Embrace Me (5 page)

“
Jennet, I have arranged the board meeting. Only Dominic can’t attend,” Rachel called as she strolled gracefully into the room wearing her white suit; her dark brown hair was tied up in a neat bun. I spent more time with my boyfriend’s mum than Charlie these days. Rachel was a wonderful lady, and doted on me almost as much as her son. “Shannon, you look so tired. Why don’t you rest for a few hours before we fly?”

“
Rachel, you are such a mother. I really need to learn some pointers from you,” my own mother teased.

“
It has been a long few weeks for her, Jennet. I mean, the rest of us are used to it, but she isn’t.” Rachel winked at me. “And truthfully, my Charles is missing her like crazy. Does she really need to come to Moscow? She has already seen most of the contracts we have.”

“
No, I’m fine. If you really need me in Moscow, I will come.”

“
I think Rachel is right, Shannon. I
have
overworked you.” I didn’t really want to argue so I held my tongue; the thought of seeing Charlie was too great after being away from him for two weeks.

I packed my things quickly and raced to catch the flight to New York. I wanted to surprise him, so decided not to call Charlie to tell him I was coming.

I sat reading the paper while I waited for my flight to board. My mind was drifting, thinking about my reunion with Charlie, when someone called my name. It took a moment for me to register who it was. Tim Scott had grown his hair out and was more muscular than before. He was obviously still trying to attract Megan’s attention, I suspected.

“
Shannon, it is so good to see you!” he greeted, sitting next to me as his tall, dark haired colleague stood, hovering over me.

“
Hello, Tim. How are you?” I asked, putting my paper down.

“
I would rather talk about you. I never knew you had it in you. How is Charlie, by the way?”

Tim nudged me, smirking. “He is fine, thank you,” I said sternly.

“
How long were you guys seeing each other while he was with Megan? Was it long after he found out about Megan and me?”

“
Is that what Megan told you? That we were seeing each other behind her back?!” I asked in anger.

“
Yes, Megan told me you and Charlie were after the Fields’ money…that you were going to divorce Will and take whatever you could before running off with Charlie.” Tim looked at me like he was impressed. “It was a shame they found out the morning of the wedding. If they hadn’t, your plan may have worked.”

“
It didn’t happen like that at all, Tim.”

“
I did wonder,” he laughed. “It sounded a little extreme, but you know how Megan can be.”

“
Tim, we need to board our flight,” his colleague interrupted. I hadn’t noticed much about him until now, but as his deep brown eyes looked into mine, something about him seemed familiar. I just couldn’t place why.

“
Okay, Mac.” Tim got up. “This is Shannon Davis, by the way.”

“
It’s lovely to meet you, Shannon. I have heard a lot about you,” Mac smiled.

“
All bad, I expect,” I teased, shaking his hand.

“
Well, I do work with Field Organisation,” he laughed.

“
It’s definitely all bad then.” It was probably worse than I could have ever imagined.

“
Well, now that I have met you, I realise what William was talking about. I can see the draw.” Mac smiled warmly at me. “It was really a pleasure to meet you.”

“
It was so good to see you, Shannon. Tell Bradley I’ll call him next week about the game tickets,” Tim said as he hugged me. “Say hello to Charlie for me, too, and tell him thanks.”

“
You are seriously not still pursuing Megan, are you?” I sighed, shaking my head at him.

“
No!” Tim shouted as he began to make his exit. “I am dating her.” I froze, watching Tim and Mac make their way to their gate to board their plane.

Megan was dating Tim. Was he joking, or had he finally broken through her defences? I knew I shouldn’t let it bother me, but it was difficult not to when I had been involved in her life for such a long time. I knew she
hated
Tim Scott. That was clear from the first time I had met her. Had Megan been forced by her parents because of the mistakes she had made with Charlie and me? I didn’t owe her anything—I knew that—but I didn’t like the thought of her being trapped again, whether our friendship had been a lie or not.

Charlie and my mother would no doubt be angry if they heard me thinking like this. They
hated
the entire Field family with a passion. Why didn’t I feel the same way sometimes?

I slept most of the plane journey. Rachel was right: the last two weeks had taken it out of me a little. It wasn’t just the physical work, either. My mind was almost on overload as I realised exactly how much I would be taking on when I
officially
became Jennet Downing’s daughter. I could now fully understand why my mother had decided to let me adjust to my surroundings before everything went public.

My heart was pounding outside my chest as I waved down a yellow cab. I was beginning to wish I had called Charlie in case he had gone out.

The taxi glided across the Brooklyn Bridge and I looked out towards the rest of New York, watching all the twinkle lights flicker in the distance. The night air was muggy as I stepped out of the cab, but still refreshing to me; I was finally home.

Charlie was sat sipping his beer on our veranda when he caught sight of me.

“
Shan!” he beamed, rushing over to me. “I thought you weren’t due back for another few days.”

“
I thought I would surprise you.”

“
I’ve missed you so much.” He pulled me into his loving embrace as he gently kissed me. My heart leapt as our kissing became more urgent. It was clear it had been a long two weeks for both of us.

