LITMIR.BIZ

      Chapter Two

       Eleven Months Later

      NEWSPAPER BUSINESS REPORTER Derrick Mills wasn’t nearly as good-looking as Robby. He was taller, less stocky, with dark hair and eyes. Still, Ellie assured herself as she took in his tailored gray suit, she would have jumped into the sack with him, if not for one little problem. Derrick was married. So she’d just have to stay on topic and continue answering his questions. Most important, she needed to gauge when it would be best to drop her bombshell.

      She’d been planning her strategy for months, and now the moment was near. She had to fight not to grin. Yes, the gimmick she was going to announce would kill a few birds with one stone. She’d generate business, create media buzz for herself and erase the memory of Robby Robriquet from her life forever. And why not? She believed in her skills of statistical analysis, didn’t she? And she wanted to find someone she’d like as much as Robby.

      Love as much. When the words entered her consciousness, she tried to ignore them. But she had loved the man. Surely, no one would ever turn her on in the same way. Besides, for so long, she’d just unconsciously assumed she and Robby would have…

      A wedding.

      A house with a picket fence in Banner, Mississippi.

      Babies.

      And, of course, share the joy of combined careers. Lastly, the sparks of their passion would never burn out. With one look, Robby had always set her on fire. In the office of Lee Polls, they’d shared so many laughs, too, especially since they hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other. Now, just thinking about her ex-lover, her skin warmed, her heart missed a beat, her palms started to sweat…

      “Ms. Lee?”

      She snapped to attention, then searched her mind, trying to remember what the interviewer had asked. “Was my decision to start Future Trends influenced by my father’s appointment of Robby Robriquet to run Lee Polls?” she prompted.

      “Yes,” Derrick returned. “Was it?”

      “Of course not!”

      “You’re sure?”

      “Absolutely. I’m very happy here. Who wouldn’t be?” She waved a hand to call his attention to the surroundings. She’d revamped a two-bedroom apartment in a brownstone, the same one she’d initially shared with Susannah when they’d first arrived in New York nearly a year ago.

      Since then, Susannah had reunited with J.D. and Ellie had retooled the place into an office. New gray carpet, simple black lacquer desks and classic plum window treatments had made the apartment look trendy and upscale.

      “But it was assumed you, not Robby Robriquet, would have that position?” Derrick Mills prompted.

      Silently, she damned the reporter for rubbing salt in the old wound. “Not really,” she denied. “Or, to whatever extent I assumed that, I’m not sorry.” She offered a wry smile, hoping Derrick would fill in the blanks.

      “Not sorry that Lee Polls has trended downward in sales and contracts? Some of its oldest customers have jumped ship since you left, you know.”

      “Sometimes it’s either sink or swim.”

      “And you’re swimming while Lee Polls is sinking?”

      “You said that, Mr. Mills, not I.”

      “But where do your ultimate loyalties lie?”

      “With myself.” She arched a brow. “I mean, do you think I should retain family loyalties merely because Lee Polls has been run by Lees for so long?”

      “I wondered.”

      “None whatsoever. Business is business, Mr. Mills. We all know that.”

      “Clearly, you do. No wonder you’re so successful. Many might have experienced the Robriquet appointment as a setback, but instead, you opened Future Trends within a week of your father’s decision. There have even been rumors, saying that you now intend to sell your new business already, for a hefty profit, once more proving your lack of sentimentality. ”

      “Quite the contrary. I’m looking for acquisitions, although not for sentimental reasons.”

      “Lee Polls?” He eyed her. “Are you considering buying your family’s company and merging it with Future Trends?”

      “Again, you said it, not I.” She laughed lightly. “Although nothing’s in the works quite yet.” But if she was quoted in the newspaper, Robby might start to sweat, she thought. And after what he’d done to her, she wouldn’t mind making him squirm.

      “People might take such a move as vindictive.”

      “Well, I’ve never cared what people think of me.”

      “Fair enough.”

      “But as I said, I’ve got no feelers out right now.” She smiled once more. “I’d need to find more office space first, anyway.”

      “Three rooms could be cramped after a merger,” he conceded, glancing from where they were seated to what had been the living room a few months ago.

      Following his gaze, Ellie tried not to grimace. Her only employee, Angelina Carrella, had seemed excellent on many levels, at least initially. She was neat, prompt and efficient. However, love had entered her life, and now the girl was ruined. An engagement had followed, and ever since, Angelina was distracted and absentminded. Yes, in only a few short months, she’d transformed from a demure assistant into a brazen spitfire who spent half the day on the phone with her fiancé, Antonio, or the various relatives from whom she was soliciting funds to pay for an absurdly lavish wedding.

      Each day, Ellie was treated to the very last thing she needed to see—pictures of gowns, flowers, cakes and bridesmaids’ gifts. One minute, the wedding would be black and white, then pink and blue, then red and green. Plans had begun for Valentine’s day, then Christmas, then Antonio’s birthday. Every step in the direction of finalizing a decision caused lengthy phone fights.

      Even worse, despite Ellie’s clear instructions to behave while Derrick Mills was on the premises, at least, Antonio had now arrived to take his sweetheart to lunch. By the looks of it, and the very loud smacking sounds, if the two didn’t leave soon, they might well wind up making love on Angelina’s desk.

      Ignoring the trajectory of her interviewer’s gaze, Ellie continued, “Well, most of the analytical work is done by computer here, and I often meet clients in their own offices.”

      Derrick Mills was still watching the couple. “Looks like you’ve got lovebirds around.”

      So much for ignoring them. “She was an excellent assistant before the engagement,” Ellie quipped with a wry smile.

      “A wedding can be so exciting,” Derrick said on a sigh.

      Great. He was a romantic. Ellie couldn’t help but notice he began toying with his wedding ring. “A newlywed yourself?” she guessed.

      “Almost a year ago.”

      About the time Ellie was leaving Robby. “I’m happy for you,” she managed, very much doubting she sounded sincere.

      Not that he seemed to notice.

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