Читать книгу: «Marry in Haste»

CHAPTER ONE

“ABIGAIL? Could you come into my office?”

Slipping her feet into her pumps, Abby Monroe stood and smoothed the skirt of her suit. Pausing to pick up the notebook and pen she always kept ready on her desk, she walked across the plush terracotta and jade diamond-patterned carpet and into the office of the Executive Assistant to Parker Laird, of Laird Drilling and Exploration.

Abby loved the carpet, with its deep pile and thick pad that put a spring into her step. In fact, she loved everything about working on the twenty-sixth floor of the Laird building.

As she’d climbed the corporate ladder during the past four years, Abby had discovered that the more important the person she worked for, the higher the floor and the thicker the carpet.

This was the top floor and the carpet was so thick, if it were any thicker, the doors wouldn’t slide over it.

Even the atmosphere was different than it was on the lower floors. This was the nerve center of the whole company and power hummed through the air, generated by Parker Laird, himself.

Valerie Chippin, the Executive Assistant and Abby’s boss as of five weeks ago, closed the door and waved Abby over to the sitting area by the corner windows.

This was unusual. Abby hadn’t ever been invited to sit on the jade leather chairs and love seat before. As she followed Valerie, Abby admired the view from the spacious corner office.

Someday, she would have an office like this, with all of Houston, Texas—or someplace else—at her feet.

But that was some other day and not today.

She sat in the chair across from Valerie and crossed her feet at the ankles.

“I’ve been very pleased with your work the past several weeks,” Valerie began.

Abby covered her surprise with a smile. Valerie wasn’t one to compliment her staffs performance, yet Abby had continued to work hard, just as she’d always done.

“And so has Mr. Laird,” Valerie added diplomatically.

Abby maintained her smile, though she was certain Parker Laird didn’t have a clue that she existed. Oh, he nodded, if he happened to catch her eye as he stepped off the elevator, but more often than not, he was reading the Wall Street Journal and continued to do so as he entered his office, which took up half the twenty-sixth floor.

Abby’s desk was positioned opposite the elevator where she was the first person people saw. It was her job to act as receptionist, in addition to her other duties. Though receptionist duty was a step down from the secretary she’d been, Abby didn’t really mind, recognizing that she was the least experienced member of Valerie’s staff.

But she wouldn’t always be.

“As you know, I’m going on vacation next week,” Valerie continued.

Expecting some long-term assignments, Abby opened her notebook, but Valerie shook her head.

“Not yet.” She drew a breath. “It’s an awkward time for me to leave, I know, since Laird is establishing drilling operations in the El Bahar oil field, but my husband booked this cruise a year ago.” She smiled and patted her perfectly coiffed blond head.

Abby mentally compared the sleek style with her own naturally curly auburn hair and sighed inwardly, longing for the professionalism of tamable hair.

“It’s our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary,” Valerie confided.

“Congratulations,” Abby replied automatically, stunned that Valerie was even discussing the subject with her.

Valerie rarely referred to her personal life. Rumor had it she didn’t have one, and Abby could believe it. No matter how early Abby arrived, or how late she stayed, Valerie worked longer.

And so did Parker Laird.

In fact, attached to his office was a bedroom, bath and kitchenette, though why he’d want to spend the night in the Laird building when he owned a fabulous house in the River Oaks area of Houston, Abby didn’t know.

“Mr. Laird has graciously insisted that my husband and I go on our cruise.” Valerie seemed to believe it was important that Abby not think she was shirking her duty to Parker Laird. “I’ll be gone for a month.”

“A month?” Abby blurted out before she thought better of it.

“Yes.” Valerie’s lips tightened.

Abby recovered. “I’ll certainly do my best to support...” Support whom? Which of the two other staffers would take Valerie’s place? “To provide all the support I can,” she amended.

“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you. Abigail...” Valerie visibly hesitated. “I’ve recommended to Mr. Laird that you be his assistant while I’m away.”

