by Regina Duke
Jeffrey parked the limo, came to the door to let her out, then followed her into the mall.
“You can wait here, if you prefer,” said Megan.
“Mr. Wake said I should see to your every need, ma’am. That would include carrying your bags and being ready with the credit card.”
“Wow. Okay. I am definitely feeling pampered. I’ve never been in this mall before, but I’ll try not to take too long.” The truth was, she was feeling the fatigue of being out and about. She was missing the rest and relaxation of her hospital bed. She caught a glimpse of herself in the shop windows as she passed, and gasped in surprise.
“Is everything all right, ma’am?”
“Oh, fine. Sorry. I really do need to buy clothes, don’t I?”
Jeffrey did not respond, but she could swear she saw the hint of a smile.
The frock they’d brought her from the donations closet fit her okay, but it was so different from anything she would have picked out for herself, she didn’t even recognize the woman in the reflection. She was pale, and thinner than she had been six months before. She drew herself up and ignored the fatigue that hounded her. She needed clothes and fast!
Megan had no idea how much she would need, but if Kevin was willing to send her shopping with a thousand in cash and a chauffeur with a credit card, chances were good she would have an opportunity to add to her wardrobe later. So she concentrated on the basics. She allowed herself the luxury of purchasing top of the line items, instead of the WalMart bargains she’d been used to in college and afterward. She picked out all the necessities, and made sure she got two pairs of jeans. Then she indulged herself by draping blouses, tops, and summer suits over her arm to carry into the fitting room.
It took less than two hours to pick out more clothes than she’d ever bought in her life, and she still hadn’t selected any outdoor wear, save the jeans. Kevin said they were going to a ranch. Well, she would just have to make do.
But one thing she knew for certain. She was not wearing the flowered frock out of the mall. She waved a saleslady into the dressing room.
“I just got out of the hospital,” she said quietly. “I need to change and wear some of these clothes. Is that possible?”
The saleslady’s eyes grew wide when she saw the collection of items in the changing room. “Oh, that will be fine. Pick out what you plan to change into and I’ll keep the tags for you at the register. You can hand them to me over the door.”
When Megan emerged from the dressing room, she was elegant in a form-fitting creamy linen jacket and slacks.
Jeffrey took the rest of her selections gently out of the saleslady’s arms and followed her to the register.
“I’ll pay for these, ma’am,” he said, pulling out the credit card.
Megan looked down at her outfit approvingly, and felt one hundred percent better. Then she muttered, “Darn! I need shoes.”
“No problem,” said Jeffrey. “There are several shoe stores in this mall.”
Laden with Megan’s bags, Jeffrey followed her uncomplainingly through three shoe stores. When Megan hesitated over the purchase of hiking boots, Jeffrey quietly informed the salesperson, “Madame will also take the hiking boots.”
Megan left with running shoes, hiking boots, a pair of chunky heels, white sandals, and tan and cream flats with a strap over the instep. She discarded the white canvas shoes from the charity closet and wore the flats out of the store, a perfect match for her linen suit.
“Jeffrey, I vote we head for the hotel,” said Megan, refusing to let him carry all the shoe bags along with the clothes. “I’m tired and hungry.”
By the time they returned to the limo, Megan practically collapsed onto the back seat. Jeffrey stored everything in the trunk, then got behind the wheel.
“Would you care for a snack on the way back to the hotel, ma’am? Or you can order from room service after you arrive.”
“I’m almost too tired to eat,” said Megan. “Let’s go to the hotel.” She let her head fall back on the car seat. She’d never been in such a comfortable vehicle before. She found herself fantasizing about turning it into a mobile apartment. It had a fridge. The seats were comfortable enough to sleep on. And Jeffrey could just spend his life driving her around.
She didn’t realize she’d fallen asleep until Jeffrey touched her arm, gently calling her name.
“Ms. Mully? Ms. Mully, we’re here. Let me escort you to the express elevator. Your suite is on the thirty-fifth floor. Mr. Wake is already there. I’ll bring your bags up shortly.”
Megan straightened up and gave him an apologetic look.
“Sorry. Guess I was more tired than I thought. What time is it?”
“Eight thirty, ma’am.”
“Not too late for room service?”
Jeffrey looked amused. “It’s never too late for room service when you travel with Mr. Wake.”
“Oh.” Megan felt like a fish out of water, but she was certain she could get used to this kind of life, given enough time. Say, another half an hour. “Great.”
Jeffrey called the elevator for her and waited for the doors to close.
Too late, Megan realized she didn’t have a room key. Oh, well, she’d just wait for him to come up with her things.
The elevator doors slid open silently and Megan stepped out into a private lobby. The double doors in front of her were slightly ajar. When she went through the doors, she was in a sitting room that extended fifty feet across. One wall was all glass and looked out over the city. The view of a million windows glimmering with the reflection of the setting sun was breathtaking.
Kevin straightened up from behind the bar, where he’d put ice in two glasses. When he saw Megan, his approval showed on his features.
“I like this outfit a lot better than the old one,” he said. “Cold drink?”
