by Regina Hart
“Well, I’ve learned a lot from this particular mistake.” Including the fact that second chances are rare.
“Good. They’ll serve you well as you lead the company.” Foster’s confidence in him increased Tyler’s restlessness.
He’d hoped this campaign would end differently. In his mind, he’d seen himself earning the promotion and Iris’s love. Now, he didn’t have either. “No, Dad, I’m no longer confident I can lead the company.”
“Then who can?”
“I don’t know.” Tyler hadn’t expected that question. He should have had that second cup of coffee. “Perhaps you can convince Xavier or Van.”
“You know neither of them is interested.” Foster leaned forward, picking up the silver Cross pen on his desk and rolling it between his fingers. “And no one wants someone from the outside to lead the company.”
“I thought you said an outsider was a possibility?” Tyler scowled.
“I only said that to scare you.”
Tyler rubbed his eyes. “Yes, well, it worked.”
“I know.” Foster’s grin was unrepentant. “We want to keep Anderson Adventures in the family.”
“But you and everyone else were right when you said I don’t have people skills.” Tyler paced some more. “Lauren used that weakness to hurt the company.”
“But she didn’t hurt the company.” Foster arched an eyebrow. “So obviously you do have people skills. Ty, you’re more ready than you think. Besides I’m not retiring tomorrow. There’ll be a transition period.”
That was a slight relief. Very slight. “How long of a transition?”
Foster relaxed back onto his chair. “After ‘Osiris’s Journey’ releases, I’ll announce that I’m retiring at the end of the year. That gives us six months to prepare.”
Tyler considered that. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“You don’t. And you’d regret passing on this opportunity. You know that.” Foster shrugged. “I’m retiring, Ty. Not dropping off the face of the earth. You can call me whenever you need advice.”
“All right. If you think I’m ready, I’ll take over as CEO once you retire.” Tyler wandered back to the window. He met Foster’s gaze over his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“You can also use the time to make things right with Iris.” Foster rose from his desk and approached Tyler. “If you love her, son, don’t give up.”
Tyler looked out the window again. The vivid blue sky and glass-and-metal buildings were invisible to him. Instead he saw wide, sad eyes the color of strong coffee. “I’ve hurt her too badly. She’s not interested in anything more I have to say. And frankly, I can’t think of anything else to express how very sorry I am.”
“Then don’t say anything.” Foster’s hand came to rest on Tyler’s shoulder. “Actions speak louder.”
Finally, a glimmer of hope. “Are you suggesting I buy her flowers or candy?”
Foster shook his head. “Those things would be nice. But I think, in this case, you need a more personal gesture.”
Tyler’s frustration returned. “Like what?”
Foster patted his shoulder. “You’ll think of something, son.”
* * *
Iris’s agency phone rang Monday evening, breaking her concentration from the media pitch she was writing for “Osiris’s Journey.” She saved the file, lowered the volume on her CD player and picked up the receiver.
“This is Iris Beharie. May I help you?”
“Ms. Beharie, this is Cooper Johnson with Central City Medical Health.” The voice on the other end of the line was all business.
Cooper Johnson was a familiar name. If memory served, he was the vice president of marketing for a major health insurance company.
“Good evening, Mr. Johnson. What can I do for you?” Please let him ask me for a bid proposal.
“CCMH is rolling out a new insurance product. I’m sorry to contact you so late in the day but are you available to meet with us in the morning? We’d like your help with our internal and external product launch.” Cooper’s voice slowed as though he was consulting his calendar.
Yes! Iris’s pulse kicked up with excitement over a potential new client with a big project. There was just one challenge. Her eyes drifted to the clock on her computer. It was almost 6:00 p.m. “Mr. Johnson, I’d love to meet with you tomorrow but that doesn’t give me time to put together a bid proposal. Could we meet—”
“You misunderstand, Ms. Beharie,” Cooper smoothly interrupted. “We aren’t requesting a bid proposal. We’re awarding you the job. Tomorrow’s meeting will provide you with the information you need to put together a budget estimate and a project schedule. Is that acceptable?”