“You recommended me?” Her voice cracked on the last word. As she spoke, Abby knew she should be acting confident and professional, thus reassuring Valerie that she’d made the right decision. But to be named Acting Executive Assistant to Parker Laird...

“You’re surprised.” A knowing smile curved Valerie’s lips.

Shocked was a better description, but Abby tried to pretend she wasn’t. “I’m delighted for the opportunity—”

“But you’re wondering at your good fortune?” Valerie spoke dryly and laced her fingers over her knees.

Abby kept quiet. Valerie wouldn’t be fooled by denials and Abby shouldn’t embarrass herself by trying to bluff.

“Barbara and Nancy have been on my staff much longer, but Barbara has two young children and Nancy has a boyfriend who isn’t quite as understanding about irregular hours as my husband, Gordon, is. I don’t believe you have a boyfriend?”

Abby shook her head.

“Family obligations?”

Again, Abby shook her head.

“That’s best. Mr. Laird requires someone to be on call virtually twenty-four hours a day.” Valerie sighed faintly. “Sometimes I think Laird Drilling has an operation in every time zone in the world. The person who fills in for me will have to be flexible—”

“And I am!” Abby would tie herself into knots for an opportunity like this one.

“—and a hard worker. You’ll also have to be decisive, and if you can read minds, that will help.”

Abby chuckled politely, but she had a feeling Valerie was half serious.

“We have a week before I leave. I’ll show you my files so you can become familiar with the way Mr. Laird likes things done.” Valerie stood and so did Abby. “We’ll meet with him after he returns from the Chamber of Commerce luncheon.”

Valerie strode across the office followed by a dazed Abby. “Until then, this is the Laird executive directory. You should familiarize yourself with the names and pictures so you’ll know who Mr. Laird deals with most frequently.” Valerie held out a thick paperback book.

Abby took the directory, though she’d already spent several lunch hours studying it in an effort to become more efficient. It appeared her initiative had paid off—and far more quickly than she’d ever imagined. “Thank you, Ms. Chippin. I appreciate your confidence in me and I won’t let you down.”

“I’m counting on that, Abigail. See you at one-thirty.”

As Valerie spoke, a dark blur passed the doorway. “Hang on. Looks like you’re about to get your first lesson in flexibility,” she murmured.

Within seconds the intercom on Valerie’s desk sounded. “Valerie? I can see you now.”

“On my way, Mr. Laird.” Valerie raised her eyebrows. “You see? He’s back forty-five minutes early and expects me to be ready and available for the meeting I requested.”

Hands quivering, Abby nodded and scribbled an illegible note in her pad. She mustn’t let on how nervous she was or Parker Laird would reject her as an assistant for sure.

Beckoning to her, Valerie opened the door connecting her office to the conference room and led Abby through it. A door on the other side opened into Parker’s office.

“When you bring people for a meeting, you’ll take them in the other door, of course.”

“Certainly,” Abby murmured, able to figure that out for herself. Nevertheless, she made a note, mostly to see if her fingers were working properly yet.

And then Valerie was opening the door to Parker Laird’s office.

Abby held her breath as the bottom of the door whispered across the carpet.

Parker Laird stood facing the windows behind his desk, dictating into a small personal tape recorder. He glanced toward them, but continued talking, his eyes watching Abby as she followed Valerie.

Abby didn’t know where to look, so she met his unnerving gray gaze. That he could study her so thoroughly, yet still focus on what he was saying, demonstrated just how he was single-handedly able to run a company the size of Laird Drilling.

He was young for such a position, but everyone knew that. And with his dark wavy hair and black eyebrows, he was incredibly handsome—Abby already knew that, too. But according to the gossips, all that handsomeness was wasted, since Parker Laird was already married—to his company. They even said that when he was cut, he bled oil.

Before now, the most Abby had ever seen of Parker Laird was when he was either coming from or going to somewhere. He walked very fast, his long strides making it difficult for people to keep up with him. It amused her to see him emerge from the elevator and take off down the hall, followed by men who huffed and puffed and still tried to talk with him. He didn’t walk that fast with Valerie, but even so, Abby had seen her jog a step or two at times.

