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“Would you likesome tea?” He nodded to the woman hovering inside thedoorway.
“I’mfine. I just had breakfast.”
“Close the doorbehind you and no calls.”
He waited until hisassistant had left before walking over to the cabinet to press thebutton. “I should have a glass of water.”
“You’rescaring me, Dion.” She perched on one of the chairs, her handsclasped in front of her.
“I apologizefor dragging you into my mess.” He turned away from the cabinetwithout making a choice. “I should have stayed away from you. Iwas selfish and under the mistaken impression that things wouldsettle, but I was wrong and for that, I apologize.”
“It would helpif I knew what you were talking about.”
“Amelia haswritten a book.” He moved around to his desk and stood there.“I don’t need to tell you it’ll include everythingwe’d ever been involved in.” Picking up a paperweight, hehefted it in his palm.
“There weredrugs – I- I didn’t get involved in that but it doesn’tmatter. We had sex in public places, at restaurants, it was like ahigh for her and the riskier the better.“ He put down theweight and finally looked at her. “It’s going to stirthings up again and I don’t know what the hell to do.”
“I dream ofkilling that woman.”
He sank down into thechair and closed his eyes. “It’s going to hurt you to belinked to me.”
“I’m abig girl and can look after myself.” She told him coolly. “Lether publish her damn book.”
“I can’tlet that happen. It’d be another blow to my reputation and thestability of the company. I’d be a laughing stock in thebusiness world. I’ve caused a lot of pain and humiliation toboth the company and my mother and I can’t put them through itanymore. God!” He uttered and dragged his fingers through hishair. “I’m really sorry.”
“Your past isyour past and we have all made mistakes.” She wouldn’treveal how unhappy she was. He was right. If the book came out, it’dbe a disaster. They’d be plagued by reporters and surrounded bypress.
What was more, theywere going to be parents in less than six months. She loved him andseeing him being tortured by this was getting to her. “What arewe going to do about that bitch?”
He felt a glimmer oflight inside him at the fierceness of her expression and the tone ofher voice. “Mother is suggesting meeting with the publisher.”
“Is he afriend?”
A smile crossed hislips. “He’s a distant cousin and one that has been bailedout of financial disaster a time or two.”
“We can usethat. I know Ilene and know she isn’t going to allow this tocome to fruition.” Rising, she walked across the yards of lushcarpet to sit on the edge of his desk facing him. “I’mnot fragile, you know. I’m in this for the long haul.”
“I hate thatyou’re mixed up in all of it.”
“I chooseto be.” Taking his hand, she twined her fingers through his.
“I don’tdeserve you.” He whispered hoarsely.
“That might bethe case, but you got me.”
“Thank you.”
*****
Ilene had nointention of allowing the man sat on the edge of the chair to see howunnerved she was about the entire matter. She’d survived aloveless marriage to a man who had flaunted his affairs in her face.
She’d had to bestrong and resilient because of her son, and had to fight to getrecognized as a woman in a competitive industry. She recognized herenemies and was always one step ahead of the competition.
She watched as hispale skin flushed a deep red as she continued to stare at him.
“Publishing thebook could get the company out of the red and into the black.”He muttered, the silence becoming unbearable. “You know we’vebeen struggling for years. Publishing isn’t what it used to be.
It’s become acut-throat business with more and more people deciding toself-publish.” His thin lips turned down in derision, givinghis opinion on his thinking on that. “We’re being drivenout of business-“ He shot to his feet when the doors werepushed open and Dion came striding in.
