A Heart For Business draft 2 Page 5

  Tears of relief and joy sprang to her eyes as he handed them to her and said plaintively, “The answer to your question is no.”

  “What do mean?” Vanessa asked, suddenly confused. Was he here to make up with her or break up with her?

  “Yesterday, when we were walking home from the doctor’s office, I took the news you had to tell me badly. It was difficult for me to process and I’m sorry I was a real asshole about it. But then you asked me an important question and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.”

  “You’ve been thinking all this time?” Vanessa asked, flabbergasted. “I thought you hated me and never wanted to speak to me again.”

  “No. I just needed time to process everything. It’s how I work. You had asked me did I change my mind about wanting you to take the job as CEO and to come live with me? The answer is No. I haven’t changed my mind. I want you to take the job! You deserve it and you’ll be really good at it. The board members at Gainscorp would be fools not to want you and I know this is the career opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Don’t let a jerk like me stop you. ”

  “Really?” Vanessa asked as she clutched the bouquet of roses to her chest and tears streamed freely down her cheeks. “And what about the other thing? Have you changed your mind about that?”

  “No, heavens no! I love you and I’m just hoping I haven’t blown it so bad that you no longer want to live with me.” He spied the open suitcase on her bed through the bedroom door and swept her into his arms, hugging her desperately to his chest and crushing the flowers between them. “Please tell me I’m not too late; that I haven’t lost you! Please tell me you still want to move in with me. I love you so much, Vanessa!”

  “I love you too!” Vanessa said. She let the flowers fall to the floor and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him happily. He tore at her clothes, pulling them from her body, and she did the same to him, causing the buttons of his shirt to scatter across the floor as she ripped it from his chest.

  They collapsed onto the living room floor, rolling over one another as they kissed passionately, their tongues dancing in their mouths.

  “I love you so much. I was afraid I’d lost you forever.” Vanessa gasped between moans of pleasure as he took her breasts into his mouth and sucked on her nipples until they puckered into hard nubs.

  “Me too. I never want to feel that way again.” Carter said, as he paused to catch his breath before diving into her delicious flesh once more.

  “You won’t. I’m yours forever and nothing can ever change that.” Vanessa said. She reached down to his groin, searching for the part of him she lusted for, when suddenly there came a loud knock on the door.

  “Oh crap; not now!” she groaned in a quiet whisper. “I forgot Norman Fields was on his way over to help me pack. He was going to take me to the airport.”

  “You’re not still leaving are you?” Carter said with a playful cock of his brow.

  “Now it’s my turn to not answer you and leave you wondering.” Vanessa said with a playful wink. She shouted to the door “Hang on just one minute; I’ll be right there!”

  The couple grappled for their clothes, putting them back on as quickly as they could, only Carter’s shirt had only two buttons left and there was no way he could appear presentable. Besides, it might be a huge conflict of interest in her getting the job if they discovered she was consorting with a former employee.

  “I’d better meet with him out in the hall. You stay here.” Vanessa giggled. She felt like a teenager hiding her boyfriend from her parents. She gave Carter a quick kiss, straightened her sweater over her jeans, and then stepped out into the hallway of the apartment building.

  “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, but good news; I’ve decided to take the job!” Vanessa spoke excitedly as she locked her front door behind her to keep Norman from going inside and finding Carter. As soon as she pulled her key from the lock she turned and froze right she stood.

  This wasn’t Norman Fields. For the second time she was faced with someone she never thought she’d see ever again; only this time it wasn’t good. Indeed, it was very bad.

  Chapter Nine

  “Trevor!” Vanessa gasped. She was extremely startled to be face to face with the man she had broken up with over a month ago. He looked different than she remembered him. His eyes were colder and the line of his jaw was clenched. He looked like he’d lost a lot of weight and his clothes were dirty and stained. The changes scared her. Straightening her spine in an effort to look brave, she asked “What are you doing here?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.” Trevor said menacingly. “I’ve been searching for you for nearly a month. I found this letter that you had been invited to New York so I followed you here to bring you back home, but it took me this long to discover where you were staying.”

