A Heart For Business draft 2 (6 page)

As soon as the clock struck nine the next morning she called Gainscorp and asked to speak to Norman Fields.  There were dark circles under her eyes, and they were puffy from crying.  She was just glad no one could see her and tried to make her voice sound confident and strong, despite the emotional mess she was in.

“Miss Imenerse!” Norman said happily as he came onto the phone.  He sounded as giddy as schoolgirl and Vanessa hated to be the one to ruin his day, but she supposed she should be used to crushing men’s dreams by now.  Norman was saying “I’m so glad to hear from you.  You’re calling a full two days early.  I’m not scheduled to meet with you about our offer until the day after tomorrow.  I hope this means you’ve decided to stay.”

“I’m sorry Mr. Fields, but after careful consideration of your offer, I’m afraid I must decline the position. I appreciate it more than you know, but it’s just not going to work out.  I need to return to Chicago immediately.” 

“Why, what happened? Is there anything I can do to change your mind? If it’s a question of salary I’m sure that can be negotiated. A better apartment perhaps?” Norman sounded flustered and heartbroken. Vanessa felt bad for the dear little man, but there was nothing she could do.

“No. Nothing like that. The job offer is perfect. I’m afraid this has to do with personal reasons. Please send the car service to pick me up. I’m flying home to Chicago on the next available flight.”

“Okay, Miss Imenerse, but I’m coming along. It wouldn’t be appropriate to send you off without a proper escort.  I welcomed you to our city and I’ll make sure you get a proper farewell. Besides, maybe I can find a way to talk you into staying on the drive to the airport.”

“No, don’t come over! I’m a mess. I haven’t gotten dressed yet or taken a shower and I still need to pack all my things!”

“Well, don’t worry about a thing. We here at Gainscorp care about your every need. I’ll help you pack!  I’ll be there in one hour!”

“No!  Don’t!” Vanessa called into the phone, but it was too late.  The line had already disconnected and he was probably already on his way.  She was going to miss that sweet, quirky little man. It would have been nice to have worked with him, but there was no way she could take the job at Gainscorp after everything that had happened with Carter Davis. Even though it wasn’t her fault that he had lost the job and it had been given to her, he had blamed her anyway. She’d never be able to be happy in the position knowing that it had cost her the love of her life. She was better off returning home to Chicago. This had all been just a crazy fantasy anyway.

Vanessa hopped in the shower, got dressed in jeans and a tee-shirt and twisted her damp hair into a thick braid. She was folding all her clothes into her suitcase when the doorbell rang.

“That was fast.” She said, expecting to find Mr. Fields, but when she opened the door she was surprised to find a bouquet of thirty gorgeous red roses that was so huge it completely hid the face of the delivery driver. 

“Delivery for Miss Vanessa Imenerse,” came a familiar voice from behind the massive arrangement and Vanessa knew right away it was Carter.

Tears of relief and joy sprang to her eyes as he handed them to her and said plaintively, “The answer to your question is no.”

“What do mean?” Vanessa asked, suddenly confused.  Was he here to make up with her or break up with her?

“Yesterday, when we were walking home from the doctor’s office, I took the news you had to tell me badly.  It was difficult for me to process and I’m sorry I was a real asshole about it. But then you asked me an important question and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.”

“You’ve been thinking all this time?” Vanessa asked, flabbergasted. “I thought you hated me and never wanted to speak to me again.”

“No. I just needed time to process everything.  It’s how I work.  You had asked me did I change my mind about wanting you to take the job as CEO and to come live with me?  The answer is No.  I haven’t changed my mind.  I want you to take the job!  You deserve it and you’ll be really good at it.  The board members at Gainscorp would be fools not to want you and I know this is the career opportunity you’ve been waiting for.  Don’t let a jerk like me stop you. ”

“Really?” Vanessa asked as she clutched the bouquet of roses to her chest and tears streamed freely down her cheeks.  “And what about the other thing?  Have you changed your mind about that?”

“No, heavens no! I love you and I’m just hoping I haven’t blown it so bad that you no longer want to live with me.” He spied the open suitcase on her bed through the bedroom door and swept her into his arms, hugging her desperately to his chest and crushing the flowers between them. “Please tell me I’m not too late; that I haven’t lost you! Please tell me you still want to move in with me. I love you so much, Vanessa!”

