Dar considered that. ”Flattering,” she commented briefly.
”Let’s not bullshit each other,” Alastair advised her. ”We both know I consider you an essential part of my management team, and it would kill me to lose you.” He paused. ”Especially over something as ridiculous as this.”
He waited, but she didn’t comment. ”So, what really happened here, Dar? I’ve heard Mari’s side, and José’s side, and I just don’t get it.
What made you up and decide to throw up your hands and walk out?”
Dar regarded him in silence for a moment, then she exhaled. ”Good question.” She paused, and gave a little shake of her head. ”It’s gotten to the point in the last month where I’ve been attacked more by my own company than any of our competitors, and maybe I started to wonder what in the hell I was doing here.”’
Alastair thought about that, sipping his drink slowly ”You're a high profile kinda gal, Dar. You’ve always attracted slings and arrows, you know that,” he ventured. ”Was this guy really that much of a needle in your shorts?”
A shrug. ”Maybe.” Dar regarded the table. ”Maybe because it was personal, not professional, maybe because I knew a colleague had brought him in deliberately to attack me.” She shifted the glass in her hands. ”But I think I could have dealt with that.”
Alastair nodded twice. ”But?”
”But he went after my people,” Dar concluded. ”And I’d just had enough.” She looked up at Alastair. ”I’d had enough of being the whore bitch from hell until someone needed something.”
Alastair leaned forward. ”Dar, the fact that most of the operation is at a complete standstill, and I have over fifty empty desks should tell you not everyone feels that way,” he replied, seriously. ”And I think you know that I don’t feel that way either, or I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. I’d be home in Houston, watching a ball game, considering who I was going to promote to VP Ops.”
Dar cleared her throat a little. ”I should have called you first,” she admitted. ”I owed you that.” She hesitated. “I’m sorry, Alastair.”
A tiny smile crossed Alastair’s face. “An apology from Dar Roberts.
Thank God I’m sitting down.” He kidded her gently. “I think that’s a first.”She studied her clasped hands. “Probably,” she agreed, in a mild tone.Alastair watched her for a minute. “For that matter, I think I owe you an apology,” he said. “Next time I’ll eat the cost and save myself a boatload of heartache.”
Dar leaned back and relaxed a trifle. “You know what the worst 156
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part was, Alastair?”
He shook his head.
“I’ve worked for you for fifteen years,” Dar said. “And I didn’t even get a phone call asking me what the hell was going on before I was carted off to the boondocks like I was a bad kid.”
Alastair considered that in silence for a while, his bushy brows contracting. “Well,” he finally said. “Y’know, I just didn’t think it was that big a deal, to be honest with you.” His eyes searched her face.
“Knee jerk, actually. If I’d really put two cents into what he was pitching, I think I would have called.”
“Mm.”
“It would have saved me a flight,” he added. “I think.”
Dar hesitated, then she half shrugged and nodded. “Probably.”
”But I’m glad I came anyway, just to see things first hand.” He leaned back. ”You have problems here, I’ll grant you. And I wanted to meet this mysterious assistant of yours who seems to be causing problems far out of proportion to her size.”
”She doesn’t cause problems,” Dar snapped. ”She solves them.”
Alastair chuckled softly. ”I realize that. It’s why I offered her your job.”It took all of Dar’s self-control to keep a look of mild interest on her face, and to not tense up. ”And?” she asked, forcing a lazy smile onto her face. ”She’d be good at it.”
The CEO watched her intently, then he nodded a little. ”That’s what I told her, and I got told to kiss her ass.” He remarked dryly.
”Which seems to be a departmental tradition of yours.”
The sense of relief almost choked her. Dar had to take a few breaths, masking it by sipping her drink, before she could answer. ”Part of the orientation,” she drawled. ”She picked it up faster than most.”
Bless you, Kerry. I followed my heart when it came to you, and you’re
the first person who didn’t stab me in it.
”So who’s your second choice?”
Alastair exhaled, regarding his hands thoughtfully. ”I have none. I was hoping I could convince you to stay.” He paused. ”I just wanted to see what Ms. Stuart would say, and she basically said exactly what I expected her to.” He paused again, and looked up at her. ”I knew you trusted her, and I wanted to see why.”
Dar's expression softened a little. ”And did you?”
He nodded. ”Yes, I did.” He waited for her to go on, but she remained silent. ”So, how about it, Dar? I’d offer you more money, but I don’t think that’s really of interest to you.”
