Stormy Passion

by Brenda Jernigan

  Sitting down in one of the burgundy winged-back chairs that faced the desk, Marty folded his hands behind his head, leaned back and announced, “It's all set.”

  Adrian put his pen down and sat back. “Which deal are you referring too?”

  “Why, the amphitheater, of course. Remember the one that I thought would be a great deal, and you wanted to know why we would want something like that.” Marty crossed his leg over his knee, laying a hand on his ankle. “Ah, I see a gleam in your eye. You do remember. “And do you recall that you were singing a different tune after you took that little side trip to San Antonio?”

  “You know damn well, I have a great memory, so you can quit rubbing salt into the wound.”

  “It's not often I have the upper hand.” Marty chuckled. “Anyway she's coming. She'll be here next week.”

  “How about the other ad agencies?”

  “We have three making presentations this week and two next week. But I don't see why we're bothering. I think I know where your interest lies.”

  “You should know better,” Adrian reminded him. “I'm a businessman first. My personal feelings will be set aside. If Danielle Kapur makes the best presentation, she gets the job. It's that simple. Remember, I've not spoken to the woman in three months.”

  “I can't wait to meet the lovely creature. Anyone that has managed to make you see women in a different light must be something.”

  Adrian didn't bother to smile as Marty left his office. It was probably better not to encourage him. Adrian had already taken a bunch of ribbing from Marty and his other cronies about Dani. They had wanted all the details of his brush with death and the mysterious woman. Adrian had hit the highlights of this adventure, but he’d refused to tell them the intimate details of his weekend with Danielle Kapur, and he’d thought that would have been the end of it.

  Then, one night when he had a little too much to drink, he’d told Marty about the feisty woman he'd met. Big mistake. Now Marty had a good idea what Dani meant to him.

  Easing back in his wine-colored, leather chair, he swiveled toward the window and looked out across the Manhattan skyline. He couldn't truthfully say that Dani was easy to forget. At least, he hadn’t been able to.

  Oh, maybe the first week or so he hadn't thought about her, but only because work had been backed up and it had taken awhile before his schedule eased off into the normal ten hour work days.

  Unfortunately, the blonde-haired beauty had tumbled back into his thoughts with full force. When he should have been reviewing contracts, he’d found himself daydreaming about their days on the island. He had even started to call her on several occasions, but he'd always stopped himself.

  They were better off apart.

  When he’d returned to New York, he found his divorced still hadn't been finalized because his wife had refused to sign the papers. Now, however, he was legally a free man, and it would be a long time before he'd marry again. If ever. His ex-wife had taught him several things: get a pre-nuptial agreement and don't trust a pretty package.

  Besides, he'd tried several other relationships after her and they had all gone wrong. His work was very important and he had to work long hours and that was something that women didn't understand.

  However, now when he worked he had the strangest feelings irritating him like a pesky fly. He couldn't put his finger on exactly how he felt . . . Dissatisfied? Distracted? Definitely. And then when he thought about it again he just figured it was indigestion. Of course a pill would take care of that problem. But he hadn't found a pill to solve the woman problem.

  Adrian began gathering up the papers and notes for his next meeting. He'd tuck the lovely Dani back into the corner of his mind because business was at hand. And business always came first.

  Walking into the boardroom, he smiled in anticipation of closing one of his large deals. His company would soon be the proud owner of a chain of department stores.

  As he closed the door, he realized that though this deal might be larger, the amphitheater he closed on last week was the sweetest deal he'd made. The first act to appear there would be The Rolling Stones, and he had two front row tickets.

  The solid click of the conference room door shutting behind him brought him to the situation at hand.

  “Gentlemen, let's start the meeting.”

  To say Dani was nervous would be like saying boiling water was warm. Or at least, she thought that's how the saying went.

  She turned to look at the stewardess who had apparently asked her something while she’d been gazing out the window. “I'm sorry. What did you say?”

  “You mentioned earlier that you felt queasy. I I thought some ginger ale might help.” She smiled and handed Dani a cup of bubbling liquid.

  The bubbles tickled her hand as she took the drink. “Thank you,” she murmured. Queasy. That most definitely was an understatement.

  How about nauseous? Real nauseous!

  Dani checked the back of the seat for a barf bag. God, she hated to fly, and where she usually took Dramamine for her airsickness, she had taken nothing because of the baby.

  Sipping the golden liquid, she felt a cool relief as it slid to her stomach. So far--so good. But landing would be the real test.

  She gazed out the window again thinking about how many pills she'd taken on the trip out to Sea Horse Island. It was a wonder that she'd been able to stand. She let her mind wonder though those pleasant memories while she finished her drink.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, we'll be on the ground in ten minutes.”

  “Oh, God,” she moaned to herself. Please don't let me throw up.

  The plane descended, dropped down to a lower altitude and her stomach went up. Dani swallowed hard and slammed her eyelids shut. Then the plane smoothed out and she took a couple of deep breaths.

  She could feel the heat rising up her back and she fanned like crazy. Faster. She peeked out the window and saw no more clouds, then the familiar thump a couple of more times as the wheels touched the ground.

