Entangled To The CEO

Rainer’s [POV]

Berger held up his hands and laughed. “Good luck with that,” he said.

“I’ll take a rain check on dinner, but I’m for sure putting my money on September. That’s right, there’s a betting pool on your high-society wedding, and I’m going to win it. Gotta keep that yacht afloat!”

I refrained from punching my friend and now former-colleague. Instead, I hit the stairwell and headed back to my office.

All I wanted was to see Tasha, but it was doubtful she’d ever come to my office again. I slammed the door.

“Mr. Maxwell?” a faint voice called through the door. I tore it back open. “I’m so sorry, Topher,” I told my assistant.

“You probably have a few questions.” My eager assistant was unfazed by the business upset. He came into my office with a clipboard and his resume all printed out and ready to go.

“I don’t want to bother you, just offer my application for any of your future endeavors.” I shook my head.

“Sorry, Topher, but I’m not the one you should be talking to. Though, now that I think about it, I have the perfect person to give your resume to.” He looked hopeful.

“Would you maybe be willing to write me a recommendation too?” I shook his hand and agreed on the spot. If Tasha took Topher on as an assistant, she would be well-supported, he would be happy, and I would have a way to check in on her.

It was a selfish, ridiculous idea, but it was the first good one I’d had since hearing the news.

“What about you, Mr. Maxwell? Do you have plans now that Hyperion is closing its doors?” Topher asked. I scrubbed both hands over my face.

“No. I’m a little blindsided at the moment. But, don’t worry, something will come up. And, no, it’s not going to an autumn wedding.” Topher shook his head vehemently.

“I’ve tried to stop the rumors, but no one believes me.”

“Tell me about it.” I laughed.

“Wait, so you believe that I’m not marrying Ellison Ramsey? You might be the only one. What makes you so sure when everyone else is betting on the wedding date?” Topher smoothed down his tie.

“I know that you are not engaged to Ms. Ramsey because you haven’t sent me ring shopping.”

“Maybe the ring is a family heirloom,” I said. My assistant scoffed.

“It would still have to be sized. And I haven’t so much as ordered flowers for Ms. Ramsey.” I shook his hand again.

“Topher, you are the best assistant a man could have. Tasha will be lucky to have you.”

“Ms. Nichols? You’re recommending me to Ms. Nichols?” Topher’s voice bumped up an octave out of excitement.

“Thank you, sir. Thank you!” I waved off his gratitude and slumped into my desk chair.

“She deserves the support, and you deserve the chance. If I can make that happen, I’ll be happy.” Topher hesitated in my office door.

“So, you won’t be joining Ms. Nichols in her next venture?”

“Too soon,” I said. “I haven’t even gotten a chance to speak with her. By the way, if you see Ms. Nichols, will you ask if we can meet?”

It was a silly, high school tactic, but I knew it would work. My assistant was even more eager to please now that his career path had an exciting direction.

He left at once to write his recommendation letter so all I had to do was sign it.

Ever the helpful and considerate assistant. I made a note to send him to my tailor and get him outfitted for his new venture. Whatever it might be.

After Topher shut the door, I settled back in my desk chair and tried to clear my thoughts. Here I had the opportunity, and the money, to do whatever I wanted but my brain was a blank.

I liked my job, the wining and dining and salesmanship and spin. I liked having a purpose when I woke up in the morning.

I thought of my big, new house, still empty after I fended off Ellison’s interior design crew, and shuddered.

If I didn’t come up with something and quick, I’d be rattling around that mausoleum and going crazy. In my panic, all I could think to do was channel what Tasha’s next step would be.

I fumbled in my desk drawers and finally found a pad of paper and a working pen.

She would write a list and probably annotate the damned thing, but all I did was stare at the blank page. I had no idea what I wanted.

Without Tasha in the picture, there didn’t seem to be anything I did want. So, I started to jot down all the things I didn’t want. Starting with a big, splashy wedding. It was a huge relief when there was a knock on my office door.

“Come in,” I called. It was most likely just Topher, but my heart bumped at the thought of seeing Tasha.

Stan strode in and shut the door behind him. Surprise launched me out of my desk chair and I came around to shake his hand.

“Congratulations on the deal of the year,” I said.

“I haven’t read all the details, but I’m sure you made the Hyperion shareholders proud.” Stan shook my hand then waved me back to my desk chair.

“You don’t sound too upset. That’s good.” “I’m sure some people are having a little trouble with the sudden change in direction, but I’m good. I’ll adapt,” I said.

“So, you’re not scrambling to find a new position?” Stan asked. I laughed.

“Because of Hyperion, I have the money to take a vacation. And now the time.”

“Good,” Stan said.

“Take your time. Very wise. I to ld her you’d want some space.” My suspicions rose.

“Why? Is there an offer on the table I was unaware of?” Stan frowned at his own slip-up.

