Gary glared at her the instant he saw her. “What do you think you’re doing here?” He took a stance in front of her, his fist planted firmly on his hips.
Abbey stood speechless, clutching the handle of Bruce’s briefcase. Her heart pounded. She had dreaded this confrontation, rehearsing it in her mind the whole three minutes it took to park the car and walk back to the building. What she should say evaded her then and the right words to say wouldn’t come now either.
“She’s with me,” Bruce announced from behind Gary, moving to Abbey’s side.
“Oh,” was all Gary said.
Abbey wasn’t sure, but she thought Gary’s cheeks had turned a light shade of red.
“We’ll meet you in the conference room when you’ve had a chance to assemble the other department heads,” Bruce said then turned to Abbey. “Lead the way.”
Without saying a word, Abbey hurried past Gary and headed for the elevator. Permeated with guilt, Abbey slowed her pace to allow Bruce to catch up. She pushed the button and waited for the elevator to open.
Bruce didn’t say a word until they were inside the elevator and the doors closed, giving them privacy. “I was beginning to think we were in a race and I was losing.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You never did say why you were fired.”
“Who said I was fired?” Abbey felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “It doesn’t matter.”
A low 'ding' sounded when they reached their floor.
“Obviously, it does matter.”
Abbey ignored Bruce and stepped out of the elevator, heading down the hall towards the conference room. He was silent following her, the carpet muffled the sound of his shoe and the rubber tips on his crutches made no noise even on the tiled floor. None-the-less, she knew he was there. Something inside her sensed his presence. She set his briefcase on the conference room table and turned, intending to close the door.
“I’d prefer to sit at the far end of the table,” Bruce told her as he moved across the room.
The conference table was large enough to seat a dozen people, with only enough space to seat one person on either end. The highest-ranking manager or president of the company sat at the head of the table during meetings which was where Bruce was headed now.
Abbey closed the door, retrieved the briefcase and followed Bruce across the room. She laid it on the table and pulled out the chair for him. Bruce handed her his crutches and hopped the remaining step, taking a less-than-graceful seat.
“Why don’t I pull this other chair out a little and you can prop your foot on it?” Abbey moved the chair, then helped Bruce lift his right leg. “You really need to be careful. You don’t want it to start swelling. I’ll remind you when it’s time to take more pain pills.”
“Thank you, Dr. Mom, but I think I’ll know when it’s time to take more.”
Abbey chanced a glance at Bruce as she stood, not quite sure if he was teasing her or being sarcastic. His expression gave little away concerning his mood—pain etched his features. Even his warm, chocolate eyes had taken on an intensified color. “Maybe you should have taken the rest of the day off.”
“Do you always worry about other people?” His eyebrow arched. It was getting hard not to smile every time it happened, which was quite frequent.
“Sometimes. Those I care about.” Abbey gasped at her own words. “That wasn’t what I meant.”
A hint of a smile tugged at Bruce’s lips. “I didn’t think so. After all, who tries to run somebody over one day and then pampers them the next?”
Their gazes locked, both staring in silence at the other. “You are an interesting character, Abbey. I can’t make you out—yet. But I will.”
For the first time Abbey saw a ‘real’ smile come across Bruce’s face. He was handsome to begin with, but smiling—he was devastating, not just his high cheekbones and strong jawline coupled with the warmth in his eyes and a smile that revealed pearly white teeth, took her breath away. When she realized she was staring, she hurried across the room and busied herself by starting a pot of coffee.
The department heads and office managers began to fill the room. It irked Abbey when Stacey walked into the room. She should have been promoted instead of Stacey, not let go after all her faithful years of service to the company. All right, she reminded herself, you quit, but you had a good reason.
Absentmindedly, Abbey prepared a cup of coffee for each member. "How would you like your coffee, Bruce?"
"Black."
Abbey filled a cup for him and set it on the table, then stood to his left in case he needed anything else.
