Billionaire’s Missing Baby Page 22
“Glad you won’t have to deal with waitressing very much longer huh? But, hey, Maya, I think I should probably go. I’m still on the clock, myself.”
“All right. Have fun at work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Love you. Be safe on the way to work and back.”
“Always am. Love you, too, Dana.”
She hung up. The ring was still catching sunbeams and gleaming them off into the corners of her easel, and Dana smiled as she flipped through her phone for Pandora. Her headphones came out of her purse, and she plugged them in. Her drawing playlist came up a moment later, and Dana set her mind to working, trying to let the ideas flow through her pencil like they always did.
She was having a hell of a time focusing today, though. The sketch she’d started was turning out strangely. Usually, she drew political cartoons and illustrations, but this one was becoming cheesy. She’d ended up drawing a pair of flirting cartoon rabbits in front of an enormous heart. They looked a lot like Thumper and Miss Bunny from Bambi.
“Aww, that is so cute!”
Dana nearly jumped out of her skin. Lacey was leaning over her low cubicle wall, admiring the bunny drawing. “What’s it for?”
“I was going to show it to Newman and see if he wanted to use it for anything,” Dana admitted. “I just sort of started sketching it, and ended up with this. Before I do fine lines or color or anything, I should really find out if he can use it for anything—”
“Oh my God, Dana,” Lacey gasped. She’d caught sight of the ring glittering on Dana’s left hand. “Who gave you that? I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone!”
Startled, Dana sat there with her mouth hanging open. She was at a loss. Surely at some point she must have realized she would have to tell her co-workers something, but she had just kept forgetting to actually come up with a story. Should she tell her about Andrew? Her heart flopped at the idea of admitting a billionaire had given her an engagement ring.
“It’s sort of a secret,” she told Lacey. It was the truth – it was a secret from her parents, it was a secret from Marcel and Westcorp. Why not a secret from the girls at the office, too?
Lacey’s blue eyes widened and she leaned closer. “I love secrets.”
Dana laughed. “No, you love gossip! I’ll tell you all about it in a couple weeks. I really can’t tell you until then, though.”
The disappointment on Lacey’s face was almost palpable. She looked like she’d been denied a real treat. All in all, she took on the demeanor of a particularly sad puppy. Dana was unmoved, she leveled a stern, joking glare at Lacey.
“Now, you know office gossip is frowned upon in our workplace.” She spoke in the grave tones of their boss, Newman, who couldn’t stand the chitter of water-cooler conversation. Lacey couldn’t help it. Her pout melted into a laugh.
“Fine! But I’ll remember to ask you about it later. You can’t keep a rock that size a secret for long, Dana!” She waved and headed back to her cubicle, giving the kissing bunny rabbits a meaningful look.
Dana looked down at them, herself. She didn’t usually draw this sort of thing. But she had to admit, cuddly, kissing bunnies and pounding hearts were sort of on her mind today, and she wished she could say for certain that it had nothing to do with the emerald dancing in the sunlight.
It was only ten o’clock, and so far she hadn’t managed to do anything actually useful since she arrived in the office. Dana set aside the bunny picture for the moment. She still wanted to run it past her boss later, but for now, she had real work to do.
If only she could clear Andrew Poole out of her mind long enough to do it.
Chapter 10
“No, really, it’s great to see a young guy like you interested in community work like this.” Louis Marcel spun his pen between his fingers, running quick eyes over the notes he’d jotted during Andrew’s community center presentation. He picked here and there, crossing out a line, making a correction there. He looked up with a smile. “I mean, good will towards out fellow man is more common in the younger crowd, but from Fortune 500 companies, the young ones are usually too busy running mail and making appointments to worry about furthering humanity.” He chuckled apologetically.
Andrew wasn’t sure just how young Marcel took him for. He hadn’t given his age (which was a solid twenty-eight) but he had the impression that Westcorp’s representative had a different idea. Andrew glanced at Nick, who was recording the meeting, while Marcel was looking at his notes. Nick shrugged and went back to typing.
