Unbuttoning the CEO (18 page)

“So I guess we’re done here?” she asked.

Ethan grimaced and shoved his fingers through his hair. “Yeah. I guess we are. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me. Take care.”

When the door clicked shut, Gracie dropped to the couch. She’d made the right choice. Still, she hadn’t expected it to hurt so much.

T
he next morning, Gracie strode into the office prepared to do battle. LTN would not close its doors on her watch. Not until she’d explored every avenue and harassed every potential donor into considering LTN’s cause.

Seconds after dropping into her chair and placing her purse in her desk drawer, her intercom buzzed. “Yes, Brenda?”

“Gracie, there’s a gentleman from Digitech Corporation on line one. Harry Seville. Says he’d like to speak to you about LTN. Are you available?”

Gracie stopped straightening the papers on her desk and stared at the phone. She’d sent Digitech information about LTN weeks ago, thanks to Ethan’s thorough list. “Sure, Brenda. I’ll take the call.”

When the line buzzed, Gracie snatched the phone from its cradle. “This is Graciela Ramirez.”

“Ms. Ramirez, this is Harry Seville. I tried to reach you last week, but I understand you were on vacation. In any event, thank you for sending me information about LTN. I’m impressed by the operation.”

Gracie’s heart hammered in her chest. “Thank you, Mr. Seville.”

“I must confess that while I’d intended to call you, I’d set your request at the end of the many requests we receive, particularly at year’s end. But Media Best’s former CEO convinced me to take a second look.”

Gracie’s head pounded. None of this made sense. Former CEO of Media Best? Surely, Mr. Seville was confused. “Did you say
former
CEO of Media Best?”

“Yes. Ethan Hill. He resigned last week. But before he did, he asked me to consider contributing to LTN’s coffers. He gave an impassioned speech on LTN’s behalf, explained that he’d seen the organization’s good work firsthand after being sentenced to perform community service there.”

“He told you all that?”

“He did. Anyway, I can’t promise that we’d be able to make a substantial donation this fiscal year, but I’d love to meet with you and discuss ways Digitech can help LTN.”

Gracie wanted to dance around her office. Instead, she simply replied, “Yes, yes. I’d love that, too. I have quite a few ideas about ways companies like yours could help, including a consortium of companies that would rotate financial contributions and volunteer services to LTN.”

“Well, anything that would help us share the load with other companies has my attention. I’ll have my assistant send you potential dates.”

Gracie nodded her head even though Mr. Seville couldn’t see her. “Sure, sure. I look forward to meeting with you soon. Thanks so much for the call.”

Two similar calls followed in quick succession. Both callers, executives at area tech companies, remarked that Ethan had praised LTN’s mission. Ethan had made those calls before he knew how she’d react to his explanation and apology. Gracie didn’t know what to make of that fact.

A quick tap at her door startled her out of her catatonic state. Jason, one of her favorite clients, stood outside the door shifting back and forth.

“Hi, Jason,” she said as she waved him inside. “Please sit.”

“Hi, Ms. Martinez. I, uh, I wanted to thank you, for LTN . . . and everything.”

“You’re welcome, Jason. But what’s this about? You sound like you’re saying good-bye.”

Jason pulled on the front of his jeans and shifted in his seat. “Well, I am. Sort of. I got a computer. It’s all state of the art and everything. Courtesy of Mr. Hill. Ethan, I mean. So I’m not going to need a computer here anymore. I’ll come to visit, but it won’t be for the computers.”

Gracie stared at him as she processed his words. “Mr. Hill gave you a computer?”

“His company did, yeah,” Jason said. Then he stared at her with a quizzical expression. “Is everything all right?”

“How did you know his name was Ethan?”

Jason’s shy smile transformed into a wide grin. “He told me. Said he didn’t want to make a big fuss about who he is. Now that he’s done, he said he wanted me to know.” Jason shook his head from side to side and slouched farther into the chair. “I was dealing with a baller, and I didn’t even know it.”

“Baller?” Gracie asked.

“Yeah, you know. A baller. Shot caller. Head honcho. Never treated me like I was beneath him. I thought that was cool. Anyway, he said he thinks I have promise and wanted to be sure I had a computer for school.”

“That was very nice of him.”

“Yeah. So I’ll see you around.” Jason rose from his chair.

“Wait a minute, Jason. You’re not getting off that easy.”

