Page 68 of Marcel
“She is smilingway too much and insisting on taking on several client meetings.”
“I will dealwith her when I get there.”
*****
“Give us aminute, please.”
Nikki’sassistant hastened out of the office and closed the door behind her.
“Hi, darling.You are late.” She looked up from the documents in front of herwith a smile.
“Was thatdeliberate?”
“Was whatdeliberate?”
“Last night,the whole seduction scene. Was it a ploy to get me to sleep in?”
“You needed therest.” She told him off-handedly. “I turned off youralarm. You have been taking care of me for the past couple of days,and now that I am better-”
“You arebetter?” He tried to hold onto his temper, but it slowlyslipped away. He could see from the pot of coffee on her desk thatshe had been at it since she arrived. His housekeeper had also toldhim she had not had breakfast except a large cup of coffee.
“I see. Itsounds like you had a cold and are now fully recovered. You weresupposed to take a few days.”
“I took a dayand a half, and that’s more than enough time. I also spoke toyour mother, Grace, and Julia, and everything is being arranged fornext Saturday. I am sure you have some things to catch up on-”
“I would likeyou to grieve properly. You lost your mother-”
“I lost mymother a long time ago. That woman who was in that costly nursinghome was a shell. I am done grieving for someone who did notexist.”
“And that’sthe way you want to deal with it? Pretend that it is all over?”
“Yes. Now,excuse me, I have pressing work to do.” She looked up at himwith a bright smile. “I was thinking we could check out Kelly’snew restaurant-”
“Dammit,Nikki! This is not you. You need to get ahead of it, and I beg you tolet me take you home.”
“I am fine.”
“You are notfine, goddammit! Andrew had to give you a sedative-”
“I am over it!”Pushing away from her desk, she stalked to the coffee pot and poureda cup.
“Don’tyou think you have enough?”
“I will knowwhen I have enough.”
He would have turnedaround and left until he saw the tremors in the hands holding thecup.
“Put down thedamn coffee and drink some water. You are existing on adrenaline andcaffeine.” Striding towards her, he practically wrestled thecup from her.” Putting the cup down, he placed his hands on hershoulders, his expression gentling. “How about we go home andwork from there? I can grab a few files and take them with me-”
“No!” Hereyes flashed. “Stop trying to control my life. I told you thatI am fine. I am not going to play the hypocrite and stay at homemourning a woman who decided that dying was better than being withme.
My mother died whenher husband did, and there is nothing I can do about it. I am goingto bury her next Saturday and be done with it.” Pushing awayfrom him, she grabbed the cup and returned to her desk.
“Please leaveme alone.”
Staring at her for afew fulminating seconds, he whirled and left the room.
Leaningback against the chair, she closed her eyes and took shaky breaths.Her heart was racing, and the dizziness that had plagued her sincethis morning had returned. And her stomach was tied up in knots, herchest feeling tight.