Dar cleared her throat. ”No, you’re right.” She lifted a hand and let it fall. ”I need two things.”
Alastair leaned forward expectantly. His eyes sharpened, and he waited.
”My organizational structure stays intact,” Dar enunciated
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carefully. ”Completely intact.”
The CEO pursed his lips. ”Policy wise, that’s murder,” he advised her. “The board’s going to roast me if it gets known.”
”I know,” Dar responded. ”But I need it that way.” She paused.
“It’s my price, Alastair. I found something I’m not going to let go of, no matter what it costs me professionally.”
He drummed his fingers. ”We’re going to have to line out the reviews and all that,” he murmured. ”All right, it’s a personnel nightmare, but I’ll do it.” He paused. ”What else?”
”José gets a new assistant.”
Alastair laughed. ”Saw that coming.” He leaned back, obviously relieved. ”My problem is, I need a way to bounce him legitimately.” he told Dar. ”Otherwise, the little bastard is going to sue for wrongful dismissal, and I don’t want the publicity.”
Dar leaned forward. “I’ll find a way,” she said. “Leave it in my hands.”
Alastair gazed at her, then let out a breath. ”Does that mean you’ll stay?” he countered. ”I had a long talk with Mariana. She feels a lot of this is her fault that things went on she should have put a stop to.”
Dar let him wait a minute, then she nodded. ”All right, but I’ll tell you right now, I’m not putting up with any more bullshit from them,”
she warned softly. ”Not on my behalf or on anyone in my staff’s.”
Alastair nibbled his lip. ”It’s going to be a rocky few weeks. There’s a lot of hard feelings in there,” he replied. ”But I have a lot of confidence in you. I’m not worried.” He finished off his scotch. ”You free for dinner?
I never get to see you anymore, Dar. It’s been, what, two years?”
Dar’s lips twitched. ”Actually, I had plans, but you’re welcome to join us,” she stated blandly. ”There’s a great little Italian place over on the other side of the island, and it’s casual.”
His eyes twinkled a little. ”Well, I did enjoy my conversation with the enigmatic Ms. Stuart. Sure she won’t mind?”
Dar was outraged to find herself blushing, and she was glad the fading twilight hid it. ”I’m sure she’ll be fine.” She got up and limped towards the kitchen. ”In fact, let me page her.”
“She could have stayed.” Alastair relaxed, extending his legs and crossing them at the ankles. “After all, she lives here, doesn’t she?”
“Really want me to answer that?” Dar answered from the kitchen.
“Ever hear of don’t ask don’t tell?”
“Give me a break, Dar.” Alastair studied the ceiling. “I’ve known you as long as my children. Did you really think I didn’t catch on something was up after I got those pictures from whatshername, the redhead?”
“We were just on a goddamn rollercoaster.”
Alastair chuckled wryly. “If you looked at me like you were looking at her on that damn rollercoaster there’d actually be something to those hoary old rumors José used to spread about us.”
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Dar peered around the edge of the kitchen entrance. “You bucking for Dr. Ruth’s job?”
“I just call ‘em as I see ‘em.” Her boss said. “Y’know Bea didn’t know what the hell those pictures were and she asked me if that was your new girlfriend.”
Dar pulled her head back behind the edge of the door as she felt a blush warm her skin. “Glad to know what the company time and attendance dollars are paying for over there in Houston.”
”What’d you do to your leg?” He called after her, ignoring the jibe.
”Popped the joint out when we fell into that damn sinkhole,” Dar replied, coming back with the portable phone and dialing it. ”You owe me big time for that little trip, Alastair.”
He laughed. ”I heard about you and the snake, after I had Beatrice call up the president of that half assed company and threw the words negligent and lawsuit around.”
Dar chuckled as she put the phone to her ear, listening to it ring.
”Hey,” she called softly, as it was answered. ”Where are you?”
Kerry’s voice sounded relieved. ”Down by Southpoint, just about to get out and go walking on the beach, why?” she asked. ”I just got here. I figured you guys would be a while.”
”Nope,” Dar informed her. ”We’re waiting on you for dinner, so c’mon back over here.”
”Really?” Kerry asked.
”Really,” Dar assured her.
A faint pause. ”You going back?”
”Yep.”
”You still my boss?”
”Yep.”
”Awesome.” Kerry’s voice lightened immensely. ”You are just awesome, Dar. You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.” Sounds of scuffing. ”I was sitting here in my car trying to think of who I wanted to apply to, see if I could get any decent offers from around here.”
