An Executive Decision (16 page)

Chapter Twenty-three

‘That was Marston. Dee, why didn’t you tell me he was refusing to work with you?’ Ellis stood framed in the doorway, with his BlackBerry clutched in a suicide grip. The hard set of his jaw and the tense square of his shoulders were a flashing beacon indicating the mood he wasn’t trying to hide.

Dee was already packing up her computer bag for a meeting with Jason Daniels. She had waited for Ellis to finish the early conference call he had with clients in Spain especially so she could tell him about Marston. It was literally the first chance she’d had without shaking him awake in the middle of the night, something she couldn’t have done if she’d wanted to because, in spite of everything that had happened the day before, she slept like a baby after Ellis’s tender ministrations. ‘That’s why I’m still here,’ she said. ‘I never dreamed he’d call you at 7.30 in the morning.’

Ellis came into the room and stood near the sofa, arms stiff at his side, still clenching his BlackBerry. His gaze bore into her, riveting her to the spot where she stood in front of him. ‘Marston says if I want him to negotiate with you then I’ll need to make Tally Barnes a part of the team. Why didn’t you tell me?’ Though his face betrayed nothing, she heard disappointment in his voice, which brought on a wave of guilt, making her feel like she was 13 again, and in trouble for not practising hard enough. She forced back anger. She had nothing to feel guilty about. But before she could respond, he continued, the disappointment giving way to something a little more tetchy. ‘Do you have any idea how it felt hearing such a thing from Marston? I couldn’t even say you’d already told me. Dee, do you know how that looks?’

Her legs were suddenly not very cooperative, and she dropped into the chair by the desk before her knees gave. ‘I tried to tell you last night, but you –’

He wasn’t listening. ‘Marston believes a good bit of the scheming and planning behind this deal has actually been Tally Barnes’s work.’

The room tilted around her. She pressed her feet hard against the floor to lessen the shakes. ‘You know that’s not true.’ Her voice sounded thin and tinny in her ears.

‘It doesn’t matter what I know. Can’t you see the situation you’ve put me in?’

She forced herself to stand and meet his anger face to face. ‘It matters to me, Ellis. You’re my boss. Believe me, if Tally had helped with this deal, if the ideas had been hers, I’d have been right behind her, cheering her on.’

‘I know that, Dee. But Marston doesn’t.’ He turned away from her and paced in front of the sofa. ‘Marston won’t negotiate with you until Tally’s a part of the team. He seems to think she’s been somehow slighted, and –’

‘She’s that little personnel problem you mentioned on my first day, isn’t she?’ She followed him. ‘I saw her resume too, Ellis, remember? I recommended it to both you and Beverly. She has a right to be upset. Look, I don’t know why you didn’t hire her. That choice was yours to make, but she’s clearly gone out of her way to humiliate me in front of Marston, running the risk of sabotaging a huge deal, and you’re upset at me for not telling you about my run-in with Marston?’

He stopped pacing and turned to face her. ‘I’m sorry, Dee. I knew Tally was unhappy about you getting the position, but I never imagined she’d pull such a stunt.’

‘Well, she did.’ She grabbed her bag, shoved her way past him, and headed for the door.

He grabbed her by the arms and forced her to face him. ‘Look, I’m trying to make sense out this mess, Dee. If I’d known before, if you’d told me what was going on –’

She jerked free of his hold and stomped her foot. ‘I tried to tell you. I tried, but you wouldn’t listen to …’ She let the sentence trail off, afraid she’d make a fool of herself by crying in front of him if she continued. Her mother had always used tears as a last resort when rage didn’t work. She promised herself she’d never stoop to such behaviour.

‘Look –’ Ellis fidgeted. ‘This deal is yours. You know it way better than I do, and you need to be the one presenting it. I don’t see how I have any choice but to placate Marston and put Tally Barnes on the team.’ He raised his hand to stop her protests. ‘Besides, you said yourself Tally does have experience you lack. It might be a real benefit to you to have her.’

‘Because she’s been so damned helpful up till now.’

