Dirty Boss by Mia Ford (25)

When nobody had said a word for some time, I decided to break the silence.

“First of all, I would like all of you to start working out of the Lonex office building. I will have space made for you with your own private offices so that you can continue your work seamlessly,” I said and that seemed to please Sasha and John a little.

“What about me? I’m just a receptionist here…but what role will I have at Lonex? Will I have a role at Lonex at all?” Susan was speaking too quick and I could see that she was beginning to panic.

“Yes, of course you will have a role with us. I want you to work with the HR team and they will find a position for you there. I’m certain you’ve amassed enough experience here to be useful to us at Lonex,” I told her and the firmness and kindness of my voice seemed to put her at ease. She had started to relax a little.

“Has Bev told you anything about her plans? We know nothing. She’s rarely at the office any more and if she is, she refuses to talk to us or disclose anything,” Sasha said and I clenched my jaw.

“I know just about as much as you do. We aren’t exactly friends,” I said, trying to sound casual but the others were exchanging looks again. I could see that they didn’t exactly buy my explanation. And also, the mention of Beverley’s name made me uncomfortable again. As much as I was trying to act normal, I was aware that these were her surroundings. That I was intruding on her space. I didn’t know what I would have done or even if I would have had this conversation if she was in the office. I would have probably just turned around and walked out of the building if she was in.

“We’re just a little concerned for her. This company is like her baby,” Susan added and I turned to her and nodded my head.

“I know, and I understand, but she has made her decision to not accept a position at Lonex. So there is nothing more I can do about it,” I said and Susan licked her lips nervously. I cold see that they were all concerned, it wasn’t just Susan. Besides Beverley’s achievements at creating brilliant technology, she had also been able to connect on a personal level with her employees. They trusted and believed in her and I felt a pang of regret for buying her company. But what else could I do? She had to sell it to somebody, better me than someone else who didn’t have her best interests at heart.

Chapter 19

Beverley

I had a skip in my step when I walked to the office that day, I’d even spent some extra time getting dressed. I’d picked out my most fashionable chiffon blouse and a pair of grey pants with matching grey stilettos. My plan was to drop into the office and then call Grant and ask him out to lunch. I hadn’t exactly prepared the speech I would give him over our meal, but I was prepared to lay some of my cards on the table. I was willing to work with him and I was willing to start over. He didn’t need to know about the deep set feelings I had for him, but maybe we could start by being friends. Firstly, an apology was in order. He was trying to do a good thing and I had consistently been shooting him down.

Not to mention that I was desperate to see him again.

I walked up the stairs and pushed the office door open, not bothering to conceal the wide smile I had on my face. But my jaw fell open when the door swung into place and I stepped in.

Grant was sitting at Susan’s table, using her laptop to show something to the others. Susan, John and Sasha were crowded around him, looking at the screen over his shoulders. I had intruded on a happy comfortable scene. They were in discussion over something, and nobody seemed out of place.

When I walked in, they all looked up at me and their expressions changed because they would have noticed the look of betrayal on my face. Everyone except Grant, because his smile only grew. He looked ridiculously handsome, in a close fitting sky-blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up. His beard was thick but neatly trimmed and his blue eyes were sparkling.

“Oh, good, Beverley, you’re here,” he said, and I noticed the twinkle in his eyes.

“What are you doing?” I demanded, slamming the door shut behind me.

“Just showing them Lonex’s software. I figured that I might as well start now,” he said and folded his arms on his chest. Susan had scrambled away, and John and Sasha stood idly by with guilty expressions on their faces.

“You’re showing them your software? I still own this company, they still work for me,” I spat the words out. I could feel the back of my neck burning up and my nostrils flaring. I couldn’t believe the freedom Grant had taken without my permission.

He seemed unaffected by the tone of my voice and instead, stood up casually from his chair.

“You signed the papers, Beverley. There’s no turning back now,” he said in the coldest voice I had ever heard him use. I was mad enough to throw something at him, and instead I only glared at him with my palms fisted.

“They still work here. And you had no right to come in here and distract them from their jobs,” I snarled and Grant arched an eyebrow.

“I was doing them the courtesy of a personal visit, acquainting them with my company,” he said and I licked my lips in anger.

“Don’t you have someone else in your company who can do that for you? You’re here only to rub my nose in it,” I said and Grant walked around Susan’s desk and stepped towards me. I took a few steps back, aware that there were three other pairs of eyes on us. On me. They had never seen me in a fit like this before.

“Okay, Beverley, you just need to calm down. The reality is that you’ve signed the company over to me, and I just came here to have a friendly chat with my future employees,” he said and it looked like he was having fun. I felt so foolish for letting my defenses down, for even entertaining the idea that he might have genuinely wanted the best for my company. When the reality was that it was still a competition for him. The sex was another one of his victory points.

“You don’t need to tell me what to do, and you need to leave my office now. I’m still the proprietor of this office space and I’m asking you to go,” I said, trying to sound calmer. I didn’t want to give everyone the impression that I was losing my mind.

“I think we should give you guys some privacy,” Sasha spoke up, while Grant and I continued to stare at each other.

“We don’t need any privacy, Sasha. Mr Jennings is just leaving,” I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

Sasha, John and Susan filed out nonetheless. They didn’t just go into one of the other rooms; they left the office. Grant was still looking at me, while I stood with my back straight and my chin jutting out. I was ashamed at myself for waking up this morning and trusting him and I was angry with him at the same time. I wasn’t exactly sure what he had done wrong, but I knew he had pissed me off.

When the office door closed, Grant let out a sigh.

“You have to leave,” I said, gritting my teeth and he shook his head.

“I don’t have to do anything. I did nothing wrong. You’ve signed over your company, your product and your employees to me, Beverley,” he said and I rolled my eyes.

“And you’re enjoying it aren’t you?” I snapped and Grant got closer to me, quickly, and I took in a sharp breath. Having him close to me again was a mistake. My body reacted very differently to him than my mind did.

“I have not enjoyed a single moment of it, except when we’re both naked,” he said and a smile was forming on his face.

Chapter 20

Grant

I was standing very close to her, close enough to make the loose strands of golden hair on her face blow with my breath. She looked like she couldn’t believe what I had just said to her.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say to me,” she said, looking offended. I smiled at her, and her eyes only grew wider.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” I said and she rolled her eyes.

“Okay, the sex is good. What has that got to do with anything else?” she snapped and I took in a deep breath. I wanted to kiss her again. I couldn’t bear to see her so mad at me again.

“That has everything to do with this,” I said.

“Why you’re buying my company?” she asked, looking confused and I nearly laughed. Was it so unbelievable to her that I might want to be with her?

“Yeah, why I’m buying your company and why I’m here,” I told her and she licked her lips.

“You’re buying my company because you wanted to have sex with me? Wow. You’ve got a lot of money to spare, Grant,” she said and this time I really did laugh.

“No, that’s only partially true. I do believe you have a brilliant product and I also didn’t want some other company to buy you out, who wouldn’t keep your work alive,” I explained and Beverley fell silent. She had her nose crinkled and her eyes narrowed. She was thinking about what I’d said and it appeared that she was still in disbelief.

“You’ve said all this before, and yet you turned up here today trying to prove your authority over my employees,” she said and I noticed that her voice had become a little quiet. I took in a deep breath and nodded my head.

“You’re right. I was being malicious. Coming her and inducting your employees was overstepping on my part. I suppose I wanted to assert some of my authority,” I told her and Beverly clenched her jaw.

“Why?” she asked and I shook my head. I didn’t know how to explain it to her, without also confessing everything.

“Because I was trying to pin you down. I want you to come and work with me, and you somehow keep slipping away,” I said in a calm voice. Her eyes still looked too large for her face, she couldn’t quite put two and two together yet.

“Pin me down? Why? I don’t understand what you have to gain from all this,” she said and I shrugged my shoulders.

“I told you I care for your company and your work. I would benefit from your expertise at my company,” I said and she glared at me with her squinted eyes.

“That’s it? You want my expertise so you come here trying to strong-arm me into submission?” she said and I remained silent. I wanted her to do the math but it was looking like I would have to spell it out for her after all. She still had no idea how I felt about her.

“Yeah, that and also because I wanted to keep seeing you. I suppose after our little rendezvous at the bar, I figured there would be no other way to get your attention other than to piss you off,” I said and Beverley gulped.

The expression on her face was changing now, her shoulders were relaxing.

“You wanted to keep seeing me?” she said, repeating my words and I cleared my throat nervously. I couldn’t remember the last time I had said those words to a girl before. I wasn’t sure what the consequences of that would be, especially with Beverley Wade.

“So, it is just about the sex,” she said and I clenched my jaw.

“It’s more than just about the sex,” I blurted out and her eyes widened again.