“Iced tea?” asked Megan.
Kevin nodded. “We’ve got it all. I take it the shopping went well.”
“Yes, thank you. Jeffrey will be up in a moment.”
Kevin chuckled. “You’re adjusting nicely. That sounded like something my mother would say.”
Megan made a face. “I hope that’s not a bad thing.”
Kevin delivered her iced tea. “Shall I make you a list of phrases not to use?”
Megan sipped tea, and her eyes closed with delight. “Maybe that would be a good idea. Forgive me, but I need to sit down.” Her free hand moved automatically to her right thigh. She moved to a bank of sofas and sank onto one, dropping her purse at her feet. For a moment she stared at it as if it were a bug that had crawled out from under the sofa.
“What is it?” asked Kevin.
Megan sighed. “I shopped for four hours and never even thought about getting a nice handbag.”
Kevin shrugged. “There’ll be plenty of time for that. Did you want to see my notes on the prenup?”
“Oh, please, not now,” said Megan. “Jeffrey said I could order something to eat from room service. I need to eat and lie down. Today’s schedule was a huge increase over my activity level in the hospital.”
“Okay,” said Kevin. “It’s been a long day for me, too.”
“If I’m still awake after I eat, I’ll look at the notes.”
“What would you like?”
“Is there a menu?”
“Somewhere, yes. But you don’t need one. Just tell me what you want and I’ll have it sent up.”
“Wow. Nice.” Megan stifled a yawn. On a whim, she said, “How about a bleu cheese burger and a salad? And if you don’t mind, may I lie down for a few minutes while we wait for the food?”
“No problem. Your door is down that corridor. In case you still think I might be a serial killer, feel free to lodge a chair under the door knob so I can’t get in.” He kept a straight face while he said it.
“Thank you,” said Megan. She got up and headed down the short hallway to the crimson and gilt double doors. “At least I’ll die in splendor.” Then she opened the doubl
e doors and quietly closed them behind her.
CHAPTER SIX
Kevin ordered dinner. He was pleased that Megan hadn’t taken his thousand dollars and bailed on Jeffrey. That was a good sign. But then again, if she was really planning to blackmail him, a measly thousand was just the tip of the iceberg.
On the other hand, she had looked adorable in her new linen suit. Her long blond hair was just the color he enjoyed. It would look perfect if she had a tan. But then she said she’d been in the hospital. Those pages of medical bills bore that out. So she wasn’t a liar.
He stood for a long while, looking out over the city skyline. Night was falling slowly, as it did in the summertime. The sun was no longer visible but it still had the power to paint strokes of pink and orange on the underbellies of puffy clouds. But indigo was creeping in from the east, and it wouldn’t be long before the city was a sparkling array of lights. Like a giant Christmas tree slumbering on its side, he thought.
“Very poetic,” he said aloud. “Save your creativity for after your birthday.”
He turned away from the long bank of windows and poured himself an iced tea from the tall pitcher on the bar. He pressed a toggle on the wall and soft music wafted from invisible speakers.
Jeffrey’s voice startled him. “Pretty impressive setup.” He dropped the shopping bags he had carried in on the carpet. They landed soundlessly.
“Oh, hey. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Blame the carpeting. This place is amazing! When you offered me this gig, I had no idea what kind of operating budget you were talking about.”
Kevin made a face. “My mother sends me money every month. She can’t stand the idea of me actually having to survive on the wages I earn. I’ve been putting it in the bank. Trust me, I couldn’t afford to live like this all year. Want some iced tea?”
Jeffrey went around to the service side of the bar. “Let me pour. You don’t want your fiancée to see you treating me as an equal. When are you going to tell her the truth?”
Kevin stretched his neck from side to side, getting the kinks out. “I was going to do it tonight, but I don’t know. A couple of things she said during our interview made me leery.” He lowered his voice. “I can’t shake the feeling that she already knows everything and she’s planning to blackmail me.”
Jeffrey’s head bulleted back. “Are we talking about the same woman? The Megan I took shopping was very sweet and considerate and she was practically counting prices on her fingers, trying not to spend too much.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I think you’re being paranoid. But then again, maybe that comes with the territory. After all, you are trying to pull a fast one on your old man, and you are not the most devious person in the world.”
“No, but he is. And that’s what scares me. What if he already sniffed this whole thing out and planted her here? I wouldn’t put it past him. What if she’s one of his marionettes?”
“I picked her up in front of a hospital,” said Jeffrey. “But I guess anyone could stand in front of a building and look lost and pitiful.”
Kevin frowned. “Stop guilt-tripping me. I plan to keep my word, as long as she sees this thing through.” He ran a hand over his mouth. “And those medical bills looked real enough. Of course, my old man wouldn’t have any problem forging something like that.”
Jeffrey took his chauffeur’s cap off and set it on the bar. He used silver tongs to drop four cubes of sugar into his tea.
