The Eyes Have It

Chapter Three – The Boardroom

It had been a week since John had seen Marlena at Blondie's. He had hoped that he would bump into her somewhere…the hospital or Tyton, but they never seemed to be in the same place at the same time. He hoped that she would show up for the meeting at Tyton today. Maybe she would be in a more receptive mood this time and would actually have a conversation with him. He thought he might invite her to lunch to discuss an article he wanted to print concerning the Children's Abuse Center. He knew that she was very passionate about that subject.

When he entered the meeting room, John was pleased to see that Marlena was already there. She was engaged in a discussion with some other members, but as John headed towards her, Kate intercepted him. She quickly began discussing some business that he wasn't really paying attention to and before he knew it, the meeting was called to order. John did not pay much attention during the entire meeting because for the majority of the time he was watching Marlena. He was hoping that she would look his way, but she never did. In fact she seemed to be going out of her way to avoid looking at him. And when the meeting ended she was up and out of the room so quickly that John didn't even get near her.

"Oh no you don't Dr. Evans," John thought to himself. "You're not getting away that easily." He quickly followed her to the elevator and caught the doors just in time before they closed.

"Dr. Evans! So nice to see you again," he said a little sarcastically as he entered the elevator.

"Mr. Black," she responded with a small nod of her head as she looked down and fidgeted with her files.

"Please, call me John."

"I prefer to remain on a professional basis when I'm at work, Mr. Black," Marlena replied in her usual cool manner.

"As you wish, Dr. Evans," John replied just as formally as he looked at the floor numbers lighting up.

After a few moments, John continued, "I was just wondering who the guy was?"

"What?" Marlena said, looking up at him, very confused.

"...the guy, who did this to you?"

"Excuse me?" Marlena asked, not knowing what the hell he was talking about.

"...the man that screwed you over and made you so cold and unfriendly. Something must have happened to you to make you like this and I'm guessing it was a man. Am I wrong?"

Marlena just stood there in shock. She couldn't believe that this man, who she barely knew, had the nerve to talk to her like this. She just stood there with her mouth open, not knowing what to say. Thankfully for her, the elevator reached John's floor and the doors opened. John started walking out and turned back to her.

"It's really a pity you know," he said softly as he leaned towards her.

"We could have had a lot of fun getting to know each other. Good afternoon, Dr. Evans," John said, emphasizing the Dr. Evans.

When Marlena got home, she was still furious. She slammed the door and threw her purse and keys on the table.

"Damn that man!" she swore.

She couldn't believe what he had said to her. The nerve! That he would say something so personal and so rude just because she wasn't interested in him. She was absolutely livid and she was even angrier because she had just stood there like an idiot and didn't say anything. She was cussing herself out just as much as she was cussing out John Black.

When Marlena went to bed that night she was still thinking about John. "That arrogant bastard! Thinking he knows anything about me. Thinking I would ever give him the time of day. How dare he talk to me like that!"

Marlena got very little sleep that night, thinking about all the things she wanted to say to Mr. John Black.

John didn't sleep much either. He also couldn't stop thinking about Marlena, but for a very different reason. He couldn't stop thinking about the woman he saw laughing at Blondie's, or the passionate woman who spoke about the Children's Center at the hospital board meeting. He thought about how she always looked perfect, her clothes and makeup, always classy and professional, but incredibly sexy. He could remember how she smelled when he stood next to her in the elevator and how her face turned pink and her chest heaved up and down when she got angry.

"You've really done it now, Black," he said to himself. There was something about that woman that just set him off and made him act like an ass. "That was probably not the best way to get her attention," he admitted to himself. But he had to laugh, he did like the way she looked when she got angry. There was passion in her eyes and he found it very seductive. God she was a gorgeous creature. John tried to go to sleep, but every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was Marlena.

Marlena was glad that she had managed to avoid seeing John for several days. Even though she still dreamed about telling him off and slapping his arrogant face, he did run Tyton and she did enjoy the work that she did for Bella Magazine. She was also embarrassed that she hadn't thought of a comeback at the time and had just stood there like an idiot. She didn't understand why what John said to her bothered her so much. Why should she care what he thought of her? She had her career, her patients, the Abuse Center and plenty of good friends to keep her busy. She was perfectly happy without a man in her life. The next time she saw him, she wasn't going to let him bother her at all. She would just ignore him and show him that she couldn't care less what he thought of her.

That next time came sooner than Marlena expected. She had arrived in the Hospital Board Room early for a meeting so that she could look over some files. She was standing at the table when John walked in and startled her. She knocked one of her files off the table and papers scattered all over the floor. John bent down to help her gather the papers.

"I'm quite capable of picking them up myself, Mr. Black," Marlena spat at him.

"Yes, I know Dr. Evans. I was just trying to help, but you don't need any help do you? You don't need anything or anyone. You've made that quite clear," John spat back.

There he goes again thought Marlena, but this time she was ready for him. She stood up tall to her full height and looked him straight in the eye. Damn his eyes were piercing. "Concentrate Marlena!" she thought to herself. "Now's your chance to tell this guy off."

"Mr. Black you know absolutely nothing about me and don't presume that you do...," she began, "..just because I won't fall all over you and be flattered by your attentions. I have no desire to have anything but a business relationship with you and I'd appreciate it if you would keep your comments to yourself." Marlena was trying to remain calm but failing miserably. All she really wanted to do was slap that smug smile off his face.

John was enjoying watching her. This was that passionate woman he had glimpsed before. God she was beautiful when she was ticked off.

"Believe me, Dr. Evans. I have no interest in you either. You may be a gorgeous woman, but your personality leaves a lot to be desired."

Marlena reacted quickly. Before she realized what was happening, her right hand flew up to smack the side of his face. John caught her wrist just before she made contact. They stood like that for several seconds… John holding onto Marlena's wrist and staring into her eyes. Marlena was breathing heavily and couldn't look away. They were both startled when they heard other voices entering the room. John dropped Marlena's wrist and turned to greet the other Board Members. Marlena quickly took a seat and tried to control her breathing. She felt very warm and just wanted out of that room. She managed to make it through the meeting by avoiding looking at John. When it was over, she left quickly without looking back.

John was the last one left in the boardroom. He stood there thinking about what had just happened between him and Marlena…..and wondering what would have happened if no one else had walked in.