We were looking at each other silently. Maybe it was starting to make sense to her now, or maybe it wasn’t; but I didn’t want to take a chance.

“Since college I’ve wanted us to be friends, to get to know each other,” I told her and she took in a deep breath.

“We were competitors in college,” she said and I shook my head.

“You competed with me. I didn’t want that,” I told her and Beverley stepped towards me. Our faces were now only inches away, and if I wanted; I could have just leaned in and kissed her.

“So, what did you want? Your friends made fun of me, you kept your distance…how did you even dream of being my friend?” she asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

“The heart wants what the heart wants,” I said and there was deathly silence again. She was weighing out those words. I had got the heart involved in our midst now and I knew that was a heavy word. Beverley gulped as she stared up at me. Her face was ruddy, her cheeks were flushed and I was so close to simply pulling her into my arms and pressing our bodies together.

“I…I didn’t want to compete with you, Grant,” she said and those words came as a relief to me. I never doubted that she thrived on that competition. I had been so convinced that she despised me that I hadn’t thought about whether she was hiding her true feelings from me as well.

“I wanted us to get to know each other as well,” she said with fumbling words.

Despite myself, I smiled and Beverley bit down on her lip. We were standing close together, her back to the wall, studying each others faces.

“We can start now,” I said and lowered my face towards her, bringing my lips close to hers. In a flash, she had thrown her arms around my neck and drawn me close to her.

“You’re right, being naked together is a lot of fun,” she said and we were kissing.

Chapter 21

Beverley

This time when we kissed it was a hungry one. With our lips pressed together, I had already started unbuttoning his shirt. I had been angry with me, absolutely enraged only a few minutes ago and now I was ripping his shirt off his chest.

Grant’s hands reached for my blouse and he had started untucking the blouse out of my pants. I gasped and he grunted as his hands reached beneath my blouse, up my belly and to my breasts.

I pushed him away from me and Grant stumbled back. It was unreal. We were in my office. In the reception room where anyone could walk in, and we glared at each other silently for a few more seconds. I didn’t know if I forgave him yet, if I believed the things he had said to me. But in that moment, I didn’t care any more. I wanted his body.

I slid my blouse off and flung it to the floor and Grant followed suit. He took off his shirt and we lunged at each other again. His mouth was on my neck, tracing a wet line with his tongue while I dug my nails into his back. I had to keep my eyes pressed shut while I enjoyed the sensation of his mouth on my skin.

He had found the space between my breasts, and with his teeth he tugged at the lace of my bra. I gasped again, when he pulled my bra down and my breasts were exposed to the cool air of the room. Grant was staring at me, at my stiff pink nipples and slowly he lowered his head again.

I didn’t think it would be that explosive, but Grant’s mouth on my nipple made me weak in the knees. I was clinging on to him, clutching his arms while he sucked. My fingers weaved through his dark hair as I bit down on my lip. His rough beard was scratching against the tender skin of my breasts and I could feel myself getting wet.

I pressed my legs together, to control the sensation he had started but soon enough with his mouth still on my nipple, Grant’s hand made its way between my thighs. Through the fabric of my pants he had started stroking me. He knew I was wet already and he suddenly broke away from my breast.

“I’ve wanted you for so long, Beverley,” he said in a gruff voice. Grant’s eyes had glazed over and he didn’t stop stroking me. I was afraid of coming too soon but he had made me feel things I had never felt before, not even with him.

“I’ve wanted you all my life,” I murmured and he suddenly straightened up. With his hands on my hips he pulled down my pants so that now only his own pants and my lace underwear parted us. Gently, with his hand on my waist, he led me towards the red couch in the corner of the reception room.

I did as he asked and when he reached the couch, he whipped me around. I had to bite down on my lip again to stop myself from crying out.

Grant was behind me and I could hear his belt coming off. Then he slid down his pants and his boxers and he did the same with my underwear.

“Beverley, you’re going to be mine today,” he said and I felt his arm wind around me, across my breasts while he pulled me closer to him. My thighs were quivering, I was desperate for his cock which I could now feel against my butt.

Keeping me in position, pressed up against his chest, Grant bent me forward. I reached out my hands and held on to the arms of the couch for support while Grant adjusted himself behind me. His arms had wound around my belly now and I felt the pressure of his cock against my wet throbbing core.

“Grant please, don’t make me beg,” I cried and he thrust himself in. I wasn’t expecting it and I gasped when I felt his cock slide into me with one quick push. Grant was inside me again and I moaned. He wasn’t going to give me time to recuperate, instead he started pumping into me.

I held on to the couch while he held on to me, riding into me from behind. I could feel his bigness inside me, stretching me tightly as he stroked me there. Over and over again till I felt weak in my knees again. I cried out his name as he pushed me closer to the edge.

“Come for me,” I heard him say as he thrust repeatedly in a quick rhythmic motion. I could feel the strength in his arms as he held me in position. He wasn’t going to stop till I released and I wasn’t going to hold back for much longer either.

My orgasm shook me and I moaned loudly, and in the next instance I felt him release as well. Grant grunted repeatedly as he came and I smiled as I felt him reel from the pleasure of his orgasm. We had come together, again and I could feel the throbbing inside me where his cock had stroked.

Grant’s hands were tight on my waist as he emptied his seed into me. I was choked up with the pleasure he had given me and my body was still quivering from the force of my orgasm. My heels were starting to hurt my feet and all I wanted to do was lie down.

It wasn’t till several minutes later, when neither of us had said a word that Grant finally began to pull himself out. I felt an instant panic that it was over. That we had solved nothing, and that things would go back to being the way they were.

When I turned I found him still standing naked behind me. A smile was forming on his face.

“Now that it’s out of the way, can we just sit down and talk to each other, Beverley?” he said and I gulped. I couldn’t believe this was real and it had all actually happened.

Chapter 22

Grant

Beverley and I put our clothes back on, exchanging glances the whole time.

“Do you maybe want to come into my office?” she asked, in a voice that had softened. Her cheeks were flushed and she shied from looking directly in my eyes.

“Yeah, we should probably do that,” I said and placed a hand on her warm waist as she led me towards her office. We had been naked for too long and it felt strange to be back to being clothed again, but Beverley was delicious to look at no matter what. I already wanted more.

We entered a small office space and she walked around her desk to sit down, facing the multiple computer screens in front of her. In silence, I took the chair across from her and sat down.

“So…” she began, looking about her nervously and I cleared my throat. I wanted to jump in and confess everything before she had a chance to change her mind again.

“Look, I meant every word I said. In college I wanted to get to know you and we didn’t have an opportunity to, so I want to take the time to do so now,” I said and realized that my words had come blurting out. Beverley looked surprised to hear me say them and she straightened herself and licked her lips.

“I wouldn’t have thought that you even saw me, back in college,” she said and I smiled and shook my head.

“You misjudged me, Beverley. You thought I was competing with you or that I was like all the other guys I hung out with. Well, you were wrong,” I told her and she looked at me with her large green eyes. Her face had softened, she wasn’t as defensive against me any more.

“You didn’t give me any reason to doubt my judgement,” she said.

“What? Because I dated cheerleaders?” I asked with a laugh and she shrugged her shoulders.

“Yeah, too many of them. And now, after we’ve been out of college…you’ve had the reputation for dating models and actresses. Nobody would have thought that you could be attracted to someone like me,” she said. She was still nervous, but that could be because of how she was laying her heart bare.

I leaned towards her desk, still on my chair and arched an eyebrow at her.

“You mean someone attractive, and intelligent and successful like you? Yeah, sure, what’s there to like,” I said and finally, Beverley was smiling. Just a soft grin that made the sides of her lips rise up but that was enough. She had no idea how I truly felt about her and it was baffling that she thought so little of herself.

“Well, one thing I’m not is successful. At least not as compared to you or what I thought I’d be able to achieve,” she said and I shook my head.

“You’re wrong, Beverley. You focused on your product, on your technical skills while I spent time on my business, to finding investors. Which is why I think that we’d make a great team,” I said and looked deep into her eyes. I wanted her to see me, to truly see me and trust me.

“So, you do want me to come and work with you?” she asked and I nodded.

“Yes, I do. We just have to find a way to make this work on both a professional and personal level,” I told her and she was blushing again.

We were looking at each other, till she drew her gaze away from me and tucked in some of her hair behind her ears.

“I never thought that someone like you could like me. Not in this way at least…like actually be attracted to me,” she said and I stood up from my chair and walked over to her. Beverley craned her neck to look up at me and I pressed my forefinger on her lips.

“I don’t want you to talk that way, Beverley, please. You don’t know how special you are. What you do to me and how you’ve always inspired me to work harder. I’ve always wanted to live up to you. This was never a competition for me, rather I wanted to prove myself to you,” I said and she stood up from her chair.

