An Executive Decision (Executive Decisions Trilogy)

by Grace Marshall

  As she stepped out of the bathroom, Jason, who had been talking to Yvette, nearly dropped his iPhone as he stowed it back in his pocket. ‘Wow!’ His voice was breathless, and his gaze felt a little too much like a caress for comfort. ‘You look incredible, Dee. Perfect, in fact.’ He bent to kiss her hand, then offered her his arm. ‘I’ll be the envy of the party with you by my side.’

  Chapter Twenty-four

  At the door to Marston’s penthouse, Jason took her hand. ‘You’re absolutely stunning, Dee. If this weren’t so important, I’d skip the party and keep you all to myself.’

  She pulled away. ‘I’m still not sure this is a good idea. Yvette did talk this over with Ellis, didn’t she?’

  ‘Would you stop worrying? Now that you’re here everything’ll be all right’

  ‘Just answer my question. Has Yvette talked to Ellis?’

  ‘Yeah, of course.’ He straightened his cuffs with a shrug. ‘Probably she did.’

  She took a step back. ‘What do you mean, probably? This is my job we’re talking about, as well a deal that all of our companies need.’ She snapped open her handbag and pulled out her BlackBerry.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘I’m not going in there until I’m sure Ellis has had the heads up.’

  Before she could call, Jason pushed the doorbell, and almost at once a steward in full livery answered, looking as though he had just stepped out of a Victorian novel.

  ‘Damn it, Jason!’ She elbowed him beneath the ribs, still trying to maintain as much dignity as possible in front of the steward as she shoved the phone back in her bag. ‘This is no joke.’

  Jason caught the offending arm and folded it over his, whispering close to her nape. ‘Just relax, Dee. I’ll protect you from Ellis, and Marston.’ The brush of his lips across her earlobe barely registered above the storm of nerves in her stomach as the steward announced their arrival.

  Marston’s soirees tended toward extravagance, according to Ellis, and Dee could tell immediately this little gathering was no exception. A large alcove held a small band, which played a Glenn Miller set. The main reception room, which had been turned into a dance floor, opened onto the large terrace decorated with fairy lights and citronella torches.

  ‘Daniels! It’s about time.’ Receding hairline moist and brow furrowed, Marston greeted Jason with a handshake. ‘Ms Rousseau was beginning to get a little worried about you. I see you’ve solved our little problem.’ He offered Dee a curt nod, and mopped his high forehead with a neatly folded handkerchief.

  Dee didn’t care much for being referred to in the third person as “the little problem”; however, it was worth it to see the man sweat.

  Marston had barely gotten greetings out when Ellis approached. The look on his face told Dee Yvette hadn’t informed him of the change in party plans. Just as he was about to speak, Jason tugged her toward the dance floor. ‘I’ve been waiting all evening to dance with you.’ He gave her an admiring look. ‘And well worth the wait, I’d say.’ He slid an arm around her to pull her close. ‘Sorry, Thorne. You left her at home alone. Now she’s mine.’

  As Jason lapsed into French, which he knew Ellis didn’t understand, Dee figured it was probably a good thing that looks couldn’t kill.

  ‘Cantankerous lot, the French.’ Marston shook his head and watched as the two began to dance. ‘She’s got the whole damn Trouvères contingent eating out of her hand; I’ll say that for her.’

  ‘Did you ever stop to think it might be for good reason, Al?’ Ellis spoke to Marston, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Dee as she moved on the dance floor. Daniels led Dee with considerably more grace than Ellis would have liked. Ellis was not in the mood to be toyed with. If the bastard tried anything, Trouvères deal or not, he’d wish he hadn’t. With his mind on Dee and Daniels, Ellis missed the rest of Marston’s babble about the foibles of the French and something about Yvette insisting that Dee be at the party. It was only when Stacie appeared at Marston’s side that his attention was catapulted front and centre.

  ‘Oh Ellis, it’s so good to see you. It’s been ages. I hear congratulations are in order.’ She offered him a smile that could melt a heart of stone. ‘Nothing unusual in that for the Win-Win Guru, is there?’ Before Ellis could respond, she gave him a kiss on the mouth and a hug that, in his opinion, was a bit too close for polite company, but then that was Stacie.

