out of reach. Crystal stood up and patted Vaughnâs busy hands, stilling them. âListen, Iâm not prying. I never have. If youâre happyâwhatever the reasonâIâm happy. If you feel like talking, you know Iâm always here.â
Vaughn smiled up at her friend of over fifteen years. âThanks,â she said softly. âI know.â
âGood.â Then Crystal did a quick switchback to her role as chief of staff. âOnce youâve gotten that smile off your face, go over your agenda and let me know if there need to be any changes. Not that anything can be changed.â She smiled mischievously. âBut you know how I like your input.â
Vaughn flashed what could only be termed a sneer. Crystal stuck out her tongue in response.
âIâll be back in an hour.â Crystal headed for the door.
âCould you send Tess in? I need to respond to these letters.â
âIâll send her right in.â Crystal closed the door softly behind her.
As soon as Vaughn was alone, her thoughts drifted back to Justin. She wondered what he was doing right now. Was he thinking of her? Her heart beat a little faster. What was he wearing today? Did he splash on that cologne that made her brain turn to mush?
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. What was happening to her? This daydreaming and fantasizing was so unlike her. She seemed to have become engulfed in a whirlwind, a storm of unimaginable power. She was spinning helplessly. It was a heady, frightening sensation. For the first time in her life, at least since her teens, her emotions seemed to be totally out of her control. She couldnât seem to rein them in and put on the brakes. Although there had been other men in her life, she had always felt some sense of control over her feelings, some sense of reality. Not now. And Justin Montgomery was the eye of her storm.
The light tapping on her door and the ringing of the phone competed for her attention.
âCome in,â she called out, while reaching for her private line.
âYes. Vaughn Hamilton.â
âGood morning, Vaughn.â
Her stomach did a quick lurch. âHi, Dad.â She waved Tess inside and motioned for her to sit. âHow are you?â
âIâm fine. I thought we could meet for lunch and discuss a few things.â
Vaughn frowned slightly. She didnât like the sound of âdiscuss a few things.â
âHas something come up, Daddy? Because if itâs not urgent, I really have a full schedule today.â
âI believe it would be in your best interest to fit me into your schedule. There are matters that must be dealt with immediately. What time is good for you?â he continued.
Vaughn sighed heavily and clenched her jaw. She knew sheâd give in even as she told her father about her agenda. But she at least wanted to make him feel a twinge of guilt for disrupting her day, though she knew he wouldnât.
âHow about 2:30?â she said flatly. âIâd really appreciate it if you could come here. Itâs going to be difficult for me to get away.â
âIâll be there at two,â he replied. âCourt reconvenes at three. See you then.â Elliott Hamilton hung up the receiver and looked, once again, at the pages in front of him. He pressed his lips together and slid his glasses from his nose. With his free hand, he rubbed it roughly across his face. He didnât like it; he didnât like it one bit. Vaughn had to be brought under control. Everything rested on appearances. Heâd worked too hard to get her to where she was today. He wasnât going to let her ruin it; thatâs all there was to it. He slapped his hand against his mahogany desk with finality. Thatâs all there was to it.
Â
The Chaney Building, which housed Justinâs suite of offices, loomed ahead. Moments later, Justin eased his BMW into the underground parking garage and swung
Vaughn smiled up at her friend of over fifteen years. âThanks,â she said softly. âI know.â
âGood.â Then Crystal did a quick switchback to her role as chief of staff. âOnce youâve gotten that smile off your face, go over your agenda and let me know if there need to be any changes. Not that anything can be changed.â She smiled mischievously. âBut you know how I like your input.â
Vaughn flashed what could only be termed a sneer. Crystal stuck out her tongue in response.
âIâll be back in an hour.â Crystal headed for the door.
âCould you send Tess in? I need to respond to these letters.â
âIâll send her right in.â Crystal closed the door softly behind her.
As soon as Vaughn was alone, her thoughts drifted back to Justin. She wondered what he was doing right now. Was he thinking of her? Her heart beat a little faster. What was he wearing today? Did he splash on that cologne that made her brain turn to mush?
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. What was happening to her? This daydreaming and fantasizing was so unlike her. She seemed to have become engulfed in a whirlwind, a storm of unimaginable power. She was spinning helplessly. It was a heady, frightening sensation. For the first time in her life, at least since her teens, her emotions seemed to be totally out of her control. She couldnât seem to rein them in and put on the brakes. Although there had been other men in her life, she had always felt some sense of control over her feelings, some sense of reality. Not now. And Justin Montgomery was the eye of her storm.
The light tapping on her door and the ringing of the phone competed for her attention.
âCome in,â she called out, while reaching for her private line.
âYes. Vaughn Hamilton.â
âGood morning, Vaughn.â
Her stomach did a quick lurch. âHi, Dad.â She waved Tess inside and motioned for her to sit. âHow are you?â
âIâm fine. I thought we could meet for lunch and discuss a few things.â
Vaughn frowned slightly. She didnât like the sound of âdiscuss a few things.â
âHas something come up, Daddy? Because if itâs not urgent, I really have a full schedule today.â
âI believe it would be in your best interest to fit me into your schedule. There are matters that must be dealt with immediately. What time is good for you?â he continued.
Vaughn sighed heavily and clenched her jaw. She knew sheâd give in even as she told her father about her agenda. But she at least wanted to make him feel a twinge of guilt for disrupting her day, though she knew he wouldnât.
âHow about 2:30?â she said flatly. âIâd really appreciate it if you could come here. Itâs going to be difficult for me to get away.â
âIâll be there at two,â he replied. âCourt reconvenes at three. See you then.â Elliott Hamilton hung up the receiver and looked, once again, at the pages in front of him. He pressed his lips together and slid his glasses from his nose. With his free hand, he rubbed it roughly across his face. He didnât like it; he didnât like it one bit. Vaughn had to be brought under control. Everything rested on appearances. Heâd worked too hard to get her to where she was today. He wasnât going to let her ruin it; thatâs all there was to it. He slapped his hand against his mahogany desk with finality. Thatâs all there was to it.
Â
The Chaney Building, which housed Justinâs suite of offices, loomed ahead. Moments later, Justin eased his BMW into the underground parking garage and swung