He raised an eyebrow. “I take it the break-up did not go well.”
“Not exactly as planned, no.” She went on, “The girls I know all live in small apartments with two or three roommates and besides, I wouldn’t want to intrude on them so here I am, not bothering anybody – until today, that is. ” She gave him another tiny smile. “Anyway...”
John listened as the Irish lilt of her voice became more pronounced. He focused on the movement of her full lips and the way freckles danced on her upturned nose and spilled across her cheekbones. His eyes dropped lower when she paused for a deep breath before going on with her explanation. He raised his eyes back to hers.
“... Really, you wouldn’t even have known I was here if you’d kept to your routine.”
He realized she had stopped talking when she finally took another breath and licked her upper lip.
“Is there really no one you could stay with?”
“I stayed with Carly and her new husband for the weekend but they only have a studio and it was – awkward.” She glanced at him.
“Yes, I can see how that would be an uncomfortable situation but—”
Brianna turned away from his gaze and studied the painting on the wall. She forced her eyes back to him. “May I go now? I have a lot of work to do.”
“Just like that, you have ‘work to do.’ Doesn’t any of this seem odd to you?”
“Well, yes. I admit it’s a wee bit odd.”
He laughed out loud, a deep rich sound. “A wee bit?”
Warmth rushed to her cheeks. “Okay, a lot odd, but I really had no choice.” Her gaze fell to her hands folded in her lap.
“There are always choices, Miss Ryan.”
“Ah, yes. I had so many choices.” She raised her head and looked directly into his eyes. “It’s warmer and safer here than on a park bench, cleaner and quieter than the bus depot and it has a shower.” In one fluid movement she rose, turned on her heel and walked out of his office.
“Why can’t I learn to think before I speak,” Brianna scolded herself. If anyone offered lessons in tongue control she vowed to be first in line. She made her way to the employees lounge on shaky legs. Carly, thankfully, was alone.
Collapsing onto the sofa, she rested her head on the arm and covered her eyes with her forearm.
“You will not believe what just happened.”
“What?” Carly looked at Bree’s reflection in the mirror. She stopped, mascara wand in midair and turned. “Oh, no! You got caught, didn’t you?”
Brianna nodded beneath her arm.
“The cleaning crew?” Carly asked.
Brianna shook her head. She’d managed to avoid the cleaning crew, which wasn’t that difficult. They had iPods stuck in their ears and bopped around with their eyes closed.
“Miss Davis?”
Brianna sat up. “Mr. Sharp.”
Carly’s jaw dropped, her blue eyes widened. “Oh. My. God! Come on, out with it. What did he say? Did he fire you? I’ve heard he can be fair. Of course, I’ve also heard he can be hard as granite. They don’t call him Sharp the Shark for nothing, you know. How’d he catch you?”
“I sort of bumped into him as I came out of his bathroom.”
Carly sat down next to her while Brianna told her the details. Carly buried her face in her hands but her shaking shoulders gave away her uncontrolled laughter.
“It’s not funny, Carly. I’m probably going to lose my job. That’s just what I need right now. Eric takes off with all my money and I lose my job.”
“I’m surprised the shark didn’t fire you on the spot,” Carly said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
“I didn’t give him a chance. I had to make a hasty exit before I threw up all over his big, shiny desk.”
Carly flung a comforting arm across Bree’s shoulders as they left the lounge and walked to their cubicles.
“Not a word of this to anyone. Promise?”
Carly gave her an evil grin.
“Carly!” Brianna warned.
“Oh, okay. But I have to tell Rob.”
She might as well get some work done while waiting for the ax to fall. She hated losing this job. It fulfilled her creative spirit and paid the rent, or would if she had rent to pay.
She worked on drawings for an ad campaign for the Illinois Wildlife Preserve, a project she poured her heart into. Painting nature scenes was her true passion.
She didn’t realize how much time had passed until Carly peered over the wall separating their cubicles. “Come on. I’ll buy you lunch. You need a change of scenery.”