Silently, she placed her head on my shirt. A few buttons were missing now, from the force with which she had ripped my shirt off my body earlier. I cradled her in my arms and swung her gently from side to side. I had never experienced this raw tenderness before, this feeling of being able to hold a woman in my arms and not worry about what she wanted from me. I was willing to give Beverley whatever she wanted.

Her arms had wound around my mid-riff as she pressed herself closer to me. We had been standing there like that for a relatively long time. I could sense that she was thinking as well, just like my own mind was racing with thoughts. Finally, she raised her head and looked up at me.

I smiled when I saw her face, still ruddy on the cheeks but bright and excited. For the first time, Beverley looked truly happy and I couldn’t believe that I’d caused it.

“When can I start?” she asked and I smiled wide.

“So you’ve accepted my offer?” I said and she nodded her head.

“I want to work with you and I want to be with you, Grant,” she added in a quiet voice and I lowered my face to kiss her on her lips again.

Chapter 23

Beverley

Eight months later

I didn’t walk to work any more, so when I looked at my watch and it was seven already; I wondered where Grant was. We usually left the office together. We worked on different floors. I had my office space with Susan, John and Sasha while he still worked from his own. Usually at six thirty, Grant buzzed me on the intercom and asked me what time I would be finished. This evening, he hadn’t and I pressed the button to reach him.

Instead of Grant, his secretary answered the call.

“He’s already left the office, Ms Wade,” she said and I had my brows crossed. In the past eight months, since I started working at Lonex, Grant had never left without calling me first.

“Is he coming back?” I asked her and she sounded nervous, like she didn’t want to come between a quarreling couple and she definitely didn’t want to betray her boss.

“I’m not sure, Ms Wade. He didn’t leave a note,” she said.

“No problem. I’ll get a hold of him on his personal phone. Thanks,” I said to her, as politely as possible and hung up the phone.

I hadn’t been paying attention to the time, but I would have heard him calling if he had. This was unlike him, and also made me wonder if something had happened.

The past eight months had been a whirlwind of experiences and emotions. We had started off by testing the waters with a few formal dates, he drove me back home on all those occasions till one night I asked him to come in. We hadn’t had sex for a month when we officially started dating, because I wanted him to prove to me that it was more than just about the sex.

After we had been together for three months; Grant asked me to move in with him. I was skeptical initially, not because of my feelings for him which were stronger than ever, but because I didn’t think he knew what he wanted.

I was still in disbelief, that my boyfriend Grant was the same Grant Jennings from college. The King of Silicon Valley. My impression of him was entirely wrong? Everyone’s impression of him? When I agreed to move in with him a few days later, I did so with doubts still whirling around in my head. I was still not a hundred percent sure that this was what Grant really wanted. I often caught myself wondering if he missed his old carefree life. I was his first real girlfriend…one who had lasted for more than just a couple of weeks. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was itching to go back to his old ways.

In the past few days, I had noticed a change in him again. The first few months of us living together was happy and normal and we were getting comfortable together. And now suddenly, in the last couple of days, I saw that he had become a little reserved. He might have even been nervous around me. He was speaking a little less, and sometimes when we lay on the couch watching TV together; I’d catch him staring at me.

So out of the blue, the fact that he had simply left for home without informing me unbalanced me.

I stood up from my chair and grabbed my coat from the rack before heading downstairs. I could take a cab I thought, but I was nervous about how Grant was feeling. Was he cheating on me? Did he have second doubts about our relationship. There was no way of knowing unless I actually spoke to him about it.

The whole way down the elevator, I could feel my heart racing. I was in love with him, had always been and I was desperate to not lose him. But somewhere at the back of my mind, I’d always known that he was way out of my league.

The elevator doors slid open and I stepped out into the lobby of the Lonex building, to find all my colleagues, everyone who worked in the building gathered there. There had to be at least a hundred people, who were standing there, creating a parted pathway for me to exit through.

I looked around me in surprise. I had no idea what was happening and I tried to catch someone’s eye who could tell me. When I looked ahead again, I saw Grant at the other end of the tunneled clearing. He was in a fresh black tuxedo with a red bowtie at his neck. He was smiling at me invitingly while I rushed towards him, still in shock from what was going on.

As I approached him, Grant fell to one knee and a loud gasp rang out in the crowd around us. I could feel my fingers quivering as I slowed my pace. He was slipping out a small blue velvet box from the pocket of his pants. The smile on his face grew wider the closer I got to him and I placed a hand on my heart.

“Grant…” I said, my voice was a near whisper.

“Beverley, will you do me the honor of being my wife? I love you. I worship you and I have never been happier before,” he said, in a clear strong voice before I could say anything else.

I could hear the murmur in the crowd. Everyone who worked with Grant was surprised. He had organized this grand public gesture for me, and nobody could believe that a guy like Grant Jennings could do something like this.

“Yes, Grant, of course I will,” I said and everyone was clapping. Grant slipped the huge solitaire diamond ring on my finger as he stood up and swooped me into his arms. We kissed passionately, a little too passionately for a public place but neither of us cared.

“I thought you were acting nervous the past couple of days, I was getting worried,” I whispered in his ear when I drew away from him. I could barely hear him over the applause and cheers from everyone around us.

“I was nervous because I wasn’t sure if you’d want to marry me,” he said. As if.

* * *

Blurb:

I’m rugged. Independent and used to having whatever or whoever I want.

At thirty I’ve been hit with a small problem. My grandfather holds the purse strings to the family fortune. He no longer plans to loosen them unless I agree to marry. He tells me he’s dying and that time is running out. He insists I settle down. Not with the woman of my choosing, but the daughter of his former ranch hand.

Olivia.

She’s pretty enough. In fact, she’s hot. Her parents died in a fiery car crash, leaving her penniless. She’s desperate. And smoking hot. Curves in the right places and her fiery red hair just sets my temperature on a high.

My grandfather insists I give this marriage a three-month trial. It’s easy for him to say, I tried it once and it left me cold and alone. I don’t want to say no to my granddad, but this family’s fucking cursed. There’s too many secrets. Too much darkness, I shouldn’t let Olivia come into the darkness. When her innocence shines, like a bright light.

I have plans for her. Filthy plans that will make this entire scheme not only pleasurable, but make me filthy rich too…

Chapter One

Isaac

I can’t believe the old man’s demanding that I came to the ranch today. As if I haven’t got enough to do today. First, the banks are on my nuts about the loan and Paul the CFO quit, all in the same fucking day. I spent the whole car journey thinking that I should turn back and go to the office. Then again, Paul’s been the CFO since granddad was the CEO. He should have retired a long time ago. Besides, it’s not my fault that he’s competent.

“Granddad,” I sigh as I park up the car and get out of the car. He’s standing by the front door as if he was waiting for him. He comes down the stairs to greet me,

“Son.”

I haven’t seen him for months, because he hasn’t been to the city for a long while. I don’t ever come here, I can’t fucking stand it. Granddad looks well considering he’s three decades older than me. I’m relieved knowing that’s not the reason that he called me here today. For some crazy reason, I thought that it had something to do with his health.

Walking with him is a woman, he motions towards her, “Olivia have you met my grandson?”

She stretches out her hand but then withdraws it. She wipes it on her jeans. Shit, I bet she loves riding horses. She can ride me, any day, anytime. She’s fucking hot. Trust the old man to have the best staff working for him.

She shakes her head and then takes off her cowgirl hat letting lose her fire hair.

Fuck, she’s a red-head! Now, I’m intrigued, there’s something about a redhead that sets them apart from all the rest. They’re different. Unique and just the way I love my women.

“Isaac?”

I shake my head, my cock’s going wild, and I can’t get this hottie out of my head, shit it’s too early in the morning for this, and I’ve got my important things to deal with today.

I shake it and say, “Hi.”

“Well, Neil,” she kisses him on the cheek. “I need to get going; I want to see if Autumn’s okay?”

Granddad nods his head, “You and that horse. You would think that you’re sisters separated at birth. The bond between the pair of you is too strong.

Olivia smiles and then she starts walking away, “Isaac, it’s nice meeting you.”

I nod thinking that if Granddad weren't here, I wouldn’t let her out of my fucking sight.

“Damn Granddad, how do you cope with her working here?”

He laughs as he pats me on the back, “She doesn’t just work here. She lives here too…”

I shake my head because I didn’t come here to check the ranch hand, I came here to find out what he wants.

“Granddad, what is it? I’ve got work to do.”

He sighs, “I know, but I heard about Paul and decided that things are getting out of hand.”

I shake my head, “No, he was too old and besides he should have retired when you did. You’re the same age right?”

It’s as if we’re stuck in the quick mud as we look at each other. I know what I’m thinking, that I’ll ask him straight-up to bail the company out. He has the money to do it. Part of me’s pissed, he should just sign the damn thing to me. Just because my dad was incompetent when he took over doesn’t mean that I follow in his shoes.