  Slowly she released her breath, unclenched her death grip on the chair's arms and collapsed back against the seat.

  “I made it,” she whispered, then watched as the man who'd been sitting next to her scrambled to get out of the plane. It was a wonder that anybody wanted to sit next to her on a plane, the way she had acted.

  Dani retrieved her presentation from the over-head bin and filed out of the plane.

  Once in the terminal, she stopped by the bathroom and splashed her face with water. Then she proceeded to the baggage area where she pulled her garment bag off the carousel, then headed for the transportation area. A man dressed in a gray chauffeur's uniform held up a sign that read Danielle Kapur.

  “I'm Danielle Kapur,” she told the chauffeur. He was a man in his fifties with long, gray hair that was pulled back into a ponytail.

  “Let me take your bag. You can follow me.” He led her to a shiny, black stretch-limo.

  “I'm impressed,” she commented as she slid in.

  Once he'd taken his seat, he looked at her in the rearview mirror. “There isn't nothing cheap at the Mass Corporation.

  A sudden rap sounded on Adrian's office door, and he looked up. “Come in.”

  Marty stepped inside. “All set. Henry just picked her up at the airport.”

  “Good.” Adrian reached for a folder. “Listen. I'm not going to sit in on the meeting.”

  “W--what!” Marty walked the rest of the way in the room.

  “I've given this some thought. She seems to think that I'm a beach bum. Dani never did believe that I owned the beach house and I kind of like that. It's a refreshing change from 'buy me this and take me there.'

  “Another thing, I want Dani to give her best sales pitch. If I'm there she'll probably be nervous and crash.”

  “Let me get this straight.” Marty put both his hands on the back of the large chair. “The woman that you've been wanting to see again is going . . . Are you with me --” he gave Adrian an off-the-
wall look. “-- is going to show up in our office and you're not going to see her?”

  “Something like that. I'm going to be on the other side of the two-way mirror, listening to her presentation.”

  “Then what? Are you going to jump out at her like a jack-in-the-box? I bet she'd be pleased by that.”

  “Of course not. Let me see.” Adrian rubbed his chin. “I could wait for Dani to call my answering service, but she might not call. I got it!” He tapped the folder on the desk. “You can take her down to Nick’s for lunch.”

  “I get it. You'll just happen to drop by?”

  “It'll work.” Adrian grinned. “She probably won't question how I know you. Then I'll simply sit down and you can disappear.”

  “Then what?”

  “Well, she'll either be glad to see me or dump food over my head.”

  “I want a picture of that.” Marty laughed. “You know you usually don't care if women are glad to see you or not.”

  “I find that strange, myself. But I almost died with this one, and somehow that makes it different. I wish I could explain it myself. Maybe then I could get her out of my system.”

  Dani couldn't believe how the limo weaved its way in and out of the heavy traffic like it was the size of a Volkswagen bug.

  She had to admit, she did feel important riding in a luxury car and she could see how the more affluent could get use to the privilege.

  “Have you ever had an accident?” Dani asked. Then she added, “I don't believe I caught your name?”

  The chauffeur laughed. “Name's Henry. And believe it or not, I've had some close calls, but never actually hit anyone.”

  “That's a relief.” She glanced out the window again. “It appears to me that there are too many cars trying to fit onto these very small streets.”

  “You've got a point there. Take it this is your first time to the Big Apple?”

  “Yes, it is. Look at all these tall buildings.”

  “Things are different up here so be careful. He pulled over to a curb. “Here we are.” Henry got out and hustled around to her side of the car, opened the door, and stood back so she could get out.

  “Thanks,” she said as he handed her the bag, which he’d stowed in the trunk. She pulled the handle out of her garment bag, tucked her presentation folio under her arm, and started into the gray and black modern building.

  There were two sets of elevators on the left and right. She wished she'd taken time to stop by the hotel before coming here. But since the Mass Corporation had made the arrangements for her room, she had no earthly idea where she was staying.

  Moving over to a glass case, she paused and scanned the building register. “Mass Corporation. The fifteenth floor.”

  Great, she thought. The only thing that was worse than a plane was being closed up in an elevator. She took a breath and pushed the button. Surprisingly enough, the elevator was super quick and opened up into a beautiful, plush suite.

  Dani swallowed to settle her stomach, brushed at her suit, and fluffed her hair, then stepped out into the lobby.

  A woman, who she assumed was the receptionist directed her down a long hall to another woman who sat behind a gleaming Chippendale desk, large enough for two people.

  “Hi, I'm Danielle Kapur. I have an appointment.”

  The receptionist peered over her reading glasses, giving Dani a disapproving once over, then glanced back down at her appointment book. “Kapur Agency?”

  “That's right,” Dani said curtly, acknowledging the old bat who made her feel like she was on trial.

  “They're waiting on you in the conference room, Ms. Kapur.” She pointed. “First door on the right.”

  Since the woman had gone back to work, effectively dismissing Dani, she didn't bother to thank her, but turned and started down the hall. She felt pretty stupid pulling her luggage behind her, but she couldn't think of anything else to do. They’ll probably think, “Great, someone straight out of the sticks.”

  Dani shrugged. What else could she do?

