Kate Takes Care Of Business

by Rachel Cartwright

  Kate hurried back to her room and inserted her pass key in the lock. She opened the door. “Umm, sorry. I forgot my laptop.” She walked in and looked at her father.

  He was sitting with his head in his hands.

  “What’s wrong dad? Where’s Mr. Hallman?”

  “It’s bad, Kate.” He let out a deep breath. “But I might convince the old goat . . . if you’ll help me.”

  His earnest, solemn appeal was cryptic but concise. “Richard told me that Sterling has been unhappy since the two of you stopped dating.”

  “Dad, you know I’d do anything to help but Sterling and I are just friends now.”

  “But I know he still cares deeply for you, Kate. Both of you come from the same background, have the same friends, and share the same outlook on life.”

  “I wouldn’t say it’s the same on everything, dad. Sometimes it’s not even close.”

  Her father stood and towered over her. “But your differences are less than you think and because of those reasons it’s the last chance we have to influence Richard . . . and the company.”

  Understanding exactly what her father was saying, Kate turned away, her whole body feeling engulfed in tides of guilt and despair.

  He put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t you ever think about getting married and having a family?”

  “Of course I do but not now and I know Sterling certainly isn’t ready to—”

  “No, Kate, you’d be surprised what Sterling is ready to do . . . and how much his father will help him do it. Please, will you at least listen to what I have to say?”

  And like a good daughter, she did, almost biting her lip until it bled as her father strongly suggested that the Winslow’s only hope to keep a stake in the company was for her to begin dating Sterling again . . . and then marry him as soon as possible.

  Sterling appeared at Kate’s door a few minutes after four o’clock. He breezed in, looking at her with quiet belligerence as though he was still angry about something. “I’m glad you’ve changed your mind about the party tonight.”

  Kate smiled in acquiescence. “Sure, I’m up for anything. Where did you want to go?”

  “Jeff and Bridget called. They’re in town and we haven’t all partied together in ages. They miss you.”

  “But what about Liz and Reid?”

  “Sure, they can still come along if they don’t mind taking cab. Unfortunately, there’s not enough room for Liz and Reid.”

  The way Sterling emphasized Reid’s name resonated in Kate’s heart and mind. Why was he still insisting on inviting him? She shrugged to mask her discomfort. “Sure, why not?”

  “Good, then it’s settled.”

  Kate nodded. Later, she could explain to Reid that she was only trying to keep the peace between her father and Sterling’s until the meeting was over. That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it, Kate? Just keeping the peace in your life and everyone else’s like you’ve always done.

  Sterling came over and put his arms around her. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed being with you.”

  His mouth took hers, without resistance. It didn’t make a difference. No clamoring in her blood or her brain, just Sterling kissing her a little too hard, the same way he’d kissed her since they were teenagers. Kate thought of Reid’s lips on hers, making her feel as if she were dying and being born again. She withdrew from Sterling’s arms.

  Sterling touched his lips with a quick wiping motion. “We’ll pick you up a little after eight. Bridget and Jeff will be excited to see you and it’ll give me another excuse to drive my new car. You’re going to love it . . . like a rocket on wheels.”

  “Sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to see them.” Kate smiled. And then maybe the night will end faster so I can get back to my room . . . hopefully with Reid.

  The rest of the day, however, dragged, and grew more tedious with every passing hour. An unexpected torrential summer thunderstorm blasted the city. Kate told her father she was exhausted and wanted to rest up before going out tonight.

  Kate prowled her luxurious suite like it was a prison cell. She tried texting and calling Reid in hopes of trying to explain what was happening but he never returned her calls. What’s he so busy doing that he can’t get back to me?

  For some illogical reason, she thought about Liz Presley but quickly banished the idea. Kate had enough on her mind trying to figure out how she could balance her father’s wishes with her desires without overloading her frayed nerves with unfounded jealousy and suspicion.

  In the early evening, Kate set about dressing for the night. She was determined to give Liz some real competition . . . just in case. She decide to go New York retro and chose a black chiffon dress with a matching ruffled cape, sexy but sophisticated like a classic movie star.

  Looking in the mirror, she brushed her dark hair until it shone and emphasized the violet of her eyes with purple mascara. You can make this work, Kate. You have to . . . just until the meeting is over next week.”

  She thought of Sterling’s bruising kiss from the afternoon. In so many ways he was still a teenager and being a few years younger than Reid only emphasized the difference. One kiss she wanted to forget but the other made her hunger from the memory of his mouth on hers.

  Reid was a man.

  But would he be her man?

  CHAPTER NINE

  Kate had a cup of coffee with her father while waiting for Sterling to show.

  Dad was in a more optimistic mood. “You look gorgeous, Kate.” He sipped his martini. “I can’t tell you how happy Richard is too now that you’re going out with Sterling again. I think we’re going to come to an agreement after all.”

  Kate held her tongue with effort. She wasn’t seeing Sterling again but now was not the time to tell her worried, beleaguered father the truth.

  He turned to the wall mounted widescreen TV behind the bar and watched the business news of the day. “We have a recent business update from the New York Post,” the announcer said.

