The Paler Shade of Autumn (15 page)

Autumn joins her on the couch. “Do you want to know who Jet’s girlfriend is, or should I say, was?”

Tae quickly chews her mouthful of spaghetti. “Who?”

“Blossom Banks.”

“The actress?”

Autumn nods.

“You’ll have to doubly watch yourself now. I’ve read she’s psycho.”

Autumn laughs. “Psycho?”

“Yeah. Like psycho-psycho.”

Autumn shakes her head and stands. “I’m going to get ready for my date. Enjoy your spaghetti.”

Tonight Jet reminds Autumn of the same Jet from long ago. He is wearing shorts, a shirt and a pair of sandals. He hasn’t styled his hair, nor has he shaved away the day’s stubble. Striding through her foyer to meet him, dressed in her floral, knee-length skirt, pale pink camisole and strappy flats, she feels overdressed.

“You look beautiful,” he says as she joins him on the footpath.

“Thank you.”

He offers his arm, which she happily takes, and they amble to his car and drive to an inner-city-suburban street alongside an old building. He leads her up the rickety staircase to a boxy room filled with lacklustre, mismatched tables and chairs, some filled with the likes of university students, foreigners and several people dressed much like the pilgrims she’d seen in India.

They sit across from each other at a small, two-seat table.

“Hare Krishna?” she asks, one eyebrow lifting.

He smiles. “I had a hankering for vegetarian.”

She laughs.

“And plus, I wanted to show you that under the clothes and the stoic business face is me. I sleep in a fancy hotel and drive a fancy car, but I’ve felt and seen the ruthless hand of poverty and despite what I portray to the world, I haven’t forgotten that. I never will.” He looks around the restaurant where you can buy a vegetarian meal for six dollars. “This is actually my favourite place to eat. It reminds me of Master Shen and the orphanage and Darshan,” he finishes with a whisper.

“A perfect place to reminisce.”

They eat their fill of vegan food, Autumn enjoying it more than she thought she would and, afterwards, walk to a nearby shop for an ice-cream cone. Meandering back to the car, macadamia-nut cone in hand, Jet asks, “How did that guy, who travelled with you to India, fare on the way home?”

Autumn laughs at the memory. “Oh, David? He coped well, a little tired but other than that, he was fine.”

“I always wondered how he went.”

“You know, we’re really close friends now. He actually volunteered with me in Cambodia.”

“I kind of got the feeling he was keen on you.”

“He was. And I never let him live it down how he pestered me so much. You know he said his name was Thor to try and get into my pants. He was so jealous of you,” she says ending with a whisper.

Jet laughs aloud. “Thor? He thought Thor would give him more leverage?”

Autumn’s chest shakes with contained laughter. “He cringes when I remind him of it. He’s engaged to a really lovely Japanese woman now, thank God, it means he doesn’t pester me anymore. His fiancée loves red-heads and thinks David is the best thing since sliced bread.”

“Does he live in Brisbane?”

“Yeah. He’s a barrister.” She smiles and giggles. “I would never have guessed it when I first met him that he had some intelligence about him.”

“I’m glad it all worked out for him. He was so sick. I bet he’s never wanted to venture back to India?”

“He’s firmly struck it off his travel list. He’s very happy to brave Cambodia and Vietnam and Tibet, but he will never do India again.”

“That’s a shame. What about you?”

“I’d love to go back.”

He nods. “Me too. I haven’t been able to brave it since I left. Jenny’s been pestering me to go visit her for a couple of years. But I don’t know if I can face it.”

“I understand, Jet. But time will heal you. I promise.”

They walk in silence a few paces. “I still can’t believe we’ve crossed paths again, Autumn. When I saw you in that lift, I couldn’t quite believe it was you.”

“I know. That’s what you call good Karma, right?” she says, laughing.

“Yes. Definitely good Karma.”

“Do you still follow all that?”

Jet nods. “Probably even more now. Every time I put a foot wrong or make a narrow-minded decision, I see the repercussions almost immediately. I also see the opposite, the fruits of every good decision and I credit my success in business to my ethical actions. But I’m not perfect and I don’t ever and will never claim to be.”

