An Executive Decision (Executive Decisions Trilogy)

by Grace Marshall

  She came up on one elbow as though she were spring-loaded. ‘That’s ridiculous! Ellis would never cheat. He wouldn’t need to.’

  Garrett could feel the heat of her anger pressing against him. It wasn’t hero worship he sensed in her. She believed in Ellis, and she believed in him from a place of knowing. With startling clarity, he realised he had never been in that place with another human being, and he envied her the experience.

  ‘Of course he didn’t do it. He and Daren Jamison were up for a position at the observatory in Hawaii. It was a summer programme and it was a position based on merit. Ellis was a shoo-in for the post, but Daren was Terrance Jamison’s favourite nephew, and suddenly there was all this evidence that Ellis had cheated on his last two exams, manufactured, of course. He never got a chance to prove his innocence, never got a fair hearing of his side of the story. He was just expelled.’ Garrett drew a shaky breath. ‘It all happened the same day Stacie and I announced that we were married.’

  ‘Jesus,’ Dee whispered.

  ‘Yeah,’ Garrett agreed. ‘We didn’t know. We marched right in, hand in hand, told him we were married, and all the while he’s standing there with his walking papers in his hand. He didn’t say anything. He just turned around and left. I mean, we expected him to be upset, and we were prepared for that. We didn’t find out until the next day that we were just the final straw.

  He could hear Dee’s ragged breathing. Clearly she was struggling to take in what he had just said. He continued, ‘Do you have any idea how much time and energy is involved in the study of astrophysics? It’s not a degree you could whip through using Cliff Notes.’ He could feel Dee glaring at him in the darkness as he hurried on. ‘You know the old adage “no time for romance”? Well, that was Ellis. It didn’t mean he didn’t love Stacie. He adored her, actually. It just meant she wasn’t the only thing in his heart, and that was the problem.’

  He lay back in the grass with his arms folded behind his head, still feeling the burn of Dee’s gaze. ‘I was just beginning my freshman year when I got lucky and sold my first novel. It was probably a fluke. I mean, I was young, but it was the kind of pulp fiction testosterone stuff that sells. That’s what I wrote back then. It wasn’t long till I got a contract for more of the same.

  ‘When I got my big break, Ellis was at the observatory, so Stacie celebrated with me, and before the night was over the celebration took a turn for the personal.’

  ‘Even though she was engaged to your brother?’

  ‘It just happened. God knows neither of us intended it, and I swear we didn’t see it coming. But by the time it did, there was no turning back. After the first time, we couldn’t get enough of each other. I skipped classes during the day to write, and at night we made love into the wee hours. Finally one weekend, on a wild hair, we eloped. We had no way of knowing that while we were tying the knot, fucking each other’s brains out, my brother was being sold up the creek.’

  Dee sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. ‘Ellis must have been devastated.’ Her voice was anguished, and for the first time Garrett wished he’d kept his mouth shut and let her think he was really not a bad guy, just the typical younger brother. It was too late for that now. Besides, he reminded himself, it didn’t matter what she thought of him. What mattered was how she felt about Ellis.

  ‘Not pretty, our little story, is it?’ Garrett sat up next to her and chafed his arms.

  ‘Surely Ellis’s name was cleared?’

  ‘Of course it was, but not until after he was already enrolled in the Business Department at Portland State. Beverly had the situation investigated – without Ellis knowing about it, of course. And she found out about Jamison’s involvement. Jamison’s nephew isn’t the sleaze his uncle is, and he confessed to everything, making sure to cover his uncle’s ass, of course. Though I’m sure he was well rewarded for that.’

  Dee plucked a handful of grass and tossed it into the darkness. ‘But surely once Ellis’s name was cleared, they would have accepted him back into the programme? Surely once everything was made right…’

  ‘Everything couldn’t be made right, Dee. Don’t you understand?’ His head suddenly ached and there was the sharp pain beneath his ribs he always felt when he talked about that night, and the horrible time that followed. He deserved the pain. He took a deep breath and continued. ‘Ellis applied at Portland State, like I said. His best friend was there, studying engineering. He knew the head of the Business Department.’

  ‘Beverly.’