Valerie headed toward two armless chairs positioned at the end of Parker’s desk and indicated that Abby should sit in one. Valerie reached under the edge of the massive desk and pulled out an extension ledge that sprang into place. On it, she set her enormous planning book opened to a calendar, and a small tape recorder like the one Parker was using. Then she waited.

Abby took a deep breath, grateful for the few minutes to compose herself, though with Parker Laird only a few feet away from her, how could she?

She was in Parker Laird’s inner sanctum, actually breathing the same air. Abby inhaled again. There was something different about the air in here, something that accounted for the charge in the atmosphere. Abby wondered about the man responsible for it.

He’d turned back to the windows, so she studied him, allowing her gaze to roam over his perfectly chiseled profile, perfectly tailored suit and perfectly shined shoes. Obviously, nothing less than perfection would do for Parker Laird.

She waited, ready to attempt perfection.

The minutes passed. He wasn’t one to waste time, but as Abby sat there, waiting for him to finish whatever it was he was doing, she became impatient. She was in the middle of several projects which she would have to complete before taking over for Valerie.

And she was missing her lunch.

He launched into another set of comments and Abby rolled her eyes and grimaced. Couldn’t he have waited until after he was finished to call them in here?

At that moment, her eyes met his in the reflection of the window.

He’d been watching her and she hadn’t known it. Abby swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. From now on, when she was called into his office, she would bring an extra task with her. And if she didn’t have anything, she’d make something up.

Parker turned then and set the recorder on his desk. “Sorry to keep you waiting, ladies.”

He’d seen her expression. As her cheeks warmed, Abby heard Valerie introduce her.

“Mr. Laird, as we discussed, Abigail Monroe will be filling in for me while I’m away.”

They’d met previously, of course, but Abby knew that before, she was only one of hundreds of faceless employees.

“Thanks for helping us out here, Abigail.” Parker reached down to shake her hand.

“Please call me Abby,” she said impulsively when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to hold her impatience against her. His hand closed over hers, his grip firm without being overpowering. It was a confident grip, accompanied by a brief smile.

Abby hadn’t seen him smile much and was struck by the warmth in it.

“And how’s school going, Abby?” he asked, sitting in his desk chair and swiveling it to face her.

Abby caught a movement on her left as Valerie jerked her head to stare at her. Valerie obviously hadn’t known Abby was studying to get her business degree, making it even more astonishing that Parker had.

“F-fine.” When Valerie had asked about obligations, Abby hadn’t mentioned her night classes. “I have my final exam this week, and then the spring term will be over.” She understood that nothing could interfere with her duties to Parker Laird.

He hadn’t missed Valerie’s look of surprise. “I believe Abby is taking advantage of our tuition reimbursement program,” he said to Valerie.

“I’d forgotten that,” she murmured.

“What are you studying?” Parker asked. As he spoke, he removed the tape from the recorder and handed it to Valerie, who wrote on the label.

“Business Administration,” Abby answered, conscious that Valerie was less than pleased with her.

Parker nodded, then swiveled back around, obviously finished with the small talk. “Schedule for this afternoon?”

Turning on her recorder, Valerie instantly began reading appointments from her book which Parker either confirmed, or amended, then added comments.

They spoke in a rapid shorthand that Abby could barely follow. Parker’s day was scheduled in fifteen-minute blocks until ten o’clock at night and, sometimes, he was doing more than one activity during a block.

He returned phone calls while exercising on the treadmill. He met with people during meals. He dictated during his commute.

The man apparently never took a break. It wouldn’t surprise Abby to know that he listened to self-help tapes in his sleep.

She, who worked full-time and went to school at night, felt like a slug in comparison.

“Abby, when do your classes meet?” he asked.

The question surprised her. “I’m just taking one this semester. It meets Tuesday and Thursday nights from seven until ten.”

Incredibly, Valerie was marking it on the master schedule.

“And your final exam?”

“This Thursday.”