Louis Marcel was definitely not much older than Andrew himself. His short brown hair was styled impeccably, and his sharp goatee was trim and expertly shaped. He had an active face—his eyes rarely stayed still, and were and intense shade of honey-brown—but it was a pleasant one. A reliable face, Andrew thought to himself. A face that could be depended upon to see a deal through once hands were shaken.
At least, he sure hoped so. Andrew was only engaged for a couple weeks.
At the thought, Andrew’s eyes caught the gold glint of a wedding band on Marcel’s left hand. Sure as anything, that was the first thing Andrew noticed when he met Marcel, before the sharp facial grooming or the detail-picking eyes. It wasn’t as if Andrew had thought that Marcel might be hypocritical about the values of his company. He’d just wanted to see for himself, get a feel for Marcel’s dedication to the cause.
And judging from the way Louis’ eyes darted to and from Andrew’s empty ring finger, it was a safe bet to say that Sue Niemens had been right on target.
It would have been foolish, a flat-out fit of jumping the gun and showing his full hand of cards to come out right then and there and tell Marcel his story about Dana. For one, how suspicious would it look to burst out of the gate making excuses about his personal life? Marcel might have turned around and walked right out, or stayed for the full show just to see how much of an idiot Andrew could make of himself. Beyond that, how would Andrew explain his knowledge of their company practices? Oh, my spy Niemens has been keeping tabs on you and Westcorp… sounded perfect.
So Andrew had almost literally bit his tongue and smiled and made introductions as if nothing were amiss. He’d never felt so anxious. Marcel had been listening ardently during the presentation, asking rapt questions. He was either genuinely interested or faking it like a pro. If not for that little slip of the eye at their meeting, Andrew could almost convince himself that Niemens really had been wrong, and that Marcel would take Andrew’s deal at face value, without the silly need to pry into the personal choices of the presenter. And yet…
And yet Andrew waited for the right time… the right time to launch into his secondary presentation.
“This is actually fantastic timing, Mr. Poole.”
“Call me Andrew.”
“Andrew.” Louis grinned, looking up from his notes. Most reps came with an assistant. Some arrived with two. Marcel showed up alone, and took his own notes. Andrew had to admit, he gave out extra points for that. “Westcorp has actually been fishing about for a project just like this. We’ve expanded recently—as you noted in your presentation—” Good memory, Andrew thought, “and our portfolio lacks a long-term commitment to the New York area community. We have a few smaller charities—you know, food bank, clothes drives, the Christmas events, all that. But we’ve been in the market for something just like this.”
Was that the sound of the heavens opening? Andrew was almost afraid to breathe. If he exhaled too heavily, he might scare Marcel away, like a wild deer or a dream. “Really? What a coincidence. Looks like fine timing.” He managed to arrange all the words in the correct order and speak them in a passably calm, cool voice. He thought he saw Nick smirk out of the corner of his eye, but Andrew didn’t dare try to look.
“I’ll say,” Marcel set his notes down and folded his hands. “So you’ve got it all laid out, funds, portions, land, the money is accounted for down to the last penny and you’re dates are all scheduled. All you need is my signature.”
Marcel chuckled. “All right, just call me Louis. How much time did you put into this, Andrew? It looks like the work of a year and a half—I’m impressed.”
This was it. Whether on purpose or accident, Marcel had offered a prime opening, and Andrew leapt through it like a hoop at a circus. “Well, I’ll confess, I’ve put a good chunk of my immortal soul into this project. My fiancée has been getting a little jealous. I’ve promised her a honeymoon in Italy for all the nights I’ve spent sleeping on my desk.”
“Ah, a fiancée?” Marcel perked at the mention, and his smile widened. So it was true then… “I guess congratulations are in order. When’s the day?”
Andrew felt for a moment like the floor had opened up beneath him. Of all the details he’d made up to tell Marcel, he’d never decided on a date?!