“I’d like a bottled water,” Stacey said in a sweet voice, directing her comment towards Abbey.
“Have a seat please.” Bruce motioned to the chair next to him.
Abbey was the only one standing, so obviously Bruce meant for her to sit down. She obediently sat, ignoring Stacey’s request with great pleasure.
“Excuse me, you forgot my drink.” Stacey reminded her in a demanding tone.
“I believe you’ve worked here long enough to know where the water is kept.” Abbey forced her sweetest smile. If she had to get Stacey a water, she'd have to resist the urge to pour it on her.
“Can we begin?” Bruce looked from Abbey to Stacey. “I don’t believe I caught your name?”
"Stacey De Gruttola."
Abbey fumed, knowing her ex-coworker liked to use a sultry voice to charm men. It worked with Gary and now she was trying to do the same with Bruce.
“And what department do you head?” Bruce asked Stacey.
“I don’t.” Stacey blinked. “I work in Gary’s, I mean Mr. Hartman’s office.”
“Then I’m sure you’re capable of getting your own drink.” Bruce thumbed through the contents of a folder. “Is there any particular reason you’re in on this meeting?”
Stacey stammered, at a loss for words.
Gary came to her rescue. “She’s up for a promotion since my previous office assistant was fired.” Gary shot an angry glance towards Abbey.
“Fired? Hmm… that’s interesting,” Bruce said, looking at the file in his hand. “I find it kind of odd that someone who was up for a promotion would suddenly be fired.” Bruce paused, Abbey assumed he was contemplating his new revelation. She was certain he knew she was that assistant.
Chapter Five
One thing working nights afforded her was time to think. Abbey was glad Bruce hadn’t pressed her about her past position at Abbot & Ellingsworth. Bruce hadn’t seemed inclined to promote Stacey immediately either which pleased Abbey. In her heart, she knew Stacey wasn’t ready for that promotion. Bruce had told Gary that after a further review, he would determine where to go from there. All week long Bruce reviewed files, asked to see reports and picked each department apart with a fine tooth comb. Abbey could only assume that Bruce was thorough and wanted to totally familiarize himself with the company he was taking over.
By Friday, Abbey could hardly think straight. She felt as if she met herself coming and going. They’d scheduled her to work three nights a week at the grocery store but since she was training, her boss had her work an extra day this week. Catnaps in the evenings were not enough to sustain a normal human being, although Abbey felt anything but normal after working two jobs all week.
When she donned her smock and clocked in for a night of excitement, filled with the sound of rustling cans as the stock person filled the shelves, she readied her drawer for the few customers she would wait on during the wee hours of the morning. Abbey yawned as she thought of the night that lay ahead.
Her chauffeuring Bruce ended around seven in the evening and it still took Abbey time to get home, talk with Monica and Eric for a few minutes before showering and collapsing into bed, only to rise a few hours later to go to work at the grocery store. By the time she made it home in the mornings, she had to get dressed, scramble to eat breakfast and pick Bruce up for work.
Abbey yawned as a male customer with droopy eyes,
noticeable razor stubble, and loaded with an armful of baby formula approached. He laid the cans down on the conveyer belt and reached for his wallet, extending it to her. “Here, you might as well take it all.”
“Excuse me?”
“Just kidding.” He withdrew his wallet and extracted two twenties to pay for his purchase as Abbey completed the sale. “We’ve got triplets. They’re eating us out of house and home and they can’t even eat solid food yet.”
Abbey laughed.
“We’re thinking it would be easier to hook up feeding tubes. At least we would finally get some sleep." He yawned. "Sorry. It's already starting out to be a rough night and right now it feels like they’re eating nonstop. You finish feeding one and then it’s on to the next and the next. Then the vicious cycle starts all over again.”
“I’m sure it will get better.” Abbey handed him his change, letting her own words sink in. That stood true for her, too. Things would get better. It was just a matter of time. Thankfully she had this job until a better one came along.
“Have a good night.” He waved as he left.
