by Goss, Shelia
He walked into the office with a smile on his face. He was determined not to let anything bring him down today. For the first time in his life, he was truly in love. “Good morning Caroline,” he said, as he waltzed passed her desk.
“Garrett, someone’s in your office,” he heard her say a little too late.
The sight of Shareeka sitting in his chair quickly erased the smile on his face. He closed his office door. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see Tre but he wasn’t in, so I thought I would stop by and see how you were doing.” She stood up and leaned over his desk showing off her cleavage.
He ignored her advances. “I suggest you put those two things up and go sit in your man’s office until he gets here.”
“Don’t tell me that skank has her heels into you too,” Shareeka stated with venom in her voice.
“I’m going to say this one more time and as nicely as I can. Please leave.” He opened up his office door.
Caroline was looking in the direction of his office. Shareeka picked up her handbag and waltzed past Garrett.
“What’s her problem?” Caroline asked, as she walked into Garrett’s office.
“She’s mad because she can’t find Trevon.”
“If she would have asked me, I would have told her where he was.”
“You don’t like her much do you?” Garrett asked.
“He could do better. She’s nothing but a gold digger, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
“I will keep my comments to myself,” Garrett said. He would have said more but wasn’t too sure if he should be discussing his friend’s personal business with his secretary.
“Now that Ms. Thang is gone, I wanted to remind you of the two meetings you had this morning. One client called in and said they would be running about thirty minutes late,” Caroline said, handing him a yellow note.
“Have Trevon take the meeting at two.”
“But,” Caroline said, but stopped when she saw the “don’t question me” expression across his face. “I’ll make sure he’s there.”
“Thanks. Well if there isn’t anything else, I really need to work on this strategy.”
Caroline walked out and shut the door behind her. He didn’t mean to be rude to her. He would apologize to her and treat her to lunch. Seeing Shareeka in his office put him in a sour mood. He regretted the day he ever laid eyes on her. He didn’t’ know what he was thinking once he realized she was Trevon’s woman. He should have pulled Trevon to the side and told him right then and there that she was scandalous. Now he had let things go on for far too long and the only thing his revelation would do at this point would cause a rift between two long time friends.
“Trevon’s on line two,” Caroline said, from the interoffice intercom.
Garrett sighed. “What’s up man?”
“Caroline told me about the meeting. Is there a reason why you can’t take it?” Trevon asked.
“I’m trying to catch up on some things,” Garrett responded.
“Just asking.” Trevon paused before saying, “Man, let’s do lunch. Lately we’ve been going in two different directions.”
“Maybe tomorrow. I got the luncheon at the Marriott today remember.”
Trevon responded, “Oh yeah, I forgot. Let me get off here. I need to prep for that meeting this afternoon.”
Speaking with Trevon felt uncomfortable. He shouldn’t feel that way. Trevon and Hailey were not an item. His feelings for Hailey and feelings for his friend were two separate things. Since they were, he wondered why he felt guilty. Guilty that the woman he loved was his friend’s ex-lover.
The knock on the door broke him from his thoughts. “Come in,” he yelled.
Caroline walked in holding a bouquet of fruit from Edible Treats. “These are for you.”
He took them and looked for the card. “Do you know who they are from?” he asked.
“I didn’t want to be nosy,” she responded, before walking out of the office.
“Yeah right,” he said, as he opened the card and read the words, “Thank you for a wonderful night. Signed H.”
His clients had sent him thank you gifts in the past but he had never received anything remotely like this from a woman he was dating. He picked up the phone and dialed Hailey’s cell phone. “You got them?” she asked.
“Thank you. That was very sweet of you,” he said.
“I can be sweet when I want to be.” He could tell she was smiling.
“What are you doing for dinner tonight?” he asked, since he had her on the phone.
“You’re taking me out,” she responded.
“I have something even better. I’ll cook for you.”
“Now this I have to see.”
“Just name the place. Your place or mine,” he said.
“I need a change of scenery. I’ll meet you at your place.”
“It’s a date. I’ll be by to pick you up around seven.”
“No need to. I’ll have Brenda drop me off and you can bring me home.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
They continued to talk for a few more minutes. A huge grin was plastered on his face even after Caroline walked back into his office. He took this time to apologize for his behavior earlier. “I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “No biggie.”
He reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. “Have lunch on me.”
“I’ll bring you back your change,” she said.
He shook his hands, “No need to. In fact, you’re welcome to leave early today.”
“I have to get those reports out but if you’ll let me take half a day on Monday, I would appreciate it,” Caroline said.
“Just let the other office assistant know and you got it,” he said, as he took a bite off one of the strawberries from his fruit tree.
“So did you find out who the fruit was from?” she asked.
“Yes and I called to thank them.”
He knew Caroline was waiting on him to elaborate but he didn’t. She stood for a few seconds and when he didn’t reveal to her who sent them, she walked out.