  Kate sat up in her chair, interested. Reid and Liz wrote guest columns and blogs for the New York Post. The speaker continued: “The reported rift between the CEO and president of Hallman and Winslow may have increased to the point of breaking the once solid company in two.”

  Kate put her drink down and starred at the screen.

  “It appears that president Adam Winslow is committed to canceling all their current outsourcing contracts and returning the jobs to the United States regardless of the impact on the company’s dwindling cash reserves. This bold move has caused a serious breach between Mr. Winslow and his long time friend and CEO, Richard Hallman, who supports increased outsourcing as a means of stemming the tide of diminishing returns that has plagued the company since—”

  Kate was speechless. She felt as hollow as the woman on TV sounded. She looked over at her father.

  His shocked face was creased in despair. “I . . . I don’t understand. We haven’t released anything to the media yet . . . and it’s a lie. It’s a single investment, a business case study to see if it’s viable.” He gulped the rest of his martini. “Once this spreads, the shareholders will think I want to rip up all our contracts regardless of the cost and that Hallman is the only one interested in saving the company and making a profit. We’ll never reach an agreement now.”

  Kate sat, motionless. A cold shiver spread over her as she remembered talking to Reid. How could he have done this to her after she trusted him? Treachery was never a pretty thing to face even if that face was the one she had wanted to kiss everyday since April.

  Numb and reeling from the fear of what would happen next, Kate heard her father ask the inevitable question.

  “Who could have done it? I promised Richard it would be handled in a press release that we both agree to. But now these lies? How could this have happened?”

  Kate summoned all her courage. “I’m . . . I’m sorry, Dad.”

  Her father stared at her in silence until the full comprehension of her feeble a
pology came to him. “You told that bastard Griffin?”

  Bitter and embarrassed, Kate couldn’t meet her father’s condemning glare. Reid had charmed the information out of her when she was drunk. He had kissed it out of her and fabricated the lie to get back at her for what? Because of Sterling? And you were about to drag him into your bedroom.

  “Did you sleep with him?”

  “No! And if I did it would have been none of your damned business anyway?”

  She waited for his full wrath to unleash itself with more cruel accusations but none came. “I’m sorry, Kate, but I wish you had stayed home as I asked.” He put a hand on her dark bowed head. “But now it’s done and it’s too late for tears.”

  “But it was my idea too, Dad.” Kate wiped the hot tears off her red cheeks. “Yes, Reid and I talked about it but I was just testing it before I got the courage to talk to you. I never said any of those things you heard on TV. You believe me, don’t you?”

  Her father could only answer with a weary nod.

  Whether he really believed her or not, Kate was afraid to ask.

  “I’ll have Lucille change the press release to clarify the Post story. Hopefully we can control some of the damage before the meeting.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know yet. I may have to rethink our entire plan . . . if I want to save my job.”

  Her father lumbered out of the chair and trudged away looking older and more tired than she had ever seen him.

  After quickly changing and returning from her room, Kate stood alone in the lobby. Dad was right. It was too late for tears but there was still time to fix things once and for all. She took out her cell phone and made the only call that she could.

  A few minutes later Kate heard a familiar voice call her name. She looked up and saw Reid rushing up to her. She closed her phone.

  “Kate? Are you all right? He looked haggard.

  “I’m fine. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.” She kept her gaze frozen on his.

  “Where are you going? I thought we were all—”

  “Did you see the news?”

  “Yes and that’s why I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Terrible accident on the interstate wasn’t it?” She slung her overnight bag over her shoulder. “But the police still haven’t blamed anyone for it.”

  “Be serious. Do you think I did it? That I talked to the Post?” His gray eyes poured a deep look into hers.

  “It doesn’t matter what I think . . . but what I believe . . . and I was wrong.”

  “Hey Kate, I don’t want to get a ticket. Let’s go.”

  She turned and saw Sterling waving at her from the entrance to the hotel bar.

  “Kate, please, let me explain.” Reid grabbed her arm. “I don’t know how it happened but I swear I didn’t—”

  She jerked her arm away and rushed toward Sterling. As Kate hurried out into the lobby to join him, she paused and turned to look at Reid one last time.

  But he was gone.

  And with him the dreams and love they could have shared.

  She was alone now.

  So alone for the first time in her life.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Sterling drove as if he were the lead car in a cross-country race. He took back roads and shortcuts so he could drive at any speed he wanted and avoided the highway patrol. Jeff and Bridget shared a big bottle of peach-flavored vodka in the back seat and carried on like a couple drunk teenagers on a joyride.

  Although scared at first, Kate settled into the thrill of flying along with the wind away from everything and everyone. She had insisted they leave the city and Sterling’s summer home seemed the best choice.

  After calling her father to apologize again, Kate felt a little less guilty when he said he wasn’t angry. Was that because he assumed she was with Sterling now so there still might be a chance he could reach a compromise with Mr. Hallman? Kate didn’t know but there was enough blame to go around and Dad sounded resigned to what he had to do next.

  It was just before one in the morning and they had been driving toward Sterling’s summer home on Chesapeake for almost four hours. Exhausted and depressed, Kate stared out the window.

