by Day Leclaire
"Nope."
"May I help you?" the receptionist said with a congenial smile.
"Mr. and Mrs. Alexander to see the nomination committee."
"Yes, you're expected. Follow me, please." She led the way down a short hallway and paused to knock on a set of double doors.
A sudden thought occurred to Nikki and she caught Jonah's hand before he could walk into the conference room. "Wait! You do have on...? You're not totally...?" She couldn't say it, her gaze drifting downward in fascinated horror.
"Oh, no?" He gave her a slow wink, then thrust the doors open, stepping boldly across the threshold. "What do you say we get this show on the road?" he demanded.
Two women and three men were grouped at one end of the room. At Nikki and Jonah's entrance, the five swiveled in unison, like puppets on a string. A tall, gruff-looking man built on proportions similar to Jonah took the initiative and approached.
"Bill West. I'm the committee chairman," he said, shaking hands with each of them, before turning his attention back to Jonah."We didn't expect to see you this morning, Mr. Alexander."
"No, I'm sure you didn't. But I'm here nonetheless." He cocked an eyebrow. "I trust you have no objections?"
"Would it matter if I did?"
"No."
A reluctant smile creased Bill's mouth. "I didn't think so," he murmured drily. "Well, you're welcome to observe. But you do understand that the accusations have been leveled against your wife and the answers will have to come from her."
"What I realize is that we're here at your request to answer unsubstantiated allegations. We're doing it as a courtesy and without benefit of counsel. Should, in the course of this... meeting, I feel that situation should change, I'll inform you." His wintry gaze held Bill's for a long moment. "Now I believe we understand each other. Do you agree?"
"Oh, yes. We understand each other perfectly." The chairman gestured toward the conference table. "Make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything? Water, coffee?"
"Three coffees. Two with sugar, one plain," Jonah ordered briskly. Turning, he escorted Nikki to the far end of the table, then held the chair for her.
"I didn't want any coffee," she whispered as she took her seat.
"I know. I just did it to tick him off. It's a power thing."
"Thanks," she said wryly. "I'm sure that 'power thing' will help the inquisition go much smoother." She folded her hands demurely in her lap. "By the way, did I mention that I have precisely five items on under my suit?"
She slanted a quick peek at him from beneath her lashes. As she'd anticipated, he was conducting a rapid-fire inventory and coming up precisely one item short. She smothered a smile. Jonah wasn't the only one capable of pulling a "power thing". Wondering what she'd left off should keep him busy for a while. At least she hoped it would.
"Your coffee," Bill announced heartily, as an underling scurried in, setting cups and saucers in front of them. "Now. Shall we begin?"
"You ready, Nikki?" Jonah asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
Bill joined the other four members at the opposite end of the table. "First let me say, Mrs. Alexander, that we apologize for the inconvenience." A deep frown creased his brow. "Unfortunately, it's important we clear this business up. Lawrence J. Bauman nominees must be above reproach. Companies who hire our candidates demand it. Why, a nomination alone can assure a position at the most select firms."
"I already have a position at one of the most select firms," Nikki inserted smoothly.
Jonah smiled in appreciation at her comment. "And the select firm in question supports Mrs. Alexander fully in this matter."
Bill sighed. "Yes, Mr. Alexander. We're well aware of your support. We're also well aware of International Investment's standing in the business world. Nevertheless, due to the seriousness of the charges, we're forced to investigate this matter to the fullest. We don't like it. You don't like it. But we have no choice if we're to survive public scrutiny."
"What would you like to know?" Nikki asked, taking a sip of coffee and struggling to hide a grimace at the lack of sugar. Without missing a beat, Jonah switched cups with her.
"I have information here from an unnamed individual-"
"Timothy T. Tucker," she interjected again.
"You know this man?"
"Yes. He attempted to sell my aunt and uncle his... invention. When I recommended against it, he threatened to publicize details of my past."
"Tell them the rest," Jonah prompted.
