Heart of Steel by Jennifer Probst
Chapter 12
*
"Do you think it's time?"
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, unsure. They both stared at the two objects on the table as they tried to decide what to do. "If we don't do it now you may never have the courage."
"Which button should I press first?"
"Answering machine first. Then Blackberry," she said.
They both took a deep breath. Logan reached out and tapped the blinking red light. After a series of strange clicking noises, the answering machine rapidly beat out the messages accumulated over the two day period. Logan wrote them out on a notepad while she eased back on the couch, her head settled in his lap.
The thunderstorm had tapered off during the night and left the morning cool and damp. After a leisurely shower and breakfast, Logan dedicated himself to finding a locksmith willing to work on Sunday. After much cash passed hands and Chandler was safely back in her car, she picked up a change of clothes, then headed back to his house.
Still wrapped up in each other, they continued to ignore the real world until the sun sunk low on the horizon. With her head resting comfortably against his thighs, she'd just convinced herself to check her own messages when a deep familiar voice boomed over the speaker. Logan's pen stilled in mid-air. Chandler winced.
"Logan, I don't know where the hell you are, but we need to discuss something about Jim Chrisetta. That lovely lady of yours has been causing some trouble around here, and we'd better get to the bottom of it. You know the number. Call me back."
The machine clicked.
When she looked at Logan's face she decided to ease herself out of his lap, both for convenience and safety purposes. He frowned. Gray eyes held a deep warning. She quickly gathered her courage and reminded herself they were lovers. She had no reason to fear him.
"Chandler, is there something you forgot to mention this weekend?"
She swallowed hard and cursed her unruly hormones for making her forget to tell him about her little encounter with Thomas Weatherall. "Well, actually, something did slip my mind."
"Do you know who that was?"
She nodded. He remained silent and put the pad down on the coffee table. She fought the surge of irritation that flooded through her when she realized how fast he reverted back to the cool, logical businessman who had first greeted her. She realized then how much she loved the man who spent the weekend with her.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?"
"If you'd stop acting like my sixth grade teacher who discovered I didn't do my homework, maybe I'd feel more comfortable."
One black brow shot up. "This must be pretty bad."
She rose from the sofa. Words bubbled out as she paced the room and tried to search for a way to describe the situation. "Of course, you know how upset I was when you told me you were going to fire Jimmy. I was going to leave the entire situation up to you, until Jimmy came to me on Friday and said he was going to be fired."
"How would he know that? Tommy and I spoke privately."
"He's a smart man. He knew his screw up was pretty bad, and he could see how Tommy may want to get rid of him before completing the merger. He figured your hands would be tied."
"So he came to cry on your shoulder?"
Chandler stopped pacing to shoot him a warning look. "He needed to talk to someone, and I'm honored he felt he could trust me. He couldn't discuss the matter with his wife because he was terrified of not being able to provide for his family."
"Okay, so you told him to talk to me, and he went on his merry way."
She pushed the hair away from her face. "Well, not exactly."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him he was finally free of his insecurities. I told him he could do what he wanted, explore his options, make a new career for himself. I showed him that working for your company was not what his entire life was about."
Logan swore. "Why didn't you tell him to come see me? You had no right to get involved with this."
"I had every right the moment he came to me for help. And he understood what I was talking about. He actually agreed with me!"
He groaned and rubbed his temple. "Okay, so you encouraged him to quit the business entirely and he agreed. Then what happened?"
Not liking the way he described her advice, she paced more furiously. "Well, then I realized I'd have to do something to help him get his old job back. I knew he wasn't suited to the one you promoted him to, so I went down to personnel and asked some questions about his old job."
"Theresa gave you this information?" he asked in amazement.
"Of course. She told me she's going to start taking classes at the Yoga and Arts Center." Logan rubbed his temple harder. "I found out there was another position similar to the one he had so I knew we had a shot." She paused, knowing this was the delicate part of the story. "I decided to talk to Tommy Weatherall."
He stiffened. Every part of his body grew tense. His nostrils flared slightly. Chandler rushed on and tried to explain before the explosion.
"You have to understand I thought this was the best way. You told me you didn't have a choice in the matter. I figured if I went to talk to the source of the problem, I'd have a shot at explaining the situation and get him to understand."
His voice dropped. "Do you realize you could have caused problems in the merger by going behind my back?"
She stood her ground, glaring at him, hands on hips. "A human being is more important than any business deal. You told me not to get emotional when I tried to explain how I felt about the situation."
