Chapter Four (by Mary)
Jack covered the distance to Erica's desk, smiling when she reached out and grabbed his tie to pull him closer. She backed up against the desk, bringing him with her. Jack placed his arms on either side of her and stared down at her with a mixture of desire and amusement.
"So, what exactly did you have in mind?" he asked her seductively.
"Exactly what you had in mind," Erica said coyly. "Although, since you're technically my boss, I wouldn't want anything that happens between us in this office to be, shall we say, misconstrued… so I don't think my going over to your desk is a good idea. Besides, my desk is bigger," she added practically, loosening his tie and dropping it to the floor.
Realizing she was serious, Jack felt the familiar rush of excitement that he always felt when they were together. He let his fingers brush her skin ever so lightly as he began to undo the buttons on her blouse. "So, I guess I can take this as an apology?" he asked teasingly.
"Really, Jack, I don't think I have anything to apologize for," she said huffily. "I may have overreacted slightly, maybe even been a little, um–"
"I think the word you're looking for is jealous," he said helpfully, bending down to kiss her neck.
"I was not!" she immediately protested. "Well, maybe a little."
"I love it when you're jealous," he told her, laughing softly, "though not always at the moment that it's happening." He drew back to look at her seriously. "I love you," he said deeply. "You know I love you and what's more, I know that you know I love you."
"That may all be true," she admitted, "But I'm not so sure that Mariele knows that you love me."
He undid the last button on her blouse and pushed it from her shoulders, running his tongue from her shoulder up her neck to her ear. "Let's not talk about Mariele anymore," he said huskily.
"You're right, let's not talk anymore . . . period," Erica said breathlessly, tugging on his hair and bringing his mouth to hers. He pushed her gently back onto the desk as his mouth devoured hers, using his tongue to part her lips and gain entrance to her mouth. She met his tongue with her own, kissing him passionately as her fingers quickly unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it loose from his pants. Their clothes were quickly discarded as their kisses grew more passionate.
The afternoon sun gave way to dusk as they became lost in one another, giving in to the familiar passion that always existed between them, until neither one remembered that the afternoon had started on a less than promising note.
———
Jack frowned as he studied his copy of the spreadsheet for what seemed like the tenth time. No matter how many times he reviewed it, it just didn't add up. Kendall was right, the upgrades to the Pine Valley offices had somehow thrown everything off, yet the projections from the previous month had seemed foolproof.
He logged on to his computer and went to Cambias' history file, scanning all happenings in the previous month. He stopped when he saw Mariele's firm's name start popping up in connection with the move of Cambias Industries' main offices to Pine Valley a month or so before Bianca asked him to take over the reigns as CEO. His phone rang and he picked it up absently. Kendall's voice came through with a sense of urgency. "Jack, have you looked at those figures again?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied. "How about you?"
"I've been studying it all afternoon, and Jack, I swear these are not the figures I based my recommendations on," Kendall said. "I don't understand it. What is going on?"
"I'm not sure," he said. "I'm going to have to investigate this more fully. And Kendall, remember what I said, not a word to anyone."
"I know, I won't," she said. "I'm just glad you're on it."
Jack hung up the phone and looked at the clock. Realizing that if he didn't hurry he was going to be late picking up Reggie and Lily for the promised hamburgers, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. The spreadsheet and its unanswered questions would have to wait until morning but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong.
———
Erica took a deep breath and rang Bianca's doorbell. It was the first time she had been to the bungalow. She had known where it was, of course, and had wanted to see it but an invitation hadn't been forthcoming. She knew she was pushing things but it was obvious that Bianca was not going to respond to her overtures so she gathered her courage and decided to take matters into her own hands. The door swung open and Bianca stood there with Miranda in her arms. She looked flustered and then surprised when she saw her mother.
"Mom, hi, what are you doing here?" she asked, staring at Erica and the takeout bag that she was carrying.
"I know I should have called," Erica said, "but I was afraid you'd say you were busy. I was hoping that you haven't had dinner yet." She held up the bag from The Serving Spoon.
Bianca looked undecided for a moment and then said, "No, I haven't eaten. I'm having a tough time getting Miranda settled for the night. She's been fussy all day for some reason."
Erica followed Bianca into the bungalow. It was the perfect place for her daughter, she decided, with its cozy rooms, flowered wallpaper and country décor. It was just the kind of house that Bianca had wanted since she was a little girl. Erica smiled when she saw the window seat in the living room, remembering how Bianca had liked to sit on the one in her room and read when she was young.
"I'm just going to try to get her settled," Bianca said, disappearing down the hall toward the bedrooms.
Erica walked over to a collection of framed photographs on a table near the window seat. She smiled at the pictures of Bianca with Jack, with Kendall and with Miranda. Her gaze lingered on a collection of pictures of her and Bianca together, ranging from when Bianca was a little girl to as recently as the trial. She felt her spirits rise slightly. If Bianca cared enough to display these pictures, she thought, there was still hope for their relationship.
Bianca came back in and sank down in a chair. Erica opened The Serving Spoon bag and arranged the food on the coffee table. "You look exhausted, honey," she said. "I'll find what we need in the kitchen."
