Whatever He Wants (32 page)

 
     
“
I’m trusting
you
to keep this next part to yourself.”

 
     
“Of course, what’s said in this car stays
here.”

 
     
She gripped his hands, her eyes wide and
an air of desperation clung to her.

 
     
"Yes. I swear on my grandfather’s
grave.”

 
     
“I’m going to trust your grandfather
actually meant something to you for you to make that statement, so here it
goes. I never wanted to get married: at least not to a man.”

 
     
James furrowed his brows instantly
understanding her meaning. “You’re gay?”

 
     
She nodded. Her eyes welled with tears.
“That was like pushing a boulder off my chest. I’ve never told a soul but I’ve
always known I was different even when I was little girl, all my friends were
fantasizing over the latest teen idols while I had a crush on my ballet
instructor. I knew it was something I could never confess to anyone so I tried
to be what my parents wanted. I really tried. I enjoy fine living just as much
as anyone else, but I envisioned myself
either working
alongside my father or in some other
Fortune
500
company, building my own portfolio and thereby negating the need to
marry and depend on a man. Barring that, I thought I could be the wife you
wanted, but since my father’s heart attack, I’ve done a lot of thinking.” She
released his hands to fold them in her lap.

 
     
“I realize just how tenuous my position
is. My father is in no condition to run the company.  The board is already
in talks of who the next successor should be and there are even talks of
liquidation. I don’t want to see that happen. I’m working to get power of
attorney for Daddy’s business affairs, which is currently in the hands of an
executor who I don’t believe has Daddy’s best interests at heart. Once I get
power of attorney, my shares, along with my parents’, will be enough to take
over the board, and I intend to appoint myself as the next CEO. I’d like your
help.”

 
     
James didn’t know what to say at first. He
wished he would have known about this sooner. It bothered him that she’d
suffered in silence. Not seeing Eleanor’s dilemma only compounded the mistakes
he’d made lately.  “Eleanor, you seem to have put a lot of thought into
this.”

 
     
“I have to think of my father. If the
company goes bankrupt our stock is worth nothing. We’ve been living on credit
for years and our bills are going to catch up with us soon. My father will need
round-the-clock medical care for God knows how long, and my mother hasn’t
worked a day in her life. She’ll be lost if someone can’t provide for them. If
you can help me, perhaps guide me through this whole process while I find my
legs, I’d be so grateful.”

 
     
Her request wasn’t unreasonable. It was
the least he could do. “Of course I’ll help. Will you be able to handle the
medical expenses for your father?”

 
     
“He still has first-rate medical insurance
so that shouldn’t be a problem while he’s in the hospital. Thank you so much.”
To his surprise she wrapped her arms around his neck and began to cry; he could
only imagine how it must have been for her holding in her secret, and the
relief it was for her to finally get it out.

 
     
Eventually she pulled back with a sniff
and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry about that. But you’re the first person I could
be honest with.”

 
     
“Maybe one day I won’t be the only person
you can be honest with.”

 
     
“I hope so.  One day.” She sniffed
again. “I guess I should give this back to you,” she attempted to remove her
engagement ring but James covered her hand with his.

 
     
“Keep it. Do whatever you like with it.”

 
     
“Thank you. You know, James, I think we
may actually become friends.”

 
     
James smiled. “I’d like that.”

 
     
“Good. Since we’re friends, can I offer
you a little friendly advice?”

 
     
“Depends on what that advice is,” he
chuckled.

 
     
“I’ve lived this lie most of my life and
I’ve been miserable. If you can find a way to be happy in this sorry existence
we call life, go grab it, hold on tight and never let go. And remember,
sometimes what we think we want isn’t what we need. Go find that girl and do
whatever you have to do to get back into her good graces.”

 
     
“And if I fail?”

 
     
“Then at least you can say you tried.
Failure is a better than wondering ‘what if.’”

 
     
More than anything James wanted to do
exactly that, but he wondered if he’d damaged things with Noelle beyond repair.

 
     
“Paul, I’m only one person. You’re
bringing orders faster than I can fill them. The kids are only here part-time
and since Donna had that family emergency we’re swamped. Do you think we can
hire another full-time baker?” Noelle sat down at the table across from her
business partner, coffee in hand. The shop was blissfully quiet for the first
time that day.

 
     
Before they’d opened their bakery, Paul
had told her things may be slow in the beginning until they built up their
clientele so she hadn’t expected to be this busy.  The designer cakes
she’d made for Alyssa’s wedding and the art gallery had garnered them a lot of
business, but the cupcakes Noelle baked daily had taken off as well.

 
     
Running the bakery was hectic and
rewarding at the same time. Most nights she’d go home so bone tired she’d be
out before her head hit the pillow, Noelle wouldn’t trade this feeling for the
world. She was proud of herself to be doing something she enjoyed and making a
living from it. She only wished her mom was alive to see her namesake, Dot’s
Bakery.

