Proposition
Authors: Ola Wegner
Published by
Melange Books, LLC
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Proposition
, Copyright 2010, 2011-2014 by Ola Wegner
ISBN: 978-1-61235-811-6
Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in the United States of America.
Cover Design by Caroline Andrus
PROPOSITION
by Ola Wegner
Librarian Amy Carpenter decides to marry a wealthy man, whom she barely knows and whom she does not love. She agrees to the arranged marriage with Jake Barry in order to rescue her father's company. She is a both pretty and intelligent, but she underestimates herself in many ways.
Jake Barry is an entrepreneur and owns a building company, among others firms. He is very successful professionally, but feels less fortunate in his personal life. Jake is ruthless and even manipulative if he wants something
—and he wants Amy.
Amy wants to develop feelings for her husband, but is wary though she sees the tender side of Jake. Can the two learn to understand one another, as well as to deal with their painful past relationships and past partners; in order to find the true love both are learning they deserve?
Table of Contents
Prologue
“Jake, over here!” Thomas Carpenter waved at the tall man who’d just entered the crowded steakhouse.
Jake Barry lifted his hand and smiled in recognition. He made his way to the far secluded booth, loosening his tie in the process. The men shook hands and exchanged a short hug in greeting.
“How’re you doing?” Thomas asked as they both sat down.
Jake smiled. “Fine, things are busy but good.”
“I’ve heard.” Thomas leaned back into his seat. “They’re speaking of you, you know.”
“They are,” Jake noted absently.
“Sure they are! It’s a rare thing when someone from our town ends up on the list of the five hundred biggest companies in the country.”
“I barely made it,” Jake said calmly. “I was in the last hundred.”
“Yes, but come on
...at your youthful age, it’s something huge,” Thomas cheered. “I’ve never even had the slightest chance to get there. I’m proud of you.”
“I’m glad about it.” Jake looked to the side, distracted. “It’s satisfying that the company’s developing.”
Thomas watched him through narrowed eyes. “You don’t seem very enthusiastic about it. Like you don’t care.”
“I care, I do,” Jake assured hurriedly, “it’s just
...” he hesitated for a moment and then shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
The waiter came, which put an end to their conversation. They placed their orders.
“Amy would have trotted me down seeing me eating here,” Thomas remarked.
There was an instant shift in Jakes’ expression. “She would?” he asked quietly.
“You bet.” Thomas nodded. “She insists I eat healthy, you know all that green stuff, veggies, and fruits... she even convinced Claire to control what I eat. I won’t get any of these at home.” His eyes followed the waiter carrying the juicy steaks to the nearby table.
“I’m sure she wants what’s best for you,” Jake pointed out.
“Oh, I know.” Thomas smiled. “She’s a good kid.”
There was a silence for a while, before Jake asked in a casual, almost indifferent tone. “And how is she? Amy?”
“She’s good.” Thomas searched Jake’s face for a moment. “Actually, I talked with her yesterday. You do know that she’s in Europe, don’t you?”
Jake frowned. “No.”
“Yeah, she’s been gone for over two weeks now. She should be touring Versailles today, if I remember correctly.”
Jake started to fumble with a paper napkin. “She’s travelling with some friends?”
“No, alone.”
Jake scowled. “Alone? And you let her?”
Thomas laughed. “Let her? Do you really think that I could forbid her this? She’s twenty six.”
“So what? She’s your daughter,” Jake insisted. “It’s dangerous for a young single woman to be all alone in a foreign country.”
Thomas waved his hand dismissively. “She’ll be fine. Look I know that she can give the impression of being this tiny little woman who needs constant protection, but trust me, she can take care of herself. Besides, she’s staying with some friends there. She met them through the Internet.”
Jake’s scowl deepened even more, twisting his handsome features. “You don’t even know whom she’s staying with?” he questioned unbelievingly. “Are you aware of all the shit that you can run into on the Internet these days?”
Thomas gave the other man a level look. “Don’t exaggerate. She met those women through some literary society, or something like that. She says that they’re taking a good care of her and are very welcoming. What? Don’t look at me like that! She’s not a child.”
Jake’s face suggested that he wasn’t in the least convinced with his companion’s argument.
