Professional Boundaries (13 page)

Without being too obvious, I directed my presentation to him and put on some subtle charm. It was working quite nicely. He even playfully bantered with me. By the end, I had him eating out of my hands, and he was selling it to Lorelai for me. I looked at Mr. Greyson, who surprisingly had let me do my job; he said maybe two words the whole time, and they were at appropriate times and blended well with the direction of the conversation. After the presentation, I let him take over and discuss the finer points of implementation and the mechanics of launching it on their site. He also addressed any security issues they had. We really were a good team; I had better people skills, and his technical knowledge and skills gave people confidence that we knew what we were talking about and that their data was safe with us.

I could tell that Mr. Greyson was pleased by the way he looked at me between questions and more requests for information. I could also tell that Nicholas Price wanted my attention. He kept trying to engage me in conversation that was unrelated to our product or presentation. I might have paid a little too much attention to him.

At the end of the meeting, he handed each of us his card, but he winked at me. “My personal number is on the back.” It was just like out of one of those bar scenes in a movie. I almost expected him to call me baby or something. He also held on to my hand longer than appropriate when shaking it. I gently tried to extricate it without appearing rude, even though it was he that was in the wrong. I could tell his overt advances bothered my ever proper boss (to be honest, they bothered me too); it was a good thing Nicholas didn’t work for him. I could tell Mr. Greyson was holding back his comments. I’m sure he wanted to school him in proper work place behavior.

As we walked out into the parking lot, I thought that Mr. Greyson would be happy, or at least pleased, but he seemed agitated.

“I think that went very well,” I said cheerfully.

“Maybe too well,” he muttered.

“How is that even possible? What’s wrong?”

He stopped and looked at me thoughtfully. “You did well.”

“Thank you?”

“Really, you did. We should go to lunch and celebrate.”

“Um … ok.”

He looked astounded; I was too. I normally would have declined, and I’m not sure why I didn’t, but oh well. I couldn’t back out of it now. Besides, it wasn’t an unusual request, Boss and I had been to lunch several times over the years to celebrate or to just have lunch together. I guess it was appropriate for Mr. Greyson and me to have the same type of post presentation lunch. Of course, he would never be a Boss, but like it or not, he was my boss.

He opened the car door for me again, and I grimaced. He didn’t say anything to my reaction, but his look conveyed that I could just deal with it. Plus, he didn’t seem like he was in the mood for my snarkiness. I was very confused by him. He should be happy, I had no doubt those guys were signing on the dotted line. I was trying to think of something to say as we drove to break the silence. I finally came up with, “Do you have any other ideas or contacts in other verticals we could approach? Because I was thinking we could go after …”

He abruptly interrupted me. “Are you going to call that guy? Because I don’t think that would be a good idea until we close this deal.”

“I’m not sure that’s any of your concern, in fact I know it’s not, but no, I have no intention of calling him.”

I could see him visibly relax, and he slowed down considerably. I forgot he drove fast when he was stressed. I just didn’t understand why this was such a stressor.

He glanced briefly over my way. “So why aren’t you going to call him?”

“Is that a real question?”

“Yes,” he said ever so seriously. “I think he is what most women would find attractive, and I guarantee his position there pays at least triple what you make.”

“And that should mean something to me why?” I asked.

“Money’s not important to you?”

“Not in that way, no. I don’t care about the size of a man’s paycheck, just as long as he’s a hard worker and a decent person.”

He laughed at me.

“Why are you laughing at me? I’m in earnest.”

He looked over at me again. I could tell he didn’t believe me.

That ticked me off, so I went off on him. “A good portion of the men that have meant the most to me in my life have made very little money. And just for the record, I wouldn’t date someone like Nicholas because I know his type, and no amount of money would compensate for it.”

I turned and looked out my window at the cars passing us by. For some reason I had the urge to cry. “Maybe we should just go back to the office,” I muttered.

I felt the slightest touch on my knee, but I didn’t react to it. I just kept staring out the window.

