by North,Leslie
Stephen grabbed his arm. “Outside. Now,” he growled.
Nathan stepped forward. “Hold on, Stephen. I think Gabe has some great suggestions there. Anything we do now is going to look like damage control. We have to be more proactive than that. Helping Restore Eden is a huge step.”
“Of course you would agree. It would push forward your plans,” Stephen grumbled. He turned to Gabe. “You were supposed to cut a deal with Daisy. Instead, you bedded her.”
Daisy gasped, and Gabe tightened his fist. “Careful, brother. I don’t care to tumble with another one of you this week.”
“I could have you fired,” he hissed.
“I could have him fired,” Angie said loudly. “Stephen, sit down. I know you think this reflects poorly on me, but this is not helping. The truth is that I think this is a good idea. It might work.”
Nathan started to chuckle, and everyone turned to stare at him. “I’m sorry. This has been…a really crazy week. Please tell me you all agree.”
Letting go of Gabe, Stephen ran a hand through his hair, confusion and frustration written all over his face. “He’s not wrong. But I’m just not used to seeing you like this.”
“It’s okay,” Gabe said with a smile. “I’ve had a lot to think about this week. I’ve learned a few things about myself.” He turned to stare at Duncan and gave him a small nod and a smile.
Angie smiled. “Let’s take a vote. All in favor.” There was a resounding but unhappy aye throughout the room. “Excellent. Daisy Levine, as the head of the new section of Restore Eden, would you accept our donation as our proof of Duncan Enterprises commitment to change?”
“Me? Oh, I don’t think so,” Daisy said quickly. “I’m sure Restore Eden will appoint someone else.”
“You misunderstand me,” Angie said softly. “The donation will only go to Restore Eden if you are head of the section. Restore Eden is still dangerous. I want to make sure there is someone I trust who will truly do some good in this city.”
“Someone you trust?” Daisy repeated. How could anyone trust her after everything that happened, even if she wasn’t the one who went to the media?
A hand clapped her on the shoulder, and she looked up to see Duncan standing by her side. “I like the idea. If anyone isn’t on board, you’re welcome to clean out your desk. We’ll make it known that we cut the unwelcome fat before making this decision.”
The room was so silent that Daisy was sure everyone could hear her heart beating. “Yes. I think it’s a great idea,” she finally said, “And I am honored to accept your donation to Restore Eden.”
“Excellent. Call the press. We have an announcement to make.”
The room was suddenly alive with activity, and Daisy could see Gabe making his way towards her, but she couldn’t talk to him. She had absolutely no idea what to say. Was he doing this for her or for his company?
To be honest, neither choice was good.
Ducking her head, she turned and ran.
21
Daisy finished rearranging her desk and stepped back to look at it. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she could really make a difference. Restore Eden was no longer going to attack companies. They were going to consult with companies on how to change their policies and help brighten the future for their kids.
A knock at the door distracted her, and she glanced at it with her heart in her throat. A few weeks had passed since she’d last seen Gabe, and she often wondered if he would show up unannounced. After all, she’d left the conference room without a word to him, and he wasn’t really in charge anymore. Angie had been handling the details. Part of her desperately wanted Gabe to come after her. She owed him an apology, but she wanted to be forgiven first.
Life didn’t work that way.
Opening the door a crack, she frowned when she realized that while it was a Maxfield, it wasn’t Gabe. “Nathan. What are you doing here?”
There was an alarmed look on his face as he glanced down the hall. “Daisy, your neighbors are threatening to stab each other.”
“No, it’s fine. Give it a couple of hours and they’ll be screwing like the lovebirds they are,” she said dismissively. “Come in.”
Thankful that she had cleaned up earlier, she stood aside to invite him in. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Pleasure, huh?” he grunted. “A month ago you were avoiding me. Now it seems I’m the preferable one of the Maxfield brothers.” Her cheeks flushed, and he waved his hands. “Angie appointed me as the head of the Sustainability and Green Building commissions within the company. “
“Nathan!” Daisy smiled. “That’s wonderful!”
“It is. Angie is determined to straighten the company out, and Duncan is doing everything he can to help. It’s actually weird. Anyway, the new organization wants to hire you to work with Duncan Enterprises so that we can provide an example to other companies around us. That is, if you’re willing to work with us.”
“Willing to work with you? I figured you all would run me out of the city. Instead, you’ve appointed me head of the Restore Eden section and are helping me straighten them out. Everything is great.” She forced a strained smile. She wasn’t lying. Everything was great.
Everything would be perfect if Gabe was by her side.
Nathan saw right through her. “Daisy, we were together for a long time. You don’t think I can tell when you’re lying to me?”
“I’m not lying. Some aspects of my life really are working out great. Some are a little more complicated. But that’s life, right?”
Nathan folded his arms “You know, when we weren’t working out, you went over the top to try to fix things. Now when things aren’t working out, you’re just turning your back and walking away. That’s not the Daisy I knew.”
“How I acted with you had disastrous consequences. Besides, Gabe and I aren’t like you and I. We haven’t been dating for years. We’ve actually never been on a date. We’re simply tangled up in a dangerous, adrenaline-pumped situation, and we let our emotions get the better of us.”
