Chapter 27
“Hey, Dorothy,” Kate said, strolling into the lobby of her second home.
“Morning, Kate. It’s good to see you back here.”
“It’s good to be back.” As she made her way to her cubicle, Kate realized her words were true. Work was familiar, a constant, and it was also demanding as hell. Just what she needed right now—something to take her mind off Jack.
She second-guessed that thought when she got to her desk and saw her in-basket overflowing and her desk covered with reports, each marked with a Post-it claiming it required immediate attention. She pulled out her chair and found even more documents. Who knew how many hundreds of emails she had waiting. At least she was needed.
But first things first. She had to have coffee, and she wanted to stop by and tell Sue and Dean thanks for all their support. As soon as she left her cubicle, she ran into Sue who was moving like a bat out of hell. “Hey, I was—”
“We’ve got to talk.” Sue was whispering, but the intensity of her words and the look in her eyes sent fear shooting through Kate’s body.
“What’s going on?”
“Kate,” Russell Morrison barked from the end of the corridor.
“Hey, Russell. How’s everything—”
“I need you in my office, now.”
“Okay.” Kate looked at him, noting that her usually relaxed boss looked ready to explode. She looked over at Sue for some explanation, but Sue just gazed at her with what appeared to be a mixture of panic and pity. “Let me grab a cup of coffee first.”
“Later,” Russell said, and headed back to his office. Kate knew she was to follow.
Russell’s gait and the set of his shoulders gave Kate an uneasy feeling. Her peers obviously felt the same because almost all of them were looking at her, as if she was a kid headed to the principal’s office. Dead man walking. When they reached his office, Russell shut his door, something he never did accept when he was firing someone. What the hell is going on?!
Russell slammed down into his seat. He swiveled his chair to face the painting of bluebonnets and live oaks that had been hanging in his office since Kate started working for him. He’d always said it calmed him down when things got out of control. Not a good sign. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she could sense it was big. She sat down in one of the chairs across from him, guessing she was going to need the support.
Russell turned back to Kate but didn’t make eye contact. He grabbed a pen lying on his desk and started tapping one end on the desk and then flipping it over to tap the other. He played the percussion at a tempo that matched Kate’s bouncing leg. She was in full alert now. She’d never seen him speechless. “Russell?”
Her word ripped the gate open that had contained the wild bull. “What the hell is going on? I want to know now, and I want to know everything.”
“What are you talking about?” Kate was confused, but a sick, sixth sense started to burn at the back of her neck.
“Don’t bullshit me, Kate. We respect each other too much for that.” He leaned in closer to her. “What’s going on with you and Jack Graham?”
Kate’s world stopped. She knew that even if he couldn’t see her face turning red, he had to notice the tick under her left eye. It was impossible to form words, let alone give him an answer. That alone seemed to tell him all he needed to know.
“Dammit!” He fell back into his seat, almost tipping it over. He dragged his hands over his face, then stared at the ceiling. “Son-of-a-bitch, son-of-a-bitch, son-of-a-bitch.”
After what felt like an eternity, he turned to her. She was surprised that she didn’t see disgust in his eyes. Anger, frustration, incredulity, yes, but not disgust. Of all the shit that was about to hit the fan, she was surprised at how much she didn’t want to lose his respect.
“You need to tell me everything.”
Despite her concern about Russell’s opinion, she was suddenly filled with fear and self-preservation. “I’m not sure what you mean. I worked with Jack the week before last.” She stared into his eyes, using every bit of her courage not to blink.
“Don’t do this. You know what I’m asking about.”
“I know that as far as this office is concerned, that is all you can ask.”
Russell let out a heavy sigh and turned to the painting. Without moving his gaze, he spoke. “Kate, my dear, when you’re working with a man that could bring a multi-million-dollar project to the state, every second you spend with him is this office’s business.” After a minute of silence, he turned back to Kate. “Are you having an affair with him?”
Kate straightened her shoulders in indignation, but then attempted to relax. “No. We’re not having an affair. Jack’s not even in the states.”
“Don’t play semantics with me. Did you have an affair with Graham?”
Kate shot out of her chair. “I can’t believe you’re asking me this.”
Russell stood up and leaned in just inches from her nose. “Oh, yeah, I’m asking, and you’re going to answer.”
His words and vehemence were like whips to her body. Tears formed, despite the deep breaths she took.
“Oh hell. Sit down.” He reached behind him, grabbed a box of Kleenex that had been on his desk for years, and handed them over to Kate. She blew her nose and wiped her eyes.
“You’re one of the greatest talents this state has. You are a devoted mother, and you were an unbelievable partner for Ian. I have no qualms with you or how you live your life, but I’ve got to know everything about you and Graham. I walked into a pile of shit today that could take you out, and I mean literally, not to mention the department’s reputation. I need to know what I’m dealing with.”
She looked at him and for just a millisecond had the strangest impulse to shout, “You can’t handle the truth!” But she didn’t.
“Jack and I had a professional relationship the entire week he was here for the project.” She remembered the night they drank beer and looked at the stars, and of course, the time he saw her ass. So, okay, maybe it wasn’t the normal relationship she had with clients, but compared to what they were doing the following week in a Dallas elevator, it was professional.
