Chapter 19
Whitt
The past week had been uneventful with Gemma being standoffish. I knew it was for the best, but I missed her. Ashley and I had cooled down before we ever heated up and she still wasn’t buying my story about Gemma.
I’d told her that she was nothing more than like family, but even I hadn’t believed me. It was a good try, but I was failing miserably at moving on.
I showed up at my office late, which had become a habit, but so had to leave early. I found Dax standing behind Gemma’s desk, and the two were all smiles for each other as they hugged.
It was as if someone threw cold water on my face and when Gemma looked up, she got a similar look, which she quickly replaced with contempt.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I said walking in and trying to beeline for my office.
“Not so fast, friend. I’ve got something for you.” Dax reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. “You remember he charity gala my family is hosting?”
I took the card and opened it, noticing that Gemma didn’t have one. I thought for a split-second that I might ask her to be my date.
“I just asked Gemma to go with me, so you can bet I’ll have the prettiest date there.” My good friend put his arm around Gemma, and she got a bashful grin and tucked her chin.
She lifted a shoulder and glanced up. “I’ve never been to a gala before. It sounds like fun.”
“I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time; both of you.” I gave her a pointed stare. “And I’m sure I’ll have a hard time finding a date any prettier.”
“Ashley’s a beautiful woman,” said Gemma. She hadn’t heard about the two of us, and how Ashley had all but ran from me screaming with her suspicions. I’d be hard-pressed to get her to go to tomorrow with me.
Dax winced. “Oh, you didn’t hear. They aren’t together.” He mumbled the words as if I couldn’t hear.
“I’m sure I’ll find someone. I’ll just break out the old Rolodex.” I chuckled.
Gemma turned her head. “The what?”
Dax laughed, and Gemma cut him a glare. “You’re the sweetest thing.” He pulled her close and kissed her cheek and my blood boiled in my veins.
“So, I’ve never heard of roller deck.” I would have laughed if it weren’t proof of how young she truly was and how innocent she had been when I’d corrupted her. I thought about waiting until Dax left and pulled her into my office and showing her a lesson like before, but I couldn’t do that. I had ruined any and all hold I had on her the minute I’d decided to end it.
“You know, I think I’ll bring Lila. She loved parties, and I’m not really into seeing anyone these days.”
“That’ll be fun. Lila loves any excuse to buy a new dress. Maybe she’ll help me. I want to look my best for my handsome date.” She placed her hand on Dax’s face, and he turned a soft pink around his neck and face.
“I better get out of her before my ego gets any bigger.” Dax kissed her cheek and slapped my hand on his way to the door.
Once he was gone, Gemma sat in her chair, and I ducked into my office, leaving the door open.
I dialed Lila and hoped she’d say yes. I thought it might also be a nice time to talk about her new man and really see if I could accept him.
She answered the phone with a dull tone, and I longed for the days when she was happy to hear my voice. “Hey, Daddy.”
“That bad, huh? You usually are more excited to hear from me.” I glanced up to see Gemma dusting her office. She had a few plants of her own that were left by the last secretary, and I wondered if she was trying to listen in.
“It’s not terrible, Daddy. It’s good to hear your voice, but I’m not coming home until Tuesday.”
“It’s fine; I’ve actually called to invite you out with the old man. I got an invite from Dax Fisher, and his family is throwing that big gala. I’d like for you to be my date. Gemma is going with Dax actually, so she’ll be there.”
“Gemma and Dax? Oh my, when did that happen? You’re not okay with that, are you?” She was taken aback, and I hadn’t realized that Gemma didn’t tell her all about Dax. I couldn’t say a lot with Gemma coming in to water my plants and tidy up my office.
“Why wouldn’t I be okay with it?” My tone was a tad more defensive than I wanted it to be.
“Because, Daddy. She’s a young woman as young as me, and well, Dax is an older man, not to mention, that she’s your secretary and he’s your best friend. He better be behaving himself.”
“I’m sure he is. I’ll break his neck if he’s not.” I glanced to Gemma who gave me a narrowed glare over her shoulder, and I could tell it was bothering her not knowing what we were discussing. “So, will you go with me or not?”
“Yes, Daddy. I’d love to. I know we haven’t spent enough time together lately and I don’t like how strained things have been. I’d like to sit down sometime with Daniel and have a nice long talk.” I wanted to say no way, but I knew I was going to have to learn to accept him. He wasn’t going anywhere.
“That’s wonderful, honey. Gemma said you might go dress shopping together. I’ll be sure to give you my card, and you can buy you, ladies, whatever you need.” Gemma’s head whipped around, and she put her hands on her hips.
