Chapter 5
“Dinner,” he insisted. “We had lunch two times already and I agreed but this time I insist on dinner.”
“The last time I had lunch with you our pictures appeared in the papers. They made me sound as if I'm your latest conquest,” she told him.
“If only they knew the truth,” he said with a sigh. “You're ruining my reputation Mia.”
“I'm sure that I don't have the power to do that. You were seen going to the ballet with that actress, Sylvia Tanner,” she pointed out. He had called her at work and she was taking the time to talk to him. It was almost April and their relationship had blossomed. She was fond of him as a friend, much to his frustration.
“I had to do
something to try and make you jealous.”
“Obviously it
didn't work.”
“Don’t I know it,” he complained. “But have dinner with me on Saturday, darling. I'm begging.”
“You do it so
nicely,” she told him. “Okay.”
“Wear
something very sexy.”
“You're working on me changing
my mind.”
“Okay. Wear anything you want. You'll still manage to look sexy.”
“See you on Saturday.” She smiled as she hung up. She looked up as the door was pushed open and Sandra came in. She sat on one of the chairs and clasped her hands in front of her. “What’s wrong?”
“A board
meeting is being called.”
“What?” Mia checked
her schedule to make sure she hadn't missed anything. “You
never said anything to me.”
“That’s because I'm
not the one calling it.” Sandra’s lips pressed together.
“The members have come together and are calling the meeting for
next Monday, the beginning of April. They're going to the press as
well with the statement that a woman running a company like Bell’s
Technologies isn't a good idea.”
“They can't do that.
You've been doing an excellent job!” Mia protested.
“That’s
not enough.” Sandra closed her eyes briefly. “It’s
been almost six months since my brother has been in the coma and they
think he isn't waking up. They're covering their bases. I've asked
Simon to meet with me to plan a strategy.”
“It’s
your damned company! You shouldn't have to be answering to some pain
in the ass stuck up old men who don't know their asses from the
toilet.”
Sandra smiled at that. “I wish I had your
fire and spunk but I don’t, and the fact is that the board
carries weight. I might be a Bell but I'm also a woman and I'm not
Sebastian.”
“What can I do?” Mia asked her quietly.
“Get all of Sebastian’s notes from past board meetings and send them to me.”
“I can do
better than that,” Mia told her. “He has a way of
gathering information on all the board members, every single one of
them.”
“What do you mean?” Sandra asked staring
at her.
Mia laughed softly.
“Your brother is a ruthless man who left nothing to chance. He
has dirt on all of them.”
Sandra looked at her in shock.
“You want me to use that?”
“If all else fails…”
She left the rest of the sentence unfinished. “The fact is
Sandra, you're half of the company and you're acting on behalf of the
other part, who cannot say anything right now. You've done very well
since he's been laid up on that hospital bed and no one can fault you
for what you're doing. Do what you have to do, Sebastian would do the
same.”
*****
Sandra stared at the wealth of information Mia had sent to her email and read the files in amazement. It was almost seven but she and Simon were still in her office as she went through everything she was going to need for Monday. “She's very good,” she said in admiration.
“I take it you're talking about Mia?” he asked as he looked over at her. She'd ordered dinner from the kitchen and they'd already eaten. Mia had left early, saying that she wasn't feeling well.
“Yes.” Sandra picked up her laptop and came to join him on the sofa. “This is very explosive stuff,” she murmured as she turned it towards him. He scanned the document and smiled. “So, old Sidney Wellers likes them pretty young doesn’t he?” he murmured as he continued reading. “And Miguel Walters likes little boys.” He looked up at her. “I'm sure when you make them realize that you have this they'll back off.”
She looked at him uncertainly. “I'm not sure I can use this Simon. I'm not like Sebastian.”
“You do what
you have to Sandra,” he told her firmly. “Do you know one
of the reasons your brother is such a force to be reckoned
with?”
“Because he never smiles?” she asked
wryly.
“He doesn't let
anyone get the best of him. This company is his baby and he built it
from scratch with you by his side. He spent days and nights when
everyone else had gone for the day, determined to make the company
successful. He's fearless and doesn't allow anyone to dictate to him.
