A Special Relationship by Yvonne Thomas Page A

mention Myers to lose that entire Dyson contract, if she fessed up to Kincaid?   Didn’t she realize who she was about to spill the beans to ?
      Apparently she realized something, Willie Charles decided ,   because instead of busting him for his nothing short of sexual harassing behavior, she asked Robert if she could have a drink of water.   Willie Charles nearly sighed relief.   Robert frowned.           “Water?” he asked her.
      “Yes.”
      Robert looked deep into her eyes as if he was studying them, and he understood.   She was such a pretty young woman, he thought, with that vulnerable, who me look about her that a joker like Willie Charles wouldn’t hesitate to try and exploit.   If he hadn’t already.  
      “I think I can round you up a glass of water, young lady,” Robert finally said.   “Come with me.”
      Carrie exhaled, and followed him.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
    SEVEN
     
    Carrie quickly followed Robert away from the elevator, refusing to even look back at that trifling Willie Charles, her every instinct telling her that she was far safer with this tall stranger than with the man she thought, just yesterday, was the answer to her prayers.   That was why she followed closely behind Robert as he walked down the long hall, through a suite of smaller offices, and then into his own big office.   He motioned for her to have a seat on the sofa, which she promptly did.   He walked behind the spacious, full-fledged bar and began preparing her a glass of water.   She stared at him, at this white stranger in such a beautiful blue suit, at this big man with such a lovely spirit about him, until he returned her gaze.   She quickly looked away.  
      “Sure you don’t want anything stronger?” he asked her.
      “Positive,” she said with a nervous smile.   “I don’t drink alcoholic beverages.”
      Figures, he thought, as he walked over to the sofa and handed her the water.   She drank heartily, holding the glass with both hands as she drank the entire contents, and then she looked up at her now staring host.  
      His breath caught when those big green eyes looked up at him, and he suddenly felt an odd sense of concern for Carrie.   What had Willie Charles done to this young woman, he wondered, that had her literally shaking in terror when she ran into his arms?   Had he come on to her? Had he threatened her?   Had he touched her?   Robert’s jaws tightened at the thought.   He actually believed, during this one moment in time, that he could have harmed Willie Charles if he’d touched her.
      “I was thirsty,” Carrie said as she handed the now-empty glass back to Robert.   “Sorry about that.”
      “Nothing to be sorry about,” Robert said as he sat the glass on the cocktail table.   “Anything else I can get for you?”
      “Oh, no,” Carrie said, quickly rising to her feet.   “You’ve been most kind as it is, and I’m sure you’re very busy.”
      “I’m okay,” Robert said as he unbuttoned his suit coat.   “Sit down.   Please.”
      “I don’t want to trouble you any longer—”
      “What’s your name?”
      “ My. . . name?   Carrie.   My name’s Carrie.”
      “You’re not troubling me at all, Carrie.   All right?   Now sit.”
      Robert smiled when he said this as if to help relax his nervous guest, but given what Carrie had just been through with Willie Charles, she was too suspicious of any man’s generosity to even think about relaxing.   Although, she had to admit, his face seemed to glow with warmth, and his soft gray eyes had a knowing look about them that made her feel as if he completely understood her.  
      “I don’t mind if you sit down too,” she said, patting the seat beside hers and smiling greatly, a gesture that almost made Robert smile.   She was offering him a seat in his own office.   Now that took nerve, he thought.  
      But he sat down