“There goes your paranoia again,” he said. “I think even your father would have trouble seeing through the ‘personal secretary’ ruse. Your name wasn’t on the ad, remember? You placed an ad and rented an office, and you called me and made me a part of this whole charade, for which I thank you very much, by the way. This pays way better than an entry level position with an engineering firm.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jeffrey grinned. “I’m just saying, there was nothing for your father to pick up on, so Megan couldn’t possibly be working for him.”
“No, I guess not. But she could still be planning to blackmail me.”
“You are an idiot,” said Jeffrey lightly. He glanced around. “She in her room?”
Kevin nodded.
“Did my cousin take care of your prenuptial agreement?”
“Yes, thanks. He did a great job. Thank God for friends. I didn’t know who to trust with the details. He’s quite a bit older than you, isn’t he?”
“Just ten years, but he looks older. That’s why I went into engineering. Law is too stressful. He usually works with international importers and exporters, but he does other stuff, too. When his wife divorced him three years ago, he learned a whole lot about marital law in self-defense. Don’t worry, he knows what he’s doing. Is that the document?”
Kevin nodded and tapped a fingertip on three pages of small print laid out on the bar. “This is it. I hope she doesn’t bail when she reads this.”
“You put in the part about you being able to end the marriage at the appropriate time?”
“Yeah, but your cousin said she needs to be able to do the same or it’ll look rigged and fake for sure. If my father ever sees these documents, it has to look like a real prenup or I’m screwed.”
“This is so cool,” said Jeffrey. “Tell me again how much money you inherit on your birthday.”
Kevin punched Jeffrey playfully in the shoulder. “Way more than your puny brain could handle. Now shut up and answer the door. I ordered room service.”
Jeffrey grinned on his way across the room. “Hey, man, for that kind of money, I’d wear a wig and falsies and marry you myself if I thought we could fool your father.”
“Very funny,” said Kevin. He strode across the room, glancing toward the doors of Megan’s suite. He put a hand on Jeffrey’s arm and said quietly, “If you value your paycheck, don’t joke around like that again. She might have heard you.”
Jeffrey grew serious. “Sorry, Kev. I’ll stay in character.”
Kevin nodded, then realized he was still holding onto Jeff’s arm. He let go. “Thanks.”
Jeffrey threw his shoulders back and held his nose an inch higher than usual as he opened the door.
“Room service?”
“Thank you,” said Jeffrey, in character. “Right over there, please.” He pulled five dollars out of his pocket and slipped it to the waiter.
“Thank you, sir.” The waiter left happy.
Jeffrey allowed himself a tiny smile. “I really like doing that,” he said. “Tipping and stuff. Especially with your money.”
“Great. Don’t get used to it yet. I’ve still got to get married.”
“I’d better take her purchases down the hall. Shall I tell her that dinner has arrived?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Jeffrey winked and whispered, “Very imperious. Good job. We both need to stay in character. Me as the underling and you as the mega rich overlord.”
Kevin was taken aback. Had he fallen into his role that easily? After five years of earning a living like normal people? The thought horrified him. Once he secured his siblings’ futures, maybe he could give his share to charity. But what if that wasn’t enough? What if he was really his father’s son after all?
That thought chilled him to the bone.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Megan couldn’t put it off any longer. She had to let her parents know that she was out of the hospital and doing well. If she didn’t call, her mother would be heartbroken when she learned that Megan had gone on with her life without giving her an update. And her mother always found out.
Her dad? Well, he wouldn’t care one way or another, and that was fine with Megan. They had said their goodbyes the day she decided to go to college instead of following her parents to Guatemala.
“Missionary work is important,” he said. “More important than running around with your high school friends for another four years. It’s time you settled down into some good works.” His voice had shaken t
he walls of the flimsy rental they were living in.
Megan had found herself backed against a wall, her father’s words banging against her eardrums and her sensibilities. But if she surrendered about college, she knew she would never see her friends again, and she would lose all hope of living her own life.
“Yell all you want, dad. I’m not going to Guatemala. I’m going to college. I have an acceptance letter!”
“Well, I’m not paying for it! I’m not going to pay someone to turn my daughter away from the path of the Holy toward the worldly! And I’m not yelling, I’m voicing my opinion!”
Vernon Mully’s features always looked angry, even when he professed to be happy about something. Megan had a theory. She thought all those years of preaching the wrath of God had soured his visage to the point that he could no longer smile or look happy.
Glenda Mully stepped in quietly, as she always did. “Vernon, a stranger would think you’re threatening our daughter if he saw you looking so intent. Why don’t you back away. Megan, you come stand over here. There are lots of people of faith out in the world. There’s even a campus ministry. I’ve been reading Megan’s brochures. And she is going to college.”
“There’s no money for college,” bellowed Vernon.
“Megan knows that. She plans to work her way through, don’t you, dear.”
“Yes,” said Megan. “I’ve always known I’d have to pay for it myself.”
“Well, go, then,” said Vernon, his volume inching down a bit. “If college is what you want, just go. We’ll build the mission ourselves! I have to work on my sermon.” And with that, slightly deflated, he left them alone.
“Your father—”
“I know, I know,” said Megan. “He means well. He always means well. He just thinks God can’t love anybody who doesn’t bluster and yell all the time.”