The board is made up of men who think very little of women, as
indicated by this very revealing report. They know that you're doing
a damned good job but it doesn't matter to them because they're
chauvinistic old men who have one way of thinking. Don’t let
them get away with backing you into a corner. If talking to them
reasonably doesn't work then don’t be afraid to use what you
have.”
Sandra stared at him for a moment and then nodded.
*****
“You're not
eating,” Gabriel commented as he watched her playing with her
food. The garlic and vinegar sauce was too rich for her stomach and
she was starting to feel queasy. She'd deliberately not told him of
her pregnancy because of the highly confidential nature of it. She
liked Gabriel but she didn't know him enough to confide in him and
was not sure he would ever understand what she'd done. She was going
on four months and thought the nausea had been quelled. She forced a
smile as she looked at him. “I'm afraid the veal isn't doing
anything for me.”
“We could order you something else.”
He started to lift a hand and she stopped him.
“It’s
fine. The salad is delicious and filling.”
“You're
making me look like a pig darling,” He told her, his dark green
eyes studying her curiously.
“I doubt I'm
able to do that,” she pointed out. “So, what are you
doing back in town?”
“Aside from seeing you?”
“Aside
from that.”
“I'm in charge of acquisitions among other
things. We see a failing company that has potentials and I'm the one
who goes in and tries to make the deal.” He shrugged elegantly.
“There's this particular chain of restaurants that did well ten
years ago but has now gone down due to lack of management. We're
digging into the viability of acquiring it. It's going to take a lot
of input, both physical and financial, to get it back on its right
footing.”
“So you decide whether it will be worth it
in the long run.”
“Very smart, darling.” He
lifted his glass in a toast. He'd ordered a bottle of Zinfandel but
she'd ordered lemon water and he hadn't asked her why. “You see
why we belong together?”
“Because I happen to know a
little about business?” she asked him in amusement as she
sipped her water. “That’s hardly grounds for a
relationship.”
He stared at her with an inscrutable look on his face. He'd come dressed in an open-necked black shirt and a black and white blazer. He'd told her that the restaurant was semi-formal wear so she was wearing a black and white pantsuit with a wine red silk blouse inside. Her hair was piled on top of her head and her makeup was flawless. “I've given up,” he told her softly.
“On what?”
“On
us.” His green eyes held hers. “I think there is more to
the story of you and Sebastian that you're not telling me. I really
like you Mia, and I wasn't just saying that.”
“I know,”
she told him. “And I really like you too.”
“But
not in the way I hope,” he said with a smile.
“No. Does this mean that I won’t see you again?” she asked him.
“Not a chance!” he said with his charming grin. “I'm sticking around to see what happens.”
*****
Sebastian opened his eyes slowly, feeling as if he was coming out of a very deep fog. He blinked his eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room with a slight frown. He had no idea where he was or what had happened to him. He had vague memories of different people talking to him but he couldn't remember the conversations. He frowned as he saw the doors opened and a nurse walking in. She stopped shortly as she looked at him and saw that his eyes were opened. “You're awake!” Her loud voice caused him to wince. “I have to get the doctors!”
“Wait.”
His voice came out as a whisper and he realized that his throat was
very dry. What the hell had happened? Within minutes, several doctors
and nurses came hurrying into the room. “Mr. Bell, it's very
good to see you like this,” the eldest said with a pleased look
on his face. He and the others checked Sebastian’s vitals and
nodded in satisfaction.
“What happened?” he asked
hoarsely.
“You were in an accident.”
“And in a coma for the past six months,” Another one supplied.
Sebastian shook his head as he tried to remember. “That can't be right,” he said slowly.
“I'm afraid so. Your sister will be so pleased to hear that you're awake. She and Ms. Gooden never doubted that you would.”
“Mia Gooden?” he asked.
The doctors nodded as they fussed around him. “They visit you every day. Okay, before I ask the nurse to make the call let's give you a thorough examination.”