  Trevor held up a crumpled piece of paper that she recognized as being from Norman Fields. She also recognized it as being one that she had thrown in the trash in her apartment.

  With wide eyes, she said “You broke into my apartment went through my garbage? That’s incredulous! What’s the matter with you?”

  Trevor’s eyes turned hard as daggers. He pulled a gun from inside his jacket and pointed the barrel right at Vanessa, saying coldly, “I’ll tell you what’s incredulous; that you think you can leave me! You’re mine and you’re coming back to Chicago with me, right now!”

  Vanessa’s heart was pounding in her chest and she thought about screaming out to Carter for help, but she knew just what would happen if she did. Carter would come running out into the hall to save her and Trevor would shoot him. She couldn’t bear the thought of Carter being killed, even if she had to sacrifice herself to protect him.

  “Okay, I’ll go with you. Just put the gun away. You don’t need that.” Vanessa said in soothing voice, hoping to placate him.

  Trevor wrapped his arm around Vanessa’s shoulders, pressing her tightly to his side, and put the gun in his jacket pocket, keeping it pointed at her while effectively hiding it.

  Just then the elevator at the end of the hallway opened and Norman Fields stepped out.

  “Mr. Fields!” Vanessa cried out.

  “Who’s this?” Trevor asked suspiciously.

  “This is Mr. Fields. I just called him this morning and told him I was going back to Chicago. He’s here to help me pack” she said to Trevor. Then she turned to Norman and said “Thanks so much for coming, but my boyfriend Trevor Mills is here now, so you can just go home Mr. Fields.”

  “I’m delighted to meet you.” Norman Fields held out his hand to him, but Trevor just stared at it rudely until Norman withdrew the friendly gesture with a puzzled frown.

  “Are your bags all packed? I’d be happy to help so we can talk more about the job offer. I think you’re making a real mistake turning it down.” Norman said, looking at Vanessa carefully. There was something odd about her this morning. Her eyes were dilated and kept darting to the side, as if she were nervous. Her usually friendly smile was stiff and unnatural, as was her normally graceful posture. Norman Fields knew enough about people to know something was very wrong, he just couldn’t figure out what.

  “No, I don’t need to pack. I’m leaving with Trevor now. We’re going home to Chicago. If you could just go into the apartment and take care of the rest of my things that would be great.”

  “Certainly. Where should I have them shipped to?” Norman asked cautiously.

  Vanessa turned to Trevor and said “Will we be staying at your place? Give him the address and he can just send my clothes there.”

  Trevor fidgeted and then barked “Forget your clothes! I’ll buy you all new ones. I’m not giving anyone my address! We’ll be living someplace new. I want us to make a fresh start without any of your old friends interfering.”

  “Okay.” Vanessa said in a voice that was oddly agreeable considering the outrageousness of her boyfriend’s demand. She looked Norman firmly in the eye and said, “Please go into my apartment an
d let everyone know that I’m sorry I have to leave. It’s for the best. I never meant to hurt anyone. I just want to make sure everyone knows I love them and want them be okay. I’ll be okay with Trevor.”

  Norman blinked at the odd request then promised to do as she wished.

  “Thanks Mr. Fields, for everything,” Vanessa said with a sad sigh, then disappeared into the elevator wrapped in the arms of her creepy boyfriend.

  Norman shook his head and found his executive key to her apartment and let himself in. He was shocked to see Carter Davis lounging on the couch wearing nothing but slacks and a shirt with no buttons.

  “Mr. Davis?” Norman cried out in surprise. “I didn’t expect to find you in Miss Imenerse’s apartment!”

  “This is nothing! We’re neighbors and we got to be friends!” Carter sputtered and Norman knew instantly that they were more than just friends. Carter looked past Norman to the empty hallway and said “Where’s Vanessa? Isn’t she coming back inside with you?”

  “No, she had to leave rather suddenly.” Norman said, looking and sounding as puzzled as he felt.