“Kelli, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you mean, Ms. Bryant?”

He didn’t respond.

“Apology accepted, Mr. Greyson.”

“Do you have any suggestions for where you would like to eat?” he asked cautiously, but with hope.

I thought for a moment. “Sure, there’s a great little café near the river walk.” I spouted out directions to him.

“So, just for the record, what type of man is Mr. Price?” he asked bravely, or maybe stupidly.

I wasn’t sure why he wanted to keep on this line of questioning. You would think he would leave well enough alone, but fine, I decided play along for a bit. “He’s all about the flash, there’s nothing real about him. A date with him would mean an exclusive, overpriced place, the food would be awful and the conversation would be worse, as it would center completely on him. Then he would probably have tickets to a sold out show and he would congratulate himself all evening for scoring said tickets. Then to top it off, he would expect to be paid back for showing you such a good time by some physical means. Of course, when that didn’t happen, he would be disgruntled, but he would play it off because now you just became a challenge and he likes the chase. But eventually he’d get tired of the chase and realize there were easier women out there, and he’d never call again.”

We had just pulled into the café parking lot. He turned the car off, and he looked over to me with a sense of delight in his expression. “You got all of that from one meeting?”

I stared directly at him. “I can read people very well, men in particular. And I’ve had the unfortunate pleasure to know a Nicholas or two in my day.”

He chuckled as we got out of the car.

It was such a beautiful day, I felt like it shouldn’t be wasted inside. “Would it bother your allergies too much if we ate outside?” I asked him.

“The allergy medicine seems to be working well.” He briefly took a moment to look around at our surroundings. “I think eating outside is a great idea.”

I wasn’t sure if he was being sincere or just trying to please me, but I just accepted it. I was hoping we would be lucky and there would be some struggling musicians playing out by the river. This was Nashville after all. He asked the hostess for a table for two outside, and we were immediately seated.

“They serve breakfast here all day and everything is fabulous,” I said as we looked at our menus.

Oddly enough, I ordered the Denver Omelet full of ham and cheesy goodness. I never understood why Denver was its namesake. He decided on their bleu cheeseburger and sweet potato fries. Of course he asked what temperature they cooked the burger to. I had to stop myself from laughing. It was a very Ian-like thing to do. The poor waitress had no idea; she had to ask someone. I just rolled my eyes.

Once the flustered waitress left, he looked across the table at me. “Do you miss Colorado?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Sometimes. I’ve been thinking I should take a vacation there someday. How about you? Are you homesick?” I asked.

“Men don’t get homesick.”

“Oh, ok.”

He grinned. “I find I’m liking Nashville more and more.”

That didn’t really answer my question. “Nashville’s great. It just lacks the mountain scenery,” I responded.

He looked out toward the river and then back to me. He stared at me for just a moment. “I’d say Nashville has some pretty great scenery of its own,” he said with a smile in his voice. 

I cleared my throat, not sure what to make of that particular comment. I was saved from responding when our sweet little waitress returned with the waters we had ordered. After she set the glasses down, I noticed he was still staring at me.

“I’m curious, Ms. Bryant, you say you can read men well. What is your summation of me?”

“Ha! I don’t think you want to know.”

He tried to glower at me, but he didn’t really succeed. “Say you just met me today and I gave you my number. What would you think?”

“Oh, so now we’re pretending. Ok, fine.”

 I studied him for a moment or two trying to keep my unflattering opinions of him out of it and think what I would think if I had never met him. I knew what I thought of him the first time I ever met him, but that was Ian, not Mr. Greyson, but I would think the same first thing,
Oh my, he’s attractive
. Yeah, I wouldn’t be saying that out loud. He kept looking at me eagerly.

“Well ... First of all, I would think it was out of character for you to hand me your number. You look like somebody that likes to be in control, you would want my number instead. That way you could control the variables and timing.”

“Very good,” he responded.

“I told you.” I sat back and congratulated myself silently.

“You can’t end it there, Ms. Bryant. You didn’t say whether you would give me your number or not.”

