Dreams: Part Two (13 page)

Diana glanced back, her hand on the doorknob. “There’s a major project on,“ she explained. “We’re putting together semiannual financial forecasts.“

“You mean Crown’s using you to put it together.“

“Colby, this sort of thing is what I do. It’s my job.“

“You already gave Carruthers and Yale enough overtime during the years you worked for them. Look how they rewarded you.“

“I know, but this is important.“

“I doubt it. Crown’s trying to get his hooks back into you. He knows what buttons to push with you and he’s doing it.“

Irritation washed over Diana. “Don’t be ridiculous. He needs everyone he’s got on this project.“

“He doesn’t need you after four-thirty. Leave on time tonight, Diana. If you don’t, he’s just going to ask for more and more overtime.“

“How do you know?“ But deep down she was afraid Colby was right.

“I’ve got him figured and I don’t like him. He’s a user. He’s got a notion he can use you. I want to make sure he gets the message that he can’t. Not anymore.“

“But, Colby…“

“You’re a pregnant lady and you’ve got a husband. You’ve got other priorities now, Diana. Be home on time tonight.“

Her chin came up angrily. “Let’s get something straight, Colby. Just because you’re my husband, that doesn’t give you the right to tell me how to run my professional life.“

“Someone has to. You don’t seem to be able to run it on your own.“

She wrenched open the door and walked out into the hall, fuming. If she hadn’t been afraid of disturbing the neighbors, she would have slammed the door shut behind her. Instead she closed it far too softly. Then she strode angrily down the hall to the elevator and stabbed the call button.

This business of being married was proving complicated. Colby was getting much too dictatorial; that was all there was to it. He was arrogant, demanding and possessive. And he had taken a strong dislike to Aaron Crown.

What made matters so difficult was that Diana didn’t completely disagree with him about her boss. Crown was sliding quickly back into the familiar groove of using her skills and talents as much as he wished.

In the past she’d been cooperative because she had believed she was working for her own future at Carruthers and Yale. Diana knew now that she was not, but her sense of professionalism was ingrained. She had always been a hard worker, ever since school. It was difficult to tell the boss that she could not put in the overtime he had come to expect from her.

But it was proving even more difficult to call Colby each afternoon and tell him she would be a little late.

On the one hand, she had to admit Colby was right. But on the other hand Diana was not about to admit it. She had been running her own life too long to just casually turn over the reins to someone else, especially a man.

The situation was shaping up into a confrontation she badly wanted to avoid.

It was a twenty-minute drive from her apartment complex to the downtown high rise where Carruthers and Yale had its corporate offices. As she parked her Buick in the garage and stepped into the elevator, Diana thought about how easily she had slipped back into the routine of her old job.

It was as if everything had been on hold, waiting for her to return. The fact that a great many projects were almost two months behind was odd, to say the least. It was also one of the reasons she had been working late all week. The professional side of her nature hated to get behind in her work.

At noon, Diana glanced up from her desk to see a familiar face.

“Want to go to lunch, or are you going to work right through the lunch hour again today?“ Milly Sweeney asked.

Diana smiled regretfully. She had worked with Milly for nearly two years and liked her. The two women were about the same age and shared many of the same interests.

“I wish I could, Milly, but I’ve got to get through this summary today.“

“I don’t know why,“ Milly said bluntly. “It’s been sitting around since the day you left on your leave of absence.“

Diana sat back in her swivel chair and eyed her friend speculatively. “I know. Any idea why?“

“Sure. Come to lunch and I’ll tell you,“ Milly advised cheerfully.

Diana hesitated and then got to her feet. “It’s a deal.“

Fifteen minutes later when they were both seated in a crowded downtown restaurant that catered to the business crowd, Diana put her menu down on the table.

