Guarded Hearts

The Haute Lounge

The Haute Lounge

COLTON

“Ramona, please call Shane in marketing and make sure he has the mock-ups ready for the Roswell Tech account. I leave for Houston in the morning and want to make sure that everything is in order to present in the meeting tomorrow.”

“Yes, Mr. Reeves.”, Ramona’s voice comes through sweetly on the intercom.

I’ve been going back and forth with Boswick for months now regarding this deal and it’s high time we settled this account.  My plan is to go in and wow him, finally and return.  I hope Shane’s marketing  team delivers.  I am hoping this will be my last bit of travel for a while.  I have been going non-stop for the last 60 days with few breaks in-between and I just need a reprieve.  I guess that’s what I get for being a workaholic.  Luckily, I had time to find a condo, a very nice condo in fact.  I would like to move in and enjoy it.  With the long hours I keep here at the office, I needed something closer. The family house is just too far out from the city and with it being only me and the house staff there, the kids coming home sporadically, this move works out perfectly. And Regina, my wife, well my estranged wife, has been ‘finding herself’ and ‘visiting’ Paris for I don’t know how long and Italy before then, what’s the point in staying there alone? Sure, I have considered selling, but I don’t want to let it go yet.  It’s where I hold C-suite parties and entertain clients, so I’ll hold on to it for now.  Regina and I raised our kids in that home and celebrated many holidays.  There are good memories but also quite a few bad ones as well.  Although it’s been 5 years since we have even been in one space together as husband and wife, I miss the companionship.  Not that I long for Regina’s company as there has been too much time and space between us, but I do miss the comfort of coming home to a special someone.  In my effort to make JR Industries a billion-dollar company I can admit that it cost my marriage in some ways.  Regina became restless and reckless.  Let’s just say we went through quite a few pool cleaning services due to wandering hands and eyes.  I thought she enjoyed the money, the trips and the lavish lifestyle, but it just wasn’t enough for her. If I’m honest, I don’t believe I was enough for her. She’s high maintenance and all eyes must be on her at all times. She didn’t like competing with the job.  There was this unspoken ultimatum of either I choose her or the company.  She felt I chose the company but I felt that I was choosing the family by focusing on the company.  I knew we were drifting and once the kids got to high school, well I was met with a whole new person. We should have divorced as soon as we drifted apart, but I was concerned about how our investors would react.  When Regina and I got married her father’s and my family’s business were merged.  I feared a massive exodus where loyalty would override good business sense.  Within these past 5 years our stock has grown and we have acquired a few companies and now I feel confident enough to go through with it without much fallout business-wise.  I’m sure it won’t be an easy break but a necessary one nonetheless.  By now though, I believe everyone knows that all is not well in the Reeves’ marriage and it really is just a matter of making this 5-year separation a permanent one.

The ringing of my office phone pulls me out of my thoughts. “Yes, Ramona is Shane set?” I asked.  “I am unsure, Mr. Reeves.”  Mrs. Rosen informed me, “He is conducting interviews for the assistant position and he’s unavailable at the moment.”

“Oh yes, that’s right!  Very well, then I’ll just head to his office shortly.  Thank you.”  I began checking and responding to emails and didn’t realize the time had gotten away from me.  I got up to head to Shane's office.  As I closed my office door, and making my way to the elevator, Ramona informed me that Shane has concluded the interviews.  Perfect timing if I do say so myself.  I press the elevator call button and after a while the huge silver doors part.  I press the 20th floor and head down.  I’m on the 25th floor so it’s a fairly short ride.  The doors open and I’m met with the most captivating almond shaped chestnut brown eyes looking back at me, unblinking.  I made my way out of the elevator and I held the doors open for her so I could get a full view of her.  Her navy-blue pencil skirt hugged every curve she had, and she had quite a few in all the right places.  Normally I am not moved by many women.  There were always women shamelessly throwing themselves at me.  Here at the office the ladies would show their interest by coincidentally being wherever I am with short tight skirts and shirts that practically squeeze their breasts onto their desks.  Not to mention the overly done make-up and over-processed hair color.  They try way too hard.  However, this beauty before me looked as though she never had to try a day in her life!  Her sensuality oozed from every orifice and my eyes absorbed every drop.  Her caramel colored legs looked like they went on for days under that skirt.  Her full, plump lips were painted with a gloss that looked like sweet nectar. I briefly imagined tasting them as I unconsciously licked my bottom lip.  My mouth went dry and I had to clear my throat to remove the lump that had formed in it.  She literally rendered me speechless.  She walked into the elevator and gave a small smile and the smallest of dimples impressed upon her right cheek adding to her allure.  Then she spoke with this velvety sexy-alto voice and said, ‘thank you’.  I felt like a bumbling i***t as I could barely get my brain to function properly in order to respond.  All I could muster was a ‘Ma’am’ and a nod.  I turned and walked to Shane’s office even though every part of me wanted to turn around and drink in her form once more before the elevator doors closed but I hesitated to long and heard the ding indicating the elevator had closed.  Who is she and does she work here?  Maybe she was a vendor or representative from another company.  Mrs. Rosen’s voice broke my reverie and informed me that Shane was available in his office and I knocked before turning the silver handle and entering.  “Come in.”  He called out.  He was just hanging up from a call.  “Let me guess, you are here for the marketing proposal for Boswick?” Shane said.  “Is it that obvious?” I inquired as I smiled.  Shane and I have known each other since college. When I came to work for my father, I brought Shane along.  He is the best in the business in Marketing as far as I am concerned, and he’s proved it time and time again.