“You, too.” Abbey waved in return.
It was almost time for her to get off work when Doris came through her checkout line. “Good morning. What are you doing here, dear?”
Abbey smiled. As tired as she felt, she nearly retorted, “Working,” but caught herself before commenting abruptly. “I just started work here this week. I’m hoping to find another job when I have the chance.”
“I thought you were working for Bruce?” Doris frowned.
“Well… sort of. It’s not exactly work. I’m kind of helping him get around until he can drive again.” Abbey shrugged her shoulders. “After all, it’s my fault he’s in this mess.”
“It was an accident, dear. You can’t blame yourself.” Doris reached over and gave Abbey's hand a brief, endearing squeeze.
“But I caused the accident. Even if I didn’t mean to, it happened.” Abbey forced a weary smile. “How often does someone get a chance to make up for something they did wrong?”
“Well… it’s not like you intentionally did it, Abbey.” Doris stood clutching her purse, her expression solemn.
“No, I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did and now it’s my place to make it right.” Impulsively, Abbey reached over the check out and hugged Doris. “Thank you for caring. I care, too. Bruce didn’t ask to be involved either and through my… well, through everything that happened he became entangled in this mess. The least I can do is try and help him until he’s better.”
“You’re a very sweet, young lady.” Warmth filled Doris’ eyes.
Abbey appreciated her concern. When she finished ringing up Doris’ purchase and taking her money, Abbey waved goodbye then began closing out her drawer. All she wanted was to fall into oblivion. No more work until Monday, only the prospect of going to church on Sunday. The way she felt, she could sleep all weekend—probably longer, but since she was supposed to sing a solo during service, it wouldn’t be wise to miss church.
* * *
The sun’s rays penetrated through pale flowered curtains, its brightness intensified the fabric’s yellow hues. Abbey shielded her eyes with her forearm. It was useless to try hiding from the sunlight. She groaned and rolled over to bury her head in her pillow. “I hate mornings.”
But it didn’t matter. Once she woke up, trying to lose herself to sleep again was pointless. She was awake and it didn’t matter how tired she still felt or that she could sleep late because it was Saturday. The sun reminded her that she was missing the world outside and she had things to do. Abbey forced herself out of bed and walked in a zombie like state to the bathroom to shower. The water’s cool spray against her body helped to bring sensation back to her tired limbs. A knock sounded on the bathroom door and Abbey moaned in response.
“Abbey, is that you?” Monica asked.
“No. Go away, it’s my clone.” Abbey didn’t even try to stifle her yawn.
Monica laughed. “Does that mean you want me to make both of you something to eat?”
Abbey moaned again. She was hungry but her body objected more that it was awakened of rest. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest.
“I’ll have it setting on the table when you come out.”
Instinctively, Abbey nodded to Monica’s response, not that her friend could see through the closed door. Words took too much effort. After her shower, Abbey wrapped an oversized towel around her body and made her way back to her room to dress before staggering into the kitchen. She plopped down in a chair at the end of the table where a plate of scrambled eggs and toast waited for her. Propping her arms on either side of the plate, Abbey tried to focus her eyes on the little specks of pepper sprinkled across her eggs.
“Are you going to eat it or stare at it?” Monica stood in the kitchen doorway with her hands on her hips, frowning. “Maybe you should go back to bed.”
Abbey sighed. “I can’t. It’s too bright out.”
“Try hanging a blanket over your curtain rod. That’ll make it darker in there. I used to do that when I worked nights.”
Abbey nodded. “I remember. What time is it anyway?”
“It’s almost two. Why? Did you have something planned?” Monica asked.
“No, not really.” Abbey picked up her fork and sampled a bite of her food. “Thanks for breakfast.”
Monica snickered. “It’s after lunch.”
Abbey sighed. Where had the week gone? “I need to do some laundry. Do you want me to wash anything for you while I’m down in the wash room?”
