An Executive Decision (27 page)

Chapter Thirty-nine

At home, McAllister and O’Kelly watched as Dee pulled a suitcase onto the bed and randomly tossed clothes into it. She didn’t know where she was going, but there probably wasn’t any place far enough away from here to ease her humiliation. She’d just go to the airport and pick a flight. Any flight would do at this point. She left a message with Kendra to ask if she could stay in the house and watch the cats again. She wasn’t sure how long, but she’d give her the details when she had them. She was glad Kendra hadn’t answered. The woman was tenacious when it came to figuring out what was going on, and Dee really didn’t want to try to explain the situation right now.

The sense of betrayal and loss ached deep in her chest. Was it really just a few hours ago Ellis had talked of inviting her to his home? She had to admit that, more than anything, she’d miss the closeness they’d come to share. Well, she’d have to get over it. After all, it was just a part of the job, and it wasn’t her job any more.

‘You’re prostituting yourself for the almighty dollar, that’s all you’re doing,’ her mother had screamed at her when she started working for Jasper and McDowell. She could only imagine what her mother would say about her situation now. She was glad she hadn’t told her.

It didn’t take her long to pack. Ignoring the ringing of her BlackBerry, she threw the bag in the Audi and headed for PDX. She’d call Harris once she knew where she was going and have him pick up the car and take it back home from short-term parking.

At least her healthy finances meant she had options. When she was ready to return to the work force, she was pretty sure she could get Yvette to hire her in the mailroom, if nothing else. Living in Paris would certainly be a plus, though it would be hard to leave her friends. And she wasn’t sure she was up for working with Jason.

In the meantime, she’d not been to Vienna to see her father since he moved. Seeing him would cost her, like always. He knew how to have a great time and would, no doubt, do his best to take her mind off things – as long as she paid. And she’d gladly pay if his efforts would work. Since she knew they wouldn’t, she’d have to decide if she wanted to be miserable in an exotic place with a father she barely knew, or miserable in the comfort of her own home with friends who would never say “I told you so”, no matter how much they might be thinking it.

Of course that would mean showing her face in public, all the while wondering if people were talking behind her back. She couldn’t picture Tally Barnes keeping quiet about the Sex Clause. What an ego she had to think she mattered that much in the scheme of things. At worst, it would all blow over in a few weeks and no one would even remember who the hell Dee Henning was. Somehow that wasn’t much comfort either.

She fought the traffic into the short-term parking garage at PDX still not entirely sure whether she’d go somewhere exotic or just get back on the freeway and drive. There were lots of gorgeous places in Oregon she could hole up until she felt able to face the world again, and they wouldn’t involve her sitting for hours on an airplane, trying to hold herself together until she could get somewhere she could fall apart in private.

There was a red Jeep in the space next to hers. It reminded her of the last time she’d been in Ellis’s Jeep. How could she ever have expected to keep something like the Executive Sex Clause a secret? If she were honest, she never really wanted to keep what was going on between her and Ellis a secret. In fact, the Executive Sex Clause seemed only a minor part of what the two of them had shared the past few months. She had never had such challenges and never shared the experience with such a worthy partner. It was all like a brilliant dream, and now it was time to wake up.

The waking world felt desolate without the challenges of Pneuma Inc. and the camaraderie of its CEO. Certainly she’d find no one who could understand and sympathise with her loss in Paris or Vienna. Ellis had betrayed her, she reminded herself. She should be furious. Instead, she felt a deluge of pain.

She sat for a long moment, the vision of the packed parking garage in front of her wavering in and out of focus as she fought back tears. Finally, she stopped fighting and let them come, let the pain of loss crash against her in waves, each one feeling as though it would pull her under and drown her. How could anything hurt so bad when she’d known Ellis such a short time?

She cried until there were no tears left to cry. Then she sat feeling dry and desolate until the world around her came back into focus and her mind was made up. There would be no going to Vienna, or to Paris. Her life, and the mess she’d made of it, was here, and that’s where she’d face it. It wouldn’t be easy, or pleasant, but at least here at home she wouldn’t face it alone. She’d call Harris and see if she could use the lake house for a while. It would be good to get out of the city and into the countryside.

Harris answered after one ring. ‘Dee, thank God! Are you all right? Where are you? Jesus, you had us worried stiff.’

‘I’m all right. I’m at the airport.’ Before she could say more he spoke again.

‘Dee, you’re not bringing sexual harassment charges against Ellis, are you?’

Her stomach dropped to her feet. ‘What? Of course I’m not. I’d never do that. What the hell’s going on?’

She could hear a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. ‘Well, rumour’s somehow gotten to the press that you’re going to. Ellis is nowhere to be found. He’s off looking for you, and Pneuma Inc. is crawling with press.’

