Margaret Allison: Mistletoe Maneuvers

Rick nodded. “For some time now. Of course, we’ve been hesitant to take our affair public, for obvious reasons.”

“And she got mad and fired you. Tsk, tsk, Rick. What did you do to deserve such treatment?”

“It was all a misunderstanding,” he said, giving Lessa a squeeze.

Sabrina’s lip curled up suspiciously, as if she didn’t believe him. “Very vindictive of you, Alessandra. Not to mention stupid. You should’ve been aware that firing him would make your company vulnerable.”

How dare she? “I was acting under-”

Rick gave her knee a light squeeze and she knew he was signaling her to be careful. “I wasn’t thinking very clearly at the time,” Lessa said, doing her best not to take Sabrina’s bait. “And it cost me dearly.” Very dearly, she felt like adding.

Sabrina said nothing; she merely glanced at Rick.

“She’s a very passionate woman,” he said with a shrug. “For better or worse.”

“And I remember how much you enjoy passion,” Sabrina said, giving him a little smile.

Lessa couldn’t stop herself from sending Rick a look of her own, an angry one.

“Oh dear, Rick,” Sabrina continued. “It looks like she’s not very happy with you. I certainly hope I didn’t cost you your job again.” Sabrina laughed. It was a cold, empty sound, just as haunting as Lessa remembered.

But the laugh was enough to remind her of her mission. Pretending to be Rick’s lover was bad enough. She would not play the weak and hurt mistress. “Oh, no,” Lessa said. “It’s just difficult for me to keep all of Rick’s old lovers straight. In fact, when I first heard about your takeover attempt, I assumed it was the move of a bitter ex-girlfriend. You know, retribution for his new romance.”

The smiled faded from Sabrina’s lips. “She’s very spirited, Rick. I can see why she caught your eye. Although she looks a little buttoned-up for you.”

Buttoned up? “I’m losing my patience,” Lessa said, standing. Rick took her arm and raised his eyebrow, motioning for her to sit. She knew that he was right. She had no choice but to continue.

When she was seated, Rick turned to Sabrina. “The bottom line is that the situation is not what you thought. I am not leaving Lawrence Enterprises.”

“You can’t defeat both of us,” Lessa added.

“So my purchasing stock was enough to heal a…” Sabrina glanced at Rick. “How did you describe it? A lovers’ quarrel? Perhaps you should be thanking me, Rick, for winning back your job.”

“Let’s face it, Sabrina, If not you, it would’ve been someone else.”

“If I remember correctly, there was someone else,” Sabrina snapped. “There were several in fact.”

Was she implying that he’d been unfaithful when they’d been seeing each other? Lessa wondered.

“Let’s hear your offer,” Sabrina said.

“We’re willing to buy back your stock at a decent premium,” Lessa explained as Rick opened his briefcase and handed Sabrina the contract.

After scanning the document, she put it on her desk. “Why should I agree to this when I could have all the properties?”

Rick leaned forward. “Because you’re never going to get all the properties.”

“I’m not so sure. You two seem to have a tumultuous relationship, to say the least. One that is not having positive repercussions on the company. Your stock has dropped rather dramatically.”

“Actually,” Lessa said, “when you look at our revenues in the context of the economy, we had an excellent year. And Rick has some properties due to open that should dramatically increase our value. But then again, you know our property is valuable, otherwise you wouldn’t want it so badly.”

Sabrina hesitated and glanced down at the contract. “I’ll need some time to discuss this with my advisers. Unfortunately, they’re out of the office right now, inspecting some properties. Perhaps, if you’re not in a rush, you could stay until dinner. They’ll be back by then and we can all discuss this further.”

Lessa felt her heart stop. As excited as she was to think that perhaps Sabrina would abort the takeover, she couldn’t bear the thought of carrying on this charade any longer than necessary.

“We would be happy to,” Rick said, glancing at Lessa. The look in his eyes was clear. Don’t blow this.

“It’s settled,” Sabrina said. “We have a couple of hours to play before we return to business. I’ll have my secretary show you to your room. Why don’t you change into your suits and meet me at the boat docks? I know how Rick loves to water-ski.”

Water-ski? “Unfortunately,” Lessa said quickly, “we didn’t bring suits.”

“I’ll have some sent to your room.”

Her heart jumped into her throat. Room? As in one room, not two? “It’s not necessary,” she said quickly. “We’ll just pick some up at the gift shop.”

“The gift shop is closed temporarily. Renovations,” Sabrina said with a shrug.

“Well then, thank you,” Lessa managed to say.

Rick took her arm and they followed the secretary, Christa, outside and down a palm-shrouded walkway. Beyond the walkway was a white sandy beach framed by the Caribbean. Christa stopped at a bungalow just feet away from the crystal-blue water. Their quarters were isolated from the rest, a special little love nest next to the sea.

Christa slid a card through a lock and opened the door. “Enjoy,” she said cheerfully, handing Rick the card.

It was an opulent and meticulously appointed suite, with French doors that were open to the sea. A bottle of champagne sat chilled in an ice bucket, while two plush robes lay across a bed.

Lessa shut the doors and turned to face him. Her eyes were cold, her face set in a frown. “I thought you didn’t like games.”

“If you have a problem, Lessa, I suggest you tell me about it. I don’t like dissent in the office.”

“You know Sabrina Vickers?”

“I knew her,” he said.

“Why didn’t you tell me she was your girlfriend?” she asked. The accusations once again filled her head. Was he working with Sabrina? Was this all a joke? Had he arranged this just to get his job back? Was this just a ploy to get her stock?

“She was never a girlfriend.”

“If she wasn’t your girlfriend, then why did she insinuate that you cheated on her?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“It most certainly is my business. Your girlfriend is threatening to take over my company and-”

“Your company?”

This conversation was going nowhere fast. He should at least be able to admit that he had made a mistake. “You should’ve told me this before.”

“Would it have made any difference? I would think if anything, it would’ve made you more eager to retain my services. After all, I have firsthand knowledge of how to handle her.”

The look in his eyes was of a confident victor. She had been deceived and he was enjoying every moment.

“Look,” he said, his tone softening, “my relationship with Sabrina was casual. It lasted for a couple of days in Acapulco and then we got together a couple of times when she was in New York for business. Like I said, I haven’t seen or spoken with her in years. But I do know that she is one of the toughest and smartest women I have ever met.”

Lessa felt a tingle of…what? Jealousy? Why would she care if he thought that bubble-headed blonde with the beautiful lingerie and sexy laugh was intelligent? “You and I both know that I would not have asked you back if she wasn’t threatening a takeover,” Lessa said. “Do you expect me to believe that this is some sort of coincidence?”

“You’re welcome to believe whatever you want. I would suggest, however, that you at least listen to the truth.”