Scandalous Arrangement (4 page)

As I continued to get dressed I wanted to make sure that I was all dressed in white, from top to bottom. Fitting in was something that I never had to do before. But if I wanted to continue to climb the ladder of my new career I needed to learn this skill and fast.
I sat down on my couch around 7:50pm, when I heard my “other” phone ring. It was Andrew, he said “the call should be pulling up any minute now, go ahead and step outside and wait by the light post.” I said ok and hung up. So I grabbed my purse and headed out the door. Before I made it downstairs to the ground floor, the black town car was waiting with someone standing next to it. I was very impressed. Andrew was going above and beyond for me and I loved every minute of it.

The chauffer opened the door and I said thank you and stepped inside. To my surprise Andrew was sitting inside, holding a beautiful bouquet of white gardenias. He was dressed ever so handsome in his all white. There were little words exchanged at first, most
ly intense gazing at each other. I finally said these gardenias are gorgeous. He took my hand and began to tell me how stunning I looked. I asked him about the party that we were attending and he said “it’s a v.i.p. event for some of the top executives at the firm. I responded with a simple smile and a nod. I said so Andrew tell me about yourself. He said “well I am a man that is seeking something new. I am in the process of making a few changes in my life.” What about yourself, tell me how you got into Howard, Sperry and Blackwell?” I said it’s simple really; it’s all about specific individuals in the right places. Andrew how were you able to promote me within one day of watching me work for you.” He said “well you know I am the C.F.O, I am in control of the company’s finances and I have the power to promote and demote whomever I wish. All I did was move some money around and got you to be my assistant. I like you work ethic and I have heard nothing but great reviews about you around the office. 

You are a problem solver and that is what I need in my corner. I am a very busy man that works hard and likes to play even harder. You look like someone that likes to have fun, am I right?” I said “you are defiantly right about both things, I strive hard to get the things that I want out of this life.
He went on to tell me that he is in a marriage that is on its last leg. The love has fizzled out and that he just wants to do something out of the ordinary for once in his mundane life.  That he is tired of being predictable, and wants to live on the edge. The very next thing out of my mouth was honestly a joke but he took it differently. I said well if you want to live on the edge then you should embezzle some of the company’s money and run away to a remote island that’s what I would do. To which his reply was “sounds like a plan that I can pull off, want to come with me?”

I looked him straight in the eyes and said “so how do we do this,
” just as the car was pulling up to our destination. Right before we got out he said “I already have the perfect cover story.” As we stepped out of the car and he grabbed my hand to escort me onto the yacht. The rest of the evening went by slow, probably because I was anxious to hear Andrews plan. You only get a few great opportunities in life, and seeing how you only live once, I might as well live life to the fullest. If this guy was ready to execute this plan and had a way to cover us from harm then I was all ears.

He introduced me to a few of his big name friends as his new secretary. We had a few drinks, shared a few laughs and then it was time to go. Before I knew it, it was midnight and my feet were killing me. I told Andrew I was tired and ready to go. He said no problem and we said our
farewells and we got back into the car. He took off my shoes and rubbed my feet. I guess the look on my face gave me away. I was not going to refuse being pampered, so I asked him how did you know. He just said “a real man should know when to pamper such beauty. I have been invited to parties like these but I was simply eye candy, this time was different; Andrew really wanted me to be there. I work in close quarters with some of the people I met tonight. It was defiantly something I could get used to.

We rode for a little while longer and Andrew began to tell me how he would like to see me more outside of the office, in a personal manner of speaking. I said I would like that. I let it be known that I had a great time
tonight and that I was grateful for the opportunity to work as his secretary. He said the fun has only begun and tomorrow is a whole new day of adventures. The car pulled up to my building and I gave him a kiss on the cheek and said goodnight. He walked me to my door, said “see you in the morning Julie.”

I went in and got straight in the bed. I didn’t even have enough strength to get into the tub.
As I laid there in bed I thought about what the next few weeks would bring while working with Andrew; and what his plan was all about. I can’t lie I was excited about a man showing genuine interest in me and not just what I have to offer to him. I was finally able to go to sleep after daydreaming for a while.

I
arrived at work early and got started with my duties. Last time working for Andrew was just taking messages, today was full fledge duties. I am his go to person, I can’t let him down. By the time 9am rolled around I had taken 20 messages, made 10 appointments for the next week, and made a coffee run to his favorite coffee house around the corner. I was flying high, and for once I could see things on the greener side of the fence. On my way out of the office for lunch I got a call on my corporate cell. Andrew told me that he needs me to meet him tonight at Green’s Pizza and Wings at 7pm.

Finished off the rest of the day as usual, left work, got home, took a shower, changed clothes and left for the pizza place. I am guessing that he is ready to give me the rundown on his plan. It was just a quick cab ride
away; I didn’t want to drive my car, which would look too suspicious. I could see if I had your average car, but I didn’t and I didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention. I got there right at 7; Andrew was in the back of the restaurant waiting at a booth. I joined him and we ordered a basket of hot wings and beers. I am quite sure that he knows my age since he just promoted me. I guess age didn’t matter to him either.

We began to go over his idea on how to gain money and escape the rat race. He said that he was going to set up a charity for hungry kids under the company’s umbrella. They had a roundtable a few weeks ago about doing more charitable donations the community and abroad. He said that he would be in charge of the charity and would funnel
money from that account to a personal account that he will create. It will take about 4-6 months to get about 2 million dollars just for us. I said I guess business is doing well for Howard, Sperry & Blackwell, because that is a hell of a lump sum of money in a short time period.

