"...Written by codename:penguin..."
Chapter 1- To Drive in the Hamptons
Present day
Divya sighed in satisfaction as another breath taking view of the Hamptons came into sight.
Her eyes cut sharply to her left, and she was pleased that Evan hadn't ruined the moment with his usual brash and ridiculous banter.
The dark haired Indian cautiously returned her attention back to the roadway that they were driving on. Cautiously, because she expected at any minute that Hank's baby brother was going to let the other shoe drop as to why he wanted to take her for a drive on a gorgeous looking Tuesday afternoon. The sea breeze hit her with a blast of pure bliss, tugging at her hair and flattening her already slanted eyes. She would miss this when she moved to London.
'Are you okay, Div?' the curly haired driver asked quietly. 'Are you warm enough? I can put the top up.'
Another woman would have smiled shyly at such gentlemanly concern, but the young PA reflexively began to scowl at the sound of the man's voice. Evan R. Lawson was a simple enough person to read but at times he pulled out a surprise on top of a surprise, even to her battle weary and wise to the world soul.
'Evan,' she snarled automatically, 'are you in some kind of trouble?'
The CFO of Hank Med turned to her with the same ingratiating smile that had charmed all the old biddies on the north Shore.
'Why would you even say something like that?' he inquired as innocently as a politician.
Divya snorted scornfully.
'Well, for one, you waited until Hank had left the cottage to get gas for his car before you suggested this scheme,' she remarked counting it off on her fingers, 'and two, you ARE always in some kind of trouble.'
He took his eyes off the road to stare at her.
'I am hurt,' he deadpanned, 'deeply hurt by your accusations. This is err… a friendship maintenance exercise. Aren't you the one who said I need to make friends with girls?'
The woman wriggled around uncomfortably. She was not insensitive to the underlying compliment behind his words.
'So no one is in trouble?' she pressed anxiously, wanting to believe him so that she could relax and enjoy the evening.
The long uncomfortable pause made her press her lips together in annoyance.
'Man or woman?' she snapped out.
'Woman.'
'Age?' the PA asked, already running through the contents of her handbag to see what supplies she had at hand. Damn it, they should have used her SUV.
'I am not really sure. She's not the type of woman I can ask. She gets a bit testy sometimes,' he revealed mysteriously.
'Evan, you are not helping here!' she commented sharply, reaching for her cell phone. 'Do we need Hank?'
In reply, the lean accountant snatched the phone out of her hands and tucked it neatly into his breast pocket.
Divya scowled at his overly long side burns, waiting for him to look at her again so that she could discover the truth. She wasn't aware that he was seeing anyone, and she found the thought vaguely unsettling. As PA of HankMed it was her duty to keep track of all their concerns that could have a negative impact on the business.
'Is she pregnant?' the dark haired woman blurted out in shock.
This question caused the driver to groan in disbelief.
'No, I haven't gotten anyone pregnant!' he yelled in exasperation. 'Just what on earth do you and Hank talk about when I am not around?'
Uncharacteristically, the young man slapped the steering wheel in frustration. Divya knew she should apologize, but Evan's evasive attitude was starting to get to her.
'Well, what's the problem?' she attempted to ask in what she hoped was a kindly and encouraging manner.
The man besides her shrugged, 'I've been having a tough time figuring that out. I am getting worried about her.'
Reassured now, the Indian beauty rescued her cell phone from the young accountant's hideous salmon colored shirt.
'Women are complicated creatures sometimes,' she agreed absentmindedly. 'Just find a moment when she is in a good mood and then ask her. Use the same tone of voice as you are doing now and you will be fine.'
The PA smiled indulgently at an old couple, bicycling down the lane they were driving on. It really was a beautiful evening. She was glad that she had let Evan drag her along.
'So, ARE you in a good mood now?' the man whispered tentatively.
It took a second for her to pick up what he was saying.
'Yes, I am in a good mood,' she glowered, looking for all the world as if she had just been gravely insulted.
He continued staring at her from beneath his longer than long eyelashes.
'Well I saw you smiling,' he responded hastily, 'so I thought it was safe to ask, you know?'
Divya mouth opened in surprise.
'I am worried about you. You don't seem to be talking much and you seem sad,' he added in a rush, cringing as if he expected a verbal whiplash over his shoulders at any moment. 'A nice long drive always seems to do the trick for me and Hank. I can take you back home…please, don't be mad.'
Her heart plunged as she noticed the scared look on his face. He never seemed to be bothered by the sharp edge of her personality before. In fact, she thought deep down that he rather liked it.
'No this …this is fine,' she replied graciously. 'I don't want to go home right now. I am sure there will be some wedding invitation to approve, some bridal cake to sample or some phone call that MUST be returned or else the entire wedding will be ruined.'
Evan smiled at his colleague's martyred sound of acceptance.
'This is an incredible piece of machinery,' she muttered in awe running her hands appreciatively over the butter soft seats and touching the personal control settings that created a cocoon of luxury around each person. 'Whose car is this? I thought you sold yours.'
Diyva Kitdaree was a strong woman and she was braver than him by far. It saddened the young CFO that she had to make such a choice. She deserved to be HAPPY as well as to be married.
In the meantime, he resolved to keep that smile on her face for as long as possible.
'You're very welcome,' he answered her unspoken attempt to say thank you.
As he leaned over to gently but firmly retrieve the cell phone from her limp fingers, the skinny man suddenly felt her entire body stiffen as her mouth opened in a panicked scream of denial.
It was too late.
The truck that had been driving next to them swerved over into their lane, sending them crashing in the other direction. Neither of them had time to react as the truck slammed into them one more time, finally giving them no choice but to move or be crushed.
But there were cliffs on one side and a hill on another. There was no where for them to go.
Instinctively, Evan turned the wheel over hard to try to protect his friend, knowing all along that it wasn't going to be enough.