Honest Betrayal (24 page)

She didn’t look up. “Hi.”

“I got you these.” He held out the flowers.

She smiled. “That’s so nice.” She took them and put them in water. She hugged him then pulled away. “You’re covered in cat fur.”

“I took that stray cat to the shelter.”

“Did he bite you? That thing is filthy. Why didn’t you just call animal control to get it?”

He glanced at the floor and sighed. “Please, let’s not fight.”

Fiona brushed some hairs from his shirt. “Okay.”

He took a deep breath then met her eyes. Falling into the gentle soft brown ones facing him, realizing how much he loved her. How much he always would. “I want to give us another chance. I want to come home to you and wake up to you and start a family someday. I want to stay married.”

She threw her arms around him. He smiled and he held her close for all the wrong reasons.

PART TWO

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

Anais Nin

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

January loomed like a monster. Giant snowflakes touched the large windows of the conference room and crystallized. The intricate design reminded Hunter of the crocheted sweater Ruby had given James. He wondered when she’d have to knit a pair of booties for them.

He toyed with his wedding band, which had been his constant companion for over the last six months as he stared out at the naked trees heavy with ice. A crow landed on a branch, shaking snow that shimmered as it fell.

He heard the door open. “What are you still doing in here?” Curtis asked.

“Just thinking.”

Curtis sat. “The meeting wasn’t to signal you out as the reason sales are stagnant.”

“I’m aware of that; however that wasn’t what I was thinking about.”

“Perhaps it should be. Your revolutionary ideas are making people nervous.”

Hunter shrugged. “New computer software will result in a more efficient inventory system, lower overhead and—”

“What about the cost?”

“I’ve already explained my plan.”

“Perhaps you don’t understand. You were hired to do this job the way it’s always been done. The software we have works fine.”

“Things are changing.”

Curtis shook his head. “Not in this company. We want to see a change in the bottom line by spring. Doran can help you if that is necessary.”

Hunter kept his voice level. “I can handle it.”

“You’ve been dealing with a lot and—”

“I said—”

Curtis’ voice hardened. “Did it sound like I’d finished speaking?”

Hunter felt heat rush to his ears. “Sorry, sir.”

“You’ve been dealing with a lot of change. A new marriage, a new job. No matter how essential these events are they can also be a stress.”

He glanced out the window. Two more crows landed on the tree. “I like stress.”

Curtis grinned with knowing. “When you’re a family man you’ll have plenty of stress then. So you’ll have to recognize which ones matter more.”

“I know my priorities.”

“I want to see you do more overtime.”

Hunter clenched and unclenched his jaw. The company already threatened to consume his life. He didn’t see a reason for that and wondered why they did. “I see.”

“Randolph men have their wives, but Randolph is our mistress. You’ve been ignoring her and you can’t afford to do that.”

“Did he send you to talk to me?”

“This isn’t about your grandfather. It’s a little friendly advice.”

Hunter’s gaze slid to his notebook. “It’s definitely advice.”

 “It is better to bow out than be pushed out.”

He glanced up, his gaze sharpened. “You think I will fail?”

Curtis stood. “There are different ways to fail. Follow the rules, keep your wife in order and always remember what is important.”

 “Brenna understands that my work is important.”

“Your mother understood too. She knew she couldn’t compete.”

Hunter shook his head. “She left because she wanted her own career.”

Curtis tugged on his beard. His voice quiet. “Right.”

“Why do you say it like that?”

“I want you to be careful. Your mother was different.”

“Yes, I know.”

He tossed some papers on the table. “Like you.”

Hunter glanced down at the sketches of new products he had been toying with. He crumbled them up. “You know I doodle when I’m thinking.”

Curtis rested his palms on the table, his gaze as hard as iron. “I want you to rid yourself of this compulsion. Break all your pencils if you have to. Keep things as they are. You have come too far to let your nature stand in your way. I have worked to mold you and groom you and guide you to become my successor. Nothing can stand in your way. Nothing. Not your wife, this or you.” He tossed one of the crumpled designs in disgust. “Do you understand?”

Hunter stood and threw the sketches in the trash. “I won’t let you down.”

Curtis nodded. “No, you won’t. I plan to make sure of that. Here is your schedule. I’ve assigned you to attend two conferences. You’ll also host a cocktail party in a few weeks.”