‘I’m sorry, Dee, but at the moment, that’s the only thing I know to do. Maybe I should have done that from the beginning. I know it’s my fault, but there’s nothing for it now.’

She bit her lip and forced back her anger. ‘You’re the boss. What? What is it you’re not telling me?’

He looked down at his feet, avoiding her gaze. ‘It’s about Marston’s birthday party tonight. He’s pretty upset with you and, well, under the circumstances –’

‘You don’t want me to go to his party.’

‘Of course I want you to go.’ He looked down at the BlackBerry still gripped in his fist. ‘But Marston doesn’t.’

She avoided his gaze and fidgeted with the strap on her bag, hoping he wouldn’t notice the burn in her cheeks. She knew Marston didn’t want her at the party. He’d hinted rather strongly, but that he’d broached the subject with Ellis made her feel even more like a misbehaving child. She caught her breath, trying to sound calmer than she felt. ‘It’s all right. He made sure I got the message. Don’t worry.’

He moved next to her and laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘If it weren’t for you, there would be no deal on the table, but it might be better if you let me unravel this mess alone. Then, after the party, once the dust has settled and Tally is on board, you can take back over. You’ve had a heavy load on your shoulders, Dee, and so early in the game. You’re not –’

She pulled away. ‘I’m not Beverly. Yes, I know. You’ve already told me that. Don’t worry, I get it.’

He followed her. ‘That’s not what I was about to say – Dee? Where are you going?’

‘I have meetings with Trouvères this morning. As far as I know, Marston has no say on who works with them yet.’ She grabbed her jacket and left without saying goodbye.

When Ellis returned to the hotel to get ready for the party, which he wasn’t thrilled about going to without Dee, he found the suite empty. He was even less thrilled at the thought that she might very well still be with Daniels. He was less thrilled still with the thought that she might actually be commiserating with Daniels. If anyone should be comforting her, if anyone should be making her feel better, agreeing with her about what a bastard Marston was being, it should be him. He’d fire Tally Barnes right this second, over the phone, in person, if the situation wasn’t so complicated. He was completely sure Marston would come around and realise that Dee was the brains behind the sweet deal he was being offered. Marston was not stupid, and he had a hell of a lot at stake. And when that happened, when Marston came around, he would see that Tally Barnes got what she deserved, whatever it was. One thing he was already certain of was that she didn’t deserve to be his executive assistant. Beverly had been right about Dee. But then the woman was never wrong, he reminded himself. Still, he wished he’d had a chance to tell Dee that before she’d left this morning feeling angry and betrayed.

As he slipped into the jacket of his tux and inspected himself in the mirror, he ached to have Dee on his arm. That’s how he’d fantasised about the evening; having Dee alongside him, basking in the limelight of her first major triumph, a triumph she so richly deserved. And he felt responsible that she was being deprived of it.

A chill passed down his spine. Was he getting too close to her? Last night, when she’d tried to tell him what had happened, he had behaved like his brother, insisting on a business-free evening, and Dee had suffered for it. This whole situation wouldn’t be nearly so painful if he’d kept a safe distance between them from the beginning. The thought crossed his mind that maybe he shouldn’t asked her to his bed again. When she was sleeping in his arms, in his bed, it seemed like something altogether different from the Executive Sex Clause, and that was a thought that scared the hell out of him.

Dee was thankful for the breakfast meeting she’d scheduled with Jason Daniels, who was more than happy to accommodate. It had kept her mind off the disaster with Marston and the knot in her stomach at wondering what Tally Barnes would pull next. Fortunately, there were no meetings planned with Marston, and though he hadn’t attended the meeting she’d led, the man wasn’t stupid either. She was sure he would have gotten detailed notes from every person in the room. She didn’t know how serious the negotiations were with Terrance Jamison, but she was pretty sure his short-term fix would be looking good to Marston with plant shut-downs looming.

Until Jason had asked her to accompany him to the party, she had managed to keep the whole nasty situation between her and Marston quiet. It was immediately clear Jason didn’t believe her excuse of a headache – not very original, but the best she could come up with under the circumstances. After she’d left Jason, she found a nice corner in a coffee shop to do a little research of her own.

