Power Play (5 page)

“What?”

“I robbed a bank.”

Dianne frowned and left. Over the rest of the week, Mary had a blast trying out her new outfits and enjoyed having lunch with Jean and meeting with her program managers. One evening, as she prepared to leave, James approached her. “Mary, I have a favor to ask. It’s a small, simple, easy favor.”

“What is it?”

“Go easy on Gregory Trent’s project.”

“Why? Afraid I’ll make Edmund Davis angry if I’m too tough?”

“This is a serious matter.”

“You know I’m always professional, James. You have nothing to worry about.” She turned and left.

But the next day Mary was the one to be worried as she sat on her bed staring at the pair of thigh-high fishnet stockings she was instructed to wear to her first business meeting with Gregory Trent that morning. How would they fit? How would they look? What if they didn’t stay up? She’d had fun wearing the new items Rania had selected, but she hadn’t been bold enough to try on any of the stockings.

“Am I crazy?” she asked Cammie, who sat next to her on the bed.

Cammie just blinked.

Mary wore a fitted olive-green suit and glass beaded jewelry Rania had selected. She saved the stockings for last. “Okay, here goes.”

She slid them on. They were not what she expected. At first she thought she’d feel naked. She worried they might fall down, but they felt like silk. The ultra-fine silver thread, creating the fishnet appearance against her skin, made her legs look sumptuous. They had never looked so good before. After admiring herself in her full-length mirror for several minutes, Mary stepped into a pair of three-inch open-toed black patent leather shoes. She stared at her reflection and barely recognized the woman staring back. She liked what she saw. No one was going to pass her over this time.

Mary arrived at the location twenty minutes early. She surveyed the carefully groomed grounds that complemented a row of select stores and eating venues. Mary knew from her research that The New Day Senior Living Community was a pilot project that Edmund and the other investors hoped would be replicated around the country. While there were numerous senior living communities for wealthy individuals, by creating a community subsidized with both federal funds and private-pay residents, it enabled half of the residents to be low-income seniors.

The community also consisted of a wellness clinic, a complete sports arena and, for those individuals with physical limitations, a special activity center with virtual games. And of course, there was the pristine golf course that was used by both the residents and the public, for a small fee.

Mary found herself enjoying the community so much that she was nearly late for her meeting and ended up racing to the main office. Fortunately, when she got there, the door was open and the room empty. However, once inside she heard shuffling behind a desk.

“Hello?”

A man popped his head up from behind the desk, then quickly rose to his feet. He stared at her, stunned; Mary did the same.

“You!” she said. She’d dreamed of meeting the stranger from the elevator again, but she’d never thought it would be so soon. She was so happy to see him again she could have leaped over the table and hugged him. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“No,” he said in a choked voice.

“I guess Mr. Trent’s not here yet. Were you working on his computer system or something?”

“I was just checking a connection.”

“Oh.” He looked too dressed up to be a technician, but she didn’t want to pry. He also didn’t seem as happy to see her as she was to see him. Some of her joy died. “I guess I’d better take a seat and wait.” She glanced around the office, only to see that every surface was covered in papers. One possible option was a chair in the corner piled high with papers and a briefcase. The stranger noticed it and came from behind the desk.

“Excuse me,” he said and removed the papers, then lifted up the briefcase. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to close the latch and the contents scattered on the floor. He held up his hands, warding Mary off when she bent down, ready to help him. “No, I’m fine. Just sit.” He knelt and quickly gathered his things. “I guess today’s my day to be unlucky.”

She frowned. “Because of me?”

He reached for something near her foot and his arm brushed against her leg. The contact made her skin prickle with pleasure; her heart picked up pace. At that moment Mary forgot all about Curtis and the tardy Mr. Trent—she wanted to know more about this man. She wanted to know what other classic books he liked to read; how he liked his coffee in the morning. Did he like coffee? Did he wear pajamas or go to bed naked?

She knew her thoughts were not professional, but she didn’t want to miss her chance and watch him walk out of her life again.