Back at the car, Jet asks if she would like to go to his hotel suite for a coffee, but Autumn declines. As much as she would love to spend the evening with him, she is tired and she knows he certainly would be.

“Another time then,” he says forcing a smile to distract her from the disappointment in his eyes.

They arrive at her apartment building and are loitering at the foyer lifts. “I had a lovely time tonight, Jet. Thank you.”

“Me too.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, or are you going interstate again?”

He smiles. “I’ll be at work, bright and early.”

“I’ll see you then.”

Jet steps forward, his buttery-brown eyes exuding affection. If she imagines his hair a little longer, she can almost believe they are back in India and five long years hasn’t passed between them. He stands close enough that she can feel the heat of his body against hers and takes her by the waist. Blood pulses to the most tender regions in her body.

As his face nears hers, she catches his scent, masculine, so familiar, even after all this time. It sets her senses alive, reigniting old memories of pleasure and perception. Jet’s lips reach hers and she feels like she is home. His mouth, his tongue, the pressure of his warm, broad body against hers, is all made for her. Only for her.

“I want you, Autumn. I’ve wanted only you since I met you,” he breathes, his lips brushing against her ear.

Autumns sighs as he kisses her lips again and she reluctantly disentangles herself from his mouth and body. “It’s been the same for me too,” she whispers.

Jet smiles. She kisses him quickly on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then steps into the lift, waving once as the doors close.

Autumn logs onto her computer early and opens her emails. There is an all-office email from Jet outlining a meeting to be held in the boardroom for all the staff. She glances to the next email, another from Jet. She opens it, noting it is addressed solely to her.

Good morning, Autumn. Check your calendar
.

Autumn smiles and opens her calendar, all the appointments for the week flashing onto her screen. For today though, the entire day is blocked out in grey with a single narration—
Meeting with Jethro
. She flicks back onto the email, hoping it elucidates.

I need you all day today. Don’t worry, Scott will reschedule your appointments. Come to my office straight after the meeting. Jet
.

A smile spreads over her lips.

“That’s better than the swearing I heard Monday morning,” says Scott from her doorway.

She jolts, raises her eyes to him. “A better email than the one I read on Monday,” she says, grinning.

Scott nods, returning Autumn a knowing smile. “Mr Stark has asked me to collect you personally for the meeting that is being held in the boardroom.”

She glances at her watch. “Oh, right. Of course.” She stands, smoothing down the material of her dress and joins Scott at the door.

“So, do you know everything that goes on in Jet … Mr Stark’s life?”

He grins. “Only what he needs me to know, Miss Leone.”

Autumn follows Scott’s long gait, walking fast to keep up—not so easy to do in heels—to the boardroom, which has already begun to fill with the various staff of Stark Consulting. When full, there will be approximately sixty bodies in the room.

She spies Michael standing towards the front, so she joins him. Jet is already there, talking to a group of four employees from accounting, off to the side of the room. He smiles and nods when their eyes meet. She smiles back.

“What the hell was that?” asks Michael.

“What?”

“That look he just gave you.”

She shakes her head and shrugs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit. Because you gave it right back to him. You’re keen on the boss?”

She manages a strained laugh. “Oh, get off it, Michael. You’re delirious.”

“Yeah. Then why are you blushing?”

Autumn throws her hands quickly to her cheeks feeling the evident warmth beneath her fingers. “I admire him. That’s all.”

“Yeah, well he admires the shit out of you too. I know sexual attraction when I see it and I give you a week before he’s got you bent over his desk with your pants down around your ankles.”

Her forehead creases. “For God’s sake. Keep it down.”

“Oh my God. You’ve already done the deed.”

She draws in a deep breath, trying to steady the anger starting to grow. “Please. We haven’t, it’s complicated. I know Mr Stark from my past,” she whispers.

Michael takes Autumn by the shoulders and leans in closer. “We’re so having lunch today and you’re telling me everything.”

Autumn lowers her eyes. “I can’t today. I’ve got meetings all day.”

Michael laughs boisterously and leans in again. “With the one said Jethro Stark I presume?”