“So you’re not in love with him?”
Daisy blanched and nearly choked. “Of all the Maxfield men, why are you the one here talking with me about it? I’d prefer Duncan or Stephen.”
“Duncan is watching from the sidelines, and Stephen is busy. You know that I actually got into a fight with Gabe over you. A physical fistfight. I defended your honor and everything.”
“What?” Daisy planted her hands on her hips. “You’re kidding me right? I’m an adult woman. I can see whomever I want.”
“At the time I didn’t realize that he had feelings for you. After finding out that he was the one who leaked the files to the media, it was obvious. And I sat back to see what would happen next. Which was a big fat nothing. It seems clear to me that you’re scared. So, here I am to find out what you’re scared of.”
“Nathan, I know it’s complicated because we used to be together and Gabe is your brother, but this is none of your business. There was a time when you couldn’t care less about your brothers. Now you’re getting involved. It’s way too strange,” she said. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate you trying to help, but you’re wrong. Gabe and I had a fling. That’s all it was. Yes, it was intense. But there is no doubt in my mind that he hates me. And I’m trying to figure out how to approach him so that we can still maintain a business relationship.”
“Ignoring him is not working,” Nathan pointed out.
“And neither is going out of my way to push myself on him,” Daisy snapped back.
“So talk to him. Quit stewing on what you think and go figure it out for sure. At the very least, you owe him an apology.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Just thinking about it was giving her anxiety. “I know,” she said. “I know, I do owe him that.”
“For the record, I’m okay with you and Gabe. It might matter more to Gabe than to you, but I’m okay with it.”
Daisy blew out a brea
th. “It matters to me too. You and I were pretty special at one time, but we weren’t right for each other.”
“You and Gabe complement each other. You’re exactly what he is missing, and he is what you need. And if you don’t act soon, you might lose him, Daisy.”
He gave her a straight look. He was right. She never was very good at lying to him. Closing the door, she gave him a big hug and sighed. “Thank you, Nathan. You’re right. I do need to act.”
“Don’t dismiss you two so quickly, Daisy. Okay?”
She gave him a small smile. “Okay.” Deep down, she wanted him to be right, but she was afraid that he didn’t know his brother as well as he thought. She’d almost betrayed Gabe. She could have ruined his career. The entire company.
She needed to own up to her side of everything that happened and apologize. Even if he said hurtful things. Even if he said, it never meant anything and he never wanted to see her again.
She had to face up to it. No more hiding.
22
“Hold the elevator!”
Gabe raced across the lobby as a hand reached through the closing doors. They opened back up again, and he slid in. He turned to push the button for his floor and found it already lit. “Thanks. I’m running a little late. I’m never usually late,” he said as he turned around.
Immediately it seemed like all the air left the elevator. “Hello, Gabe,” Daisy said softly.
It had been a month since they smoothed things over with the media. And in those four weeks, Gabe hadn’t once seen Daisy. She’d slipped out during the board meeting, and although he’d thought a dozen times about calling her, he knew that if Daisy wanted to see him, she’d come around.
And here she was.
But she wasn’t at Gabe’s apartment where they might have a little bit of privacy. She was at Duncan Enterprises. Therefore, it seemed most likely she was here to meet with Angie.
“Hello, Daisy. Here to see Angie? She’s quite pleased with the progress that we’ve made with Restore Eden. I think if Angie had more time, she’d take over the section. Anyway, I hear that you’re ready to move forward with the new group in San Francisco. Need to iron out a few more details?”
“Something like that,” she said quietly.
He frowned, as he looked her over. She was wearing a high-waisted A-line skirt with a button-up blouse and black pumps. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She looked beautiful, but she didn’t look right.
“You look like you’re about to head up a board meeting,” he said softly. There was no inflection in his voice. He didn’t like her new look, but he didn’t want to insult her either.
“And you’re out of your jeans,” she noted.
Gabe didn’t say anything as the doors opened. Walking out, he listened to her heels click on the tiled floor. “Well, I hope your meeting goes well. It was nice seeing you,” he mustered as he stopped by his office and unlocked the door. When she didn’t respond or walk on, he looked over his shoulder and frowned. “Daisy?”
“I’m your eight o’clock appointment,” she said softly.
“I’m sorry…You’re what?” he swung the door open. Daisy didn’t make appointments. She normally charged in and demanded whatever it was that she needed.
“I made an appointment with your secretary yesterday afternoon.”
Gabe took a deep breath. “I see. I’m fairly certain that Nathan is taking over all correspondence with Restore Eden.”
“I’m not here to talk to Nathan. I’m not here on behalf of Restore Eden.” She fidgeted nervously. “Can we go into your office and speak? I feel a little uncomfortable standing in the hallway.” She tugged at her skirt, and Gabe nearly laughed.
Sweeping his hand, he gestured for her to go on in. “Eight am is a bit early for you, isn’t it?” he said as he set his briefcase down and booted up his computer. She continued to pull at her clothes, and it was starting to distract him. If she were so uncomfortable in them, he’d be more than happy to help her take them off.