  He pushed her away.

  ‘I guess I don’t need to introduce my date, do I?’ Marston gave Stacie’s hand a squeeze. ‘Sorry I’ve been so distracted tonight, my dear. Business, I’m afraid. The French always have to complicate things, you know? I promise I’ll make it up to you.’ He kissed her cheek, then turned back to Ellis. ‘The last time Stacie and I partied together we were celebrating a coup she’d made with an impressionist exhibition from Russia. The woman has serious clout in the art world, you know?’

  She batted impossibly long lashes and offered Ellis a pout that at one time he would have happily lapped off her face. ‘Sadly, Alan, Ellis doesn’t have time for the finer things in life.’

  ‘Damn shame, Thorne.’ Marston handed them each a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. ‘We all need a little culture from time to time. I hear Stacie’s bringing some your direction too, with the new gallery in Portland.’ As he spoke, his wandering gaze fell on Yvette across the room, where she dominated the small knot of people with whom she was in conversation. Her short silver hair complimented the black sheath that hugged her tall, athletic frame. She was probably Marston’s age, and still a beautiful woman in her late 50s, but Ellis knew Marston’s tastes ran toward much younger, much more agreeable women. He wondered what the hell the man was doing with Stacie. Marston lost his smile and nodded in Yvette’s direction. ‘If you’ll excuse me, must mingle. Don’t want ’em finding another excuse to ruin the party.’

  For a second, Ellis and Stacie stood watching the dance floor in silence. Ellis had learned from experience that being paranoid where Stacie was concerned was actually just self-preservation. Though he had no doubt her efforts to make up for past transgressions were well intended, somehow, just like Garrett, they both ended up making matters worse rather than better and, in this case, matters were bad enough without her help. Dealing with Stacie was one more complication he really didn’t need this evening.

  Stacie nodded toward the dancers. ‘The one in blue with the Trouvères hunk – she’s Beverly’s replacement?’

  He shot her a quick glance. ‘How’d you know?’

  ‘Because you’ve been ogling her ever since the man whisked her away.’ She offered him a wicked smile. ‘Oh, don’t look so surprised. A woman can figure these things out, and you always did have exquisite taste in women.’

  ‘She’s my executive assistant, Stacie, not my woman.’

  She ignored his comment. ‘Besides, Garrett did tell me that she was lovely. He certainly had nothing but good to report about her, and all I can say is it’s about time. I’m dying to meet her.’ She leaned in and brushed impossibly warm lips against his earlobe. ‘I hear she’s very good at her job.’

  She’d barely gotten the words out when the music stopped. He noticed Dee say something to Daniels, then move through the milling guests toward them. ‘Excuse me.’ Ellis left Stacie alone and went to meet Dee. Taking her by the arm, he spoke between barely parted lips. ‘What the hell are you doing here, besides the obvious?’ He nodded to where Daniels now stood next to Yvette Rousseau and Marston.

  She followed his gaze, then turned her attention back to him. ‘Yvette was supposed to call you. It appears I was shanghaied to prevent a possible disaster. Either that or I was duped. Not sure which.’

  ‘What disaster? What the hell’s going on? This better be good.’ He slipped an arm around her waist and guided her toward the balcony.

  Before he could get her to a more private place, Stacie intercepted them and took his other arm. ‘Ellis, aren’t you going to introduce us?’

 
He forced a smile and ignored the gnawing in the pit of his stomach that intensified as the two women eyed each other from either side of him. ‘Dee, I’d like you to meet Stacie Emerson. She’s an old schoolmate of mine.’

  Stacie took Dee’s hand in an enthusiastic grip. ‘I’m his ex-fiancée, actually, but that was a long time ago. I’ve been dying to meet the famous Dee Henning Garrett’s told me all about. Honestly, I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity, and I’m so happy for Ellis that he’s finally found someone. For his executive assistant, I mean.’

  Dee showed no sign of surprise at Stacie’s little bomb. She simply accepted the handshake and offered that smile that could almost make Ellis forget he was mad at her. ‘If I’m the best you can do for excitement, I’m guessing you don’t get out much.’

