True Love

"Yes. But what about my first day on the job tomorrow, here in Chicago?" Whatever happened to new employees' orientation or management training! She wanted to scream.

"Well, now it seems that your first day on the job will be in Hong Kong. Mr. Chenault has been placed in a bind, and really needs your help with some very important negotiations." As if that explanation were enough, Leanne Johnson added, "I just got off the phone with the airlines. Your tickets are ready. I hope your passport's in order."

"Yes, it is, but this is totally unexpected," Shayla implored.

"I know, and Mr. Chenault apologizes for any inconvenience, but he hopes you'll come through and meet him there. A courier will deliver a package containing information about the Ling Deal to you before seven this evening. He wants you to study it and become familiar with it. May I relay a message back to Mr. Chenault that you'll be joining him?"

No, no, no! Shayla wanted to scream. What gave Nicholas Chenault the right to mess with her well-ordered life? Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to remember why she had sought employment with Chenault Electronics in the first place-revenge. A major part of dishing out that revenge was getting to know as much about the company as possible, and what better way than to have firsthand knowledge of Chenault's business dealings? She released a deep sigh. She wasn't crazy about the idea of going anywhere, especially out of the country, on such short notice. At the university where she had worked for the past two years, business trips were planned far in advance, especially those that took her out of the country. Evidently in the private sector things were different. They were fast-paced, competitive, and last-minute.

"Yes, tell Mr. Chenault I will be joining him there."

"Thank you, Ms. Kirkland, and I hope you have a nice week."

After hanging up the phone Shayla looked down at the planner in her lap. All her well-thought-out plans for the week had just been cancelled-big-time.

Shayla had not given much thought to the mistake she might be making by going to Hong Kong until she began packing later that night.

After her conversation with Ms. Johnson, she had immediately called her aunt. Callie owned one of the most exclusive clothing stores in Chicago, and she was a lifesaver, helping Shayla get ready for her trip, opening the store that evening just for her. Shayla had met her aunt at Callie's Fashions and shopped to her heart's content.

Now they were in her bedroom, while Shayla packed.

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing, Shayla?" Her aunt's question interrupted Shayla's thought. She decided not to tell her that she was beginning to have second thoughts. Instead she said, "Yes. I have to do this, Aunt Callie. I know you don't understand, and I respect that, but there's no way I can let Chenault Electronics or TJ Electronics get away with what they did to Mama."

"Things worked out fine in the end for Eva. If you ask me, they did her a favor. If things hadn't turned out the way they did, she would never have married Glenn. Have you thought of that?"

Shayla nodded. Yes, she had. But still, their treatment of her mother was inexcusable, unforgivable.

"Tell me about Nicholas Chenault," Callie said quietly.

Shayla continued packing, hoping her aunt would not notice the tint that colored her face. For some reason just the thought of Nicholas Chenault did that to her, and that wasn't good. "What do you want to know?"

"Well, is he good-looking?"

Shayla turned to her aunt. The eyes that met hers were filled with curiosity, knowledge, and understanding-a woman's understanding.

"Yes, he's good-looking."

There was a moment of silence before her aunt spoke again. Her voice was thick with caution. "Shayla, don't go," she pleaded in a soft voice. "I don't think you understand what you might be getting yourself into. A week in Hong Kong alone with Nicholas Chenault may not be such a good idea."

Shayla turned back around and pretended to be totally absorbed in her packing. "It's just a business trip, Aunt Callie, nothing more."

"Yes, sweetheart, but even things of the most innocent nature usually start off that way."

Shayla chuckled to shake off her feelings of uncertainty. "I know all about the birds and the bees."

Callie caught Shayla's wrist before she could place another piece of clothing in her luggage. "I'm not talking about the birds and the bees, Shayla. I'm talking about your heart."

"My heart?" Shayla asked, frowning.

"Yes, I'm talking about your heart, and the risk of losing it. Don't you see?"

Shayla really didn't see at all. She couldn't help wondering what her heart had to do with anything. Over the years she'd had her share of dates, but none had ever come close to having any effect on her heart. She'd decided long ago to hold out for that special kind of love her parents had shared, and would not settle for anything less. She'd always known her parents had a close relationship. Now, after reading her mother's diary and having her long talk with her aunt, she understood why. In everything they'd done, love had governed their actions. Despite all their trials and tribulations, things had worked out for them in the end. It had been meant for them to be together. Even when Glenn had been robbed of the ability to father a child, a twist of fate had given him her. He had loved her and accepted her as if she'd come from his own seed. Not once had he held her mother's brief affair with Thomas Jordache against her. Love that pure and that true was hard to find with a man.

Shayla glanced down at the hand that was holding her wrist gently. They were the hands that had often braided her hair when she was a little girl. They were hands that had wiped away tears from her eyes when she'd discovered that a boy she had a teenage crush on was more interested in her best girlfriend than in her. They were the hands that had comforted her when she'd lost her father, and most recently they were hands that had held hers throughout her mother's funeral services. They were loving hands, caring hands.