She came back in with plates and utensils and was pleased to see Bianca start eating right away.
"This is delicious, Mom, thanks," Bianca said with a weary smile. "So, how are things going at Cambias?"
"Surprisingly well," Erica admitted. "I'm really enjoying it. Jack was absolutely right about me needing to be involved in something again."
"How are things going with you and Uncle Jack?" Bianca asked.
Erica blushed, thinking back to earlier that afternoon. "Things are wonderful," she said, "Better than I ever thought they could be after everything that's happened."
"I keep expecting to hear that the engagement's back on," Bianca said.
So do I, Erica thought to herself but smiled and said to Bianca, "We're taking things slowly. So, how is Miranda? I didn't really get a chance to see her."
"She is usually the happiest baby in the world," Bianca said, "But lately she's been really cranky, crying a lot, waking up at night again…"
"Maybe she's getting a tooth," Erica suggested. "She's around the right age."
"Do you think so? I hadn't really thought about that," Bianca replied.
"Well, take a look tomorrow when she wakes up. You might be surprised. You loved those teething rings when you were her age. It was the only thing that would make you happy. Now, I'm going to let you get some sleep" Erica said, getting up to leave. She walked to the door with Bianca following. "Good night, honey."
"Mom–" Erica turned at the door as Bianca hesitated. "I'm really glad you stopped by," she said finally.
Erica smiled and reached out to touch Bianca's cheek. "Me too," she said softly. As she walked to her car, her step was lighter than it had been in a long time.
———
Jack pushed the spreadsheet aside and put his face in his hands. There was no point in analyzing it any further. He knew all the numbers by heart and they didn't add up. He was one hundred percent positive that Kendall, Ryan and Greenlee were innocent of whatever had transpired but there was no doubt that someone had gained access to these figures and that person could only have gone through one of them. He kept coming back to Mariele's firm. The discrepancy in the numbers was definitely related to the building upgrades and Mariele's company had been very aggressive in their pursuit of the contract.
He picked up the phone and quickly put it down when Erica walked into the office. She was practically beaming and he pushed his thoughts aside to savor the change in her since they had started at Cambias. The dark days following her return from Vegas were slowly becoming a dim memory and with each day that passed she seemed more like her old self.
"Honestly, Jack, what time did you get up?" she asked. "The crack of dawn? How long have you been here?"
"Since about 6:00," he answered. "You were sleeping so soundly I didn't want to wake you. Besides, I know how you feel about getting here before 9:00," he added, glancing at the clock with amusement.
She ignored him, crossing the room and perching on the edge of his desk. "I was dying to talk to you when I got home last night but you were already asleep," she pouted.
"Well, I guess it was my turn," he said. "By the time we got home from McKay's, I was beat. So how'd it go with Bianca?"
"Really well," she said excitedly. "At first I wasn't sure, but once we started talking, it got easier and then this morning she called me to say that the advice I gave her about Miranda worked."
"See, what did I tell you? All it's going to take is time and the two of you will be closer than ever," Jack said to her with a smile. He reached up and pulled her onto his lap. "Since I never did get to kiss you good night or good morning, I think now might be the appropriate time to catch up on that." His lips claimed hers in a tender kiss that soon deepened. Neither heard the door open until Greenlee's voice suddenly descended upon them.
"Please, it's bad enough that I have to even imagine things like this, do I have to actually witness it?" she said snidely.
Jack sighed and slowly raised his head. "Do we have an appointment?" he asked his daughter.
"No, but Erica and I do," Greenlee answered. "I've been summoned yet again by her royal highness."
"Yes, I want to go over the 'Ocean Spirit' ad campaign," Erica said, standing up reluctantly.
"I have a meeting in accounting anyway," Jack said. "I just need to check on a few things." He turned to his computer and Erica took the folder from Greenlee and walked over to her desk.
After a few minutes, Jack headed to the door. He kissed Greenlee on the cheek and bent down to give Erica a lingering kiss as she sat at her desk. "Enjoy your lunch with Kendall," he told her. "And, I expect the office to still be intact when I return," he warned them half seriously. As he headed toward Accounting, he prayed for answers but he had a feeling that the real answers were somewhere else.
———
Erica put the file down and looked at Greenlee. "Did you put any thought into this at all?" she asked.
"Of course I did," Greenlee replied indignantly. "Be honest, Erica, you're going to shoot down any ideas I have."
"No, I'm not, but I am going to shoot down any bad ideas you have," Erica said. "Think about it, Greenlee. 'Ocean Spirit.' What does that say to you? I'll tell you what it says to me. Cool breezes, soft pastels, the sun shimmering softly on the water. These colors are too bright, the print is too bold, the background is too glossy….Need I go on?"
Greenlee took the file back from Erica. "I guess I can give it some more thought," she said somewhat uncertainly.
"Good–and please– 'Blink Pink,' 'Drop Dead Red' –can we be a little more creative with the colors?" Erica asked. "I know you can do better than this, Greenlee. Come back with something worthy of Fusion–and of you."
Greenlee was uncharacteristically silent. "Was there something else?" Erica finally asked.
"No–I mean yes," Greenlee said. "I think you know that you're the last person I would have picked for my father."
