Scrambled Babies (14 page)

Olivier stood there, his mouth open, his congratulatory hand outstretched.  Steve could tell what Ollie was thinking from his expression—he was about to congratulate a man and give him five million dollars, and the guy couldn’t wait five minutes to return a phone call.  Steve would make it up to him later.  He knew the nine-one-one meant something about Paeton McPhilomy and Ryan.

Ollie didn’t move.  It was
his
office after all!

Steve started dialing.  He swung his head toward the door.  “Ollie? Five minutes.  Okay?  This is important.”  Ollie, obviously offended by being asked to leave his office, finally moved from behind the desk.  “Thanks, Ollie.  A few minutes.  I promise.”  The door closed and Steve was alone.

A giddiness surfaced.  As the phone rang in New York, he hoped he would sound appealing to the amazing Paeton McPhilomy.

#

Paeton lurched into Steve Kaselman’s office on tired legs, Madison in one hand and the travelseat in the other.  Because of the attention she had attracted on the plane, she was wearing dark sunglasses to avoid recognition in the streets and possibly by Kaselman’s secretary.

The woman at the desk looked up and greeted Paeton.  “I’m Sophia, Mr. Kaselman’s administrative assistant.  May I help you?”

Paeton understood this was the same person she had spoken to the previous night.  “Uh, yes.  Yes.  I’m, uh, here to see Mr. Kaselman.  Is he in?”

“No, ma’am.  Did you have an appointment?”

Paeton watched Sophia inspect the baby.  She saw her eyes grow extremely wide.  Had Kaselman told his secretary after all?  “Uh, no.”

“He’s in Los Angeles, uh, Ms.—?”

“Los Angeles?”  Paeton felt her head go light.  “That’s, uh, Jones.  Ms. Samantha Jones,” Paeton lied. 

Now Kelsey was in California—where Paeton had just come from!  If it weren’t happening to her, this situation might be grade B comedy!  “Is there any way I can reach him?  It’s extremely urgent that I reach him.”  She released Madison’s hand and grabbed the desk for support.

“Well, I can see why, since you have Ryan.  How come you have Ryan?”

Paeton’s heart seemed to stop.  The woman knew!  Kaselman had told her!  Dazed, Paeton answered haltingly, “Excuse me?”

“Well, that baby you have is Mr. Kaselman’s boy or his twin.  That’s for sure.”

Paeton stiffened, at first tongue-tied.  Then she rallied.  “Sophia, I think it’s interesting that our babies look so much alike.  But my immediate need is to talk to Mr. Kaselman.  Is there a way you can help me do that?”  Paeton fought to stay on center.

“So that’s your child?”  Sophia wouldn’t give it up.

Paeton feigned confusion.  “Of course it’s my child!  I don’t even know Steve Kaselman.  I mean, I, uh, met him, er, bumped into him at the airport.  But—”

She stopped short.  She decided to see how much Sophia knew.  After all, Paeton had told Fred.  She looked down at the baby.  “So you’re telling me his baby looks like my baby?”

“Exactly!  I mean—egg-zac-lee!”  Then Sophia’s eyes narrowed.  “Hey, are you and the boss playing a joke on me?  Because if you are, I don’t think it’s funny!”

So it appeared Sophia didn’t really know anything.  Still, Paeton decided to remain cautious.  She had to talk to Kaselman.  “No, Sophia.  No joke.  As I said, I do find it fascinating that our children look similar, but the most important thing I have to do right now is talk to your boss.  Please?”

Paeton couldn’t hold herself up any longer.”Oh!”  Her knees gave way, and she collapsed backward, almost not making it into the chair in front of the desk.

“Mommy!”  Madison ran over to her. 

“You okay?”  Sophia got up and hurried around the desk to see if Paeton was all right.  “Tell you what.  Why don’t I page him?”  Apparently, Paeton had been convincing about how urgent it was to reach the boss.

Paeton reached out and grabbed Sophia by the wrist.  “Oh, thank you, Sophia.  Thank you.  You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.  It’s just that every woman who comes in here has an urgent need to reach Mr. Kaselman right away.  He’s very popular with the women, you know.”

I’ll bet he is!
  “But this really is.  Urgent, I mean.  Extremely urgent.  Believe me, I have no romantic designs on Mr. Kaselman.  As I said, I have never formally met the man.  I really need to talk to him.  Really, really need to talk to him.” 