  “She told you the good news then?” Carter asked, speaking about her accepting the job, but Norman misunderstood and thought he meant about her leaving for Chicago with her boyfriend.

  “Yes. I must admit I’m surprised about her decision. I’m especially surprised now that I see you here.”

  “Oh, well there’s no hard feelings from me.” Carter said and Norman was more confused than ever. “I don’t blame the company for having to let me go after such a long absence, and if my job has to go to someone else, well I can’t think of a better person for the job. Vanessa is intelligent, innovative, hardworking, and the nicest person you’ll ever meet. She’ll make a far better CEO than I ever did.”

  “I’m confused.” Norman said. He looked right at Carter and said “We haven’t let you go. As far as Gainscorp is concerned you’re still a CEO. We offered Miss Imenerse a position to be an additional CEO to handle the extra workload of our expansion. If she had taken the job, you’d both be working for Gainscorp.”

  “We would! That’s terrific!” Carter cried out, feeling immensely happy and relieved, but those emotions were quickly overcome by feelings of confusion and concern. “Wait a minute. Where is Vanessa then?”

  “She had to leave suddenly with that man.” Norman said, as if it were obvious.

  “What man?”

  “Her boyfriend. I think she said his name was Trevor something. She said they’re going back to Chicago together.”

  “What? That’s impossible!” Carter cried out. He felt like his chest was being squeezed until it broke in half, just like the pieces of his heart. “She’s in love with me. She was going to take the job at Gainscorp and live with me. She broke up with that other guy. She said he was a controlling, cheating jerk and she wanted nothing to do with him.”

  “Well, she told me a completely different story. She asked me come in her apartment and tell you she was sorry she had to leave, but it was for the best, and that she never meant any to get hurt, and that she would be okay with Trevor.”

  “No she won’t. Something’s very wrong. She’s in some kind of trouble!” Carter leapt off the couch, his heart pounding with fear for the woman he loved. He turned to Norman and said “Call building security! I’m going after her! Vanessa’s in danger. I know she is!”

  Chapter Ten

  “Why are you doing this?” Vanessa asked Trevor as they walked down the sidewalk and he tried to hail a cab. He wasn’t willing to release his hold around Vanessa’s shoulders and he wasn’t willing to take his hand off the gun in his pocket so the Taxi cabs just kept rushing past.

  “You’re my girl and we’re going to be together forever.” Trevor said, through gritted teeth as another cab passed him by. He hadn’t thought his plan out very well and he was beginning to panic. He’d just gotten so excited when he finally found her that he didn’t think, he just acted. Now he was trouble. That weird little man in her apartment building looked awfully suspicious. He was bound to call security and when he did the security guards would view of tape of him holding a gun on Vanessa. It wouldn’t be long before the cops were here and Trevor had already decided that he’d kill them both before he let himself be arrested.

  “What about all the arguments you and I used to have? What about all those other girls you were with when we were together? Wouldn’t you be happier with someone else? I might not be the right girl for you.” Vanessa tried to reason with him, but Trevor was blinded by his own obsession for her.

  “We only fought because you worked all those long hours at your stupid job. That’s the only reason I ever slept around. When we get to where we’re going, you won’t have a job. You’ll be home taking care of me like a good wife should. That will be end of all our arguments and we’ll be happy together the way we’re supposed to be. Maybe even have a baby.”

  “Raising a baby in Chicago can be expensive. Are you sure we can afford it if I don’t work?” Vanessa asked, feeling desperate with fear. She wasn’t going to marry Trevor and she certainly wasn’t going to raise a baby with him. He was crazy! If she didn’t, however, he might kill her.

  “Oh, we’re not going to Chicago. I just told that guy that so he wouldn’t follow us. I’m taking you someplace where no one will ever find us.”

  A cab pulled up in front of them to let someone out on the curb, and it was the moment Trevor had been waiting for. He grabbed the open door and tried to push Vanessa inside the vehicle. “Get in the damn car, now!”