She was careful not to return to the suite until she was sure Ellis had left for Marston’s party. Then she ordered room service and continued her research. She was ensconced in the middle of her bed with the laptop in front of her and a huge glass of iced tea on the nightstand when the room phone rang.

‘Ms Henning, there’s a Mr Daniels here to see you,’ the concierge said

Dee looked down at her watch. He should be at Marston’s party. She couldn’t imagine why he was here. Before she could dwell on it, there was a soft knock on the door and Jason, dressed in a black tux that made him look a bit like James Bond, stepped inside, shoving a long garment bag in her direction. ‘Dee, I need your help. We all need your help.’

She stood staring at the bag. ‘What’s going on? What’s this?’

He was already pulling her toward the bathroom. ‘It’s a gown. Please don’t talk. Just listen – preferably while you’re putting on the gown. We’re late for Marston’s party.’ Before she could respond, he continued, ‘I know about all his bullshit, and so does Yvette. She’s insisting that you be at the party.’

‘What? She can’t be serious. Marston will have a fit.’

‘You didn’t take credit for someone else’s work. It’s absurd to even entertain such an idea. Yvette’s not sure she wants to work with such a stupid man, and she told Marston that. Things aren’t going well. Now get dressed, please.’ He pushed her toward the bathroom. ‘I’ll fill you in while you’re getting ready. We’ve worked too hard on this deal to let it all collapse because Yvette’s pigheaded and Marston’s an ass.’

Dee stopped mid-stride between the sofa and the door. ‘You don’t understand. Marston specifically requested I not be there.’ Her face burned in spite of her effort to pretend it didn’t matter. ‘I’m not welcome, Jason. There has to be another way to work this out.’ She felt the threat of tears again, and turned her back.

Before she knew what was happening, he took her in his arms, then lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. ‘Dee, Marston needs this deal, and he needs you.’ He ran a finger along her cheekbone. ‘We all need you.’

She pulled away and picked up her BlackBerry. ‘I’ll call Ellis, tell him what’s going on.’

‘Yvette’s probably already called him by now.’

She hesitated. ‘You’re sure about this?’

‘Of course I’m sure. You’re the one who’s put this deal together. Ellis’ll understand.’

Through the bathroom door, Jason filled her in on Yvette’s little scene with Marston while she dressed. The dark blue sheath showed just a hint of cleavage, but made up for it by exposing a large expanse of back. In spite of herself, she couldn’t help imagining what Ellis’s reaction would be when he saw her in something so sexy. The matching kitten heels that looked slightly vintage and very romantic made her wonder how Jason had managed to size her perfectly for both.

As she stepped out of the bathroom, Jason, who had been talking to Yvette, nearly dropped his iPhone as he stowed it back in his pocket. ‘Wow!’ His voice was breathless, and his gaze felt a little too much like a caress for comfort. ‘You look incredible, Dee. Perfect, in fact.’ He bent to kiss her hand, then offered her his arm. ‘I’ll be the envy of the party with you by my side.’ 

Chapter Twenty-four

At the door to Marston’s penthouse, Jason took her hand. ‘You’re absolutely stunning, Dee. If this weren’t so important, I’d skip the party and keep you all to myself.’

She pulled away. ‘I’m still not sure this is a good idea. Yvette did talk this over with Ellis, didn’t she?’

‘Would you stop worrying? Now that you’re here everything’ll be all right’

‘Just answer my question. Has Yvette talked to Ellis?’

‘Yeah, of course.’ He straightened his cuffs with a shrug. ‘Probably she did.’

She took a step back. ‘What do you mean, probably? This is my job we’re talking about, as well a deal that all of our companies need.’ She snapped open her handbag and pulled out her BlackBerry.

‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m not going in there until I’m sure Ellis has had the heads up.’

Before she could call, Jason pushed the doorbell, and almost at once a steward in full livery answered, looking as though he had just stepped out of a Victorian novel.

‘Damn it, Jason!’ She elbowed him beneath the ribs, still trying to maintain as much dignity as possible in front of the steward as she shoved the phone back in her bag. ‘This is no joke.’