‘Jesus, Harris, does he think I would do such a thing?’

‘I don’t know what the hell he thinks, Dee. I’ve been here with Wade all day, working on the photos and putting together the article for
Wilderness Vanguard
. When you walked out, the shit really hit the fan. You’ve not been answering your phone, he’s not been answering. I don’t know what he thinks.’

Dee wiped a hand over her face, then squared her shoulders. ‘Put Wade on the line, will you?’

Before the man could do more than say hi, she spoke. ‘Wade I need you to get Sandra to call a press conference. If the press wants a statement, I’ll give them one. I can be back to Pneuma in an hour at the most. I’m betting this is Jamison’s doing, and if Ellis won’t defend himself I will. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’

She hung up without saying goodbye, then punched in Ellis’s number, her throat clenching tight when he picked up almost before the phone could ring.

‘Dee. Dear God, where are you? I’ve looked all over. We have to talk.’

‘I’m heading back to Pneuma Inc., Ellis. I’ve asked Sandra to call a press conference right away, and you need to be there.’

For a second, there was silence, and Dee wondered if she’d lost the signal, then he said, ‘I’m on my way.’ The phone went dead.

It was only when Dee relaxed the suicide grip on the phone that she noticed there were a dozen text and at least that many missed calls from Ellis. There were several from Kendra and Harris and even a couple from Garrett. She’d have to listen to them later. Right now, she needed to get to the Pneuma Building and end this. Even if she could no longer work for Ellis, even if he had broken her confidence, it still wasn’t sexual harassment, and no matter what had happened between them, the man didn’t deserve this. She’d make it clear to the press that Ellis had done nothing out of line, then, once the press conference was out of the way, she’d call Harris and Kendra. They were her friends. In spite of their warnings about the Sex Clause, in spite of the mess she’d made of things, they would understand and love her anyway.

Chapter Forty

Ellis turned off his BlackBerry, stunned. For a horrible moment it felt as though all the oxygen had vanished and he’d never be able to breathe again. Even when the moments of panic passed and the next breath was no longer in doubt, the part that felt most horrible still remained. So Dee really was going to bring him up on charges, then? He felt an icy chill inside that had nothing to do with the legal implications for himself or Pneuma. That his reputation would be damaged mattered far less than the implication that what had happened between Dee and him had meant so little to her. That she had really believed he could have broken her confidence felt like a knife in his chest. He would take whatever she dished out to him. He had, after all, started it all in Paris when he couldn’t keep his hands off her. He deserved it, he supposed. It didn’t matter. It didn’t change how he felt.

So he would take it, settle out of court, give her whatever she wanted and move on. Though, at the moment, it was hard to imagine there’d ever be anything worth moving on to again. But he would still have the balls to be there to face his accuser. He wanted to look her in the eyes. He wanted to see her face when she accused him, when she said what happened was just an unethical wealthy bastard taking advantage. The thought caused bile to rise in his throat. Everything he hated, everything that repulsed him, everything that he’d worked so hard not to be a part of that involved money and power misused – he would now stand silently before the woman he loved while she accused him of just those things. He supposed he should call his lawyers, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He drove back into Portland feeling like the world had somehow opened beneath him and swallowed up his life and everything in it that mattered.

He would have been back to Pneuma Inc. in 20 minutes if not for the construction on I-5.

Dee would have rather skipped the trip to the Dungeon and hid out in her office until time to face the press, but Wade had made her promise to stop by as soon as she got to the Pneuma Building. She figured it was more so he and Harris could make sure she was fit to face the press, but she could certainly understand their concern after the way she’d cut and run. Best get it over with.

The din of raised voices and what sounded like something hitting the wall with a splat assured Dee, even before she entered the Dungeon, that Kendra was in the building. She felt a sudden surge of sympathy for Wade, having to referee the warring sides, but that was no longer her problem, and Stacie and Garrett would just have to fend for themselves against the other two-thirds of the Three Musketeers. She wasn’t very sympathetic.

Inside there was a huge splash of what she figured must be Diet Coke running down the wall above Wade’s ratty leather sofa, which was covered with ice and a smashed soft drink cup. Kendra stood with her arms folded across her chest, looking like lightning ready to strike. Garrett stood beside Stacie next to the ruined sofa, looking as though he’d like to make a run for it.

Before she could completely take in the war zone, Harris scooped her into his arms in a bear hug that was nearly bone-breaking. Kendra ploughed in next to him, practically smothering her in the effort.

‘Are you all right?’ Harris spoke fiercely against her ear, ‘Jesus, Dee, don’t ever do that to us again! You had us so worried.’

