Tasha was the only one she talked to on a regular basis. She dialed Tasha's number. Tasha picked up on the first ring. Before she could lose her nerves, she blurted, “I have some news I want to share with you but you can’t tell anyone else. Promise me.”
“Whew. Slow down girl.” Caitlyn could hear Tasha's television. “What’s going on?”
“I took your advice and I’ve been spending time with Blake. I mean Blake.”
“Good. You deserve to be happy.”
“There’s more.”
Tasha screamed causing Caitlyn to remove the phone from her ear. “You did it. Was it good?”
“No, we haven’t done it yet. But I can say he is a good kisser.”
“You go girl. Don’t forget about me when you move to the big floor.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Just because we’re dating, doesn’t mean I’m getting a promotion.”
“That’s right you left early. We got a memo letting us know you were being promoted to supervisor.”
“Say what?”
“Your current supervisor shared the news. She didn’t hesitate to let us know you were having an extended meeting with the CEO. If I were you, I would watch my back around her.”
“Duly noted. Let me log in to check my email. Shoot, I left my laptop at work.”
“Must have been some meeting.”
“Actually between you and me, after lunch we went to Six Flags.”
“What? While I’m slaving away at work you’re out living it up.”
“Come on now. I said Six Flags. That’s nothing.”
“Actually, that’s sweet. I wished someone would whisk me away in the middle of the day to take me somewhere.”
“Please. Men are always doing nice things for you. It’s not their fault you don’t appreciate them.”
“If your brother would come around I wouldn’t have to keep messing with these busters.”
“You and Bradford are too much alike. It would never work.”
“Whatever my future sister-in-law.”
“Girl, I didn’t realize how late it was. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Caitlyn hung up the phone with Tasha. Eight hours later, she fought with the covers as she hit the snooze button several times before getting up out of the bed. She made it to the office a few hours earlier than normal because she needed to catch up on some work.
She focused on the project plan in front of her. Time went by fast and before long, people were walking by her desk congratulating her on her promotion. She peeped around her cubicle. Her supervisor’s door stood open. She had a few things to say to her and hoped she could maintain her professional composure while doing so.
Caitlyn knocked on the outside door. “Diane, do you mind if I talk to you for a minute?”
Diane placed her jacket on her coat rack. “No, come right on in.”
She closed the door and waited for Diane to sit. “I heard the promotion went through and I appreciate you submitting my name for the position.”
“You’re welcome. You work hard and I believe hard work should be rewarded.”
“I am concerned about one thing.”
“Is it the money? I got you as much as I could for the position.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s the fact that everyone in the department knew I had a meeting with Blake. I mean with Mr. Banks.”
“To be honest, I didn’t think it was a big deal. People were looking for you to congratulate you, so I just told a few people you would be out for the rest of the evening.”
“That’s fine.” Caitlyn stood up.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” Diane asked.
“No. Everything is fine.”
Diane opened her mouth to say something, but didn’t. Caitlyn exited her office and returned to her desk. The new arrangement of flowers made her smile. She hoped no one else had found the card. She knew they were from Blake but she wasn’t prepared to share that bit of information with anyone yet.
“I wished someone would send me flowers once a week,” one of her co-workers said, as they passed by admiring her beautiful tulips arrangement.
“I enjoyed playing hooky with you yesterday. Let’s meet for dinner.” Signed “J”
She found his card and dialed the cell phone number on it. She got his voice mail. “Thanks for the flowers. I’m busy tonight, but I am available tomorrow night.”
“Ask him if he has a brother,” Tasha said, sneaking up behind her. “Girl, these are beautiful.”
“Aren’t they?”
“He’s romantic too.”
“Shhh. Lower your voice.”
“Girl, these folks don’t know who I’m talking about.”
“I don’t need them all in my business either.”
“Tell your man to stop sending you flowers then.”
Caitlyn put her headphones up to Tasha's ear so she could hear Jill Scott sing “Hate on Me.” She sang some of the lyrics.
Tasha, turned her mp3 player off, and handed it back to her. “Come on. I’m hungry.”
Caitlyn and Tasha ate lunch in the building’s cafeteria. They spent the time gossiping about what was going on in their department. Caitlyn put a magazine up in front of her. “Don’t turn around. Blake’s in here.”
Tasha pulled the magazine down. “He’s coming this way so you might as well put it down.”
She started putting the used wrappers from the food on her tray. Blake stood by the table before she could make her escape. “Hi, Ladies. Do you mind if I join you?”
Tasha responded, “Have a seat.”
Caitlyn looked up. Tasha grinned from ear to ear. “Hi,” she said, barely above a whisper.
Tasha cleared her throat. “I need to make a call. Chat with you later Cat. Bye Mr. Banks.”
“Call me Blake.”
Caitlyn wanted to pop Tasha for leaving her alone with Blake. “I’m leaving too.”
He reached out for Caitlyn’s hand. “Stay a few. I wanted to talk to you.”
Caitlyn looked around to see if anyone noticed his gesture. Her paranoid behavior would get the best of her if she didn’t watch it. She glanced at her watch. “I have a conference call in twenty minutes.”