Jason caught the offending arm and folded it over his, whispering close to her nape. ‘Just relax, Dee. I’ll protect you from Ellis, and Marston.’ The brush of his lips across her earlobe barely registered above the storm of nerves in her stomach as the steward announced their arrival.

Marston’s soirees tended toward extravagance, according to Ellis, and Dee could tell immediately this little gathering was no exception. A large alcove held a small band, which played a Glenn Miller set. The main reception room, which had been turned into a dance floor, opened onto the large terrace decorated with fairy lights and citronella torches.

‘Daniels! It’s about time.’ Receding hairline moist and brow furrowed, Marston greeted Jason with a handshake. ‘Ms Rousseau was beginning to get a little worried about you. I see you’ve solved our little problem.’ He offered Dee a curt nod, and mopped his high forehead with a neatly folded handkerchief.

Dee didn’t care much for being referred to in the third person as “the little problem”; however, it was worth it to see the man sweat.

Marston had barely gotten greetings out when Ellis approached. The look on his face told Dee Yvette hadn’t informed him of the change in party plans. Just as he was about to speak, Jason tugged her toward the dance floor. ‘I’ve been waiting all evening to dance with you.’ He gave her an admiring look. ‘And well worth the wait, I’d say.’ He slid an arm around her to pull her close. ‘Sorry, Thorne. You left her at home alone. Now she’s mine.’

As Jason lapsed into French, which he knew Ellis didn’t understand, Dee figured it was probably a good thing that looks couldn’t kill.

‘Cantankerous lot, the French.’ Marston shook his head and watched as the two began to dance. ‘She’s got the whole damn Trouvères contingent eating out of her hand; I’ll say that for her.’

‘Did you ever stop to think it might be for good reason, Al?’ Ellis spoke to Marston, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Dee as she moved on the dance floor. Daniels led Dee with considerably more grace than Ellis would have liked. Ellis was not in the mood to be toyed with. If the bastard tried anything, Trouvères deal or not, he’d wish he hadn’t. With his mind on Dee and Daniels, Ellis missed the rest of Marston’s babble about the foibles of the French and something about Yvette insisting that Dee be at the party. It was only when Stacie appeared at Marston’s side that his attention was catapulted front and centre.

‘Oh Ellis, it’s so good to see you. It’s been ages. I hear congratulations are in order.’ She offered him a smile that could melt a heart of stone. ‘Nothing unusual in that for the Win-Win Guru, is there?’ Before Ellis could respond, she gave him a kiss on the mouth and a hug that, in his opinion, was a bit too close for polite company, but then that was Stacie.

He pushed her away.

‘I guess I don’t need to introduce my date, do I?’ Marston gave Stacie’s hand a squeeze. ‘Sorry I’ve been so distracted tonight, my dear. Business, I’m afraid. The French always have to complicate things, you know? I promise I’ll make it up to you.’ He kissed her cheek, then turned back to Ellis. ‘The last time Stacie and I partied together we were celebrating a coup she’d made with an impressionist exhibition from Russia. The woman has serious clout in the art world, you know?’

She batted impossibly long lashes and offered Ellis a pout that at one time he would have happily lapped off her face. ‘Sadly, Alan, Ellis doesn’t have time for the finer things in life.’

‘Damn shame, Thorne.’ Marston handed them each a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. ‘We all need a little culture from time to time. I hear Stacie’s bringing some your direction too, with the new gallery in Portland.’ As he spoke, his wandering gaze fell on Yvette across the room, where she dominated the small knot of people with whom she was in conversation. Her short silver hair complimented the black sheath that hugged her tall, athletic frame. She was probably Marston’s age, and still a beautiful woman in her late 50s, but Ellis knew Marston’s tastes ran toward much younger, much more agreeable women. He wondered what the hell the man was doing with Stacie. Marston lost his smile and nodded in Yvette’s direction. ‘If you’ll excuse me, must mingle. Don’t want ’em finding another excuse to ruin the party.’