  ‘That’s right. Based on Wade’s recommendations, she pulled strings to get him into her programme in spite of the blight on his academic record.’

  ‘I knew Ellis and Wade went to Portland State together and Beverly had been Ellis’s professor. I didn’t know – the rest.’

  ‘Of course you didn’t. Beverly went out of her way to make sure that information was well covered up, mostly because she knew how it tore Ellis up, even after the fact. If Ellis hadn’t been expelled from Caltech, there would have never been a Pneuma Inc.,’ Garrett said. ‘I often try to salve my conscience with that fact.’

  ‘His being expelled wasn’t your fault,’ Dee said.

  Garrett didn’t respond. Somehow, it always felt like his fault. ‘Once the truth came out, Ellis was cleared, but he didn’t go back to the astrophysics programme. Too many painful memories, I suspect.

  ‘Stacie and I aren’t proud of what happened. I know we’ve both wished a million times we could go back and undo the damage. We were young and stupid, and I would have done anything for Stacie. I was in love with her. She was engaged to him. Ellis was left to pick up the pieces.’

  An uncomfortable silence thickened like fog around them. He could tell she was looking at him and not the sky, studying him in the darkness, probably wondering what kind of a monster would do something so terrible to his brother. He tore up the uneaten piece of sandwich he no longer had appetite for and threw the bits onto the grass for the birds to find in the morning. ‘Oh, he’s forgiven me, which I’m not sure I could have done if the tables had been turned.’

  ‘I can’t really picture Ellis being the kind to hold a grudge.’ Her voice was now soft. The disappointment and anger had vanished into the silence.

  ‘He’s not. I’m just neurotic, that’s all.’

  He could still sense the press of her gaze, which he felt woefully inadequate to return. ‘Why did you tell me this, Garrett?’

  ‘You asked.’

  ‘You trapped me.’

  His laughter rang hollow in his ears and stung the back of his throat. ‘Yes, I suppose I did, didn’t I?’

  ‘I’m not your confessor, Garrett. Ellis’s past – well, it’s his past. We all have one. And I’m an only child. I don’t know anything about sibling rivalry.’

  ‘But you know my brother – maybe better than anyone else right now.’

  She forced a laugh. ‘I doubt that very much.’

  He inhaled the scent of summer grass and settled back on the ground. ‘Ellis would be appalled. At the best of times I’m not very good at keeping my mouth shut. And this past week hardly qualifies as the best of times. Anyway, if Ellis has told me once, he’s told me a hundred times, personal lives should be private – not that he has much of one any more.’

  Dee scrunched her knees up under the edge of her skirt and pulled her jacket tighter around her. ‘Your brother who has no personal life is at the Hilton with Stacie ordering in. Sounds pretty personal to me.’

  ‘Why, Dee Henning, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous.’

  She tugged at the tail of her skirt. ‘That’s ridiculous. I’m just stating a fact.’

  ‘Then why are you trembling?’

  ‘I’m cold.’ She chafed her arms. ‘That’s all. I’m just cold.’

  ‘Right, cold.’ He slid out of his jacket and spread it across her shoulders, relieved for the change of subject. ‘Anyway, trust me, there’s nothing of any consequence between my brother and Stacie.’<
br />
  ‘And you would know this because she’s your ex?’

  ‘I would know this because I know my brother, better than he thinks I do, actually.’ He looked over at her; and though he couldn’t see her expression in the darkness, he could feel everything inside her stretched tight beneath the controlling reins of neutrality. ‘Ellis wouldn’t fuck Stacie, Dee. That was over a long time ago. If either of the Thorne brothers would be fucking Stacie, it would be me, because Stacie has always been the one I run to when I need comfort. I don’t have Pneuma Inc. and saving the world to keep my mind off things.’

  ‘I don’t think I need to be hearing this,’ Dee said. ‘I agree with your brother, private lives should be private.’

  ‘Look, look!’ Slipping an arm around her, he pointed to a particularly brilliant display in the sky. They both watched, awestruck.

  ‘It’s really too bad Ellis missed this.’ Her voice was breathless, punctuated by the heavy beat of her heart.

  And suddenly he felt the core of her laid bare, and he knew exactly what was at the centre, just as he had suspected. ‘You’re in love with him, aren’t you?’

