Entangled To The CEO

Rainer’s [POV]

I was ready to dwell on what she’d said and not said when the preschoolers came out from their classroom.

Soon the garden was filled with screeches and laughter, dirt, and the need to save the small plants from trampling feet.

The kids loved seeing our virtual garden plan and comparing it with the real thing. I wanted Tasha to enjoy it – the very real application of her program – but she remained in her car.

Then when she did come out, Tasha found ways to avoid me. It wasn’t hard with about fifteen moving obstacles in between us, but she made sure we didn’t say another word to each other until lunchtime.

The preschoolers marched off back to their classroom, and I cornered Tasha near the frame for our runner beans. “Please tell me you plan to order sandwiches from that great little deli again,” I said. Tasha crossed her arms.

“Aren’t you headed back to the office yet?”

“We get lunch breaks, Tasha.” She sighed.

“Fine. You go get cleaned up, and I’ll order. What do you want?” I couldn’t help it. I winked at her.

“You know what I like.” Tasha gave me a pained look but pulled out her phone.

The fact that she didn’t hesitate before ordering my favorite sandwich gave me hope, and I headed for the community center with a good feeling. Tasha fought my good feeling every step of the way. Not that I blamed her.

She was right about everyone seeing me as a playboy. It had been a persona that had served me well for years.

And, after our little slip-up, it was natural for her to keep her distance.

Especially since she thought I was involved with another woman. All I had to do was prove to her that wasn’t true.

And to find ways to close the distance between us. I laid out a blanket on the grassy hill next to the garden and motioned for Tasha to bring our sandwiches over.

She did and then couldn’t find a polite reason to not sit and eat with me. I smiled at her.

“So, the big Hyperion gala is coming up. It’s required. You ready to put on a fancy dress and have some fun?” Tasha shook her head.

“I suppose we all have to bid high on this year’s silent auction,” she said.

“I’ve got a great strategy for that. Stick with me, and I’ll show you how to make charity galas a good time,” I said.

“I’ve been to all the same Hyperion galas as you have,” Tasha reminded me. I was about to ask her if she’d go as my date, but her comment pushed me back.

Tasha was right. She was my equal, and she didn’t need my invitation or my company. I still couldn’t imagine why she’d let me hang around so long.

“Or we could skip it and grab a late-night dinner at that taco truck,” I said.

Tasha smiled. She smiled, and I felt like jumping up and sprinting to the top of the hill.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Then Seth showed up and made himself comfortable on the corner of the blanket closest to Tasha.

“The garden is looking great,” he said.

“And I’ve got the plans for the garden path your sister suggested. I was thinking about your idea of pressing leaves into the wet cement for imprints. I think we should make a signpost key and it can be an identification game the kids play.” Right to business.

No wonder Tasha liked him. I got up and crumpled up my sandwich wrapper.

“Thanks for lunch, Tasha. Before I go, maybe we can chat a bit more about the gala?” I asked. Tasha gave a distressed frown and stood up quickly.

“Sure, I’ll just walk with you”

“Hey, yeah, I forgot I’d see you at the gala too,” Seth said.

“I’m so glad Tasha invited me. I don’t get much of a chance to wear a tuxedo. Should be fun.” Tasha didn’t move, and neither did I.

Then she bit her lip and asked, “How about Ellison? We’ll see her there too?” I should have stuck to flying solo, but as soon as I knew Tasha was taking the landscaper, I had to bring someone.

Ellison, of course, was delighted. The night of the gala, when Ellison walked in on my arm, no one doubted that I was happy.

How could I not be over the moon with a stunning force of grace and fashion on my arm? Ellison navigated the charity gala with ease, and everyone looked at me with new respect.

Even Berger and the crew of junior execs couldn’t come up with any jokes. We were the perfect couple.

“Did you hear me, Rainer?” Ellison asked.

“What? No.” I blinked and turned back to her. Across the downtown ballroom, Tasha had just arrived with Seth, the landscaper.

The damn golden boy looked great in a tuxedo, and I hated him even more.

“I was asking if we should bid on Italy or Switzerland,” Ellison said.

“The Switzerland trip is in the fall so it might work better with our schedules, but the Italy vacation is at a private castle.”

“Our schedules?” I asked. Ellison patted my arms and put down a bid on the Italy vacation. She then led me through the rest of the silent auction, making tasteful choices and impressive bids.

The charity was the only time Ellison let her deep, deep pockets show. Or maybe she’d been writing my name after the astronomical sums.

I couldn’t pay attention to anything but the swirl of Tasha’s deep-blue dress across the room.

I was still watching her when my phone buzzed. I saw Tasha take out her phone too, so I raced to check the message.

“Apologies,” I said to Ellison.

“I’ve got to meet with the other execs over the speeches and toasts. You know how it is.” Ellison knew and smiled.

