The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (28 page)

Tonight was the first night she had even considered the latter. Down from a size fourteen to a size six, the girls at the gym applauded her graduation and loss of twenty-nine pounds. She was a real inspiration to all of them. Trainers who couldn’t find the time to speak to her three months ago were pushin’ up, and sweatin’ her for dates. She would smile cordially and then ask: “Where were you, sweetie, when 1 couldn’t bend over to tie my shoes? Lord knows, I needed someone then, sugar.”

She continued to wear her same baggy, loose-fitting garb she used to wear to hide her excess baggage. Now she wore it for another reason. William was adamant about her banking her bonus money as well as every penny in excess of her real need in case the bottom fell out. Tonight was special, though. After months of denial, painful exercises and sore muscles, she was going to do something for herself After work, she stopped by the mall, picked up a black evening gown with gold embroidery she only dreamed about getting into a couple of months ago, and a sexy pair of pair of black leather pumps. Then on a whim she stopped by Tres Chic to see if Kim could squeeze her in without an appointment. Her doo needed major work but if Kim could just.

Everything had gone as well as could be expected. When William’s eyes locked onto Melinda’s as she came sashaying, sultry like, through the door, Melinda knew all the aches and pains, giggles, snide remarks and cravings were well worth her efforts. It was at that very moment; Melinda came to the realization that if they survived the DEA ordeal, William would be hers to lose. But tonight, she was a winner.
Sylvia Stanton, eat your heart out,
she whispered to herself.

“A celebration is in order,” Melinda proposed. “After hearing your presentation today, Mr. Stanton, I would have to say a celebration is
definitely
in order. You were too smooth. You were even color coordinated. Right down to the socks. Sill must have come back home.”

William smiled. It was the first time he hadn’t winced and retreated into his little cocoon at the mention of her name.

“There’s a lot riding on this account,” he said. “Matter of fact, there’s a lot riding on all of theses accounts we pick up from here on out Gotta make sure I come correct. I met this little gay fella at this men’s store on Fifth Avenue and he put me down for an outfit a week and I bless him with an extra fifty under the table.”

“Thank goodness,” Melinda said, emitting a sigh of relief at William’s admission.

“I really thought Sill had come home,” Melinda repeated the statement so she could get a feel for his present sentiments since William seldom but ever mentioned her any more. It was almost as if Sylvia Stanton had never existed at all.

“Melinda!”

“Yes, William?”

“As good as you look tonight, baby, if I were married and I mean happily married, you’d sure as hell would make me consider leaving home. Damn, you look good!” Melinda blushed.

“Be careful, Mr. Stanton. Your comments are bordering on sexual harassment and you really don’t need any more legal headaches, now do you?”

William grinned.

“Anyway, we don’t have time for that now, William, although I can hardly believe I’m saying this but there are other issues that I think are far more important than my appearance.

You know I seriously believe that Terry Shannon is both honorable and very dedicated in his endeavors but if something should go wrong this whole damn thing’s gonna fall on you. I guess you’re aware of that and So I guess I’m not really telling you anything you don’t already know. And trust me I’m not trying to put any undue pressure on your shoulders but I think it best you concentrate on what’s going on so we can both keep our jobs and save our necks at the same time.”

“I suppose you’re right,” William said somewhat dejectedly. “But in all the time we’ve worked together I must admit I’ve never seen you so alive, so vibrant, so absolutely stunning as I have since we returned from Lagos. I don’t know if I was blind, so infatuated by Sill, so absorbed in trying to climb the corporate ladder and doing the Ol’ Man’s bidding that I didn’t take the time to notice but you are one attractive woman, Melinda. And I am certainly not trying to cross the line but I gotta admit I have become quite attracted to you.

I hope I’m not coming on to strong or too forceful but I don’t know what else to say. I’ve been harboring these feeling since Lagos when every one from the bellboy to the U.S. ambassador was trying to pick you up. I guess I felt a little tinge of jealousy.”

“You certainly have a strange way of showing it.” Melinda interrupted, smiling at this latest admission.