Shayla didn't want her aunt to worry about her. She reached out and hugged her. She had always been there for her, and always would be. "Trust me, Aunt Callie, my heart will have nothing to do with it. Although Nicholas Chenault's not directly to blame, it was his father's decision to fire Mama without taking into consideration that she might have been innocent. I won't be able to overlook that."

"But still, sweetheart, you may not know all the facts. Eva's involvement with Thomas Jordache may have been guilt enough in Chenault Electronics' eyes. He was their biggest competitor back then. Besides, you don't know how thick Thomas Jordache's web of deceit and lies was."

"Pretty thick, if you ask me," Shayla said with all the venom in her voice that she actually felt for the man who had fathered her. His day was coming, as well. His downfall would be even greater than Chenault's.

"Shayla, since you're intent on going, promise me you'll be careful."

Shayla nodded. "I promise."

The long flight from Chicago to Hong Kong was a rather relaxing one, Shayla thought. She had used that time to read the report she had received about the Ling Deal, taking naps in between. Although Nicholas Chenault was her enemy, she had to hand it to him for his expertise in negotiating a deal. From the one hundred plus pages she had read, what he was offering the Chinese government was a win-win situation. It would be a tremendous win for the people of China, as well as a financial win for Chenault. She wondered what had been the last-minute glitch.

She rested her head against her seat. Nicholas had some financial heavy hitters backing him on the deal. She had recognized some of the names immediately. There was Kyle Garwood of Garwood Industries, Jake Madaris, a wealthy rancher from Texas who had recently announced his marriage to movie star Diamond Swain, and Nicholas's half brother Sterling Hamilton, the superstar movie actor.

Shayla closed her eyes and hoped and prayed that she could handle being around Nicholas Chenault for a week. Whenever she felt herself weakening, she would remember what her mother had gone through. Doing that would guarantee she would be able to keep him at a distance.

A very safe distance.

Nicholas had been waiting for his gut to settle down ever since his secretary had called to confirm that Shayla Kirkland would be joining him in Hong Kong. He didn't understand why his stomach was tied in knots-she was just a woman.

Yeah, right. But when was the last time he had actually let a woman invade his dreams? In his dreams he had kissed her, tasted her lips and other areas of her body, as well. The perfume she had worn the day of the interview had been seductive, overpowering, captivating. He wondered if she would be wearing that particular fragrance again. If she did, he didn't know how he would handle it.

Pull yourself together, Chenault, he thought. Your thoughtsare bound to get you in trouble. Trouble you don't need. Still, he couldn't help remembering everything about Shayla Kirkland, and it had been almost two weeks since he had seen her.

He nervously glanced down at his watch. Her flight from the States should be arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport about now. He had sent a limo to pick her up and deliver her to the Conrad International Hotel, where he had reserved an entire executive floor. He needed space for his fax machine and computer set-up, and two private meeting rooms where he would hold his business meetings. There would be three suites on the floor-one for him, one for Shayla, and one for Paul when he arrived at the end of the week. As with any big business deal, security measures had to be taken, and that required Paul's expertise.

Nicholas walked over to the minibar in his room and poured a cup of percolated coffee. He wanted something stronger, but always made it a rule never to drink before noon. A few minutes later, after determining he still had too much nervous energy and the coffee was only adding to it, he decided to go to the health club and endure an extensive workout. A good hour of physical exertion should eradicate Shayla Kirkland from his mind for a while. At least, he hoped that it would.

Chapter 4

The Conrad International Hotel was known to be one of the most luxurious in China, and Shayla could see why. It was evident that it was designed for both the business and leisure traveler. All the hotel's guest rooms had sweeping views of the Hong Kong harbor, Victoria Peak, and the city's skyline.

The panoramic view outside her window was nothing short of majestic. Shayla had been surprised to discover she was housed on the executive floor and that her suite was across the hall from Nicholas's. In fact, the only three suites on the floor shared a huge lobby that also served as a sitting area. She fell in love with an oversize bathroom tub that just seemed to be calling her name.

She decided to take a long leisurely bath and relax. She doubted Mr. Chenault would need her services today. Surely he would have pity on her and give her this day to rest and recover from jet lag. Maybe not, she thought when the phone rang.

Walking across the room, she picked it up. "Yes?"

"How was your flight, Ms. Kirkland?"

Shayla's heart thudded in her chest. Nicholas's voice was deep and husky. Against her will she remembered his features, seeing them clearly in her mind, especially his gold eyes. She tightened her hold on the phone, knowing she had to get a grip. "My flight, Mr. Chenault, was nice, although it was rather long. Luckily I had some interesting reading material to pass the time."

"The report on the Ling Deal?"