chapter TWELVE
Two weeks had passed since Nick had spoken to Laney and still he could not forget the disdainful look in her eyes. He had not appeared at the following team meeting. Instead, he occupied his time in closed meetings and rarely remained in the office for an entire workday. He did it for Laney as much for himself. He wanted to see her but there was so much between them now that it seemed impossible to ever be on good terms with her again. In order to take a step back to normalcy, he returned to his regular schedule. He worked mostly from home, played golf whenever the weather permitted and ventured out on occasional dates. He kept his days busy, planning to keep himself too preoccupied to think about Laney or the Zelmans.
* * * *
It was a Wednesday morning when his secretary paged him in his office.
“Mr. Sinclair, you have William Zelman on line one.”
“Put him through please.” There was a pause before the booming voice of William Zelman took over the line.
“Sinclair! How are you, my boy?”
“I"m well, thank you.”
“And Laney?”
“She"s … she"s great. How is Vivian?”
He laughed. “Vivian is up to her old tricks. In fact, I am doing her bidding.”
“How so?”
“Vivian insists on having dinner with you and Laney and I can"t deny her anything. We enjoyed your company and seeing you two again would be a pleasure.”
“Uh ….”
“I wish to discuss some business matters, as well.”
Nick didn"t know how to take that statement. “Good news, I hope.”
“We shall see. So are we on for dinner?”
Nick could not possibly commit to this. “I"ll have to check with Laney.”
“Of course. How about next Tuesday night? That will give you a week toTalk her into it. Your place. Six o"clock. See you then.”
The line went dead.
Nick looked at the phone, stupefied by what had just happened. This was a nightmare. How in the world was he going to convince Laney to do this? He doubted he could get her to talk to him again, let alone help him.
The woman was determined to hate him.
Damn her!
The last thing he wanted to do was ask Laney for help, but he was on the brink of closing the Zelman deal. He could feel it. If he didn"t follow through with his plan, everything that had happened on the boat would have been in vain. All the arguments and passion between him and Laney would have been for nothing. The ill feelings between them now would all be for naught. He had to do this. It was what he had set out to do from the start. He wanted the Zelman account. Not as much as he once thought he did, but it was a question of principal now. He hated to lose, and if he had to get on his hands and knees to persuade Laney to cooperate with him then that is what he would do.
* * * *
“What part of “no” don"t you understand? How many times do I have to say it? I"m not having dinner with you, so stop sending the damn flowers.”
Laney slammed the phone down. One more week of this and she would pull her hair out. She had managed to postpone dealing with Rob for weeks, but he was beginning to press harder than ever. Flowers came twice a day, each bigger than the last. She"d had to start taking bunches home because they were flooding her office. As much as she hated to admit it, her showdown with Rob was quickly approaching. He had already threatened to come to her job to confront her. The logical part of her told her to have dinner with him and put the past to rest. But the coward in her feared that after all the heartache she had been through with Nick, she would crumble under Rob"s persuasion and take him back. She was jarred out of her thoughts when the phone buzzed.
“Ms. Parks, Mr. Sinclair would like to see you in his office.”
“Thank you, Linda.” She groaned silently. What did he want now?
Hadn"t he finished torturing her? When was enough enough?
“In trouble again?” Mary-Knight"s voice chimed. She stepped into Laney"s office and took a seat. “What did you do this time? Or should I ask, what didn"t you do?”
Laney gave her a tight smile. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I was going to ask you the same question.”
“Well, it seems you are full of questions today, Mary-Knight.”
Mary-Knight glanced around the flower-filled room. “You have some admirer, Laney. The parade of flowers seems to never end.” She arched her brow. “That reminds me. I never got the chance to ask how your cruise went.”
“Fine.”
“Really? I thought you were supposed to go with Rob.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “He called the office several times while you were out.” She plucked a flower and inhaled its sweet aroma. “I guess he missed the boat.”
Laney stood to leave. “I have a meeting to go to.” She indicated the door. “Do you mind?”
Mary-Knight smiled sweetly. “Of course not.”
Laney grumbled to herself as she made her way to Nick"s office on the upper level. It unnerved her that Mary-Knight knew anything about her personal life. It had been days since they"d spoken and she was brutally reminded why she hated her so much. Damn Nick! Why couldn"t he keep his word? She"d done all she could do to help him persuade William Zelman during the cruise. Damn him!
