He ducked into the back of his waiting limousine, his mind automatically starting to focus on what he would do once he finally had her in his bed. The ideas tumbled over the next one and he shifted uncomfortably as his body reacted to his mind’s plans for the slender beauty.
Chapter 2
Helen balanced the chocolate cake in one hand while talking on her cell phone with the other. “Are you sure you’re free for at least an hour?” she asked Edith as she walked quickly around the corner. The building was in sight but she hesitated, hoping she wouldn’t run into Alec again. Once had been bad enough. The man had infiltrated her dreams every night for the past seven days and she’d become distracted at least several times a day while working. What had the man done to her? She couldn’t get him out of her mind! Men never got under her skin like this. And she definitely didn’t like that!
Edith smiled through the phone. “Yes, he’s flying back from an international meeting today so I expect him at some point. But thankfully he won’t be back until tonight.”
“Which is why you’re working late, huh?” she asked, feeling hopeful that her plans would all work out. Edith had no idea what was going on, and Helen hoped to keep it that way, at least for a few more minutes.
Edith sighed. “Yes. But things always turn out for the best,” she replied.
Helen wasn’t fooled. She heard the sadness in her new friend’s voice and was determined to make her feel better. “Okay, then I’ll call Mick and let him know I’m on my way. I have a great surprise for you.” She hung up the phone quickly, afraid she’d reveal too much if she didn’t get off the line immediately.
She saw the woman across the street that looked exactly like a younger version of Edith and waved her free hand. When they were all in front of the enormous steel and glass building, she smiled and stuck out her hand. “Are you Nancy?” she asked eagerly.
“Yes. And this is Jonathan,” she replied, shaking Helen’s hand while indicating her small son who was standing beside her, an excited look on his face.
The little boy’s chubby face broke out into a grin, his excitement almost palpable. “Is Gramma really going to be there? Will she be free? She’s never free,” he said, a flit of uncertainty crossing over his youthful features.
Helen laughed, enjoying the little boy’s enthusiasm. “I just got off the phone with her and she’s only expecting me. I told her to expect a surprise but I don’t think she knows you’ll be there too. You’re going to make her day!” Helen fluffed his hair and he looked up at his mother happily.
Helen was charmed. Bending down to his level, she smiled brightly and nodded down at his neat and tidy attire. “I can tell that you went through a great deal of effort to make today special for her,” Helen said, indicating his freshly pressed shirt and tie.
“She’s my gramma!” he said as if that were the most important job in the whole world. “I have to look nice for her birthday,” he explained with absolute seriousness. And according to this little man, the job of being a grandmother was probably the most important role to fill. Helen admired children for their black and white view of the world. Their perceptions were so pure and simple, it made being an adult look un-necessarily complex.
“Do you think she’ll like chocolate cake?” Helen asked, bending down, only vaguely aware of her own mother coming to a breathless stop beside her. All her attention remained focused on the little man puffing up with pride that he might know something special about the woman they were going to visit.
“It’s her favorite!” he exclaimed. Then he grinned widely. “And I like it too.”
The three women laughed.
Helen scrunched up her nose, looking at the boy conspiratorially. “Okay, well, let’s go inside and talk to Mick and see if he’ll let us sneak by him one more time. Are you ready?”
She took a moment to greet and hug her mother, introducing Nancy to her mother and vice versa. They all gave a conspiratorial smile to each other when Helen explained that Edith’s boss was out of the country for at least a few more hours.
The five of them nodded and they marched inside. Along the way, Helen turned to Elisia, her mother, and smiled her thanks for joining them. “You’re going to love Edna.”
Elisia grinned right back at her daughter, giving her a small hug. “I’m sure I will. And from everything you’ve told me about her and her horrible boss, I’m glad I was able to be here today. She sounds like she really needs a break.”
Helen stifled her defense of Alec, but just barely. She could just imagine her mother’s curiosity if Helen had countered the “horrible” adjective. Had Helen really painted him as that bad in her conversations with her mother? She’d described how Edna worked long hours and was afraid to ask for the day off for her birthday, but Helen also knew that she wasn’t very objective when it came to discussing Alec. She’d been careful to leave off a description of the handsome man, but possibly some of her anger over his last order came through in her discussions with her mom.
Inside the building, Mick immediately smiled as Helen approached. “What trouble are you going to cause today, Ms. Helen?” he asked and leaned forward to smile down at Jonathan.
The little boy knew his cue. “Today’s my gramma’s birthday!” he exclaimed.
Mick chuckled at his eager explanation for his presence. “And who’s your gramma?”
Helen grinned. “Edna’s up in the tower and can’t get off today. We brought her chocolate cake and a ‘Happy 21 Birthday’ cake. Think you could look the other way?”
Mick looked warily at the small cluster of people. “ Where’s the boss man today?”
Helen’s smile instantly disappeared, worry and concern replacing her excitement. “You didn’t get into any trouble last time, did you?” She’d definitely have a word with that arrogant man if he’d said anything to Mick.
Mick waved his hand and shuffled his feet slightly. “Nah, he hasn’t said a word,” Mick replied. “I’m not sure what you said to him but thank you.”
Helen was glad no repercussions had fallen on either Mick or Edna for her little adventure last week. She suppressed the disappointment she felt at the lost opportunity to confront him. She denied that she had been looking forward to an excuse to see him again. That was ridiculous she argued with herself for a moment. The man was demented with his own power and arrogance, thinking he could just order someone around and they would simply fall into those orders. Good grief!