“Yes, but we know what the real issue is. I wanted us to come in and talk about it. Like men. Man-to-man.”

I nearly choke on his words, “You’ve got to be kidding me. You treat me like a fucking kid. Just because dad fucked up the company when he ran it. Doesn’t mean that I’ll do the same.”

I want to go inside because the sun’s beating down on me like daggers. I start to loosen my tie, and can’t believe that I drove four hours, because most of that was spent in traffic. There was some fucking accident on the highway and it doubled the time that it should have taken to make this journey. I never made it to have the third degree.

“Come inside, let’s talk. You’re getting upset over nothing,” Granddad says as he puts his hand on me, no doubt we’re causing a scene. He likes his privacy which is why I’m surprised that he let’s Olivia stay here. Maybe there’s something going on, fuck I just hope that she’s not some gold digger that’s after his money. Then again, she seems to innocent for that, or she could be a good actress.

I walk up, to the house in front of him, not because I want to go in to talk, but I just need a fucking drink. Anything to calm down the nerves. I’ve stopped driving to work because a drink in the morning helps keep me going, but seeing as he demanded that I came here this morning and the driver’s out of town. I had no choice but to drive here.

As soon as I open the front door the painful memories of my childhood flash into my mind like a tidal wave. Maybe Granddad’s right and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

“This way,” granddad instructs me as he starts to walk to his study. I look up and see that he’s still got the family pictures up of when I was young and when this house used to mean something. We were respected by then; people used to look up to us until dad got into one scandal after another and it ended up with him retiring and me taking over the company.

He shuts the door behind me and I stand to wait for him to lay it on me and then I’ll tell him the truth. The real reason I was debating about coming here today, so I can get it off my chest as we both sit down facing each other.

I’m not a man to beat around the bush, so I just say what’s on my mind, “I need your help. The business isn’t doing well, and with Paul leaving, the bank’s on my back about the bank loan.”

“What loan?”

“Remember last year, when I told you that the business was in trouble and I needed your input you refused,” I sigh because either the old man’s playing games, or he’s going senile?

I was sitting in the same chair telling him that things need to change at the company and he flat out refused to help. He must know that he can’t do that again.

Fuck I need a drink!

I stand up and start to head to the bar. The one at the corner of his study. There’s nothing new about this room. It’s as if it’s stuck in a time warp. The same antique chairs in the corner, the same mahogany desk that should have been replaced a long time ago and the photo of him and grandma on top of his desk.

“Do you want one?” I say as I lift up a tumbler and realize that something has changed. This bar used to be stocked with different types of whiskeys, brandies and all kinds of liquor. Now, there’s just one bottle of bourbon.

He shakes his head, “No.”

I shrug and take off my tie and jacket which feel as if they’re ropes hanging around my neck and suffocating me.

Then as I pour a bourbon he sighs, “I didn’t want to do this. I can’t have you running the company down to the ground like your dad did.”

I knock back the bourbon and as it burns my throat and I think twice about pouring another one, but he’s still going on about what’s on his mind.

“I need you to stop ruining not only your life but mine too. It’s my fault.”

I turn to face him; he has his hands on his desk. He’s rubbing it as if he’s reliving a memory. One that I told him to lock away and turn away the key.

“Your dad was a good man. Don’t get me wrong; I loved Ben just like I love you. I pushed him when his mother told me that he’s not a ruthless business man. I pushed him over the edge.”

I agree, “You fucking did that alright.”

He ignores me as he says, “I saw that you had the steam, the one that was ready to run the company. You took after me in many ways.”

I choke, “Going to the office with you was the most excitement that I’d had as a kid. All I used to dream about was being you. Making people run around and jump to my command. You had that way about you that everyone did that as soon as you walked in the door.”

“Yes, but it consumed me. So much so that I pushed your dad and looked what happened to him.”

I sigh as I decide that there’s no point topping up the glass. I’ll just drink straight from the bottle, and then I sit down and face him as he revised the painful memory of dad when he was the CEO for two years.

“I didn’t want to take your dad out of his position, but I had no choice…”

“Blah, blah, blah…it doesn’t matter. As I said, I need money. Fast. Let’s not pussyfoot around and talk about the past. Because if I don’t have the financial injection soon, then Winters Industry will be closed and not passed to another generation. Not that there is any generation to pass it to,” I laugh as I start to sip from the bottle. I’m starting to feel disorientated as the bourbon’s not offering comfort but if anything it’s starting to give me a headache.

“Son, you’ve been like this ever since Dede died and I-“

“Don’t you fucking bring her name into this!”

I’m trying to stand up, but then I flop back into the chair. I drank too much, and the worst part is I can’t remember the last time that I ate. This is turning into a fucking disaster.

“Isaac you leave me no choice!”

I’ve never seen the old man raise his voice. Not true, I’ve seen him but as he turns a deeper shade of red and then heads closer towards me. He takes the bottle of my hand and rants on, “Your drinking’s out of control. You took out a loan to invest in a company that’s not even related to our industry. You took out a loan against your apartment and even your flipping house.”

“Damn! Someone’s been busy.”

He shakes his head, “Not busy enough because I’ve tried. I call, I come to visit, and you go out of your way to avoid me. I was shocked that you said you would come here today, but then when I learned about the state of affairs, I knew that it was only for one reason. Money. Listen carefully, because I won’t be repeating myself. You see that beautiful woman that you saw when you came here.”

I nod my head because one minute he’s talking about money and the next he’s talking about women.

“Seriously, I don’t need to know about your love life. What you do with your life is your business. I just came here for the money.”

“Three months Isaac. You move here. Live here. I help you with your drinking and if at the end of that you marry Olivia. Everything becomes yours.”

He’s got to be fucking kidding me!

“I’m not going to be blackmailed into marriage. Let alone living in the one place, I can’t stand to visit. What makes you think that everything will happen in three months time?”

He sighs, “That’s how long the doctors have given me to live. I want it all to go to you, but things need to change.”

Did he say what I think he said, “Three months?” I whisper as I think about this family and the fucking curse that must be on it. I can’t deal with another death or be a part of it. That’s why the bottle’s safe; it makes me forget my fucking nightmares.

“I’m not sticking around and watching you die. And I’m not getting married. You can leave all your money to charity for all I fucking care,” I’m slurring, and my vision is blurry, that’s when I feel a hand by my side.

“Trevor,” I look up as I see Granddad’s driver supporting my weight.

“What the fuck do you want?”

He doesn’t blink; sometimes I think that the man’s a fucking robot. He’s so damn emotionless. “Your granddad said that I should drive you home.”

“I don’t want Olivia to see you in this state, and I need you to sleep on it.”

Maybe I should stay so that she’ll see what her precious boss has lined up for her. But as Trevor practically drags me to my car. I know that I have no choice, Trevor’s going to take me home. He’ll do whatever my granddad tells him to do, and unfortunately, I’m not in any state to argue with him. Then again, I’m not in any state to do anything right now.

Chapter Two

Olivia

Isaac’s hot! I can’t believe we have never met. I’ve been working here for a couple of years and have never met him. I’ve seen pictures of him around the house, but the man’s changed. I’ll ride Autumn for a while, ever since she injured her leg, she’s been a bit nervous about riding. Gareth, the vet said that I just need to give her time, but I can’t help myself. I hate seeing her this way. Especially when she was so vibrant before the injury.

I smile as I think about the way he was looking at me. Then again, Isaac’s out of my league. I’m penniless, which is why I’m working and living on Neil’s ranch. I never used to be when both of my parents had jobs working on the ranch. Things were just great on the surface. But Dad couldn’t stop drinking. One sip and he took to it like a duck to water.

If Dad hadn’t insisted on driving home after the party that night and ran his Mercedes off a bridge into a river thirty feet deep, then he would still be alive. However, I’m sure his drinking had become so bad he couldn’t function at work. I just hadn’t seen the signs. I was too caught up in thinking about going to college. Then again, that became a distant dream when I found out that my college fund was only something that dad talked about, but never set-up.

I turn around as I walk away, but Neil and Isaac are in a heated discussion. I found myself speechless in his presence. I wanted to say something, but then my mouth was shut firmly, and all I could do was think about his emerald eyes and dark hair. His features are the complete opposite of Neil’s, who has dark hair, but matching eyes. Maybe Isaac will stay for lunch, and I’ll get to know him better.

I love the ranch, especially the stables. The smell of hay and horses seems to have gotten in my blood. The barn with its arched entrance and wide lane down the center makes me feel the way I do when walking into a church. I get a spiritual boost.

Gee, I love Autumn, the chestnut colored mare that Neil gave me. She tosses her head up and down when she spots me. It’s her way of greeting me. My hand immediately goes to her forehead to scratch her. After a brief hug and a kiss on her nose I enter her stall, taking a brush and comb to her long mane. God, being around horses is one of the reasons I love the ranch. I think I like horses better than people.