“Brenna hosted a Christmas party only a few weeks ago. She—”

“If Brenna wants to stay your wife, she will do exactly as you tell her. She’s made a great hostess in the past and this will put you in contact with the right people. People you need to mollify. The guest list is on the next page.  I’ve also sent you a soft copy. Your stepmother was kind enough to help. You will also need to make sure you never leave the office before Doran. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“I’m waiting for a ‘Yes, sir.’”

“Yes, sir.”

 “Your grandfather gave you this position. Don’t think he won’t take it away if he doesn’t think you’re up to the task.”

Hunter shook his head. “But I have—”

“You will do exactly what I say if you don’t want to lose everything we’ve worked for.”

Hunter nodded; Curtis smiled. “Good.” He left the room.

Hunter stood by the window. All his ideas for improving the company had met with resistance. Why? Was he so far off what Randolph wanted to achieve? After a few moments he finally left the conference room and marched down the hall silently swearing. He had to be more careful where he left his sketches.

“How did it go?” Miles asked.

He headed for the kitchen. “You know how it went.”

“I can hazard a guess. People don’t like change.”

He poured himself some coffee.  It was worse than that. He had a feeling they were hiding something. “They don’t understand what I’m trying to do.” Hunter took a sip from his cup and glanced at the clock. He swore.

Miles frowned in sympathy. “Did you burn your tongue?”

“No.” He rested his cup down. “Brenna’s coming by for lunch.”

“To make up for the dinner you cancelled two nights in a row?”

“Yes.” He scowled. “I won’t be able to go.”

“She’ll understand. She always does.”

He pulled out his wallet. “I’ll give her my card. She can go buy something.”

Miles pushed it away. “Bad idea. I’ll go as your substitute.”

“My what?”

“Someone should take her out. If not you, then why not me? Trust me. A happy home is a happy woman.”

Hunter raised a brow skeptical. “This coming from a bachelor.”

Miles folded his arms looking smug. “Who has learned from the folly of others.”

Hunter finished his coffee then threw the cup away. Brenna’s patience seemed endless. He knew it wasn’t.  “Hmm.”

“Or you can forget about the work, take her to lunch and tell her the truth.”

“Which is?”

“You hate the job. It’s not working for you.”

“It’s working. I’m just facing a few obstacles. I plan to keep up my end of the bargain.”

Miles let his arms fall. “Bargain? What bargain?”

“The promotion. She married a director and I intend to stay one.”

“You were a success in R&D.”

He turned and went to his office. Miles followed. Hunter glanced at a note on his desk calendar. “Take her to the Italian restaurant on Ridley. Don’t worry I have a reservation. Make sure she has greens. She tends to skip her vegetables. Just give me the bill.”

Miles sat, studying his friend. “I’d rather give you some advice.”

Hunter stared at him his eyes dark and dangerous.

He quickly stood. “But that will be another time. I’ll tell her you said hello.”

***

Brenna stepped into the elevators of the Randolph building, rubbing her hands together. The cold had seeped through her gloves and boots, but the excitement of seeing Hunter was already warming her. She treasured the time they spent together although that time seemed to grow less and less. 

She stuffed her gloves in her jacket and headed to his office. Doran’s voice caught her attention as she passed a door.

“Hunter, won’t last long.”

She stopped by the doorway.

“Everyone knows it’s his crippled wife that got him the job. Unfortunately, he’s too stupid to use her to the full advantage. Now if she were my wife, I’d have her in front of every camera limping around like a three legged dog and sporting one of our canes. He’ll probably knock her up soon and if the kid ends up like her he might become CEO just for that. But eventually they’ll pull him from the job because sales remain stagnant while he tries to overhaul the company. He doesn’t seem to understand how this company works.” He laughed. “Fortunately, I’ll be right there to pick up the pieces.”

Brenna rested against the wall fighting a wave of nausea as she faced the truth. It wasn’t just because Hunter had a wife that he was promoted. He had a
crippled
wife. Could that have been the reason he’d chosen her in the first place? To give himself an advantage? Did she blame him? Hadn’t she married him for her own less honorable reasons?

Miles stormed out of the room nearly crashing into her. He offered her a careless apology until he recognized her. His eyes widened. “Brenna. Oh, no.”

She managed a smile. “Hi.”

“Doran is a jerk,” he said softly. “When Hunter finds out—”

She grabbed his sleeve. “Hunter doesn’t need to know.”

