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“Safe travels, sis.”
“Thanks.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Alexis hung up the phone with a soft sigh. She looked around her bedroom. She’d had some pretty happy times in here, she mused wryly. She zipped up her last suitcase just as a car horn honked out front.
She walked to the window facing the street and pulled the curtain aside. Her cab was out front. Thankfully, she’d shipped the majority of her belongings a week ago, leaving her with only one suitcase, her carry-on and her purse. She checked to make sure she had her ID, credit cards, cell phone and laptop. She took one last look around, turned off the lights, grabbed her bags and left her old life behind.
Chapter 2
Alexis had to give props to R.E.A.L. The organization—Realize Excellence Achievement Leadership—had arranged to have her furniture and clothing moved, they’d found her an apartment in New York and they’d gotten her a first-class ticket. She could easily get used to this kind of treatment.
The moment she stepped off the airplane and into the JFK terminal she could feel the energy that always seemed to hum beneath the surface in New York. It was hard to explain to anyone who had not experienced it, but it was similar to turning up the volume on your life or walking into a dark room and someone flipping on the bright lights.
She rode along with the other arriving passengers on the down escalator to baggage claim. As soon as she stepped off of the escalator she was stunned to see a navy blue suited young man holding up a sign with her name on it. She grinned. R.E.A.L. was pulling out all of the stops. She was totally impressed.
She walked up to the driver.
“Hi, I’m Alexis Montgomery.”
“Ms. Montgomery.” He gave a short nod. “Michael. I’m your driver. I’ll help you with your bags and then I’ll go and get the car.”
“Great. Hopefully it won’t take too long.” She headed in the direction of carousel three with Michael at her side.
“How was your flight?”
“Very nice, thanks to a first-class ticket. The organization treats its employees very well.”
They stopped in front of the carousel that had already begun to fill with luggage.
“Yes, it does.”
Shortly her bags came around on the belt. Michael took them and walked to the exit. “If you wouldn’t mind waiting a moment, I’ll bring the car.”
“I can walk with you to the car.”
“No worries. I’ll be right back.”
She inwardly shrugged. Fine with me. She walked over to a nearby bench, sat down and watched arriving travelers run into the arms of waiting loved ones. She experienced a momentary twinge of melancholy, knowing there were no open arms to greet her, just a furnished apartment in an unfamiliar city. She sniffed, opened her purse in search of her cigarettes and then remembered that she’d recently quit and suddenly wished that she hadn’t and took out a stick of gum instead. She glanced around, took in the sights and sounds. Although it was early May, it was a balmy seventy-five degrees. Almost like home, she thought.
Just then a black Lincoln pulled up in front of her and Michael quickly got out. He reached for her carry-on and opened the passenger door. Alexis slid into the roomy interior and gasped in alarm.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Please. Sit.”
Alexis’s pulse raced. She settled herself opposite her surprise guest.
“Graham Stone.” He extended his hand.
Her eyes widened. “Graham Stone, CEO of R.E.A.L.?” Her hand, of its own volition, found its way into his. His long fingers wrapped around her hand and it was as if he’d cut off the oxygen to her brain.
He grinned and even in the dim interior she could see his eyes sparkle. Her stomach fluttered. She pressed her knees together to silence the lady that had jumped up and started to purr.
“Guilty as charged. My flight from London came in just before yours. I told Michael to find you. Much more efficient for him to take the both of us than to have you take a cab in a strange city.”
“I...appreciate that.”
Graham leaned back against the plush leather of the car. His steel-gray suit was in that new slender cut and it clearly outlined the long lean lines of his body. He looked her over in slow motion. “I have to apologize for this impromptu meeting,” he said, and she caught the barely there British accent. “It was unfortunate that I was out of town when you came in to meet with the board last month. And that we couldn’t ‘meet’ on the conference call.”
“I was beginning to think that maybe you were only a voice or a figment of everyone’s imagination.”
Graham chuckled, the kind of deep robust sound that made you all warm inside.
“Not the first time I’ve heard that. Unfortunately, my focus is on building the organization and getting the kids of the inner city into the kind of schools that they deserve. I don’t always have time for the elbow rubbing and schmoozing. I prefer to remain behind the scenes as much as possible, in addition to which the work involves a great deal of travel.” As he spoke he stared directly at her, never averting his gaze. It was mesmerizing as much as it was unsettling.
Alexis cleared her throat. “And that’s why you hired me?”