As much as I’m trying to focus on Autumn, my mind keeps drifting to Isaac. I hope I get to know him better. I shake my head. Stop with your silly daydreaming. I quickly finish my rounds in the stables as I want to hurry back home, get changed and see if Isaac’s still around. I feel like a little school girl with a major crush on someone that I’ve just met. But there’s something about him, which intrigues me. Maybe if he stays for lunch, then I can talk to him about spending more time with Neil. I think that he misses his family, sometimes he just stands in the hall looking at their pictures, and Isaac is his only living relative.

“Okay, Autumn, you’ve had your brushing, and you’re good for the day.” I hug her neck as she bends it to look at me with her big brown eyes. “I hate to leave you,” I look at my watch and realize that it’s nearly lunch time. It’s amazing how time goes so quickly when you’re having fun and dreaming about your boss’s grandson.

“Autumn, I need to get going. I’ll catch up with you later.” I smile and leave her to wash my hands. I wonder if she does understand everything I say. Maybe Neil’s right, that we’re like sisters that were separated at birth, but there’s just one problem. She’s a horse, and I’m not. I laugh at his observation, and then I sigh as I think about leaving the stables. I know the real reason that I’m going to see Isaac isn’t so much because he’s lonely, but I am at the best of times. I walk across the manicured lawn to the back door of the house, thinking about the rest of the ranch hands, they think that because I live in the same house as Neil that we’re sleeping together. We have separate rooms, and Neil’s never treated me as more than anything but the daughter that he never had. This is the problem with small towns, the tongues start wagging, and everyone has ideas even if they have no foundation for them. I try and be friendly to everyone, but they treat me as if I have the plague or something. I smell the roasting chicken before I enter and soon forget about my loneliness. I catch Neil peeking in the oven.

“If you’re hungry, we can eat any time,” he says glancing at the kitchen clock. “The chicken’s done. It’ll only take me a few minutes to do the rice and broccoli?”

Great, plenty of time to have a quick shower and then I remember why I didn’t do all my chores. I wanted to see Isaac.

“Where’s Isaac? Isn’t he going to have lunch with us?”

“He had to leave. I tried to get him to stay but he refused,” his voice changes from being friendly to being cold.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” I want to say more, ask maybe why they were arguing when I left. But I know that it’s none of my business. Neil’s my employer and I’m his ranch hand.

“Yeah, I really wanted him to stay for lunch, but he does what he wants these days.” Neil sighs. “I don’t seem to know him as well as I used to. We were so close when he was growing up, but now he’s seems to have drifted away from me and the ranch,” he hesitates before saying it, “I think he has the same problem your dad had with the bottle.”

Oh, he likes to drink too much. He seems clean shaven and not the type. Then again I didn’t know that my dad had a problem until it was too late.

“I just thought that my dad liked having a drink after working. I never knew that it was more than that,” I feel stupid whenever I think back. It’s always clear when you look back at things to see the signs, but I was thinking about going to college, enjoying high school and worrying about whether my dad was a drunk never featured into it.

“I’m afraid it’s more than that,” he sighs as he sits down on the breakfast stool.

“Really?” I decide to forget taking a shower and just help Neil in the kitchen. I put the oven roasted chicken on the table. “It can cool a bit. The broccoli and rice are coming right up.”

“Good I’m getting hungrier by the second.”

“So, what exactly is Isaac’s problem?”

Neil sighs. “His drinking is destroying the company. I love the boy God; I love him. It just breaks my heart to see him struggling, because of the….”

He shakes his head for a minute as if he remembers something.

“Anyway, he’s just lost his way due to one tragedy after another. First, his mom dying of cancer. His dad and the suicide and then…anyway, I just need to help him.”

He’s missing out parts, I know about his son and his wife. So, there’s something else that must have happened to trigger it. I just don’t know what and without Neil telling me the whole story I kind of feel helpless.

“Sorry to hear that. I wish there were something I could do to help. I don’t like to see you disturbed, Neil. You’ve been so kind to me giving me a job and letting me live in your house.”

I put the broccoli and rice on the table, and we’re all ready to eat. I signal for him to sit, so he moves from the stool to the table.

“Well, there’s something you can do for me?” Neil says as he carves the chicken. “White meat or dark?”

“White,” I hold my plate near the chicken. “What it is that I can do, Neil?”

“Ah . . . Isaac needs someone to help him back on the right track.”

I tilt my head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“He needs a friend. I don’t think he has a friend in the city. I know that he has no one. He doesn’t even drive to work because he drinks too much in the morning. I was surprised that he made it this far without having a drink.”

“Wow, it’s that bad Neil?”

He nods, “That bad. But I think that you can help him.”

“Neil,” I smile. “Is that some hint?

Neil chuckles, “Well, you know that old saying, ‘if the shoe fits, wear it.’ He’s going to move back to the ranch for a while. I was hoping you would help me keep him busy when he’s here so he doesn’t feel the need to drink so much.”

“Neil!”

“No, no I don’t mean anything improper. Just go riding with him. Get him using the swimming pool again. Maybe get him to teach you to shoot pool.”

“Of course, Neil I’ll love to do that. The truth is I get sort of lonely here on the ranch. I always end up doing everything alone when you’re out with your friends.”

“I noticed that. Are they still treating you as if we’re an item?”

I nod my head.

Neil starts to slowly eat his chicken and says, “Well maybe it’s better if you move to the cottage at the back of the house. I just hated coming home to an empty home before, but since I’ve started being a bit sociable. I don’t mind it so much. Especially if Neil moves in.”

“Why should we make changes so that people don’t talk?”

He sighs, “Because we live in a small town. As much as we can say that they should mind their own business. I don’t want you to be lonely and unhappy anymore. I want you to have a social life and friends other than Autumn and me.”

“And Isaac?” I chime in.

“Yes, that’s all I ask. Just be his friend, he could do with one.”

I nod and change the subject, “Isaac doesn’t know what a great meal he’s missing especially the chicken sauce.”

It’s as though Neil has become my surrogate father. I enjoy meals with him. He’s always so calm and pleasant. The memories of my father at the dinner table are not so pleasant.

“Oh, I forgot to ask how Autumn is doing?”

“Neil, she is the love of my life since you gave her to me. I love riding her around the ranch.”

“When Isaac comes back then maybe you guys could go out for rides. He loves riding Buckskin.’

“Sounds good, I can’t wait for him to move in.”

He abruptly stops eating and says “Sorry, I can’t eat another bite, Olivia. I’ve had an emotional day. I’m going to head up for a bit and read, then take a nap. Thanks for keeping an old man company at lunch.”

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s my pleasure.”

Isaac’s a hottie. I bet he doesn’t have problems attracting beautiful women in Houston. I look forward to spending some time with him.

“Expect nothing, and you’ll never get hurt,” Mom used to say to me. I’ll take her words to heart when it comes to Neil. I’ll try to keep him distracted if that’s what Neil wants and besides it’s the least I can do for him. He’s given me a home and a job. Besides I could do with some company, even if it just happens to be a hottie like Isaac.

Chapter 3

Isaac

I wake up with a killer hangover. I must have got up at least three times during the night to pee. Every time I kept thinking about the old man and what he wanted me to do. Fucking, marry some girl that I don’t even know. What?

So, that she’ll either kill herself or even worse just end up dying of some disease. That’s the trait in our family, which is why it’s only granddad and I left. The rest are all gone and buried, which is why I drowned myself in work. That was the only way to get rid of the pain. Not thinking or feeling anything, just working until that day. The time that nothing could take away that pain, that’s when I found my relief. The one thing that helped me make it through the day and that was to get drunk.

There’s a knock on my bedroom door. I’m in my room in darkness. Just the way I like it, because I just need to be alone.

“What?”

I blurt out thinking that it can’t be my cleaner or my maid. I told both of them to take the week off. I thought that somehow the old man would see things my way and I’ll be at the office all week. The last thing I expected him to do was move me in for three months with some girl that he has working on the ranch.

“It’s Trevor. I’ve been sent to pick you up.”

Shit, if he sent you to wipe my butt, would you do that too?

“Go away, Trevor.”

He doesn’t shout back, but he opens the door. “I can’t do that. I’ve been with this family before you were born. I’ve never seen you behave this way and I’ve never seen Neil so worried. You may not give a shit about it.”

Then he enters and starts drawing the curtains. Something that my mom would do if she was alive. Then again, if she was then maybe I wouldn’t be in this state.

“Now, get showered. Dressed and then we’re heading up to the ranch.”