“I’m counting down the hours until our date tomorrow night.”
Caitlyn blushed. She wasn’t supposed to feel these types of emotions; falling in love with Blake made her giddy. If only they would have met under different circumstances. “Blake. You don’t have to do this. It’s just us. We know it’s all pretend.”
“We’re in this for a year, so we might as well make the best of it.”
“True, but let’s not go overboard.”
“Admit it. You’re attracted to me.”
Caitlyn wanted to knock the smug look off Blake’s face. Yes, of course she found him attractive. She felt guilty admitting it to herself, so she refused to admit it to him. “I plead the fifth.”
“Run for now, but eventually you’ll have to stop running.”
“I’m running late for a meeting, so I guess it won’t be today.” She left the table before Blake could respond.
Chapter 13
Blake called Caitlyn’s cell phone and desk phone. She avoided all of his calls. Her developing feelings for him made it hard for her to think rationally. Because of the last name Banks, she refused to give in to the feelings haunting her day and night. The internal battle she fought was causing her to lose sleep at night. Love and guilt were replacing the feelings associated with revenge
Caitlyn made it out of the office building without running into Blake. She saw his silver sports car parked in its normal spot. She stopped her car behind Blake’s for a moment but the trance broke when a driver behind her blew their horn.
Bridget had been avoiding her calls all day. Instead of going home, she decided to pay her sister a visit. Caitlyn didn’t want the tension of her upcoming nuptials to stand in between their relationship. She had to make Bridget understand her ulterior mo
tive; although lately, she wasn’t so sure of her motive.
Bridget’s SUV blocked most of the driveway, so Caitlyn parked her car on the street. She dialed the house number once more, but no one picked up. She hoped coming over wasn’t a mistake. A few seconds later, she stood at the front door ringing the doorbell.
Bridget yelled, “Who is it?” Caitlyn didn’t respond. Bridget opened the door. “Oh, it’s you.”
“We need to talk.” Caitlyn didn’t wait for an invitation. She walked past Bridget into the hallway.
Bridget slammed the door. “Benedict Arnold what do you want?”
She ignored her comment. She made her way to the kitchen to get her drink with Bridget right behind her on her heels. She took out a cold drink and sat at the kitchen table. She took small sips. Bridget seemed frustrated but eventually sat down at the table with her.
“I can always count on you to have a cold Sprite.” She released a few ahhs to indicate how much she liked the drink.
“You could have gone to a convenience store for a drink. What gives?” Bridget asked.
“If you would have returned my calls, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
“I’m pregnant and can’t deal with too much stress so that includes your mess.”
Caitlyn reached for her younger sister’s hand. “I’m not trying to stress you out. Give me five minutes and let me explain.”
Bridget leaned back with her arms folded and rolled her eyes; a trait Caitlyn also inherited.
“I’m not supposed to tell anyone but if I go along with this. Blake has to pay me five million dollars. I plan on splitting it with you and Bradford.”
“This doesn’t make sense. So now you’re a wife for hire?”
“No, nothing like that. As you know Jack Banks recently died. Well Blake’s eccentric uncle had a clause in his will that Blake has to marry me of all people in order to get his inheritance.”
“That’s the most silliest thing I’ve ever heard. There has to be more to it than that. I’ll get Matt on it. Have you seen a copy of the will?”
“He showed me a portion of it.”
“I don’t like the ideal of you sleeping with the enemy.”
“Technically, it was Blake’s uncle who turned down Dad; not Blake.”
“He’s a Banks isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Caitlyn responded.
“Daddy used to say the apple don’t fall too far from the tree, so Blake’s not to be trusted.”
“I never said I trusted him.”
“Cat, you’ve done some crazy things but this one here—girl, I swear you’re certified crazy.”
“I’m doing what I have to do.”
“Sweetie, you need to let it go. Dad’s gone. We can’t bring him back. Let it go. Put in some job applications elsewhere and forget about Blake Banks.”
“Bridget, you just don’t understand.”
Caitlyn felt like she was ten years old listening to her mother reprimand her instead of her younger sister. Bridget went on and on why her marrying Blake wasn’t a good idea. “You can’t open up the Dallas Morning News without seeing him in the society pages. Can you handle being in the limelight? Your life will become an open book. Did you forget you’re one of his employees?”
“Yes. No. I know how to deal with meddlesome reporters.”
“But why even put yourself through it. I knew you going to work there was a bad idea.”
Before Caitlyn could respond, Matt walked in the room. “There’s my favorite girl.” He walked over and kissed Bridget.
Caitlyn cleared her throat. “Excuse me. Can you two wait until I leave?”
Matt threw his hand up and waved. “Oh hi Cat. Didn’t see you sitting there.”
She cringed. “You’re so full of it.”
“Awe sister in law.” Matt walked over to where she was sitting and bent down to hug her.
“Better now?” he asked.
She pouted. “Maybe.”
“Hey, get your own. He’s mine,” Bridget said, smiling for the first time since Caitlyn stopped by.