“Would you like to go out sometime?” The words escaped her mouth so quickly that to her own ears she sounded as though she was spouting gibberish, but in truth her words were a garbled whisper.

The man stopped and looked at her. His cool grayish-brown eyes bore into hers, and again she was reminded of snow drifts and the Arctic. She felt like a fool, and braced herself for the rejection, hoping that perhaps he hadn’t heard her so she could pretend she’d said something else.

“Sure,” he said.

Never had such a simple word sounded so beautiful. “Really?” She shook her head. The new Mary
expected
a man to say “yes.” “Great…Um…I know a wonderful café that serves coffee and cakes.”

“Mary.”

“Or there’s a concert in the park. I’m not sure of the music, but we could find out.”

“Mary.”

“Or there’s—”

He rested a hand on her knee. “Mary!”

“Yes?”

He glanced down and saw where his hand was and removed it. “All those sound great, but there’s something you have to know first.”

Her heart slowly cracked. “You’re married.”

“No.”

“You’re engaged.”

“No.”

“You’re seeing someone.”

“No, Mary, I—”

“You’re gay. I knew it was too good to be true, but that’s okay. We can still be friends. You—”

He smothered her words with a kiss that left her breathless. When he pulled away she was certain she’d melt. She touched her lips, which still burned from his kiss, and gazed up at him. “You’re not gay?”

He shook his head. “No.” He lifted the briefcase and closed it, looking a little ill. “But there’s something you should know.”

Just then another man entered the room waving a file. “Edmund, I found it. We’re all set for when that woman arrives. She can—” He stopped. He glanced at Mary, then at Edmund. Edmund shut his eyes and groaned as though in pain. Mary stared at the two men, confused.

The newcomer smiled at Mary and held out his hand. “I’m Gregory Trent, and who might you be?”

She shook his hand. He wasn’t at all as she’d pictured him. He had a full head of hair, great smile and physique and was in his late forties. “I’m Mary Reyland, your project supervisor.”

Gregory jumped back as though she’d struck him. He spun around to face the other man. “But, Edmund, you said—”

“I know what I said,” he snapped.

Mary stared at him. Then stared at the stranger she’d been fantasizing about for weeks, the man she’d asked out on a date and had just imagined naked.
He’d
made her lose her promotion and had listened to her talk about it. “You lied to me,” she said in a low voice.

“I didn’t lie.”

Gregory shook his head, sensing the tension between them. “What’s going on here?”

She stared at Edmund, still stunned. “You’re Edmund? The man who wears a bow tie, has a bald spot and a lisp?”

“No, that was Gregory. I’m the chain-smoking workaholic.”

Gregory frowned. “What are you talking about? You don’t smoke.”

Mary gripped her hands into fists. “When I met you on the elevator you knew who I was. You’d probably just finished telling James that you wanted me on this project. You’re the reason I lost my promotion!”

“I—”

“You let me talk and talk without revealing who you were.”

“I didn’t think it was the right time.”

“You could have told me before I asked you out.”

Gregory stared. “She asked you out?”

“And you kissed me.”

“You kissed her?”

Edmund turned to him with a vicious glare. “Pretend you’re not here.”

Gregory walked to the other side of the room and sat at his desk.

“Mary, I’m sorry.” He paused. “Wait. I’m not sorry I kissed you, but I should have told you who I was.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Your opinion of me wasn’t very high.”

She rested her hands on her hips. “It’s even lower now.”

He slyly raised an eyebrow. “Then I’ll have to do what I can to change that.”

“You won’t get the chance.”

“I don’t wait for chances.”

She closed her eyes, embarrassment burning her skin. “To think that I was…” She stopped before she said
attracted to you.
Mary opened her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m not upset. This is good. We both understand each other. And you gave me an advantage, in a way.”

“How?”

She flashed a wicked grin. “I know you believe in revenge.”

H
e’d made a slight error in judgment, and he knew he would pay for it. Edmund sighed. He was already paying. Instead of arguing with her, he wished he was finishing the kiss he’d started, but he wouldn’t be kissing her again for a while.
Mary had changed. She was different.
Richardson had warned him. He should have paid more attention. Now he couldn’t stop paying attention. He loved the way she sat with her legs together off to the side, while the slit of her fitted skirt rose up her thigh, taunting him with the possibility that if she crossed her legs, the skirt would go an inch higher.