Thomas sighed. “Jake, look, I know that it’s none of my business but I think you like her...a lot.” He cleared his throat. “Amy, I mean.”
Jake’s expression turned cold. “Do I give you that impression?”
“You sponsored the new wing in the library where she works. You helped me when I was financially pressed,” Thomas reminded flatly.
“So what?” Jake demanded, defensively. “You’re my friend, I owe you a lot. It’s only right that I helped you when you needed it. As for the library, it was a good cause. I would have given the money to some charity anyway.”
“Yes, but...” Thomas hesitated. “Look, I’m not stupid, and I think that I know you pretty well.” He leaned forward. “And I do think there’s more to it than you want to admit.”
Jake was silent. He averted his eyes.
“You could try to ask her out when she returns,” Thomas suggested gently. “You see she’s not the type of girl who would make the first move. She’s rather shy with men. She doesn’t talk about it, but I think she hasn’t dated anyone seriously since college.”
Jake forced a tight smile. “So you say that I’ve got your blessing?”
“Yes, you have,” Thomas said earnestly. “She’s my little girl and I want the best for her. I’m sure that you’re the man I can trust with her. I don’t know how I would survive if someone hurt or mistreated her. I think that I would kill the bastard. And I know you would take care of her, keep her safe... hey, go with her to Europe the next time. Look, I don’t want to put any pressure on you but ...give this idea a second thought, will you?”
Jake just stared at the other man for a moment without saying anything.
“I think that our food’s coming,” he said at last.
Chapter One
Amy looked around her condo with a note of satisfaction in her hazel eyes. She liked it here. It was her very own private space, where she could find some peace, and quiet, cut herself off from the outside world. She’d decorated it in the exact way she’d wanted; hardwood floors, clean pastel colors, lots of books, pictures, all kinds of knick-knacks and house plants.
The condo was small; just a living room connected with the eating area and the kitchen, one bedroom with a walk-in closet and a large bathroom, plus a smaller guest toilet. However, the rooms were spacious, high, and full of light. Best of all, the condo was on the top floor of the building, with a marvelous view over her hometown and the nearby park, and a sizeable roof terrace, where she could grow her beloved plants.
Four days ago, she’d returned home from her over three week long trip to Europe. She was only now coming to be herself after jet leg and the time change. She loved all the places she’d seen, but it was nice to be back home again.
So far she’d managed to do the laundry, and as always, after the holiday, she’d felt an overpowering need to do a thorough inspection of her wardrobe. She’d brought some new clothes with her, bought on sale in London and Paris, and some of her old things definitely didn’t go with the new European style she intended to incorporate from now on.
She’d just started to sort through the pile of blouses when her mobile phone rang. Her face broke into a wide smile as she saw her brother’s ID. He hadn’t talked with her yet since her return, which didn’t surprise her much. Dad told her how busy Peter was nowadays with his new responsibilities in the company. Amy was happy that her baby brother seemed to at last have found his place in the family business.
When she heard Peter’s first words, her smile disappeared from her face and cold fear gripped her. She took her keys, and purse, and left the apartment, wearing sweatpants and a tank top.
The porter from her building helped her to hail a cab as her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn’t even perform such a simple action. Fortunately, the hospital Peter named wasn’t far away from the place she lived so it took only twenty minutes to get there.
When she entered the emergency room, she rushed to the reception desk, but then she saw her brother. He sat in the waiting area, his face hidden in his hands.
“How is he?” she asked breathlessly as she knelt beside him.
His blonde head jerked up. “They say he’ll live,” he whispered, his face white as a sheet.
Relief washed over her and she dropped heavily on the plastic chair next to him. “Thank God. Can we see him?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Peter shook his head. “He’s still unconscious.”
“What happened?” He was fine when I talked with him yesterday, and when he picked me up from the airport four days ago.”
“That’s my fault,” he said quietly, avoiding her eyes. “I lost
... lost some money.”
The breath caught in her throat. “You mean the company’s money?” she whispered.
He nodded in confirmation.
“Again? How could you?” she demanded. “You know that the company means everything to him.”
Peter shrugged his arms. “It was bad luck, a bad investment. Ben ensured me that everything would be...,” he said in a weak voice.
