Kate Takes Care Of Business by Rachel Cartwright

Sterling’s until the meeting was over. That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it, Kate? Just keeping the peace in your life and everyone else’s like you’ve always done.
    Sterling came over and put his arms around her. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed being with you.”
    His mouth took hers, without resistance. It didn’t make a difference. No clamoring in her blood or her brain, just Sterling kissing her a little too hard, the same way he’d kissed her since they were teenagers. Kate thought of Reid’s lips on hers, making her feel as if she were dying and being born again. She withdrew from Sterling’s arms.
    Sterling touched his lips with a quick wiping motion. “We’ll pick you up a little after eight. Bridget and Jeff will be excited to see you and it’ll give me another excuse to drive my new car. You’re going to love it . . . like a rocket on wheels.”
    “Sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to see them.” Kate smiled. And then maybe the night will end faster so I can get back to my room . . . hopefully with Reid.
    The rest of the day, however, dragged, and grew more tedious with every passing hour. An unexpected torrential summer thunderstorm blasted the city. Kate told her father she was exhausted and wanted to rest up before going out tonight.
    Kate prowled her luxurious suite like it was a prison cell. She tried texting and calling Reid in hopes of trying to explain what was happening but he never returned her calls. What’s he so busy doing that he can’t get back to me?
    For some illogical reason, she thought about Liz Presley but quickly banished the idea. Kate had enough on her mind trying to figure out how she could balance her father’s wishes with her desires without overloading her frayed nerves with unfounded jealousy and suspicion.
    In the early evening, Kate set about dressing for the night. She was determined to give Liz some real competition . . . just in case. She decide to go New York retro and chose a black chiffon dress with a matching ruffled cape, sexy but sophisticated like a classic movie star.
    Looking in the mirror, she brushed her dark hair until it shone and emphasized the violet of her eyes with purple mascara. You can make this work, Kate. You have to . . . just until the meeting is over next week.”
    She thought of Sterling’s bruising kiss from the afternoon. In so many ways he was still a teenager and being a few years younger than Reid only emphasized the difference. One kiss she wanted to forget but the other made her hunger from the memory of his mouth on hers.
    Reid was a man.
    But would he be her man?

CHAPTER NINE
     
     
     
    Kate had a cup of coffee with her father while waiting for Sterling to show.
    Dad was in a more optimistic mood. “You look gorgeous, Kate.” He sipped his martini. “I can’t tell you how happy Richard is too now that you’re going out with Sterling again. I think we’re going to come to an agreement after all.”
    Kate held her tongue with effort. She wasn’t seeing Sterling again but now was not the time to tell her worried, beleaguered father the truth.
    He turned to the wall mounted widescreen TV behind the bar and watched the business news of the day. “We have a recent business update from the New York Post,” the announcer said.
    Kate sat up in her chair, interested. Reid and Liz wrote guest columns and blogs for the New York Post. The speaker continued: “The reported rift between the CEO and president of Hallman and Winslow may have increased to the point of breaking the once solid company in two.”
    Kate put her drink down and starred at the screen.
    “It appears that president Adam Winslow is committed to canceling all their current outsourcing contracts and returning the jobs to the United States regardless of the impact on the company’s dwindling cash reserves. This bold move has caused a serious breach between Mr. Winslow and his long time friend and CEO, Richard Hallman, who supports increased