“That I do!” Brianna said, although she was certain her scenery was going to change soon anyway.
“Emily and Liv are coming, too”
“Fine. But not a word about this to them,” Brianna repeated her warning. Emily and Liv were co-captains of the inter-departmental gossip team, one might even consider them gold medalists.
Preferring to concentrate on eating, Brianna remained quiet during lunch. She hadn’t had time to eat the muffin Carly brought her for breakfast. No one noticed her silence because Emily and Liv were eagerly filling them in on all the latest gossip. Brianna barely listened until the name “Kaitlyn” caught her attention.
“I think they’re perfect for each other,” Liv said. “He’s a shark and she’s a shark hunter.”
“Who?” Brianna asked.
“Kaitlyn Schuster and the boss,” Emily said.
“Is she a tall blonde?” Brianna asked.
“Yeah, the Arctic Queen. Why?
“Oh, nothing. I saw her this morning and wondered who she was. I’ve seen her before, just never knew her name. She and the boss are a couple?”
“She wishes,” Liv said. “She knows the fastest way up the corporate ladder.”
“Personally, I think she’s a cold bitch.” Carly said.
“I think they are perfect for each other. They’re both cold-blooded creatures,” said Emily.
“I think he’s hot!” Liv said. “Too bad he’s so aloof.”
* * * *
Miss Davis stood by the elevator when the doors opened.
“Mr. Sharp wants to see you in his office,” she said, eyeing her over the top of her black-rimmed glasses.
She exchanged a quick glance with Carly, ignored the wide-eyed stares of Emily and Liv and said to her supervisor, “When?”
“Now.”
“Good luck,” Carly whispered, giving her a quick hug before walking down the hall to the graphics department. Brianna watched her go.
“Now! Miss Ryan.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Brianna walked off in the opposite direction toward the executive suites. She looked down at the plush green carpet. How fitting. The Green Mile. Executed, terminated, same thing.
She squared her shoulders and raised her head. She may go down but she’d go with dignity. She walked past the reception desk to Mr. Sharp’s secretary and announced, “I’m Brianna Ryan. Mr. Sharp is expecting me.”
“Yes, Miss Ryan.” She led Brianna to his office door, knocked lightly and opened it.
“Miss Ryan is here, sir.”
“Show her in.” His deep voice carried through the crack in the door. The secretary smiled as she stepped aside.
Mr. Sharp stood and stepped around his desk when Brianna entered the room. She stood with her trembling hands clutched behind her back, focusing her gaze on the perfect knot of his red tie. He’d been less intimidating in his workout clothes.
“Please sit down,” he said, indicating one of the leather chairs in front of his desk.
“If you’re going to fire me, I’d prefer to stand, thank you.”
His eyes narrowed as he studied her face. “The thought did cross my mind but I’m not going to fire you–yet.” He pointed at the chair again.
Brianna perched on the edge of the chair, clasping her still shaking hands in her lap. He returned to his chair behind the wide desk. Picking up a pencil, he idly tapped it on the shiny teak surface,
thumbing through a stack of papers. For several minutes he shuffled the papers while uttering, “Hmms,” and “Ahhs.
Brianna shifted in her chair and cast a quick glance at the wall clock. Only three minutes had passed. It seemed like an hour.
She leaned back in the chair, sat up again and cleared her throat. “Since you’re not going to fire me – yet.” She tilted her head, offering a slight smile. “I’d like to go back to work. I have a deadline to meet.” She placed her hands on the arms of the chair in preparation to stand.
“Excuse me?” He looked up.
“I said, ‘I’d like to…”
“I heard what you said, Miss Ryan. Apparently, patience isn’t one of your virtues.”
Brianna thought she detected a slight smile and an amused twinkle in his eyes.
“No, sir. I find it difficult to sit still for long. That’s one of the reasons my dad calls me Breeze. I’m always moving but I get the job done. And, I really do have a lot of work to do. Sir.”
“Relax, Miss Ryan.” Mr. Sharp smiled again.