I’m about to tell him that I don’t appreciate a driver telling me what to do. But I know that Trevor’s more than just any driver. He’s the one that saved me from finding my dad hanging himself from school. Why else would he tell me to wait outside that day? Every single day from school had been the same, apart from that one.

Granddad practically raised me, but when he had to go and work for the company again. He waited until I could take over. Trevor was the one that was picking me from college with granddad at times, most of the time with grandma. She died of cancer too. Just like the rest of them, one at a time, just dying of one thing or another.

“I’m fucking not going, not yet.”

Trevor shakes his head, “You misunderstood Isaac. I wasn’t asking you. I was fucking telling you. Now get up, go and shower. Then get in the car.”

“Who do you think you are?”

He blurts out as he practically carries me from my bed with just one hand, “I’m someone who cares. Don’t even try and start any shit with me. Get up. Shower. Get dressed and let’s go.”

“You seem to forget one thing. I have a company to run. I can’t do that if I’m on the ranch for three months.”

He nods, “So you can do that if you’re stuck in bed for days?”

I don’t know how to reply to that; he has a point. It’s not as if I’ve even called into the office to find out how things are going or anything. Shit, I don’t even know if one day has passed or two? At times, I forget to care.

“Besides Neil has someone to step in temporarily while you’re at the ranch.”

Fuck, the old man’s got it all planned, and I feel even more resentment towards him.

“Isaac, you need help. That’s all Neil wants to do. Just let us help you,” Trevor sighs, and he no longer looks frightening or as if he’s trying to overpower me. He’s trying to act as a friend.

I feel as if I’m the same teenager boy that didn’t want to do anything after dad died, as I move around him because I don’t want to look at him. Besides the daylight is hurting my eyes, my room was so much better when it was dark.

As I enter the shower and the hot water beats on my body, it makes me feel new for a few minutes. I cleanse away the sickness and addiction of my habit. The one that I’ve become accustomed to doing later just for a few moments. Trevor’s not in my room. I can see that he’s taken a couple of cases, damn he even packed.

Neil’s not the only one that’s serious about me moving to the ranch; it seems that Trevor’s taken a hand in this idea too.

As I put on my jeans and a shirt. I don’t feel like wearing a suit. I would normally to hide the man that I’ve become and puts a mask, so everyone thinks that I’m the man that I used to be. The CEO who loved his family’s company. The one that started to work at a company that had been in his family for three generations. A dream that he’d held on to for so long. Compared to the one that he’d become. The one that was a drunk all the time and couldn’t even pack his bag to go and stay at the ranch.

I nodded, to Trevor who was standing at the door ready for us to leave. I looked around my apartment, the one that the bank most likely will take in the next few weeks. I’ve defaulted on the loan for so long that I was sure that there was probably a letter of notification in the mail arriving any day now.

Fuck I needed a drink!

A stiff one, and as I entered the limo I started to raid, the bar at the back and there was nothing. I had a feeling that they would do that. Trevor would make sure that I’ll get there sober, but if he wanted to do that, then he should have checked the bag that I was carrying. The one that will make me arrive in one piece, not having withdrawn symptoms because I had my bottle in the backpack that I was carrying. This would get me to the ranch in one piece and not feel the need to rip the back of the limo to bits because I wouldn’t be desperate for a drink?

Chapter 4

Olivia

Isaac’s been here three days, and he’s still acting like a pig. I glance around the bedroom at his clothes scattered on the floor, bed, and nightstand. God, he’s lazy. He never bothers to pick them up by himself. It’s my job to clean, but his room looks like a teenager’s and not one belonging to a grown man who runs a multi-millionaire dollar empire. If he’s this unorganized at home, no wonder the company is in trouble.

Things started out so good between us! I enjoy spending time with Isaac when we go riding around the ranch with me on Autumn and him on Buckskin. On horseback, he seems like a different person, laughing and carefree. He makes me feel good. But once he’s back at the ranch, he becomes moody and finds fault in everything I do. Nothing is good enough for him. Nothing!

“Daydreaming again?” Isaac says as he walks into his bedroom. I’m picking up after him again; I do it more for Neil. I just feel bad for him, because for sure one of the cleaners will complain about Isaac’s room. I know that I would if I was paid to clean up after him.

“Yeah, I’m dreaming that you’ll learn to pick up after yourself for once!”

“You do work here, right?”

He’s deadly serious as he folds his arms and stares at me. I don’t know what planet this man comes from? When does ranch hand involve cleaning up to the owners' grandson?

“Neil pays me a good wage to look after the ranch. Not clean up after you!”

Sometimes he makes it unbearable to be around him, I’ve been biting my tongue, but if he carries on this way, then I’ll have to forget to try to be nice to him. We can keep our distance especially because I don’t live in the main house anymore.

“I want to go riding this morning,” Isaac says offhandedly.

“You aren’t going to the office today?”

That’s what he said to me yesterday when I suggested that we ride today. I wonder what changed his mind?

“Maybe this afternoon. Now, I feel like riding!”

“Sorry, I’ve got laundry to do this morning,” I’m shaking my head. I’m not going to jump every time he wants to do something. If he wants to spend the morning riding around the ranch instead of taking care of the company, that’s his business.

“Have it your way,” Isaac says stalking out of the room like a little boy that’s been told that he’s not going to be taken out for ice-cream.

What did I see in him? I think shaking my head as he walks out of the bedroom. Okay, he is handsome and has a decent body, but that isn’t enough to build a friendship on and certainly not enough to building a relationship.

I fantasized about having sex with him when he first moved back to the ranch, but my initial attraction to him is slowly and surely fading. It’s a shame too because I enjoy the time we spent together riding and swimming. I’ve even come to enjoy him giving me pool lessons, but I still can’t make a decent shot to save my life.

Isaac storms out of the room, and I do the same. I’m going to let Gloria, the cleaner or Harriet the maid see his room. Let them sort it out. Neil said to keep Isaac company, not be his slave.

***

I head to the laundry room, wondering if maybe I was too harsh on Isaac? He’s a grown man, but he has the tendency to act like a big kid. I can’t get over the way he switches when we’re on the ranch and then it dawns on me.

When we’re not on the ranch, he’s not drinking. That’s the real Isaac and then as soon as we get back he hits the bottle like a duck to water, and that’s when the horrible side. The part that I hate starts to reveal like an onion, the more layers you peel, the more it makes you cry. He says nasty things and even at one time demanded that I fucking clean his boots because he thought that Ron, the other hand who cleans the boots had stolen his last pair. He insisted on me cleaning them and then we discovered that Isaac had taken them up to his room. God, he gets paranoid when he drinks.

I didn’t even notice that Neil’s poking his head into the laundry room.

“Hey, Olivia, I see Isaac’s not going to work this morning?”

“No, he said he didn’t have any appointments until this afternoon, and he felt like taking Buckskin out for a ride,” I explain, but I have a feeling that Neil already knows the answer to his question.

Neil slowly shakes his head. “That’s his problems. He does only what he has to do! He doesn’t put enough of himself into running the business. Not like before. He hasn’t even asked me who I put in his place while he’s here. It’s as if he’s not interested in it anymore. Maybe I should just think about putting him in rehab and forget about him going back to the office.”

Neil takes a deep breath, “Sorry to unload on you like this; I don’t know what’s got into him. I’ve hidden all the drink in the ranch. And I think that he’s got someone buying him some, because sometimes at night it’s clear that he’s drunk.”

“At least we’re on the same page about that.”

“You’ve noticed it too?”

I nod my head because I feel as if I should have spoken to Neil sooner, but Isaac’s only been here three days. It’s not as if he was going to change over night.

“An old saying comes to mind, and it seems to apply to him.”

“What saying is that?” I ask thinking that maybe I can be of more use to Neil and try and get Isaac away from his bad habit or disease as they call it.

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”

We both smile and laugh, just at the irony of him thinking of an old saying about Isaac drinking.

“I haven’t seen you smiling much lately. How is it going between you and Isaac? If I may ask?”

“It’s not going,” I admit. “I try, but if I get too close, he seems to lash out at me.” I shrug. “I’m not sure if he even likes me or thinks of me as a human being or just some servant?”

“Oh, I believe he does,” Neil says. “Maybe he won’t admit it. But I think he does. When he comes back from riding, he’s briefly his old self. Then he starts drinking and goes into the new Isaac, the one that I’ve become accustomed to hating lately,” he crosses his arms and leans back on the machine. Luckily, I never started one of them. I was too busy thinking about Isaac and maybe allowing him to take advantage of my kind nature.

“Neil, I’ve tried. I have tried, but I don’t know if I want to bother with him anymore. I’ve been more than fair to him. But I give, and he just takes,” I need to tell him the truth. That enough is enough. I know that Neil’s my boss, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

“Olivia, there’s something that I haven’t told you,” he sighs and takes my hand, and now he’s scaring me.

“What?”