“No,” I said quickly.

“Just like that?” he questioned. He sounded offended … no, maybe disappointed.

“No, not just like that.”

“Then why?”

I leaned forward again and lowered my voice. “Because you look troubled, like there’s a woman, I’m guessing an ex-wife, that’s still under your skin, and you can’t get over her. You want to and you’ve tried, but to no avail. I don’t like that kind of competition, Mr. Greyson, but it doesn’t really matter because this is just pretend.”

He leaned forward too, and as I looked into his eyes, I was reminded of dancing firelight in the dead of night. I held my breath until he spoke. “You’re right, Ms. Bryant, there is a woman, but it’s not my ex-wife, and I did try to get over her, but I discovered that’s where I went wrong.”

He sat back as I took a deep breath and then a long drink of the ice water that was in front of me. This conversation was much more than I had bargained for. I wondered who the woman was, and for a brief second, I was jealous of her. I wanted a man to speak of me in such hushed and reverent tones. Not just any man, I wanted Ian to. What she had that I didn’t, I knew I’d never know, except for Ian’s heart.

“Will you excuse me for a moment?”

I walked to the ladies room and breathed in and breathed out and reminded myself I was over Ian, that Mr. Greyson was my boss, and that I should never eat lunch with him again.

Chapter 10

I had never been happier to see a weekend come. I needed my Mr. Greyson-free zone. Plus, this weekend also meant I got to see some of my favorite people on the planet all in one place. I had been looking forward to Boss’ retirement party all week. I sure had missed him at the office. I couldn’t believe it had only been a week since he had left; it felt like an eternity. I was so excited, I told Holly I would come early and help set up, cook, clean, whatever she needed. She laughed and said they were having it catered, but I should come early anyway.

I dressed up in my newly-acquired cyan colored wrap dress. The hues made my eyes pop. I put some loose curls in my hair and let it fall and frame my face. It was weird when I looked in the mirror; I almost didn’t recognize myself, not in a bad way, but there was an unfamiliar aura to my reflection. Maybe I really had snapped. I felt like it wouldn’t be too long before I did, working for Mr. Greyson. Oh well, tonight was not about him, thank goodness, even though I knew he was coming. I planned to avoid him as much as possible.

I arrived two hours before the actual party began. I noticed the addition of two cars in the drive way, one with Georgia plates and one with Florida plates. It looked like Luke was coming after all. He had told his parents he probably couldn’t make it. They probably had to send him the money so he could afford to come. It was so sad to see what had become of him. I took a deep breath to prepare myself for having to see him. He had a way of making things awkward. I was one in a long list of people he blamed for his problems. He was convinced if I had just married him, his life would be perfect now and he would magically be someone else. I wished he hadn’t been able to come; it was a selfish wish I know. I should just be happy for Boss and Holly that their whole family could be here to celebrate such a wonderful occasion. And who knew, maybe Luke would be on his best behavior.

I eagerly rang the doorbell, and it didn’t take too long before I was greeted by Sara, their granddaughter. “Aunt Kelli’s here,” she yelled.  I was the honorary aunt.

 She ran straight into my arms, I hugged her tightly. “You’re beautiful. I can’t believe how tall you’ve grown.” She was turning into quite the young lady. Within seconds, I was joined by practically the whole Chandler clan. Even Luke came out to greet me. Looking at him made me wish things could have been different, that
he
could have been different. He was like two different people. There was the sweet charming person he was most of the time and then there was the mean spirited and sometimes just down right vile person. For the first part of our relationship he was very sweet and charming, but then he started drinking and a monster was unleashed. I tried to help him through it, but I refused to be an emotional punching bag. He stood there looking as handsome as ever with his sandy blonde hair that laid just perfectly against his head with his bangs swooped flawlessly, his bright blue eyes with the longest eyelashes, and of course his sun-kissed skin, which only added to his physical appeal. When he smiled, he had one dimple on the left side of his face. To look at him, you would think,
What a catch
, but looks were very deceiving in his case.