Defining moments, p.12
Defining Moments, page 12
Satisfied, she left the room and headed to the front door.
If I don’t leave now—I won’t leave at all.
A few minutes later, Sheila was on her way to Madison-Moore.
“I’m not looking forward to this,” she mumbled. “I’ve got enough to deal with right now. Today is a bad day for me.”
Her cell phone rang. It was Selma.
“Hello.”
“Miss Moore, I was just calling to see if you were on your way.”
“I’m in the car now. I should be there in about ten minutes.”
“Great. I’ll let Mr. Madison know.”
You do that, she wanted to respond, but Sheila would never be so unprofessional. “Thanks, Selma.”
“I told that jerk I’d be there,” Sheila complained aloud after she clicked off her cell phone.
She sat in her car for a few minutes to compose herself. On this day of all days, why did she have to face Jake Madison?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sheila eyed the plate of sandwiches and pitcher of iced tea on the conference table. Since she hadn’t eaten breakfast this morning and didn’t have a chance to grab lunch before the meeting, she was hungry.
As soon as Sheila sat down, Selma set a plate in front of her.
“It’s so good to see you, Miss Moore.”
She pasted on a smile. “Thank you, Selma. I’m glad to be back home.”
“I ordered smoked ham and Swiss sandwiches just for you. I even made sure the deli used that spicy mustard you love so much.”
“You didn’t forget.”
“I never forget a thing,” Selma announced proudly. “How long are you going to be in Charleston?”
“I’m back permanently.”
Tossing her blond hair across her shoulders, Selma clapped her hands with glee. “I’m so glad to hear that. When will you be—”
Jake’s entrance silenced Selma. She immediately went back to work, preparing for the meeting.
“Sheila . . . good you’re here.”
You ordered me here, didn’t you? Sheila yearned to utter the words out loud, but held her tongue. She was acutely aware of Selma watching her, so she kept her expression blank.
Office gossips had gone around speculating on what transpired between Sheila and Jake shortly after they announced that she would be opening an office in New York, and Sheila was determined not to give them anything new to buzz about.
While they waited for everyone to arrive, Jake tried to engage Sheila in small talk.
“Marla seems very excited about her new position.”
Pretending to study her hands, Sheila nodded. She didn’t have a thing to say to Jake Madison.
She couldn’t believe he was still running his mouth, trying to have a conversation with her.
“She told me that her husband was happy about moving back to New York. He’s from Brooklyn. They—”
“Could you please pass me a napkin?” Sheila interrupted, cutting him off.
“Sure,” Jake muttered. He eyed her a moment before turning his attention to the people walking through the doorway.
Sheila made sure there was a big smile on her face when the CEO and the senior vice president of Knight Electronics entered the conference room. She pushed away from the table and stood up.
“Greg, it’s so nice to see you,” she greeted. “Good seeing you again, George.”
Sheila shook hands with both men.
Greg and Jake spoke politely but neither had really warmed up to the other since their initial meeting nearly six years ago. Sheila didn’t know why the two men didn’t like each other and she didn’t care. Instead, she decided to use it to her advantage.
“Why don’t you take the chair beside me, Greg?” she suggested. “We can catch up while we’re waiting for the others.”
Jake quietly observed the two of them. Sheila wanted to burst into laughter at the pathetic look on his face.
Now he knew firsthand what it felt like to be an outsider.
As long as Sheila was a part of Madison-Moore, the company would be successful. She had made the company into the success it was. Because of her love for Jake, she’d groomed him to take the reins, but he would not be able to stand alone—Sheila vowed she would destroy the company before she let him take it from her.
She continued to taunt Jake by soaking up all of Greg Knight’s attention.
“So, how is your father doing?” Sheila inquired.
“He’s great. He wanted me to give you his regards. He’d planned to come to the meeting with me, but Mother hasn’t been feeling well since her heart surgery.”
Jake noisily cleared his throat. “It’s time we get started . . .”
Together, Sheila and Jake came up with an impressive marketing plan and promotional Web design idea for Knight Electronics’ new division.
“How about holding a Web site launch party and invite advertisers, key press contacts, industry analysts, editorial and customers, of course,” Sheila suggested. “We could develop opportunities to promote the Web address, or even provide showcase for advertisers.”
“I like it,” Greg stated. “I’d like to maintain a regular presence in trade discussion groups, newsgroups, e-zines and other online forums.”
Jake nodded in agreement. “We could also arrange cross-promotional links with sites that have attractive and complementary readership demo-graphics.”
“I think it would be advantageous to expand the site to several languages,” Sheila suggested.
For the moment, they were once again a team.
The meeting went on for almost three hours. Sheila waited until everyone left before she stood up to leave. Without so much as a goodbye, she grabbed her purse and walked toward the door.
“Wait, Sheila,” Jake called out. “I’d like to talk to you.”
Turning around, she strolled back to the conference table without saying a word.
“I thought we’d see you at the Vectors launch party last Saturday.”
“I had a previous engagement,” Sheila lied. “I heard everything went well, though. Adam Spears is a great speaker.” Selma had given Sheila a minute-by-minute report the following Monday.