Logan struggled with his temper. "I assume you tried to convince Tommy not to insist I fire Chrisetta?"
She nodded. "Yes. I explained the problem and told him about Jimmy's dedication to his family and the baby on the way. I told him it would be a mistake to let him go."
"And he agreed to let him stay?"
She paused. "Not exactly."
Logan let out an impatient breath. "What exactly did he say?"
"He said he understood my position but he'd have to stay with his original decision."
"So, you left."
"No." His eyes narrowed. "I told him most of your employees were very loyal and always stuck together. I explained that once they discovered the real reason Jimmy was fired, they could become very difficult to work with when the merger was completed. I told him the error Jimmy made shouldn't be counted against him, because the Vicomdata manager used Jimmy's feelings of friendship and loyalty against him. The man tricked him. Once the other employees discover those circumstances, they'll back Jimmy up."
Silence descended. Logan tapped the pen he held against the edge of the coffee table. The rat-a-tat-tat seemed loud and nerve wrangling against the deadly quiet. "You threatened him."
"No, of course not! I gave him a picture of what the future could hold if he made the wrong decision."
"You threatened the man who could dissolve this merger for the sake of one employee. This merger will actually create new business and new jobs for many more workers. But worse, you jeopardized my standing in my own company by sneaking behind my back, giving Thomas Weatherall the impression I don't know how to run my business."
"No, I didn't mean--I didn't want to give him that impression at all. Why can't you understand?" she cried out. "Dammit, you used a corporate spy! You were totally unethical, and it's not fair to punish Jimmy because he was acting like a human being!"
The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. "I don't involve myself in unethical or illegal activities. I planted Charlie there for certain reasons, and Jimmy was well advised ahead of time. You may not like it, but there are things I need to do for the sake of my company."
"Why do you always have to be so damn rational and cold-hearted about every decision you make? Why do you have to be such a, such a--businessman!"
With one swift movement he rose from the couch and closed the distance between them. Dragging her against his body, he lowered his head
When he pulled away she gasped for breath. Logan's eyes burned like twin flames of smoke. "Do you think my actions around you are rational and cold-hearted?" He pressed his thumb over her swollen lips. "Do you think when I take you in my arms I'm making the logical decisions you always accuse me of? Lady, from the moment you walked into my office you've thrown my life into chaos. Invading my thoughts and dreams was bad enough, but now you're taking over my business piece by piece."
He bent toward her. "I'm angry because you didn't come to me first. You knew how I felt about the situation but you still couldn't resist trying to save yet another human being from the big, bad world of corporate America. Dammit, do you really think I'm the type of person to make a decision about firing one of my employees without thinking it through? After the time we've spent together, in bed and out, I thought you'd at least trust me."
Chandler looked deep into his eyes and searched for her own answers. Slowly, her instincts grew sharper and she realized she'd made a mistake. This weekend had shown her the depth of the man who many believed had no soul; who possessed a heart of steel. He may be ruthless in the corporate climate, but her heart told her he was a man who made her laugh, a man who made her spirit soar while he brought her endless pleasure. A man like that would not make a decision to hurt someone unless he was positive it was justified or his only recourse.
She needed to trust Logan regarding Jim Chrisetta.
"No," she answered softly. "I don't think you're that type of person at all."
His arms tightened around her. "Do you trust me?" he asked. "I need to know you have complete trust in me, Chandler. I can't settle for anything less."
She slid her arms around his neck. "I have complete trust in you." She spoke the words against his lips. "I'd never do anything to hurt you. I'm so used to operating on my own instincts and fighting my own battles that I never stopped to think how this would affect you." She pressed her mouth to his and rubbed back and forth in a light caress. "I love you."
With a low groan, he pulled her toward him and deepened the kiss. His tongue swept through her mouth as if to collect each sweet word she uttered and pull it deep inside of him.
"Don't think you'll win every argument like this," he growled against her neck as he lowered her to the floor.
Her fingers worked deftly at the buttons on his shirt.
"I'll have to come up with a better way to punish you."
"I'll look forward to it."
Clothes were removed rapidly as the familiar hunger took hold. It was a while before they realized the phone was ringing insistently. He dragged his mouth from hers and stared into her eyes.
"We should probably answer it."
"Yep." His hand moved across her naked breasts and down her soft belly.
Chandler fought for breath. "You answered every message that machine threw at you. It would be criminal to let it keep ringing."