For a second, Ellis and Stacie stood watching the dance floor in silence. Ellis had learned from experience that being paranoid where Stacie was concerned was actually just self-preservation. Though he had no doubt her efforts to make up for past transgressions were well intended, somehow, just like Garrett, they both ended up making matters worse rather than better and, in this case, matters were bad enough without her help. Dealing with Stacie was one more complication he really didn’t need this evening.

Stacie nodded toward the dancers. ‘The one in blue with the Trouvères hunk – she’s Beverly’s replacement?’

He shot her a quick glance. ‘How’d you know?’

‘Because you’ve been ogling her ever since the man whisked her away.’ She offered him a wicked smile. ‘Oh, don’t look so surprised. A woman can figure these things out, and you always did have exquisite taste in women.’

‘She’s my executive assistant, Stacie, not my woman.’

She ignored his comment. ‘Besides, Garrett did tell me that she was lovely. He certainly had nothing but good to report about her, and all I can say is it’s about time. I’m dying to meet her.’ She leaned in and brushed impossibly warm lips against his earlobe. ‘I hear she’s very good at her job.’

She’d barely gotten the words out when the music stopped. He noticed Dee say something to Daniels, then move through the milling guests toward them. ‘Excuse me.’ Ellis left Stacie alone and went to meet Dee. Taking her by the arm, he spoke between barely parted lips. ‘What the hell are you doing here, besides the obvious?’ He nodded to where Daniels now stood next to Yvette Rousseau and Marston.

She followed his gaze, then turned her attention back to him. ‘Yvette was supposed to call you. It appears I was shanghaied to prevent a possible disaster. Either that or I was duped. Not sure which.’

‘What disaster? What the hell’s going on? This better be good.’ He slipped an arm around her waist and guided her toward the balcony.

Before he could get her to a more private place, Stacie intercepted them and took his other arm. ‘Ellis, aren’t you going to introduce us?’

He forced a smile and ignored the gnawing in the pit of his stomach that intensified as the two women eyed each other from either side of him. ‘Dee, I’d like you to meet Stacie Emerson. She’s an old schoolmate of mine.’

Stacie took Dee’s hand in an enthusiastic grip. ‘I’m his ex-fiancée, actually, but that was a long time ago. I’ve been dying to meet the famous Dee Henning Garrett’s told me all about. Honestly, I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity, and I’m so happy for Ellis that he’s finally found someone. For his executive assistant, I mean.’

Dee showed no sign of surprise at Stacie’s little bomb. She simply accepted the handshake and offered that smile that could almost make Ellis forget he was mad at her. ‘If I’m the best you can do for excitement, I’m guessing you don’t get out much.’

As the band began to play
String of Pearls
, Marston approached the trio, his eyes on Stacie, but as he reached for her, she sidestepped and took Ellis’s arm. ‘At last, you finally find the woman of the hour without that Casanova from Trouvères hanging all over her. Now’s your chance to dance with the belle of the ball.’ She offered him an innocent smile. ‘Come on, Al, I know the two of you must have so much to talk about.’

Marston looked like he’d just swallowed a toad. ‘Ms Henning. If you would.’ He offered her his arm and led her stiffly toward the dance floor, leaving Ellis feeling stranded in dangerous territory.

Before he could confront Stacie, Daniels pushed his way through a small knot of people, his hand extended. ‘I’ve been talking to your executive assistant, Thorne.’

Ellis returned the handshake grudgingly. ‘So I saw.’

‘I hope Marston’s thanking her for coming to the rescue. Yvette is just unpredictable enough that she might have done something stupid.’ He nodded to where Dee and Marston were dancing, both looking like they’d rather be anywhere else.

Ellis had no idea what Daniels was talking about. Whatever it was, this was not the kind of conversation he wanted Stacie to overhear. But Daniels continued, ‘I can confidently speak for Trouvères when I say I’d love to steal her away from you. After what the poor woman’s been forced to put up with in the past few days, I wouldn’t blame her if she were looking elsewhere.’

If the man were any more smug, he’d have to have a bigger face to put his smirk on. But before Ellis could do more than just bristle, one of the reps from Scribal asked Daniels to dance, leaving Stacie and Ellis standing alone near the open terrace.