He was enjoying a banana when he received an urgent text message from Brenda. He dialed her number. “I’m sorry to bother you but I will need someone to take my place for the next few days. My father had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.”
“Brenda take as much time as you need. I’ll get someone reassigned don’t worry about things here.”
“I’m about to leave the studio now.”
“You have a lot of time saved up so don’t worry about money. You’ll have time off with pay as long as you need it.”
“Thanks Boss Man. Oh and between you and I, I think this maniac fan has Hailey more on edge than she would like for anyone to believe.”
“Don’t worry about Hailey or anything else. Just go check on your father,” he said, before hanging up with Brenda. He scrolled through his roster of employees and found fault with each one on why they couldn’t protect Hailey. The only person he trusted with Hailey’s safety was himself. It took him over thirty years to fall in love and there was no way in the world he would risk losing her now.
~ 24 ~
Hailey wrapped up another successful show. She removed her microphone and met John in the studio hallway. She didn’t like the look on his face. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Follow me.” He led her to his office. Bach was sitting at the table with a brown envelope and pictures sprayed across the table. She walked up to the table and shrieked at the sight of pictures of her and Garrett leaving her place last night.
Bach handed her a handwritten note in a plastic bag. “We’re hoping to get fingerprints, that’s why I put it in a plastic bag.”
Hailey slid into the chair next to Bach as John took a seat on the opposite end of the table. She read the note out loud. “Your time is running out. Soon you’ll feel the pain I’m feeling.”
“Who is doing this?” she said, barely above a whisper; although she felt like screaming those words.
“I called GT Securities. They are sending someone to pick this up. Hopefully, we can get some prints,” Bach tried to assure her.
John said, “Maybe we should halt production until we can get a better handle on this.”
“No. I will not let some crazy person dictate my life. Too many folks depend on the income from this show. I refuse to give them that type of power.”
“That’s exactly what I like to hear,” Garrett said, as he walked into the office.
Hailey don’t know if she had ever been that happy to see anyone as she was Garrett at that moment in time. For some reason, seeing him eased the tension that had built up.
“Bach called me as soon as he got the letter. I rushed over as soon as I could.”
“Thank you,” she said, as she handed him the letter that had slipped out her hand.
“Bach, I need to see your surveillance film from the last twenty-four hours.”
“Follow me.”
Hailey and John were left alone. “Hailey, you and I’ve been doing this for awhile. I’m sure the staff would understand if we went on a short hiatus.”
“John, I’m not going to lie. This has shaken me up. I’m even a little scared, but I can’t live my life in fear. It’s times like these that I draw on the things I was taught years ago in Sunday school.”
“I just want you to be cautious.”
“That’s what GT Securities is for.”
“I just fear for your safety. You’re in that big old house by yourself. Maybe you should come stay with us until this blows over.”
“And be a third wheel in your madness. No. I’ll take my chances by myself,” she tried to joke.
“If you change your mind, just let me know.”
Hailey got up and went to her office. She dialed Jackie’s number. Jackie was in her office soon afterwards. “I want you to screen all of my calls. Unless it’s the president of the network or president of the United States, I do not want to talk to them. Understood?”
Jackie saluted her. “Yes sir. I mean ma’am.”
“Jackie, I don’t have time for jokes. Somebody is really trying to harm me and I need for you to do exactly like I told you. In fact, if you don’t feel up to the task maybe I need to find me another assistant.”
Jackie’s grin turned into a frown right away. “I was only trying to ease the tension around here. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Hailey took a few deep breaths. “I’m sorry okay. All of this has me on edge. I don’t know who to trust.”
“Don’t worry. I got your back. They will have to go through me to get to you.”
“Let’s hope it won’t come to that,” Hailey said, as Jackie left the room.
Hailey replayed in her mind last night’s events. She couldn’t recall seeing any strange vehicles on the street when they left. She didn’t even recall seeing anyone on the street near her entranceway. Whoever was taking the picture could have been yards away with the way technology was with lenses. Maybe one of her neighbors were obsessed with her. She needed to make sure Garrett checked into looking into that.
Hailey was in deep thought when Garrett entered. “How are you really doing?” he asked.
“Honestly, I’m a little rattled.”
She didn’t realize how much she needed to feel Garrett’s strong arms around her, until he embraced her and held her as if he didn’t want to let her go.
“Don’t worry. I will be taking Brenda’s spot.”
“But you can’t. You don’t have time. You have a business to run,” Hailey protested.
“I’m the boss so I can do what I please. Besides, that’s what cell phones and laptops are for. I can run my business from any location. It’s not like we’re going to another city. If I need to go to the office, I can still do that. I just won’t be able to stay there for a long period of time. You’ll be my top priority,” he assured her.
She got up and hugged him. “Thank you so much.”
