Radclyffe - The_Color_of_Love_-_Radclyffe

“Absolutely nothing,” Emily said instantly. Whatever had gone so terribly wrong between her and Derian was entirely between them. “Derian was a tremendous help and the entire staff is appreciative.”

“I see,” Henrietta said, looking as if she really did see but was kind enough not to probe any further. “I want you to take a few weeks off. Go home, see your sister.”

“I can’t go now,” Emily said. “You’re not coming back to work—”

“I can handle from home whatever Vonnie and Ron can’t deal with, until you get back.” Henrietta looked at her watch. “Now that’s settled, you have a meeting with Audrey Ames in the conference room in five minutes.”

“I do?”

“She’s taking over the matter of getting your immigration status straightened out. After you meet with her, go. You shouldn’t have any trouble with reentry now.”

Emily’s heart stuttered. Of course. If her work visa was not renewed, she couldn’t leave the US. She knew of plenty of people who lived and worked in the US for years without a proper visa, but they couldn’t leave to see family overseas, not if they wanted to come back.

“All right, yes. Thank you.” Emily rose, suddenly so tired. “You’ll go home too?”

“I will. And, Emily? It’s going to be all right.”

Emily didn’t see how, as she went off to meet with Derian’s best friend.

Chapter Twenty-eight

“Morning,” Emily said as she walked into the conference room where Aud waited with a laptop open before her and a yellow legal pad by her right hand. Aud’s navy suit jacket with matching trousers and an open-collared pale blue striped shirt looked more stylish than standard business garb on her willowy frame.

“Hi.” Aud smiled, looking tired beneath her flawless, understated makeup. “Sorry I didn’t get this scheduled with you ahead of time. Henrietta called and issued a priority edict.”

“That’s fine.” Emily settled across from her. “Henrietta took us all by surprise today.”

“At least she’s feeling better.” Aud leaned back. “So—today is just a review so I can be sure you understand the protocols and what we’ll be doing to get you squared away.”

“I thought—sorry, I’m not sure of the etiquette here, but I didn’t think you were part of the agency’s legal team.”

“Technically,” Aud said, not appearing put out by the question, “Winfield Enterprises’ legal department represents all the divisions. The agency usually works with just one or two of us, but Henrietta requested me. Are you okay with that?”

“Of course.”

Aud gave her a long look. “Actually, Henrietta intimated Derian was behind it.”

Emily’s face grew hot. So much for keeping her relationship with Derian private. All she had to do was hear her name and she telegraphed exactly how she felt about her. “Ah, that’s kind of her.”

Aud laughed. “Derian is many wonderful and infuriating things, including kind, but I don’t think that’s what motivated her this time. She knew I’d give this more than just the normal business-as-usual attention.”

“Personal attention.”

“Yes.”

Emily studied the beautiful, sophisticated woman. She seemed exactly the kind of woman Derian would choose for a friend, or a lover. Had Derian discussed their relationship? And if she had, what did it matter. “I appreciate that.”

“We’re friends, Derian and I,” Aud said quietly, as if answering some unspoken question.

“But you’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Emily asked, much preferring straightforward conversations to roundabout word games. And being on a level field with Aud, if all that meant was being honest, seemed important now that they were to have more than a passing acquaintance. Derian was part of their lives—even if Derian was part of her past now. The feelings remained, and she didn’t want to hide them.

Aud gave a short, hard laugh. “My whole life.”

“Does she know that?”

“Oh, I’m sure she does. And she loves me, in her way. In the only way she can.” Aud shrugged, her expression amused and a little sad. “We can’t help who we love, or who we don’t. Derian isn’t in love…with me.”

“I’m sorry, it’s none of my business.”

“Isn’t it?” Aud said lightly.

“No. Especially now, but really not ever. Derian’s relationships are not my concern.”

“Really? If she was my lover, I’d put a big sign around her neck—no trespassing.”

Emily laughed and shook her head. “She’s not my lover.”

“Maybe, maybe not. But she wants to be sure you’re here when she gets back.”

Emily ignored the quick fluttering of her heart. Aud didn’t know that. Neither did she, and she couldn’t let herself get drawn into false hope. She’d had years of wishing reality could be changed and wouldn’t be crippled by futile longings again. “I’m glad you’re handling this.”

Aud leaned forward, pulling the laptop into range. “All right then. Let’s see about getting your immigration situation straightened out.”

Emily listened, provided what information she could, and tried not to panic. Aud knew what she was doing—everything would work out. It had to.

“That’s it for now,” Aud said after half an hour. “I’ll be in touch as soon as we start filing the preliminary forms. I’ll push it as fast as I can.”

“Thanks.”

“I can’t promise we’ll get this sorted out anytime soon. Immigration laws are changing just about every minute, and with the way things are in Washington—everywhere across the country, really—regulations are getting tighter. Added to that we’ve got three federal agencies involved—Customs, Homeland, and Labor—and none of them speak the same language or to each other. But since you’re already here and established, and paying taxes…” Aud smiled. “That always helps. I’m hopeful this will be taken care of before it becomes a serious issue.”

“You mean before I have to leave.”

Aud nodded. “Perhaps you should reconsider Derian’s offer. That’s a surefire way to cut through all the red tape.”

Emily snorted. “She told you about that, did she? Her plan for me to be a mail-order bride?”

“She mentioned it, and I might’ve suggested it was a crazy idea at the time. But it’s not illegal, especially since the two of you do have a relationship. You’d hardly be a mail-order bride.”

“It’s a ridiculous idea. I wouldn’t chain her to a meaningless relationship.”

“And what about yourself?”

Emily stared at the lines of script on the yellow notepad. She couldn’t even pretend Derian didn’t matter.

“No, I didn’t think it would be meaningless.” Aud rose and efficiently gathered up her notes. “I’ll do my best to see that you stay.”

Emily stayed behind, waiting for the rapid-fire events of the morning to settle. Henrietta was right, as usual. She needed to get away for a little while, and now was the perfect time for her long-delayed visit with Pam. Maybe when she wasn’t coming to the agency every day, she wouldn’t be reminded Derian wasn’t there any longer. Mentally she laughed at her own self-delusion. Nothing would make her stop thinking of Derian. Was Aud right—had Derian reached out from afar to make sure someone who really cared would help her now? Derian had tried to help her too, and even though her solution wasn’t something Emily could live with, she at least ought to thank her. She owed her that.

*

Derian collected her winnings and wended her way through the gaming tables to the bar for a drink before heading back to her hotel. At three in the morning, most everyone was at the tables, and the bar was almost empty except for a brunette in a red sheath dress at one end and two men at the other. Derian slid onto a stool halfway down the bar and nodded to the bartender in a crisp white shirt and black bow tie. “Macallan, neat.”