An Executive Decision (Executive Decisions Trilogy)

by Grace Marshall

  Tally frantically blinked back the tears. Her heart hammered. Nausea clenched her stomach; she struggled to breathe it away. She wanted desperately to rub her bruised thigh, but she was too frightened to move.

  For a long, painful moment, Jamison held her in a curious gaze, as though she were an experiment and he wanted to understand what would happen if he hurt her. Then, once again, the bright smile broke across his face. ‘Of course I can’t place a monetary value on having eyes and ears inside Pneuma Inc. You’re right. I apologise for being so badly behaved, Tally. I’m afraid I’m a rather sore loser.’ He shrugged inside his jacket and chuckled softly. ‘Never mind. Marston isn’t the only fish in the sea, and there are always other ways to skin a cat.’

  The limo stopped and, with a start, Tally realised they were in front of her house. But before she could open the door and make a quick escape, Jamison grabbed her arm, this time more gently than he had her thigh. ‘I’ve been monitoring your credit cards, Ms Barnes. They’re being paid off monthly, and will continue to be so, in spite of your very expensive tastes, as long as I find you useful to me. I’ve made another little deposit in your checking account as well. After all, as you say, it’s not your fault that the deal with Marston didn’t happen, and what you’re doing could, indeed, land you in jail.’ He leaned close. ‘However, be warned, the minute, the very minute, I find you no longer of use to me, I’ll cut you off, and you’ll have to learn to survive on your Pneuma Inc. salary again.’ He raised an amused eyebrow. ‘Which is a fairly substantial amount from what I can tell, but then Thorne has a reputation for paying his employees well, doesn’t he?’ He released her arm and nodded to the door. ‘Good day, Ms Barnes. It’s been a pleasure, as always.’

  In addition to the Trouvères/Scribal project, and liaising with her uncle, and Ellis and Wade about the situation in Valderia, Dee spent a chunk of her week reconnecting with several local companies that had been Beverly’s responsibility. Ellis made two trips to Seattle and another to Salem. Most of the time, their respective secretaries were the go-betweens that kept them connected and informed on each other’s progress. Even when they did see each other, it was only in passing and for both of them, no matter how hungry they might be for each other, there were only so many hours in the day. For the first time, Dee wasn’t sorry for the buffer. The fantastic, if all too confusing, sex of Monday morning had done little to ease the discomfort brought on by the nightmare on the plane, so the busy schedule eased the stress and kept her mind from wandering where she didn’t want it going.

  It was late Friday when Ellis and Dee found time to meet again. Wade had gone bowling and the rest of the Pneuma Building was deserted. After a number of long conversations with Daniels and Marston and plenty of research on her own, Dee was ready to roll on the first of the Trouvères/Scribal projects as soon as the deal was closed. Since Marston had eaten crow, as he called it, he couldn’t have been more helpful or more cordial. She could see now why Beverly had considered the man a friend. He might be stubborn and pigheaded, but then who wasn’t? It certainly had stood him well all these years. Scribal was a powerhouse to be contended with, even in times of serious recession.

  She and Ellis stood shoulder to shoulder, leaning over a small conference table where the files were spread. The slice of sunlight through the window near Ellis’s desk had taken on the mauve and melon tones of evening. The room smelled faintly of coffee, and of Ellis’s own scent, but Dee was sure she was the only one who knew that scent intimately enough to be aware of it.

  ‘I’ll be joining Marston and Jason in New York on Monday,’ she informed him. ‘Sandra has taken care of the reservations.’

  He sat down on the edge of the table, dangling one leg over. ‘I’m not sure I should send you off alone.’

  ‘Are you still obsessing over Jason?’

  ‘Trust me. I know animal lust when I see it.’ He raked her with a look that was nearly physical, and suddenly Scribal and Trouvères were the last things on her mind. He traced the contour of her cheekbone and slid his hand down to stroke the nape of her neck.

  ‘Familiar with it, are you?’ She turned her head and nipped the tip of his thumb with her front teeth.

  ‘Not only am I familiar with it, but I have a pretty good idea what to do about it.’ He spoke the last words against her mouth, his tongue nestling in between her lips, making itself at home. Curious hands went exploring. Amid the rising friction of body heat through power suits, the sound of their breathing grew heavier against the silent approach of evening.

