Drive and Determination (6 page)

Chapter 5

            Elyssa crawled out of bed the next morning and put on some sweatpants and a T-shirt. When she was dressed, she came out to the kitchen to make some coffee and eat some breakfast. She wanted to be decent in case George unexpectedly came by before leaving for work.
            She pulled out the remaining fruit and rolls from yesterday. George didn’t come by, but the Walkers did. They asked her if there was anything she could use as they were going to the store. Elyssa looked in the refrigerator and then the pantry, shaking her head at the disorganized array of items. As much as she loved Janet, the two of them were decidedly different when it came to organizing a household. She told them she could use some fresh milk and eggs, but that there seemed to be a good variety of things she could eat.
            When they left, she sat down to enjoy her fruit, rolls, and a cup of Pemberleo Coffee.
            After taking a quick shower, she went to the small closet in the guest room and pulled out a simple skirt and cotton blouse. Elyssa had asked Shelley what would be the best thing to wear to the preschool and Shelley told her that she ought to dress simply but nice. The children usually came to school wearing hand-me-downs and clothes that they had greatly outgrown so she cautioned her about wearing anything too lavish. The teachers all wore dresses, so it would probably be wise for her to do the same.
            She walked down the hall of the townhouse to the open door of Chad and Janet’s bedroom and looked in. She had done this several times since arriving, but she could not yet bring herself to go in. In this room would be more personal items and she did not think she was ready to tackle that. Perhaps this afternoon after going to the preschool she would consider it, but she would wait and see. For now, she decided to work on the living room.
            A little later, she decided to go out for a walk around the complex while waiting for George to arrive. It was such a beautiful day and she thought it would do her some good to walk around and enjoy the sights and smells.
            The flowers were exquisitely beautiful and she watched in delight as a trio of hummingbirds gathered the nectar from them. She sat down on a bench that overlooked the courtyard and pool and thought how tranquil it seemed. While she loved the view of the green hills and valleys at home, this was beautiful in a different sort of way.
            As the time drew near for George to arrive, she returned to the house and grabbed another piece of fruit from the kitchen. A few moments later, she heard a soft knock at the front door. She walked into the living room and opened the door for George.
            “Good morning, Elyssa,” he said with a mischievous grin. He was holding something behind his back.
            “Good morning, George.” She looked down at his khaki slacks and up to his dark green polo shirt and commented, “You look nice. That color really suits you,” her outstretched hand waved across his shirt.
            “Thank you, Elyssa, but I must say that you look stunning yourself!”
            She tried to look around him. “What do you have there?”
            “Oh!” he laughed. “I almost forgot!” He pulled out from behind his back a huge piñata. “You mean this?”
            Elyssa’s eyes reflected the glee she felt. “Is that for the children?”
            He nodded. “Filled with candy and little gifts. The children will love it.”
            “That was so thoughtful of you!”
            “It was nothing.” George could not have thanked one of his co-workers enough for his idea. When George mentioned they were going to the preschool, his co-worker told him that the children loved piñatas more than anything. Stopping by a store on the way back took very little time and he
hoped it would only improve him in Elyssa’s favor.
            He walked in, closing the door behind him. Looking around the room, he saw that she had begun to put things into a box. “I see you’ve made some progress. How are you doing?”
            “I’m doing fine, thanks.”
            “Good. Are you ready to go?”
            “Yes, I guess I am.”
            Elyssa went back to the guest room to collect her purse when there was another knock at the door.
            “I’ll get it!” shouted George.
            As Elyssa slung her purse over her shoulder, she heard George bellow out a disgusted curse and exclaim, “Of all the… what are
you
doing here?”
            “Who is it, George?” Elyssa called out as she hurried back into the room.
            She blinked her eyes repeatedly in astonishment when she beheld William Denton standing at the door. She was so stupefied by his presence that she was unable to even utter a greeting.
            Will’s eyes went from George to Elyssa; refusing to enter until he was invited in.
            Elyssa was finally able to find the strength to utter the words, “Come in.”
            He stepped inside, bypassing George, and nodding a thank you to Elyssa. He found himself staring at those eyes that again seemed to be icy with anger, but frustratingly attractive, all the same.
            “Mr. Denton,” Elyssa began. “This is a surprise.”
            George walked over to Elyssa, almost in a possessive sort of way. “You bet it is! You hardly ever come to Guatemala! What are you doing here?”
            “I have come to see to Miss Barnett’s needs.” He turned to George. “And
you
are needed in Colombia!”
            “Colombia! Why do they need me there now?”