He’d missed Daisy. Despite all the positive news coverage and sweeping changes, they were making in the company, the weeks dragged by. He looked for her at every meeting. He looked for her every time he went out to the lobby.
He looked for her on the damn streets. It was getting irritating. Gabe was used to getting what he wanted from women, but if they weren’t happy, they usually made their feelings all too clear. Daisy slunk to the shadows and disappeared. He drove by her apartment on numerous occasions to make sure that she was still alive, but it wasn’t necessary. Restore Eden was quite vocal about all the meetings they had with her. All he really wanted was to see if maybe he could catch a glimpse of her.
“I’m doing things a little differently these days.” Her voice was soft and low.
“I see. Well, it’s a little past eight. What is it you wanted to see me about?” he asked as he folded his hands on his desk and looked at her expectantly. If she wanted a business meeting, he could play the part.
“I have apologized to everyone in your family and in the company except for you,” she said. “I realize that none of this would have ever happened if I hadn’t targeted Duncan Enterprises through Restore Eden, but…”
“Stop.” Gabe held up his hand and shook his head. “We’re not going to do this, Daisy.”
“Please,” she begged. “I need to tell you.”
“No.” His voice was colder than he had intended, and her eyes widened. With a sigh, he stood and walked around his desk. Leaning against it, he cocked his head and stared at her. “Daisy, what are you wearing?”
She looked down at her outfit and frowned. “I borrowed it from Angie. If I’m going to work with companies, I need to learn how to work with the system. That means fitting in. I figured I’d do a trial run with you. I thought maybe if I looked more like the women you…” her voice trailed off, and she cleared her throat. “If I looked like the women you usually work with, maybe you’d be more open to listening to my apology.”
Gabe folded his arms. He didn’t think she ever looked more vulnerable than she did right now. “I like my suits,” he said abruptly. “And I’m not giving them up. But I admit that I need a little more flexibility in my life. Somewhere along the way, I’d buried myself in this company. I guess, in that respect, I’m not so different from my father as I believed. I have to admit, it felt good to let the rebel in me out.”
Daisy stood. “Gabe, I’m sorry. Wait, what?”
“I’m not done,” he said mildly. She said nothing, and he continued. “You coming into my life, despite how you did it, was what I needed. If Duncan Enterprises had continued down the same path we were on, nothing would have changed. The truth is that I needed someone to shake me up and remind me of whom I used to be. And I have you to thank for that. You woke me up, Daisy Levine with your tight jeans that frame your curves in all those delicious places, your tiny tank tops, and your passionate outbursts. Although I have to admit that, the lesson worked both ways. I’m trying to be more flexible. You’re trying to be less of a sledgehammer. So really, there’s no need to apologize. If we both wanted to admit the truth, things worked out in both our favors. Is there anything else that you’d like to say?”
“So you forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive.”
She nodded and reached down to grab her purse. “Then I guess I’m done. I won’t waste any more of your time. I’m glad you’re not mad at me.”
Gabe let her take a few steps towards the door. “I didn’t say I wasn’t mad. I’m actually furious with you. More so this morning than I have been in the past few weeks.”
Frowning, she turned to stare at him. “You’re upset?”
“What are you doing, Daisy? Making appointments with me? Dressing like Angie? This isn’t you.”
She looked down at her outfit. “I told you that I’m trying to make some changes.”
“Daisy, you can’t let this change you. You can’t become somebody else. Things work because you
are you. It works because you show up in jeans and flannel shirts and with that sexy braid of yours. It works because you show up unannounced and shake up the system. It works because you speak your mind. If you change all that, if you try to act like you’re some corporate clone, you’re going to become the problem.”
“So you’re mad at me because of my clothes?”
He couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. “Where the hell have you been, Daisy?
She immediately looked down at the floor. “I’ve been busy.”
“This isn’t about Duncan Enterprises or Restore Eden. This is about us. If you didn’t want to see me anymore, you didn’t have to disappear from my life. You could have called me or come to see me. You told me that if I didn’t agree with you, you’d understand, but you never gave me a chance. Why?”
Daisy took a deep breath and looked up to meet his eyes. “I was scared.”
“Why?”
“The last night I spent with you, before you saw the paperwork, was probably the best night of my life. I’ve never felt that way with anyone, and I started to realize that maybe it could work. Maybe we could work. But when we started arguing, it all came crashing down. And then when the media found out, I was sure that Restore Eden was behind it but then I found out it was you and I didn’t know what to think. I avoided you because I didn’t want to find out that you had gone against Duncan Enterprises for the same reason that Nathan had. I couldn’t bear it.”
Gabe uncrossed his legs and pushed himself from the desk. He walked over and stared out the window. He knew what she was going through. That night had stuck with him. It was the best and worst night of his life.
“I’m sorry if I looked like a coward. I needed time to process everything before I felt like I could face you.”
“And now you’re ready?” He turned his head to stare at her. “Now you’re ready for me to tell you how I really feel?”