‘Oooh, he’s hot for her, Ellis. Don’t listen to him, though. Garrett says Dee’s exactly what you need, and I’m sure the Trouvères hunk won’t have any trouble finding someone when he looks like that.’ Stacie slipped her arm through his. ‘Hell, with a juicy package like that around, I’d follow him off to Paris.’

‘I’m sure you would, Stacie.’

She sat her glass on a nearby credenza and pulled him by the hand. ‘Come on, let’s dance. It’s been ages.’

Over Stacie’s shoulder, Ellis empathetically watched Dee with Marston. His own position was no less uncomfortable as Stacie did her best to pump him for information about Dee, and to be heard over the music, that meant pressing her well-displayed cleavage a little too close for comfort. ‘Anyway,’ she was saying, ‘when Garrett told me the news about you and Dee, I had to see for myself, and since Alan and I go way back, I figured I could wrangle an invitation from him. He may not look like much, but the man’s a lot of fun at a party normally. He seems a bit stressed tonight. That’s too bad. I mean, it is his birthday.’ Ellis kept pulling away in hopes Dee wouldn’t notice how close they were.

Stacie moved in again for the full frontal rub-up. ‘God, Ellis, Garrett’s right. You really do have it bad for her, don’t you? You can’t keep her eyes off her.’ She leaned in still closer, her lips brushing his ear. ‘Garrett thinks you’ve initiated the ESC with her.’

Ellis stiffened, feeling the words like a tight fist in his gut. He couldn’t believe his brother would blab to Stacie of all people about the Executive Sex Clause. Why not just broadcast it on Facebook and Twitter, for fuck sake? ‘I suppose Garrett neglected to tell you that he was drunk when he and Beverly schemed the ESC for my benefit.’

‘No. He told me that, but still, a woman doesn’t miss that look. And the way you look at her, Ellis, wow! I never thought I’d see the day. I can’t tell you how excited I am for you.’

The knot in his stomach tightened. The one thing he didn’t need was Stacie and Garrett being excited for him. The one thing neither he nor Dee needed was Stacie and Garrett trying to play match-maker. ‘Listen, Stacie,’ he began, forced to pull her close so she could hear him, hoping Dee wasn’t watching. ‘I don’t know what Garrett told you, but I really don’t need either of you to –’

Before he could finish, Marston tapped him on the shoulder. ‘If you don’t mind, Thorne, I’d like to cut the rug with Stacie now.’ He offered Dee’s hand to Ellis. ‘I’ve been a good host, now for my reward.’ He gave Stacie a cheek and jowl smile.

Ellis and Dee watched as Marston and Stacie waltzed off, both well into each other’s personal space. Then Ellis pulled Dee close, as though she were a child needing his protection. ‘Are you OK?’

She smiled. ‘Me? Marston’s the one you should be concerned about. I seriously considered stomping on the man’s foot with a nice pointy heel. He escaped just in time.’

The band began
Moonlight Serenade
, and Ellis stood looking dumbly at her, wondering how he could be both angry and enchanted with her at the same time. Finally, he willed his feet to respond to the music. Dee quickly caught his rhythm and they moved as a unit, like they always did, he thought.

‘I don’t know what’s going on with you and the Trouvères team, but you should have warned me,’ he said. ‘I don’t like finding out these things second hand.’

‘Believe me, I intended to. It all happened so fast. Jason showed up at the hotel in a panic and rushed me off to Marston’s. He promised me Yvette had informed you.’

‘Well, she didn’t. Daniels was out of line. Bringing you back in should have been my job.’

‘So where were you, then?’

He pulled her close, feeling her ribcage expand against his. ‘This isn’t funny, Dee. You made me look like I don’t know what’s going on with my own people. Again.’

She pushed him away. ‘And you made me look like the unethical person Marston believes me to be.’

‘That was never my intention, and you know it.’ His voice came out a harsh whisper against a backdrop of big band music.

‘Would you rather risk losing the deal? I’m supposed to be doing Beverly’s job, Ellis. You’d never rein her in for doing what needed to be done.’