Holy Cow! She sucked in air and leaned back in the chair.
He cocked an eyebrow. “I’ve been looking over your work records. Except for the fact that you’re living here, you are the model employee. Never late or sick, always meet deadlines and your artwork is quite remarkable. While your dedication to your work is commendable you simply cannot live here. Have you been able to come up with an alternative?
“It would only be another week, until pay day. I’ll stay out of your shower. You won’t even know I’m here.”
“Believe me, I’d know you were here. This is not about the shower, Miss Ryan. You cannot stay here and that’s final. I suggest you spend the remainder of the afternoon making other arrangements.”
Frustration bubbled inside her and released the wayward tongue she had tried so hard to control.
“What is it that you don’t understand about the fact that I don’t have any money? None. Zip. I know that’s hard for you to imagine.” She looked around the richly decorated office. Are you trying to get yourself fired? “I’m not complaining, I just need time, one week, until payday.”
His gray eyes locked with her green ones for several seconds before he reached for the phone.
“I’ll arrange for an advance on your pay so you’ll be able to find something suitable.”
Could her luck possibly be changing? Relief coursed through her and she relaxed into the chair.
Interrupted by a knock on the door, he looked up as Kaitlyn Schuster walked in. He stood as she approached the desk. She cast a glacial frown at Brianna before turning to Mr. Sharp with a seductive smile. Bree shivered, certain the temperature dropped several degrees. She studied the back of the statuesque platinum blonde clad in a dove-gray dress. Probably Valentino, she thought.
“John, don’t forget we have a meeting with the Henderson group tomorrow night at seven. Why don’t you pick me up and we’ll go together?”
“I haven’t forgotten, Kaitlyn. I’ll pick you up at 6:30. It’s at the Drake, right?”
“Make it 6:00 and we can have a drink before the meeting.” She gave Brianna another icy glance before she turned on her designer stilettos and marched out of the room, leaving a trail of Obsession in her wake. Brianna wrinkled her nose and sneezed.
“I don’t think she was happy to see me here,” Brianna said, wiping her hand on her skirt.
Mr. Sharp furrowed an eyebrow as he reached for the phone again. “I’ll have Mrs. Wilson call you when your check is ready. In the meantime, make some phone calls and find more suitable accommodations.”
“Yes, sir and thank you. You’ve been very kind.” She stood up.
“Not all sharks are killers, Miss Ryan.” He smiled again. Brianna grasped the back of the chair willing her knees not to buckle.
She countered with a puny smile of her own and walked stiffly out of the room.
* * * *
At five o’clock, Brianna stood at the elevators chatting with her co-workers when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. A hand at her elbow turned her insides to Jello. The chitchat stopped, eyes rounded and jaws dropped. She turned and met a pair of steel gray eyes.
“Miss Ryan. May I have a word with you?”
“You go on, I’ll call you later,” she said to the Carly statue as the elevator doors opened.
She turned and followed Mr. Sharp to an area away from the bank of elevators, already dreading the barrage of questions she’d face Monday from the gossip team.
“Were you able to find a place to stay?”
“Yes, I found a room that will do temporarily until I can afford an apartment. I cashed the check so I’m all set. Thank you.” She smiled brightly.
“You’re welcome.” He returned the smile.
Another elevator door opened and they both turned. His light touch on Brianna’s back sent a current up her spine. They stepped into the car and the door closed. Mr. Sharp greeted a few people already in the elevator. She was in a small space with the most devastatingly handsome man she had ever seen. They stopped a couple of floors down and several more people crowded into the small car, jostling her closer to him. She had trouble breathing and her heart raced like a marathon runner. Her palms were sweaty. He’s my boss, she kept reminding herself. Finally, the elevator reached the ground floor. They stepped out.
“See you Monday.” Brianna gave a little wave and headed for the entrance.
Mr. Sharp turned toward the entry to the parking garage, stopped and turned back. He pulled a business card from his pocket and wrote on the back.
“This is my cell number in case you need anything.” He handed her the card. “Do you need a ride?”