“Block out Wednesday evening as well, Valerie,” Parker instructed. “She’ll need to study.”

Abby was both stunned and touched that a man who regularly functioned on a global scale would even think of such minute details—or care.

Perhaps that was his secret: think big, but don’t forget little. She was going to learn a lot in the month ahead.

For the next ten minutes, Abby listened to more rapid-fire directions and updates and wondered how on earth she would ever keep up.

“That’s enough for now.” Parker pulled his cuff back and glanced at his watch. “Let Abby update the schedule and then she can work with you this afternoon.”

A look passed between Parker and Valerie.

“Go ahead and get started on the schedule,” she said, closed the calendar and passed it and the tape to Abby. “The name of the computer file is printed at the bottom.”

Abby stacked the book with the directory and stood. They were going to talk about her, she knew. “Shall I transcribe the tape as well?”

Valerie nodded, and Abby walked briskly from the room.

“She’s very young,” Parker commented as he watched Abby’s retreat, then leveled his gaze at the woman who’d been his father’s Executive Assistant and then his when he’d become CEO of Laird Drilling after his father had died. “Interesting choice.”

“Abigail Monroe is bright and a hard worker.”

“I’ve read her performance reviews.” Parker tapped a file folder on his desk. “But she’s only been on staff, what, six weeks?”

Valerie shifted. “That’s true, however, I feel she’ll have more flexibility than Barbara or Nancy.”

“Flexibility is important.” Parker smiled inwardly. Valerie had been able to meet his eyes as she spoke, he’d give her credit for that.

He knew exactly what she was doing by leaving an inexperienced substitute in her place while she was gone, and under other circumstances, he wouldn’t allow it.

But these were not normal circumstances. The strongest quality little Abby Monroe had going for her was a freckle-faced, farm girl unsophistication that wouldn’t appeal to his brother, Jay.

Valerie must have been thinking along the same line. “Should I brief her on all the... unique aspects of the El Bahar project?”

“You can stress how important it is that Jay not be distracted in any way from his preparations to head up that operation.” Parker smiled grimly. “And I’ll make sure there are plenty of preparations to keep him occupied until the minute his plane leaves the ground.”

“Oh, Mr. Laird!” Valerie gripped her hands. “I shouldn’t be abandoning you now, of all times!”

“You don’t have a choice.” Reaching across his desk, Parker plucked an envelope containing two firstclass airline tickets from his blotter. He’d also upgraded their stateroom to a suite. “In all the years you’ve worked for me, Gordon has never complained about missed dinners and holiday crises. If you canceled his cruise, he’d never forgive either of us.” He slid the envelope over to her. “Happy anniversary.”

“Mr. Laird!” Valerie swallowed, obviously preparing to gush her thanks.

Parker forestalled her with an upheld hand. “Have a good time.”

Abby concentrated on keeping her knees from wobbling as she made her way over the thick carpeting and back to her desk.

She was going to be Parker Laird’s Executive Assistant!

Mentally, she repeated this astonishing fact until her breathing slowed and she could think once more. Reaching her desk, she dumped everything onto it, then allowed her knees to give way as she sank onto her chair.

Hello, I’m “Abigail Monroe, acting as Parker Laird’s Executive Assistant while Ms. Chippin is away. Mr. Laird will be entertaining a party of five Thursday evening at eight-thirty.

This is Abby Monroe, Parker Laird’s Executive Assistant. Please reserve the Presidential suite for Mr. Laird.

This is Abby Monroe...yes, that’s right. Parker Laird’s Executive Assistant...

How many times had she imagined saying those words or a variation? Becoming an Executive Assistant had been Abby’s goal ever since she’d started working at Laird Drilling and Exploration.

She hadn’t realized such a position existed until she’d listened to the office talk and then it seemed like a perfect job. Excitement, travel, responsibility, meeting famous people—that’s the kind of life Valerie Chippin had.

She rode in a limousine with a driver, attended luncheons at fancy restaurants with fancy foods, wore designer suits and traveled to exotic destinations. Valerie Chippin lived the way Abby had dreamed of back when she was growing up in the tiny town of Haste, Texas.

