Drive and Determination (10 page)

Chapter 9

           
“
I
am in no mood to go anywhere with you, Will. Just leave me be.”
            His hand on her elbow tightened. “We won’t be long, and like I said, you won’t regret it.”
            She looked up into his face fully expecting to see his features determined and set. Instead of seeing the face of a ruthless man issuing a command that she better not refuse, she saw the light of encouragement in his eyes and a reassuring, albeit small smile on his lips.
            She looked down and grudgingly took her purse from him. “Then let’s get this over with.”
            They walked out to the parking area where Manuel was standing by the limo. He seemed surprised when he saw Elyssa returning with his boss and greeted her cheerfully. He then looked back at Will with a question on his face.
            Will said something to him in Spanish and Manuel seemed even more surprised but nodded. They continued to speak, and Elyssa was only able to pick out a few words here and there that she understood. But there was one thing for certain -- Will could certainly speak the language and he could speak it well. The words easily rolled off his lips, and Elyssa, despite her novice ears, thought he spoke well enough to have been born here.
            She did not realize that she was gaping at him, quite capriciously enjoying the sound of his voice as he spoke, when he stopped and turned to her. “Is something the matter, Elyssa?”
            “I didn’t think you could speak Spanish.” She blurted it out before she even thought.
            Elyssa was met with a look of disbelief on Will’s face. “Why would you think that?”
            Elyssa suddenly wished she could take back those words. How ridiculous it was to believe that!
            Not wanting to appear as foolish as she felt, she muttered, “I had only observed you speaking English to Manuel. I thought that was because you couldn’t speak Spanish.”
            Manuel laughed softly. “No, Miss Elyssa, he speaks English for my sake, so I can improve my language skills.”
            “Oh,” she replied sheepishly.
            Will was staring at her incredulously, his arms folded across his chest.
            “So you were under the impression that I don’t speak the language.”
            Elyssa bit her lip and looked down. She murmured an affirmative.
            Still grinning over this whole situation, Manuel said, “You’d have a difficult time around here, wouldn’t you, Señor Denton, if you didn’t speak the language as well as you do.”
            Elyssa was more than eager to put this conversation behind her when a thought occurred to her. She looked back up at Will. “Wait a minute! Why were you speaking Spanish to Manuel just now?”
            Manuel raised his eyebrows and laughed. “He told me where we were going and swore me to secrecy not to tell you.” A more subdued look passed over Manuel’s face. “He also told me what you just found out. Lo siento, Señorita Barnett. I’m sorry. It must have been very upsetting.”
            Elyssa nodded. “Thanks, Manuel.”
            “Well,” Will began. “Shall we go?”
            Elyssa looked at him sharply. “I would still like to know where we’re going.”
            “You’ll find out soon enough,” Will answered.
            Manuel walked over to the car and opened the back seat door. Elyssa decided she was in no mood to argue about where she was going to sit, so she stepped in. She looked in and saw two rows of plush seats facing each other. She surmised this was so that if there were four people in the car, they could easily carry on a business meeting.
           
How convenient!
 she thought to herself.
Is that why I’m here? For a meeting? About his project?
            The inside of the car was very spacious and elegant and as she slid in, her hand swept over the supple leather seat cover.
            Will slid in after her and sat on the seat across from her and at the other end.
            He leaned back into the seat and drew his hands together, entwining his fingers slowly. He seemed content to just silently watch her.
            Elyssa swallowed hard. When she looked up, their eyes met and she could suddenly feel the pace of her heartbeat increase. She was struck with the absurd thought that his deep brown eyes were very soft.
            She shook her head to rid it of its unwanted wanderings. “Will you tell me now where we’re going?”
            “If I did, you’d just tell me to turn right back around and take you home.”
            Elyssa sharply turned her face away from him so she was looking out her window.
He can be so infuriating!
 she thought.