*****
Sandra removed the phone from her ear and closed her eyes as she tried to stop the trembling. Her brother was awake! And he had all his working faculties. Suddenly she felt a dart of fear and wondered how he was going to take the news of what she and Mia had done. But she couldn't think about that now. He was awake and that mean that she wouldn't have to go into that boardroom tomorrow morning and face those men. He was awake and he was back in charge! She glanced at her clock and saw that it was almost ten. It didn't matter what time. She had to call and tell Mia. By morning the press will have gotten hold of the news and it would be all over the papers and on the internet.
She dialed her number. “Hello?” Her voice sounded as if she'd been sleeping.
“I'm sorry to
wake you Mia. I have news.”
“Is Sebastian okay?”
The sleep had disappeared from her voice.
“He's awake,” Sandra told her.
The silence from the
other end of the line stretched on for a little bit. “He's
awake?”
“Yes,” Sandra said tearfully. “I
spoke to him, Mia.”
“How did he
sound?”
“A little confused but just like the old
Sebastian.” She paused. “I'm going to see him first thing
in the morning.”
“Are you going
to tell him—”
“I can't. Not right now,”
Sandra said cautiously.
“You're right. We have to make sure that he's really okay and then we can tell him.”
“Yes,” Sandra said hastily. Neither of them said what was really on their minds. The fear of the consequences of what they'd done, now that he was awake.
“So now you
don’t have to face the board.”
“I'm so happy
about that.” She paused again. “I'll see you when I get
back to the office.”
In her apartment Mia moved the sheets and swung her legs off the bed. She was wide awake now and her insides were trembling. She pulled on her robe and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Sebastian was awake. Her hands trembled as she lifted them to her lips. What did that mean? She drank the water quickly and filled up the glass again, going to the counter to take a seat. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. They couldn't tell him just yet. They had to wait until he was at least out of the hospital. They had to wait until they were sure there were no repercussions from the accident and get a clean bill of health from the doctors before they dropped the bombshell on him.
They had to wait until they were in private before they told him that they'd taken away his freedom of choice in choosing the woman he wanted to bear his child, and taken matters into their own hands. She trembled as she thought about his reaction. She'd seen him angry two times since she'd started working for him and it hadn't been a pretty sight. Other men shouted and ranted but Sebastian went silent and his grey eyes became cold dark clouds. She didn't want him angry with her. “Oh God, what have we done?” she whispered as she placed a hand over her still flat stomach. “Please let him accept it and be okay with it.” She smiled grimly. What was she saying? There was going to be a hell of a storm.
*****
Sandra hugged her
brother tightly, almost suffocating him in the process. “Hey,”
Sebastian eased her away gently. “You're on the verge of
putting me back under.”
“I'm sorry.” She touched
his face lightly as she took a seat next to the bed. It was very
early in the morning but she'd been allowed into his room because of
who she was. She'd also spoken to the doctors who had assured her
that there were was hidden damage and that his brain was operating
fine. “It’s just that I thought I'd lost you.”
“It
must have been tough on you.” His dark blue eyes probed her
face. “I understand you did a very good job keeping the company
afloat,” he teased her.
“I did more
than that,” she retorted. “Mia and Simon helped a
lot.”
“I'm pleased to hear that.” He looked at
her again. “What’s wrong?”
Sandra almost sighed
in dismay. She'd forgotten how intuitive her brother was. “I'm
a little emotional still. The board—”
“I will
deal with them as soon as we're finished here,” he said, his
expression hardening.
“You need to rest, darling. And how did you hear?”
“I have my sources. The doctors said I'll be out of here by Thursday. I can hardly wait.”
“Maybe you
shouldn't jump back in so soon.”
“What do you
mean?”
“Sebastian, you just came out of a coma. Take
some time.”
“I was out for six months. That’s
enough time,” he told her arrogantly. “I need to talk to
Mia as soon as possible.”
“Why?” Sandra asked
him sharply before she could help herself.
He stared at her with a frown and Sandra wished she could disappear. “She happens to be my assistant, Sandra, and I want her to handle some things for me. Are you sure you're okay?”