My heart is racing out of control like the old dryer, the one that Neil refuses to replace because he said that his wife loved that dryer. It was her first one, and it makes so much noise at times I think that the whole ranch is going to collapse. That’s how I feel right now, as if the room’s making so much noise, but the only sound is my heart beat racing out of control.

I beg him, “Please. Tell me.”

Oh God! No!

I move away from him; I can’t breathe. The room feels so hot, and it’s as if I’m suffocating so I need to get out. I can’t lose someone else I love. I can’t take it.

“It might look like I’m in good health, but I’m not.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. “I don’t have long to live!” He says the words fast as though if he speaks generally, he won’t be able to tell me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask feeling a wave of panic swell up from the pit of my stomach.

He holds up his hands. “Olivia, I hate telling you this. You lost your parents not long ago, and I took you in. But I didn’t want to burden you with my family issues.” He starts to walk away, “I shouldn’t have told you. I’m sorry.”

I shake my head, “No Neil. I shouldn’t have asked. Maybe they’ll find a cure; maybe it’s not too late. You’re a rich man. They’re always bending over to help the rich.”

“You don’t have to worry you’ll be taken care of.”

“Neil, you think that’s bothering me? My family didn’t even bother helping me. They thought that we had money, and then they were interested, but when they learned that dad had drank it all away. They slowly took me in one-by-one. Please don’t tell me that this is the end. Neil, you mean so much to me. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t given me a job on the ranch. I owe you. And I pay my debts. Please tell me what it is I can do?”

“Help Isaac! I need to see him happy again before I go. I can’t let go knowing he’s lost his way. I need to see him in a better place. And only someone as kind and good-natured as you can help him. Olivia, do this for me.”

I feel like crying as I hug Neil, he gently strokes my hair and says, “Save your tears. It’s not over yet. As you said, there might be some hope. I just need you to help Isaac. I think that he likes you. He’s just not good at showing his feelings.”

I break away from Neil wishing that he’ll ask me to do anything else. If I spend any more time with him, then I may turn to drink myself, and I’ve never touched a drop. Not ever since I found out that it killed my parents. My watery eyes meet Neil soft pleading eyes I relent. “Of course, Neil. You know I would move heaven and earth for you. You . . . You’ve been like a father to me for the past two years.”

Neil’s face lights up with a smile. “That’s what I want to hear. Just give him a second chance, that’s all I ask.”

He kisses me on the forehead and then leaves the laundry room with his head bowed down. He’s feeling down, and I know that there’s only one way to put a smile on his face and that’s to help Isaac. I decide to go to his room; I’ll do the laundry later.

I head up the stairs with a mission on my mind, that’s to help Isaac. I’ll find out who’s buying drinks for him and put it to an end. I’ll search his room with the help of Gloria and get rid of the existing bottles. I’ll make Neil see that there’s nothing I won’t do for him and it starts and end with making Isaac turn his nose from liquor.

I knock lightly on Isaac’s bedroom door. “Isaac?” I call out.

No answer.

“Isaac? Do you want to go for a swim with me? Come on. It’s hot, and a swim will be refreshing.”

I’m trying to sound pleasant and as if I mean it. I’m not a good actress, but I need this to work. If it doesn’t then I don’t want Neil to feel bad. He doesn’t deserve it. I’m standing and waiting for him to answer the door. I grow impatient and just open the door. He’s not in bed. I open the door and step into his room. His bags are gone!

Damn!

He’s left I realize as I face an empty closet with none of his clothes in there. This is the first time that he’s left the room clean. Which means that either Gloria or Harriet has come to clean it.

What’s up with this guy?

I know that this time of day, Neil will be in the library. That’s where he’ll be ready with one of his books.

“You’re not going to believe this. Isaac’s gone.”

“What?”

“Yes, Neil he’s gone and so has all his things.”

He lifts his hand up in the air dropping his book, “I give up. I do.”

I blurt out, “I don’t. I’m going to go to the city and find him.”

“Olivia, you don’t need to do that.”

Yes, I do, because you’ve been more than a father to me and I owe you big time. I’m going to find Isaac, and I’ll give him a piece of my mind. Once I do, he’ll be the one running back here, with his tail in between his legs.

“I’ll go in the morning. Don’t worry Neil. I don’t work Thursday’s. So, I’ll have cover.”

I kiss the old man on the head and reassure him with a hand pat on his shoulders. He holds on to my hand for a second, maybe trying to figure out if I’m serious. I’m a woman of my word, and one thing’s for sure. I’m going to bring Isaac back. No more miss nice girl. He’s going to see a different side to me now.

Chapter 5

Isaac

What the fuck is wrong with everyone?

I was just about to get a bottle from the stables. That’s where I’ve been hiding my bottles when I get a phone call. Tom, the IT director, ’s quit. Granddad sent Steven in to run the company for the weeks that I’ll be at the stables. The guy’s a fucking mercenary, he’s my oldest cousin and is desperate to take over the family business. Granddad says that he’s good because Steven doesn’t get attached, that’s right he’s a fucking workaholic because no one wants to be with him. He’s the type that treats women like dogs and his staff as if they’re the bottom of the food chain.

I told Tom to sit tight, and I’ll be in the office in a couple of hours. As soon as I got here, it was fucking World War IV.

“Isaac you need to realize that you don’t need an IT Director, Senior Manager and Head of the IT Department. All in the same building and all doing the same fucking job,” Steven says as we all sit down to discuss Tom’s resignation.

Shit, I didn’t even realize that there were so many senior managers working in IT. I drum my fingers on the table because I know that Steven’s right. I feel like a fool for even jumping in the car, stroking my bottle the whole fucking journey thinking that I’ll be having a drink soon.

“So, what now?” I whisper as I feel as if I’m in fucking school and being told off by the principle.

“Well, he can leave immediately. That’s the way that we normally do it.”

Steven has that smug look on his face as he rubs his oversized stomach and balding head. The guy’s only thirty, and he looks over forty. If that’s what dedication and hard work look like, then they can count me out.

“I don’t understand why you drove all this way, Isaac? Aren’t you enjoying being on the ranch?”

I hate his smugness and his tone.

“Yes, it’s just that I wanted to make sure that everything was alright here. There’s nothing wrong with that. I am still the CEO.”

He stands up, “Yes, we all know that.”

Good, that shut him up!

“Seeing as you have everything in hand, then I’ll be getting back. I just need to take a few things from my office. If you don’t mind?”

He stands up, “Be my guest. After all, it is your office. I’m going to grab something to eat, so I’ll be gone a while. If I don’t see you again, then have a safe trip.”

I nod because there’s no fucking way that he’s going to see me again and I’ll make sure that I’m not here when he comes back.

I just want to go to my office to see if my stash is still there. I’m going to get my driver to take me back to the ranch, and I want to make sure that I have some good stuff before we reach there.

“Until next time Steven.”

He’s standing and waiting for me to say something. The one thing that I rarely do, but I know that if granddad were here, then he would force me to do it.

Fuck!

Just this one.

“Thank you,” I say through gritted teeth. The smugness and smile reappear on Steven’s face as he holds out his hand and says, “Anytime cuz.”

Great as if I need reminding that we’re related. That’s when it dawns on me as I slump my shoulders and head to my office. I better go back to the ranch. I was so lost in my thoughts when I came here that I didn’t even tell granddad that I was going. I could have told Olivia, but I hated the way that she treats me at times as if I’m her kid or something.

I’ve never been with a woman that doesn’t want me to try something. Not even once. She makes me feel as if I’ve lost my fucking touch. No man wants to be with a woman who wants to be his friend.

Hell no!

Every time I flirt with her, she just backs away. I grab my key open the closet and my Scotch Malt Whisky Society Karuizawa Single Malt is sitting there begging me to open it. Shit, it won’t have to wait long. One phone call and one long car drive with a couple of blocks of ice, and I’ll be in fucking heaven.

I’m stuffing it in my bag and closing the door. I’m about to leave when I see a face. One that I never expected to see this side of Texas.

“Olivia!”

“Isaac!” she says as she walks into my office.

I don’t even know what to say to her.

“I should have told you that I was leaving…”

“But you didn’t.”

She says with her hands on her hips. I may not know much about women, but I know one thing for sure. Olivia’s genuinely pissed.

“Well you didn’t, and I came to bring you back to the ranch.”

“Really?” I sigh, because I’m not used to seeing her not smile and acting a bit too chirpy any hour of the day. It’s as if she’s constantly on a happy dial. Maybe I’m rubbing off on her with my crappy attitude.

“But before we do that. Let’s go and have a coffee.”

She’s so fucking close that all I want to do is kiss her right now. Tell her that she must be as attracted to me as I am to her. But as she backs away I blurt out, “Fine, but you’re paying.”

