A Shrew's Revenge

Chapter 3

Nora had a hard time sleeping the night before.

Love?

It was impossible. First of all, no one falls in love at first sight anymore, besides, Nora had always felt that love at first sight was nothing more than a superficial infatuation. Secondly, Who in their right mind looked at Nora and fell in love? It's not that she didn't want to be loved but she had always hoped it would be based on a deep, intellectual and emotional level. Not some fancy based on her looks. Besides, Brian Carlton? Of all people?

No- it just couldn't be. She wouldn't believe it wasn't just some ploy to get to her father's company.

Still- Brian Carlton, the one boy who had ever been kind to her. Nora sighed an shook her head. She would not let anyone pull her into these types of silly traps.

Nora was deep in thought as she braided her hair back and then there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." She said, turning. It was a maid.

"Ms. Nora- Delivery for you." The maid said, making Nora raise an unruly brow.

"For me?" She said, as the maid nodded and waived at another maid. The second and third maid both entered her bedroom, holding large flower arrangements and Nora's eyes widened.

"This card came with them, miss. I'm afraid there are at least four more downstairs. Should I send them up?" The maid asked.

Nora was staring at the flower with her mouth wide open- a rather unattractive look for her.

"No. You can place those downstairs, find a place for them." Nora said waiving her hand for the maids to be dismissed. As she heard the door shut, she stood and walked over to the flowers. They were quite pretty. Nora loved flowers in a very truly feminine fashion, but she'd never received any before.

She reached out with her fingers, placing them lightly on the tips of the flowers, appreciating just how fresh they were and then she turned back to the card sitting on her vanity. Quickly, she moved to the card:

I saw these this morning and remembered you. I hope we can get together soon.

x Brian

Nora read the card once over, then again, then again. Had Brian Carlton just sent her flowers?

-----

Brian sat in his office, speaking with the secretary.

"I'll start receiving candidates at the end of next week, not sooner." Brian said, referring to the position as his personal assistant.

"That sounds good, it will give the replacement a week to train with your current assistant." The secretary said, making notes. She would be putting out an ad on Monday and after passing her initial screening, Brian would interview them personally on the Thursday or Friday.

"Did you send those flowers I asked you?" Brian said, turning away from the secretary and looking out the window.

"I did." She said. She usually wasn't one to send flowers, that was his assistant's role but they were not on the best speaking terms at the moment.

"Good. That's all for now then." Brian said.

"Okay. Excuse me." She said, leaving the room politely. Brian was quiet after she left, thinking over his conversation with his father.

He'd insisted that Brian would need to make sure Nora was smitten with him- there was no other way. She was known as being rude and sarcastic, so getting her to suddenly accept a proposal from a man, however handsome, that she'd only seen once in the last 13 years was a bit unrealistic.

Brian had almost felt insulted- any woman in the city or in the US for that matter would be thrilled to have him propose, what was Nora's problem? Sure she was rich, but with that face and that attitude she should pretty much expect that she would marry for convenience. Brian sighed, shaking his head. That was a bit harsh- he was sure there must be another troll out there who might marry her for love. Again, Brian groaned, unable to believe he was in this predicament.

One thing was for sure, after the companies were fully merged, he would make it clear to Nora that theirs would only be a friendship and partnership. That's what successful marriages were, right?

He looked over at the clock on the wall. It was nearly 12:00 PM. Nora would have the flowers by now. With an inward groan, he picked up his phone and dialed the number to her house.

"Lida residence. Good morning." The voice on the other side of the line said.

"Yes, Good Morning. I'd like to speak with Nora please." Brian said.

"Ms. Nora? Who may I say is calling?" The voice said.

"Brian Carlton." He repeated, wishing he hadn't called suddenly.

"One moment." He heard the phone put down and scattering of feet in the distance. After a few minutes, he had almost decided to hang up when a soft voice on the line suddenly appeared.

"Hello." The voice said, throwing him off guard. The voice was very soft and well spoken.

"Nora?" He asked, unbelieving the cultured sound on the line could be her.

"Yes. Hi Brian. How are you?" Nora asked. She was very nervous- first the flowers and now a call.

"Good. I almost didn't recognize your voice. How are you?" He asked. She had a nice voice, clear and low, like a soft hum. It was actually quiet pleasant.

"Good. Thank you very much for the flowers this morning. They were nice." She said politely. Nora had never really had a conversation with a boy before and even at nearly 25, it was nerve wrecking.