  She rapped on the door, then entered, leaving her bag by the door. Unsure of what to do, she proceeded to the head of the table where a very tall gentleman stood watching her. Perhaps she wasn't important enough to meet with both partners.

  “Miss Kapur,” he said, smiling as he took her hand. “I'm Marty Townsend, and I'm looking forward to your presentation. This project is one of my personal favorites.”

  “My goodness,” Dani looked at the tall man. He had to be seven feet. “You've certainly been eating your Wheaties.”

  Marty chuckled. “They grow them tall where I come from.”

  “I believe that's a Texas accent, isn't it?”

  “You got that right, ma'am.”

  Dani smiled. “Shall we get started?”

  Marty nodded and she advanced to an easel to set up her drawings. At least Marty had made her feel easier, but she'd heard that the president called all the shots, and she was more than a bit disappointed he'd not shown up. She didn't know the gentlemen's name, but she heard from another advertising firm that the head of Mass was no pushover.

  Turning around, Dani asked. “Should we wait on your partner?”

  “You're getting off easy today. I'm the only one you have to convince how good you are.”

  Dani studied him across the width of the conference table. “Oh, I assure you, Mr. Townsend, I’m very good.” She flashed him a devilish smile. “Shall we get started?”

  “Proceed,” Marty said with a laugh. “And please call me Marty.”

  Adrian's gaze was fastened on the petite blonde as she made her points on how she could best promote their theater.

  He liked her ideas, especially the idea of the Mass emblem appearing on all the programs. He'd chosen the lion's head with pride when he started his company, because it's how he did business: Strong, aggressive, and if you screwed up--he bit your head off.

  When he'd began this company on a hope and a prayer, he'd never imagined in his wildest dreams he would have been so successful.

  His parents had scraped and saved to buy their restaurant a quaint little place in Bar Harbor two blocks from the sea. Adrian could attest to the fact that they served the best Italian meal in Maine. They had worked hard for their place and they were satisfied with their one little restaurant, yet he'd always wanted more. Since he had other brothers to go into the family business, his father wasn't too disappointed when Adrian had decided to take a different route.

  Adrian could remember wearing hand-me-downs during a slim time when the restaurant was just beginning. Even way back then, he knew he never wanted to have to worry about money again, and he swore his parents would never want for anything.

  Dani smiled at Marty, and Adrian decided he didn't particularly like the way his friend looked back at her. He was flirting with her.

  He’d have to have a word with Marty later.

  If possible, Dani was prettier than he remembered. There was that special something about Dani that made her stand out from the crowd. That glorious blonde hair shown like a crown above her gently curving hips, narrow waist. Yes, he could remember every nook and cranny of her body. Those vibrant blue eyes had been in his dreams more than once.

  Adrian wondered if she had thought of him since they had parted. He hated to admit it, but he felt more than desire where Dani was concerned. She had a freshness about her that he found appealing. True he hadn't called her, but then, she hadn't called him either.

  Maybe she had started dating someone else, or weakened and gone back to that idiot, Steven. Adrian shifted in the director's chair. Could she have forgotten about him so easily?

  He watched Marty as he stood and said, “I'm impressed, Miss Kapur. I'll go over your proposal with the president and we’ll get back to you.” He glanced down at his watch. “Let’s grab a bite to eat before the limo takes you to your hotel. I want you to enjoy a night on the town compliments of The Mass Corporation.”

  “You don't have to.”

>   “But, we insist. And here are two tickets to the Broadway musical Steel Magnolias.” He motioned toward the door. “I hope you know someone here that you can take.”

  “I did know someone,” she answered, “but I don’t know if he’d be interested.”

  Adrian watched Marty and Dani as they disappeared out the conference room door. “Oh, she knew someone,” he said, then smiled as he loosened his tie. He quickly changed into a casual jacket. He didn't want to look like a businessman when he set his plans into motion.

  Chapter Eleven

  Nick’s Deli bustled with customers as they were shown to a booth. Dani felt like a mouse in a maze as they wound their way around the high-back brown booths.

  When they reached a vacant one, Marty turned and asked, “Is this all right with you?”

  “Fine, thank you.”

  Dani was worried she would have nothing to say at lunch, but since she and Marty both came from Texas they had quite a lot in common. Marty was a very nice man with brown hair and green eyes. He was certainly attractive and full of energy, but as they talked she found herself unwillingly thinking of Adrian. In spite of the good company, he seemed to jump to the front of her brain almost as if he were here watching her.

  She smiled at Marty, all the while thinking about another man. Once she checked into her hotel room, she'd make her decision whether to call Adrian or not. Could she really handle seeing Adrian again? Was the pain really worth the effort?

  “Marty!” a familiar voice rang out from behind Dani. She jumped. As she turned to see who stood behind her, she choked on a chunk of chicken from the salad.

  “Adrian, good to see you,” Marty said, extending his arm to shake hands. “Please join us.”

  Dani began coughing and gasping for air as she waved her hand in front of her face.

  “My God, she's choking!” In one swift motion, Adrian had jerked her from the booth and pulled her hard against his chest. Placing his knuckle below her breast bone, he squeezed hard.