“Okay, I’ll page him right away.”  Sophia picked up the phone and dialed.

“Does he always have his pager on?” Paeton asked, trying to keep desperation out of her voice.

“Yes, ma’am, always.  Problem is he doesn’t always answer it.”

“Oh, god!” 

Sophia jumped to the rescue.  “But when it’s really urgent, I put a nine-one-one at the end of the message.  He pretty much calls right back to a nine-one-one.”  She punched in the number and replaced the phone in the cradle.

Call back, Kaselman!  Call back!
  “Thank you.  I’m glad you believe me that it’s urgent.”

“Oh, yes, ma’am, I believe you.  You seem pretty upset.  Don’t worry.  He’ll call right back.”  She shuffled some papers for a minute.  Then she looked up.  “Could I ask you something, Ms., uh, Jones?”

Oh, oh!  Here it comes!
  “Of course.  I hate to be so mysterious.  There’s no real danger or anything.  I have a special—”

Sophia’s words spilled out.  “What’s your favorite candy bar?”

Paeton’s pulse went charging off the charts.
 She does know!  He told her!  I’m—we’re—dead!
  Paeton knew she had no color in her face, but she answered with as much nonchalance as she could muster.  First, she forced a what-a-stupid-question laugh.  Then she said, “Well, first, I don’t really eat candy bars.  Second, why do you ask such a strange question?”

Sophia showed some embarrassment.  “Oh, uh, I always ask everyone that question.  I’m taking, uh, a sports-psych course, and I—”

Ring! 

Paeton felt as if she’d been shot! 
Oh my god, it’s him!

“Steve Kaselman’s office.  This is—oh, hi, boss.  Yeah, there’s somebody here who wants to—okay, okay.  You don’t have to—yes, even though she won’t admit it,” and Sophia gave Paeton a knowing look, “I think she probably is the Baby Ruth lady.” 

Paeton tried not to blush.

“What?”  Sophia lowered the phone and courteously addressed Paeton.  “I’m sorry, maybe you say you don’t eat candy bars, but I still think you’re the one who called me and said your favorite candy bar was Baby Ruth.  Anyway, Mr. Kaselman says to please take the call in his private office.”  She was pouting.  “I guess I’m not allowed to find out what all this mystery is about.  Apparently I certainly can’t be trusted.”  Sophia was obviously hurt and angry. 

Paeton leaped out of the chair, hurrying to the door of Steve’s private office, the baby at her side.  “Come on, Maddy.”  She didn’t have time for Sophia’s hurt feelings.

Sophia called after her as the door closed.  “For heaven’s sake, the children are safe with me, Ms. Jones.”

“That’s okay, thank you.”  Paeton knew she couldn’t risk a charitable act of diaper-changing from Sophia.  She scooped up the phone, punching the lighted line.

I finally get to talk to the famous Steve Kaselman.
  The prospect of the long-anticipated conversation caused a pounding so loud in her ears she hoped she could hear him.

Chapter 6

Steve could hear Paeton’s anxious breathing.  He could also discern that nosy Sophia had punched in as well.  “She’s got it, Sophia.  You can hang up now, thank you.”  Steve heard a sigh and familiar click as Sophia left them.  “Hello?  Paeton McPhilomy?”  He loved the fact that he had discovered who she was.

Paeton was stunned.  “My god!  You know my name?  How did you find out—?”

“I saw your picture on the back of one of your novels.”

Now she sounded bewildered.  “You read romance novels?”

“No.  I, uh, let’s just say I know who you are.”  Steve tilted back in Ollie’s plush chair.  “Finally!  Thank god!”  He laughed in relief.

“This is far from humorous, Mr. Kaselman.”  No, she definitely was not amused. 

“Are you kidding?  You think I think this is funny?  I laughed because I’m so relieved to finally talk to you.  I laugh a lot.  Okay?”

“Okay.   Sorry.  I guess we’re both wound up to the breaking point.”

“You’ve got that right.”  Then Steve realized he was pissed.  “Christ, I left you a message at your hotel early this morning.  It took you long enough to call.  And, by the way, what the hell are you doing in my office?”

“What message?  How did you even know I was staying at that hotel?  Don’t swear at me.  And what in the world made you go to Los Angeles?”

“I didn’t know you were staying at this hotel.  I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask if you were staying here when I arrived this morning.  Then I left a message at your room to call me.  And I’m not swearing at you.”