He said that no one would even notice that the money was gone.
The company is trying to make their mark in the charitable scene. It was the perfect cover, wire transfers were the way to go especially to a bank abroad.  I asked him when we would set up the back account abroad. He said there was a client whose kid traveled abroad and got into some legal trouble. Now the company is sending out some of the best lawyers including him to represent the kid. Once he is out there he will meet with some of the banks to fund the legal defense for the young man; and set up our account at the same time.

I told him that it was the perfect cover. He said that he will
need me to cover the office while he is out of town .I told him he had nothing to worry about, that I was on top of it. He grabbed my hand and said “so are you all in with me.” I told him that I would be his “bonnie”, we both laughed really hard from that. He said you are too young to know that movie. We continued to share funny movie lines and just enjoyed each other for the next hour laughing and talking. At the end of the night he gave me a hug and we shared a very long intimate kiss. After a few minutes of our little make out session, we just stared into each other’s eyes and he told me he was happy when we spent time together. He mentioned that he knew my birthday was coming up next weekend and asked me what I wanted to do for my special day.

I told him I haven’t given it much thought; he said that he wanted to take me for a weeken
d getaway to B&B to get some R&R. I asked what about your wife. How are you going to get away for a weekend? He said easy I will tell her that I am going away on a business trip. I said well then I am all yours for the taking. The bed and breakfast was located in the hill country. The room was decorated in a very tasteful country western theme. We spent hours just lounging around getting to know each other on “many different levels”. I had a blast and I know he did to. We returned to the office on Monday like nothing had ever happened. I guess we were really able to keep our personal life separate from the office.

Over the next 4
months our private relationship became more of a real life love story. He wined and dined me, treated me like I was his only priority. Never had I been shown such attention and love. Was this what being in love felt like, because I think I had finally arrived. I was the happiest I had ever been in a long time. I went into his office one day during lunch and asked him what the number was. He said we are almost at our goal of the big 2. I gave a nod and said is there anything else that you need me to do for you before I take my lunch. He said that he was ok and for me to enjoy my lunch. I had actually grown friendly with some of the other secretary’s in the office. We usually had lunch about twice a week. I guess I was growing up and living a real adult lifestyle; go figure.

It only took another 2 weeks and we were at our 2 million dollar mark. If we were to ju
st wait a few more months who knows how much we would end up with. I called Andrew and told him we should wait another 2 months and then evaluate where we are. He agreed. After lunch I felt super sick. I ended up throwing up my lunch. What did I eat that made me this sick is all I could think of as my head was in the toilet. I told Andrew that I wasn’t feeling my best and that I needed to go home I didn’t know if what I had come down with was contagious. He said that I looked a little under the weather so he sent me home.

I got home and threw up again, took a bath to relax myself and to
lie in bed. Then it hit me when was the last time I had a period. Oh gosh, could I really be pregnant, was this really happening. I got my phone to check my calendar, since I chart my cycles. My last period was over 7 weeks ago. I am as regular as it gets so I knew I better take a pregnancy test. I kept telling myself don’t freak out, stay calm. I finally gathered enough energy to make it to the corner store to grab a test. Got home and took it, and those 2 minutes seemed like they lasted for 2 years. I finally read it and I saw two lines, I had to refer to the paper to see what that meant, and sure enough I was pregnant. Thoughts began to run through my mind. When did this happen, what would I tell Andrew, would he even want kids. I knew that I wanted kids because my mom had me at such an early age so it was only appropriate that I have my baby. I scheduled an appointment with an obgyn in my network for tomorrow. I needed to get blood work done to know for sure.

I called Andrew to let him know that I was going to the doctor in the morning and that I would try to be in after lunch. He
asked if I was ok and I said yea just a stomach issue that I need to get some medicine for. He said take all the time you need, because his calendar was slow for this week. I had to know for sure before I told him some news like that. I tried my hardest to fall asleep but my mind kept running off. I finally dozed off around 2am. 9am rolled around and I was sitting in the doctor’s office waiting to be called. They called me back and I gave them the info they asked for. The nurse told me Dr. Ward would be seeing me today. They said that they didn’t even need to draw my blood they could just to an ultrasound on the spot.

I laid back
and waited for the doctor; she came in and introduced herself as Dr. Melanie Ward. She said to just relax as she squirted my stomach with some jelly stuff and before I knew it there was this weird sound that echoed in the room. I asked what that was and she said that is your baby’s heartbeat. I was in total shock, my mouth just dropped opened. She pointed out the baby on the monitor and said congratulations; looks like you are about 9 weeks along give or take a day. I didn’t know what to say. The doctor said according to my expressions this seemed like an unplanned pregnancy. I told her that it was and I asked her what my next steps to protecting my baby? I informed her that I have no knowledge about kids and I have no clue of where to start. She said well thankfully you have 9 months to figure it out.  She set me up with a follow up appointment in another month. Told me to get some prenatal vitamins and begin to eat healthy, get some books and just read about all things baby. I said thank you Dr. Ward.

I walked out and told Andrew to meet me at the bookstore in 20 minutes in the music section. He said
“be right there.” By the time he got there I was sitting in the music section with headphones on listening to some calming ocean music. I was trying desperately to stay calm before I had to tell him the news. He walked over to me and gave me a hug and kiss, and asked me what’s up. I told him remember how I was sick the other day at work and had to go home, and then I went to the doctor to figure out what was going on. He said yea is everything ok? I said yes I am just 9 weeks pregnant. He face lit up and he said really Julie that’s great! I have always wanted to be a dad. I said wait you mean that you are not angry or anything. He said are you kidding me this is the best news ever. He said he also had great news for me; his divorce will be final in 2 weeks. We were both overwhelmed with joy and excitement! I told him how relieved I was to know that he wanted to be with me and have a baby. He said that his soon to be ex wife never wanted kids. Andrew was still rather young, only in his late 30s. So to him this was perfect timing. I would have him all to myself soon enough; just him, me and our baby.