She didn't question his directive, but simply said, "Tucker also offered to keep quiet if I changed my recommendation and authorized payment to him to the tune of fifty thousand dollars."
The committee paused for a moment's discussion. Then Bill nodded. "We suspected that Mr. Tucker's motives for providing this information were questionable at best. But that's beside the point. What we must ascertain is whether the information is accurate."
"You'll have to be more specific," Jonah requested crisply.
"Very well. Let's get into specifics." Bill consulted his notes before fixing Nikki with his undivided attention. "Did you take money belonging to your relatives and invest it in worthless real estate?"
"One moment, please," Jonah interrupted. He leaned close, gathering her hands in his. "Give them the honest truth," he instructed calmly, his thumb tracing the outline of her wedding band. "Don't hesitate in answering. Don't attempt to explain at this point. They don't want explanations, just an admission."
Her fingers tightened on his. "And you want me to give them that admission?" The butterflies in her stomach had become a swarm of hornets.
"I want you to give it to them." He met her eyes unflinchingly, the utter confidence in his gaze easing her fears. How could she have ever thought those eyes resembled the bitter chill of autumn? she wondered in confusion. She must have been blind. They exactly matched the brilliant greens and golds of a warm spring day. "Trust me," he said.
"You know I do." She glanced at Bill West and flushed. "I'm sorry. Would you please repeat the question?"
He released an impatient sigh. "Did you take money belonging to your relatives and invest it in worthless real estate?"
She didn't look at Jonah. She didn't need to. "Yes," she said.
Her answer clearly surprised him. He referred to his notes again. "And did you then borrow money from the bank in order to finance an additional purchase?"
"I did."
The questions came faster. "And did you lose that money?"
"Yes."
"Did the bank foreclose on the original property when you were unable to make the monthly payments?"
"They did."
"And did the lending institute discover that the appraisal had been fraudulently obtained and that the property wasn't worth anything close to what you'd borrowed against it?"
"It was worth approximately half of what I'd borrowed," she confessed.
Bill tossed down his pen and stared in dismay. "Mrs. Alexander, I'm at a loss for words. These are very serious charges and you've admitted to each and every one of them."
"Yes, Mr. West, I'm well aware of that. But these questions were asked out of context. I assume you'll permit me to put them in context?"
"If you can," Bill retorted.
She spared Jonah a brief glance. He gave her an encouraging nod, and drawing a deep breath, she began to explain. "Eight years ago, my parents died—"
The woman on Bill's left stirred, the overhead lights picking out the iron gray streaks in her hair. "I hardly see what the death of your parents has to do with these proceedings—"
"My wife has extended you the courtesy of listening and responding to each of your allegations," Jonah cut in, his fury barely held in check. "You'll do no less for her."
"He's right, Clara. Let her tell the story her way. It's the least we can do," Bill said reasonably. "We apologize, Mrs. Alexander. Please continue."
"Their deaths have quite a lot to do with this story," Nikki res
ponded. "I'm sure you'll understand that it precipitated a major crisis in my family. Not only did we suffer from the emotional loss, but my mother and father were also the financial advisers for a number of my relatives. Because I was studying business at the time of their deaths, that burden then fell to me." A self-mocking smile flitted across her mouth. "Youth combined with an unfortunate arrogance allowed me to think I could handle the responsibility."
"I suspect we've all been there at one point or another," Bill murmured.
"I'm relieved to hear it. In my case, I had a college professor who'd become my mentor and encouraged me in my new capacity. Whenever I had a question, he'd advise me. About the time I turned twenty-one, he left the university to pursue more lucrative opportunities."
"Real-estate investment?" Bill guessed shrewdly.
"The very real-estate investment for which I'm currently under investigation," she confirmed.
Jonah spoke up again. "I'd like to make it clear-since I doubt my wife will—that at this point in her life she was also supporting a pregnant younger sister who'd just been widowed. Although Nikki's parents had left some insurance money, I question that it was sufficient to cover the expenses she was incurring at that time."