”Well, they can’t have you.” Dar half turned and lowered her voice.
”You’re mine.”
”Oo.” Kerry laughed in utter delight. ”You just gave me chills.”
Dar smiled, feeling her upset world start to settle back down around her. ”Besides, I hear you turned down a good offer.” She watched Alastair as he got up and roamed around the living room, stopping to examine the pictures on the shelves.
”What of... oh,” Kerry snorted. ”That. Yeah right. As if.” She cleared her throat a little, changing the subject. ”Your father is such a sweetheart. He gave me a present for you. Said he was too embarrassed to give it to you directly.”
”A present? For what?” Dar queried curiously.
”Um, your birthday?” Kerry reminded her. ”You remember that party we had?”
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”Oh,” Dar muttered, ”that.” She paused, glancing at Alastair.
”What is it?”
Kerry giggled softly. ”A box.” She teased.
”Kerrryyyyy,” Dar growled softly.
”Well, it is!” Her lover retorted. ”I don’t have x-ray vision, you know.”
Dar sighed, ”Just hurry up and get back here.”
”Jesus, Dar. I’m getting to the ferry. You want me to get out and paddle?” Kerry protested. ”I will, but the deckhands are going to have a fit. You know how they get.” She paused, hearing the gentle sound of Dar’s breathing against the receiver. ”I love you,” she murmured. ”You don’t have to answer that, I know Alastair is right there,” she added.
”I love you too,” Dar replied, not missing a beat. ”See you in a few minutes.” She put the phone on the hook and set it on the table, then she sat back down on the couch. “So.”
“So.” Alastair repeated. “Aside from all that, Mrs. Lincoln how was the play?” He watched Dar’s face. “Long day?”
“Long week,” Dar admitted. “Crappy weekend.” She propped her head up on her fist, leaning her elbow against the couch arm.
Her boss grunted. “Want to take a few days off?” he asked, eyeing her shrewdly. “Might be a good idea—give everyone a chance to cool down.”
Dar nibbled the inside of her lip, then she shook her head with true regret. “I’d love to, but I can’t do that to Kerry,” she said. “Those idiots are driving her crazy.”
Alastair snorted. “Are you kidding me? She told every damn one of them where to get off the bus right in front of me. That’s no hothouse flower you picked there, lady,” he said. “Didn’t Bea tell me she hauled off and slugged Fabracini? That’s what caused the whole damn thing to come to a head?”
“She did,” Dar admitted. “She’s got guts.”
“She took you on. She has to have.” Her boss chuckled wryly. “But y’know, I thought you weren’t going to go down that road again, Dar.
Tough situation, the last time.”
Dar felt another blush warm her skin, even though she knew Alastair had known about Elana. “I wasn’t,” she muttered. “Road came to me.”
“And knocked you on your ass,” Alastair said, bluntly. “Take a few days off, Dar. I won’t order it, but please, just this once take my advice, huh?”
“I’ll see,” Dar replied stubbornly. “I’ll think about it, okay?”
Alastair chuckled and shook his head.
DAR LOOKED AT her watch as they entered the condo. ”Jesus, it’s past midnight,” she commented in surprise. ”Didn’t think it was that late.”
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”Uh huh.” Kerry yawned, trudging inside and collapsing on the couch. ”That was a nice dinner, though. He’s sort of an interesting person.” She picked up Chino, who had bolted out of the utility room when Dar opened the door. ”Hey honey, whoa, whoa, don’t chew up mommy’s fingers, okay?”
Dar limped back in with two tall glasses of chocolate milk, one of which she set down on the table. ”Here.” She eased down on the couch next to her lover, and slid back, extending her legs out and groaning.
”Ouch.”
”I told you to use those crutches,” Kerry scolded, patting Dar’s leg.
”I saw you trying not to limp in front of Alastair.”
”It’s not that.” Dar took a swallow of milk. ”It’s the rest of my body trying to compensate for it. My back’s killing me,” she complained.
”Ah, I get it.” Kerry slid a hand behind Dar’s back and probed gently. ”Wow, you are all tensed up.” She rested her cheek against Dar’s upper arm. ”How about a few minutes in the hot tub?”
Blue eyes turned to her and brightened. ”Now that’s a great idea,”
Dar complimented her. ”It’s a beautiful night out, c’mon.” She allowed Kerry to support her as they wandered into the bedroom, and exchanged jeans for bathing suits.