Catering to the CEO (19 page)

Within an
hour, everyone had settled in their rooms and Cassie was busy setting their lunch out on the table she’d set on the deck.  The weather was unseasonably warm for late October on the Carolina coast and she was grateful for it.  Adam did switch on two of the four heat lamps for good measure and when the last of the food was on the table; Cassie held the door as Adam led them all out to their seats. 

Seeing that everyone was settled, she took one last glance outside and frowned.  She knew she had set the table for seven but now spotted an empty chair – with place setting – next to Adam.  Turning to head back into the kitchen, Cassie heard Adam excuse himself and walk towards her. 

“Cassandra?” 

She turned and saw him looking at her expectantly.   “I know I set that table for seven, Adam.  I didn’t think I needed to interfere with your meeting,” she whispered so as to not have their guests overhear.

“And I told you that you were our hostess for the weekend; that means dining with us.  Now please, Cassandra, our guests are waiting.”  He held out a hand and stared so intently at her that Cassie didn’t have it in her to argue.  She let herself be led to the table and apologized for the delay.

“I just wanted to make sure that I had remembered everything,” she said lightly as the conversation started to buzz around her. 

They started with an antipasto platter followed with a cold tri-colored tortellini salad with pesto and finished with individual seafood quiches with field greens salad on the side and freshly baked rolls.  All in all, Cassie was pleased with the menu and the praise that followed the meal reinforced that she had made all of the right choices. 

When she stood to begin clearing, Adam excused himself and the men to go down to the den to talk business.  The wives all waved and said good bye and yet stayed in their seats, content to listen to the waves and enjoy the scenery. 

“Lunch was amazing, Cassandra,” Danielle said when Cassie finally finished and came back out to the deck.

“Please, call me Cassie.  Adam is the only one who insists on being so formal.”  All three women nodded in understanding.  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Danielle sighed and looked out at the water.  “You must never tire of this view.”

Cassie couldn’t help but agree.  “I’ve only been here twice but honestly, if you are early risers, I highly recommend watching the sunrise.  It is breathtaking.”

“Is the house new or you?” Elizabeth Chapin asked, her tone slightly clipped.

The other two wives had the manners to look appalled at the statement and Cassie could only hope that she could answer in a way that wouldn’t raise anyone’s ire.  “I believe that Adam’s had the house for a while.  We’ve worked together for over two years and there’s never been a need for me to come to this home.”  That sounded good, didn’t it? She asked herself nervously.

Elizabeth made a non-committal sound and before she could say anything else, both Camille and Danielle began questioning Cassie on the shopping and spas that they would be visiting the next day.  While she answered everything with a smile that she hoped reached her eyes, Cassie couldn’t help but wonder if playing hostess was such a good idea.  Although two of the three were very pleasant and sociable, it was going to be harder to win over Elizabeth Chapin and doing so was completely out of her comfort zone. 

It was only two in the afternoon and Cassie cursed her own efficiency because there was nothing for her to do for at least the next three hours except to socialize with these women.  Deciding to just forge ahead and deal with it, she stood and faced the group.  “Our spa appointments aren’t until tomorrow but if anyone’s up for a tour of the town and some light shopping, I would be more than happy to lead the way!”

Her tone was cheery and full of enthusiasm and soon the four of them were walking out the door and piling into the Lexus SUV Adam had brought with him for just such an outing.  As part of their plans, Adam and Cassie had agreed that while he was in meetings with the men, she should do whatever she needed to with the wives and not disturb him.  Part of her wanted to run in and do just that and ask how exactly she was to handle the questions of their relationship but decided that Adam must trust her to do the right thing so off she went.

Three hours later, Cassie felt as if she had run a marathon both mentally and physically.  Luckily by the time they arrived back at the house, Debbie was already in the kitchen busily doing what needed to be done.  Cassie could have kissed her.

The wives, each loaded down with purchases, headed up to their rooms to relax for a couple of hours before dinner.  Cassie pulled out her apron, clipped her hair back and wished that she could do the same.  She’d kill for a soak in the tub and maybe a nap before facing this group again but knew there was work to be done.

Adam found her sautéing some fresh vegetables while Debbie was setting the table again outside.  “How was your afternoon?” he asked, leaning forward to smell what she was so easily tossing.

Cassie wanted so desperately to say that all was wonderful but something in her expression had Adam stopping her before she could speak.  He leaned forward and turned off the burner and took the pan from her hand and moved it to a cooler spot and called out to Debbie to take over for a few minutes. 

“Adam…I need to be…”  He took her hand and pulled her from the kitchen amidst her protests.  They took the elevator up to the master suite and didn’t say a word until they were there. 

Walking her over to the bed he sat Cassie down and then stood and asked her the question again.  “Truthfully this time, if you please…”

With a sigh of frustration, she glared at him.  “Really, Adam, I have a meal to prepare.  I don’t have time for this!”

“I say we do.”  He folded his arms across his chest and in that moment Cassie knew there would be no swaying him.  She’d do well to just answer him and get back to preparing dinner.

“It was fine.  After you all went to the den to start your meeting, we sat and talked for a bit and then we went shopping.  Now we’re back, they’re all resting and I’m cooking.”

If there was one thing Adam had learned about Cassie, it was that she was always happy, except when she wasn’t.  And right now he knew that she wasn’t.

Saying nothing, he merely arched a brow at her and waited.

She hated when he did that!  “Okay, fine.  There was a moment after lunch where I was asked if the house was new or if I was and it just…well, it just was awkward.  I guess I didn’t expect anyone to be so forward with their questions, that’s all.  And that’s why I didn’t want to play hostess.  I don’t want the questions, Adam!”