“What don’t I need to know?” Hunter asked behind them.

They both turned. “How hungry I am.”  She grabbed his hand, drawing strength from his touch although she wanted to bury herself in his arms and cry. “Are you ready to go?” The look on his face told her the answer. Her heart fell. “You have work.”

He held her hand not ready to let go. Wishing he had the words to rid the disappointment in her eyes. He saw a snowflake melt on her jacket. “Yes, but—”

“Forget it.” She pulled her hand away. “I have most of your reasons filed alphabetically.”

“Miles will take you.”

“A babysitter, how nice.”

“He’s not a babysitter. I have a reservation and because I can’t be there—”

“You thought of the next best thing.”

He wasn’t sure how to read her careless tone. “Yes,” he said cautious. “You can order whatever you like.” He reached for his wallet, ignoring Miles’ grimace. “Here. You can go shopping afterward.”

“I did not trudge through the snow and traffic just so that I could go shopping.”

“I realize that—”

“Then you’d better put that card away.” She turned.

He grabbed her arm, his voice low. “This is the reason why you married me, remember? My job is important.”

“You don’t need to remind me why I married you.” She glanced pointedly at his hand. With a fierce sigh, he released her. She walked to the elevators.

He followed. “You’re still angry.”

“I’m not angry,” she said pushing the down button.

She wasn’t. That’s what annoyed him, a part of him wanted her to be. An irrational part of him wanted her to show some annoyance that he couldn’t be with her. Show some emotion that she cared.

The doors opened and she stepped in. “Bye.”

Hunter stared as the doors closed.

“Go after her,” Miles urged.

He briefly rested his palm on the elevator door then spun on his heel. “No, I have work to do.”

***

Brenna welcomed the cold as she walked to her car, the stinging wind invigorating her sinking spirits. She wasn’t upset, she told herself, just disappointed. Yet she couldn’t help remembering Pauline’s words ‘Once he has you, he’ll forget you’. She hadn’t required him to be a real husband, but she hadn’t expected to feel this way. To feel like an extra appendage.

“You’re back early,” Pauline said when Brenna entered the office. “Lunch cancelled?’

“Yes.”

“Again?” she said with emphasis.

“Yes.”

“At least business is booming so it makes it all worth it.”

Brenna hung up her jacket. Yes, that was true. Her business presently was booming. Word had spread of her advantageous marriage expanding her client list and income.

“Richard Denson called again,” she said, handing her phone messages.

Brenna read the note then crumbled it up. “What a nuisance. He’s a literary agent who wants me to write a book about how to marry a rich black man.”

“You did it. Why not write about it?”

She tapped her other messages against her palm, her voice quiet. “Careful Pauline, you’re about to make me angry.”

Pauline turned to her computer. Brenna walked into her office. It was becoming more obvious how strained her relationship with Pauline had become. She knew Pauline didn’t understand or approve of her marriage and she didn’t blame her. It did seem like a cold union. But she and Hunter understood each other. She knew he had to prove himself at work and she wouldn’t get in the way. She didn’t have to worry about bills and being Hunter’s wife wasn’t as bad as it appeared. Nobody knew how they would come up with ideas for the company. Or the times he would lay on her side of the bed just to keep it warm or the extra bookshelves he’d had ordered for her books. It was a side nobody else saw. It wasn’t love, but it was enough. Unfortunately, that Hunter seemed more of a memory than a reality.

 At home, she wandered their large colonial house that sat on acres of land now blanketed with snow. She couldn’t deny that there were advantages to being Mrs. Hunter Randolph. She had a chef, a housekeeper, a lovely home, a wardrobe any woman would envy and prestige. But she couldn’t help comparing her marriage to the one he’d shared with Angelina.  He’d probably rushed home to her. Laughed with her, smiled at her. Once, while going through his albums, she’d spotted his old wedding photo and noticed something different about him. Sure he was younger, but there was a special look in his eyes that wasn’t just youthful optimism and joy. It was love, shining bright and proud. In her own wedding photo, Hunter looked like a man completing his duty. But she’d known why he’d married her. So why did his lack of affection hurt sometimes? He was always cordial, kind. She hadn’t wanted him to love her and she didn't love him. Did she? She pushed the thought aside. She liked him a great deal, but it wasn’t love. It was nothing like what she had felt for Byron.