“Ben? You mean Ben Harris?!” she cried unbelievably. “You know very well that he’s completely unreliable. He can’t be trusted! No one in his right mind does business with him.”
“It was a perfect deal.” Peter tried to defend himself. “No risk at all! I wanted to earn something on my own.” He sounded defiant now.
Amy put her hands on her hips. “Well, congratulations. You put our father into the hospital with that perfect deal.”
“It was just bad luck. That’s all,” he murmured. “You can’t believe that I did it on purpose!” he cried.
Amy closed her eyes. It was useless, trying to explain anything to him. Peter was her younger brother and she loved him despite the way he was. But it was getting harder and harder to overlook and forgive his constant transgressions and going astray, especially when their father’s health suffered because of it. Sometimes she thought that Peter had taken too much after their mother. He was so different from her and their father.
“How much?” she asked only.
Peter swallowed. “Enough to put the company on the verge of bankruptcy.”
“Does Dad know how serious the situation is?”
He nodded. “Reynolds, the chief accountant, came this morning and told him about the missing money. I had to admit that I had taken it. Then dad felt a pain in his chest and collapsed
....” Peter hid his face in his hands again.
Amy bit her lower lip worriedly. “He shouldn’t have authorized you to make any kind of financial decisions. Damn it!” She stood up, her fists clenched. “I tried to tell him that it was risky, but he wanted to trust you. He wanted a son whom he could trust and rely on.” She knew she sounded cruel, but she didn’t care. “He hoped that one day you’d take over the company from him, as he had from his father.
Peter didn’t react to her words and didn’t answer, just stared at the floor. He acted as if he hadn’t heard her. Amy looked at him and felt so helpless.
“You’re Thomas Carpenter’s family, am I right?”
She lifted her eyes at the weary looking doctor who’d just approached them.
“Yes, doctor.” She stood up. “I’m Amy Carpenter and this is my brother, Peter,” she introduced herself and gestured to Peter who still sat on the chair, his face averted. “How is he?”
“He’s better, conscious, but sleeping,” the doctor said distractedly. His eyes rested on the files he had in his hand and he didn’t look at the siblings. “He was very lucky that the help came so quickly. It doesn’t look good now but I do believe that there is a chance for him to recover. He can still have many years of good health, on condition that what happened today won’t be ignored. He’s in bad shape now. His blood pressure is much too high. His only chance is a groundbreaking change in his lifestyle. No stress, healthy diet, lots of exercise, losing at least twenty pounds ... and it would be best for him to simply retire and move to some nice quiet place.”
Amy nodded. “I understand. Can we see him, doctor?” she asked with hope.
The doctor, perhaps for the first time, looked directly at Amy. His expression softened.
“Yes, you can, but briefly,” he agreed. “Later, I will ask one of the nurses to contact you about exact instructions concerning his new diet and all the new routines that he should adopt after leaving the hospital.”
“We’ll do our best to help him,” Amy assured. “Thank you!” she cried after the doctor, who was already walking away from them down the brightly lit corridor.
* * * *
Amy was about to reach into her purse to take out the keys, but she stopped herself and rang at the door instead. It wasn’t her home anymore after all, she reminded herself. Not anymore.
Dad had been let out of the hospital only two days ago, and her stepmother had taken him home. Her old home where she, her brother, and their father had lived together before Thomas Carpenter remarried.
The housekeeper opened the door and let her inside. The woman informed her that her father was at the back of the house. They had never had a housekeeper before, even when her mother had still lived with them when Amy had been a little girl. But Claire obviously thought that it was too much for her to clean and cook for her own husband, so the first thing she’d done after she’d moved in had been hiring a cleaning lady.
Amy found her father on the shaded patio that overlooked the lushly green, precisely manicured garden.
She leaned down and kissed the plump, clean-shaven cheek. “Hello, Daddy.”
“Amy, sweetie. It’s so good to see you.” Her father’s face broke into a warm, affectionate smile.
“How are you, Daddy?” She adjusted the blanket around him.
“I’m better, pumpkin, much better,” he assured as he patted her hand.
She smiled bravely at him, but couldn’t stop the lump forming in her throat. Tears brimmed in her eyes on seeing him in such a state. True, he looked better than in the hospital, when they’d let her see him the first time after the heart attack. She’d barely recognized him back then, he’d been so changed.
