Memories (9 page)

 "Sure." She followed Trindell into his office and sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Trindell closed the door and than sat, placing his elbows on the desk in front of him touching his fingertips together thoughtfully.

 "I received a phone call today from Michael DeCara of Regal Coats," he began. He studied Dani's face a moment as if gauging her reaction. When he didn't see any, he continued. "He'd like to come this weekend for a tour of our store, especially the coat department. He says he's interested in seeing how we display our merchandise and thinks he might be able to offer some helpful advice."

 Dani held her composure. "That shouldn't be a problem," she told him. "We could ask Traycee to give him the tour and introduce him to the department manager. Traycee's quite knowledgeable with the coat department and I don't think she has any plans this weekend." Dani knew this because of an earlier conversation with Traycee. She was confident Traycee would be more than willing to take on the assignment.

 "He asked specifically for you," Trindell said steadily.

 This threw Dani off-balance. "Oh. I see. Well…"

 "Now Dani," Trindell interrupted. "If there is any reason you don't want to do this, I'll understand completely. Don't feel you have to just because he asked for you." He emphasized the word 'he' coldly, like a father protecting his daughter from some unseemly character.

 Dani couldn't help but smile at his protective behavior in spite of the anger she felt over the spot Miguel was putting her in. To push himself on her in his own territory was one thing, but to do so in her office was another.

 For a moment she thought of saying no. After all, she had plans that she didn't want to cancel. But then, she knew that if she didn't go along with it this time, he'd only keep trying. Finally, she decided she had to put a stop to him once and for all and the only way was a face-to-face confrontation. Once she made it clear to him she was no longer interested then they could get on with their lives.

 Trindell misinterpreted Dani's long silence. "I'll just tell him you can't make it," he offered. "After all, it was too late of notice for a holiday weekend anyway."

 Dani shook her head. "No, Carl, it's okay. I'll meet with him if that's what he wants."

 Trindell studied her a moment. "Are you sure? He seems a bit..." it was Trindell's turn to hesitate. "Pushy," he finished.

 Dani laughed, making Trindell's creased frown turn into a smile. "He is pushy. And arrogant. And over-confident, and a few other choice words I'd rather not say. But it's okay, Carl. I've know him a long time and I know how to handle him." She stood to leave and Trindell walked her to the door.

 "All right," he said. "But I think I'll be around that day, just in case."

 "Thanks, Carl." As Dani opened the door to leave, she had a thought. "Do you think we could arrange an early morning meeting? Maybe I could still get out of here by noon and make it up to my parents for the weekend."

 "Sure, I don't see why not. And Dani, thanks."

 Dani only smiled and headed back to her desk. As she sat there, she began to think that maybe this meeting was for the best. She could get Miguel out of her life once and for all. The more she thought about it, the better she felt.

Dani arrived early at the store Saturday morning for her meeting with Miguel. Since it was a holiday weekend, and expected to be very busy, she'd arranged for the coat department staff to be there an hour before opening to meet with him. She figured she could give him a tour of the rest of the store afterward and, hopefully, be out of there by noon.

 Dani had called her mother earlier in the week to let her know about the delay. Her mother understood, knowing how seriously Dani took her job, and was pleased to hear she still planned to come. This morning, though, her mother had called her again to warn her about the storm reports.

 "They're predicting thunderstorms and hail for this afternoon and evening," Mrs. Westerly said with concern in her voice. "Check the weather report before leaving, dear. I don't want you getting caught in a storm."

 Dani promised she would and was annoyed to see it begin to rain, the wind blowing fiercely, as she drove into Minneapolis. Minnesota weather was so unpredictable at times, especially summer and fall.

 She brushed aside her annoyance at the weather as she examined the coat department. Everything looked in fine order. Coats were tagged for the Fall Sale and the displays looked wonderful. Who did Miguel think he was, suggesting that a prestigious store like Chance's might need his advice on coat displays? That just showed the gall and conceit he had.

 Kelly Suther, the Coat Department Manager, came over and talked with Dani about the Regal Coat line. She was young but very competent in her position, yet she admitted to feeling some anxiety over Mr. DeCara's visit.

 "Do you know what he's like?" she questioned Dani. "Mr. Trindell made him out to be some corporate tyrant who wants to control everything."

 Dani laughed at the picture Carl had painted. From one phone call he had decided he didn't like Michael DeCara, and she suspected it was because of his insistence on seeing her. She should have felt offended by Carl's protective attitude toward her, but instead she felt lucky to have a boss who was looking out for her.

 "He's not quite the tyrant Trindell made him out to be," she assured Kelly. By then the other sales assistants had joined them, curious about the mysterious visitor. "As a matter of fact," Dani continued, a bit sarcastically, "he will more than likely be very charming to you all."

 "Why, thank you, Miss Westerly. I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant introduction."

 Dani recognized the voice behind her instantly and her back stiffened with outrage. She turned to find Miguel directly behind her, his ever-present smile upon his lips.

 "Good morning ladies," Michael DeCara approached the group, looking fresh and crisp in his navy silk suit, his damp overcoat slung over his arm. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. The janitor was kind enough to let me in early and direct me to the coat department." He smiled warmly at the other women before turning his gaze to Dani. Standing directly beside her, he winked at her familiarly, bringing an angry rush of blood to her face.

 "Mr. DeCara," Dani said crisply. "I'd like to introduce you to our Coat Department Manager, Kelly Suther, and her two full-time assistants, Cris Eastman and Jamie Carlson. I'm sure they can answer any questions you have about the department."