            It was more than just his wanting to take every situation into his own hands. She had no idea how to deal with this conflict of feelings she was beginning to experience. She found it more and more difficult to hold on to that anger towards him that had previously so consumed her. In the last few days she found that she had to remind herself that she was angry at him and to jog her memory as to all the reasons why. She was annoyed that she was gradually seeing little things in him that actually attracted her to him. She grit her teeth tightly together. Now
that
made her angry!
            The look of annoyance that swept swiftly across Elyssa’s face did not escape Will’s notice. He very briefly considered throwing in his “trump” card, but just as quickly dismissed it. He was certain she would be pleased with what he desired to do in Janet’s memory at the pre-school, but details were still being worked out. The owner of the property next door was not to be found. Until he could tell her it was a done deal, he would have to wait.
            Besides, he thought, as he looked over at her, he wanted her to like him for who he was and not what he -- or his money -- could do.
            They drove for about fifteen minutes in silence; Will never receiving or making a call and neither speaking to one another. Both were lost in their own thoughts and the streets of the city passed by in a blur.
            Manuel finally pulled the car over and Elyssa looked out in surprise. All she could see was a small amusement park. It had the kind of rides the traveling companies had that would pull in for a special weekend and set up for a few days and then leave.
            “What are we doing here?” she asked.
            “You’ll see,” was Will’s only answer.
            Manuel got out and opened her door while Will let himself out.
            “I am really in no mood for an amusement park!” she said firmly, remaining in the back seat. “If you think I will receive any amusement at such a place -- particularly after what just happened -- you are sorely wrong.”
            Will walked around and reached in for her hand. “We’ll only be here a short while. Trust me.”
            He took her hand, wrapping his fingers around it a little too warmly for Elyssa not to feel a shiver go through her. He gently pulled and Elyssa reluctantly stepped out.
            “We’ll return shortly, Manuel.”
            Manuel chuckled. “Yes, sir.”
            They walked into the small park with Will still holding lightly to her hand. Elyssa looked around at the children squealing on the rides. Concession stands sold food and drink and everyone seemed in a most jovial mood. This was certainly
not
what she was in the mood for.
            “Are we here because they have the best tacos in Guatemala?” she asked mockingly, trying to rid herself of the feeling that it felt very right for her hand to be wrapped in his.
            “No,” he answered and walked up to a ticket window. “Dos, por favor,” he said, ordering two tickets and he finally released her hand.
            “I don’t do roller coasters,” she lied. While she truly loved them, the ones that looked like they were just thrown together like a set of children’s building blocks didn’t sit well with her. She clasped the hand he just released with her other and noticed how warm it felt.
            “No roller coasters,” he said. He seemed to know exactly where he was going and all Elyssa could do was follow.
            He gently nudged her to a small line. “Here,” he said, extending his hand toward the ride opposite them.
            “Bumper cars? We’re going on the bumper cars?”
            He turned and looked down at her. His face grew serious as he said, “If we are to spend the next few days together, something has to change. You, obviously, are still quite angry with me. So…” and here he paused and looked toward the ride, “I want you to take out all your anger and pummel me to death in there.”
            Elyssa’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
            The ride stopped and everyone stepped out, allowing those in line to scramble in and find a car. This also prevented Elyssa from responding. That was fine with her, as she had no idea what to say to him. Something resonated deep within her that he would recognize her feelings toward him and actually want to do something about it.
            “Let’s go.” Will looked at her, encouraging her to go along with this with his eyes.
            Elyssa found a vacant car and climbed in, feeling a surge of anticipation.
Yes,
 she thought,
I will gladly take out my anger and bitterness towards you! Just you wait, Mr. William Denton!
            Once settled and buckled in, she watched as he climbed into another small car. His legs were so long that his knees practically came up to his chin and Elyssa struggled to stifle her giggle. He already looked uncomfortable and the ride hadn’t even begun.
            When everyone was secure in their cars, the ride began. Elyssa turned her car in Will’s direction and applied her foot to the pedal. She was so intent on aiming hers toward his that she was surprised when a car hit her from behind, lightly jostling her. She began laughing and somehow knew she was going to really enjoy this.