“Thanks, Daddy! That will be so much fun, and I know Gemma will appreciate it.”
Gemma stopped in front of me and crossed her arms as her foot tapped. “I’m sure she will. I love you, honey. Talk soon.”
“I love you, Daddy.” It was good to hear her say those words, and I let them sink in a moment before looking at Gemma and setting down the phone.
“I can buy my own dress, thanks.” She turned and headed back across the room to my dying fern.
“Why not let me. I want to treat you girls. Besides, I owe you for the tie.” I thought bringing up the tie would make her smile, but she spun on me with a fierce glare.
“You don’t owe me anything, and I don’t want anything other than a paycheck from you.” She turned up her nose and went back to tidying cutting me looks over her shoulder.
I gave her a sideward glance. “Consider it a bonus. Please, Gemma. I want to do it.”
She belted a laugh. “A bonus? Please. Call it what it is, Whitt; a peace offering and I don’t need it.” She waved her hand at me dismissively.
“Well, you’re going to take it. I’ll make sure Lila insists.” I leaned back and put my hands up over my head.
She groaned. “Why Lila? Why not take someone else? If you’re trying to spare my feelings, don’t bother with that either.” Her smart mouth had me aching to put something in it. I had gotten used to disciplining her.
“I’m not seeing anyone, and I thought it might be nice for you and Lila to catch up. Your friendship is important, and maybe I need to remind myself of that.” I shrugged and turned, but she leaned into her desk.
“Why do you need reminding? Things are over between us, right? We can pretend it never happened.” She folded her arms and then turned, heading for her desk.
I got up to follow. “I agree. It was a mistake. One we shouldn’t have made. It would have never worked. Besides Lila what do we have in common? Nothing.” She stopped and slumped as if my words had knocked all the wind out of her.
“Oh, I don’t agree with that. We have more than you think. But, I’m not shocked that you don’t remember though.” She opened her desk drawer and pulled out her tablet.
“What does that mean?” I was insulted by her insinuation.
“You really don’t remember? I used to show you my artwork and designs every time I saw you.” She shook her head.
“I remember that. You used to—” Suddenly it came back to me. She’d done several designs of resorts, and they were really good too, especially for a girl her age at the time. “The designs. I remember.”
“You were the one who encouraged me, Whitt. You said that I had something special and that I should attend college and get my degree so I could design for you someday. I worked my ass off for the degree and for that dream. Every dream I had was about you.”
I suddenly felt very small.
I remembered the conversation clearly. I’d walked into the kitchen where she and Lila were drawing. Lila had drawn a floor plan for a dress boutique. Her sketch had been very primitive, and I’d had to ask her to explain it. But then Gemma, the dainty, awkward-teen version, had turned her picture around and amazed me.
“Isn’t Gemma talented, Daddy!” Lila had given her such praise, and Gemma’s face had lit up with love and pride.
“Yes, indeed. That’s a great design, kiddo. One day you should come and work for me. I’ll take you places.” She had smiled so big.
“I’d love that. Can I really?” That was her defining moment, and I hadn’t even realized how important it was.
“You can do anything you set your mind to.” The words had been cliché, but I’d been sincere. It was hard to believe she remembered.
“You were the first person to tell me I could do anything, so I wanted to become a designer ever since. You’re the reason I went to art school and the reason I wanted to get my foot in the door of your company, not that it matters.” She lifted her shoulder and reached for the keyboard of her computer.
“I still mean it, you know. You could have a place here.” Sooner than she expected since Ashley was on the verge of bailing. That would be poetic. Gemma is taking Ashely’s spot. It wasn’t a bad idea. “You’re talented, Gemma.”
She curled her lip. “Right, I think you told me that, the last time you had me bent over your desk. I’ll try to remember.”
She was bitter, and I could understand her feeling that way. But it wasn’t fair. If things were different, I’d be with her. But I had to put my daughter’s feelings first. “You know what I do remember, Gemma?”
She shook her head and shrugged. “Finding me in your room?”
“No, I remember a beautiful, young woman who made my daughter happy. Did you know she wanted me to adopt you? She told me all about your family situation, how you had to live with your grandmother after your parents passed away. She wanted better for you, as I do now. I don’t want to take that smile away from my daughter.”
“Yeah, I get it. It’s over. I should have known it wouldn’t last.” She gave me a dismissive look that let me know she was done and then she glanced down at her tablet and acted as though I wasn’t there.
It wasn’t easy for me, and that was all I needed her to understand, but how could I tell her. She was hurting, and she was not going to understand. It wasn’t easy to let her go. Especially knowing she was getting so close to my best friend.
“Have fun with your date.”