  As the band began to play String of Pearls, Marston approached the trio, his eyes on Stacie, but as he reached for her, she sidestepped and took Ellis’s arm. ‘At last, you finally find the woman of the hour without that Casanova from Trouvères hanging all over her. Now’s your chance to dance with the belle of the ball.’ She offered him an innocent smile. ‘Come on, Al, I know the two of you must have so much to talk about.’

  Marston looked like he’d just swallowed a toad. ‘Ms Henning. If you would.’ He offered her his arm and led her stiffly toward the dance floor, leaving Ellis feeling stranded in dangerous territory.

  Before he could confront Stacie, Daniels pushed his way through a small knot of people, his hand extended. ‘I’ve been talking to your executive assistant, Thorne.’

  Ellis returned the handshake grudgingly. ‘So I saw.’

  ‘I hope Marston’s thanking her for coming to the rescue. Yvette is just unpredictable enough that she might have done something stupid.’ He nodded to where Dee and Marston were dancing, both looking like they’d rather be anywhere else.

  Ellis had no idea what Daniels was talking about. Whatever it was, this was not the kind of conversation he wanted Stacie to overhear. But Daniels continued, ‘I can confidently speak for Trouvères when I say I’d love to steal her away from you. After what the poor woman’s been forced to put up with in the past few days, I wouldn’t blame her if she were looking elsewhere.’

  If the man were any more smug, he’d have to have a bigger face to put his smirk on. But before Ellis could do more than just bristle, one of the reps from Scribal asked Daniels to dance, leaving Stacie and Ellis standing alone near the open terrace.

  ‘Oooh, he’s hot for her, Ellis. Don’t listen to him, though. Garrett says Dee’s exactly what you need, and I’m sure the Trouvères hunk won’t have any trouble finding someone when he looks like that.’ Stacie slipped her arm through his. ‘Hell, with a juicy package like that around, I’d follow him off to Paris.’

  ‘I’m sure you would, Stacie.’

  She sat her glass on a nearby credenza and pulled him by the hand. ‘Come on, let’s dance. It’s been ages.’

  Over Stacie’s shoulder, Ellis empathetically watched Dee with Marston. His own position was no less uncomfortable as Stacie did her best to pump him for information about Dee, and to be heard over the music, that meant pressing her well-displayed cleavage a little too close for comfort. ‘Anyway,’ she was saying, ‘when Garrett told me the news about you and Dee, I had to see for myself, and since Alan and I go way back, I figured I could wrangle an invitation from him. He may not look like much, but the man’s a lot of fun at a party normally. He seems a bit stressed tonight. That’s too bad. I mean, it is his birthday.’ Ellis kept pulling away in hopes Dee wouldn’t notice how close they were.

  Stacie moved in again for the full frontal rub-up. ‘God, Ellis, Garrett’s right. You really do have it bad for her, don’t you? You can’t keep her eyes off her.’ She leaned in still closer, her lips brushing his ear. ‘Garrett thinks you’ve initiated the ESC with her.’

  Ellis stiffened, feeling the words like a tight fist in his gut. He couldn’t believe his brother would blab to Stacie of all people about the Executive Sex Clause. Why not just broadcast it on Facebook and Twitter, for fuck sake? ‘I suppose Garrett neglected to tell you that he was drunk when he and Beverly schemed the ESC for my benefit.’

  ‘No. He told me that, but still, a woman doesn’t miss that look. And the way you look at her, Ellis, wow! I never thought I’d see the day. I can’t tell you how excited I am for you.’

  The knot in his stomach tightened. The one thing he didn’t need was Stacie and Garrett being excited for him. The one thing neither he nor Dee needed was Stacie and Garrett trying to play match-maker. ‘Listen, Stacie,’ he began, forced to pull her close so she could hear him, hoping Dee wasn’t watching. ‘I don’t know what Garrett told you, but I really don’t need either of you to –’

  Before he could finish, Marston tapped him on the shoulder. ‘If you don’t mind, Thorne, I’d like to cut the rug with Stacie now.’ He offered Dee’s hand to Ellis. ‘I’ve been a good host, now for my reward.’ He gave Stacie a cheek and jowl smile.

  Ellis and Dee watched as Marston and Stacie waltzed off, both well into each other’s personal space. Then Ellis pulled Dee close, as though she were a child needing his protection. ‘Are you OK?’