No more drab boring suit and hair. Those brown eyes he’d remembered from before now looked at him with disgust. He knew she hated him, but all he could think of was pulling down her stockings and…he swore. He had to focus. He shouldn’t think of how her new hairstyle brought out the softness of her skin or how her suit hugged her form in a way that could give a man dangerous ideas.

Mary reached for her portfolio, adjusting her skirt in the process. Both men followed her movement with such intensity that neither of them heard her speak.

“What?” Gregory said, absently replying to what she’d said.

“I’ll need weekly reports,” Mary repeated.

He shook his head. “I don’t have time for weekly reports.”

“You’ll make time.”

Gregory glared at Edmund. Edmund sighed. Great, now he had two people who would gladly burn him at the stake.

“You’ll also need to come up with a form to report the numerous ‘benefits’ you have stated that the seniors will gain from living in this new community of yours. They will need to be measurable data so that I, I mean the government, can see how its money is being used.” She shook her head when Edmund opened his mouth. “No, Mr. Davis, this is nonnegotiable.” Once she’d finished giving Gregory all of her instructions, Mary closed her notebook and looked up at him. “Do you have any questions?”

“How long will your vengeance last?” Edmund asked.

She smiled. “This isn’t part of any vengeance.”

“I know for certain you didn’t monitor any of your other projects this closely.”

“No, I guess you’re just lucky.” Mary stood. “Since you don’t have any questions…” She shook Gregory’s hand, then extended her hand to Edmund for a handshake. He grasped her hand and didn’t let go.

“There’s no need for us to be enemies, Ms. Reyland,” he said with a soft warning.

She tried to pull her hand free. “Good day, Mr. Davis.”

His grip tightened. “You’re really angry, aren’t you?”

“Furious.”

He lowered his gaze in regret. “I was afraid of that.”

“Fear is good.”

He nodded.

“Good day, Mr. Davis,” Mary repeated through clenched teeth.

Edmund glanced up and realized he still had her hand trapped in his. “Good day, Ms. Reyland,” he said in a more subdued tone, then released her.

After she left, Gregory leaned back in his chair and held his head. “We’re screwed!”

“No, we’re not.”

Gregory sat forward, incredulous, and pointed to the door. “That was Mary Reyland? The dull, ordinary woman who was going to leave us alone to do what we want? That’s the one you specifically asked Richardson to put on our project?”

“She wasn’t like that two weeks ago. You should have seen her.”

“I can’t forget her. Did you see those legs?”

“Yes, I saw them.”

“Did you notice the way she kept crossing them every time she gave a new demand?”

Edmund had noticed a lot more than that, and his body had, too. He would have to stay seated a little longer than normal. “Hmm.”

“She’s going to be a problem, isn’t she?”

“No.”

“She manages our purse strings. She’s basically got us by the—”

“She’s just exerting a little power, but she’s the same Mary underneath.”

“Did you really kiss her?”

“Yes.”

Gregory shook his head. “Bad move.”

“I don’t regret it.”

“We’re going to.”

“You leave her to me.”

Gregory began to grin. “Is that a suggestion or a warning?”

“A word of advice.”

“What are you going to do first?”

Edmund stared at the door thoughtfully. “Find her weakness.”

Why couldn’t he have been married? Mary fumed on the way back to her office. Or gay? She could take his being gay. Instead he was Edmund Davis. To think that she’d actually been attracted to him! She’d fallen for the same type as Curtis: arrogant, demanding, controlling and conniving. It had been a moment of weakness—she wouldn’t do it again. He’d kissed her and was probably silently laughing about how he had fooled her. To think she’d thought it was all real when he knew that sooner or later she would discover who he truly was. His heart was as cold as his eyes. Tears burned her own as she remembered how he’d accepted her date. She felt stupid—as though she’d been the punchline of a cruel joke.