When Abby had been promoted to Valerie’s staff just weeks ago, she’d been thrilled, thinking her hard work was paying off.

And now this.

Abby stole a glance into Nancy and Barbara’s office. The two women were at lunch and Abby wondered if Valerie had told them the news yet.

Probably not. Abby doubted they would have been so calm. In fact, Abby didn’t want to be here when they were told the news.

It wasn’t that she didn’t get along with Nancy and Barbara, it was just that the two women had worked together for several years and Abby was the junior newcomer. Abby got the routine and less interesting work. Lunchtimes were staggered so someone was always available to answer the telephones, but Nancy and Barbara always went to lunch together and Abby went later, by herself.

She didn’t mind. She accepted the fact that she was the least senior of the group.

Until a few moments ago.

Abby checked her watch. No time for lunch today, though she was so excited she wouldn’t have been able to eat.

She immediately started work updating the schedule and was transcribing the tape when at ten after one, Nancy and Barbara returned. They were late, Abby noted, and they’d left five minutes early.

They probably thought no one had noticed, but now Abby knew that Valerie must have. Abby never left early and was never late. In fact, it was rare for her to take the full hour allotted to her.

Abby could hear the women talking in the office they shared. Through the fogged glass, she could see that Valerie was back in her office. She had to tell them Abby’s new position soon.

Sure enough, she heard Valerie’s voice on the intercom.

Feeling cowardly, Abby grabbed her purse and slipped away from her desk. She took the stairs to the floor below and headed toward the vending machines.

She should eat something so she would be sharp this afternoon, but her stomach rebelled at the thought of food. Abby settled for a plastic container of orange juice though she had to force herself to drink it.

No one else was in the tiny snack bar so Abby closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, trying not to think about the fact that she was about to embark upon the greatest opportunity of her career.

Even though it was only for a month, Abby would forever after be able to say on her résumé that she had worked as Acting Executive Assistant to Parker Laird, CEO of Laird Drilling and Exploration.

She would be an experienced Executive Assistant.

Abby threw away the empty orange juice container, then stopped by the ladies’ room to touch up her makeup and comb her hair.

She heard the voices even before she pushed open the door to the outer sitting area.

“I heard what she said, but I still don’t understand!” Nancy’s angry voice bounced off the tiled floor and walls of the rest room area. “One of us should be in charge while she’s gone, not Abby.”

Abby froze.

“Oh, it makes perfect sense.” Barbara’s voice was moderated.

“Yeah, right. You’ve been here six years, I’ve been here three, and Abby’s got less than two months under her belt. Perfect sense.”

“It’s not worth getting angry over.”

“Maybe you don’t mind spending the rest of your working career as a secretary to a glorified girl Friday, but I want to know that someday, I can aspire to be...that girl Friday!”

Barbara laughed. “Then pay attention. How many times has Valerie gone on vacation?”

“She never goes on vacation.”

“Right. And now she’s going to be gone for an entire month, a month in which Parker Laird will discover how much he depends on her because things are not going to run smoothly with Abby in charge.”

“Which is why one of us should be in charge.”

“Which is why one of us is not in charge.”

There was a silence.

Abby tried to understand what Barbara was saying, but couldn’t.

Nancy apparently couldn’t, either. “I don’t get it.”

“Valerie wants to have a job when she gets back—her well-paid, perk-laden job. She’s got Parker thinking she’s indispensable. If either of us took her place, Parker would discover that we can do the job just as well as she can, but Abby will mess up so much, Parker Laird will be thrilled when Valerie comes back.”

“She is so smart!” Nancy said, awe in her voice. “I’m going to remember this.”

And so would she, Abby vowed and slipped out of the rest room.

So she was expected to fail.

Well, then she wouldn’t. Abby climbed the stairs back to the twenty-sixth floor. She’d prove everyone wrong. She could do this job, she knew it.

Now all she had to do was prove it to Parker Laird.