Adam came and sat beside her and gently laid her back on the bed and kissed her.  “There, was that so hard?” he whispered, tracing one long finger along her jaw as he kissed her gently along the opposite cheek, down the slender column of her throat. 

Humming a response, Cassie knew he didn’t fully understand why she was upset but at the moment couldn’t care less.

“Let me tell you a little something about our guests,” he began in between kisses.  “The
Rhodes are old money, very respected.  They have four kids and about a dozen grandkids already.  The Chamberlain’s are the newlyweds of the group and Max took over the company from Danielle’s ailing father.  He’s eager to keep up her family’s tradition in the company and yet make a name for himself.  Danielle would rather they left the family business and live on his family’s farm.  They’re naïve and young and desperate to start a family.”

“The Chapin’s are part of an arranged marriage; a business merger.  They have no children, nor do they want them.  She’ll eventually agree to have at least one because his father’s will stipulate
s one.  She’s a cold woman who wanted to run daddy’s business but in their family, women don’t run companies.  I imagine she tells poor old Martin what to do most of the time and probably resents being relegated to the wives for the weekend.”

Adam lifted his h
ead and stared down into Cassie’s now serene face.  “She was the one who made the comment, wasn’t she?”

Cassie nodded and Adam rose and held out a hand to help her up from the bed.  “Don’t let her bother you, Cassandra.  She’s just a bitter woman.”  He pulled her along to the elevator door and pushed the button.  Onc
e back inside, he backed her into the corner and kissed her thoroughly.  “Don’t let anyone take that sparkle out of your eyes ever again.”

Before Cassie could respond, they were back on the main floor and Adam strode away to start fixin
g drinks and Cassie ran back into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on what promised to be a spectacular meal.

****

After breakfast the next morning, Cassie gathered the ladies together and they headed back into town for their spa appointments.  She felt a little sheepish because Adam had handed her his gold card for her to use during their outing. 

While in bed last night he had asked her what she had purchased during the shopping spree earlier in the day since all of the wives had bragged about their findings.  When she had confessed that she hadn’t bought herself anything, Adam had frowned and asked why.

“Adam, I don’t live in their league,” she’d said simply.  “I don’t find a lot of joy in shopping just for the sake of spending money.  My business is too new for me to make frivolous purchases.”

As Cassie was walking out the door on her way to chauffeur everyone to their spa appointments, Adam had pulled her aside, kissed her deeply and placed the card in her hand with a promise that she be frivolous.  His smile was wicked and Cassie’s mind raced with the possibilities in which they could both benefit from her frivolity.  She smiled all the way to the spa.

Cassie and Danielle were in the same room for their hot stone massages.  When they had booked the packages, Cassie had thought that Adam had merely taken care of the executive wives but she had been pleasantly surprised to find that he had booked all of the treatments for her, too.  His generosity would most definitely be rewarded, she told herself. 

Cassie was dreamily fantasizing about the night to come when Danielle cleared her throat.  “Um…Cassie?  Can I ask you something?”

“Sure…”

“Well, Max and I…well, we’re doing what needs to be done for the company but I’m just not…I don’t know…I don’t think I’m going to like being a corporate wife.”  She looked over at Cassie and waited for her to say how selfish she was being.  Like
Elizabeth had.

“Being a corporate wife is certainly not easy,” Cassie began.  “I mean, you’ll be spending time apart and even when you get to travel with Max, he’ll be in meetings a lot.”

Danielle leaned up slightly and smiled.  It was a relief to find someone who understood her.  “Exactly!  I mean, we’re newlyweds, we want to start a family and it’s just not happening!”

Cassie chuckled.  “Well, things don’t always happen as we plan them.  Getting pregnant is a funny thing.”  She shared with Danielle Katie’s story about her unplanned pregnancy.  “Believe me; as much as we all love Ella and can’t imagine our lives without her, I’m sure that Katie wishes that she had come along a little later when she was married.”

“Do you want kids?”

A sad smile crept across Cassie’s face.  “Yes I do.  As a matter of fact I just had a procedure done to treat my Endometriosis.  If I didn’t do something, I might never be able to have kids.  As it is, I’m hoping that it worked, but I won’t know until I’m actively trying to have a baby.”

“Does Adam want kids?”

Cassie’s first response was a
“hell no!”
but decided to keep that to herself.  “I don’t know, honestly, and our relationship is pretty new so I don’t think either of us is planning or even thinking ahead along those lines.”

Danielle laid her head back down and sighed.  “I want to be supportive of Max; I really do.  I just never thought that he’d be that corporate guy, you know?”

“Maybe it’s also that you never thought that your dad would need someone to take over for him.”  She said the words gently and when she looked at Danielle, she saw tears in her eyes.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Their attendants came in before they could say anymore and the next few hours passed in a flurry of manicures, pedicures and facials.  Lunch was served to them compliments of the on-site restaurant and while Cassie wasn’t thrilled with their menu, no one else seemed to complain. 

By the time they were done, Cassie honestly felt like a wet noodle.  Her body was so relaxed and she felt so good that she wasn’t ready to think about heading back to the house and getting back into work mode and preparing for di
nner.  They all climbed back into the car and Cassie decided that she wanted to play a little bit more and with a check of her clock she saw that she had a solid two hours before she absolutely had to be back at the house.

“Anyone up for a little more shopping?”

With a car full of agreement, they headed to the mall and Cassie found numerous frivolous items that would guarantee a proper thank you to Adam for a perfect day.

Much, much later, sprawled across the king sized bed, Adam breathlessly whispered “You’re welcome.”

Chapter Thirteen