“So what happened last week?”
“What does that matter? We were off the job, on our own time.” Kate brought her hands to her head, rubbing her temples. She finally stopped. “You know this questioning probably falls under sexual harassment. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Give me a break. You’re not going to file anything against me because, deep down, you know I’m trying to help you.”
Kate sighed and leaned back into her seat. Could things get any worse? She was drained from saying good-bye to Jack. She was doing her best to play the everything’s-fine-with-Mommy card for the kids. This was supposed to be a place of solace. Just ten minutes before, she’d actually looked forward to a pile of work. Now she’d been yanked into a nightmare, and it was her own fault. Viva Las Vegas, my ass.
“Look, Kate. In most circumstances I would agree with you, what you do on your own time is your business. Hell, I’m happy you’ve decided to get out there. But here’s the problem—you didn’t date a nice guy you met on Match.com. You’ve become involved with someone that’s a major player for this department.”
“Wait just a minute,” Kate asserted. “We were no longer working together when we became . . . involved, and we’re not involved anymore . . . And how the hell do you even know about this?”
Russell’s face looked full of disgust. “Got in Monday morning, and Ted was planted right in front of my door.”
The floor dropped out from under Kate. No. No. No. Not that idiot.
“Said he was dropping his buddy at the airport Sunday morning and saw you and Graham in a major embrace. He took delight in giving me the details of the kiss.”
In all their discretion, they’d slipped up one time. One time. But, oh, just like pregnancy, it just took one time and your life forever changed.
&n
bsp; Kate stared at her hands, trying to gather her wits. She finally looked up at Russell. “Look, all I can tell you is that what Jack and I shared had nothing to do with business.”
“That’s how you see it. I have no doubt that’s how it was. But do you know what the rest of the staff, and God forbid, reporters will see? Damn, think of the story, ‘State employee exchanges sexual favors to influence business location.’”
She lowered her face into her hands and slowly shook her head. She thought about the talk she’d given Madeline about sex and how there were always consequences with it. No shit!
“Here’s what we’re going to do.”
Kate looked up, actually comforted that Russell had a plan to fix this mess.
He moved his gaze back to his pen and began tapping it on the desk. “This afternoon, I’ll announce that Ted’s the new lead on Gridion, and I’m putting you on the Hevington project.”
“No!” She jumped up and banged her hand on his desk. “Are you kidding me?! Is this my punishment for breaking free of my widow’s shroud? Why the hell would you pull me from the project? This is mine. I’ve worked it from day one. I pulled off miracles the week before last.”
“Sit down.”
She eyed him with wariness but did.
“I know what you’ve done. I wish I could keep you on it, but I’m trying to look out for you.”
“Right,” Kate said, rolling her eyes.
“Kate, do you really want the reputation of screwing a client to land a deal?”
Kate cringed at the crude accusation. “People know me better than that. They’d never think that.” As she spoke the words, she remembered the rumors that had flown when Gary in Accounting had been seen having a drink with a very feminine-looking man.
“Look, it is what it is. It’s the most believable scenario. Everyone knows Ted’s the obvious choice as your replacement. He’s the only other one who works high-tech. And it makes sense that I’m pulling you from a set project and putting you on something hot. You’re the best we’ve got, and everyone knows that.”
Kate shook her head in disgust.
“Don’t look at me like that. You don’t have the luxury of being righteous. This will keep Ted’s mouth shut. He knows if he breathes one word, all deals are off.”
Russell looked at her with eyes full of compassion. She knew he was still mad as hell, but she also knew him well enough to see the regret in his eyes. “You have to trust me on this.”
Part of her wanted to cry and beg him to reconsider. Part of her wanted to stand up and say, “I don’t need this shit,” and storm out of the building. But the part that needed a paycheck and really didn’t want her reputation to go down the tubes won out. She stood and faced him with no emotion. “Do what you have to do.” When she turned to leave, Russell stopped her.
“Kate, you’ve got to land Hevington. You’re the best in the department, but when it’s time for cuts, the boss is going to be looking at project locations. My hands are tied.”
Kate walked out in a state of shock. She didn’t pay attention to the stares and comments directed at her. Collapsing into her chair, she turned to face the inside corner of her cubicle, the closest thing to privacy she could muster. She wanted to melt into the rough-textured canvas walls. She was startled when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned hoping it was Sue, but it was Ted. He had a look of concern that was as false as the caps on his teeth.
“Hey, kiddo, mum’s the word, huh? And don’t worry, I’ll take care of Gridion.”
All the despair she had felt seconds before was replaced with anger. Somehow, surely through the power of God, she was able to bite her tongue and stop the tirade of words she wanted to scream. She turned back to her desk, refusing to look at his sickening smile.
But Ted didn’t leave. Instead, he leaned down and whispered into her ear, “By the way, thanks for taking one for the team.”
It was like a punch in the gut. Before she could recover, he squeezed her shoulder and walked away.
