Margaret Allison - Mistletoe Maneuvers

© 2005

It was nearly midnight, two weeks before Christmas, and for the first time in months they were alone. As if anticipating what was to come, Rick grinned, silently daring her. Tall and ruggedly handsome, with thick black hair and piercing blue eyes, Rick Parker was the type of man who was accustomed to getting what he wanted. A modern-day pirate, he traveled the world collecting beat-up hotels, jewels in the rough, turning them into luxurious resorts.

It was now or never. Lessa took a breath of courage, determined to say the three words she had wanted to say for years. She was so close she could smell his expensive aftershave, so close she could smell the minty freshness of his breath.

“You’re fired, Rick.”

The muscles in his jaw tightened and his eyes darkened as the impact of her words sank in. “I’m not going to let you take this company away from me,” he said.

A flicker of apprehension coursed through her. After all, this was the man who had orchestrated a corporate mutiny, betraying his own mentor. Since then his domineering style of management had turned Lawrence Enterprises into a behemoth of a company, earning its fearless leader his pirate nickname along the way. What, she couldn’t help but wonder, would he do to her?

But if he thought a threat would help save his job, he was wrong. She had promised her father on his deathbed that she would get revenge on the man who had stolen his company. That she would one day fire Rick Parker.

Since she had returned to the business six months ago, Rick had only added to her determination. He had done his best to thwart her path, treating her more like an annoying schoolgirl than an accomplished businesswoman. He fought her on every aspect of her agenda, from the color of the new logo to the direction of the company. It was as if he still considered her the same girl who had suffered a crush on him so fierce that a mere glance in her direction could cause her heart to soar. He should’ve realized he had lost his power over her long ago. He couldn’t make her walk the plank any more than he could swindle her out of the company. “There’s nothing you can do,” she said. “I am chairman of the board.”

“A situation that has everything to do with stock and nothing to do with expertise.”

“My father had always intended for me to run this company. I’ve worked long and hard for this moment, Rick. I own a majority and I’m qualified. I’ve paid my dues.”

“Your father may have started this company but I am the one who made it what it is. This company needs me.”

“No, Mr. Parker. This company does not need you. Neither do I.”

He leaned backward, crossing his arms. “The board is in agreement?”

In fact, she had had to struggle for the board’s approval to fire Rick. Ultimately, they had had no choice but to agree with her. After all, as Rick had just said, she owned two thirds of the stock. “Yes,” she said.

There was no mistaking the glimmer of anger in his eyes. He stood up and turned his back on her as he walked to the window. From their vantage point on the top floor of a New York City high-rise, he had a bird’s-eye view of the twinkling city, lit up for the impending holiday.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Alessandra,” he said, referring to her by her full name, which was seldom used.

“Hurt me?” If she wasn’t mistaken, she was the one who had fired him.

“I guarantee you, if you go through with this, you’ll regret it.” He turned around to face her.

“I don’t think so,” she said. Who did he think he was anyway? She stood up and straightened her suit jacket. “I’ve read your contract. You have a noncompete clause. Due to your work and contributions to this company, I will grant you some of the dignity you did not extend to my father. You have until the end of the day tomorrow to clear out your office.”

“So this is your revenge, is it?” he asked. “You should know I didn’t have anything to do with the way your father was fired.”

“You may not have pulled the trigger but you were the one who loaded the gun.” Bravo. That was a line she had worked on, one she never actually thought she would say. She gave him a quick, curt nod. “Goodbye, Rick.”

She could almost feel his eyes watching her as she walked out of his office. She shut the door behind her and let out a sigh of relief as she leaned up against it. She had done it. She had fired Rick Parker and lived to talk about it. She had expected a bloody uprising, a long and drawn-out war. But in one anticlimactic moment, it was over. All of her years of study and work had paid off. Rick Parker would not be a part of her life or her father’s company anymore.

Rick’s secretary stepped off the elevator and smiled at Lessa. Betty had worked at Lawrence for years and had been Rick’s secretary ever since he had arrived. “Hello, Lessa,” she said cheerfully.

Lessa felt a pang of guilt. Unlike her boss, Betty was kind and good-hearted. For some reason that Lessa couldn’t fathom, she was also devoted to her boss. She knew Betty would be upset to hear that her longtime boss would not be working there anymore.

“What are you doing here so late?” Lessa asked.

“Rick had some research he wanted ASAP,” Betty said, rolling her eyes. “Some people have no respect for the Christmas season. I’ve only got half of my shopping done. Have you started yet?”

Lessa was finished with her Christmas shopping only because there was just one person on her list-Gran. Almost eighty years old, Gran was her great-aunt, her only living relative and her best friend. Lessa had always been close to her aunt and had grown even closer after her father had died. Gran had been awarded custody and Lessa had moved into her small condo in a Florida retirement community. Years later, when her aunt sustained an injury, Lessa had repaid the favor, moving Gran into her New York apartment so that she could care for her. Although her aunt was healed and could have moved back into her old condo, Gran had made it clear that she liked staying with Lessa. And Lessa preferred it that way, too. After years of living by herself, it was nice to have some company. “I’m done with my shopping,” Lessa said.

“Oh, lucky girl. How do you have time? You’re here around the clock.”

“The Internet.”

“Ah. I still like to shop the old-fashioned way. I love being in stores during Christmas. There’s an excitement in the air, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” Lessa said, suddenly realizing that she was still leaning up against Rick’s door as if blocking Betty’s path. She stepped away from the door and took Betty’s hand. “I just want you to know that regardless of what happens to Rick, you have nothing to worry about.” She would take care of Rick’s secretary. The only person she planned on getting rid of was Rick. Leaving a confused Betty, she hurried to the elevator, stepping inside just as Betty opened her boss’s door.

As the elevator doors closed, Lessa caught a glimpse of Rick. He was staring straight at her, and the look in his eyes gave her pause. It was not the look of a man who had just lost his job. It was a look of pity. Of regret.

But why would he feel sorry for her?

“That was odd,” Betty said as she walked into the room. “I wonder what she meant by that.”

Rick glanced at the stack of documents in her hand. “Is that my research?”