“I’m sure the entire office has already guessed that Tasha and I will be collaborating on a new company. She fought for you to be included, but I said no. I figured you’d want to enjoy your time and money.”

“So, Tasha took your offer?” “Does that matter to you?” Stan asked. I slumped back in my office chair.

“Of course it does. I want her to be happy.” Stan paused and studied me.

“You’re a good man, Rainer. I didn’t always see that, but it’s true. I wish you all the luck in the future.”

“Thanks,” I said, wondering what else the old man wasn’t saying. Stan gave me a salute and opened my office door.

Topher practically fell in and stumbled over at least fifty apologies to the executive. Stan clapped him on the back and went out into the din of the upset office.

“An invitation arrived for you,” Topher said.

“I thought it might be a nice distraction.” I looked at my blank pad of paper and laughed. “Good instincts as always. I hope you put that in the recommendation letter.”

“Will do, sir. By the way, I tried to reach Ms. Nichols, but she is gone for the day.” Topher dropped the heavy envelope on my desk and practically skipped back to his desk to continue his letter.

I waited until I could hear his fleet fingers on his keyboard, and then I reached for the invitation.

The paper was fine linen and embossed with a compass design. Inside the invitation only gave a restaurant and a time. I wondered if the compass signified the new direction everyone was looking for.

Was it for an office farewell party? There was no signature or indication of who sent it. I dismissed the idea of an office party as my phone and email exploded with invites to such get-togethers. This was different.

Tasha was already gone for the day, and as I left Hyperion, I had the wild idea she wanted to see me again.

Maybe this was her subtle and elegant way of meeting me outside of work. The idea compounded when I drove up to the restaurant at the appointed time.

It had a beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay and the city where we’d planted the community garden was framed perfectly on the opposite shore.

I was sure it was Tasha, setting up a better date than I ever could. I wondered for a moment if Topher hadn’t been in on the whole thing.

I knew they’d make a great team. I headed into the restaurant with high hopes. They soared as I took in the intimate interior, the privacy of the high-backed booths, and the muted elegance.

It was just the place that Tasha would prefer. It was perfect.

“There you are, darling.” The maitre d’ stepped aside to reveal Ellison. She swept into my arms and kissed both cheeks, before giving me another blinding smile.

“What are you doing here?” I asked before I could master myself.

“Did you like the invitation? I thought you could use a little mystery and intrigue after such a day.” Ellison took my hand and guided me into the booth.

Champagne was already on ice and a half-dozen gourmet dishes appeared at once. The first course included all of my favorites, but I wasn’t hungry. “What is all this, Ellison?” I asked.

“My treat to you. I thought this place was your taste. I want you to feel comfortable. Relax, have a glass of champagne,” she said.

I couldn’t settle into my seat and fought the urge to jump up again. It was a set-up. This time Ellison had tailored everything to fit my tastes, but it was still obviously a set-up.

She sat across from me with an air of expectation tainting her perfect smile. Ellison expected me to propose.

It took all my restraint to accept a glass of champagne and stay in my seat. I slammed back the expensive vintage and looked my ex-girlfriend straight in the face.

“I’m curious, if we hadn’t broken up, if getting engaged was even halfway a good idea, what would our marriage be like?” I asked.

Ellison’s certainty slipped, but she recovered quickly. She laced her elegant hands together.

“What sort of marriage appeals to you?” I shook my head.

“I asked first.” Her gaze cooled as Ellison settled in for real negotiations.

“I imagine our marriage could be fairly open. We are both busy people, and I travel extensively. As long as we kept the appearance up, our marriage could have untraditional caveats.”

“You’d let me have mistresses and affairs as long I kept them out of the public eye?” I asked. Ellison sipped her champagne.

“I’m a practical woman, Rainer. If total monogamy is what’s stopping you, then I can be reasonable about certain rules.” My mouth tasted like ash and I pushed my plate away from me.

“I don’t understand you,” I told Ellison.

“What’s the big mystery?” she asked with an arched eyebrow.

“We make a perfect match. Our families will be united and we’ll leave behind a legacy that will last for centuries. The little details shouldn’t get in the way of that.”

“So, you’re willing to sacrifice everything for some antiquated idea of legacy?” I asked. Ellison sat up primly.Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

“What exactly am I sacrificing?” I couldn’t believe she was still in negotiation mode.

“What about love? What about finding the perfect person and loving only them for the rest of your life?”

“Please, Rainer. I’m not some little girl full of fairytales.” Ellison smoothed back her hair.

“This is the real world.”

“So, that’s it? You don’t want anything more?” I asked. My voice was getting too loud, but I couldn’t help myself.

“You don’t want a passionate, undeniable love? Just a marriage contract that focuses on the perfect image. The Ramsey-Maxwell merger.”

“Honestly, Rainer. Why are you acting so silly?” Ellison asked.

“Is this because we broke up all those years ago? You weren’t marriage material then, but you are now. It’s that simple.” I stood up.

“You know what’s simple? My answer. It’s no.”