 Michael gave Dani a sideways glance, laid his coat over the counter and approached the group of women, his hand extended. "First of all, please call me Michael. I'm not so old that I'd want you lovely ladies to refer to me as Mr." He smiled as he shook each woman's hand in turn, holding each hand for longer than necessary and giving a warm personal comment to each.

 "I'm pleased to meet all of you," he continued. "I enjoy knowing the people who sell our merchandise. It's nice to be able to put a face to the names I hear over the phone."

 The group of women beamed like schoolgirls, obviously entranced by Michael's good looks and manners. Dani rolled her eyes at his overbearing charm. It took more than a silk suit and polished shoes to impress her. She knew what he was like on the inside.

 For more than an hour, Michael discussed the winter line with the women, going over details they might have missed, which would help them in their sales presentations. He discussed fabrics, washing instructions, snap-off collars and linings. He complemented their displays, suggested different ideas for merchandising and joked about ways to sell to the hard-to-sell customer as the three women hung on his every word. Dani had to admit he knew his product well, but was continually annoyed at how hard he was working to impress the other women.

 The store had opened by now and Dani tried unsuccessfully several times to end the meeting. Just as her irritation began to peak, Michael pulled a long, red wool coat from the rack to show the women. "This coat definitely looks better on a person than on a hanger," he told them. "Dani dear, would you come model this for us?" He turned back to Kelly, Cris and Jamie. "You know, she'd make a perfect model. Personally I think she should be modeling these clothes instead of hiding behind the scene buying them."

 Dani was outraged. How dare he belittle her job when, thanks to him, it was all she had? Or ever would have. She wanted to scream her anger at him, but with the women watching her and customers wandering between the racks, she had no choice but to comply with his request.

 Michael slowly slipped the coat over her shoulders and stood close behind her longer than necessary. Dani stepped away from him and buttoned up the coat. Michael only smiled and began showing off its detailing to the saleswomen and a few customers who had gathered around them as Dani seethed with anger.

 "Remind me to send you this coat," Michael whispered into Dani's ear. "It looks stunning on you."

 Dani had had enough. "It's time we let these women get back to work," she said, taking off the coat and flinging it at Michael. She walked quickly out of the coat department and down the aisle and could faintly hear Miguel thank the women for their time and say goodbye. Dani was at the house wares department by the time Michael caught up with her.

 "Hey, wait up. What was that all about?"

 She stopped abruptly and faced him. "How could you!" she accused him. "It's bad enough you conned your way in here with this 'tour' crap, but then to purposely embarrassed me in front of the people I work with. I've worked hard to earn the respect of my co-workers and you blow it all away by suggesting I should be some air-headed model."

 Michael looked stunned. "I thought it was a compliment."

 "Well, it wasn't," Dani kept her voice low, conscious of the customers and salesclerks around them. Venom spilled from her tone. "I take my job seriously. I work hard and I expect to be treated as a professional. And I expect the same treatment from you."

 She spun on her heel and walked away toward the elevators. Michael had no choice but to follow her. As he did, he couldn't help but puzzle over the constant hostility Dani expressed toward him. What had he done to make her so angry? Had she hardened so much with life? No, he couldn't believe that the young woman he had once known could change so completely.

 "I'll take you up to the offices," Dani said coolly as they reached the elevators. "I think Mr. Trindell plans to meet with you up there."

 The ride in the elevator was a silent, tense one. Michael was afraid to say a word in the chance he'd make her angry again. Dani was too upset to say anything.

 The doors opened to the large room crowded with desks and partitions. Dani snapped on the lights, a bit perturbed by the fact that Carl wasn't already there. She had hoped to deposit Miguel on him and leave. It was already close to eleven and she wanted to be on her way to her parent's house by noon.

 "Is this where your office is?" Michael interrupted her thoughts.

 Dani laughed. "I don't have an 'office'," she told him. "This is where my desk is." She waved her hand to the row of desks separated by partitions.

 "Show me your desk," Michael asked.

 Dani stared at him, surprised. "Why?"

 "Because, I'd like to see it. You can tell a lot about a person by their desk." Michael smiled at Dani's frown. "Besides, you got to see mine at home. It's only fair."

 Dani shook her head at his childishness. "It's over there," she pointed. "The second one down from Mr. Trindell's office."

 Michael walked over and studied her neat, well organized desk. Everything had a place, but something was missing. He tipped his head a bit and scratched his beard as he tried to figure out what it was. His gesture was such a common one, yet one so familiar to Dani, that it tugged her into the past for a brief moment.

 "Interesting," he commented.

 "What's interesting?"

 "Your desk is neat and organized. It shows you're a very good worker."

 "So."

 "It's missing something. How long have you worked here?"

 Dani couldn't figure out where he was heading with all this, but she answered him out of curiosity. "Fifteen years."

 "Fifteen years," Michael's voice trailed off a moment. "That's a long time. Yet, there's nothing here that says 'I'm Dani's desk'. No pictures, no mementos, not even a coffee mug with your name on it. Seems strange for having been here so long."

 Dani looked closely at her desk and then slowly studied those of her co-workers. He was right. They all had pictures of family on their pin-up boards or in frames on their desks. Plants, flowers and even stickers with funny sayings were strewn around other work areas. Little things that made their work stations personal. Even Traycee had already begun personalizing her own area and she'd hardly been there six months. Yet, Dani's desk looked like anyone could have worked there. The thought depressed her and she was irritated by the fact that Miguel was the one to point it out. But before she could make a smart comeback, Michael changed the subject.

 "Do you want to see my latest picture of Michelle?"

 Dani's face softened a bit. "You know I do," she told him.

 Michael pulled out his wallet and sat on the corner of her desk, flipping through the photos. "Here it is." He handed her the wallet.