“Well, I still had hopes of working things out with Sill but it didn’t mean I didn’t notice. I thought I was going to die that last night in Lagos, when you came to the door in whatever that was you had on. My God! I’m gonna tell you the truth. That was the first time since Sill and I met some seven years ago that I really truly felt my marriage was in jeopardy. Thank God you didn’t let me in. That’s not to say that you would have necessary let me have my way but Lord knows I would have been compelled to at least try and seduce you. And that’s like I said, that’s at the very least. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. In fact, I ended up down in the lounge with your friend the bellhop, bartender waiter or whatever the hell he was. I never did figure that one out.

All he did was ask me questions about you. Were you married? Did you have a male friend? How did you like Lagos? You know questions of that nature. When he told me how fortunate I was to have a secretary and a friend as lovely as you are it was the first time I truly saw you from a man’s perspective. But at that moment I knew exactly what he was talking about. You certainly were something, quite special that night. And tonight you have surpassed that a thousand times over. So, Ms. Bailey, you’ll have to excuse me if I put Hill and Morris and Terry Shannon on the backburner and turn my undivided attention to you.”

“That’s very sweet, William,” Melinda replied but before she could finish he interrupted.

“The hell with being sweet, Melinda. Every Wednesday for the past month in a half, since this whole charade with Shannon started we’ve had dinner together like business partners. Which in itself is fine. It’s obvious we’re comfortable and enjoy each other’s company but Lord knows it’s becoming more and more difficult to sit across from you and keep things on a purely platonic basis. I guess what I’m trying to say is that not only am I attracted to you but I seriously believe that I am fallin’ in...”

Melinda interrupted this time.

“Don’t even say it, William. It’s not that I’m tryin’ to dispel what you’re sayin’ or make light of your feelings. I know with Sill leaving and all it must have been a pretty rough ordeal. But in all fairness to both of you, I think you need to give yourself a little more time.”

Melinda didn’t believe she was saying these things and she knew that if William demanded she be his at that very moment then all she was saying would be out the door but she was counting on his being his usual unassertive self. So she could play the whole scenario out. It was important that he was sure of his actions and that they weren’t merely a reaction to her being there in his time of need.

“You know a lot of times when someone is faced with the kind of adversity that you’ve faced in the last couple of months, William, with Sill leaving you and the trouble with DEA and all the uncertainty surrounding your future employment with Hill and Morris you might be at the most vulnerable point since I’ve met you. And my support may be being misconstrued at this point. I don’t want you to think that the world’s abandoned you and I am the only support, the only crutch you have because that’s not true. This is just a small segment in your life. It’s just a small segment of the greater whole, William and shortly, very shortly, I promise you that all this will be nothing but a bad memory and no more. Before the end of the year you won’t remember any of this. I promise you.”

“So what are you telling me, Melinda? What are you sayin’? Is this a polite way of tellin’ your boss that you’re not interested in the way he feels about you with an idea that if you make sure that your presentation, your brush off is politically correct then you can hold onto your job? Is that what this is, Melinda?”

“Not at all, William. If you were to ask me the same thing tomorrow or a week from now I might not utter a word and let you lead me wherever but that’s not how I’m feelin’ today? I’m not only tryin’ to look at the long haul but I’m doing my best to make a good decision so neither of us have any regrets in the long run,” Melinda said as she felt the moistness between her thighs.

William had no idea how badly she wanted him at that very moment. It had been weeks since she’d even considered relieving herself of any tension. Evenings in the gym had substituted nicely for her evening works at home but she was terribly, horny and feeling very sexy tonight. And after touching herself several times during the course of dinner she realized that it had been quite some time since she had even entertained the idea of sex let alone sexing herself.

Most of the time, she was too exhausted after her workouts to even think about anything besides a hot bath and her bed but with William sitting in front of her offering himself to her in that charcoal gray pinstriped suit looking better than a hot fudge sundae on a sweltering August afternoon she could do little about the way her body responded now and almost wished she had kept her mouth shut.