  She pushed his arm away with such force that his jacket fell from her shoulders. ‘Of course I’m not in love with him. Don’t be stupid.’

  ‘I’m very observant, Dee – the way you say his name, the way your eyes sparkle when you mention him, or when I mention him, the way you hang on every word when I’m talking about him. Oh, it’s all right. He’s in love with you too. It’s just neither of you have figured it out yet, that’s all.’

  ‘You may pride yourself on being very observant, Garrett, but you’re wrong.’

  He slid the jacket back around her shoulders. ‘I suppose it’s possible. But not very likely. I make my living observing, remember?’ He could feel her trembling against him. They both watched another spattering of meteors. He waited. She didn’t speak. He figured she had decided on silence being the better part of wisdom. But now was too late. He knew it, and she no doubt did too.

  He dropped the bomb. ‘Dee, I know he’s having sex with you.’ Before she could do more than utter a startled gasp, he continued, ‘I know about the Sex Clause, and I know that’s a part of your job.’

  ‘He told you?’ Her voice was a strangled whisper, and the storm of emotions she’d until now kept hidden flared brighter than the meteors.

  ‘Let’s just say I figured it out. It was a theory Beverly and I cooked up one evening over too much wine and too little sleep.’ He forced a laugh he no longer felt. ‘I never dreamed he’d try to implement it.’

  ‘Tell me, Garrett, how many other people has he discussed this little experiment with?’ She threw off his jacket and tried to stand.

  He pulled her back down. ‘Take it easy, Dee. It’s not like that. It’s not what you’re thinking.’

  ‘What I’m thinking is that Monday your brother can find himself another lab rat. And I’m just the daytime entertainment. He has to have Stacie too? Well, at least I get paid for it.’ She fought back a sob.

  ‘Dee, will you listen to me? I only know because I know my brother. I saw the way he looked at you and I knew. I told you I’m pretty perceptive. He would never tell anyone. He would never betray you, and he certainly doesn’t view you as the paid entertainment.’ He took her hand, which was now icy and rigid. ‘Far from it. He can’t stop talking about you. Like I said, he’s in love with you.’

  She jerked her hand back. ‘And that’s why he’s off with Stacie at the Hilton, and I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation.’

  Before he could speak, she raised her hands. ‘I don’t want to talk about any of this any more, Garrett. Ellis’s private life is none of my business –’

  He covered her mouth with his hand. ‘If he’s with Stacie, it’s because he’s afraid of his feelings for you. He’s just afraid. Just like you are.’

  She shoved his hand away from her mouth. ‘I don’t want to hear any more, and don’t assume you know me and what I feel because you don’t.’

  ‘Dee, Ellis and Stacie –’

  ‘I think it’s time to go home, Garrett. I’ve had enough revelations for one night.’ This time she bolted and was halfway to the house before he could catch up with her.

  Chapter Thirty

  Ellis half dragged, half shoved Stacie out of the pool. She sat on the edge making fish gasps and trying not to laugh. Ellis had to admit she looked laugh-worthy. ‘You’re the clumsiest woman on the planet, Stacie. Next time you visit, I’ll be sure to have an ambulance and a lifeguard standing by. Come on.’ He climbed out of the pool and offered her his hand. ‘There’s a spare robe in the cabana. I’ll get Galina to dry your dress, and set an extra plate for dinner.’

  She stared at him. ‘You want me to stay?’

  ‘Well I can’t very easily send you out like that, now can I? It won’t take long to dry your clothes, then I’ll send you home before you kill yourself or me.’ He slipped into his own robe and nodded to the dressing room in the cabana. ‘Leave your clothes. Galina will get them.’

  ‘What about Dee?’

  He gave her a sharp look. ‘Dee’s none of your business, Stacie.’

  It didn’t take her long, and when she stepped out of the dressing room barefoot and nearly swimming in a robe that was clearly meant for him, he frowned. ‘Sorry it’s so big. I don’t have many visitors. You get what you get. Now come on, I’ve already had Galina wait dinner once so I could swim. I don’t want to keep the woman waiting again.’

  Ellis rounded the corner into the hall with Stacie right on his heels and collided head-on with Dee. Before she completely lost her balance, he closed his arms around her and steadied her. ‘Dee, what are you doing here?’

