Dreams of Reality (6 page)

He looked proud. “This could be symbolized as a big step in your life. The new free spirited Skye could be emerging, the one that’s not afraid of changes and new experiences.”

She shrugged still feeling depressed, but glad her hour was up.

Leaving the Women’s clinic, Skye got in her car and drove to her appointment at Newman Steel. Trisha Galvin had called a couple of days after Skye’s meeting Thaddeus Newman, leaving a message on her answering machine. She was intrigued with the business wanting to know more about what Newman Steel did and why her services would be beneficial to them.

And why after her awkward meeting with Thaddeus Newman was she getting this appointment. Curiosity killed the cat, Skye, she told herself.

‘Yeah, but satisfaction brought it back,’ her mind argued and she chuckled to herself while she was in the elevator that took her to the administration office of Newman Steel.

When she arrived to meet Trisha she was surprised to see the woman was as old as Skye at twenty-two and looking friendly with her large features. “I’m Trisha Galvin, Mr. Newman’s assistant. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Patterson. I’ve spoken to your references you gave and they are pleased with your work. I’m delighted to say we’ve accepted your contract terms and willing to work with you.”

“I received your card from a friend.” Trish didn’t say the friend was Thaddeus, but the woman was too sincere not to sound tricky. The assistant continued, “Mr. Newman has large contracts and I am usually in charge of typing them.” She sat across from Skye with a general look of curiosity on her face.

Skye knew she would like working with Trisha. She was nice and honest when she spoke.

“With more and more contracts proposed to Mr. Newman it is becoming tedious for me to keep up with my typing duties and still be his assistant. Your services would be appreciated in this area. What I need to know from you is if you had any experience with contractual work?”

“Mostly on a medical basis and I know how government contracts are. I’m sure with normals and samples I can adjust. I’d like to do an example for practice and just so you can see if I do understand.”

“That can be arranged,” Trisha. “I have templates of many of them on my computer and I can give you several examples. Mr. Newman’s wordings are simple to pick up and most times he transcribes on micro cassette.”

“So is contract work all I will be required to type?”

“Maybe letters and proposals. This and that. I will make sure there aren’t any surprises.”

Skye looked relieved. “I am just honored you chose me. Mr. Newman’s company is successful and I do find something different a challenge.”

Trish sat back with a very serious look. “Now I would like to discuss prices.”

Skye reached in her brief and pulled out her price sheet she used regularly for customers. Just as she was about to pass it to Trisha, the double doors to the conference room opened and Skye felt she couldn’t breathe. He walked in looking just as sexy in a dark gray Versace suit as he did the other day. Good Lord, he wasn’t scheduled! Control yourself, Skye, she ordered herself.

“Mr. Newman,” Trisha said looking surprised. “I thought you wouldn’t be here?”

“I was finished with Mr. Blake and decided to work during lunch at the office. Lyn told me you were still meeting with Ms Patterson.” He looked at her now and outstretched his hand. “How do you do, Ms Patterson?”

“Yes. We have.” She stepped back on purpose not wanting to be in his proximity for long. Deliberately avoiding his eyes was hard without being outright rude. She put on her reading glasses to give him the allure she actually needed them to see, therefore giving her the opportunity to get away from him, and not make complete eye contact.

He frowned which she thought it was because he couldn’t remember. Of course he wouldn’t. Quickly she explained. “In the parking lot the other day. I dropped my grocery bag and you brought it to me. I appreciate it.”

“Anytime. Please have a seat.” He sat down right beside her at the end of the table. “I wasn’t frowning about that though,” because he was faking the whole thing. He knew perfectly well where he had met her he just wanted to make sure she remembered him. Yet her eyes still showed no interest towards him. Matter of fact, she looked at Trisha with more interest than she did him. It was like how he looked didn’t matter at all. “I noticed your eyes are different.”

It was her turn to frown. “Different, sir?”

“Mr. Newman, please,” he corrected her. “Yes, different. I’ve never met a black woman with purple eyes.”

“Elizabeth Taylor has purple eyes, but I don’t consider mine purple. They are more like a blue with a hue when the light reflects upon them. I assume one of my parents had this color eyes, but I never met them so I wouldn’t know.”

“An orphan?” he questioned. “All alone in the world, are you?”