            Will peered at him through narrowed eyes. “Something has come up that needs your immediate attention. When I heard the Walkers were unable to see to Miss Barnett, I decided it would be best if I came personally.”
            Elyssa did not know if she was more confused or angry. She could easily see that the two men did not get along, and she could definitely understand why George had such strong feelings against him.
            George raked his hand through his hair. He knew that to argue with his superior in front of Elyssa would not put him in a good light, but he did not want to give up this opportunity of being with Elyssa!
            “Look, Denton. Whatever they need, certainly it can wait. Elyssa and I have the next three days planned out for us.”
            Will raised his eyebrows at that comment. “I am sorry to have to spoil your social life, George, but this is work and you are being paid to work. The company jet is at the airport this very moment waiting for you. I suggest you get a bag packed and set out immediately.”
            George let out a frustrated breath and looked over to Elyssa. “I’m sorry, Elyssa. Maybe next time. I’ll try to make it quick.”
            “Sure, George. Thanks for everything you did.”
            He nodded and then turned to Denton, giving him a livid scowl before stomping out.
            Both pair of eyes watched Westham, each somewhat reluctant to turn to the other, now that they were the only two in the room. Will finally turned his eyes back to Elyssa, who was now looking down and biting her upper lip.
            “Miss Barnett… Elyssa, I am sorry to have barged in this way. I know I’m the last person you wanted to see, but when I heard the circumstances, I felt I needed to come.”
            “Well you need not have bothered, Mr. Denton. I can manage quite well on my own!”
            “You were on your way out?”
            Elyssa gave a sarcastic laugh as she looked over at the immaculately dressed man in his designer suit. At least she was fairly certain it was a designer suit.
Was it Armani?
 she wondered. “Yes we were. We were going out to visit a preschool Janet worked at.”
            “I’ve got my driver here. He’ll be happy to take us.”
            “Us?” she asked, looking incredulously at him.
            Will looked away and then back at her. “I was hoping…” He paused and seemed unable to go on.
            Elyssa shook her head adamantly and let out a sarcastic laugh. “You cannot possibly go!” she said pointedly to him.
            “Excuse me?”
            “Dressed like that. Can you imagine what these children would think seeing someone like you walk in?”
            “Why? What’s with these children?”
            Elyssa rolled her eyes and closed them, shaking her head. “It’s a preschool for underprivileged children, Mr. Denton.”
            “It’s Will.”
            “Will.” She had a very bad taste in her mouth as she spoke his name. “They have very little and it would just not be in good taste for you to show up dressed as you are.”
            “We’ll stop by the hotel on the way, then, and I’ll change. Would you agree to that?”
            “You really do not need to do this.”
            “I insist on it.”
            Elyssa let out a frustrated sigh, seeing his refusal to yield. “If you insist on tagging along, I suppose you best change then,” Elyssa said disdainfully.
            Will held the door open for her, watched as she picked up the piñata and walked past him with an air of irritation, and then closed the door snugly behind them. They walked out toward the parking area and Elyssa could not prevent a gasp from escaping.
            “Is there a problem?” Will asked.
            “I am not quite sure you want to drive
that
into the part of town where we will be going!” she said as she pointed to the new shiny black car. It was not quite a stretch limousine, but a limousine it was.
            Now it was Will’s turn to roll his eyes as he wondered what he had willingly allowed himself to get into.
            “It is perfectly good transportation!”
            “Not when you’re going where we’re going!” She inhaled slowly to calm herself. “Look, Mr. Denton… Will… I don’t think this is going to work out. Obviously you rarely come down here and when you do, you most likely stick to your office and hotel. Am I correct?”     
            Will shifted uncomfortably. “Look, I am only trying to do my best to make your time here a little easier. This is the car that I happen to use when I’m in Guatemala.”
            She was tempted to tell this man with too much money on his hands and no clue as to how the real world lived to just go back to Chicago and let her finish her task alone. Another more appealing idea, however, came to her mind. She would absolutely love to see how Mr. Denton handled himself in an environment like the one where they were about to head.
            She smiled. “Does your driver know the way to Casa de Esperanza preschool?”
            He looked over to his driver, Manuel, who was standing within earshot. Giving him a questioning glance, Manuel nodded his head. “She is correct, Sir. If that is where we are going, we best take another car.”
            “See if you can get one from the Walkers, Manuel.”
            Manuel sprinted off to the Walkers, and in a few moments he returned with a set of keys jingling in his fingers. “The Walkers said we could take their extra car, Mr. Denton. They’ll use their van to get around if they need it.”
            “If it has to be, let’s get started.”
            “Their car is over here, Mr. Denton.”
