Beginnings (Brady Trilogy) (8 page)

Monday morning Isabel sat at her desk
nursing a massive headache. Massaging her throbbing temples she was glad for once the office was empty allowing her to enjoy the complete silence.  For some reason her hangover had lasted her a few days. Just goes to show how weak she was against alcohol and she could just kill Linda for it. But she smiled to herself. For once in a long time she had a great social night and had to be
grateful
to Linda.

“Rough night?”
Luke startled her as he dropped a handful of heavy files on top of her desk.

“Geez, you scared me. I didn’t know anyone was in the office.” Isabel
quickly began organizing the files he had dropped.

Ignoring her accusation Luke continued to look at her. He had never been more
frustrated with a woman than he was with her and it irritated him that he allowed it. He was tempted to ask if she went home with that guy from Clay’s but he knew it would be out of line. So he took out his anger another way. “I had asked these files to be completed and on my desk last week.” He scolded.

“I thought I had completed
it and returned them back to you.” Isabel said confused.

“They aren’t complete.
I don’t like the format of the prints. I want it redone.” He continued in the same annoyed tone.

“I’m sorry Luke I will definitely look through it again.”
Isabel’s hands hurried through the files.

“I don’t pay you to be sorry
. I pay you to get the job done right the first time. If men at Clay’s bar are going to be a distraction and impair your judgment at work then I suggest you figure a way around it.” Luke was more irritated with himself than her he realized.
What the hell was he doing speaking to her like that and brining up Clay’s?
Two whole days had passed by and he still couldn’t get the image of another man’s hands on her out of his head. He barely knew the woman for a few months so why had he developed this possessive attitude? He knew why. He sure as hell didn’t want another man having what he couldn’t. What he was frantically and painfully aching for yet denying himself of having since it was forbidden.

“I’m sorry Luke
but is there a problem from Friday night?” Isabel asked as she followed him into his office.

Luke noticed the rest of his employees
began to arrive as he took his seat at his desk. “No. There’s no problem. I just need those files completed please.” He said more calmly and watched her nod and leave without saying another word.

The rest of the day
Luke worked silently behind closed doors and told Isabel to hold all his calls. He didn’t call her into his office again, didn’t allow anyone to disturb him and didn’t even leave for lunch. He must be over working himself because he was beginning to not recognize his own rash behavior. It was that damn woman who was making him lose his mind. He couldn’t get her out of his head and as much as he tried to distract himself with Stacey on Friday night, he failed miserably. He wanted Isabel so badly it burned. Why? Why did he want her? What was about Isabel Stamos that constantly managed to get under his skin? Maybe that was the problem he told himself. Maybe that’s why he was losing his mind. Luke never came across anything he wanted and couldn’t have. And that’s why he was on edge when it came to his attraction towards Isabel. He would just have to find a way to get over it. When the holidays were over he would take a quick weekend vacation to his cabin in Big Lake and clear his head. Feeling like a complete jackass for the way he treated her earlier that morning, he picked up his phone.

“Isabel can I see you in my office?” He hung up and
she was instantly at the door. “Close the door please.” He watched her nervously move.

“Have a seat.” She hesitantly pulled the chair
and sat.

“I want to apologize for my behavior this morning. I’ve got a lot going on and di
dn’t mean to take it out on you. I’m actually very impressed by the additional changes you have made around here. Hiring you was beneficial to my company and it wasn’t fair to you the way I reacted. I didn’t mean to take on the role of the scary boss.” He finished and sent her a warming smile.

Her heart melted. She
knew he was bombarded with work and knew how much pressure the holiday projects were bringing upon everyone. But she knew that wasn’t the only problem. Strong instinct told her Luke was fighting his attraction towards her. He was constantly hot and cold. She didn’t know which direction he would turn next.

“I’m so
rry too Luke. I didn’t know the prints weren’t to your standards and I should have received a final confirmation first before leaving on Friday.”

After they finished talking she got up to leave. Pausing at the front doors she looked at him. “I know this is irrelevant and has nothing to do with work but for what it’s worth nothing happened between me and that
guy from Friday night. He just escorted me home and left. Nothing happened.” She repeated. “I was just uhh…” she swallowed the lump in her throat. “I was just too scared to go home alone since it was pretty late.”

Silence hung heavily between them. Luke opened his mouth to speak but didn’t trust himself to comment.

“I just wanted to clear the air and needed you to know how the night ended.” Isabel rushed with her words. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been out with friends and besides it will definitely take some time until I can work up the nerve in that department again.” She snorted and immediately turned red realizing she had spoken without thinking. Was she seriously standing her and speaking to her boss about her non-existing sex life? Ever since the incident in L.A she had become self-conscience and a bit insecure and she herself was surprised at her bold behavior Friday night and immediately blamed the tequila. She quickly excused herself leaving Luke to stare at the closed doors.

“What are you hiding
Isabel?” he whispered.

             
December arrived with promises of it being a very cold winter. B. Pentagon Prints was at the peak of its season as Luke’s staff merrily worked overtime and most weekends. Ginger, with Isabel’s help had decked the halls to bring in holiday cheer. The Annual Christmas Gala and New Year’s bash held in New York was rapidly approaching. Ginger and Isabel had been in constant contact with the Manhattan location’s Events Coordinator working on details. The CEO, Luke’s father, wanted specific arrangements and sent them a long guest list. Most of their clients were back east and had gladly RSVP’ed to the celebrations. B. Pentagon was known for throwing the largest and most exquisite holiday celebrations for its clients. Since Luke’s father had started the tradition, the event is to be held in his New York estate. As Luke’s personal assistant, Isabel was expected to join the event just as Rachel had every year.