“He’s scheduled to take three weeks off for it, the month after next,” Nick spoke up promptly. “They’ll be driving out to the bride’s family home. Married at a local historic chapel.. I’ve been told to arrange a small wedding, and let me tell you, the guest list is more exclusive than a Kardashian New Year’s Eve party.”
Marcel laughed. “I guess I’m out, then! A fall wedding. My anniversary was last month, and I’ll tell you, you won’t regret it. Marriage has made me complete.”
Andrew reminded himself to breathe, and agreed politely as Marcel sifted through his papers. He glanced over at Nick, who met his glance and winked. How long since Nick had gotten a pay raise? It looked like the time was right to give him another one.
“Yes, we’ll be in Michigan for the wedding. That’s where Dana’s parents live. That’s her name—Dana.”
“Michigan? Great fishing, I hear!”
“That’s what they tell me. I haven’t been myself, but Dana tells me that her father loves the fishing. They moved here from Ghana before she was born.” Andrew leaned against the table casually and took out his phone. He’d asked Dana for a picture just last night, while they were eating Oreos in his kitchen. He’d had a thought that just this sort of situation might come up. “Here. This is a picture of her.”
Louis Marcel looked at the picture politely and smiled. “She’s a lovely girl. What does she do?”
“She actually works here in the Seven Diamonds,” Andrew replied, putting his phone away. “Just downstairs. She’s an artist—draws political cartoons and illustrations for The Current.”
“An artist! Wow! That’s not an easy field to make it in,” Marcel observed admiringly. “It looks like you’re getting yourself a real trooper. If she can make it as an artist in New York, there’s nothing she won’t be able to handle.”
Something soft and warm expanded in Andrew’s chest, and he found himself suddenly liking Marcel even more. His company’s bizarre preference for married business partners no longer seemed so odd, as if merely by approving of Dana, complimenting Dana, all other eccentricities had been deemed unimportant.
“She’s really tenacious, that’s for sure,” Andrew agreed, putting his hands in his pockets. Why was he grinning all of the sudden? “Tenaciously optimistic. She just has this great attitude—like nothing is out of reach. It’s a real inspiration, you know?”
“Uh-oh,” Marcel teased, glancing at Nick. “I got him on the wrong subject didn’t I?”
Nick rolled his eyes. “You’ve done it now. He’ll never stop if you don’t change topics soon.”
Andrew blushed and shook his head. “Sorry about that. So—what were we on before?”
“I think we were just going over the finishing touches, Andrew,” Marcel answered brightly. He held out his hand. “I’m fully satisfied with your proposal. I’ve never heard such a thorough plan. On top of that, I’ve never heard such a convincing pitch.”
Andrew balked a little. “I hope you don’t think I was trying to—”
Marcel waved him off. “Don’t apologize. Selling your ideas is part of your job. And if you can sell an idea to me, you’re good at your job. ” He held out his hand again.
Andrew’s nerves buzzed and his head spun. He took Marcel’s hand and shook it. “Then I think we have ourselves a deal, Louis.”
“I sure hope we do!” Marcel pulled out the contract form. “I’m looking forward to working with someone who’s got such a good hold on his own projects! I’ll hate to lose you for those weeks you’ll be honeymooning, but I suppose it can’t be helped. I just hope those three weeks in Italy won’t ruin your work ethic.” Marcel winked scandalously at Andrew as he picked up the pen to sign.
“Yeah,” Andrew found himself thinking of a honeymoon in Italy… with Dana. The possibilities made his face redden. “I… I, um… Don’t worry,” he said finally. “I doubt I’ll have a problem getting back into the office.”
Louis laughed and signed the contract.
He signed it. He really signed it. It was an effort to act casual as Andrew took the pen and added his own signature to the page. He signed it he signed it he signed it…
“You and Dana will have to come over and have dinner with me and my wife, Lauren,” Marcel insisted as he was packing his things back into his briefcase. “Dinner and drinks with new business partners. Just a relaxing evening together, to get to know each other a little better.” The offer was expected, and Andrew was ready for him, this time.
