A Clandestine Corporate Affair - By Michelle Celmer Page 0,39
they were gathering their things to head back upstairs his secretary called. “Your brother is here wondering when you’ll be back to your office,” she said. “Should he wait or come back later?”
“I’m on my way up now,” he said, punching the button for the elevator.
“I’ll tell him to wait.”
He rode up to the top floor, feeling pretty damned proud of himself for choosing what he considered the ideal gift for Ana. Something she would never expect in a million years. He was out of the elevator and halfway down the hall to his office when he realized that he’d left the confirmation email on his desk. It didn’t have passenger names on it, just the itinerary, but that alone would be suspicious. Maybe he would get lucky and Jordan wouldn’t look at anything on his desk, though he knew the possibility was slim.
He nodded at his secretary as he passed and stepped into his office to find Jordan standing by the window, looking out. He turned when he heard Nathan walk in.
“What’s up?” Nathan asked, walking to his desk. The email was right where he’d left it, on the blotter next to his laptop. He dropped the folder he was carrying on top of it and sat down.
“I suppose she called you,” Jordan said.
“I guess there is a Santa, and he gave me exactly what I wanted this year.”
“Did she tell you who her new ‘friend’ is?”
“Nope, and I didn’t ask.”
“He’s a baron. She met him on her last trip to Europe. He’s twenty years older than her. Old money.”
“There’s a shocker.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve talked to Dad.”
He shot his brother a look. Hell no he hadn’t, and for the life of him, he had no idea why Jordan still did.
“He’s getting married again.”
“How many times does that make?”
“Five. She’s a twenty-eight-year-old flight attendant. He met her when he was on a business trip to New York. She’s relocating here from Seattle to move in with him.”
“I give it six months.”
“I know you don’t want to believe this, but he’s mellowed a lot since we were kids. He asks about you every time we talk. I know he’d like to hear from you.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Jesus, Nathan, sometimes I think you’re even more stubborn than he is.” He started to walk out, then stopped and turned back. “By the way, I just have to ask, what’s a single guy doing buying a trip for three on a Disney cruise?”
Inwardly Nathan cursed, but on the outside he didn’t even flinch. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I didn’t book the trip for me. I did it for a friend. He was worried his wife would find out and he wanted it to be a surprise for Christmas.”
He couldn’t tell if Jordan believed him or not, and maybe it wasn’t the best excuse, but it was the best he could do on such short notice.
After several seconds Jordan shrugged and said, “I’d better get back to work.”
Phew. Tragedy avoided. He hoped.
A few minutes after Jordan left Ana called him on his cell.
“Do you think you can make it over before Max goes to bed tonight?”
“I’ll definitely try.” Although, having spent most of the morning on the internet, he hadn’t gotten nearly as much accomplished as he’d hoped. Which was why, while most of his team were off Christmas Day through New Year’s, he would be putting in a few hours in the office.
“Let me know when you think you can get here. I can keep Max up a little late if I have to.”
“I will. And by the way, I got your Christmas present today.”
He could hear the smile in her voice. “What a coincidence, because I got yours too.”
“What are the odds we got each other the same thing?”
She laughed. “Slim to none, and if you did get me what I got you, I’m afraid I would have to seriously rethink our relationship.”
“In that case, you don’t have to worry. And I should also mention that I picked out a few things for Max, too. They should be delivered on Christmas Eve.”
“I almost forgot to ask, what time do you think you’ll be finished at your mother’s Christmas Day? I was thinking we could meet back at my place afterward.”
“I’m not seeing my mother on Christmas.”
“Why not? I thought you and your brother were having dinner with her.”
“Change of plans. She decided to go on a cruise with a ‘friend’ instead.”
“Seriously?”
“She met him in Europe last month.