Apparently, Granddad’s paying her too much. It didn’t take her long to get here, which means that she either drove or Trevor brought her? But he couldn’t have because he’s out for the day on some run, which means that she has her car. So, not only is she living in the cottage for free, she’s riding around town for free too. Not with me. Granddad may think that she’s an angel, but the way that she commanded me right now. I can tell that it’s all one big act.

Chapter 6

Olivia

I can’t believe that he agrees to everything I say. Something must have happened before I arrived at the office, part of me wants to know, and the other part thinks that ignorance is bliss and maybe that’s the problem. I’ve spent too much time trying to get to know him and forcing myself on him to some extent. Not stripping down and telling him to take me. But more subtly, like brushing my hand against his, or telling him to help me when I can do it myself.

Not once has he taken the hint!

Like the one time we were playing pool, he was so close to me that I could smell his woody scent. He just took the stick of me and told me that I needed to do it this way. He didn’t try to touch me, and I can’t just throw myself at him. I’m not that type of girl, but then he has a sadness about him. One that should make me stay as far away from him as possible, but it does the complete opposite it pulls me towards him like a magnet.

I do know one thing for sure. He’s holding on to his bag as if his life depends on it. That can only mean one thing. It has a bottle in it. So, I come up with the grand plan to distract him. Make him forget about what he’s holding.

“I thought that you might like to show me around, Houston. Instead of us rushing to the ranch.”

“But you stormed into my office saying that I was coming back to the ranch with you now!”

I laugh, “I know, but I’ve never been to Houston before.”

“You’re kidding me?”

“No, I’m serious. I’ve always lived in the country. Houston’s too crowded, and the traffic sucks. I was always afraid to drive here. But I finally decide it was time to tackle my fear of the traffic head on.”

“But it's only a couple of hours from the ranch! You make it sound as if it’s the other side of the world.”

“To you maybe, but for me, it’s a couple of hours by car and the world apart socially,” I sigh as I finish my second cup of coffee. I wonder if he’s mocking me or trying to educate me? I can never tell, but then there’s something different about our conversation compared to when we’re on the ranch. Maybe he seems me as Neil’s ranch hand there, and here he’ll see me in a different light?

“I’ll show you around. You can’t come to Houston, have a cup of coffee, and return to the ranch without seeing more of Houston than Interstate 10.”

Suddenly, I don’t want to go back to the ranch. I want to spend more time with Isaac. “Great, maybe I’ll like Houston if I see a little more of it.”

“What would you like to see?”

“Space Center Houston,” I say without hesitating. “I’ve wanted to visit it since I was a little girl. I remember telling everyone that one day I was going to be an astronaut and go the see the man on the moon.”

“To see the man in the moon?” Isaac laughs.

“I was only five years old,” I pout thinking that he’s mocking me now.

“It’s just cute. I didn’t think that you would be interested in things like that. You just caught me by surprise.”

We say nothing for a second, and I don’t know what to take about what he just said.

Doesn't he think that I’m educated? Or that I’m interested in space?

I’m about to ask him when he blurts out, “Space Center Houston it is. Come on, let’s go.”

He grabs my hand, and the other is safely in his bag. He’s smiling and maybe my plans working because as we get to his car. He dumps the bag at the back.

“Come on, cowgirl. No horses today, cars only in downtown,” Isaac says as he opens the car door for me. I feel like a Princess as he waits for me to enter. My car’s parked for the day, but as soon as he takes the wheel and starts driving, I have to close my eyes.

Isaac burrows through the notorious Houston traffic, and I think about the country roads near the ranch. They’re nothing compared to the noisy drivers in the city. I can’t wait for us to get there, so as soon as Isaac increases the volume of the radio. I start concentrating on the radio show and don’t even think about the way that he drives. Thank goodness he doesn’t ride horses the same way that he does cars. That’s when I spot the space shuttle atop the 747 as we approach the Space Center. I feel a surge of excitement that I don’t even try and hide.

“Excited?” Isaac says turning to smile at me as he parks the car.

I squeal, “Yes, I can’t believe that we’re here.”

Then I clap my hands together, and I can’t help but let out a little scream as he parks the car.

“Are we doing this?” I ask as he takes my hand and we enter the Space Center. "Where do you want to start?" I close my eyes and think for about two seconds, what's the one thing that I've always been dying to see the most, "The historic Apollo 11 command module without a doubt."

He nods, "Good choice. My lady gets what my lady demands.”

Then I loop my hand into his arm as he locks the car and then we go on a tour. I expected Isaac to go to the module and then turn around. The more time we spent in there, the more he wanted to see. I soon realized that he hadn’t been in there since he was a kid.

“It seems as if I’m not the only one was excited to come.”

He confesses, “You got me there. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”

“Should we see some more?”

He laughs, “Why not? We’ve got nothing else to be rushing back for? Or do you have to work at the ranch today?”

I shake my head, “You’re asking me now. After we’ve spent most of the morning and afternoon out together?”

He laughs, “You know the crazy thing about it all?”

As he ignores my question, curiosity wants to know what’s on his mind.

“No.”

“I haven’t even wanted a drink.”

This means that my plan’s working. I start flicking through the guide book. I want us to stay all day, not only because I want to spend time with him, but because I never thought I'd say this, but I’m loving not being at the ranch for the first time in a long time.

***

I stop as we near the car and take out my cell phone. “I have to call Neil. It’s my day off, but I didn’t tell him that I got here safely.”

“Don’t go back,” Isaac says. “There’s much more to see in Houston. Tomorrow we can see more sights.”

“But where am I going to stay?”

“In my apartment. It’s huge. Of course, it’s nothing near as many square feet as the ranch house, but it’s more than big enough for the two of us.

“Okay, I’ll stay. You’ve twisted my arm.”

He nods, “Good now, call granddad and tell him that you’ll be back tomorrow night. I pick up my phone and Neil picks on the first ring, “Hi Neil’s speaking.”

“Neil, it’s Olivia,” I say as my eyes dart from Isaac to the floor.

“Where are you?”

“Houston.”

“ I know that you said that you were going, but I thought that you might change your mind,” he chuckles as he talks about my trip.

“Yeah, I surprised myself. Uh . . . I’m with Isaac. We just got through touring the Space Center,” I’m smiling at Isaac, but I know what he’s looking at. The back seat and his bottle that’s waiting for him.

“Now, that’s worth a trip to Houston for sure. Uh . . . How is Isaac? Are the two of you coming back to the ranch tonight?”

“Isaac wants to show me more sights in Houston tomorrow. He said that I could stay in his apartment.”

I’m nodding my head waiting for a reaction from Neil. He’ll tell me if it's not a good idea. He’ll reassure me if it’s the right thing to do.

“I think that’s great. It’s about time you got away from the ranch and saw some of the city. Why don’t you take a couple of days off? You and Isaac enjoy yourselves. It’ll do both of you good.”

“You sure, Neil. You sure you’ll be okay. I’m worried about . . . You know your health.”

“Olivia, I’ll be fine. I’ll go down to the Brass Rail for meals. Don’t worry about me. Just have fun.”

“If you’re sure?” I say glancing at Isaac and smiling.

“Yes, yes, I’m sure.”

“Okay. Bye,” I say as I hung up the phone.

I turn to Isaac to tell him the good news, “Well, it looks like you’re stuck with me for a few days, Isaac.”

“You make it sound like something bad,” Isaac says as he opens the car door for me.

“Do you like Italian food?”

“Yes, lasagna is my all-time favorite!”

“Well, it just happens that there’s a great Italian restaurant near my apartment that I eat at regularly. And their lasagna is to die for, so you’re in luck.”

“I just need to get my car from the parking lot. I can’t leave it there all night.”

He shakes his head, “It’s fine. I’ll pay for it, and you didn’t bring anything with you. You didn’t know that you were staying overnight.”

He’s right about that. I visioned myself going back tonight for some reason. Not spending the day at the Space Centre and I never thought that I'd be enjoying myself with him.

“So, let’s go and get lasagne!”

As we ride in the car, I can’t think of anything better than spending the next couple of days with Isaac. Not only is the idea of speaking to someone and spending time with them, it feels as if it’s the best gift in the world. Neil and I have our moments, but apart from meal time, I don’t go out with him, or anything like that. This is about two people just enjoying each other’s company. My eyes dart towards Isaac once in a while. I wonder if he knows how I feel, but then again if he did he would make a move by now. It’s obvious that there is just one sided Isaac doesn’t feel any attraction towards me, I’m starting to realize it more and more. Isaac pulls into the parking lot of a small restaurant with a neon sight spelling out Fettuccines in big red letters.

Isaac wasn’t lying about being a regular at the restaurant. The moment we walk in the waiter standing a podium with a sign. “Good evening Isaac.” The front manager greets him with a wink and a smile. Isaac responds with the same friendly gesture.