“Absolutely. How’s next Friday?”
Marcel thought for a moment. “Friday will be great, I believe. I’ll shoot you an e-mail with the address. I can’t wait to see you and your fiancée, Andrew. We’re going to do great things together.” And he shook Andrew’s hand, picked up his briefcase, and let Nick show him the way out.
Alone in the conference room, Andrew let the stillness settle on his eardrums for a moment, and let the past hour sink in.
Louis Marcel had signed the contract. Westcorp was on board. He’d done it.
“Oh my good God,” Nick blurted when he returned and shut the door behind himself. “Andrew, did we just make a deal with Marcel? Did I really just hear all that?”
Andrew held up a hand. “You damn sure did.”
Nick slapped a sassy high-five and returned to his laptop. “We rock. That’s all there is to it. He never stood a chance.”
Andrew laughed. The tension in his neck and shoulders eased a little as he did so. He felt like he’d just escaped prison or won a marathon, as if he’d come out the other side of some enormous endeavor. Really, the work had just begun, but at least the hardest part was over. “He was nicer than I expected.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “You’re just saying that because he preened your feathers about Dana.”
“What? What are you talking about?” But Andrew knew just what Nick meant, and as always, Nick was well aware of the fact.
“Don’t ‘what?’ me. I saw how you lit up about her—don’t make excuses.” Nick smirked, self-satisfied and smug. “You really like her. And not just as a friend and co-conspirator.”
Andrew’s face grew hot, and he almost denied it. Then he gave up and tossed himself in the chair next to Nick.
“I still don’t know if I’m just getting too far into character,” he complained.
Nick shrugged. He was typing up the e-mail to inform Brown, officially, that the deal was on. He hadn’t already had it finished, which meant that he hadn’t been certain that they would convince Marcel. As far as Andrew was concerned, that made two of them.
“No reason you need to know, at the moment,” Nick replied finally, his fingers pausing. He raised an eyebrow at Andrew over his glasses. “I mean, I know that you need to know, just because you like to know these kinds of things. But in the larger scope of it all, your situation isn’t all that different, whether your feelings are real or not. They’re real to you now—just wait, and see if they’re still real to you later. Just roll with it. Don’t do anything stupid.”
Andrew si
ghed. “You know, I was thinking of giving you a raise until you called me stupid.”
“You better give me a raise,” Nick huffed primly. “I just whipped up that song and dance about a family chapel wedding on the fly. I didn’t even blink. Where else could you find an assistant to cover your ass like that?”
“All right, I admit, that was pretty slick.”
“You’d be a mess without me.”
“You’re totally right. What was I thinking? I should have asked you to act like my fiancée.”
Nick set a hand on his chest. “Oh, Andrew, I thought you’d never ask. I can be ready in five, we’ll go back to my place.”
Andrew laughed and rubbed his eyes. “Probably better than mine. You wouldn’t like Gandalf getting cat hair all over everything you own.”
Nick hissed in a breath through his teeth. His previous roommate had had a long-haired cat, and it had been the bane of his life for a year and a half. “Maybe we’re not such a great match.”
“I’ll stick with Dana for now, Nick,” Andrew chuckled. “No offense, but I don’t think I can date someone who doesn’t love cats.”
“Fine, fine.” Nick went back to typing, still smirking.
And Andrew sat there, simply breathing, letting it wash over him again that he’d done it. He’d made it through this interview with Marcel and sealed the deal. It was all going according to plan, they were having dinner next week together, and nobody suspected a thing.
The clock on the wall said it was one-twenty-one. Andrew sighed. Dana would be at work for another four or five hours. That meant he had most of the work day left before he could tell her the news.
It was going to be a long four or five hours.
Chapter 11
The closest Dana had ever come to dressing up for dinner was the annual office Christmas party. She might dress up for a date or a special occasion, but for dinner? Never in her memory.