“Yes. I want you to be the face of R.E.A.L. and I need your expertise.”
Want and need had never sounded so erotic. She shifted in her seat and linked her long fingers together and rested them on her lap. The pure surprise of stepping into a car and meeting her very gorgeous boss for the first time completely threw her for a loop. She was accustomed to being in control of a situation and certainly in control of her thoughts—but not now. And what was that intoxicating scent he was wearing?
“At least you have the weekend to get comfortable—a little.” He grinned.
“I’m looking forward to getting started,” she managed.
He slowly nodded his head without taking his eyes off of her. “Good. I have several new projects waiting for you on your desk. You’ll have to hit the ground running.”
“I’m ready.” The instant the words were out of her mouth she wanted to pull them back. She knew what she’d said was simple and direct, but in her head they held a completely different meaning.
He stroked his clean-shaven chin with his thumb and forefinger and Alexis had the overwhelming need to open the window. It was as if someone had struck a match in her belly.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked, jumping into her head.
She blinked and smiled. “That would be great. Thank you.”
He reached into the minibar. “Water, juice, soda or something stronger?” He gazed across at her from beneath his lashes.
“Uh, water is fine.”
He produced a bottle of water and plucked a glass from the holder, and handed both to her.
“Thank you.” Somehow she managed to get the bottle open and pour it into her glass without making a mess and a fool out of herself. She was quite amazed actually as her fingers wavered between being board stiff or weak as wet noodles. When she lifted her head from the minor task she was rattled to see Graham looking at her with a bemused expression on his face.
“Are you always so intense?”
She straightened. “Intense?”
“Yes. You were working on that bottle as if it was the most important job you’d ever undertaken.”
Her cheeks flushed. She lifted her chin. “You haven’t seen me intense,” she said, the hint of a taunt on her tongue.
Graham made a humming murmur in his throat. He angled his head to the side. His eyes creased ever so slightly at the corners. “Have they found a replacement for you at the college?”
“Not yet. The position has been posted. I’m sure they’ll find someone reasonably soon.”
“I’m sure they feel your loss already. You made a lot of important changes over there. Several of the departments missed the ax because of you.”
At that moment she wasn’t sure if she was seriously impressed or annoyed. The fact that she’d been able to work with the board and the department chairs to restructure without losing students or teachers was not common knowledge beyond the boardroom of Atlanta College. “How did you know all of that?”
“I make it my business to know everything there is to know about the people that get hired at your level. I also want to make certain that there is real substance behind the fancy words on a résumé and cover letter.”
“I see.” She now knew she was annoyed. What else did he know about her that wasn’t on her résumé and didn’t come out in the phone interview? Clearly it didn’t matter if he was around to ask direct questions or not. He still got answers.
And then as if reading her mind he asked, “How did Ian take your leaving?”
Her eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”
“Ian...Matthews. Isn’t it?”
Her heart began to race. “Yes.” Her response was as much a question as an answer.
“He was one of your references,” he said as if in answer to the question that hovered on the tip of her tongue. “He had wonderful things to say about you and gave the impression that...you would be missed.”
Her cheeks were on fire. A tight line formed between her brows. “I don’t recall giving Ian Matthews as a reference.”
“You didn’t. Whenever I’m interested in a potential candidate for the organization at the management level, I look into their surrounding circle of colleagues.”
“So basically, screw what’s on the reference letters.”
The corner of his mouth lifted into a slight grin. “Well, let’s be honest, what person who really wants a job would get reference letters or use references from someone who wouldn’t say that they were wonderful?”
Her right brow arched. She almost laughed but didn’t. He was actually right, but she’d never tell him that. “So who made these calls? You?”
“Yes. I generally do, but I felt it was even more important since I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting you in person during your visit. You’ll come to see in the days and months and hopefully years ahead that I’m a very hands-on person.”
Her gaze dropped to his hands that rested casually on his thighs. She swallowed and nearly choked over the dry knot in her throat. She coughed and took a sip of water.
Graham moved forward, halfway reaching for her. “Are you all right?”
She nodded her head. “Yes,” she managed. “Throat got really dry.” She took another sip of water. She made herself look at him and forced a confident smile. “Fine. Really.”
He leaned back in his seat, eyed her for a moment and then took out a pair of glasses from the inside breast pocket of his jacket, slipped them on and picked up a folder that was next to him on the seat. He flipped it open and began to read.