"No, it wasn't," Nikki admitted. "I suppose that's why I was vulnerable to Professor Wyman's offer."
"Professor Wyman?" Clara interrupted again. "Professor Wilbert Wyman?"
"Yes. Although he preferred people to call him Bert." Nikki looked at her curiously. "Do you know him?"
"My—my daughter did." Her hand clenched around her pen. "I'm sorry. Please go on."
"Bert showed me a commercial property that he felt would be a guaranteed money-maker. Funny... I still remember the name. Sunrise Center. Anyway, he was incredibly enthusiastic, said that if I didn't grab it, he would." She shrugged. "So I grabbed it."
"You went to your relatives for the money?"
She nodded. "We used everything we had—my parents' insurance money, my aunt and uncle's nest egg..." Her voice grew husky with remorse. "Even the funds set aside for my cousins' college tuition."
"Didn't you consider that risky?"
It took a minute to gather the emotional resilience to respond. "Not a day goes by that I don't regret having taken that risk," she told them with devastating candor. "But you can't make money without risking money. Or so Bert said."
"What happened then?"
The words came more easily. "Once I'd finalized the purchase, he came to me with a second proposal. He wanted me to borrow money from the bank against the property I'd just bought."
"What did he want you to do with that money?"
"He suggested we invest it in what he called a short-term turnaround. We'd buy and sell this surefire moneymaker within the space of a few months." She played with her coffee cup, remembering the naive fool she'd been. She started to pick up the cup, but her hands shook so badly, she returned it to the saucer. "I should have known it was too good to be true. Later, I learned that Bert had bribed the appraiser to grossly inflate the value of Sunrise Center. As a result, the bank loaned me over twice its value."
"And the money?"
"I handed the check over to Bert." She tried to smile. "Quite the brilliant young finance student, wasn't I?"
"I assume Bert promptly disappeared with the funds?" Bill questioned gently.
"Yes."
"What in the world did you do?"
She gathered the last of her inner resources, struggling to summarize the most difficult time of her life with as little emotion as possible. "I spent the next seven years working harder than I ever had before. I learned everything I could about the business world so I'd never be taken like that again. And I gradually paid back the money to the bank, to my aunt and uncle, to my cousins and to my sister. With interest. Last year, thanks to several legitimate investments, I was able to square all accounts."
"And what happened to Professor Wyman?"
"I have no idea. I assume he went on to scam other gullible college students."
"He did," Clara inserted softly. "But not for long. He was sent to prison five years ago."
Nikki stared at her, stunned.
Without further ado, Bill gathered his notes. "Thank you, Mrs. Alexander. That will be all."
"No, that damned well won't be all," Jonah bit out. "We'll hear your results here and now. Is she still a nominee or do I contact my lawyers?"
"Don't, Jonah," Nikki whispered, slipping icy fingers into the welcoming warmth of his huge hand."And just so you know...I'm wearing two stockings, one garter, a slip and one more item."
She'd managed to distract him. "Which did you leave off?" he demanded softly. "Top or bottom?"
"You figure it out." She raised her voice. "I don't intend to contest your decision. But in all fairness, I do think I deserve an expeditious finding."
"One moment please." There was a hushed conference among the committee. "We have no objection to giving you an immediate ruling. Assuming we find no discrepancy in the statement you've given, your nomination will stand."
"And how long will it take to look for any discrepancies?" Jonah questioned irascibly.
"The ceremony is Saturday. If Mrs. Alexander's status changes, you'll be notified by Friday."
Afraid of what Jonah might say to that, Nikki stood. "Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions." She tucked her hand into the crook of Jonah's arm and, using every ounce of her strength, dragged him from the room. "You are more stubborn than any mule," she muttered.
His hand coasted down her spine before settling in the small of her back. Abruptly, he stopped fighting. "Come on. Let's go home," he said.
"What's the sudden hurry?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
He stabbed the button for the elevator. "I think I know what that missing item is."
She lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Yeah." He grinned, tugging her into the empty car. "If I'm right, it's the same item I'm missing. And I've decided I'd much rather find out for sure than argue with a bunch of stuffy committee members."
"Me, too." She snuggled into the crook of his arm, sliding an experimental hand along his hip. "Good grief, Jonah! You really aren't—"
The elevator door banged closed.
CHAPTER TEN
"Aren't you nervous?" Selma questioned.
"Well, I-"
"Why should she be nervous?" Krista said dismis-sively. "She's a shoo-in."
Nikki gave a self-conscious shrug. "Oh, I doubt—"
"Damn that Tucker anyway." Ernie glared across the width of the huge stretch limo. "Why didn't you tell us about him, Nikki? I'd have strangled the little weasel when I had the chance."
"But I did—"
"Thank heaven for Jonah," Selma inserted, offering him a dazzling smile of unabashed approval. "I don't know what we would have done without his guidance."
"Yes. Thank heaven I was there," he agreed, draping an arm around Nikki's shoulders. "After all, it's a husband's duty and moral obligation to protect his wife."
"And the little woman's family, too?" she finally erupted.
"Yes, that, too." His grin flashed in the darkness. "Feel better now?"
She nodded, the momentary anger siphoning off some of her tension. "Much."
"Good." His eyes glinted from the shadows as he shifted closer. "Have I mentioned how beautiful you look tonight, Mrs. Alexander?" he asked, nuzzling the spot just beneath her left ear.
"Hey, hey! None of that," Eric protested. "You can celebrate after she's won."
"If I win," she hastened to correct. "Which is doubtful. I hope all of you won't be too disappointed."
"No one's going to be disappointed," Jonah said as the limo pulled up in front of the hotel. He peered out the window. "Good. They're here."
Nikki strained to see past his bulky shoulders. "Who? Who's here?"
"Mom and Dad," Eric replied. "They decided to catch a cab directly from the hotel instead of taking the limo with us."
"I think I'm going to be ill," Nikki said with a groan. "You didn't warn me they'd be coming."
"They're here to support you, just like we are." Jonah caught her fingers in his, squeezing gently. "Ivory?" he whispered.
She sighed, relaxing against him. "Black. Boxers?"
"Thong."
A watery laugh shivered between them. "Don't tease."
"Who's teasing?"
The door opened, ending any further conversation. Loren and Delia hurried forward to greet her with effusive hugs and kisses, acting as though she truly was their daughter-in-law. And she found herself wishing it was fact and not just a momentary fantasy. Once inside the hotel, they were directed to a huge, glittering ballroom where a table had been reserved for them close to the stage. Other nominees graced nearby tables. Dinner and speeches followed, dragging out the evening. By the time Bill West took the stage carrying the LJB Award, Nikki's nerves were stretched taut.
"Before I make the big announcement," he began, "I'd like to tell you a little about the winner of this year's Lawrence J. Bauman Award. The person we've selected epitomizes the standards for which the award was designed—brilliance, dedication, shrewd business acumen and, above all else, integrity. This individual possesses those qualities and a few more besides. It was those extra few qualities that allowed our committee to reach an immediate and unanimous decision."
"That's you, dear. It has to be," Selma whispered.
Tears gathered in Nikki's eyes and wordlessly she shook her head. The moment he'd used the word "integrity", she'd known they'd chosen someone else. Not that it came as any great surprise.
"This person has surmounted terrible adversity," Bill continued, "not just learning from and overcoming past mistakes, but benefiting from them, as well. No mountain proved too high, no problem slipped by until an honorable solution had been found, no moral dilemma went without the appropriate choice being made, no matter how difficult that choice might be. So, without further ado, it is my great honor and privilege to present this year's Lawrence J. Bauman Award to... Mrs. Nikki Ashton Alexander."
Nikki was so shocked, she couldn't move for a full minute. Jonah came to her rescue, sweeping her from the chair and into his arms. Giving her a hard kiss, he aimed her toward the stage. "You earned it, sweetheart. Now go get it."