‘God Dee, I’m so, so sorry.’ Garrett seemed willing to risk life and limb by stepping forward. ‘You can’t really believe Ellis would ever deliberately hurt you. He –’

Before he could finish, Kendra whirled so quickly that no one saw it coming, and slapped him with a smack that sounded like the crack of a whip. He recoiled and cursed.

‘You shut up!’ she yelled. ‘You don’t have the right to talk to her, not after what you’ve done.’

He straightened and wiped a hand across his watering eyes. But before he could respond, Stacie said, ‘I think it’s best to keep your mouth shut, Garrett.’

Then Kendra turned on her. ‘Oh, and look who the fuck is talking? That’s really rich, one big mouth telling another to be quiet.’

Stacie bristled. ‘Oh right, and you come marching in here like you know something, like you know what you’re talking about.’

Dee was sure Stacie was about to receive some of what Garrett had gotten, but Harris grabbed Kendra by the arm and pulled her back. ‘Stop it, Ken. Leave it.’ His voice was soft, dangerously soft.

‘Finally, level heads prevail,’ Stacie said. ‘If you’d just listen, just let us explain –’

Harris cut her off at the pass. ‘Kendra’s a lightweight compared to me, lady, so don’t push it.’

The Dungeon erupted in chaos, with everyone yelling at once and accusations flying fast and furious until a loud, shrill whistle cut through the noise. They all turned to find Wade standing with a referee whistle in his hand. ‘Shut the fuck up, all of you. Now!’

The room fell silent. Harris and Kendra moved to flank Dee. Garrett and Stacie stood behind Wade’s raised arm like they were waiting for a traffic cop to give the all clear for crossing a busy street.

‘Dee, we never meant to hurt you, either of you. That’s the last thing we wanted,’ Garrett managed before Wade placed a brusque finger to his lips.

When he was satisfied with the resulting silence, Wade turned his attention back to Dee.

‘You all right?’

She was sure he knew the answer to that, but she squared her shoulders and nodded. ‘I’ll manage.’

‘You’d better go, then,’ he said. ‘Sandra’s waiting for you, and the press is gathering in the atrium.’ He glanced around the room at the angry factions glaring at each other. ‘I’ll keep the peace.’

Dee started to leave, then turned back and threw her arms around Wade. ‘It’s been a real pleasure working with you,’ she said, struggling to keep her voice neutral, to keep emotion as far away as she could for as long as she could, at least until after the press conference, then she could safely fall to pieces. Before he managed more than an awkward pat on her back, she turned and left.

Back in her office, Dee paced the floor. Ellis was stuck in traffic. He’d called his secretary, not her. It had hurt that he’d done that, and it made her angry that it hurt. What did she expect him to do? What did she want him to do? The damage had been done. There could be no going back to how it was. Now the whole world knew, or at least strongly suspected. But she still wouldn’t let that bastard Jamison destroy a man who was a hundred times the man he’d ever be.

The place had been like a madhouse since she’d returned to Pneuma. Sandra had informed her that Tally Barnes had been fired for selling information to Terrance Jamison. It came as no real surprise, after all the woman had put her through.

It was still a struggle to get her head round the fact that she didn’t work for Pneuma Inc. any more. She’d find a graceful way to exit without the press knowing as soon as they could stop Jamison in his tracks. It was about damage control now, she told herself. That was all. And still she ached with an emptiness she’d not known before. How could this place, and the man who created it, matter so much to her in such a short time?

There was a gentle knock on her door. Sandra stuck her head inside. ‘You’ve got to go down, Dee. You’ve kept them waiting long enough. Ellis will be here when he gets here. Even the press will understand construction work on I-5.’

The words were encouraging, but Dee knew they weren’t true. Without Ellis by her side, the press would only assume his lawyers were keeping them in separate rooms and that she was being paid off to keep her mouth shut. Without him by her side, she wasn’t sure she could get them off the fresh blood scent of sensationalism, and that’s exactly what it would be: Ellis’s name splashed all over the papers, caught in a sex scandal, a sex scandal that never happened. But that wouldn’t matter to the press, would it? They didn’t care.

‘Dee?’ Sandra said quietly.

Dee forced a smile and prepared to leave the room. ‘All right, Sandra, time to face the music.’ The secretary flanked her, feeling almost like a bodyguard, and Dee was sure she couldn’t have had a better one.

In the hall, Lynn gave them a nod. ‘He’ll be there as soon as he can and he’ll go straight to the atrium.’

For a sick second, Dee wondered if she could possibly distract them for a few minutes with a ballad from
Cats
. Her mother would be pleased if she finally got the chance to use her musical talents.

In the elevator, she checked her appearance one last time. She looked every bit the professional she was. But at the moment she felt anything but. She felt like she wanted to crawl into a corner and cry for the next few weeks or so. That would have to wait. The elevator opened. A part of the main atrium had been quickly set up for the press conference and her stomach did a little clench when she saw just how full the space was.