Jake nodded in agreement. “It was nice. Everyone was asking about you.”
“I hope you reassured them that I hadn’t left the company—just on a personal leave.”
“I did,” Jake confirmed.
“I’m sure you didn’t call me back here to discuss the launch party.” Sheila pulled out a chair and sat down. “Is there something else?”
“Sheila, I want to apologize. I take full responsibility for my share in what happened between us. I—”
Frowning, Sheila interrupted him by saying, “Let’s not go back there, Jake. You made a fool of me and I’m not going to let you off the hook that easily. I loved you with my entire being and I thought you had feelings for me. You didn’t.” She spat out the words contemptuously. “I’m glad you’ve been able to move on, you and your lovely little family, but don’t expect me to be your friend.”
“Sheila, I’m not looking for us to be friends. You abused that privilege a long time ago.” Jake paused for a moment. “Look, I’m just trying to get rid of some of this tension between us.”
Sheila released a harsh laugh. “That’ll never happen. Give it up, Jake. I don’t even know what I ever saw in you. You’re no different from any other dog walking around. You are just another user. All I feel for you now is hate—pure hatred.”
She resisted the urge to smile at the flash of pain she glimpsed in his eyes.
“I’m sorry you feel this way,” he said quietly.
“But I bet Tori will be ecstatic,” Sheila shot back.
Jake didn’t respond to her comment about his wife. Instead he said, “We’re partners, Sheila. We have to find a way to get along or dissolve the partnership.”
“This company is a success because of me—I’m not going anywhere. If you want to leave, then I’ll be more than happy to buy you out.” Sheila rose to her feet, swaying slightly.
“You okay?”
“Don’t pretend to be concerned,” Sheila snarled. She held up a hand. “Just leave me alone, Jake. I know that you’d like nothing better than to take this company away from me. I’m not going to let that happen.”
Jake seemed surprised by her accusation. “Sheila, I’m not trying to push you out of Madison-Moore. I just don’t like all this tension between us. I’m sure everyone else in the meeting noticed it, too.”
“I really don’t care.” Sheila walked gingerly toward the door. “I need some air.”
“Sheila, we really need to talk this out.”
She stopped walking and turned around, facing him. “When I wanted to talk to you, Jake, you practically slammed the phone down in my ear. You set all the rules—don’t call you at home unless it’s an emergency. Don’t call you at work unless it’s strictly business—”
“Sheila, things got crazy between you and me. You were—”
“I’m not anymore,” she interjected. “Trust me.”
Sheila didn’t bother waiting around to see if Jake dared to respond. She strode out of the conference room, heading for the elevators.
Sheila was seething by the time she reached her house.
Jake sat in that conference room, tall and proud as if he had done nothing wrong.
How dare he try to shift all the blame on me, she thought. He’d used her—only he wasn’t man enough to admit it.
She blew into her house, blazing a trail straight to her bedroom. She removed her clothing, changing into a comfortable pair of sweats and sneakers.
Still a little hungry, she walked to the kitchen and retrieved an orange from the refrigerator.
Sheila sat down at the breakfast table with her snack, forcing Jake from her mind as she ate.
She had just eaten the last slice of orange when the doorbell rang.
“Okay, who can this be?” Sheila muttered as she rose to her feet.
Her mouth turned upward when she opened the door to Nicholas.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was at the Barnes and Noble down the street,” Nicholas responded. “So I thought I’d stop by and check on you.”
Sheila stepped out of the way so that he could enter the house.
“I’m happy to see you,” she murmured. Her dark mood brightened just from seeing Nicholas. He had a strong effect on Sheila—there was no denying that.
He followed her through the house to the family room.
“Were you busy?” Nicholas asked. “I probably should’ve called first.”
“You’re welcome to come by here anytime. You know that,” Sheila responded. “I had a meeting at Madison-Moore earlier and just got back a little while ago.”
“How’d it go?” Nicholas asked as he took a seat on the sofa.
“The meeting went okay. Jake wanted to talk afterward, but I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. Besides, he is still not quite owning up to the way he used me.”
“Are you?”
She swallowed hard, lifted her chin and boldly met his gaze. “Am I what? Owning up to my part?”
“Yeah,” he said smoothly with no expression on his face.
Nicholas’s question sent Sheila’s ire into a tailspin. “I only did what I did because Jake was sending me mixed messages. If he wanted Tori so much—why did he cheat on her?”
“Why don’t we change the subject?” Nicholas suggested. “How about taking a drive with me to Port Royal?”
“When?”
“Tomorrow. We can drive down early and have dinner at the Dockside Restaurant. We’ll drive back after dinner.”
“I love Port Royal,” Sheila said. “Have you been there to watch the dolphins playing in the ocean?”
Nicholas shook his head no.
“We have to go to the observation tower, in that case. I love watching them.”
“Let’s plan to leave around ten. How does that sound?”
Grinning, Sheila responded, “It’s a date.”
She walked him to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
He hugged her. “Bye, sweetheart.”
