Running from Fate

by Connelly, Rose

  The woman looked up as she approached. “Good morning,” she said in a well-modulated voice. “How can I be of assistance?”

  Mira tilted her chin and looked the tall woman in the eyes. “My name is Mira Anders,” she stated authoritatively. “I have an appointment with Mr. Kelly.”

  As if used to a challenging or aggressive attitude from other women, the receptionist smiled kindly and flipped through a bulky appointment book. “Have a seat,” she said. “I’ll just call someone to take you back.”

  “Thank you.” Mira walked over to a rich, brown armchair and sat down, placing her leather portfolio on her lap and crossing her ankles.

  After several minutes a slightly older woman appeared from a long hallway at the back of the lobby. Her fading black hair flowed freely down her back, almost touching her hips. She wore a bright red skirt that flowed around her ankles and a rich blue shirt that looked like something belonging to a fortune teller. Something told Mira that they would get along famously.

  She laid her bulky folder on the chair and stood up as the woman walked toward her. “I’m Mira Anders,” she said, holding out her hand.

  “Mary Beecham.” The older woman grasped her extended hand and shook it heartily. “I’m glad you made it. Mr. Kelly is still on the phone,” she confided. “It’s a conference call so if we hurry, you should still make it in time. If you’ll come with me dear.” She turned and headed back the way she had come. Mira picked up her portfolio and followed.

  They walked down the hallway and entered an open door at the far end. The call must still be going on, she thought, as what was obviously the door to the inner office was still firmly shut. She clutched her folder and looked around for a place to sit.

  Mary walked to a small table that held a percolator, mugs, and a selection of pastries. “Would you like a cup of coffee?” she asked

  “That’s probably not a good idea,” Mira confided jokingly. “I’m already so nervous that I’m afraid I’ll drop anything you give me.”

  “Why don’t you have a seat then?” She gestured to a nearby chair. Before Mira could take a step, however, the inner door opened.

  Her heart felt like it had fallen to the floor. With a low thump her portfolio dropped, released by her numb fingers. Intellectually, she knew that the person standing in the doorway was James Kelly, but it was hard to reconcile her childhood images with this beautiful man. Despite the impropriety she couldn’t help running her eyes slowly over him, from the midnight black hair that fell to his shoulders in a gentle wave to the lean, but muscular body that was encased in a beautifully fitted navy suit.

  She felt a vibrating tingle in her own body and realized that he was examining her just as intently. With her breath held she raised her head. His deep blue eyes locked onto her green ones and time suspended for a seemingly endless moment. Mary cleared her throat and the spell was broken.

  “I’ll be with you in a moment,” James muttered suddenly. “Must have forgotten something.” Turning, he re-entered the office and shut the door behind him.

  Mira gasped and realized that she had forgotten to breath. Released from her paralysis, she bent down and placed her hands on her knees, gulping in air. She hadn’t expected this. The connection that she had first felt as a young child was still there, but it was stronger than ever and strengthened by a healthy dose of lust. It had been incredibly difficult to stop herself from touching him. Suddenly she realized that she was no longer holding her portfolio. It was lying open on the floor with papers spread around it. Chagrined, she knelt down and started gathering them.

  “Are you ok?” Mary asked with amusement evident in her voice.

  “Fine,” Mira mumbled.

  Mary knelt down to help her. “Don’t worry about it, dear, all women act like that when they first meet him.” She picked up a drawing and studied it. “This is really good work,” she said. “I can see why James decided to interview you. Try to keep your cool,” she advised, “and don’t let him intimidate you. You’ll do just fine.”

  **********************************************************

  In the inner office James pressed his forehead against the door and forced himself to breath. He felt like he had just been hit by a truck. What the hell happened in there, he asked himself. He had finished the conference call, walked into Mary’s office, seen her standing there, and …what? For a moment he had felt like this was what his life had been building up to, this moment, this one woman, but that was crazy. True, she had been pretty with her silky brown hair and emerald eyes and her legs had sure looked good in that short skirt, but he had seen and dated more beautiful women.

  Kimberly, the woman he was currently seeing, was gorgeous. Men regularly stopped and stared when she walked by. She was more his type since his preferences usually ran to tall, willowy blonds with pampered skin and impeccable taste. Best of all, she wasn’t interested in messy emotions and she didn’t expect any from him. He liked his relationships like that, mutually satisfying, but nothing else.

  He took a deep breath and tried to think of a rational explanation. His reaction to the woman, he finally decided, was just an aberration probably caused by too much work and not enough sleep. Mira Anders was a talented designer who would make a great addition to the company, nothing more. Composure restored, he stepped back and opened the door.

  “I’m sorry I kept you waiting Ms. Anders,” he said as he walked toward the conversation area where Mary and Mira were seated. As he approached, both women stood up.

  “Is everything ok Mr. Kelly?” Mary asked.

  James pulled his eyes from Mira and realized that, once again, he had lost focus. He flushed slightly and turned toward his secretary. “Everything is fine, Mary, just a small matter that needed taken care of.”