Garrett held on to her as if both of their lives depended on it. Hailey felt relieved. She knew Garrett wouldn’t let anyone harm her. She removed herself from his embrace. “I guess I need to give you my schedule. Brenda and I had a routine.”
“That’s the first thing we’re going to change. Whoever has been watching you, knows what you’re doing and when. Hailey, my dear, get ready for a change.”
Hailey crossed her arms. “Garrett, are you sure this is a good idea? Don’t you have someone else that can take Brenda’s place?”
“I do, but you’re my responsibility and I’m not putting it off on anyone else.”
Hailey opened up her mouth to protest but thought second of it. What if he did assign someone else? She wanted Garrett and not just as her body guard. She wanted him in other ways. Ways that had nothing to do with her deranged fan.
~ 25 ~
Garrett watched the surveillance film as several people went in and out of the studio. Neither he nor Bach noticed anything out of the ordinary. “I want you to set up interviews with everyone that signed in on the roster list,” Garrett said.
“Consider it already done.” Bach called one of his employees. “I need you to get me the number to everyone on this list pronto.”
“Those pictures were taken last night. I’m pissed at myself for not noticing.”
“Whoever is doing this is clever.”
“But they will slip up. They always do,” Garrett said, assured that whoever was behind the fan mail would be caught.
“I’ll get the interviews scheduled for the next few days.”
Garrett wrote down his fax number. “Fax the information to me as soon as you get the times confirmed.”
“Will do,” Bach responded, reaching out to shake Garrett’s hand.
“I’ll be in the building until Hailey’s ready to go if you need me,” Garrett said.
Hailey was spouting out orders when he found her in a conference room. Watching her in action turned him on. She was like a spitfire that needed to be tamed. He was just the man to do it. He wished he would have recognized the fire between them long before now. He smiled when she smiled at him. She may not have realized it, but he knew Trevon was a thing of her past. She didn’t mention him not once when they were together the previous night. That was a first for Hailey.
Hailey said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll see everyone on Monday. Godspeed.”
Garrett waited for everyone to leave the conference room before going near Hailey. Once everyone had left, he closed the door and walked up to her. He did something he had been wanting to do the moment he saw her earlier. He leaned down and planted a kiss on her mocha brown lips. Their tongues danced to a rhythm of their hearts. Garrett felt like time had stood still for those seconds their lips were locked around each other’s.
Hailey attempted to pull away first. “Garrett, isn’t this a conflict or something?”
“Only if you make it out to be one.” Garrett wanted Hailey and he refused to let something like her being his client keep him from her.
Before she could respond, he felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket. He released her from his embrace as she took the call. He could tell from her end of the conversation that it was Trevon on the other end of the phone.
“I don’t see how you two remained friends. He’s so doggone selfish,” Hailey complained.
“I’m not the easiest person to get along with either as you always remind me.”
“You’re not bad. I just told you that to knock you off your pedestal.” She grabbed her day planner and he followed her out.
“I know you didn’t. I’m not the one with an ego problem.”
Hailey laughed. She held out her hands with a large space in between the both of them. “Man, your ego is bigger than the atmosphere.”
“Oh, no, Ms. Think She is the Bomb didn’t try to talk about me.”
“I speak t
he truth and you know it.”
“True. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
He and Hailey always had this type of banter between the two of them. She would grate his nerves and he purposely would grate hers. By now they were in her office. To his surprise, Trevon was sitting across from her desk.
“What’s up? Caroline told me you were taking on Hailey’s case. I came down to see if I could help.” Trevon looked confused.
“Bach and I got it covered,” Garrett responded. Seeing Trevon there didn’t sit well with him at all. He knew it was just another tactic of his to get back in Hailey’s good graces.
His chest tightened when Trevon hugged Hailey. Hailey frowned as Trevon removed his arms. Garrett sighed. Jealousy was a new feeling.
“Do either one of you want to tell me what’s really going on?” Trevon asked.
Hailey responded first. “Tre, if you’re not here to talk business, then I suggest you leave.”
“All I’m saying is I heard about the problem but I get here and you two are hee hawing like all is well in the world. Are y’all two seeing each other behind my back?”
“Who I see is none of your business. You’re an engaged man remember,” Hailey snapped.
“But you said you loved me. If that’s the case, why are you going after my boy?” he pouted.
“Tre. We are not an item. We have not been in a real relationship since college. What we have is a thing of the past. So get over it.”
“But you were the one just last week begging me to dump Shareeka and now here you are all up in my boy’s face.”
Hailey opened her mouth to speak, but Garrett intervened. “I got this. Tre, this is neither the time nor place to discuss personal business. I’m here to protect Hailey. If you’re not here on GT Securities business, I suggest that you leave so I can take care of our client.”
Trevon stood by the door and looked back and forth between Hailey and Garrett. “You’re supposed to be my boy and you.” He shook his head. “I see where your loyalties lie. I’m glad I chose Shareeka over you now.”