She watched him drive away before going back into the house. She could still feel the warmth of Nicholas’s arms around her. She shook off her turbulent emotions. She would not confuse friendship with anything more.
The next day, Nicholas arrived promptly at ten to pick her up. They made small talk during the hour and a half drive from Mount Pleasant to Port Royal.
“I thought about buying a house in Port Royal,” Nicholas told her. “I love the atmosphere here. People are so friendly.”
“Why didn’t you?” Sheila wanted to know.
“I really liked the house I’m living in now.”
“I can see why you fell in love with your house. It’s gorgeous.” Nicholas nodded. “I didn’t find anything in Port Royal that I liked better.” He added, “In my price range, that is.”
He parked and asked, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine right now,” Sheila pointed to her feet. “I wore my Keds for walking. My other shoes are in my tote.”
“Let me know when you start to feel tired. Okay?”
Sheila gave a short laugh. “You don’t have to worry.”
They began their day on the boardwalk.
“I love it out here,” Sheila murmured. “My mother used to say I should’ve been born a fish because I love the water so much.”
Nicholas chuckled. “My parents probably felt the same way. My mother told me that I walked straight into the ocean during one outing when I was about four years old. She said I was convinced I knew how to swim. She put me in swimming lessons right after that.”
“I love the water, but I never learned to swim.”
He was surprised. “Really?”
Sheila nodded. “I’m going to learn one day.” She laughed, then admitted, “I’ve been saying that for years.”
They left the boardwalk twenty minutes later and went to the observation tower.
Nicholas and Sheila weren’t there long before he said, “You look like you’re getting tired.”
“I am,” she said, surprised that he’d noticed.
“Let’s head back to the car. I booked a hotel room so that you could take a nap.”
Another surprise. “You did?”
“I knew you’d need to rest before dinner.”
Sheila didn’t quite know what to make of Nicholas. He just seemed too good to be true. Her blood coursed through her veins like an awakened river when he took her by the hand.
When they were back in the car, Sheila turned to him, asking, “Why are you being so good to me?”
He laughed and responded, “Why not? Everybody deserves to be pampered.”
“I’m not complaining. Don’t get me wrong.”
While he drove, Sheila appraised him with more than mild interest.
Nicholas pulled in the parking lot of the Days Inn. “I’m afraid this isn’t a five-star hotel.”
Sheila laughed. “It’s really okay, Nicholas. We’re only going to be here for a few hours.”
She was grateful to finally lie down on the queen-sized bed. Sheila was asleep before her head hit the pillow.
She slept soundly for three hours.
Nicholas was sitting on the other bed watching television with the volume turned down low when Sheila woke up.
She sat up in bed rubbing her eyes, before stealing a peek at the clock on the nightstand.
“Hey, beautiful . . .”
Sheila swung her legs out of bed. “I can’t believe I slept so long.”
“I hope you feel rested.”
“I do,” Sheila confirmed. “I really needed that nap. I was tired.”
She stood up and stretched. “I’m going to freshen up for dinner.”
Nicholas went to the bathroom after Sheila came out fifteen minutes later.
They left for the Dockside Restaurant shortly after he came out and soon were there.
“I love eating here,” she said happily. “Have you tried the jalapeño-stuffed shrimp before?”
“Yeah. I like the sunset shrimp better though. It’s easier on my stomach. And I like the steamed seafood pot.”
“I like that, too,” Sheila agreed. “The crab legs, shrimp, oysters and lobster, mmmm . . . I think I’ll have that tonight.”
Nicholas put down his menu. “Have you ever eaten at the Gullah House?”
Sheila shook her head no. “Nope, and don’t plan to. It’s not a place I’d want to go.”
“I thought you loved jazz.”
“I do. But I don’t want to go there,” she burst out. “Now can we drop it?”
Nicholas nodded. “Sure.”
“I’m really not trying to be evil,” Sheila explained. “I just don’t want to eat at a place called the Gullah House. Okay?”
“I understand.”
“Hey, I’m having a pretty good day. Mostly pain-free, too. Let’s enjoy it.” Sheila moistened her dry lips. “I’m in desperate need of a good time.”
“Think you’ll feel up to a little walk after dinner?” Nicholas inquired.
Shrugging, Sheila replied, “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
They finished their meal and Nicholas signaled for the check.
Sheila was too tired for a moonlight walk so Nicholas decided to drive back to Charleston.
By the time Nicholas turned on Woodlake Drive, Sheila was fast asleep.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jake and Tori dined at Robert’s of Charleston on the evening of June seventh. For the past year, this was how they always spent the first Friday of each month—celebrating each other.
“I’m really glad Charlene and Shepard offered to keep the children tonight,” Jake said. “It’ll give Aunt Kate a break. I know she loves Brittany and JJ, but she watches them for us during the day.”
“She acted a little miffed when I picked them up this afternoon, but she’ll be okay. I told her that Charlene and Shepard just wanted to spend some time with them.”
Jake chuckled. “They’re probably wanting to practice their parenting skills.”
“On Tuesday, Charlene will be in her third trimester. Our little niece will be here in under three months. Can you believe it?”