Mary blinked the tears away. She didn’t want to ruin her makeup and go back into the office with red eyes. She’d forget him. Fortunately, she didn’t have to work with him, anyway. With her new look and attitude she decided that the new Mary would always be in control and the new man in her life would live by her rules. She was a member of The Black Stockings Society, and no one would use her as a doormat again.

For the remainder of the day, Mary worked in silence and people stayed clear of her, sensing her bad mood. At lunch she glanced up and saw Dianne with her boyfriend, who looked just as handsome and vibrant as his picture. Mary watched them leave with envy, old insecurities beginning to seep in. She wanted the office, the promotion, the caring boyfriend who dropped by “just to say hello” and treated her to expensive restaurants. She sniffed. With her luck she’d likely end up with someone who’d offer her stale coffee and a two-day-old sandwich in the building cafeteria. Mary opened her wallet and saw the society membership card and remembered her luck had changed.

When her phone rang, Mary answered, trying hard to fake a mood she didn’t feel. “Mary Reyland. How may I help you?”

A familiar male voice came on the line. “You forgot to tell me when to pick you up.”

Her heart froze. “I’m sorry?”

“For our date,” Edmund said.

“We don’t have a date,” she said, gritting her teeth. “Goodbye, Mr. Davis.” She slammed the phone down. When it rang again she let the answering service take it.

She hated him. She would never go out with him and she’d never ask another man out again. They’d have to come to her. Edmund Davis would regret putting her on his project because she was going to use it to get her promotion. She wouldn’t be passed over next year. She would make sure to get the attention of key individuals, above James, so that he would be
forced
to promote her or lose his job. The thought made her smile, and she scheduled the rest of her activities that week with that goal in mind.

Several days later, Sara and Larry stopped by to visit with a surprise, but when they saw her they were the ones who got the surprise.

“What happened?” Sara asked, stunned.

“You look sensational,” Larry said, an attractive man who looked like he enjoyed too much beer and not enough exercise.

“Thanks,” Mary said, a little embarrassed.

“Really sensational.”

Sara sent her husband a censored look. “You’ve said that.” She looked at Mary again. “I hardly recognize you. Did you lose weight or something?”

Mary shook her head. “No.”

“I think she’s beautiful just the way she is,” Larry said, adjusting his position to get a full view of her. “You won’t be lonely long.”

“No,” Sara said in a strange voice.

Mary motioned to the folding chairs she had in the living room. “So why did you two stop by?”

“We have a surprise for you,” Larry said. “We discovered we had some extra furniture in the basement and thought you could make use of it.”

“That’s very thoughtful.”

“They’re still in the truck,” Larry said, noticing that his wife hadn’t taken her gaze off Mary.

Mary turned toward her bedroom. “Then I’d better get changed so I can help you.”

“No, there’s no need,” Larry said quickly, taking out his mobile and motioning for Mary to sit down. “I’ve got some buddies who can help me move them.”

Sara frowned. “I thought you said that the three of us could manage.”

“I changed my mind. Some of the chairs are really heavy. We wouldn’t want you ladies to hurt yourselves.”

“But—”

Larry turned his back to Sara and began talking on the phone.

“I can’t tell you how happy this makes me,” Mary said. The two women sat on a pair of folding chairs.

Sara smiled weakly. “I’m glad. I’m just shocked is all. Only a couple of weeks ago you were you. Now you look so different.”

“I know.”

“What happened?”

Before Mary could reply, Larry turned to them. “Everything is settled,” he said with a note of triumph. “You ladies leave everything to me.”

Mary leaped from her chair and hugged him. “Thanks, Larry, this is wonderful.”

He blushed. “You’re welcome.” He opened the door. “I’ll just wait outside for the guys.”

Sara folded her arms. “How many guys did you call?”

“Enough to help me move the furniture.” He winked, then left.

“Come into the kitchen,” Mary said to Sara. “I’ll make some tea.”

In the kitchen, Sara sat on a stool and watched her friend. “You haven’t answered my question yet. What happened?”