Matt retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “Glad to see you two talking again. If you hadn’t come over today, I would have called you myself.”
Bridget looked at Matt as if she wanted to throw a dagger at him. “You talk too much.”
“Baby, you just had me worried.” Matt pulled a chair near Bridget and sat down. He placed his arm around her shoulders.
“All is well now,” she assured him.
Caitlyn watched the two of them. The love between the two was what she wanted to experience. She wondered if she ever would. A lone tear slid down her cheek.
Bridget reached up and wiped Caitlyn’s cheek. “Why don’t you stay for dinner?” Bridget asked. “I’m sure Matt doesn’t mind.” She looked at Matt who didn’t say anything.
“I am tired of fast food.”
“It’s settled. Matt’s going to grill a few steaks and I’ll make some side items.”
“Sounds good to me,” Matt said, as he stood up and kissed Bridget on the forehead.
Less than two hours later, they enjoyed a hearty meal. Bridget told Matt about Caitlyn’s plans. “Cat, this isn’t the wisest thing you’ve done.”
“But…” she stuttered.
“I told you all before that trying to get revenge isn’t worth it. Have you thought about all of the people who might lose their jobs because of your plans?” Matt asked.
She hadn’t thought about it. Matt’s question stayed with her, although her words didn’t admit it. “For now, I’m going along with the plan. I’ll get the money and let the chips fall where they may.”
Chapter 14
“Joan, thank you so much for setting the party up,” Blake said.
Joan handed him a sheet of paper with the details of the party listed. “Happy engagement,” she said, before leaving him alone with his thoughts.
The first installment Blake received from his uncle’s estate was enough to put Banks Telecom back in the black. Blake had to cut back in certain areas but he was no longer hurting financially. He would be able to save his company and continue to live the lifestyle he had gotten accustomed to living. According to the will, Blake would receive the rest of the installments in phases, with the bulk of it, after he and Caitlyn remained married for a year.
He called Caitlyn on her cell phone. No answer. Where could she be? She had been avoiding him since lunch the day before. With her being a project manager, most were required to update their schedules in an online database which he had access to. He logged online to check her schedule and there weren’t any meetings set up, so he concluded she purposely avoided his phone calls. She could avoid him at work, but he would be stopping by her place later, so he hoped she didn’t plan on standing him up.
Blake spent about an hour at home preparing for his date with Caitlyn. He glided through traffic in his sleek Jaguar. Holding a small bouquet of red roses, he knocked on Caitlyn’s front door. He waited and waited. No one answered. Feeling dejected, he turned to walk away.
“I almost let you stay out here,” Caitlyn said, as she pulled the door open.
Her floral scent escaped out the door and attacked his senses before he heard her voice. He turned around. She stood fully dressed in an emerald green knee length dress that accented her hips. His eyes glided from her hips to her face. Her dimples hypnotized him for a few seconds. “These are for you,” Blake said, as he handed her the roses.
Caitlyn sniffed them. “Thanks. Come on in.” She pushed the door open.
Blake walked past Caitlyn into her apartment. Silence loomed between them. Caitlyn exited the living room. Blake, feeling awkward, took a seat on her elegant sofa. While waiting on her to return, he picked up a women’s magazine off her coffee table and flipped through it.
“I never would have thought the manly Mr. Banks read women magazines,” Caitlyn teased. She sat on the other end of the couch.
“You got jokes.” He laughed and plac
ed the magazine back on the table with the rest of the magazines.
“I owe you an apology.”
He blinked his eyes a few times. “Don’t wake me up if I’m dreaming.”
“I did plan to stand you up tonight, but realized I can’t keep avoiding you if we are to pull off this charade.”
“My ego thanks you.”
She shook her head. “Men and their egos.”
“I admit I don’t like rejection.”
She stood up. “Dear, you’re not getting everything you want from me, so you might as well get used to it.”
Two hours later, they were enjoying each other’s company over a meal of enchiladas and burritos after attending a Mothers Against Drunk Driving charity event. After watching the videos at the event, he needed something to cheer him up. Blake felt himself mesmerized with Caitlyn. Her laughter was contagious.
“You should laugh more,” he stated.
“Keep me smiling,” she teased.
“I have plenty of ways to do that, so test me.” He took a bite out of his burrito. Some of the juices fell on his shirt.
Before he could react, Caitlyn had dipped her napkin in her water and attempted to remove the stain. He hated to tell her it would only make it worse. Her being in such close proximity made his heart skip a beat.
“You’re such a big baby,” she commented.
“You bring it out of me.”
“Looks like you’ll be taking this to the cleaners, because I can’t get the stain out.”
“Thanks for trying.”
“No problem.” She scooted her chair back.
“I wanted to discuss our engagement party. He reached into his pocket and unfolded a sheet of paper and handed it to her.”
She reviewed it. “The Anatole. That’s a nice place to have it.”
“Joan needs your list of people by tomorrow if you can have it.”
“I can do that. There’s only a few people I want to invite.”
“I have something else for you too.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. “This is yours.”
Betrayed by Trust Page 6