“I almost lost
you.”
“And we already established that, but I'm here
now. Now give me some updates.”
*****
“He wants to
see you.” Sandra had come back from the hospital a few minutes
earlier and had gone straight to Mia’s office.
“How
does he look?” Mia asked her mildly as she compiled the reports
she was getting ready for Sebastian.
“He looks
good.” Sandra stopped and stared at her friend. “Did you
hear what I just said? He wants to see you.”
“And
that's to be expected. I'm his assistant and he's going to want to
know what went down for the last six months.”
“We'll have to
tell him.”
“Eventually.” Mia leaned forward on
her desk. “Not while he's in the hospital and people can hear
what's happening, Sandra. We have to give him time.”
“He's going to notice that something's different about you.”
“I'm four months pregnant and so far no one in this company has noticed anything different,” Mia pointed out.
“Sebastian's
different. He notices everything around him.”
“Stop
worrying.” Mia said with a confidence she wasn't feeling .
“I can't help
it.” She paused and took a seat. “Maybe we were wrong in
doing it, Mia.”
“Maybe so but the deed is done. We
can't go back in time and undo it and maybe he'll be fine with it.”
Sandra looked at her and Mia nodded. “I just heard it and know that there are going to be fireworks or a cold forbidding storm. Your brother's frightening when he gets angry.”
“When are you going to see him?” Sandra asked her.
Just then her phone
rang and she picked up.
“Apparently this afternoon,”
Mia said with a tremulous smile once she'd hung up. “His
majesty just summoned me to his hospital room and told me to bring
what I have for him.”
*****
“You look amazing for a man who just came out of a six-month-long coma,” Simon said as he pulled up a chair and clasped his friend’s hand. There had been a steady stream of visitors the entire morning and the doctors were threatening to cut off the visits until tomorrow, but Sebastian had told them in his usual authoritative tone that he dictates the cut off time.
“Thanks man.
It’s good to be alive.” He studied his friend. “Thanks
for the update on what the board has been up to.”
“Any
time. They're a group of disgusting men that you should think about
getting rid of.”
“I'm thinking about it.” Sebastian said with a nod of his dark head. “I understand that you stood by my sister in all this. I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“None
necessary.” Simon told him briefly, looking a bit
uncomfortable. “I understand you're getting out of here on
Thursday?”
“Yeah.” Sebastian ran long fingers
through his thick black hair. “I can't wait. Mia's coming by to
bring me up to speed.”
“Oh? You
haven't seen her yet?”
“No,” Sebastian grey eyes
studied his friend’s face. “Why?”
“Nothing,”
he said hastily. “I would have thought that she would have been
the first person you would want to see.”
“Are you
saying that I'm all about business?” Sebastian demanded.
“Aren’t you?”
Sebastian laughed at
that. “I guess I am.”
“I saw two of the women
you were involved with camped out in one of the waiting rooms. Are
you going to see them?” Simon asked him.
“No.” He said decisively. “Get rid of them when you're leaving here.”
“How do you do
it?”
“Do what?”
“Deal with them so
casually.”
Sebastian gave him an impatient look. “It
was just sex for me, man. I never lied to them at all. It's not my
problem if they hoped for more.”
“True,” he stared at his friend for a moment and then went on to the business at hand.
*****
“Hey.” His deep voice had a calming effect on her.
“Gabriel.”
“It’s
all over the news. So he's awake.”
“He is.”
“You
don’t sound too thrilled, darling.”
“I'm still shell-shocked,” she told him lightly.
“Have you been
to see him yet?”
“This afternoon.”
“Are
you going to tell him that you turned down a perfectly amazing man
because you've been pining away for him?”
Mia laughed and felt the tension leaving her. “I most certainly will not tell him that.”
“I meant what I said, darling. If he fools around and doesn't realize what he has then I'm on the next plane, no questions asked. I'm not averse to being second best but only when it comes to you.”
“Thank you,” she said softly. “Even though I don't believe a word you said.”
“Ah darling, I meant every word. Good luck.”