“Okay, Milly, let’s have it. Why are things in such a mess at the office?“

“Simple. I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count.“

“I don’t want to play guessing games, Milly.“

“All right, I’ll give it to you straight. Things ground to a halt the day you left, and they’ve been barely squeaking along since then. Crown has been barely holding it together waiting for you to return. He let most of the really crucial stuff slide, hoping you’d return quickly. He never expected you to stay away as long as you did. He didn’t realize you’

d be so upset about not getting that promotion. It came as a great shock to him.“

Diana frowned. “But he must have known how I’d feel after I didn’t get that new position.“

Milly smiled pityingly. “You don’t understand the corporate male psyche, my friend. I’ll admit I don’t always comprehend it myself, but after you left a couple of the finer nuances of Crown’s mind-set became very clear.“

“Such as?“

“Such as the fact that he honestly thought you’d stick around after you got turned down for the promotion. After all, your present job is a good one. You’ve already risen higher than most of the other female employees of C and Y, and he figures you ought to be damned grateful. You’ve always shown every sign of corporate loyalty. You’ve always been more than willing to make the boss look good. You have, to be blunt, been the perfect corporate female. How was he to know you would take deep offense when you were turned down for a promotion?“

“What in the world did he expect me to do?“ Diana demanded forcefully.

“He expected you to go on playing the role of hardworking, faithful employee and be grateful to have gotten as far as you had,“ Milly said.

Diana stared at her and then, in spite of herself, a tiny, rueful smile curved her mouth. “It does sound a bit like playing the classic role of being a good, faithful wife while I thank my lucky stars I’ve got a ring on my finger, doesn’t it?“

Milly grinned. “That’s exactly how men expect women to behave in the corporate world – as wives. We’re supposed to dress nicely, be deferential to males, work hard and not make too many demands. And in some cases, the male bosses even get upset if you don’t agree to sleep with them. But above all, we’re supposed to know our place and stay in it. Come on, Diana, you know all this as well as I do. You’re not naive.“

“I know. But I had thought things would be different with Aaron Crown. He always seemed so supportive.“

“The reason Aaron has risen so fast during the past four years and has taken you with him is because you’ve made him look fabulous. The truth is, he’s just another pretty face. Very good at playing the corporate game, but no real solid ability to back it up. He feeds on people like you who can make him look good.“

“I realize that, but I still thought I could get what I wanted out of the deal.“

“Not likely. He’s taken all the credit for the financial turnaround in our division. You know as well as I do that he’s not the kind to share the glory. Why should management promote you when they believed it was all Crown’s doing?

Besides, who would believe that it was a woman who was responsible for the changes that had taken place?“

“I’ll admit a part of me was curious to see how Aaron would get on without me, but to tell you the truth I assumed he’d find someone else to take my place.“

“He hasn’t been looking for anyone else,“ Milly said.

“He was that sure I’d return?“

“Yup. He was that sure. And he was right, wasn’t he?“

Diana smiled slowly. “In a way.“

“What’s that sneaky smile supposed to mean?“

“There have been a few changes in my life since I left C and Y, Milly.“

“I know. You’re married. That came as a real shock to the Crown Prince, let me tell you. He was stunned when he found out.“

“That’s not the only change. I’m pregnant.“

Milly’s jaw dropped. “You’re what?“

“You heard me. I only came back to good old C and Y because I wanted to work until the baby arrives. Then I’ll be quitting for good.“

Milly’s eyes lit up with laughter. “Does Crown know?“

“Nope. But I’m sure he’ll figure it out when I start wearing maternity clothes into the office.“

“And you won’t be coming back to work at Carruthers and Yale after the baby is born?“

Diana shook her head. “Not a chance. I hadn’t intended to come back at all after my leave of absence. I was job-hunting. Why should I want to work there permanently? There’s no future for a woman at C and Y.“

Milly grinned. “You realize, of course, that this is the perfect feminine revenge. It’s going to drive Crown insane when he realizes you’re only using your job as temporary fill-in work until you have the baby. He’ll start working on you right away to get you to change your mind.“

“About having the baby? It’s a little late for that.“

“No, Diana,“ Milly said patiently, “not about having the baby. About coming back to work for him just as soon as your maternity leave is over.“

“No way,“ Diana said calmly.