  Since her father was going to back down on his proposal, she didn’t need to stay at the hotel to witness his final embarrassment in front of the board. The last meeting was on Thursday so she could return with Sterling then and finally go home to Westport.

  Kate reclined her seat and closed her eyes. She tried to remember the last time she had been at the Sterling summer home. It must have been just after her mother passed. In her mind she saw the beach road stretching ahead, smooth and white, intersected by a series of small bridges whose stone guard walls rioted with wild rambler roses.

  The road wound its way down the middle of the upscale tourist town of Parson’s Beach lined with smart, freshly painted shops and ended at the boardwalk leading to the Sterling’s magnificent beachfront home.

  But the memory offered Kate only fleeting comfort as her heart returned to its tortured feelings about Reid. Angry and hurt as she was, she suffered more from the dull ache of desire at the mere thought of never seeing him again.

  She felt the car slowing.

  “How about passing that bottle up front?”

  Kate opened her eyes. “Sterling, don’t be stupid. We’re almost there.”

  “I know. That’s why it’s not a problem.” He took the bottle from Jeff and gulped a mouthful. Sterling scrunched his face. “Oh yeah! That’s it. Let’s get this party started!” With one hand on the wheel, he accelerated as he took another drink from the bottle. He offered it over to Kate. “C’mon, have a drink. Looks like you could sure use it.”

  She shook her head. “Later, okay? I don’t feel like it.”

  Bridget giggled in the back seat. “I hope you’re not going to be like that the whole time we’re here.”

  Jeff drank from the bottle and belched. “Sterling told me about what that lying prick did.” He slurred his words. “Your friends would never do something like that. Seriously, Kate. What were you thinking?”

  “I . . . I don’t know but can we just drop it?” She turned around to face Bridget. “I don’t want to talk about it, okay?” Kate heard her voice sound as cold and stiff as her heart felt.

  Bridget laughed out loud and grabbed the bottle from Jeff.

  Sterling leaned across and peered at her out of sharp, dark eyes. “And don’t tell me that Liz bitch wasn’t part of it too. They’re more than just friends, Kate. You know that, right?”

  Yes, she did now but she felt stupid for not listening to herself when they first met at Maxwell’s. Kate shrugged it off. “I don’t care.” The car swerved to one side. “Just keep your eyes on the road.”

  Kate’s teeth had been on edge for the last few minutes. She was worried that Sterling’s mind was not on his driving. He looked jittery and was constantly checking his rearview mirror even though there was clearly not another single car on this isolated back road. “Everybody’s really pissed,” he said. “My old man won’t even speak to me unless I can do something to help fix this mess.”

  “My dad’s the same way.”

  “Remember our promise, Kate?” His voice carried a note of desperation. “I . . . I don’t want to wait any longer . . . do you?” With one hand on the wheel, he slid his other over her warm thigh.

  “Secrets?” Bridget squealed from the back seat. “Are you two keeping secrets from us? Oh my God . . . you better not be talking about what I think you’re talking about.”

  Jeff laughed. “Ahh, you’re too late, honey. Always a bridesmaid but never—”

  Bridget blasted her poor boyfriend. “Shut up and have another drink.” She pushed Kate in the shoulder. “So is it true?”

  Kate was silent. The world was whirling too fast on its axis and she was too numb to care who knew her secrets anymore. “Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

  Sterling grinne
d like a mischievous monkey. “Okay, enough of that.” He swung his speeding car effortlessly around a wide corner. “We took a vote before we left and we came to a unanimous decision.”

  Kate sighed. “About what?”

  “We’re having a bonfire on our private beach and going skinny dipping. I mean, when was the last time we did that?” Sterling’s voice taunted Kate. “Unless someone doesn’t feel like it . . . again.”

  Bridget leaned forward almost spilling out of her top, still trying to convince the man in the driver’s seat that she was still available. “C’mon. We’re all old friends. It’s not like we haven’t seen each other naked before, right Sterling?”

  Sterling laughed. “At least try to keep your shorts on this time until we get there, okay?”

  Kate’s hesitation was almost imperceptible. She turned away and grinned as she remembered the last time they had gone swimming butt naked in the ocean. Oh God, they were a bunch of drunken teenagers then, swimming at night in the dark, dangerous waves but feeling so excited and alive under the stars.

  Jeff whispered in her ear. “You’re still not worried about sharks like you were the first time, are you?”

  Bridget tittered. “Weren’t you in the water for all of five minutes before you screamed and ran out on the beach?”

  With a toss of her shining hair, Kate defied her friend’s mockery and insulting expectations. After what Reid had done, there was nothing they could say that could hurt her so deeply again. “The only sharks I’m worried about are the ones in this car.”

  Everyone whistled and laughed louder.

  Kate glanced around at Jeff. “Can you save some of that until we get to the beach? We’re almost there.”

  “Ahh . . . too bad, so sad. All gone.” He looked one drink short of being totally hammered. “But the good news is we don’t have to wait now to open up the second one. Woo hoo!” He unscrewed the cap and took a drink.