“Ha, you’ve got to be kidding. I think everyone and their mother is doing laundry today." Monica sighed. "I ran downstairs earlier and every washer was full and there were baskets of dirty laundry still lying around on the floor. There’s no way either of us are going to get any laundry done around here today.” Monica grabbed them both a cup of coffee and set one down beside Abbey before taking a seat at the kitchen table. “Eric is playing at a friends house. He’ll be home after dinner. I think he saw me making stew and called Jeremy to see if he could eat over there instead.”
“Great.” Abbey sighed.
“Don’t worry about it. I have dinner in the crock pot and thought I’d run to the Laundromat and do a few loads. I’ll take yours with me. Why don’t you try and get some rest? Oh, by the way, in case you’re having a craving for chocolate… he called. Didn’t sound like he was in too good of a mood though.” Monica waved her hand nonchalantly, got up and put her coffee mug in the sink.
“Chocolate? I don't understand. Someone called? What does that have to do with chocolate?” Abbey shook her head. All right, she might be tired but Monica wasn’t making any sense.
Monica laughed. “Bruce, I believe his name was. Well, he said it was something else like Mr. Harring…”
“Harrington,” Abbey finished for her. Her cheeks warmed. She shouldn't have told Monica about his delicious brown eyes, because now she'd never hear the end of it. “Did he say what he wanted?”
“No. I told him you were sleeping. He said to have you call when it was convenient.”
What could he want? Abbey’s mind raced over anything she did Friday that may have upset him. She couldn’t think of anything she might have forgotten to take care of for Bruce. Maybe he needed a ride somewhere. After all, Doris was off. That had to be it.
After clearing her breakfast dishes from the table, Abbey retrieved the cordless phone from the living room and went to her room to call Bruce. By the sixth ring she contemplated hanging up until she thought about how long it might take him to reach the phone with a broken leg.
“Hello,” resounded in her ear before, “Umph.”
“Bruce. Are you okay?” Abbey’s heart pounded in her chest. Oh no, what if he had fallen? Before she could calculate the length of time it would take her to reach his house, he was back on the phone.
“I’m fine.” Bruce’s sounded winded. “Just a little out of breath and I dr
opped the phone on the couch when I was trying to sit down.”
“You need to be careful. We can’t have you getting hurt again,” Abbey gently warned.
Bruce laughed. “Why? Are you afraid that it would look like you were out to get me if I happened to get hurt and you were somehow involved again?”
“Ah… I didn’t…”
Bruce chuckled again. “I’m teasing, Abbey. In fact, I’ve been quite impressed with your driving this week. You haven’t come close to hitting anyone else. I may have to hire you as a permanent chauffeur.”
Abbey crossed her arms and scooted up next to her headboard. While it sounded good to hear Bruce laugh, she wasn’t sure if he was laughing at her or with her. She wasn’t about to ask him if he was interested in her as a chauffeur because he felt she was a competent driver or because it would be safer sitting next to her than being a target she might aim for.
“Did you call to see about a ride?” Abbey said in a curt tone, immediately feeling remorse for her harsh reply. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been up long and I’m a bit cranky.”
“Are you always cranky in… the afternoon? It must have been a late date last night.”
“Ha… um, no. I haven’t been on a date in awhile,” Abbey stammered.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have intruded. Your private life is your business. I called earlier to tell you that I had your check in case you wanted to come by and pick it up.”
“My check? What check?” What in the world was Bruce talking about? He wasn’t making sense.
“Your paycheck, Abbey. Would you like to come by and get it or should I hold it until Monday?”
That’s right, she hadn’t gotten her last paycheck from Abbott & Ellingsworth. Abbey hadn’t thought about picking it up when she went to work with Bruce yesterday. The thought of seeing Gary turned her sour. Running into him at work so far hadn’t been too uncomfortable because Bruce was there and Abbey knew Gary felt intimidated by his new boss, especially after the meeting. “I’ll swing by and pick it up if you don’t mind.”
Accidental Meeting Page 4