  With James’ attention focused on someone else, Mira allowed herself a shaky breath and forcibly pulled herself together. The first shock of seeing him after so many years seemed to have passed. She still felt a pull, but it was fainter now. She could handle it. She would handle it, she told herself. She needed this job badly and losing the ability to speak when the boss came around wasn’t going to help her.

  “Mr. Kelly,” she said with only a slight quiver in her voice. “I’m Mira Anders. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.” When he turned toward her, she held out a hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you Ms. Anders.” He reached out and gingerly took her proffered hand. Considering his earlier reaction he expected something. He wasn’t disappointed. Their palms touched and a flood of pleasure shot up his arm, tightening his muscles. He brought his considerable control into play and schooled his features to show nothing.

  As quickly as possible he pulled his hand away. If she thought he was rude so be it. It might even be for the best.

  Mira stumbled when he pulled away, but managed to stay upright. Her palm still tingled from the brief contact and she scrubbed it against her skirt. Her reaction to the simple touch had been extreme, leaving her in the grip of an arousal so intense that, if it hadn’t been for Mary, she might have jumped him.

  She was starting to get annoyed by her unruly body, but she wasn’t really surprised. James had always engendered a strong reaction in her. She was irrationally irritated that he didn’t seem to be affected by her at all. Oh well, she thought philosophically, nothing had changed. She would just stay out of his way and hope the feelings passed.

  “Ms. Anders, if you’ll follow me to the conference room please,” James interrupted her musings. “I believe we have a lot to discuss. Mary could you please bring us some coffee?”

  “Yes sir,” Mary replied. “I’ll be right in.”

  It seemed strange to have their meeting in the conference room when his office was much closer, but she was grateful. The more breathing room the better. She picked up her portfolio and followed him.

  The room that he led her to was bright and airy with a wall of windows that flooded the area with light. There was a large flat screen television o
n the back wall. Presumably, it could either be used as a TV or a monitor. A large table dominated the rest of the space. It was to the table that James directed her.

  He pulled out a chair for her and walked around to sit opposite.

  For several moments a heavy silence hung over the room, both of them seemingly waiting for an acknowledgement from the other. It didn’t feel like the start of an interview, Mira thought, but like the awkward beginnings of a first date. The situation was making her uncomfortable. She shifted in her seat and opened her portfolio. If James wasn’t willing to start things off she would just have to do it. “Mr. Kelly,” she began.

  The door opened and Mary came in carrying a tray. She sat it on the table and turned to James. “Is there anything else I can get you?” she asked him.

  “No Mary that will be all, thank you. Please close the door on your way out.”

  After politely asking her if she would like a cup of coffee, which she declined, James leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. He stared at the woman sitting across from him and tried to figure out what it was about her that fascinated him. Even with the extra space in the conference room he could still feel the tension vibrating in the air. Would it really be such a good idea to hire someone who played such havoc with his hard-won composure?

  With his eyes boring into her, Mira resisted the urge to squirm in her seat and, instead, shuffled her papers. One particular drawing caught her eye. It was the original sketch she had done for the solar powered office building in California. The drawing reminded her of who she was and her reasons for being here. She was an experienced professional and she desperately needed this job. She couldn’t let any lingering feelings for James ruin her chances.

  Pulling her professional demeanor into place, Mira straightened her shoulders and looked at James. “I appreciate this chance,” she said. “I’m not sure how much of my work you’ve seen so I brought some samples.”

  “I’m quite familiar with your reputation Ms. Anders. You wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t think you were qualified for the job. Your quality of work is excellent.”

  “Thank you,” she stammered, a little dumbfounded by his praise. “I wasn’t even sure that I would get an interview after all that’s happened in the past few months.”

  “You certainly did receive a lot of media coverage when you left your previous job.”

  He paused and stared at her as if expecting some sort of elaboration. Mira clamed up. She really didn’t feel like saying anything more about it. The media coverage had dominated her life for months. The rumor mill had run rampant. Some sources had even claimed she had sold out the company because she had caught the CEO, Mitchell Haines, cheating on her. The fact that they hadn’t even been involved was never mentioned. She’d be damned if she would appease his curiosity.

  She crossed her arms and waited for him to continue. Instead of speaking he continued to sit and stare at her as if somehow he could force her to talk by the force of his will alone. She was having none of it. They would sit here all day if that’s what it took. James may think that he was good at intimidation, but he hadn’t spent years at a school like St. Catherine’s. The mother superior could have taught intimidation tactics to the mafia.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t like some coffee?” James finally asked, breaking the silence.

  He was vaguely amused and somewhat impressed that Mira had managed to outwait him. It was something that very few people had ever been able to do. In fact only two people came to mind, his father and Sean Sweeney, his old mentor. Of course, his growing fascination with Mira Anders could have something to do with his lack of concentration. The tension in the room had grown so thick that it was almost tangible. The faster this interview was over, the better for his piece of mind.

  “No thank you, Mr. Kelly,” Mira said, interrupting his mental ramblings. “I’m not quite used to the heat yet. I think that I’ll stick to colder drinks until I become accustomed.”

  “You’re from California aren’t you?”