“I love you too!” Vanessa said. She let the flowers fall to the floor and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him happily. He tore at her clothes, pulling them from her body, and she did the same to him, causing the buttons of his shirt to scatter across the floor as she ripped it from his chest.

They collapsed onto the living room floor, rolling over one another as they kissed passionately, their tongues dancing in their mouths. 

“I love you so much.  I was afraid I’d lost you forever.” Vanessa gasped between moans of pleasure as he took her breasts into his mouth and sucked on her nipples until they puckered into hard nubs.

“Me too. I never want to feel that way again.” Carter said, as he paused to catch his breath before diving into her delicious flesh once more.

“You won’t. I’m yours forever and nothing can ever change that.” Vanessa said. She reached down to his groin, searching for the part of him she lusted for, when suddenly there came a loud knock on the door.

“Oh crap; not now!” she groaned in a quiet whisper. “I forgot Norman Fields was on his way over to help me pack. He was going to take me to the airport.”

“You’re not still leaving are you?” Carter said with a playful cock of his brow.

“Now it’s my turn to not answer you and leave you wondering.” Vanessa said with a playful wink.  She shouted to the door “Hang on just one minute; I’ll be right there!”

The couple grappled for their clothes, putting them back on as quickly as they could, only Carter’s shirt had only two buttons left and there was no way he could appear presentable. Besides, it might be a huge conflict of interest in her getting the job if they discovered she was consorting with a former employee.

“I’d better meet with him out in the hall.  You stay here.” Vanessa giggled.  She felt like a teenager hiding her boyfriend from her parents.  She gave Carter a quick kiss, straightened her sweater over her jeans, and then stepped out into the hallway of the apartment building.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, but good news; I’ve decided to take the job!” Vanessa spoke excitedly as she locked her front door behind her to keep Norman from going inside and finding Carter. As soon as she pulled her key from the lock she turned and froze right she stood.

This wasn’t Norman Fields. For the second time she was faced with someone she never thought she’d see ever again; only this time it wasn’t good. Indeed, it was very bad.

Chapter Nine

“Trevor!” Vanessa gasped.  She was extremely startled to be face to face with the man she had broken up with over a month ago.  He looked different than she remembered him. His eyes were colder and the line of his jaw was clenched. He looked like he’d lost a lot of weight and his clothes were dirty and stained. The changes scared her. Straightening her spine in an effort to look brave, she asked “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Trevor said menacingly. “I’ve been searching for you for nearly a month. I found this letter that you had been invited to New York so I followed you here to bring you back home, but it took me this long to discover where you were staying.”

Trevor held up a crumpled piece of paper that she recognized as being from Norman Fields. She also recognized it as being one that she had thrown in the trash in her apartment.

With wide eyes, she said “You broke into my apartment went through my garbage?  That’s incredulous!  What’s the matter with you?”

Trevor’s eyes turned hard as daggers. He pulled a gun from inside his jacket and pointed the barrel right at Vanessa, saying coldly, “I’ll tell you what’s incredulous; that you think you can leave me!  You’re mine and you’re coming back to Chicago with me, right now!”

Vanessa’s heart was pounding in her chest and she thought about screaming out to Carter for help, but she knew just what would happen if she did. Carter would come running out into the hall to save her and Trevor would shoot him.  She couldn’t bear the thought of Carter being killed, even if she had to sacrifice herself to protect him.

“Okay, I’ll go with you. Just put the gun away.  You don’t need that.” Vanessa said in soothing voice, hoping to placate him.

Trevor wrapped his arm around Vanessa’s shoulders, pressing her tightly to his side, and put the gun in his jacket pocket, keeping it pointed at her while effectively hiding it. 

Just then the elevator at the end of the hallway opened and Norman Fields stepped out. 

“Mr. Fields!” Vanessa cried out. 

“Who’s this?” Trevor asked suspiciously.

“This is Mr. Fields. I just called him this morning and told him I was going back to Chicago. He’s here to help me pack” she said to Trevor. Then she turned to Norman and said “Thanks so much for coming, but my boyfriend Trevor Mills is here now, so you can just go home Mr. Fields.”

