Even if there wasn’t such a thing as perfect.
DAMIEN LEANED HIS ELBOWS on the conference room table as he stared at the shareholders surrounding the oblong piece of furniture. Conversations moved around the room, many concerning Liza and Herbal Sensations. He tuned it out and focused on his own problems—Cyndi and how to win her back.
Since the disastrous day of Liza’s interview with Channel Nine, he’d gone through his normal routine, taking it one day at a time. To his mother’s delight, he attended church with her and realized what he’d been missing all these years. When had he stopped believing in God? Then again, he never stopped believing, he’d just stopped practicing his faith. He realized now is when he needed God the most. Damien prayed more since meeting Cyndi than he had for several years.
Emptiness consumed his heart and pain numbed his mind. He’d sent Cyndi flowers with cards that simply said I love you. She hadn’t called or even acknowledged the gesture. He waited every day for her to come home from work, but she didn’t. Her townhouse stood empty for almost two weeks now. As each day passed, his heart broke a little more.
He’d do anything to get her back, even beg on his knees if he thought it would help. Yet knowing Cyndi that probably wouldn’t be the key to winning her heart.
Winning her heart. A smile tugged on his lips, but he fought the urge. Whether she knew it or not, he’d been using the same ten ways with her that she’d been using for Max. They’d worked until Liza had opened her lying mouth.
Then again, it was his own fault Cyndi had been hurt. If he’d been honest with her from the beginning, none of this would have happened. In the beginning, he hadn’t wanted to give her his heart. Women were all alike—all like his ex-wife anyway.
Except for Cyndi.
She’d shown him there really were women out there who could love without knowing the size of a man’s bank account. Women like Cyndi didn’t come along every day, and now he was devastated without her. Hopes of rekindling what they had were slim to none.
It’d been almost two weeks since he’d last seen her...since he’d seen her big blue eyes filled with tears and the betraying look she threw at him. Pain twisted in his gut. Would he ever feel better?
Why couldn’t he have treated her differently? Why did he have to compare her to all the women he’d dated? All those women were like his employees that he’d dismiss at the snap of his fingers and never think about again.
He broke out of his thoughts and straightened. That’s it! Of course, it wouldn’t solve his problem with Cyndi, but it would disentangle this mess with Liza. For the first time in days, he smiled, even if it wasn’t fully.
Clearing his throat, he drew the attention of the shareholders. “Gentlemen, I have a plan.”
“SIGN ON THE DOTTED line.” Damien pushed the legal agreement across his desk. “Everything is just as you requested. You’ll work under me and my mother as the assistant Vice President of GIO Products.”
Liza lifted her chin, and that genuine Cheshire grin stretched across her lips as she picked up the pen and signed her name. “You don’t know how happy you’ve made me, Damien. It’s going to be wonderful working with you again.”
He forced a smile. “After I had time to think about it, your offer made sense. Herbal Sensations is a great company, it just needed the extra backing. Now that I’ve bought it from you and Dale, we’ll be able to give it the push it needs to rise to the top once again.”
He pulled back their contract and set it to the side of his desk. “You know you’re working under me and my mother. You’ll be like her assistant, but still be able to manage Herbal Sensations as if it were your own just as per your stipulations upon selling.”
She reached over and tapped his hand. “You made a wise decision, Damien. You won’t regret it, I promise.”
He slid his chair back and stood. “Would you like a tour of the company? Or would you like to see your office first?”
She laughed. “I’d like to see my office first, and then have a tour of the company, as long as you’ll be my guide.”
“Of course.” He stepped around his desk and led her to the door. Opening it for her, he let her walk through before following.
If all went well, he’d be able to end this farce in a few days. With all this fake smiling, he was certain his cheeks would grow numb from the effort.
Just as his employees had promised, they greeted Liza with wide smiles and praise. He’d have to make sure to give them a raise after this. When he opened the door to her new office and she got a glimpse of the inside, her wide eyes sparkled. He could swear he saw dollar signs in her gaze.
She had to test out her white leather swivel chair and even make it swing around a few times. She slid the oak drawers in and out before standing. Linking her fingers together, she then clasped them against her stomach. “Oh, Damien. This is wonderful. I still feel as if all of this is a dream.”
He chuckled and leaned back against the wall, folding his arms across his chest. “No, it’s not a dream. Reality will sink in soon, I promise.”
She hurried to him and linked her arm around his elbow. “I’m ready for the tour now.”
He peeled her hand away from him. “Liza. You’re my employee now. This isn’t allowed.”
“Oh.” She pulled herself straight. “You’re right. I need to act professional in public.”
“Exactly.”
When they passed by his mother talking to a co-worker, she smiled. “Liza, welcome to GIO Products.”
Liza wrapped her arms around his mother’s shoulders for a small hug. “Thanks, Bella. It’s good to finally be here, working beside Damien again.”
Inwardly, he boiled. How he loathed her.
The rest of the tour went the same way. Liza appearing overly excited about meeting everyone, and they in turn acted as if they were welcoming her with open arms. Damien tried to keep his expression solemn. He didn’t want to show how he truly despised her and worried that if he smiled too much, she’d notice how fake it really was.