Luke worked in silence the
next few months behind closed doors. When his doors were open he usually wasn’t in his office. Isabel also noticed his dinner for two reservations had decreased. He was acting strange and she knew she was the reason. One minute he was pleased to see her and the next he struggled to keep away. It looked as though he was fighting himself around her and she wanted to convince him to stop wrestling with his thoughts. She was sure of how he felt from the way his eyes lingered over hers. How occasionally he’d brush his fingers over her cheek when they were alone. Whenever he was close enough to touch he didn’t fight the urge to gently stroke her face with the tips of his fingers and softly brush her arms with his hands. Yet she would see him hesitate and pull back. It distressed her to know she was falling for a man who refused to want her back. She told herself it’s because he was trying to maintain a professional relationship. But a large part of her insecurities told her maybe he just wasn’t that into her.
Maybe
she wasn’t worth the risk for him to take.

Lu
ke realized the best way to stop thinking about Isabel was to be buried deep in his work.
He desperately tried to distract himself with exclusive dates hoping meaningless sex would relax his unsettled nerves. He thought in order to get his mind off the woman he denied to want, he could distract himself with casual dating. Unfortunately he failed miserably. He’d sit across the dinner table from a beautiful, intelligent woman and would think of Isabel instead. He hadn’t touch, kissed or slept with a woman since he met her. She had spoiled him for anyone else. His travel arrangements with Isabel were approaching and he had to prepare himself to see her as his assistant and nothing more. He was going to spend a lot of close time with her and needed to bury his need for her. The busy holiday schedule was a definite bonus of helping him keep his distance. He sat at his desk and planned his next meeting as his phone rang. He looked at the receiver and realized the call was coming directly to his line instead of a transfer from Isabel. Only a handful had Luke’s direct line. Debating if he should pick up or leave it to voicemail, like he had most of the day, he finally picked up the phone.

“
Brady.” He called out.

“Luke? It’
s Preston Scotts. Hope it’s not a bad time.” Luke recognized the old voice in an instant.

“Can you please hold a moment?” Luke placed the call on hold and quickly went to shut his
double doors. “How can I help you Scotts?”

“Well I haven’t called to discuss business Luke. I’ve actually called to ask you about your assistant. A few of my contacts have located her to be working closely with you. I’m sure by now you’re aware she used to work for me.”

Luke paused. He predicted this call was one he wasn’t going to like. “Yes Ms. Stamos has been my personal assistant the last couple of months. Is there a message you’d like me to pass along to her?”

“No it’s alright. I rather have her not know about this ca
ll.” Scotts hesitated. “How is she doing? Is she alright? Does she seem fine?”

Luke recognized worry in the old man’s voice and for once had received a call he wasn’t
prepared to handle. “She seems fine, I haven’t noticed anything wrong.” A lie of course. Isabel cringed each time in mention of the firm.

There
was an awkward silence for a moment. One of those long pregnant pauses where both parties are too stubborn to speak first. Finally Scotts cleared his throat and continued. “She quit my firm and left town so fast I didn’t have a chance to talk to her and figure out what the hell was going on. I was away on a long trip to Nevada representing a client of mine and when I got back there was no sign of her. My partner told me he was unable to get a hold of her. I loved having Isabel working here. She was young, energetic and the best researcher I have ever come across my thirty plus years in this profession. And from my understanding she loved working here too. She was more than half way through her law degree and knew she had a permanent job here. So it came as a surprise as to why she left in January. I contacted her law school and found out she dropped out short after that. I tried to reach her at home but found her condo empty. I’m not trying to scare the poor girl I’m just trying to figure out what the hell happened and if she’s fine.”

Luke sigh
ed heavily but continued to remain quiet. The fact that he didn’t even know Isabel was once trying to obtain a law degree bothered him.
Why hadn’t she told him about this?

“I understand your concern Scotts but I assure you she seems perfectly fine. If I find out anything you’ll be the first to know.” Another lie. He had worked with the man before and respected who he was. But he wasn’t ready to discuss the personal life of his assistant with her former employer. Especially since she seemed troubled by something neither of them knew about. Yet Luke had a feeling it must have something to do with that damn firm.
But what?
If the firm was the problem surly Scotts would know?

Luke hung up the phon
e and walked out of his office to find her but Isabel wasn’t at her desk. “Hey Brian where’s Isabel?” Luke asked his savvy tech who was troubleshooting Isabel’s computer.

“She took the mail downstairs.
The mail clerk called out sick today.” Brian shrugged as he continued to hit the keys on the board.

“It seems like I need to start hiring who should be working in that damn mail room.” Luke
spoke irritably.

His attention was brought to the
large huddle his staff had formed around a tall woman with wild curly brown hair. Her back was towards Luke and he couldn’t see her face but he watched his staff beam in excitement as the woman was clearly signing and passing out autographs. When she turned around he recognized her instantly and was amazed.
Vivian Taylor.
What in the world was Vivian Taylor, the famous artist doing here?

“Mrs. Vivian Taylor
.  This is a pleasant surprise. What do we owe the pleasure of your company?” The woman was exquisitely beautiful with a slightly tanned face and large brown eyes. Luke had never met her but felt as though he had seen her eyes in person before. “Luke Brady”, he said as he gently shook her hand.