  Vanessa realized that if she let him take her away, she’d be sealing her own death. She had to make her stand now if she were going to survive. She pushed hard against him and cried out, “No, I’m staying here!”

  Trevor and Vanessa grappled in a terrifying struggle as he attempted to force her into the back seat of the taxi. Somehow Vanessa managed to slam the car door closed and the driver took off, abandoning her to her struggle.

  “You stupid bitch! You’ve lost our ride and now you’re going to pay for it!” Trevor raised back his fist preparing to hit her, and instead was stunned by strike to his face by a fist that seemed to come from nowhere.

  “Carter!” Vanessa cried out happily. “Be careful! He has a gun!”

  Carter punched Trevor repeatedly, but somehow Trevor managed to pull his gun out of his pocket and aimed it straight at Carter. “Stay back or I’ll shoot you right in the face!” Trevor yelled, with blood running out of his nose.

  “No! Don’t hurt him!” Vanessa screamed in fear. “Please just leave him alone and I’ll go with you anywhere you want.” Her entire body was trembling, but she took a step towards Trevor and held out her hand to him, prepared to go with him.

  “No, I can’t let you do that!” Carter said to Vanessa, but she didn’t care what happened to her, as long as Carter was okay.

  Vanessa turned to Carter and said softly “I love you. Promise me you’ll make a good life for yourself doing what you love. Be happy in life, Carter Davis and follow your dreams. That can be your gift to me.”

  “I wasn’t fired.” Carter said, looking deep into the glistening liquid pools of her eyes with his sparkling blue ones. “I’m still a CEO at Gainscorp; Norman Fields told me so. You and I are going to be able to work side-by-side together. That’s my dream, only now it’s a reality. We can work and live together, making love whenever we want and running Gainscorp together. Your dream and my dream happening together.”

  “Really?” Vanessa said with the gentle smile he loved so much.

  “Really.” Carter said. “I wouldn’t mess with you. I know what you’re capable of.” He gave her nod and she suddenly performed the same defensive martial arts move she’d used on Carter not so very long ago. Before Trevor knew what was happening, Vanessa stepped back into his instep and perform a foot sweep that knocking him flat onto the ground, moaning.

  As he was falling, Carter leapt forward and grabbed his wrist, wrestling the gu
n out of his hand and tearing it from his grip.

  “Don’t move!” Carter yelled forcefully at Trevor just as a squadron of security agents came streaming out of the building. They took the gun from Carter and proceeded to frisk and handcuff Trevor with his hands behind his back.

  “You did it!” Vanessa cried out happily as she threw herself into Carter’s open arms.

  “We did it.” Carter said, kissing her lovingly on the lips as he held her tight. “We’re going to do a lot of things together, side-by-side, as partners for as long as you’ll have me.”

  “Well then that’s a very long time.” Vanessa smiled and they kissed again.

  Just then three police cars pulled up in front of the building with their lights and sirens blazing and Mr. Norman Fields came running out of the building, calling out to them “I called security and the police! Is everyone all right?”

  “Yes, we’re both fine Norman.” Carter smiled and smacked him gratefully on the back.

  “Thank goodness! I’d be fired for sure if I lost not one, but two of the companies most valued employees!”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Mr. Davis, can you please come to my office. I want your opinion on a matter of some importance.” Vanessa said into the phone from her lavish corner office on the top floor of the Gainscorp headquarters located in Manhattan, New York.

  It had been a long, hard trek to get here, but she’d finally done it! All the years of education, working her way up the corporate ladder, the month she spent with Carter that ended with that whole mess with Trevor. Afterward, she’d gone home to Chicago to pack up all her things, sell her car, and train her replacement at her old job.

  It had been bittersweet saying goodbye to all her friends and colleagues in Chicago, but she was far too excited to begin this new chapter of her life to be sad about it for long. Carter had met her at the airport when she arrived back and took her home to their apartment in Manhattan.

  The moving van arrived two days later, but somehow it took over a week for her to unpack all her things.