            Will sat in his car, with seemingly no intention to try to aim for her or even avoid her. She was grateful for a fairly open space between her car and his and she sped towards him. He looked at her and lifted up his hands in surrender as she hit him soundly on the left side of his car. It jerked him back and he allowed his car to remain where it stopped.
            Elyssa turned around and drove away from him, so she could gather up some speed for the next attack. While she was going, she pointed Will out to the others, hoping they might join her in the assault.
            Again and again she hit his car as others joined in. While the ride was perfectly safe and fun, she knew he was being jostled with every hit. Each time she rammed his car, she found herself inexplicably laughing more and more.
            When the ride finally came to an end, Elyssa triumphantly, but quite
gingerly, stepped out of the car. She had suffered enough hits from others and felt the effects, but her slight discomfort did little to erase the victorious smile upon her face. She watched as Will struggled to climb out of the car, his cramped limbs rejoicing at their sudden freedom; his body aching slightly from every hit. His eyes met hers as he stretched out, and he did not seem inclined to turn his gaze away.
            His intense gaze unnerved her, so she resorted to levity. “I see you survived the assault.” She couldn’t prevent a laugh from escaping.
            “Barely. I’m sure I will feel even worse tomorrow.” He rubbed his side vigorously. “You were quite ruthless out there.”
            “You didn’t put up much of a defense.”
            He only shrugged and they returned to the car.
            Manuel laughed as he watched them coming towards him. Will walked with a slight limp and his hand vigorously rubbed his side.
            “It looks like a hot bath is in store for you tonight, sir. And should I arrange a massage?”
            “I can think of only one or two things that sound better than that, but unfortunately I have work at the office to do first.”
            He glanced at Elyssa, grateful that both the anger and distant look in her eyes had been replaced by a playful liveliness. He hoped that was a good sign.
            Manuel looked at Elyssa. “Your face is luminous, Elyssa.”
            “Why, thank you, Manuel.” Elyssa’s heart was also beating erratically, but Manuel could not know that. She wanted to attribute it all to the fun she had just had, but she began to wonder if it was because of Will.
            They rode in silence for a while. For Elyssa, it was due to her surprise at such a seemingly uncharacteristic scheme on Will’s part. Did he truly care whether she harbored resentment toward him? If so, why? A smile intermittently tugged at the corners of her mouth, as hard as she tried to prevent it.
            She looked away, conflicted in her feelings. What he had set out to do by taking her on the bumper car ride had done exactly what he had desired. She was now angry with herself for the tender feelings that his actions had prompted to grow in her. She had to tell herself he chose to do this only because he was not used to women behaving in such a way around him. Like the young girl in the shop in Antigua, the majority of women most likely pampered him and fawned over him.
            A voice broke her reverie. “Is that a smile I see, Miss Elyssa Barnett?”
            She tried to wipe it from her face before she turned to look at Will, but she found it to be too difficult. “And what if it is?”
            “It’s nice to see,” Will answered. “I haven’t seen too many of them gracing your face while you’ve been here.”
            His actions just now had disarmed her. It was so unlike what she would expect from him. Looking over at him she asked, “What made you do that?”
            “Do what?” he asked with an exasperatingly straight face.
            “The bumper cars.”
            “Did you not enjoy yourself?”
            “Oh, immensely,” Elyssa said with a little too much enthusiasm.
            “It was something my father did with me once.” Will tilted his head and looked at Elyssa.
And something I had to do with Gina just a few weeks ago,
 
he added silently to himself.
            Will glanced out the window and it seemed to Elyssa that he was drifting back in time. “My father had promised me something -- I forget what it was -- but because of something that came up in the office, he had to cancel the plans we had made. I was very upset and angry with him. I think he understood my anger and disappointment and took me to a small amusement park in Chicago. There, while standing in line for the bumper cars, he told me he was very sorry, but that occasionally there were things he would have to do at work that would cause me disappointment. He told me that he preferred I take out my anger at him with the bumper cars and not in my relationship with him.”