  “Most recently, yes. I went to UCLA’s school of Arts and Architecture for my master’s degree and then I worked in San Francisco for several years after that.” She settled back a little more comfortably and crossed her legs.

  “It’s slightly unusual that you opted to get a master’s degree in design, most people don’t take it that far.” James mentally cursed. He had meant to speed things along, not prolong the conversation, but it was difficult when he found himself unaccountably interested in her thought processes.

  “I realize that, but I wanted to be the best in my field.”

  “From what I’ve been able to discover you were very close to attaining that goal when you left your former position.”

  “As I’m sure you are aware,” Mira qualified. “I didn’t leave my job. I was fired after I refused to bury a document that deeded a valuable piece of land to the Nature Conservancy.”

  “I realize that,” he soothed. “In fact it’s one of the reasons I agreed to talk to you. It’s not often that one finds a truly ethical person in this business, especially one who has your skill at creating beautiful designs that manage to integrate architecture into the natural world.”

  After his standoffish attitude, Mira was astounded by his abrupt change. She opened her mouth to form a reply, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. She opted for silence.

  “Contrary to popular opinion, Ms. Anders, I am not an ogre, I merely have high standards. If you didn’t meet those standards we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” He made a snap decision, praying he wouldn’t regret it. “Because of that I have decided to offer you a position. I realize that you will need time to move so I suggest that you spend the rest of the week finding a place to stay and getting settled. I expect you to report to Barry Sims next Monday morning. If you need anything before then call Mary.”

  “Thank you Mr. Kelly. I’ll look forward to it.” When he didn’t say anything more, Mira assumed the meeting was over. She stood, gathered her papers, and quietly left the room.

  When she was gone, James leaned back in his seat and shut his eyes. The tension drained out of him. He would have to be very careful around his newest employee if she caused him this much turmoil. Perhaps it would be better if he stayed away from her entirely.

  “Mr. Kelly, there’s a phone call for you,” Mary said from the doorway.

  He opened his eyes and stood up. “I’ll be right there,” he told her. It was time to get back to business.

  Chapter 7

  “What was wrong with that one?” Mira asked in frustration.

  “It was fine,” Lily said, “but didn’t you think it was a little small and cramped? The neighbors were so close that I could practically taste the spaghetti sauce they were burning.”

  “I didn’t think it was all that bad. Besides, I can’t afford to be extravagant anymore. The suit against me was settled, but it wasn’t cheap. Besides, small is better anyway. Since I sold my furniture I’ll have trouble filling up a large apartment.” She stepped out of a covered passageway and immediately pulled on her sunglasses. The clear blue sky was beautiful, but it left no clouds to dim the sun’s harsh glare.

  Lily followed her and pulled on her own sunglasses. “I still don’t understand why you had to sell all that beautiful furniture when you could have stored it at my house.” She pouted prettily. “I have plenty of room to spare.”

  Mira paused and grinned at her friend. “That’s an understatement,” she retorted. “Your new place is not a house. It’s a mausoleum. There’s enough space in there to store the Titanic.”

  Lily sniffed. “My work is an art form. I need the space to work. If you ever came to visit, you would see why I bought the house. The light in the studio is simply marvelous.” She flipped her sleek blond hair over her shoulder and reached for the handle of the rental car. “I don’t understand why you rented a Civic instead of a convertible,” she said. “I like riding with the top down.”

>   “We’re in the south and it’s summer. A hot, humid breeze isn’t enough to keep us cool, we need air conditioning. Besides, the wind always messes up my hair.” She pulled open the driver’s door and slid in.

  Lily climbed into the passenger’s seat and shut the door. She raised one elegant eyebrow and glanced at Mira’s unruly mop of brown hair. It had started out in a sleek, high ponytail, but the humidity had played havoc with it. The hair tie had slipped down to her shoulders and random strands of hair had escaped to float around her face.

  The car started and the air immediately came on, making both women moan with pleasure as the cool air blew over them. After adjusting the vents to blow the air in her face, Mira turned on the radio.

  Lily reached over and turned it off. “We need to talk, honey” she said. “I might be able to understand why you sold your furniture when you decided to move, but I don’t understand your insistence on living in a place like this. We’ve been friends for a long time and I know you. You enjoy luxury almost as much as I do so, tell me, what gives?”

  Mira sighed and tried to decide what to tell her. If her friend knew the whole situation she would immediately commiserate and then offhandedly offer to pay for everything. It would be so easy to take the financial help and lay that part of her burden on someone else, but it wouldn’t be right. She needed to do this on her own. A little bit of emotional support, however, was just what she needed and that’s what friends were for.

  “Lily,” she finally admitted. “I can’t get a bigger place because I’m almost out of money. Right now, something small is all I can afford.”

  “Wait a second. If you were in that much trouble why didn’t you tell me? I’m your best friend. You know I would have helped you. What happened to all your money? I thought you were doing well.”

  “I was while I was working, but I have to admit that I was probably living right at my means. I had some money in savings, but being unemployed for months really ate through that. Plus, I had lawyers to pay. My previous employers did try to sue me for breach of contract despite the fact that they had already been accused of wrongdoing.”