Central City Medical Health was hiring her for a major project? And they didn’t want a proposal or references? “You’re hiring me?”
“You were highly recommended.”
Iris smiled. “By whom?” Has Lily been passing out my business cards again?
“Ty Anderson. He staked his reputation that you’d deliver a successful product launch, on time and within budget.”
Iris froze. She tried several times to speak. “Ty?”
“Anderson Adventures is a well-respected company.” Cooper chuckled. “If Ty’s willing to stake his reputation on your work, why should I waste time asking for multiple bids? I was going to contact Kimball & Associates, but Ty told me in great detail about the media exposure, presales and social media success his company garnered from your campaigns.”
Iris was overwhelmed. Her heart was beating in her throat. Was this really happening for her? She stuttered her way through a reply. “Well, uh...it was a...a team effort.”
“He said you’d say that.” Cooper chuckled again. “Are you available tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, I’m available.” Iris grabbed a pencil and her writing tablet. “Let me take your information.”
* * *
A little more than an hour later, Iris rang the doorbell of Tyler’s colonial-style home. It didn’t take him long to answer. He stood in the doorway dressed in baggy gray shorts and a tight black short-sleeved T-shirt. His feet were bare.
“You’ve shown up at my townhome so many times.” Iris tried for light banter. “I thought turnabout would be fair play.”
“What are you doing here?” Tyler stepped aside to let her in.
Iris’s curious gaze took in his entryway. It was dominated by the polished cherrywood used for the threshold, flooring and trim circling the ceiling. Iris enjoyed the effect. “I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?” Tyler led her down a short, narrow hallway to a silver-and-black sitting room.
Iris gratefully sank onto the love seat. Her legs weren’t going to support her much longer. “Cooper Johnson called me this evening. Did you put him up to it?”
“Why would I do that?” Tyler leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the room. His arms were crossed over his impressive chest and his eyes were fixed on her. “I know you don’t want people to help you.”
Iris took in the framed abstract paintings hanging on the walls. Personal photos and whimsical sculptures kept the room’s decor from being cold. Her gaze dropped to the hardwood flooring beneath her sneakered feet. “He told me you’d staked your reputation on my being able to produce a successful product launches for CCMH.”
Tyler’s initial reaction was a short, sharp obscenity. “Coop has a big mouth.”
Iris lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. “You’re taking a great risk, tying my reputation to yours. If I fail, we’re both going down.”
“You’re not going to fail.”
“How do you know that?”
“I know you.” Tyler looked away. “You’re thorough, well organized and creative. And like me, you love a challenge.”
Iris stood and walked to him. “You’re trusting me with your reputation. Why?” She stopped less than an arm’s length from him. She couldn’t read the expression in his eyes. But she sensed his body stiffen. Was he as afraid as she was?
Tyler straightened from the wall and lowered his arms. “Things didn’t work out for us personally but I believe in you, Iris.” His voice was gruff. “You’re good at what you do. I want you to be happy.”
Iris blinked back her tears. She took his large, strong hands in hers. The feel of his warm skin sent a flash of pleasure up her arms. “Ty, I’ve been falling in love with you since you made that joke about being my Prince Charming. All I needed was to know that you trust me. Now I do.”
His smile brightened his face and warmed her heart. The shutters lifted from his ebony eyes. In their dark depths, she saw how deeply he loved her. Tyler drew her to him and kissed her, long, hard and deep. She tasted how much he’d missed her. She’d missed him just as much. He held her tightly to his long lean muscles. Iris rose up on her toes to mold her body more closely to his. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. Tyler’s tongue slipped between her lips. She drew it deeper into her mouth. His erection pressed against her abdomen.
Tyler lifted his head. “I’ve missed you.” His voice was low. The words reverberated in her heart. “I’m lost without you.”
“I’ve been so empty without you,” Iris whispered back.
“I have a favorite song now.”
“What is it?” She smiled up at him.
“It’s the sound of you walking back into my life.” Tyler lowered his head and kissed her senseless again.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460382035
The Love Game
Copyright © 2015 by Patricia Sargeant-Matthews
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