Autumn nods.

“You’re mine tomorrow. Don’t make other plans.”

“God, Michael. You’re worse than a bloody girl.”

He shrugs. “When you work with them for long enough, you soon learn things.”

Jet, dressed in a navy blue suit with light-blue shirt and metallic tie, takes the small, raised platform at the very front of the room. A hush immediately spreads over the room.

“Good morning,” he says with a loud, comfortable voice.

The staff mumble greetings back.

“For those of you who don’t know me personally yet, my name is Jethro Stark. I am CEO of Stark Enterprises, the parent company of Stark Consulting. I have organised this meeting today because I wanted to personally fill you in on the changes that are taking place here at Stark Consulting. These are changes that affect every one of you and will provide some of you with wonderful opportunities for advancement.”

He explains to the wide eyes in the room how he has recently purchased McCaffey and Co and will be uniting the two enterprises. The twenty-second floor, directly below, has been purchased to accommodate the new influx of staff. He talks about the transition period over the next month, integrating the new business, clients and staff into the Stark Consulting mode of operation and educating them on the systems and policies. He informs that there will be upper-end positions up for grabs, for which he will give preference to internal applications.

“Most exciting, though, is the school I have recently opened in South Africa. As you know, we have a few staff members over there at the moment ensuring its inauguration runs as smoothly as possible. I urge you all to experience, at least once in your life, the joys of giving and helping others. My roots began in an orphanage in India where I worked with children and found the experience not only rewarding, but inspiring.

“The best way to gain new perspective is to do something different. I’m not saying that what you will see in South Africa won’t be confronting or, at times, be incredibly difficult, but that’s life and the easiest way to find happiness in life is through selflessly helping those less fortunate. I am offering incentives for anyone who wishes to volunteer at my school in South Africa, or any of the orphanages I support in Bodh Gaya, Mongolia or Central Africa.”

He looks to Autumn in the crowd and smiles. “Autumn Leone also has a charity helping orphans in Cambodia and these incentives will apply if you wish to take leave at any of the orphanages she provides assistance to. It’s easy to give money, but sometimes your time is what is needed the most. I am sending an email around in the next few days with all the relevant details, but briefly, I will pay twelve weeks’ full salary plus any unpaid holiday leave for anyone who volunteers twelve months of their time. I will pay full fare for flights and will give a guarantee that your position is here when you return.”

A wave of hushed conversation spreads throughout the room. Jet allows them to talk amongst themselves for a minute. “I hope that this has given you all something to think about. Like I said, I will send out further information on the new positions on offer as well as the volunteer incentive plan shortly. Thank you all for your time.”

The crowd claps as Jet leaves the podium and makes his way out of the room, not before he glances at Autumn and silently communicates to follow him.

When Jet has left the room, Michael smiles devilishly at Autumn. “Have a
pleasurable
day, Autumn.”

She smiles and punches him playfully in the arm. “You make sure you keep your mouth closed.”

He zips his lips with his finger and thumb, grins and strides off towards his office.

Jet is staring at the city from his window. It is a beautiful clear day outside, the sun catching on the ripples of the Brisbane River, casting flickers of light as though its surface was made of diamond.

“Thank you, Scott,” says Jet, not turning his gaze from the panorama his window offers. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Scott nods and leaves the office, shutting the door silently behind him.

Jet turns to face Autumn and breathes in deeply as he locks his eyes with hers. “Good morning.”

“Hi,” she says, smiling.

“You got my email this morning?”

She nods. “You need me today.”

Jet steps closer, his body lightly brushing against her. “I need you all day. But not here. We’re going out today.” He strokes his finger down the tender flesh of her cheek and across her bottom lip. Autumn’s eyes languidly close and she breathes in the sensation his touch offers.

“Where are we going?”

He brushes his lips against hers, his warm breath heating her lips, but he doesn’t kiss them. “Anywhere. It doesn’t matter. I just want to be alone with you.”

She smiles and takes his bottom lip between hers, unable to resist. “Sounds perfect,” she whispers. Autumn pulls away from him, her chest gently rising and falling. “Won’t the boss be upset if I take a sickie?”