"You're right." His palm settled over the apex of her thighs. Slowly, he pressed. His fingers invaded her core and he watched with interest her emerald eyes cloud over in a sensuous haze.
"It could be a client," she gasped as his thumb massaged her.
"It could be Tommy."
"Let it ring." They laughed as he covered his body with hers.
"I should have known the problem would involve a woman." Thomas Weatherall let out his breath in disgust.
Logan laughed as he shut the door to his office and walked behind his desk. "You always were a smart man, Tommy."
"And you look pathetic. You have a sparkle in your eye, and my sources say you came into the office late this morning. You didn't answer my message until late this afternoon. And I left a 911 message on your cell."
"I was busy."
"I'll bet." A half smile touched Tommy's lips. "Okay, dammit, I like Chandler Santell, she's a hell of a woman. Hell of a lot of trouble too, from the last confrontation I had with her."
"I'll never be bored." Logan tossed the final proposal on the polished wood and leaned back in his chair. The leather creaked gently under the shift of weight. "I assume these are the papers you were waiting for."
Tommy picked up the contract and gave it a cursory glance. "I'm sure everything is in order, just as we discussed."
Logan lifted his coffee mug and took a swallow of the strong brew. His gaze cut to the man across the desk. "Jim Chrisetta stays."
Tommy waited a beat. Then chuckled. "You can't be serious. I've already told you his screw up cost us too much money. There's no way I'm going to open the door for more mistakes."
"I was the one who made a mistake by offering him the management promotion. I should have realized it wasn't suitable to his working style. I want to move him back to a similar position recently vacated."
Tommy studied him thoughtfully. "Hmmm, so Chandler already said. Are you telling me you agree with her?"
"She has nothing to do with this. She made some points I thought were worth considering, but my decision is my own and it's final. I don't cut employees for one mistake in four years. I've also taken into account the nature of his mistake. He got caught off guard, Tommy. Vicomdata got wind of it and was looking for confirmation. Jimmy thought he was talking to someone who was a friend of Charles. Unfortunate he cost us money. But not enough to let him go."
"Profit is profit. I don't make deals where I can't be guaranteed efficiency in all operations."
"Profit can easily be guaranteed and you know it. Good employees are hard to find. Jim is loyal, and he's a good worker. You're being a stubborn hard ass, Tommy, and I think you know it."
Tommy shook his head in amazement. "Hell man, you can't afford to walk away from a deal like this for one employee. Give him a good reference and he'll find something else. Don't let your emotions screw up one of the best deals you'll ever make. Now let's stop haggling and get down to it. If he doesn't go, I don't sign the contract."
"Then we don't sign the contract." He reached over and buzzed his secretary. "Connie, will you please call Tommy's lawyers and cancel the meeting for 4:00," he said. "Then push up my next appointment so I can be out of here early tonight." The red light on the phone went out. Logan studied Tommy, his jaw tight with determination.
Tommy cursed. "You're bluffing."
"You know me better than that."
Tension swirled in the room between them as Logan waited for an answer. After a few moments Tommy let out a short laugh and shook his head. "You're a real son of a bitch."
Logan smiled. "I know. Do we have a deal?"
Weatherall reached for the papers and slipped them into his briefcase. "Do I have a choice?" They shook hands. "Reschedule the lawyers. Let's do this before I get pissed and change my mind."
Tommy moved toward the door. "And to think I was worried you could be getting soft on me," he said in disgust. "By the way, can I tell Laura to stop making pork chops on Tuesdays?"
Logan chuckled. "Tell her I'll be calling for the recipe. I have a feeling my body can't take too many vegetables all at once. I'll go into shock."
"Yeah, but think of the other benefits your body is getting." With a laugh, Tommy let himself out of the office.
Logan walked to the window and stared out at the view of the Hudson River. He knew for the first time in his life he had made a business decision not wholly based on clear headed logic. For the first time, he felt an instinct in his gut that told him it had been the right decision.
Tommy was right. Chandler Santell was a hell of a lot of trouble.
Drumming his pen absently against the windowsill, he admitted his plan to seduce Chandler had been perfectly executed except for one tiny detail. By luring her so carefully into his trap, he had ended up in the same cage.
He was in love with her.
"Logan, I need to spe
As he waved the younger man into his office and motioned for him to shut the door, he made a mental note to exact punishment from his lover for putting him through a day of hell.
"Tell me what happened." Chandler practically pulled him into her apartment.