* * * *
Linda Goldman smiled when she saw Laney. “Go in, Ms. Parks. Mr.
Sinclair is waiting for you inside.”
“Thank you.”
She pushed open the large oak door that led into Nick"s office. He was seated behind his desk typing into his laptop. When he looked up, her heart stopped. As much as she hated him, she couldn"t help her attraction for him. His strong jaw line, flawless tanned skin and piercing blue eyes made her melt where she stood. The man became more attractive every time she saw him. It wasn"t fair!
“You wanted to see me?” She kept her voice steady.
He gave her a brief once-over before giving a curt nod. “Yes, have a seat.”
She remained where she stood, refusing to be ordered around by him any longer. He noticed her resistance and stood, walking around his desk to stand before her.
“Please, have a seat.”
His nearness unsettled her. She yearned to touch him, but she didn"t dare.
“Thank you, Mr. Sinclair, but I"d rather stand.”
His lifted his brow. “Is that all I am now? Mr. Sinclair?”
Taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eye. “We"re no longer in the Caribbean, Nick. We"re back in the real world. San Francisco. Here, you are my boss. Period.”
“I"m afraid that isn"t the end of it, Laney.” He pulled out a chair for her. “Please sit.”
She grudgingly consented.
As if deciding not to intimidate her by sitting behind his desk, he sat on its edge.
“I have one last favor to ask of you.”
“I"m sorry, I can"t help you.”
“I wouldn"t ask if it weren"t necessary, Laney.”
“I can"t, Mr. Sinclair.”
“Stop calling me that,” he snapped.
“That"s who you are ….”
“Spare me, Laney, I"m not speaking to you as your boss right now.”
“Then I"m not required to sit here and listen to you.”
She meant to leave but he prevented her by placing his hands on the armrests of her chair, trapping her in her seat. “I need you to listen, damn it.” He shrugged uncomfortably. “I know this isn"t fair to you, but I need you, Laney. I can"t do this without you.”
Her frown softened a little. She so hoped he would say the magic words that would fix everything between them. “What do you need?”
“I need you.” His gaze held hers for long seconds. “I need you to host a dinner party with me for the Zelmans.”
Her look went frosty. “You want me to what?” She could not believe what she was hearing. “I can"t believe you. Have you learned nothing from all this? You and I can barely be in the same room together and you want me to continue this farce with you?”
“This is the last time.”
“How do you know that, Nick? What if Will calls you a week from now and invites us to dinner? What will you do then?”
“Laney, I"m willing to compensate you for your time ….”
“It"s not about the money!” She pushed aside his hands and stood, practically feeling the steam coming from her ears. “I only did this to get a promotion. It was never about your damn money. I"m not like the women from your past. I won"t settle for money, and I don"t want anything to do with you!”
“Lower your voice. Do you want the whole world to know about this?”
She gasped. “Oh, I wouldn"t dream of exposing you, Nick.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. “The last thing in the world I would want to do is let anyone know you were involved with me.”
“Damn it, Laney! I didn"t mean it like that.”
There was a beep from his phone before his secretary"s voice could be heard.
“Excuse me, Mr. Sinclair, but you have Kimberly Dawson on line five. She"s confirming dinner plans.”
Nick swore. “Linda, tell her I"m in a meeting.”
“Yes, sir.”
Laney shook her head at him. “Don"t let me keep you. You should take that call.”
“We aren"t finished.”
“Yes, we are. I"m leaving.”
Nick moved to stand in her way. “Wait.” He held his hands up in surrender. “Forget Heidi. Forget Kim. Tell me what you want me to do. I know I"ve offended you in the past and didn"t handle things well between us. I see that, and I apologize. Just tell me how I can make it up to you.”
He pulled her hands to his chest. “Whatever you want, I"ll do it. I just need this last favor from you. I can"t have this dinner without you.”
It was a dark moment. In that instant, Laney understood that furthering his career by scheming his way into the Zelman account was more important to him than she could ever be. Her heart ached from the truth and she fought to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“I"ll do this for you, Nick, under one condition.”
“Anything.”
“I never want to see you again.” She withdrew her hands from his.
“Never.”
“Laney, be reasonable ….”
“You can e-mail me the details for the dinner. I promise I"ll be there.”
She walked to the door. Just before leaving she paused. “For the record, I"m more valuable than you think.”
And with that statement, she left the room, closing the door softly behind her. She had officially washed her hands of him.