"I'm glad you like them. I was thinking that I'd like to see you again soon- are you free for lunch?" He asked. Nora was speechless. Was he really asking her to lunch? Was he really asking if she was free? Wasn't that obvious?

"Hello? Nora?" he asked when she didn't reply.

"Yes, I'm here. Actually, I've already started making lunch here at home..." she said, recalling she'd put the salmon in the oven only minutes before.

"Oh. Well, then another time I suppose." Brian said, feeling a sweep of relief come over him.

"Umm, well, you can come over if you like." She said suddenly. Brian winced. He'd been out with heiresses who tried to cook before- it was never a great combination.

"Sure. I'd love to. 1 o clock okay?" He asked, placing his hand over his face.

"Yes." she said quietly.

"See you soon." he said, hanging up.

Nora stood still by the phone. Had that really happened?

Brian groaned inwardly as the phone was put down. Had he really just made a date with Nora Lida?

"Yo! Bri... I've got some of those great reports you love getting mad over." A voice from the door said to him. He turned to look up at Marc- his best friend and rudest employee he had ever hired. The man didn't knock and spoke in a brash and somewhat disrespectful manner- but he was a brilliant analyst.

"How is everything going?" Brian asked, looking over the reports.

"Great as usual, no increase this month though." Marc said, taking a seat in the chair across the desk.

"I was really hoping to see a change in sales." Brian said with a frown.

"It's not a lot of companies who can keep such a steady percentage." Marc reminded him as he tossed a small hackey sack up and down.

"Unless you're Lida." Brian said annoyed.

"That's true- but Lida enterprises has an award winning board- everything they touch turns to gold." Marc said. "any news on the merger?" Brian nodded.

"and?" Marc asked.

"Nicholas Lida is ready to sign." Brian said.

"Wow. That's great news. Can you imagine? 'Lida and Volstack Enterprises." Marc said wistfully. Brian was quiet.

"What's wrong? Isn't this what you wanted? You do realize how awesome our numbers will be? Terecom will never be able to touch us after this." Marc said, staring at his seemingly depressed friend.

"There's a catch. Nicky Lida wasn't going to just give it away." Brian said with another groan.

"What is it?" Marc asked, leaning forward in his chair. Brian sighed.

"Ever meet Nora Lida?" Brian asked. Marc frowned, suddenly remembering an unpleasant girl who spilled her coffee on him and then blamed him for it.

"Eww. Yes, Unfortunately. Oh no, is her father going to want her working here?" Marc said, thinking how annoying it would be to have such an unsightly and rude gnome hanging around.

"Worse." Brian said, explaining the situation.

"You have got to be f*****g kidding me." Marc said after a while.

"I wish." Brian said. "She is insufferable, a pain. Everyone who knows her tells me the exact same thing."

"I can't believe this is a thing- rich people still do this type of thing?" Marc asked with a chuckle.

"Yes, it's still a thing apparently. Worse part is that I'm supposed to woo her." Brian said annoyed. Marc burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be unsympathetic. But you, Brian Carlton, most eligible and desired bachelor, playboy extraordinaire, women beg for you... and you are supposed to woo Nora Lida- the terror of New York Society?" Marc said at length.

"You know I can have you fired if you annoy me." Brian said sarcastically. Marc sighed, ignoring the comment.

"Absolutely terrible, so sorry. So what do you plan to do?" Marc asked.

"What can I do? I'm going to put on the charm, make sure the little troll says yes when I do pop the question and as soon as we are married and the merger completed, I'll buy her out and file for a divorce." Brian said simply. Marc was still. It sounded a bit cold.

"That sounds harsh." He said. Brian nodded.

"I know, but we can't stay married and I'll make sure she has everything she needs. Besides, I'll give her a good year before divorcing, so she can save face." Brian said coldly.

"Sometimes, your potential for cruelty surprised even me." Marc said, standing.

"What are you talking about? Didn't you say you knew her? That girl hasn't got a kind bone in her body." Brian said. Marc nodded.

"I know, but making her fall for you, then tossing her aside... that's going a bit far? I would think a girl like her has probably zero experience in romance. She's a sitting duck." Marc said.

"I know that, don't you think I know that? Don't you think this entire scheme is hard for me too? But if I don't marry her, Terecom gets to merge with Lida and we would sink in less than a couple of years." Brian said.

They were quiet for a moment, as if both pondering a desperate way out of this.

"You're right." Marc said at length. "I just hope for her sake, she's as tough as she acts."