Glasses. Nice touch, she thought absently. He had that whole GQ look down to an art form. He scanned through the papers in the folder and then handed them across to her, taking her a bit by surprise.
“Some easy weekend reading so that you won’t come in cold on Monday.” He lifted his chin in the direction of the folder. “Those are the plans for the upcoming projects. Some of the details were hammered out while I was in London. No one has seen them as yet. I’d like to get your take on it.”
Alexis cleared her throat. “I’ll let you know.”
He gave a short nod just as the Lincoln cruised to a halt. “We’re here.”
Michael rounded the car and opened the door. He extended a hand to help her to her feet. Alexis stepped out onto Sutton Place. She glanced upward at the four- and five-story town houses that ran between Fifty-Seventh and Fifty-Eighth Streets, oozed style and sophistication and paid homage to the bygone era of the roaring ’20s. The building boasted a long list of who’s who from the financial world like the Vanderbilts and the Morgans of J. P. Morgan fame, and celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, actress Sigourney Weaver, designer Kenneth Cole and architect I. M. Pei.
“I know originally that we were to set you up in Midtown,” Graham was saying as he stepped out of the car to stand beside her. “A good friend of mine owns one of the apartments at 10 Sutton and he’s never here. R.E.A.L. leased it from him. I hope you’ll like it.”
Okay, now she was speechless. She’d heard about Sutton Place, read about it and saw pictures of the stately homes and co-ops. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine living there. She wanted to do the happy dance but was sure it would be inappropriate.
“Very nice. I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she said, with a slight wave of her hand as if she lived in million-dollar homes on a regular basis.
Michael retrieved her bags from the car and was met at the curb by the red-vested doorman complete with a luggage cart.
“Welcome back, Mr. Stone. How was your trip?”
“Very productive, Glen. Thanks. How’ve you been? Did your wife have the baby yet?”
“Any minute now,” the young man said with a beaming smile. “And I really want to thank you for writing the scholarship letter for my niece.”
Graham clapped Glen on the shoulder. “Not a problem. You just tell Misty to make us all proud.”
“Oh, she will. I know she will.”
Alexis took this all in as Michael and Glen loaded the suitcases onto the cart. Graham Stone lived here or did he just know the doorman? She could hear her voice rising in her head. Michael took Graham’s bags and added them with the others, answering her unspoken question.
“I want you to look out for Ms. Montgomery. She’ll be taking over Vernon’s apartment on three. Alexis Montgomery, Glen Johnson.”
“Nice to meet you.” Alexis shook his hand.
“Ms. Montgomery.” He gave her a short nod and a smile. “Well, that explains the cleaning company and all the moving. I thought Mr. Vernon was finally coming back,” Glen said as he began pushing the cart to the entrance.
“Hopefully they did a good job,” Graham said as he strode forward. He stopped at the front desk and shook hands with the man behind the counter, took a set of keys and waved Alexis over.
“Alexis Montgomery, this is Milton, the building’s concierge. Whatever you need, he’ll help you.” He placed the keys in Alexis’s hand.
“Welcome to 10, Ms. Montgomery.” He produced a brochure from beneath the desk and handed it to her. “It contains a list of amenities as well as information on local services.”
“Thank you.”
Graham had walked off and was in conversation with a woman who’d just gotten off the elevator. He kissed her cheek and held the elevator door for Michael and Glen who stepped aside to let Alexis board.
The door swooshed closed behind them. Alexis was working hard at being cool but it was becoming more difficult by the minute.
Michael pressed the button. Within moments the doors opened onto her floor. The corridor was as exquisite and lush as a staged photograph. The cool spearmint-colored carpet made the hallway virtually soundproof and exuded a sensation of tranquillity. Michael and Glen led the way toward the front door. Alexis’s heartbeat escalated with each step. Graham lingered a few steps behind. He was busy texting on his phone.
Alexis stood in front of apartment 3. She fiddled with the keys until she located the correct one and then inserted it into the lock and turned.
The front door opened onto a spacious living space flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows that rose to meet cathedral ceilings. She slowly walked in, feeling as if she were entering someone else’s life. It was ultramodern with splashes of noir chic. The wood floors sparkled. The open floor plan showcased a chef’s kitchen complete with an oversized stainless-steel refrigerator, dishwasher, double oven and a center island with a sink in the center and seating for four. The overhead cabinets wrapped around the kitchen and were inset with opaque glass. At the far end of the living room was a metal spiral staircase that led downstairs.