 
     
“Relax, Noelle. I’m on it. I’ll send out
an ad for another baker and hire another part-timer to help out in the front.
Actually, I was thinking maybe we should have a full-time person to just handle
the cash register.”

 
     
“We’re just starting out. Are you sure we
should be taking on all these people so soon?”

 
     
“I think our budget can handle it. We’re
already getting a lot of business in the shop but orders for specialty cakes
are coming in much faster than I expected. You’re going to have to work around
the clock in order to fill them unless we get you some help.”

 
     
“The baking part is easy, but the orders
we’ve received lately have been for really detailed cakes. Not all bakers have
a knack for that, and it will take more time for me to train someone to help
than actually doing it by myself if we don’t find the right person. I think we
should look for someone with an artistic background for the job. And as much as
it pains me to say this, I think we’ll need to turn away some of these
projects.”

 
     
“You’re right, Noelle. I guess I got a little
overzealous. I just have this fear of falling flat on my face.”

 
     
Noelle was surprised to hear this. She’d
never seen Paul uncertain in anything unless her cousin was involved. “Is it my
turn to give you a pep talk?” she teased.

 
     
“I guess a little ego boost couldn’t hurt
right now. I want to feel validated for walking away from a well-paying job to
start my own business. I’m aware of how many businesses fail within the first
year and I don’t want us to be one of them.”

 
     
“We’re doing well, Paul. Relax. So, what’s
the new order you mentioned earlier?”

 
     
‘”I wrote down the details. The client
wants you to call them back to discuss the order further. They said price was
no object.”

 
     
“Okay, I’ll call at the end of the day.
Since we have some down time, I think I’ll try out a new recipe I’ve been
fiddling with.”

 
     
Paul held up his hand to stop her. “Hold
on for a second, I wanted to talk to you about something. How are you doing?”

 
     
“I’m fine. But I’m sure there’s a reason
why you’re asking.”

 
     
“We haven’t really had a chance to talk
since the gallery function.”

 
     
She stiffened.
“Because
I didn’t want to talk about it.
So what? I saw James.
Big
deal.”

 
     
Paul gave her a long accessing stare. “If
you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t push. But I’m here if you need to.”

 
     
“Thanks, Paul. I think I’ll head back
now.”

 
     
Just as Noelle walked to the kitchen the
bell dinged, indicating a customer coming into the shop. She turned around with
a smile and was surprised to see her old professor from art school.

 
     
“Miss Greene. You work here? This is a
pleasant surprise?”

 
     
“Professor McGregor, this is a surprise,
but I’m not sure if it’s a pleasant one,” she answered honestly.

 
     
The man who had made it his life’s mission
to make Noelle miserable actually chuckled. Outside of the classroom setting he
actually seemed human. “I know I’m not one of your favorite people, Miss
Greene, but you were definitely one of my favorite students. I was sorry when
you dropped my class.”

 
     
“Actually, I left school altogether.”

 
     
“Yes, I found that out. It’s a shame. You
had a lot of potential.”

 
     
This was news to her. “Pardon my
bluntness, but you only had criticism for my work.”

 
     
“Miss Greene, I’ve gained a reputation for
being harsh but I think I’m fair. I was only coming down on you because you
weren’t living up to your true potential. You were one of the most talented
pupils I’ve had in a while. Technically your work was flawless but something
was missing. The passion wasn’t there.”

 
     
“I didn’t know you felt that way. Why
didn’t you just tell me instead of being so harsh?”

 
     
“Because I suspected and you probably
figured out for yourself that the type of art I asked you to produce wasn’t
your calling.  So, there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding this place. What
do you recommend?”

 
     
“Everything is made fresh daily, but if
you’re looking for an individual treat, I’d suggest a cupcake. Try the salted
caramel, they’re our most popular.”

 
     
“I think I will. Box four of them and I’ll
take one to go.”

 
     
Once she rung him up and handed him his purchases,
he took a bite into one of the cupcakes.
“
Mmm
.
I can see why these are so popular.”

 
     
“It’s a spin on my mother’s recipe.”

 
     
He smiled.
“Seems like
you’ve found your passion after all.”

 
     
When he left, Noelle couldn’t help but
smile. All that time in art school she’d doubted herself when all along the
problems wasn’t the work but her lack of interest in it. She was still riding
on the high of her former professor’s compliment when she heard the bell ring
again. As she looked toward the door, her smile fell.

 
     
Noelle looked around the shop to see Paul
had disappeared. He was probably in his office and couldn’t act as the buffer
she so desperately needed. “What are you doing here?”

 
     
James strode over to the corner with a
slow swagger. Noelle willed herself not to react to his handsome visage and his
hypnotic gray gaze. “Is this the way you greet all your customers?”

 
     
“I’m surprised you’ve lowered yourself to
visit this humble establishment. Felt like slumming today?”