"You've made no secret of that," Erica acknowledged.
"And I know that I'm the last person you would have picked to be Jack's daughter," Greenlee continued. She paused but Erica said nothing. "Unfortunately, I've come to the conclusion that he isn't happy without you," Greenlee said, "so I'm giving in to the inevitable. My father loves you. I don't know why but he does. There's just one thing–"
"And what is that?" Erica inquired.
"Don't hurt him again," Greenlee said. "Treat him the way he deserves to be treated. I don't ever want to see him the way he was when you were gone. If that happens again, I'll never accept you in his life." She closed the door firmly on her way out.
Erica thought about Greenlee's words after she left. She was determined to never hurt Jack again. She knew she had put him through hell while she was gone and he had been nothing but supportive and protective of her since she came back. I should leave the engagement thing alone, she thought, and just let Jack take the lead. I owe him that much after everything that's happened. Realizing that Kendall would be waiting for her, she quickly grabbed her purse and left to meet her daughter.
———
Erica stretched and glanced at the clock. She had been working for hours since she came back from lunch with Kendall and needed a break. She looked longingly over at Jack's desk. He hadn't been back since he left for his meeting and she missed him. She walked over to his desk, smiling at the picture of the two of them amidst the other photographs on the desk. As she turned to walk away, her gaze fell on Jack's computer that was still on from earlier that afternoon. The email from mgirtz jumped out at her.
She stared at the name for a minute and started to walk away. She hesitated and turned back. It wouldn't be actually going into his email, she reasoned. I'm not trying to find out his password or anything. It's already open. She paused. You're being ridiculous, she told herself. It's just business. She knew she could trust Jack but she was sure she hadn't been mistaken about Mariele's intentions. It's for Jack's own good, she thought. That woman is a barracuda. She gritted her teeth and clicked on the email before she could change her mind.
Jackson,
I am so sorry we were so rudely interrupted. I am eager for us to talk again. Perhaps tonight at the Valley Inn? Please say you can make it.
Until then,
Mariele
Erica closed the email and walked away from the desk. She knew that Jack had to deal with Mariele regarding the building upgrades but surely he wouldn't have dinner with her and certainly not now that he knew how she felt about the whole thing.
Her train of thought was interrupted by a knock at the door. An attractive dark-haired man she didn't recognize was standing there looking at her appreciatively.
"Excuse me," he said, "I was looking for Mr. Montgomery."
"I'm sorry, he isn't here," Erica answered. "Can I give him a message?"
"He sent me an email that he wanted to see me," the dark-haired man said, walking into the room. "I'm John Andrews, the building contractor for the upgrades." He held out his hand.
Erica took it, smiling slightly. "I'm–"
"Erica Kane, of course," he said. "You're even more beautiful than your pictures."
Erica's smile brightened. "Well, thank you," she said. He smiled back. Erica absently noticed how attractive he was now that he was closer. His dark hair and eyes were accompanied by a charming smile and the white shirt he wore complimented his dark complexion. "I'll be happy to tell him you were here, Mr. Andrews," Erica said.
"Please, call me John," he said. "I'm assuming he wanted to talk to me about the upgrades. Mariele tells me you're in dire need of your own office."
Erica's interest suddenly heightened at the mention of Mariele's name. "So you must know Mariele pretty well," she commented.
"We've worked together before," John said. "Mariele's very talented–and very focused. When she wants something, she doesn't stop until she gets it."
I'll bet Erica thought to herself. Well, not this time.
"From what I can recall, Mariele said she had the perfect space in mind for your office," John continued, "Down on the second floor, I believe."
"The second floor?" Erica repeated in disbelief. "About as far away from Jack as she can get me," she muttered as she walked over to her desk.
"Excuse me?" John sounded confused.
"Oh, nothing. Just that having my own office seems so far away," Erica said quickly.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're pretty cramped in here," said John.
"We've been managing," Erica said with a smile.
"Well, you won't have to manage much longer," John told her. "Mariele told me to put a rush on your office. It's top priority."
The phone on Erica's desk rang and she excused herself and picked it up. She sighed in relief when Jack's voice came through. "I was wondering what happened to you," she said. "I was getting worried."
"Sorry, sweetheart," Jack said. "I got caught up with something and I'm not going to make it back. Don't wait up for me. I'm probably going to be late." He sounded distracted.
Erica sighed in disappointment. She turned slightly away from John and lowered her voice. "Jack, we were supposed to spend tonight together."
"I know, sweetheart, and believe me, I'm sorry," Jack replied. "I just have to take care of this."
Erica tried and failed to suppress the suspicion that was growing in her. "Where are you?" she asked casually. "It sounds busy."
"The Valley Inn," he answered and she felt her heart sink. "Tell the kids I'm sorry and I'll do something with them tomorrow. I've got to go." The phone went dead.
Erica slowly hung up the phone and stared at it for a moment. "Erica? Is something wrong?" John's voice startled her back to the present.
"No, not at all," she finally said. She looked up and gave him her most dazzling smile. "I was just thinking that I would love to discuss the plans for my office in detail. You wouldn't happen to be free for dinner, would you?"