She barely had time for a quick breath before the first reporter caught sight of her, the first camera flashed, a murmur passed through the crowded room. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and made her way up to the podium, through the flash of cameras and the whispers of the reporters. None of that mattered. All that mattered at the moment was that she do all she could to make sure Ellis’s reputation remained undamaged by everything that had happened.

For a long second, she looked out over the sea of expectant faces. A camera flashed, and then silence fell. All eyes were on her. Now was the time to do what Dee Henning had earned a reputation for over at Jasper and McDowell: building bridges, making connections, and earning people’s trust. She offered what she was certain passed for a relaxed smile.

Ellis froze at the elevator door, just out of sight of the reporters and cameras, his eyes locked on Dee as she mounted the podium, took in her audience with a calm smile, and addressed them with the sure, quiet confidence he’d come to expect from her. In spite of what he was anticipating, he felt proud.

For a brief second, she looked around her audience, almost as though she were making eye contact with every single person there, almost as though she spoke to each one personally. A camera flashed. She paused for another fraction of a breath and Ellis could see the whole audience pressing forward toward her as she began to speak.

‘The opportunity to work for Pneuma Inc. under the tutelage of Ellison Thorne is every MBA student, every aspiring executive’s dream. I was no exception. And when I was given the opportunity, of course I jumped at the chance. But I wasn’t prepared.’

The knot in Ellis’s chest felt like it would choke him. He stood paralysed, unable to move, waiting for the accusation. He should move now. He should move to face her, to stand next to her while she told the world about the Executive Sex Clause. But he couldn’t move, he couldn’t breathe. He felt the press of Wade, who, out of nowhere, now flanked him on his right. Lynn stood to the left policing his brother and Stacie and Harris Walker and some other woman he’d never met. Probably another one of Dee’s friends waiting to tear him a new one once Walker got through with him. It didn’t matter; none of it mattered any more. Even surviving the next moment seemed questionable as he braced himself.

Dee took a deep breath and continued. ‘How could I have been prepared to step into the shoes of another one of my heroes, and a dear friend, Beverly Neumann, after her tragic death? And yet, Ellis Thorne took me on board, unprepared as I was. And the experience has been way beyond anything I could put into words.’

‘Ms Henning,’ one brash reporter in the front row interrupted, his arms folded defiantly across an ill-fitting sports jacket. ‘Did Ellison Thorne sexually harass you?’

There was a murmur among the crowd. Ellis would have flattened the man if Wade hadn’t grabbed him by the elbow. But then Dee always could take care of herself.

‘Mr Pittman – that is your name, isn’t it?’ she said.

The man nodded. He seemed surprised that she knew who he was.

‘Please let me finish?’ Before the man could do more than offer a couple of fish gasps, Dee continued, ‘Ellison Thorne most certainly did not harass me sexually, or any other way, and I find the idea that anyone could even think such a thing totally absurd. Every one of you in this room has covered the man and his company extensively at one time or another. Surely you knew better. All of you.’

Again there was a murmur among the crowd. And for a second Ellis heard nothing else, felt as though he’d just been saved from certain death. There was air in his lungs, and it was sweet. There was light pouring in through the atrium’s large windows, and it was suddenly brilliant. It wasn’t that she hadn’t accused him so much as it was she had defended him. Dee Henning had defended him.

‘Then where is he, if he’s as morally upright as you say?’ The rude reporter up front said again. ‘And why are you here alone?’

And suddenly Ellis came back to himself. ‘She’s not here alone,’ he said, feeling all eyes suddenly on him. ‘I was delayed by construction on I-5.’ There was a nod of understanding as he moved up between the reporters to the podium, his eyes locked on Dee. Her eyes locked on him. The flash of cameras was suddenly nothing but a minor peripheral irritation.

For a second, the two stood gazing in each other’s eyes, surrounded by the expectant silence of the reporters, and Ellis wished like hell everyone would go away. There was so much he needed to say to Dee, so much he wanted to make right, and every second he had to wait to do that seemed like an eternity.

But the abrasive Mr Pittman would not be put off. ‘Mr Thorne, did you sleep with Ms Henning?’

For a second, Ellis ignored him, not wanting to take his eyes off Dee. Then he turned to face the sea of reporters all splashed with sunlight from the atrium’s skylight and brushed with the shadows of fronds and leaves and flowers that softened the space of glass and steel, fronds and leaves and flowers that Beverly had insisted upon. He looked out over the space he and Beverly and Wade had created together, and it seemed more beautiful than he ever remembered it being. He took one more quick glance at Dee, who shone brighter than anything else in the room, then addressed Mr Pittman and everyone else in the room, and everyone else in the world. ‘Yes, I slept with Dee Henning.’