  Ellis had just slipped his hand under her skirt and was navigating garter belt and panties when the door burst open and Stacie blew in, dressed in a sage green power suit and matching stilettoes. ‘Ellis, I just couldn’t wait for you to get in touch with me. I had to see you now, so we could …’ She stopped mid-stride in the middle of the office floor, words dying in her throat.

  The two jumped apart as though they were rocket propelled. ‘What the hell are you doing here, Stacie? Can’t you see I’m in the middle of a meeting? How did you even get in?’

  ‘Oh God, oh shit! I am so, so sorry, Ellis! If I’d known you were … I mean, I thought you’d be … And I was afraid you didn’t get my email with the name of my hotel on it, so Garrett gave me his code to get into Pneuma, and I thought that … Well, I know you’ve been busy and I … God, I’m so sorry I interrupted you.’ She took a card from her bag and grabbed a pen from his desk. ‘Look I’m really sorry. I’ll leave now, but here are my details. I’m at the Airport Hilton at the moment, and we need to talk. I’m sorry for the interruption.’

  She gave him an awkward hug, nodded to Dee, then hurried out, closing the door behind her.

  Ellis straightened his tie, and shoved his glasses up the bridge of his nose with such force that Dee feared he’d break them. ‘Jesus, Dee, I’m so sorry. I had no idea she would show up like this.’ He waved a hand toward the door and caught his breath.

  Dee moved to gather her belongings before things could heat up again. She wasn’t sure she could handle sex with Ellis knowing she was only the appetiser before the main course waiting for him at the Hilton. Maybe what had happened at Marston’s party between him and Stacie had been nothing to him, but it certainly didn’t seem as if Stacie felt the same way. She shivered as she thought of her nightmare again. Sex was a part of her job. Suddenly the thought felt sharp-edged and painful, and she forced it away to concentrate on what was immediate, what she did have some control over. ‘I really don’t think there’s much else,’ she said in her “business as usual” voice, willing herself to stay calm and focused. ‘As I said, Sandra is already taking care of travel arrangements, and with any luck I’ll come home with lots of plans and new ideas from both Trouvères and Scribal.’

  ‘That’s good, that’s great.’ He moved back behind his desk and dropped into his chair. Taking off his glasses, he scrubbed a hand over his face. ‘Dee, I’m really sorry about Stacie.’

  ‘Nothing to apologise for. These things happen.’ She hadn’t meant to sound cold, but it was hard not to, with thoughts of Ellis and his very sexy ex ordering room service, and having each other for dessert. Damn it! She had no right to be jealous. Sex with Ellis was a part of her job, nothing more. How many times would she have to remind herself before it finally sunk in?

  An hour later, Ellis stopped by Dee’s office, but she was out. Her things were still there, so he knew she hadn’t gone home yet. Then he remembered that after Wade got back from bowling, she had a meeting with him and the head of the engineering team for the Trouvères/Scribal project. He had hoped to apologise properly, but it would have to wait until next week. Cursing Stacie, he returned to his office, gathered his things and headed home.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Ellis took the elevator from the tenth floor, all the while fighting the urge to go back and wait for Dee so they could finish what they started. It would only take a minute for him to clear up the misunderstanding, that’s all. He sh
ould have known Stacie couldn’t leave well enough alone. Her intentions were good, but the road to hell was paved with them, wasn’t it? One minute Dee had been in his arms, open and vulnerable, and the next she had been the stone maiden with all deflector shields up. Under the circumstances, how could he expect anything else? She was his executive assistant, and she behaved as such. Once again, he wished she wasn’t quite so good at playing the game.

  When he was out on the freeway, Ellis headed home without bothering to call Stacie. In truth, he hadn’t even looked at the card she’d given him. Surely she didn’t really expect him to come to her in her hotel room? He had no intention of meeting her. He didn’t owe her an explanation. He didn’t owe her anything. And he couldn’t imagine what she might have to say to him that was important enough for her to ruin his weekend. He’d planned to ask Dee home with him for dinner and a quiet evening. He didn’t like the tension between them, and he’d hoped tonight they’d be able to straighten things out. Now, thanks to Stacie, he’d be alone – not a first for him by a long shot, but he found it much more difficult when he knew Dee would also be alone.