Yet, she knew that everything she was saying held an element of truth in it. Besides that, she knew she’d appeared anxious even if she hadn’t thought she appeared that way. He had alluded to the fact that he’d known her intentions far before she thought about letting the cat out of the bag. When he’d told her this some weeks ago she’d been thoroughly embarrassed. The last thing she ever wanted to do was tread on another woman’s turf but what was it he said about her snide remarks? Well, this was chance, her last chance to attempt a reprieve and whether she had to sit alone at home for one more night or not one thing was for sure. She would not submit to his or her desires tonight. And before he could answer or sway her decision she ignored his remarks and brought the conversation back to where they both felt most comfortable. Hill and Morris.

“So, Ol’ Man Morris has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow after the internet presentation. I have a few minor things to wrap up but after reading your presentation I see of no reason he shouldn’t be considering you for a promotion of some sort especially after the way you had those Apple representatives eating out of your hand. You were sensational to say the least. I was so proud of you. And from what I can see tomorrow’s presentation should be equally as good. After all you’ve already sold the Nigerians on the idea of the pc’s and Apple is selling so many units that they could care less about how little the markup is since they stand to make a fortune just in volume. And what’s a pc without access to the net so tomorrow should be a mere formality if you ask me.

But tell me something? Do you have any idea what Morris is calling a meeting about? Has he alluded to anything concerning the nature of this one? For him to have you flying up there and then for him to be flying back down here and requesting that all board members be present, I would have to believe that

it must be pretty important. Do you think he got wind of Shannon and might be thinking about bowing out? You know, retiring?”

William laughed, good naturedly.

“I’m aware of how you changed the subject from us to Hill and Morris. Don’t think I didn’t notice. But your transition left a lot to be desired. But trust me, I haven’t forgotten the topic and despite your misgivings I am quite aware of my feelings and the situation I find myself in. Not only that, I have never felt more in control and sure of myself than I do at this very moment. In addition, Ms. Bailey it has always been my motto that hard work and perseverance can overcome almost any obstacle and unless there is someone else in the picture I intend on pursuing your elusive ass until one you concede. What is it they say? Persistence overcomes resistance. Well, let me assure you of one thing. I plan on being quite persistent.”

“Shoot your best shot, Mr. Stanton,” Melinda said smiling “Every great work of art is not meant to be owned,” Melinda laughed.

William ignored her. She was playing hard to get and it only made him desire her that much more but pushing her at this time might not only alienate her but could ultimately cause him to lose his most essential asset. And after all, he was a businessman before all else and he could hardly afford to lose her at this juncture in time with all that he had going on. He needed her but more so he appreciated and valued her efficiency. In actuality, she was more of a partner than an assistant. How many times had she junked one of his hair-brained schemes replacing it with one of her own and how many times had he reaped the benefits of her good judgment. To be perfectly honest the whole idea for the Apple presentation had been hers and he was really counting on her with the whole DEA affair, which was also her brainchild.

It was funny but on the few times she’d been out sick or on vacation in their six or seven years they’d been together he’d had the occasion to use the various temp services during her absences and was always but always disappointed. Not once did he have a temp that came close to Melinda’s overall efficiency, let alone her attention to detail and penchant for punctuality.

Oh, there had been some beautiful girls. There had been the pretty redhead with the enormous boobs that she’d insisted on keeping in his face almost the entire week she was there. And he’d been mesmerized like some kid playing Simon Says. But after a couple of days he grew tired of fantasizing and her freakish offers for him to feel them and bury his head between them. And when it came down to typing and handling the essentials around the office the girl didn’t know the difference between a pencil sharpener and a paper shredder.

Of course, it took him several days to find this out since he had difficulty seeing past her chest and in the end it had been Sill who after joining him for lunch one day and cleaning up her mess fired her so that Melinda wouldn’t notice the utter disarray this chile had made and quit on her return. William watched contritely as the buxom redhead packed her belongings and headed for the lobby door, which Sill held open. The one’s that followed her were even less descript. And after awhile he stopped using the temp agencies altogether and simply waited for Melinda to return to work.