Jason sank into the chair again. “What is it?”

“Mr. Hill’s right that you have promise. I’d be a fool to let you walk out of here. Would you be interested in part-time work here?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been thinking about a formal after-school program where kids would be exposed to programming, to tie into STEM classes at school. We’d need help. Nothing fancy. The basics of programming. My plan is to convince area programmers to train our most promising high school students. Then you guys would teach the kids, mostly primary school students. Interested?”

“And I’d be paid?”

Gracie knew most teenagers listened more closely when money was involved. “It’s my hope that you’d be paid. And that the position might lead to an internship at a company in the area.”

“I’m in.”

“It’s not solid yet, but I’ll be in touch soon, okay?”

“Yeah. And thanks for everything.”

They stood at the same time and shook hands. “This isn’t good-bye,” Gracie told him.

He nodded and walked out. Gracie walked to her office window and stared at the rain pelting against the pane. In a matter of hours, the tenor of her day had changed dramatically. And she’d been bombarded with so much information she wasn’t sure she could process it.

What had prompted Ethan to resign from his position? Where was he now? In that moment, Jason’s announcement that Ethan had completed his service hours sank in. Maybe she’d never see him again. That is, unless she reached out to him.

She walked out of her office and approached Brenda. “Mr. Hill completed his service hours while I was gone?”

Brenda looked away from her computer screen. “Yes. Debra signed off on his hours. He worked like a man possessed. Was here almost as much as I was.”

Distracted by this information, Gracie trudged back to her desk. Of course, he deserved her gratitude. But did he deserve her forgiveness? Could she look past his deceit and accept his apology?

After searching for a contact number on her computer, Gracie dialed Media Best’s number and asked to speak with Mark Lansing.

“This is Mark.”

“Mr. Lansing, you might not remember me—”

“Graciela Ramirez, right?”

How odd that he remembered her and recalled the sound of her voice. “Yes, that’s right. I’m looking for Ethan. Do you know where I might find him?”

“Yeah. He went to visit his family in Pennsylvania. He’ll be back in the office on Wednesday.”

“Oh, I thought he resigned?”

“He did. From his position as CEO. He’s now head of software development. Plans to work in the office two days a week. Otherwise, he’ll be working from home. We couldn’t refuse him, and as the new CEO, I wasn’t prepared to let him go.”

“Congratulations,” Graciela said.

“I think the right phrase might be ‘good luck,’” Mark said. “I have incredibly competent shoes to fill.”

“Right. Good-bye.” Gracie placed the receiver back in its cradle.

She wouldn’t be able to talk to him for two days. Could she wait that long? She guessed she would have to, because what she wanted to say to him could only be said in person. For now, though, she had to prepare for her meeting with Belinda Cantrell of the Blakely Foundation, her only viable source for a quick and sizable influx of cash. If it went well, LTN would have enough funding for another fiscal year. If it didn’t go well, Gracie might soon be out of a job.

“Ms. Ramirez,” the receptionist said. “Ms. Cantrell will see you now.”

Gracie smoothed her skirt and gave herself a mental pep talk.
You can do this. Show her you believe in LTN’s mission. Show her you’re worthy of her confidence.
With a deep breath, Gracie followed the receptionist to Ms. Cantrell’s office.

Clad in a wool red suit, Ms. Cantrell sat at a large desk that dwarfed her diminutive figure. When Gracie strode across the large office, Belinda Cantrell smoothed her brilliant white hair, which surrounded her head like a cloud. Ms. Cantrell’s elegant appearance warred with the raspy voice Gracie had heard over the phone. “Ms. Ramirez, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person. Please sit.”

“The pleasure is mine, Ms. Cantrell,” Gracie said.

“I’d like to keep this brief. I’ve read the materials you sent. Tell me how the city’s residents benefit from LTN?”

Gracie swallowed and perched on her chair. “As I’m sure you’re aware, the Internet has revolutionized the way Americans conduct business. People apply for jobs online, people complete business transactions online, the Internet opens up a world of resources for research and learning. But what of residents who don’t have regular access to computers, poor students in particular? The continuing problem of the learning gap between such students and students with more resources is compounded by the Internet.”

Gracie ventured a glance at Ms. Cantrell. Was she even listening?

“Please continue, Ms. Ramirez.”

