian, let me show you around.” Cassidy grabbed her hand and started up the stairs. They passed by one large bedroom, followed by two smaller ones. “This was my room.” They walked inside one of the smaller rooms. The walls were white with lavender trim. A full-size bed took up most of the space. The white-wash oak dresser and tiny matching desk filled up the rest of the room.
“This is cute.” Ian grinned.
“Yeah, Mom never let go of her baby girl. I’m just glad she replaced the bed. It used to be a day bed. She traded it for this one when I went away to college.”
Just Me Page 19