When the tour was over and she went to her office, he hurried back to his to take some aspirins. He needed it to reduce his headache. Acting as if he liked that woman took every ounce of strength. He couldn’t wait until it was over.
The day passed quickly and as Liza was leaving, she poked her head in his office.
“Hey, are you ready to go home?” she asked.
“No. I still have a lot of work.”
“So I can’t talk you into going out to dinner? I bet you’re hungry.”
“Sorry, Liza. Not tonight. I’m not hungry anyway.”
She shrugged then left.
He breathed a relieved sigh. The sooner he could get rid of her, the better.
Her second day of work was pretty much the same, and he wished she’d hurry and mess up so he could get rid of her. By the time lunchtime came around, he was ready to scream. He kept his balled hands inside his suit jacket.
Knowing she was looking for him, he dodged her, hiding behind corners and even locking himself in the executive bathroom for a while. By the end of the day, he was ready for bed.
Day number three actually kept him busy and he didn’t need to find an excuse to stay away from Liza. He’d been called out of town for a meeting, and couldn’t wait to get away from her. On his way out the door, his mother gave him the a-okay sign with her finger and thumb. He’d catch that devious Liza in the act if it was the last thing he did.
The afternoon meeting went quickly, which brought him back to what he’d wanted to do for a couple of days now. Across the street from his office building, he sat in a borrowed car to watch...and wait. Darkness had hidden the town for an hour now and the light in Liza’s office was still on.
He lifted his binoculars to that direction. Within minutes, she and a man entered her office. She slinked in that all-too-obvious way of hers to the window to draw the blinds.
He grinned. Perfect. Time to make his move.
Hurrying into the
building, he held the laugh ready to bubble from his throat. Liza hadn’t changed a bit in seven years, thank heavens. He counted on her being the loose woman he’d known from the past. She hadn’t let him down yet.
The halls were quiet, so he took soft steps toward her office. Just before reaching it, his mother’s door opened and she peeked out.
“Ready?” she whispered.
He nodded. “Let’s go get her.”
She hooked her hand around his elbow as they treaded softly toward Liza’s office. As they neared, excitement grew in his chest. The future looked brighter by the second.
He placed his hand on the doorknob and turned, but it wouldn’t budge. Of course she’d lock it. He huffed and fisted his hands by his side. His mother grinned and held out a set of keys. Thank heavens she was thinking clearly.
He took them, slid the master into the keyhole and turned until a soft click sounded. He held his breath and listened. It didn’t sound like the two on the other side of the door knew about the ambush.
Glancing at his mother, he nodded. “Are you ready to see something that won’t be pleasant?” he whispered.
She rolled her eyes and flipped her hands, motioning for him to continue.
He squared his shoulders then pushed open the door. It was the boom of the hard wood hitting the wall that brought Liza and her friend to an upright position, but they were still in each other’s arms. Liza’s lipstick was smeared across her mouth, and of course, her boyfriend’s mouth and neck. She gasped and pulled away from the guy. The man stumbled backward, falling to the floor.
Beside Damien, his mother stood in military stance, her hands on her hips, her mouth pulled in a thin line. He switched his attention back to the woman he loved to hate.
He shook his head and tsked. “Liza, Liza, Liza...” He walked in a little farther. “I take it you didn’t read over your contract very thoroughly.”
She scowled. “What are you talking about?”
“Page four, section three states there will be absolutely no physical activities of this kind conducted inside GIO Products’ building or warehouses.” He lifted his chin. “And, if you’re caught breaking this rule, you’ll be dismissed immediately without leave or holiday pay.”
He motioned his hand at the embarrassed man on the floor. “Making out in your office constitutes this kind of activity, Liza.” He shrugged. “You’re fired.”
She gasped again, louder this time. “How dare you...you set me up.”
He laughed. “Set you up?” He looked at the other man. “Tell me, sir. Did I pay you or arrange for you to come to this room with her tonight?”
He shook his head. “No. I met Liza at the café this afternoon. She invited me to come see her after hours.”
Damien held out his hands, palms up. “There you have it, Liza.” He glanced at his mother. “My mother will see that you’re packed and out of the building in ten minutes. And I’ll make sure this young man makes it to his car without any problems.”
He waited for the man to stand. Liza grumbled up a storm, threatening to sue him. He laughed and shook his head. She didn’t have him this time, and winning made his chest burst with happiness.
Of course, only one thing could make him truly happy, but that he didn’t think he’d ever have. It worried him that Cyndi might be out of his life for good.
Nineteen
Cyndi pretty much dragged her feet as she moved to the break room. Whew. What a day. As always on a Monday, the news had been overwhelming, and keeping up with the reports was a chore. Not to mention the big storm this morning. Several accidents were reported, some very critical. It was a good thing they didn’t live in Colorado. Most areas in that state were hit with ten feet of snow. Perfect weather for the season and right before Christmas.
She stretched out her bunched muscles and rolled her head around on her neck. Of course, taking off a few days from work just put her farther behind, and she didn’t even want to think about Christmas. Inwardly, she groaned. It was only a few days away, and she hadn’t even been shopping.