She was the perfect woman, but my stomach coiled when she reached up to kiss me. That’s why I turned my face at the last moment and let her land on my cheek.

The feeling stayed with me as I met Tasha backstage. I couldn’t even speak, I was so frustrated.

Ellison was purposefully projecting the happy couple scene that everyone wanted to see, and no one noticed that I wasn’t interested.

I’d have to be insane not to be interested. But all I wanted was Tasha.

“Stan wants us to do a quick speech about the community garden,” Tasha said.

“Are you up to it?” “If you’re standing next to me,” I said.

“Good. Fine.” Tasha moved to open the curtains, but I grabbed her hand.

She turned to me with a shocked expression, but I couldn’t let go.

“I wanted to come here with you,” I blurted out.

“We’re both here,” Tasha said as if I was a slow child. “I’ll stand by the podium while you handle the little impromptu speech.”

“Here’s an impromptu speech,” I said.

“I can’t leave it at just one night.” Tasha tore her hand out of mine.

“This is not the place to discuss what, ah, happened. It was a mistake.”

“I don’t think it was.” I struggled to catch her other hand and hold on.

“It felt like the only thing I’ve done right in a long time.”

“You’re here with Ellison,” Tasha hissed.

“Only because you brought the hero to a bad romance novel,” I said.

“And how many times am I going to have to tell you that I’m not with Ellison?”

Tasha’s cheeks were flared red, and I knew she had sharp words waiting to flay me with, but the curtain suddenly opened.

She had no choice but to put her hand in mine and walk with me to the podium.

The band stopped playing, and every eye in the place turned to us. I didn’t let go of her hand.

Even after I’d given the charity gala crowd a two-minute run-down of GroGreen and our successful community garden, I held on to Tasha.

She waited until we were shrouded behind the curtain again and snatched her hand back as if I’d burned her.

“What were you thinking? Are you trying to cause a scandal?”

“We presented a united front,” I said.

“We should probably stick together for a few more minutes. People might want to talk to both of us about the community garden and the campaign.” Tasha slapped back my offered hand.

“I’m not going to play the ‘other woman’ in your social media fairytale. We just work together, and that’s it.”

“What are you worried people are going to think?” I took a step closer. Tasha backed up until she brushed against the curtain.

“Holding hands is not something co-workers do. People are going to think we’re intimate.”

“Holding hands is nothing. You know what feels intimate?” I asked. I leaned forward. “This feels intimate. We’re hidden from sight back here. Just you and me.” For a split second, Tasha softened.

Even in the dim light backstage, I could see her cheeks warming. I lifted one hand to feel the heat of her blush, and Tasha leaned her soft cheek into my caress.

My other hand found her waist and pulled her forward just an inch. Our lips were a breath apart.

“No.” Tasha pushed me back.

“You’re with Ellison, and I don’t care if it’s just for tonight or not. I’m not going to be part of this merry-go-round of women you’ve got.” I clutched the velvet curtain in a fisted hand.

“Stop trying to jam me into some little box,” I said.

“I’m no more the incurable playboy than you are the ice queen. I know it’s easier for you to dismiss me if I’m defined, but I’m sick of it. Tasha, please, please see that I’m more than that.”

“What? Am I supposed to believe you’re a changed man?” Tasha asked.

“Do you have any idea how cliched that is? I won’t fall for it. So, what in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m trying to talk to you!” I let go of the curtain and let both hands curl into fists.

Tasha arched an eyebrow.

“Fine. Talk. Tell me what you want. What do you want from me, Rainer?” Those words coupled with her challenging look stopped me.

Tasha had finally caught me without a speech prepared. The truth was I didn’t know exactly what I wanted from her.

And she deserved a man who knew exactly how far he was willing to go for her. I didn’t deserve another chance with Tasha. I didn’t even deserve to hold her hand.

“Nothing to say?” Tasha asked.

“Then how about you let me talk for a minute?”

“Fine, but I’m not done,” I said. Tasha tossed her hands in the air.

“But that’s wh at we really should be talking about. It’s over.” I could have hit myself in the head for not noticing it before. I’d been so distracted that I hadn’t thought through why Stan wanted us to make a quick speech at the gala.

“The community garden project is done?” I asked.

“Don’t feel bad, Rainer,” Tasha said. She chucked me on the shoulder.

“You got what you wanted out of it. You’re a billionaire, and everyone loved our outreach campaign. Now, you can celebrate with a wild spending spree or a trip around the world, or whatever you want.”

“Did Stan say it was over or did he cut the funding?” I asked. Tasha’s sudden frown belied her calm voice.

“The funding is done, and our presence is expected back at the office. 100%.” She fled before I could ask her how she felt. All I could do was stand there in the dark behind the heavy curtain and wonder what I was going to do next.