            Manuel spoke with a Guatemalan accent and Elyssa smiled at him. So this was how the great Mr. Denton got around when he was here; a man to drive him and interpret for him, all in one. They both followed Manuel and Elyssa caught up to him, introducing herself.
            “Hello, Manuel. I’m Elyssa Barnett.”
            “Nice to meet you, Miss Barnett. I am told you are Janet’s sister. We all liked her very much. We were sorry to have lost her and Chad.”
            “I appreciate that, Manuel.”
            “Manuel, we’re going back to the hotel first so I can change.” Will increased his pace and his stride and easily caught up with them.
            “Sure thing, Sir!”
            Manuel unlocked the car doors and opened the door to the back seat for Elyssa. She slid in and thanked him, looking curiously over to Will as Manuel then came around and opened the back door on the other side for him.
            She placed the piñata conveniently between the two of them and looked out the window away from him so he would not see her roll her eyes. He obviously had this mentality that Manuel was the chauffeur so he had to ride in the back seat, even if this wasn’t their limo!
            They hadn’t been in the car more than a few minutes when Will pulled out his mobile phone. He made a call and informed the person at the other end that he would like to be informed of the results of the sales report as soon as it was completed. As he talked, Elyssa entertained herself by watching the scenery pass by and trying to imagine how she would fare living down here and having to drive these chaotic streets. It gave her a greater respect for her sister accomplishing such a feat!
            By the time they arrived at the hotel, Will had made three phone calls. With each call he made, Elyssa’s ire rose as her assessment of him was being completely confirmed. He was a man whose sole objective in life, whose only source of satisfaction, was in his work. Forget that Guatemala was a beautiful country with flowers one would never see in the States. Forget that the hillsides were so green because of all the rain. Forget that the volcano was sending out secret messages in its plume of steam. He seemed completely oblivious to it all.
            Stopping at the front of the hotel, Manuel came around to open the door and Will hopped out. He inquired of Elyssa if she’d prefer to wait in the car or come up to the room. As much as her curiosity tempted her to see what his opulent room must look like, she opted to remain with Manuel in the car.
            Once he was out of sight, Elyssa opened her door. Manuel quickly ran around to help her out.
            “There is no need for that, Manuel. I let myself in and out of cars all the time.”
            “It is my job, ma’am.”
            “I know, and I appreciate that.” A sly smile crossed her face. “Would you mind, Manuel, if I rode up in the front with you?”
            His eyes widened in surprise. “Up front?”
            “I should like to get to know you better and as Mr. Denton seems inclined to only carry on conversations with his phone, I would enjoy it so much more.”
            Manuel smiled. “I am not sure if my boss would approve.”
            Elyssa propped her hands onto her hips. “Would he not wish for you to do all that I ask?”
            “I think so, yes.”
            “Good! It’s settled, then,” Elyssa said as she opened the passenger side of the front door. “This is what will make me happy!”
            Manuel laughed under his breath as he rushed over to assist her in getting in, wondering just what his boss would say when he returned.
            Elyssa was amazed at how quickly Will reappeared. His long legs carried him swiftly to the car, and Elyssa watched him through the side mirror as he came to a halt when he realized she was seated in the front. She could not prevent the smile that came across her lips.
            Manuel opened the door for him and he slid in. “So, Elyssa, do you have a problem with motion sickness that requires you to sit in the front?”
            She turned to look at him with a furrowed brow. “No, Mr. Denton. I just wanted some conversation and I think Manuel is just the one to provide me with it!”
            Will began a retort, but was halted by the ringing of his phone. The look Elyssa gave him with her sharply raised eyebrow said more to him than any words she could have spoken.
            As they drove to the preschool, two conversations were being carried on. The one in the front seat between Elyssa and Manuel dealt with their families and interests. Elyssa enjoyed getting to better know this man who was a husband and father of four children. The conversation in the back seat of the car dealt with sales figures, profits and losses, and a sundry of other business particulars.
            When they arrived at the
preschool, Elyssa directed a sly grin at Will when he inadvertently gave it away that he had not been paying any attention to where they were going. He had just finished his call and put his phone away when he looked out the window.
            The street was filled with buildings -- if you could call them that -- propped up and supported with any piece of metal or sheeting that could be found. Many were vacated and boarded up, and it made you wonder whether people lived in them. Small children dressed in ragged, dirty clothes, observed them curiously with their dark, wide eyes as they pulled over to park. There was a stench in the air that permeated everything.
            Will’s eyes flashed as he looked out. “Would someone please tell me just exactly where we are and what in blazes are we doing here?”