“I’ll email everything to you and a copy to Boswick as well.  I figured if he could review it before you all meet, it may move things along a lot faster.”

“Thank you, my friend.  I am more than ready to close this deal.”  I said with a sigh as I took a seat in the chair in front of his desk.  “Boswick should have no issue with this mock-up.  This contract is as good as ours,” Shane assured me.  “Well, I’ll borrow your optimism. Boswick has been tough to please. He beats Regina in the high maintenance department.” I joked.  Changing the subject, I said, “Ramona told me you were interviewing.  How did it go?  Have you filled the position?”

“Yes, I have in fact!” He said energetically.  “I bet anything she just graduated and believes working for JR Industries is a dream come true and a tremendous opportunity.” I said waving my fingers in the air. Knowing my friend’s large appetite for younger women I warned, “Just remember my friend, the young ones are quite beguiling.”  Shane’s wife, Madisyn passed away from cancer 3 years ago.  He didn’t give himself enough time to mourn and heal and remarried within a year and a half of his wife’s death. A young woman named Jennifer who was 32 years old and was more interested in Oliver’s money than his heart.  That marriage ended quicker than it had started and since then he has become quite the playboy.  At our age he should probably be more laid back, but Shane is reliving his 20’s.  It doesn’t interfere with his work, so I keep my opinions to myself.  I still think he’s mourning his late wife and I hope that soon enough he meets someone that will help him see that and help him heal.

“You’d be proud of me, Colt,” he said.  “I hired a more mature candidate.  She is no doubt attractive and sexy as hell, but her resume was actually impressive despite the gap in work experience.”

My brows furrowed as I asked, “What do you mean ‘mature’ with a ‘gap’ in work experience? How old is she? 68?”

“She’s been out of the corporate arena for a few years raising her children, but she’s ready to branch out again.  And no, she is not 68, man!  I chose her because I won’t have to babysit and train her as I would have had to do with the recent graduates.  Hell, I may not have to work so hard.  I believe she can be quite the asset, no pun intended.”  He said in jest smiling deviously.  “Yeah ok, lover boy.  Just behave.  I don’t want any s****l harassment cases on my desk.” I said c*****g an eyebrow at him.

 “Oh no worries there I have as much as I can handle for now with Vanessa. This may be going somewhere.” He assures me.  “Vanessa, huh?  Wait, is she the hostess at the country club?”

“Yes, she is and she serves it up well, if you know what I mean.”  He said as he leaned back with a satisfied smirk on his face his fingers tapping each other in a tent and his elbows resting on the arms of his office chair.  “You sound like a 25-year old co-ed.”  I couldn’t help but laugh.  “You would too, Colt if you’d let loose and actually take some of these beautiful ladies up on their offers.  Have dinner or a quick drink.  No one would blame you for seeking out companionship.  It’s been what? 4, 5 years since you’ve been in the same room with Regina?” I tensed at the mention of her name.  “This company is no substitute for female companionship.  Live a little.” Shane encouraged.  “I hear you, man.  Maybe I will see what’s out there.”  I said.  “But I will not entertain women of a certain age.  That means no women my son’s age.” I said pointing a finger across the desk at Shane.  He puts his hands up in surrender and says. “Ok, ok.  He pauses for a bit like he’s not sure whether he should offer up what’s on his mind.  “There’s a really nice posh lounge called, The Haute Lounge near those new condos by the riverfront.  I’ve heard good things.  We should check it out when you get back from Houston.”

“I know where that is.  It’s near my new condo.” I said.

“Wait.  What new condo?  Are you selling the house?” Shane asked, surprised at this new information.

“No, I’m not selling the house, at least not yet.  You know all the late nights I keep and the early morning flights.  It just made more sense to be closer to the office.” I informed him.

“Well that’s a start to letting loose you sly dog!” he teased.  “What do you mean?” I asked confused.  “You can take your new “friends” less than 5 minutes up the street to your bachelor pad!  How much are those things going for, anyway? I may need to get one.” He said almost doubling over in laughter.  He has always been a jokster and before he goes into hysterics I decided to head back to my office.

“On that note, I believe I have a conference call to get on.” I said looking at my watch and standing up.  Still quite amused Shane said, “Hey can I use it on weekends?” He continues laughing.  Walking toward his office door I say over my shoulder, “Sure you can.  For a small fee.”  I said getting in a laugh of my own.  I could still hear him chuckling as I walked out. 

As I rode the elevator up to my floor, I thought about what Shane said about letting loose and basically getting back out into the dating world.  I had my reservations. Dating after marriage can be daunting and with my ‘situation’ it only adds to the complexity of it all.  Shane was right but I would never tell him that.  His way of letting loose and my way are polar opposites.  I have had my share of one-night stands.  He can’t get enough of them.  I was looking forward to it, but I was very apprehensive as well.  My thoughts began to wander to the beautiful woman on the elevator again.  She was stunning but I’ll probably never see her again.  I shook my head in an attempt to clear it as the conference call began.