She dropped the card into her purse. “Oh. No. I’ll take the bus but thank you for the offer.”
Brianna watched as he disappeared through the door before slinging her bulging backpack over one shoulder and walking to the corner bus stop.
CHAPTER FOUR
John looked up when the door opened and a cool breeze rushed into Jake’s Bar and Grill. A hush fell over the patrons seated at the bar. Heads turned and followed the stunning blonde as she sashayed across the room. He shook his head and sipped his scotch on the rocks. Wishing he’d taken the seat not facing the door, or even better, was invisible, he swirled the glass one way then the other. He seemed fascinated by the movement of the liquid against the cubes. He looked up again when the woman slid onto the bench across from him.
“I think you are the only man in this room who didn’t notice me,” she said.
“You’re hard to ignore, Kaitlyn.”
“And, yet, you do it so easily.”
“What brings you here?” John asked with a slight smile.
“You. And, I must say, you don’t seem very happy to see me,” Kaitlyn said, jutting her bright red, bottom lip into a pout.
“Just surprised. This place isn’t up to your usual standards.” John finished his drink and signaled the cocktail waitress.
“I felt like seafood and this is one of the best. Besides, I knew it was your favorite and took a chance you’d be here.”
John raised an eyebrow. “What is so pressing it couldn’t wait until tomorrow night?”
The waitress set another scotch if front of John, picked up the empty glass and turned to Kaitlyn.
“What would you like, ma’am?”
“Vodka martini, very dry. Gray Goose, if you have it. And, I want it with two olives, not onions,” Kaitlyn said.
“Thank you, Liz.” John smiled at the waitress.
“Can’t I have a drink with a friend?” Kaitlyn looked through her lashes.
“Of course, but you said you were looking for me. There must be a reason.”
The waitress set Kaitlyn’s drink in front of her and turned to John, “Your table is ready, sir.”
He stood and turned to Kaitlyn. “Would you care to join me for dinner?”
“I’d love to.” Kaitlyn slid out of the booth
and hooked her arm through his, licking her lips like a kitten savoring the cream. They followed the waitress to a small table in the dining room. John held a chair for Kaitlyn before seating himself.
“Your waitress will be with you shortly,” Liz said, handing them menus.
Kaitlyn perused the menu a moment.
“Who was that redhead in your office this morning?” she said without looking up.
Ah, the real reason for the visit. “One of the graphic artists.”
“Oh? Her work is not up to standards? Doesn’t Human Resources usually deal with employee issues?”
“It was personal, not an HR problem. And, quite the contrary, her work is very good. Exceptional, actually.”
Kaitlyn looked up, raising one perfectly penciled brow.
“Oh. Since when do you handle employees' personal problems?”
“It really isn’t your concern, Kaitlyn. Let’s order, shall we?” He signaled the waitress.
Kaitlyn frowned and narrowed her eyes.
“I haven’t decided yet.” She looked down at the menu, turning the pages back and forth. “I came into work early this morning because I wanted to talk to you about something but you were clearly preoccupied with that girl.”
“You had all day to speak with me. Now you’ve gone out of your way to find me. What is so urgent, Kaitlyn?”
Kaitlyn glared at John. “I tried twice. Both times she was there.” She lowered her lashes and formed her lips into a seductive pout. “I heard Charlie Myers is retiring soon. I want his position.”
“He may be,” John said. “I’ll consider you when the time comes.”
The waitress approached the table and addressed Kaitlyn.
“I want the spinach salad, raspberry vinaigrette on the side and no onions, broiled sea scallops with drawn butter, no garlic. Steamed, fresh vegetables instead of potatoes. And another one of these.” She pushed her martini glass toward the waitress.
The waitress nodded, took the glass and turned to John.
“I’ll have the fillet, rare. Baked potato, loaded and the Cesar salad, please.” He smiled at her. “You’re new, aren’t you? What’s your name?”
“Maya. I started last week.” She returned his smile. “Would you care for another drink, also?”
Love Is a Breeze Page 3