She stood in front of the soda machine, debating whether she wanted a caffeine drink or water. Then she glanced at the snack machine. Or should she get a candy-bar stuffed full of sugar?
Decisions, decisions...
The squeak of the door pulled her attention to the entryway. Max sauntered in, pushing his fingers through his hair. When he saw her, he stopped and his hands dropped to his side. A smile touched his mouth. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.”
He moved over beside her. “So, what’ll be your poison?”
She chuckled. “Haven’t made up my mind, yet.”
He plunked his coins into the slot and pushed the Coke button. “Man, after a morning like today, I need caffeine.”
She nodded. “I’m thinking the same thing. It’s just I don’t have the energy to make up my mind.”
A long silent pause passed between them as she stared at the options in front of her, but her mind didn’t focus on what she really wanted to drink. After a few moments, Max nudged her elbow with his.
She glanced at him. His smile had disappeared, and concern drew his brows together.
“Cyndi, I think we need to talk. Want to go out to my car? It’ll be more private.”
Her heart picked up rhythm. Did he want to talk about them? About why she hadn’t been hitting on him or causing bodily harm to him lately?
“Um...”
“Please.” He grasped her hand. “I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”
She nodded, turned and walked with him out of the break room and out the front doors of the station. A cold wind hit her head-on, and she folded her arms, hurrying to his car. He opened the door for her, then moved around and climbed in the driver’s seat. He turned it on to get the heater going, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel while he stared at the busy road in front of them.
She didn’t dare say anything. Not until she knew what he really wanted to talk about. Even though she and Damien were over, she didn’t want to go back to Max. He just wouldn’t do. Not now.
Finally, he exhaled a heavy sigh and turned to face her. “First I want to tell you I’m sorry.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Why are you sorry?”
“Because I feel a little responsible for what’s happened between you and Damien.”
She gasped as she widened her eyes. “What do you know about me and Damien?”
“Not a lot, but Amanda mentioned you and Damien were, well...getting closer, and after I saw the interview Tamara did with Liza Scapolli the other day, I realized what must have happened.” He took another breath. “Did Damien ever tell you about our college days?”
“Very little.”
“We were best buds and nothing could come between us, I’d thought. We managed to get through a few years of college before Liza entered our lives. She sank her claws into Damien the moment she found out his father was owner of GIO Products. I, of course, was nobody of importance so she didn’t care about me. She worked hard trying to worm her way into Damien’s life. At the time, I figured her to be one of those money-hungry women, but I thought because she and Damien had so much in common because of similar backgrounds, that maybe I pre-judged her.”
He scrubbed his jaw and situated himself in the seat. “I don’t know how she suckered him into marriage, but they married in secret. I think they ran off to Vegas for the weekend. Anyway, Damien told me he didn’t want anyone to know. Not yet. I think he suspected she wasn’t being honest with him, but I could also see he’d fallen for her. Her charm had captured his heart, and although he didn’t want it to happen, I think he fell in love. Out of the two of us, Damien had always been the serious man and didn’t chase after women like I did. Liza had changed him.”
Max took hold of her cold hands. “Cyndi, she hurt him really bad. Did Damien ever tell you she’d been cheating on him?”
“Yes.”
“Did he tell you who the man was h
e caught her with?”
She glanced at their clasped hands. “Yes. It was you.”
“Well, because of that, Damien hardened his heart. No matter how much I tried to apologize, he wouldn’t listen. He quickly divorced Liza and dropped out of college. By this time his father was dying, so Damien took over in running the company.”
Tears threatened her vision and she blinked, hoping they’d go away. She met Max’s stare. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I can see you’re in love with Damien, and at the Christmas party, I wondered if he was in love with you, too.” He chuckled and patted her hand. “I also believe Damien was the one who sabotaged our dinner. I remember the cinnamon chicken recipe was one of his favorites. He made it for you that night, didn’t he?”
She nodded.
“Well, I think he was the one who replaced the chili with the cinnamon.” He shook his head. “But it doesn’t matter, because after that, I realized he did love you. He didn’t like the idea of another man being in your life, and he was around you a lot more than me. Because I know what he’s gone through—what Liza and I put him through—I understand his pain. He was my best friend and I know when the man is hurting. I also know how hard it is for him to trust somebody.”
She tilted her head. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m saying you shouldn’t blame him for not fully trusting you, for not fully giving his heart to you. Although you’re nothing like Liza, I’m sure it was still difficult for Damien to admit he loved you.”
She creased her forehead.
“I read the card attached to the flowers, that’s how I know,” he said.
She nodded. A knot formed in her throat. “He didn’t tell me he was the president of the company. He didn’t even tell me he’d married Liza.”
“I don’t believe he thought of Liza in that respect. To him, Liza was just a mistake he’d been with for two months. Their marriage didn’t last long, and since it was kept a secret...” He flipped his hand in the air. “But that doesn’t matter. What matters is you can’t hate him for not being fully honest with you. People he’s loved before have hurt him, and it’s his first reaction to harden his heart. He’s also used to women wanting him because of his wealth.”
Her Own Fairy Godmother Page 21