* * * *
She was thankful Danny was not present when Nick"s limo parked in front of her apartment. She had no doubt he would have had a fatal heart attack. But the grandeur of riding in a limo did not compare to the splendor of Nick"s home. Tucked away in a plush forest, perched high in the hills, Nick"s estate unfolded before her. The car ascended a curvy drive before opening into a lush manicured lawn. A spiraling mansion with tall columns appeared and she could not hide her astonishment at his wealth. A man approached the car, opened the door for her and gave her a kind smile.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Sinclair. I"m Jeffery.”
Jeffery saw to her things and ushered her inside. She was then handed into the care of Nick"s housekeeper. Laney didn"t catch her name.
She was too busy admiring the numerous artworks strategically placed throughout the home as she was ushered to a guest bedroom. Upon delivering her things to her room, Jeffery announced that Nick was just leaving a meeting and would be home shortly. It felt odd to be in Nick"s home. Like his office, it was spacious and tastefully decorated--everything in its place. It was perfect.
She had arrived a few hours before the Zelmans were scheduled to appear. Taking her time applying her makeup, she slipped on her dress last. She wore a gold dress, which hung off her shoulder. She liked this dress as it complimented her shape without confining her, which was her preference tonight, seeing she hadn"t been feeling well lately. She admired herself in the mirror, assessing herself from different angles.
“You look beautiful.”
She turned to see Nick leaning against the threshold. “Thank you.”
She took in his neatly pressed suit. During their time on the boat together, she was used to seeing him in casual clothing, but she found he looked very comfortable and handsome wearing formal attire. “You look nice.”
“I clean up well.”
She turned away from him to give herself one last look-over in the mirror.
“Thank you for agreeing to do this, Laney.”
She responded by nodding her head.
“Laney.”
He whispered her name against her ear. She hadn"t realized he had moved. His tall body pressed behind her, the sudden heat from him making her shiver. She couldn"t move, could not even deny him should he plan to take her right here. He was about to say something when a soft voice murmured behind them.
“Mr. Sinclair,” Nick"s housekeeper called from the doorway. “Your guests have passed the gates, they will be here momentarily.”
“Thank you.” He looked down at Laney. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, refusing to look at him.
“You"ll need these.” Taking her hand, he carefully slid her wedding rings on her finger, applying his own before offering her his arm. “May I escort you to dinner, Mrs. Sinclair?”
She accepted his arm, needing the support. His nearness was a drug on her senses and she leaned into his side as he guided her down the staircase. She welcomed William and Vivian Zelman with a bright smile.
Both kissed her on the cheek, embracing her like a close family member.
Vivian was especially ecstatic to see her. “Laney, it"s so good to see you again!”
“Thank you for coming. I hope the drive here wasn"t too tiring.”
Vivian waved her hand in the air. “We would have been here sooner if Will hadn"t insisted on driving himself. He always gets lost.”
William shrugged. “You make one wrong turn and she won"t let you forget it.”
Laney patted his arm. “Well, we"re happy to have you over. Please come in.”
Laney looked over her shoulder, not entirely sure where they should go. Placing his hand on her hip, Nick guided her toward the formal living area.
“Please make yourselves at home.” He indicated a comfortable settee to their guests. “Dinner is almost ready.”
“Oh, do you cook, Nick?” Vivian leaned forward with interest.
“I prefer to watch safely from the sidelines.”
Vivian smiled. “You and Will have a lot in common.” She looked around the room. “Laney, I love what you"ve done to your home. Did you decorate it yourself?”
Laney looked around the room. It was a work of art. Deep ambers and reds, with a touch of violet were complemented by rich textures and smooth leather. It was very romantic and distinctly masculine. “I had a little help.”
“That"s an interesting piece.” William Zelman pointed to a painting on the wall. “Is that a Bellika?” He was looking at Laney when he asked that question.
She looked at the painting for the first time, her confusion obvious.
“Actually, it"s a McAllister.” Nick pretended to look guilty. “I"m afraid I purchased it without my wife"s approval.” He rubbed Laney"s thigh affectionately. “The artist is Coda McAllister. He"s out of New York. Very talented. I suspect he will soon be too expensive for me.
Vivian nodded. “I can"t get over how lovely your home is, Laney.”
Laney could only smile with false pride.
“Mrs. Sinclair.”
Laney was surprised to see a uniformed maid smiling at her.