Milly studied her for a minute and then picked up her salad fork. “How’s married life?“

“You should know. You’ve been married twice.“

“True, but I’m still curious. Somehow I always assumed you’d manage to avoid the fate altogether. You never seemed particularly interested in getting married.“

“Things change,“ Diana murmured.

“And getting pregnant so quickly. That surprises me, too. I didn’t think you were the maternal type.“

“I didn’t think I was, either,“ Diana admitted dryly.
“I
assure you, I was as shocked as everyone else is going to be.“

Something in her tone must have cued Milly. Her friend looked at her, a slow grin shaping her lips.

“No,“ said Milly. “Don’t tell me it was an accident? At your age? And you decided to marry because of it? Nobody does that these days.“

“I’ve got news for you, Milly. There are still a few men around who insist on doing the right thing.“

“And the one who got you pregnant was one of that rare breed?“

“Uh-huh.“

“I wonder if there are any more where he came from,“ Milly said wistfully.

At four-fifteen that afternoon, Aaron Crown paused in the doorway of Diana’s office. The fluorescent light gleamed on his gilded head and bounced off his very white teeth as he smiled.

“Looks like another long day, doesn’t it, Diana? Hope you don’t mind staying over for a couple of hours. That report is already several weeks late. I’d like to have it on Rensley’s desk Wednesday morning.“

Diana took a breath. She had known this was coming. She also knew she could not pick up the phone and tell Colby she would be late again tonight. “I’m sorry, Aaron, I won’t be able to work late this evening.“ She tried a friendly smile. “The demands of married life, you know.“

Aaron looked troubled. “That report is crucial, Diana. You know that.“

“I’ll get back to it first thing in the morning,“ she assured him. “I can have it done by Friday.“

“Rensley will be a lot more impressed with this department if we get it in by Wednesday.“

Diana looked at him, and for the first time she was conscious of a curious sense of freedom. This job was not the most important thing in the world. She’d walked away from it once, and she was planning to walk away from it again in a few months. She didn’t have to put up with Aaron Crown’s quiet coercion.

“Tell me something, Aaron. Which of us will he be impressed with, if this report reaches his desk by Wednesday?

You or me?“

Anger flashed briefly in Crown’s expression. “What’s that supposed to mean? You know I’ve always shared credit with my staff.“

“Apparently sharing the credit wasn’t enough to get me that last promotion. Let’s face it, Aaron. There’s nothing in this for me. Why should I bother to work overtime just so you can get this report to Rensley by Wednesday?“

Aaron was completely taken aback. “I thought you were a professional, Diana.“

“I
am. And my professional opinion of this job is that it’s a dead end. Therefore, I will only work the hours for which I’m paid. No more overtime. I’ve got other things to do with my life.“

“What’s the matter with you?“ he snapped. “This isn’t like you. You’ve never had this kind of attitude before.“

“I guess marriage has corrupted me,“ she said, amused by his anger. She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got ten minutes left. Do you want me to spend them working on this report or chatting with you?“

“Who the hell do you think you are?“ Aaron stormed furiously.

“I’m the same person I always was, but there have been a few changes in my life. I’ve had to reorganize my priorities.“

“What’s the matter? You can’t wait to get home to hop into bed with that new husband of yours? Is that it?“

Aaron took two steps into the office, his face a mask of fury. “You should have told me months ago that you weren’t getting what you needed in bed. I could have handled that end of things for you. It’s just that you always seemed so damned frigid – I got the impression you weren’t interested in sex.“

“Stop it, Aaron;“ she said crisply, getting to her feet to collect her coat and purse. “You're totally out of line.“

“Damn you, I need that report by Wednesday.“

“Then you’ll have to stay late and work on it yourself.“ She started to slip into her coat.

“You can’t do this to me, you little bitch.“ He reached for her.