“I have something for you,” she said and winked at him.
She reached into her large bag and took out a plastic box. She uncovered the lid.
He smiled, took the container from her, and licked his lips. “A slice of apple pie. Your favorite,” she said as she took a rattan stool and sat by his side. “I baked it especially for you. It’s low fat, and you can still have this little piece, even though you’re on diet.”
“You baked it often when we were still living together,” Thomas noted wistfully as he took a small bite.
She chose not to comment on this, as she knew that the subject of her moving out was painful to both of them. The official reason for it had been her need for independence, but in truth she’d have gladly stayed with him, taking care of the house and everything else as she’d used to do before, if not for his marriage to Claire. It was the true reason why she’d decided to leave her childhood home and move out to her own apartment.
“I worry about the company,” he said when he’d finished the pie.
“Don’t be,” she scolded him gently. “I talked with Mr. Reynolds, and things aren’t good, but there are still chances to rescue the company. The situation is not that bad, we’ll manage.” She tried to do her best to keep her voice light and optimistic.
“We?” He shook his head with a sad smile. “And what do you know about the management, marketing, and production? You’re a librarian Amy. I saw the figures before they got me to the hospital. It’s just a matter of time before everything collapses.”
She took his hand in both of hers. “Daddy, please, you have to promise not to think about this. The doctor said it very clearly, no stress, no worrying if you want to get better,” she whispered as she kissed his hand.
Thomas cupped her round, freckled face. “You’re a good child, Amy, you’ve always been,” he murmured, his face tightening. “But it’s my fault, all of this. I knew that I should never have let your brother into the business. He’s not cut out for this kind of work.”
For this, nor for any other,
she added silently in her thoughts, but didn’t say it out loud.
“Daddy
...” She looked at him with a plea in her dark eyes. “Don’t think about this now. Everything will be all right. There’s always a way, some kind of solution. Now the most important thing is for you to get rest and take care of yourself. You should go for a long holiday, as your doctor advised—away from everything. You cannot really rest well here, where you can’t forget what happened. The change of scenery will be the best for you.”
“I can’t leave now,” he persisted. “People can lose their jobs so easily. This company was founded by my grandfather and now it is going to fall to pieces.” The single tear ran down his cheek. “And that’s all my fault.”
Amy knelt by his side and took his big hand into both of hers. “Daddy, you must start taking care of yourself. You must give yourself a chance and change your lifestyle. That’s the most important thing right now, not the company. I know how important it is for you, but your health is what you should be concerned about now in the first place.”
Thomas shook his head at her, his voice gentle. “Child, I have responsibilities that I cannot forget about, especially now when Peter
... when there’s no hope left that your brother will ever be capable of taking over the company after me one day. I need to return to work as soon as possible and bring it back on track. Later, in a couple of years I’ll probably sell it, allowing myself to retire...
“No, Daddy, no,” Amy interrupted him. “The doctor said that things must change now. Don’t you understand? You may not have those couple of years.”
“The company will go bankrupt if I don’t do something radical that will improve the situation. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of weeks, months, perhaps, before everything collapses. They need me now,” Thomas insisted.
“I need you,” she whispered. “That was a very close call. You must be here for me.” She turned her teary face towards him. “I love you so much, Daddy. You’re the only close person in the world I have. What will I do without you?” she bit her lip, tears running down her pale freckled face.
“Don’t cry, Amy.” He lifted his hand to wipe away the wetness from her cheek. “One day I’ll be gone, and there’s nothing you can do about it. But you won’t always be alone. You’ll marry one day, and your husband will be a very happy man. I know there is a man somewhere in the world who will love you as much you as you deserve.”
She shrugged her shoulders and averted her eyes. There was little point in trying to explain to her father her attitude as far as marriage and love were concerned.
She was just about to open her mouth again, ready to tell her father to swear he would take better care of himself, but she didn’t manage to say anything. She heard the characteristic clatter of her stepmother’s stiletto shoes on the wooden patio floor.
“Oh, hello, Amy. We didn’t expect you to come so early,” her stepmother drawled with a fake smile on her face.