Eventually, she caught her breath. She stared at the calendar on her desk, but the numbers and appointments were blurred. It was some time before she broke the trance. She shifted her focus to a picture of the kids hanging on the wall. She studied them. They were in the pool, and Madeline was holding up Charlie. They were laughing, full of joy, living in the moment. Healthy and happy. She took a deep breath. You’ve got fantastic kids. You still have a job. Character, dammit.
Chapter 28
“So are you ever going to have fun again?” Sue adjusted the straps on her swimsuit, rubbing suntan lotion on her shoulders.
Kate set down her magazine and looked over at her friend on the next chaise. “We’re here at the pool, having a lazy day. That’s fun.”
“Maybe if you’re neutered and seventy.” Sue sat up to face Kate directly. “Honey, you’re my best friend, but if you don’t come back to the living soon, I’m going to have you committed.”
Kate sighed and looked over to the shallow end of the pool, spotting Madeline and Charlie in a game of Marco Polo. “I have a life. This is my life. It’s a good life.”
“Please. You have a job where you work your ass off, and then you put on your mommy hat and pull off miracles with the kids. Hopefully, before you go to bed at night, you give yourself five minutes with the vibrator. Of course, knowing you, you probably fold laundry. You,” she pressed her finger into Kate’s chest, “don’t have a life.”
“I have all the life I can handle. I’m fine. Really.”
Sue shook her head and leaned back on the chaise. “Maybe if you say that twenty times every day, you can convince yourself.” She rolled over to face Kate. “Do you remember how excited you were a few weeks ago when you were hanging with the sexy Mr. Graham?”
Kate shook her head. “You weren’t even there.”
“No, but the few times you came up for air and called me, I could hear the euphoria in your voice. And don’t forget, I did six loads of sheets. Now that, my dear, was living.”
“And look where that got me. I’m lucky to have a job.”
“Speaking of which, why the hell do you have to go to D.C. for a whole weekend? I thought the meeting with Hevington was on Monday.”
“It is, but Russell says I need to get more bang for the trip expense, so he’s set me up with lunch and breakfast meetings with guys from Campbell Consulting on Friday.” She groaned. “I hate those calls. I feel like I’m selling vacuums.”
“I hear you.” Sue sat up. “But I’d say it’s a good sign that he’s sending you on this trip.”
“I think it’s more like Russell’s giving me one last chance to redeem myself.”
“Mom! Watch me!” Charlie yelled from across the pool, standing on the diving board.
“Careful, honey!” Kate rose to head over to him, but Sue grabbed her arm and pulled her back down.
“The boy knows how to swim, Mom. Just watch him.”
Kate remained in her seat, grateful there was a lifeguard at the diving boards. Charlie lifted his arms to the side of his head, bringing his hands to a point. She’d been working with him on diving, and pride replaced her worry seeing him try it on his own. Bending his knees and leaning over how she’d taught him, he jumped off but entered feet first. Not a dive, but the starting form was good.
He emerged from the water, immediately hollering, “Did you see? Did you see me, Mom?”
Kate and Sue both jumped up and applauded. “I did, baby. That’s wonderful! I’m so proud of you.”
Sue hooted, then yelled, “Get that boy to the Olympics!” When they settled back in their chairs, Sue turned to Kate. “Okay, so your life is good.”
Watching Charlie swim to the ladder, his facing beaming, Kate nodded in satisfaction.
“But as soon as you get back from D.C., I’m setting you up with a great guy, and your life will be fabulous.”
Kate rolled her eyes, then picked up her magazine. She didn’t want any kind of fix up. Unless it was
with Jack Graham. And that boat had sailed away.
Two days later, Kate picked up the kids from day camp, changed into comfy clothes, and started browning hamburger for spaghetti. Never one to waste time, she dragged out her laptop and checked her personal email. Junk, junk, junk. She enjoyed deleting things from her life with one click, even if it was just an ad and not a chore. It still felt liberating.
Junk, junk, Jack Graham. Kate gasped and checked again. Yes, it was Jack Graham. The subject line, “Meet me.” Her stomach drew up in knots, and her hand shook as she clicked the mouse.
Kate,
Pete tells me they’re watching Madeline and Charlie while you head to D.C. for business. I’ll meet you there. Fit me in between your meetings.
Don’t say no.
Jack
“Oh my God!” Kate yelled, and quickly read the note again, making sure she hadn’t imagined his words.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” Madeline called out from upstairs.
“It’s nothing,” she said, closing the email. “I just . . . I heard from an old friend. She’s getting married. It just surprised me.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. “Hey, why don’t we invite Sue over for dinner tonight?”
“Yes!” Madeline thought Sue rocked the world.
“Go ahead and call her, and tell her it’ll be ready soon.” Kate had to talk to her best friend. There’s no way she could sit on this alone. Trying to ignore the invitation through dinner would be bad enough, but they wouldn’t be able to talk about it until the kids were asleep. She considered adding Benadryl to the kids’ meatballs, but the damn guilt thing came back to haunt her.
“What do you mean you’re not going to meet him? Like hell you’re not!” Sue walked into the living room, carrying a bottle of wine, then refilled their glasses.
Then He Showed Up Page 21