Gracie had done the best that she could. She hoped it was enough.

“Very impressive, Ms. Ramirez. Before we go any further, I wanted to ask you about your connection to Ethan Hill.”

Gracie’s heart pounded in her chest. “I’m sorry?”

“Ethan Hill. You know him, yes?”

“I do. But what does that have to do with LTN?”

“Well, as you might imagine, Ms. Ramirez, the Bentley Foundation would like to partner with organizations that are above reproach. Mr. Hill is a wild card, wouldn’t you say? ”

Gracie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Why was this woman asking about Ethan, and why did it matter? “Ms. Cantrell, Ethan Hill is no longer associated with LTN. But for the record, the man I know is honorable and nothing like the man the media portrayed him to be. He was the subject of bad press years ago. What he did then has no bearing on the man he is now.”

“That may be, but those are the kinds of questions the trustees will ask.”

“Why? Why would they care about Mr. Hill?”

“Because Mr. Hill took out an ad in today’s
Post
in which he encouraged his corporate colleagues to find ways to expand Internet access to the city’s lower-income residents. You haven’t seen it?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“He wrote that he’d spent time at LTN as a result of a community service sentence, which makes me think Mr. Hill hasn’t gotten his reckless ways out of his system.”

“He admitted
that
in the
Post
?”

Gracie didn’t know what to think. Ethan had disclosed to the city the very information the company’s board wanted to keep quiet. Why?

“Yes, he did. In any event, I need to know that Mr. Hill’s connection to LTN won’t be a distraction that will make others question the foundation’s decision to support your organization.”

Gracie clamped down on her bottom lip. The nerve of this woman. Who was she to treat Ethan like damaged goods? “Ms. Cantrell, forgive me for saying so, but Mr. Hill’s personal history is none of the foundation’s business. If Mr. Hill matters at all, the man he is today should dispense with any of your concerns.”

She’d find a way to save LTN, with or without the foundation’s help, and she wouldn’t turn her back on Ethan to do it. “Ms. Cantrell, if my connection to Mr. Hill is problematic, I’ll seek help elsewhere.” Gracie rose and straightened her suit jacket. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”

“Ms. Ramirez, relax. Let me finish, please.”

Against her better judgment, Gracie returned to her seat.

Ms. Cantrell’s face softened. “We have a friend in common.”

Gracie struggled to keep the surprise out of her voice. “We do?”

“Yes. Ethan Hill.”

Gracie peered at Ms. Cantrell, noticing only then the humor in the woman’s eyes. “How do you know Ethan?”

“We met a few years ago at a charity event. I took a liking to him instantly. Easy on the eyes, wouldn’t you say?”

It was official. Gracie had been transported to an alternate universe. “Yes.”

“I spoke with him this morning, after seeing today’s ad in the paper. I imagine Ethan expected I’d see it. He’s a methodical man, and I’m a nosy old coot. I asked him why he didn’t arrange for Media Best to make a donation. Can you guess what he said?”

Gracie shook her head in the negative.

Ms. Cantrell smiled. “He said you’d turn it down. And he said he wasn’t meant to be your knight in shining armor anyway.”

The ice around Gracie’s heart melted when she realized the implication of Ms. Cantrell’s words. He’d understood how important it was for her to rescue LTN on her own terms. Understood, too, that although she wouldn’t turn down a good word based on LTN’s merits, she didn’t want a handout, either, particularly given their previous sexual relationship. All those times they’d discussed her professional goals, he’d listened.

“For the record, your application for support was approved a week ago,
before I knew about your connection to Ethan.
Today’s interview was a formality,” Ms. Cantrell said. With a sheepish smile, she explained, “More than anything, I’m a sucker for a good love story.”

Gracie’s heart pounded. Love. That’s exactly what it was. Distilled to its essence, what Gracie felt for Ethan was love. And he loved her, too. The lengths to which he’d gone to help LTN at the expense of his privacy certainly showed that. Gracie stood, causing her purse to drop to the floor. “Thank you so much, but I have to go.” She rushed to pick up her purse and a few of its contents that had scattered on the floor.

“Yes, I imagine you have unfinished business with Mr. Hill.”

Gracie smiled as she rose, and then she shook Ms. Cantrell’s hand. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Before Gracie flew through the door, Ms. Cantrell stopped her. “Ms. Ramirez, one more thing.”