            Elyssa stared at him, touched by the story. “And?” she asked.
            “I have long forgotten what it was that made me so angry with my father, but I have never forgotten what he did.” His gaze drifted back to Elyssa; his intense eyes burning into hers. “I was hoping it might do the same for you.”
            Elyssa opened her mouth to say something, but surprisingly, nothing came out.
            When she didn’t say anything, Will continued, “I know you’ll never forget your sister. I don’t expect you to. I was only hoping you might…” He took in a deep breath. “…you might not blame me -- at least totally -- for hers and Chad’s death.”
            Elyssa had never seen him appear so vulnerable. While she knew this must be difficult for him, she was not sure she could do that. She was not sure she
wanted
to do that. Blaming him for Janet’s death ensured she would never fall for him. Despite his actions in the past hour -- and occasionally in the past couple of days -- she had to remember the type of man he still was when it came to his career. She doubted he would ever have time for his family, if he even chose to have one.
            Elyssa was silent for a moment as she considered her words. “I must confess pounding you with my car back there released a bit of my anger towards you.” She could not hide the smile that returned to her face. “You looked absolutely contorted in that small car and I loved it!”
            “Too much, I dare say.”
            When they reached the housing complex, Will helped her out of the car. “We’ll be leaving early in the morning for Lake Atitlan. Pack comfortable and conservative clothes enough for three days. The people in these villages are not as modern as here in the city.”
            Elyssa nodded. “What time should I be ready?”
            Will looked at Manuel. “Manuel, what time
do you think we should leave to get us there at a reasonable hour?”
            “Ten o’clock would be fine. That should get us to Panajachel by about noon and then the boat ride to the village is about forty-five minutes.”
            Will looked back at Elyssa. “Ten o’clock it is, then. Let me see you to your door.”
            “No, thank you. I can manage. Goodbye, Will. Goodbye, Manuel.”
            They both uttered their goodbyes simultaneously as Elyssa turned to walk inside. Will kept his eyes on her and Manuel watched
him
most curiously. He had driven his boss around Guatemala for several years and had seen him interact with several different ladies. There was something very different about the way he acted with Elyssa. He took a deep breath and shook his head as he contemplated whether or not it was a good thing.
            Elyssa was grateful to step back inside the apartment. She closed the door and collapsed into a chair. She needed time alone to think. Janet and Chad’s apartment had a way of bringing her back to reality as she thought back to the events of the day.
            The morning had brought the revelation that Janet had been pregnant when she died. Elyssa’s intense grief upon making that discovery had been actually tempered by Will’s sudden appearance and consoling arms. But what did he really do but put his arms around her? She pounded her fist against the arm of the chair. Why did the recollection of his arms about her suddenly seem more prominent than the memory of her grief?
            Yesterday, in the car on the way to Antigua, he spoke on his cell phone most of the way. He had been upset by something and issued orders and demands as if no one else mattered. Did he even care about his employees and their families and how they might suffer from their loved ones not being able to come home for having to satisfy all his demands?
            Why, when she had promised herself she would never fall for him, was that becoming more and more difficult?
            And then there were the bumper cars.
            Elyssa slumped down into the chair. It was true. Her intense anger and resentment toward him was waning. But she was seeing a side of him that was not his real life. Snippets of conversation came back to her as she realized he was basically cold-hearted and manipulative. Even the bumper cars had been a form of manipulation to rid her of her anger so he would not have to endure her wrath these next few days.
            “I just have to remember that,” she said to herself. “He will still be the same man he always was once he returns to the States.”
            She sat down on the floor next to the box of Janet’s things and picked up the journal, gently stroking it. “What will I find in here that will help me, Janet? Will I find any answers?”
            She closed her eyes as they swelled with tears. “And what will I find in this little village that you found so captivating?” She put the journal down and closed her eyes.
            George had told her that the lake, with three volcanoes surrounding it, could be one of the most romantic places one ever visits. She felt her chest tighten as she contemplated spending three days there with Will. Was it because she loathed his company… or was it because she feared falling in love with him?