Burned by Passion(6)
They ordered their favorite dishes and wine, and as usual Terry started off talking about his day, and then she told him about hers. They laughed over the usual little gossip about co-workers or mutual friends. It was turning into an enjoyable evening as it felt great to have someone to share a nice meal with and talk about anything you both found interesting. Kira found herself mentioning the welcome party and saw Terry’s handsome face register interest.
“There could be a story in this you know. Bretton Carter’s long-lost son finally returns,” Terry murmured and Kira rolled her eyes expressively. Trust Terry to find a story in everything.
“To stay, I wonder?” mused Terry as he sipped from his wine glass.
Kira was shaking her head. “I have no way of knowing. He’ll probably want to return back home to his mother.”
“His mother,” Terry repeated speculatively. “She was some British chick, wasn’t she? She and your boss still divorced?”
Kira’s eyes shifted as she nodded in response, beginning to feel uncomfortable discussing her boss’s personal affairs. Not that she was telling Terry anything he didn’t know or couldn’t find out himself. It just felt that she owed her boss loyalty enough to keep his private matters private.
“You know; I think it’ll be a good idea to accompany you to this party tomorrow,” Terry surprised Kira by saying. “I mean I’ve always been curious to see how the other half lives, so to speak. Would your boss be cool with that?”
“Of course he would,” Kira said with a somewhat guilty start. She figured her boss wouldn’t expect her to show up alone especially since he knew Terry; they’d met a few times. “I didn’t think you’d be interested in such an affair.”
Terry grinned. “Yeah I know; it doesn’t seem like my kind of scene, huh? I mean a bunch of snotty folk with more money than they know what to do with – hiding their many secret foibles beneath their designer clothes and high class personas.”
Kira groaned deeply. “If you’re coming with me you’ve got to promise to be on your best behavior, Terry. No snooping around for your next celebrity scoop. If some starlet or billionaire gets drunk and makes out with the family help I don’t want to read about it in your little gossip column tomorrow.”
Terry’s expression looked pained and he lifted both hands in defeat. “Okay, okay. How could I possibly refuse when you plead so nicely with those big, brown eyes and soft, pouty lips? I got you, honey. I’ll be the soul of discretion and leave my inquisitive mind at home.”
Kira shook her head and smiled, unable to resist Terry’s wicked charm. She was glad to have a man like him. He wasn’t dominant in any way; totally respected her and let her make all her own choices even though he was older and more experienced when it came to life issues. He acted like the big brother she’d always wanted and she was grateful she could count on him to be there when she needed him.
He’d make a great crutch tomorrow tonight, she decided, knowing she’d be nervous as hell and the handsome Terry’s arm would be nice to lean on as she faced the world of the rich and mighty. Working as Bretton Carter’s secretary had exposed her to a lot of things that had broadened her horizons but she’d never been in a situation where she’d be in the company of his well-heeled friends and business associates. It would be an eye-opening experience, one she was looking more and more forward to as the hour drew near.
Chapter Three
Blake stood in front of the mirrors running one wall of his dressing room, adjusting his dark suit and conservative tie. He hoped he was appropriately dressed since it was meant to be a black tie optional dinner party. He still couldn’t believe he’d agreed to this.
He’d have expected that the last thing his father would do was make a big fuss about him. He was twenty-eight, not fifteen. But another part of him felt he should be glad his father was proud enough to want him to meet his special guests.
Blake looked back at his reflection and shook his head at the picture he depicted. Did he look as reluctant as he felt? He knew he had to get this over with. Especially since his father had already been at his door earlier to knock and ask if he was going to take forever because the guests were soon to arrive.
Blake had assured him he’d only be a few more minutes. Now he wondered if there was one last ditch chance he could get out of showing up for this ‘party.’ He really didn’t see himself getting along with any of his father’s friends and couldn’t imagine having to endure a whole evening trying to act out a farce like he was some beloved, prodigal son come home to roost. His father – the renowned takeover king and hedge fund billionaire, had valued his precious company and business life over his own family and it had cost him a wife and a son. Blake’s mother was dead and Blake could well have been dead to his father too for all the interest the old man had shown him since he’d left when he was ten years old.
But Blake wasn’t a kid anymore, acting out because his mother had taken him away from the home he’d known. Sophie Harrington had dedicated her life to her son, never remarrying but focusing on building a home of love and support that had raised Blake into the person he was now. He’d never needed his father and sure as hell didn’t now. He was doing this for Sophie. She’d wanted him to come back. Subtle hints and the things she’d said as she’d started to lose her fight against the disease ravaging her body. Her wonderful soul had shone through until the very end and Blake had been there when she passed, holding her frail hand and planting a kiss on her soft, withered cheek. Even in death, her face still held traces of the blonde beauty she’d been.