“
So what have I missed?” I asked, resting on his chest on our couch a few hours later.

“
Not much. Bradley and Lorna had a fight,” Charlie laughed. “Brad stayed here for a night.”

“
Was it that bad?” I asked in shock. Bradley and Lorna hardly ever fought.

“
Not really, but Lorna was trying to prove a point.”

“
What point?”

“
Bradley told her he couldn’t see the point of marriage.”

“
Oh, dear.” Lorna would
not
be happy about that. I was surprised he was only kicked out for one night.

“
Yeah, I think Brad gets it now.” Charlie laughed, and I couldn’t help but chuckle with him. “What are your thoughts on marriage, seeing as how we are on the subject?”

I was a little stunned. I had never really thought about it before, but I knew I would only ever want him. “Marriage, well…it’s nice, I guess.”

“
Just nice?” he laughed.

“
Why do you want to know?” I questioned, suddenly turning to look into his beautiful blue-green eyes. The emotion in them almost pierced my own eyes.

“
I want to marry you one day, Shan,” he admitted, never breaking eye contact. “How would you want to be proposed to when the time came?”

“
I am sure you can think of
far
more romantic ways than me, Mr. Notice Me,” I teased. It was true; he was the most romantic man I had ever known.

“
I guess so.” Charlie kissed my forehead. “Would you say yes, though?”

“
Maybe…if the proposal was good,” I teased. He looked at me in shock before beginning to tickle me. I squealed with laughter, trying desperately to get away.

“
You, Miss Downing, need to realise what a catch I am,” he laughed, carrying me over his shoulder into our bedroom. We carried on from where we left off in the lounge.

Chapter Four

“
Earth to Shannon!” Lorna waved her hand in front of my face. “Are you with me now?”

“
Sorry, I was lost in thought,” I replied, coming out of my daydream.

“
Are you heading the meeting tomorrow?”

“
Yeah, I have a few items to address.”

“
Are there going to be any changes?” she asked with interest.

“
A few. Jennet really wants us to go for that major contract.”

“
The one Field Organisation has almost taken control of?”

“
Yes.” Lorna smirked at me. “Mother thinks it will be good for me to gain the upper hand with them.”

“
I think you need to have it out with William and Megan Field, if the truth be known.”

“
You are probably right, but they have kept their distance for some reason since my mother threatened them,” I laughed.

“
I think you need a bit of closure, that’s all.”

“
No, you’re right. Megan and I have a lot of unfinished business, and I guess Will and I do, too.” I shuddered, knowing I
still
wasn’t ready for that meeting. “I just need to be stronger before I face them so I can get my answers.”

I wasn’t sure how I would ever get the answers. The friendship I had had with the Field family had been torn apart by lies. Did I really know Megan at all? Had Will been
made
to court me? Was any of the last four years real? It made me shiver to think about those early days before Charlie, when I truly thought my life could never get any better than Megan Field.

Charlie was away for a week, working on a private shoot in Canada. He had left in the middle of the night, making sure not to wake me. That annoyed me, but he knew I would try to make him stay if he had woken me. I stretched across the bed, finding the sheets empty when I awoke. I hated weekends on my own. I was glad they were rare.

As I wandered downstairs into the kitchen, I noticed a piece of paper. My heart skipped. It had been
months
since Charlie had left me a note.

Shannon,

I am sorry I did not wake you, but you looked so beautiful sleeping like you were. I just couldn’t bear to wake you, but…

I carry your heart with me

I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

by E. E. Cummings

I love you and will see you in a week.

Notice Me

xxxx

How Charlie knew so many poems still amazed me. It was as if he had a photographic memory. This excerpt, however, was the most beautiful he had ever recited. Plus, it was one I had never read myself, which impressed me. I was meant to be the bookworm, not Charlie.

I spent most of the day putting finishing touches on the new merger that Headcom was slowly stealing from Field Organisation. I was enjoying having the upper hand more than I thought I would, too. Whatever the Fields offered, I knew we could outbid them. Plus, the new merger with Roman Marketing would make Headcom unstoppable. I was sure the Field family knew who was out bidding them by now. There was no other business with enough collateral to match their demands. I was so much stronger now. My confidence was beginning to overpower the old parts of my personality. A part of me even hoped that  William Field would come storming into my office so I could finally give him a piece of my mind and tell him exactly what he had done to me.

Monday morning came, and I was shocked to have my wish come true.

When Claire, the receptionist, told me William Field required an urgent meeting with me, I thought Lorna had put her up to it as some sort of joke.

“
Um…no, Miss Davis, Mr. Field is here,” Claire replied, confused.

“
Are you being serious?” I didn’t wait for her to answer. I ran down to Lorna’s office, not even bothering to knock in my state of panic. “I…Lorna, can you sit in a meeting with me please?” I asked, completely flustered.

“
Shan, are you okay?” Lorna questioned with obvious concerned.

“
William Field is here.”

“
Crap, seriously?”

“
Yeah, I think I am going to need your support. I’m not sure if I am really ready for this showdown yet.”

“
You’re ready,” Lorna beamed as she put her jacket on to follow me into the boardroom.