  He stared out the windshield at the lights from thinning traffic and wondered if Dee would spend the evening cooped up with the Scribal files. He should have talked to her. But how could he explain Stacie without digging up a chunk of the past he’d rather not be reminded of, and about which he certainly preferred Dee knew nothing. He wondered what she did in the evenings. Did she play piano? Did she sing? Maybe she had a lover he knew nothing about. The thought made him queasy as he pictured the conversation in his head.

  “So how was it at the office today, honey? Your boss did you on his desk? How unoriginal is that?”

  Surely it was ridiculous to even consider. He couldn’t imagine her agreeing to the Sex Clause if she were in love with someone else. She wasn’t that kind of woman. And certainly no man who was lucky enough to merit Dee’s heart would want to share her with anyone. Then there was Daniels. She always brushed any mention of the man aside, but he was persistent, and he knew exactly what he wanted. Ellis knew exactly what he wanted too, and that’s what worried him.

  At home, Harold met him at the door and took his computer bag. ‘Anything I need to know about?’ Ellis asked.

  ‘Only that your brother arrived an hour ago,’ the butler said.

  Just what he didn’t need right now; both Stacie and Garrett in the same state with him. He swallowed back his frustration. ‘Garrett’s here?’

  Harold fell into step beside him. ‘Not at the moment, no. He went into town. But I think he plans to stay a while. I had his things delivered to the guest suite.’

  Concern replaced the surge of anger Ellis felt at his brother’s part in the mess with Stacie. Garrett hadn’t been to visit in three years. ‘Is he all right?’

  ‘He’s thin, and he looks tired.’ Harold gave a knowing nod. ‘Love problems again, I assume.’

  ‘Isn’t it always?’ Ellis undid his tie and slid out of his jacket, both of which Harold gathered from him. ‘I thought he and Amy had worked out all their problems. But things change fast in the world of love.’

  ‘True.’ The butler draped the jacket and tie neatly over his arm. ‘Dinner at 9.00?’

  Ellis looked down at his watch. ‘Make it 9.30. I want to swim a few laps to work out the kinks.’ He rotated his shoulders and stretched his neck. ‘Then I’ll take a peek at the sky.’

  ‘Ah yes, the Perseids. I hear it’ll be good viewing this year.’

  ‘Oh, and Harold, if Garrett comes back before too late, let me know. Maybe we’ll watch together.’

  Ellis headed to the pool. For him, time was always tight, and he’d given up almost everything that wasn’t Pneuma Inc., but the swimming he held on to.

  He had the Perseids to look forward to tonight. It was usually one of the best meteor showers of the year. He might not be able to avail himself as regularly as he had in the past to the wonders of the universe, but he still knew the cycles like he knew his own heartbeat. These days, when he indulged in the beauty of the night sky, it was a solitary affair. It had taken years of encouragement from Beverly before he could even face that without the pain of the past and the shame that went with it.

  Beverly had told him repeatedly that it wasn’t his shame, but he still felt it, and he had never, in all the years since he left Caltech, shared his passion with anyone else. He had hoped to share it with Dee tonight. Perhaps there would be another time.

  Once changed, he did a few brisk warm-up stretches at the end of the pool and executed a perfect racing dive into an easy crawl stroke. By the third lap, he relaxed into his pace. His mind was clear of all else but the movement of his body slicing endlessly through the water. By the fifth lap, his brain had settled and cleared itself so he was focused. He’d call Dee when he was finished swimming. No law said he couldn’t. If she was busy, she was busy, but if she wasn’t he’d send Jeffries for her, whether she was at the office or at home, and he’d have her here within an hour. Better yet, he’d go get her himself in the Jeep and he’d drive her up on the back side of Mount Hood. He’d have Galina pack a couple of sandwiches and a couple of warm blankets. That would be a far better place to watch the Perseids, and then … He smiled as he imagined watching the spectacular meteor shower under a clear sky, wrapped around Dee, keeping her warm with his body while he gave her a tour of the night sky. And when he had shown her as much as they could see with the naked eye, when she had been dazzled and amazed by the fireworks display of the Perseids, he’d see if the two of them could generate a few fireworks of their own.