  She smiled. ‘Me? Marston’s the one you should be concerned about. I seriously considered stomping on the man’s foot with a nice pointy heel. He escaped just in time.’

  The band began Moonlight Serenade, and Ellis stood looking dumbly at her, wondering how he could be both angry and enchanted with her at the same time. Finally, he willed his feet to respond to the music. Dee quickly caught his rhythm and they moved as a unit, like they always did, he thought.

  ‘I don’t know what’s going on with you and the Trouvères team, but you should have warned me,’ he said. ‘I don’t like finding out these things second hand.’

  ‘Believe me, I intended to. It all happened so fast. Jason showed up at the hotel in a panic and rushed me off to Marston’s. He promised me Yvette had informed you.’

  ‘Well, she didn’t. Daniels was out of line. Bringing you back in should have been my job.’

  ‘So where were you, then?’

  He pulled her close, feeling her ribcage expand against his. ‘This isn’t funny, Dee. You made me look like I don’t know what’s going on with my own people. Again.’

  She pushed him away. ‘And you made me look like the unethical person Marston believes me to be.’

  ‘That was never my intention, and you know it.’ His voice came out a harsh whisper against a backdrop of big band music.

  ‘Would you rather risk losing the deal? I’m supposed to be doing Beverly’s job, Ellis. You’d never rein her in for doing what needed to be done.’

  ‘Beverly had 30 years of experience on you, Dee.’

  She stopped dancing, and glared at him. ‘And my lack of experience gives you the right to treat me like a naughty child?’

  He pulled her back into the dance, holding her closer. ‘I wouldn’t have to treat you like a naughty child if you didn’t act like one.’

  ‘You started it.’

  ‘I didn’t start it. Daniels started it.’

  ‘He kept the evening and possibly the whole alliance from ending in disaster.’

  ‘Did he really? I’m inclined to believe he manipulated the situation just to get you to himself.’ Daniels had deserted the Scribal rep and stood once again on the edge of the dance floor with Yvette Rousseau, his full attention on Dee.

  ‘If he doesn’t quit staring at you,’ Ellis growled, ‘I’m going to break his arm.’

  Dee gave a glance in the direction of the Trouvères contingent. ‘So now you’re mad at him for looking at me? I haven’t heard, Ellis, has Marston declared that a crime as well?’

  ‘Don’t be naïve, Dee. Where you’re concerned, this whole mess was just the opportunity Daniels has been waiting for.’ In a flood of possessiveness, Ellis pulled her close, forcing a startled rush of oxygen from her lungs. She made no attempt to re-establish proper dance p
osture as the anger between them dissipated to something much more intriguing.

  He was just about to apologise, make his excuses to Marston and whisk Dee away to somewhere quiet and intimate, when the music stopped, the band took a break, and Dee was pulled away by several of the Scribal party. He was about to follow when his BlackBerry rang. It was Wade, calling from Portland. Sometimes days went by with Ellis not hearing from Wade, but the one thing the man didn’t have was a sense of timing, so if he thought he had something to say, he’d call anytime, day or night, and when he did, it was usually important. Ellis exited to the balcony for a little privacy. Twenty minutes later, he returned to the party.

  ‘You’re looking for Dee, right?’ A breathless Stacie met him at the French doors. She grabbed Ellis’s hand and led him toward the marble staircase.

  ‘You know where she is?’

  ‘Of course. Come on. I’ve been trying to get a minute with her since the last set. Alan got pulled away for an important phone call in his study and I couldn’t seem to pry her away from the French contingent. Oh Ellis, I’m just dying to get to know her a little better.’ She pulled him up the wide, spiralling steps, taking them two at a time. She’s just gone up to the ladies’ room up here and I thought maybe –’ Stacie missed the last step, turned her ankle and, with a loud yelp, practically fell on top of Ellis, who would have gone over backward if he hadn’t been holding on to the rail.

  ‘Ouch! Oh damn it! I knew I shouldn’t have worn these shoes,’ She crumpled against Ellis and he half carried, half dragged her to a furnished alcove directly across from the closed door of the bathroom. The hall was dimly lit, and the alcove even more so.