“Dinner is ready, Mrs. Sinclair. Would you like the staff to prepare to serve?”
Laney had never been addressed by a maid before. It was an odd feeling. She couldn"t find the words to respond, giving an awkward nod in response. Nick helped her to her feet and led the way to the dining room.
Even she had to marvel at the beautiful room. Royal purple hues and shimmering gold filled the eyes. It was classically designed without being overwhelming. Vivian was more vocal about the ten-person glass dining table.
“This is gorgeous, Laney!”
“Thank you,” she said, finding her voice. “The room was recently featured in Traditional Living.”
“I love that magazine.” Vivian beamed. “You"ve certainly outdone yourself.”
Laney smiled, pleased she had remembered that piece of information.
Thank you Danny! She was beginning to relax. Dinner seem to fly by. One culinary masterpiece after another was presented. Laney was not only impressed by the endless dishes but by Nick"s staff, as well. Nick"s entire household staff treated her kindly and Nick was ever the gentleman. It helped her loosen up. The couples were jubilant in talking about their time on the cruise together. By the time dessert arrived, Vivian had initiated everyone into another one of her famous debates.
They moved into the sitting room for coffee. Nick stroked Laney"s back tenderly while they listened to Vivian argue with William about how he preferred his coffee. By now, Laney was pleased by how the evening went, but she was beginning to tire. She leaned into Nick"s side, too tired to worry that his hand had begun to stroke her upper thigh.
“Well, we should be on our way.” William came to his feet. “I can see
Laney is falling asleep.”
She blushed. “I"m so sorry, Will. Lately I find I can fall asleep standing up.”
Vivian hugged her. “Thank you for having us.”
Laney kissed her on the cheek. “You"re welcome anytime.”
Nick and Laney saw the couple out, watching their car drive down the lane before disappearing behind trees. Standing beside Nick with his arm around her shoulders, Laney was suddenly reminded of their reality. Nick didn"t care for her. The tenderness he had shown tonight had nothing to do with how he felt about her. He only wanted to deceive the Zelmans. She was nothing more than a pawn in his game, an end to greater means.
Silently, she pulled away from him and returned to the guestroom. She quickly changed into her casual clothes, desperately needing to get away from Nick and his perfect home. Gathering her things, she followed the stairs down to the foyer. Nick was waiting for her at the foot of the staircase, his face downcast, his eyes hooded by gold lashes. Tension hung heavy in the air.
She stood before him. “Congratulations, Nick. You pulled it off.”
“Thank you for coming, Laney.”
“We made a deal. I kept up my end, now it"s your turn.” She handed him an envelope. “This is for you.”
“What"s this?”
“The check you sent me. I never cashed it. I"m returning it. I would have mailed it, but I figured you wouldn"t want to risk someone seeing it. I know how private you are about your personal life.”
He shook his head. “This belongs to you, Laney.”
“I told you I didn"t want your money, and I meant it. I allowed you to treat me like a whore because that"s what I was.” She took a steady breath.
“My rings--your rings are inside.”
His eyes were intense when he looked at her.
“You worked really hard for this.” She tilted her head slightly, examining him. Stepping closer she reached up and tugged lightly at his tie, her touch delicate as she straightened the garment, smiling sadly when she was finished. She shrugged at the absurdity of her actions. “I"ve had a lot of practice.” Their eyes met and for a second she thought he finally understood the meaning behind those words.
Pressing her hand against his cheek, she kissed him softly on the lips. “I hope you got everything you wanted.” Her hand smoothed over the lapel of his dinner jacket, before falling limply at her side. And then she was gone. There was no heartfelt goodbye. She was simply there one moment and gone the next, the faint scent of her perfume still hanging in the air. Why did she have to be so damn proud, he thought? Why couldn"t she just turn around and say …. Well, he wasn"t sure what he wanted her say. He wasn"t even certain if words were necessary. If she would only stop and look at him, he was sure her eyes would say it all. But she hadn"t stopped. She"d kept right on walking, a briskness in her step as if impatient to get away from him. He wanted to pull her back, hold her close to him, force her to forget the bad times and start all over again. But he couldn"t.
Laney deserved better than that.
It was a moment of clarity. All this time he had been fighting to win William Zelman"s attention. It had become a ruthless game that he refused to lose. And damn if he hadn"t been chasing the wrong thing. Now she was gone. With a sigh of regret, he had to admit he had just lost the best thing that had ever happened to him.