“I’m delighted to meet you.” Norman Fields held out his hand to him, but Trevor just stared at it rudely until Norman withdrew the friendly gesture with a puzzled frown. 

“Are your bags all packed? I’d be happy to help so we can talk more about the job offer.  I think you’re making a real mistake turning it down.” Norman said, looking at Vanessa carefully.  There was something odd about her this morning.  Her eyes were dilated and kept darting to the side, as if she were nervous. Her usually friendly smile was stiff and unnatural, as was her normally graceful posture. Norman Fields knew enough about people to know something was very wrong, he just couldn’t figure out what.

“No, I don’t need to pack.  I’m leaving with Trevor now.  We’re going home to Chicago.  If you could just go into the apartment and take care of the rest of my things that would be great.”

“Certainly. Where should I have them shipped to?” Norman asked cautiously.

Vanessa turned to Trevor and said “Will we be staying at your place? Give him the address and he can just send my clothes there.”

Trevor fidgeted and then barked “Forget your clothes! I’ll buy you all new ones. I’m not giving anyone my address! We’ll be living someplace new. I want us to make a fresh start without any of your old friends interfering.”

“Okay.” Vanessa said in a voice that was oddly agreeable considering the outrageousness of her boyfriend’s demand. She looked Norman firmly in the eye and said, “Please go into my apartment and let everyone know that I’m sorry I have to leave.  It’s for the best.  I never meant to hurt anyone.  I just want to make sure everyone knows I love them and want them be okay. I’ll be okay with Trevor.”

Norman blinked at the odd request then promised to do as she wished.

“Thanks Mr. Fields, for everything,” Vanessa said with a sad sigh, then disappeared into the elevator wrapped in the arms of her creepy boyfriend.

Norman shook his head and found his executive key to her apartment and let himself in. He was shocked to see Carter Davis lounging on the couch wearing nothing but slacks and a shirt with no buttons.

“Mr. Davis?” Norman cried out in surprise. “I didn’t expect to find you in Miss Imenerse’s apartment!”

“This is nothing! We’re neighbors and we got to be friends!” Carter sputtered and Norman knew instantly that they were more than just friends. Carter looked past Norman to the empty hallway and said “Where’s Vanessa? Isn’t she coming back inside with you?”

“No, she had to leave rather suddenly.” Norman said, looking and sounding as puzzled as he felt.

“She told you the good news then?” Carter asked, speaking about her accepting the job, but Norman misunderstood and thought he meant about her leaving for Chicago with her boyfriend. 

“Yes. I must admit I’m surprised about her decision. I’m especially surprised now that I see you here.”

“Oh, well there’s no hard feelings from me.” Carter said and Norman was more confused than ever.  “I don’t blame the company for having to let me go after such a long absence, and if my job has to go to someone else, well I can’t think of a better person for the job.  Vanessa is intelligent, innovative, hardworking, and the nicest person you’ll ever meet.  She’ll make a far better CEO than I ever did.”

“I’m confused.” Norman said. He looked right at Carter and said “We haven’t let you go. As far as Gainscorp is concerned you’re still a CEO. We offered Miss Imenerse a position to be an additional CEO to handle the extra workload of our expansion. If she had taken the job, you’d both be working for Gainscorp.”

“We would! That’s terrific!” Carter cried out, feeling immensely happy and relieved, but those emotions were quickly overcome by feelings of confusion and concern.  “Wait a minute. Where is Vanessa then?”

“She had to leave suddenly with that man.” Norman said, as if it were obvious.

“What man?”

“Her boyfriend. I think she said his name was Trevor something. She said they’re going back to Chicago together.”

“What?  That’s impossible!” Carter cried out.  He felt like his chest was being squeezed until it broke in half, just like the pieces of his heart.  “She’s in love with me. She was going to take the job at Gainscorp and live with me.  She broke up with that other guy.  She said he was a controlling, cheating jerk and she wanted nothing to do with him.”

“Well, she told me a completely different story. She asked me come in her apartment and tell you she was sorry she had to leave, but it was for the best, and that she never meant any to get hurt, and that she would be okay with Trevor.”