  With a little gasp of surprise, she shoved him away and stepped back just as Stacie ran into him and Garrett came charging down the hall behind Dee, stopping short before ramming into all three of them. For a long moment, no one said anything; everyone stood frozen to the spot. Dee’s gaze moved from Ellis to Stacie and back again. With them standing in matching robes that had guilty-as-charged written all over them, Ellis found himself caught in another other one of those horrible déjà vu moments. Then Stacie broke the silence with a breathy little laugh. ‘Oh God, Dee, this isn’t how it looks. I fell in the pool and Ellis let me borrow a robe and, well, it was supposed to be –’

  ‘Shut up, Stacie,’ both Thornes ordered in unison.

  She covered her mouth with a delicate hand.

  ‘Garrett, Harold told me you were here. He didn’t tell me you were entertaining out back.’ Ellis struggled to keep his voice civil. He spoke to his brother, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Dee, who stood rigid in a palpable halo of anger, her gaze now slicing laser-edged through the charged space between them.

  ‘We were watching the Perseids.’ Garrett ran a hand through his hair, dislodging several blades of grass as he did. ‘Honestly, Ellis, I thought that’s where you would be. I didn’t know you were going to take Stacie for a swim.’

  Ellis ignored his brother and reached for Dee’s hand. ‘I think we need to talk –’

  ‘I’ve got to go.’ She stepped back, blistering him with an incinerating glare. Her tone was icy, lethal – a warning to be ignored at one’s own risk.

  As she turned down the hall, Garrett risked life and limb and grabbed her hand. ‘Thanks for commiserating with me, Dee. I’m sorry I was such an ass.’

  ‘Forget it.’ She jerked away without stopping and fled down the hall like a brewing storm, leaving Ellis alone with his brother and Stacie, both standing in front of him repentant and subdued.

  Ellis cast a rigid shadow down the dimly lit hallway, for the moment at least ignoring Stacie, his hard gaze boring into his brother. ‘Leave her alone.’ His voice was soft and deadly.

  ‘Ellis, I –’

  ‘You heard me.’ He raked Garrett with a serrated glare. ‘I said leave Dee alone.’

  Garrett forced back an amused smile, brushi
ng several more blades of grass off his shoulders. ‘I was surprised to find Stacie here. What’s going on?’

  Before Stacie could reply, Ellis raised a hand to silence her. ‘Nothing’s going on.’

  Garrett moved a step closer, as though attempting to intercept juicy gossip. ‘Did you two fuck?’

  Stacie shook her head wildly. Ellis practically growled. ‘No! I didn’t fuck her, and stop changing the subject. What the hell you were doing with Dee?’

  ‘We were watching the Perseids, like I said. Honestly, I was trying to get her here for you. I figured you’d be out watching the stars and we’d join you, then I’d discreetly leave; you know, let nature take its course. I’d forgotten that you swim in the evenings when you have time.’ His demeanour was that of a choirboy, disturbed only by a roguish half-smile. ‘It was all perfectly innocent.’

  Ellis took a menacing step closer to his brother. ‘Then why did she storm out of here like she was going off to war?’

  Garrett sidestepped and bent casually to admire a vase of flowers arranged on a pedestal table in the alcove near the stairs. ‘Oh, it’s no big deal, really. I’m sure once she’s had time to cool down she’ll consider –’

  ‘What’s no big deal, Garrett?’

  Garrett plucked a daisy from the arrangement and sniffed it, avoiding his brother’s shrivelling glare. ‘I sort of let it slip that I knew about her working arrangements with you – you know, the Sex Clause?’

  Ellis was in his face in a heartbeat, knocking the daisy from his hand and vice-gripping his arm. ‘You did what? What the hell were you thinking?’

  Garrett jerked free and squared his stance, hands hanging loosely at his side. ‘I wasn’t thinking anything; it just slipped out. We were talking about – stuff, and one thing led to another. I’m sorry.’

  Ellis surged forward. and the two stood nose to nose in the soft glow of a Victorian wall sconce. ‘You’re sorry! What a fucking lot of good that does. Can’t you ever just leave anything alone? Jesus, you’re not even here one night and –’