  ‘Why aren’t you with Dee?’ He looked up to see Stacie barefoot at the edge of the pool. He had been so focused on his plans for Dee that he hadn’t seen her come in.

  ‘It’s not really your business how I spend my evening, Stacie.’ He continued swimming, hoping she’d go away, but knowing she wouldn’t.

  After the last lap, he pulled himself up to the edge of the pool next to her, but didn’t get out.

  Stacie wore a blue sundress that buttoned down the front and belted at the waist. Her hair was gathered in a loose ponytail. With one bare foot, she kicked at the water splashing him playfully, then giggled. ‘I hate you, Ellis Thorne. You’re the only man I know who looks great in a Speedo without gyms, or personal trainers. Me, I have to spend a fortune on both.’

  He moved back slightly, out of splashing range. ‘How did you get in here? Harold knows better than to let strangers wander through the house.’

  ‘I’m hardly a stranger, Ellis, and just because Harold left me to wait in the sitting room doesn’t mean I’ll wait. You know how tenacious I am. If I want to see you bad enough I’ll figure out a way.’

  Just then, as though he had heard his name, Harold appeared at poolside. ‘I’m sorry, I left Ms Emerson –’

  Ellis raised a hand. ‘It’s all right, Harold, there are some things even you have no control over.’

  ‘Right.’ The butler’s eyes might have sparkled, but the rest of the face remained completely neutral as he turned on his heels and left.

  With a feline stretch of her neck, Stacie looked around the pool area. ‘So I’ll ask you again, Ellis, why the hell isn’t Dee here with you? She can swim, can’t she? And even if she can’t, there are other things you could do together in a pool.’

  When he didn’t give her an immediate answer, her face softened to something nearing empathy. ‘She wouldn’t come with you? Because of me? Oh Ellis, I knew I should have stayed and made things right.’

  The alarm bells always went off in his head when Stacie or Garrett suddenly had the overwhelming desire to make things right for him. ‘It’s none of my business what my executive assistant does on Friday night, Stacie. When she’s not on Pneuma time, she does as she pleases.’ And he wanted her to do what she pleased with him, but he sure as hell didn’t want Stacie to know that.

  Stacie nodded as though she completely understood now. ‘She thinks you’re with
me.’

  ‘No! Maybe. I don’t know, I didn’t ask her.’

  ‘Well why not, Ellis? Why didn’t you make sure she knew? Why didn’t you just tell her that I wish you both the best? I’m absolutely elated that you found someone as brilliant as she is who’s hot and sexy and interesting enough for you to implement the Executive Sex Clause. Garrett and I have been saying all along that this is exactly what needed to happen; for you to find someone and get off your abstinence kick.’

  Ellis bristled. ‘Who said anything about abstinence?’

  She shrugged. ‘Well not now, obviously, but pre-Dee Henning, you were much sought after and totally unavailable. Some of my friends even thought you were gay. I set them straight on that, of course. And speaking of abstinence, you did hear that Garrett’s little ballerina cut him off, didn’t you?’

  ‘No, I hadn’t heard. Harold said he showed up here earlier this evening. But he decided to go into town. I haven’t seen him yet.’

  She scooted closer to the edge of the pool. Ellis knew this was the bit where Stacie imparted the latest gossip, and since she had a better relationship with Garrett than he did, he moved closer and listened. ‘I phoned him a little while ago. Apparently she feels he’s interfering with her dancing – no time for both love and career. It’s the tragedy of the modern world, as you and Dee well know.’ She clucked her tongue. ‘Too bad he wasn’t able to work out some sort of Executive Sex Clause with her.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Ellis said. ‘I liked Amy, and Garrett seemed happy.’

  ‘Mmmm, me too. I liked her.’

  ‘I’m glad you could be there for him, Stacie.’

  ‘You know I’m always happy to do what I can for the Thorne brothers,’ she said. Then she changed the subject in the usual abrupt Stacie Emerson way. ‘Garrett says you’re in love with Dee.’ She leaned close to him, and nearly lost her balance. ‘And I think he might be right.’