Mary hesitated. She knew she couldn’t tell Sara about the society. It was part of the rules. “After losing the promotion and Curtis, I knew that I needed to live my life differently.”

“You’ll probably start on a diet soon, too.”

“No, although I’d love to be a size six like you, I know I never will be.”

“Right. But how did you afford all this? I mean the hairstyle and the clothes?”

“I had a little savings.”

“You must have had
a lot
of savings. I saw that same skirt in Bloomingdale’s for eight hundred dollars.”

“I found a discount boutique store.”

“You’ll have to tell me where.”

“They were closing out.”

Sara narrowed her eyes. “You’re hiding something from me.”

“Yes,” Mary admitted, unable to lie anymore to her friend. “But I made a promise. I can’t tell you everything—however, I will go back and see if I can get some items for you. Okay?”

“Okay,” Sara said, although her tone made it clear that it wasn’t okay at all.

Someone knocked on the door. Mary removed the boiling water from the stove, eager to escape the disappointed expression on her friend’s face. “I’d better go answer that.” She opened the door and saw Larry with two of his friends, Derrick and Tomas, men she’d met before at parties Sara and Larry had held. “Mary, you look great,” Derrick said. He was a handsome man with a great burly physique who had never noticed her before.

“Really great,” Tomas agreed, giving Mary an admiring look.

She opened the door wider. “Thanks, guys.”

“Just tell us where you want things to go,” Larry said. “You won’t have to lift a finger.” It took the men over an hour to move everything: chairs, lamps, tables. The items were worn and not in Mary’s chosen style, but they would prove useful and she was grateful for her friends’ generosity. Once the moving was done, Mary offered everyone tea and cupcakes.

“Mmm, these are delicious,” Derrick said.

“I made them myself. I like to bake.”

“You also like to eat, too, don’t you, Mary?” Sara said.

“Yes,” Mary replied, wondering why her friend needed to mention that. “There’s no denying that.”

Derrick winked at her. “There’s no need to deny it.”

Mary felt her face grow warm.

Sara stood. “I guess it’s time to go.”

Derrick leaned back farther in his seat. “I’m in no rush.”

Tomas stretched his legs out. “Me neither.”

“Larry?” Sara said.

The only thing Larry looked ready to move was his mouth as he lifted his third cupcake. “Give us time to rest, honey. It’s been a hard day.”

They stayed another hour. The men asked Mary about her job and cooking, then told her what they were doing. Finally, after much throat clearing, a loud yawn and a swift kick Sara convinced Larry that it was time to go.

“I’d like to see you again,” Derrick said before he left.

Mary’s heart lifted with delight. “That would be nice.”

They made a date and Mary closed the door, feeling wonderful. Then she looked at her new furniture and winced. She’d have to get used to the antler lamps, room-size faded sofa and bright green side tables that looked like they were painted in the disco era by someone on drugs. Mary knelt down and took Cammie out of her cage. “It’s the thought that counts, right? I’ll just have to put a sheet over…most of it. At least the place doesn’t look as bare.”

The rest of the week, Mary tried to push Edmund firmly from her mind. But he wasn’t the type of person one could easily forget, especially when he called every day and sent her e-mails, which Mary promptly deleted. That weekend Mary kept very busy. She went out and bought food for Cammie and brightly colored sheets to put over her sofa and chairs, then tried to find a way to get the smell of dog out of the rug Sara and Larry had given her. She was busy scrubbing out an unsightly stain she’d noticed in one of the donated throw cushions when she heard someone knock at the door.

Mary pulled off her gloves, hoping it wasn’t one of the neighbors complaining about the smell of her cleaning products. She swung the door open, ready to apologize, then stumbled back in shock. “What are you doing here?”

Edmund rested his hand on the wall. “You owe me a date.”

She rested her hip against the door frame. “Do you prefer fresh or dried?”

“That’s not the kind of date I mean.”

Mary began to close the door. “You’re not getting any kind of date from me.”

He stopped her. “But that’s not the only reason I’m here. I wouldn’t have come if you’d responded to my calls and e-mails.”