She nodded, picking up his ‘alone’ connotation. Did he really want to know of her martial status or did he just show this sensual concern for all women as part of his playboy style? Skye convinced herself she would not fall for it, no mater how much her senses screamed he was the most gorgeous man in creation.

“I am comfortable being alone, are you?” She snipped.

He smiled enjoying the verbal banter. This woman was truly fascinating. “I am quite comfortable with it. My father left me when I was young, but my mother was supportive. Yet enough about us, let’s get down to business.” He picked up the price list she had. “These are mostly medical report pricing?”

She nodded. “I have only done service with medical companies, Mr. Newman. My regular price per page is two dollars and per line is eleven cents.”

He sat back in the chair. She winced hearing the plastic creak in protest from his weight. “Well Trisha pointed out that we use a smaller font size and it would adjust the page line, wouldn’t it?”

Surprised that he could notice something like that impressed her. Managers and business people hardly paid attention to diminutive particulars when it came to the layout of documents and so forth. “Yes it would give me more lines per page, but I am willing to adjust-” She kind of had a feeling he would be cheap!

“No need. Matter of fact, I was willing to charge thirty cents per line to compensate you. I don’t think our lines matter, but it’s the size of the documents. On contracts I insist you charge that amount and for proposals and letters I insist you charge twenty cents a line.”

“But-” She was in dubiously shocked. He wasn’t cheap; he was wasteful! No one in their right mind would pay those exorbitant prices.

The tension between them was clearly noted, why Trisha cut in, “It will be noted. With that settled why don’t I show you around, Ms Patterson, while Mr. Newman gets that agreement on my desk for you to sign.”

When the tour was over, she had Skye sign the agreement and then Trisha gave her a copy of the agreement along with the templates and examples.

After Skye was on her way, with a promise to Trisha to have the sample e-mailed by tomorrow morning, Trisha went into Thaddeus' office to see him staring out the window thoughtfully from his chair. "Have you lost your mind sir?" Trisha questioned confused. "Did I just see you daydreaming?"

“Oh no. It’s worse than like, it's more?!” she exclaimed. “I never thought... I mean...” She paced as she spoke giddy with excitement. “Your lifestyle, the way you’ve stayed away from women... I thought your work involvement was because you wanted your company to succeed, then even after you succeeded you still worked hard, which confused me, but it was all a front. It was all to protect you from women, wasn’t it?” She didn’t’ give him time to answer. “But she’s different and you see this, right?”

He squinted not at all pleased at Trisha’s quick deductions. Thaddeus relaxed his features and sat back in his chair feeling defeated. Trisha knowing his feelings really didn’t matter to him.

He knew she would never tell anyone about how he felt, but was what he felt really love? How could this be? Lust he would believe, but Skye was so unlike anyone he had ever known.

“I can’t explain it. I met her at the café the other day that I go to all the time with the clients. She left her bag and I just couldn’t help myself. At first I saw a plain Jane, then I saw something else. Not on the outside, but there was something on the inside. A reservation about me.”

Trisha twisted her wide nose at him. “Not every woman is attracted to you.”

Arrogantly, he said, “The majority find me appealing. I am a modest fellow, but I know my looks don’t curdle milk. My height alone draws attention.”

She smiled sympathetically amused seeing him struggling with these new emotions. Thaddeus had always had reserved control when it came to personal feelings, yet one woman seemed to unravel him. “Just not so forward, sir. She seems rather shy. If you push your interest too much, she might turn away.”

He realized Skye had some apprehension about him, but he wanted her attention and felt she should feel the same way immediately. Never in his life had he experienced beating around the bush when he wanted something. “So I should let her come to me, but at the same time make my interest known a little at a time. I don’t want to play games with her, Trisha. I am not like that.”

“In order to help her get over her shyness and express her interest in you, you must, sir. If what you feel is true and it’s not a one-time thing for either one of you, then you must give her time. Things of this nature cannot be rushed.”

“So I have to play around until she likes me?”

“Oh there is no doubt she finds you attractive. You forgot I was watching as you two spoke and the look of admiration was in her eyes several times when you weren’t looking. I think her control of her emotions is even better than yours.”

“Should I find that a compliment?”

“Almost.” She sat down in the chair in front of his desk. “You should know every woman wants a man who is successful, powerful, good-looking and strong. Not just on the outside, but the inside too. You have to step back and make her realize she wants you just as much as you want her.”