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And with that, it was time to move into the meeting rooms. Stenner couldn’t resist making one more attempt at Lisa.

  “You sure you don’t want to join me in my room, instead of sitting through these boring meetings?”

  Lisa stood, ready to exit, but she couldn’t resist.

  “Mr. Stenner, it was a pleasure meeting you. And although your offer is tempting, I’m afraid that this body, and what I know I can do with it, would probably kill you. I don’t want to be responsible for your death today.” She turned and walked away, not even looking to see his reaction. And it was a beautiful reaction.

  21

  “JOHN, I REALLY believe that Blake is the right choice to sit in the chair next to me. She’s come a long way, and the bottom line is she is good. She’s very good.” Tom Preston made his case for Blake Summer.

  “Jack, this is ultimately your call. You’re the one responsible for the newsroom. What do you think?” John Miller turned to Jack Router. He was quietly disgusted with Tom Preston’s glowing pitch for Blake Summer. He had heard the rumors about the two having an affair, making him leery of the anchor’s endorsement.

  The news director thought about the question. This was a big decision, and he wanted to make sure he got it right.

  “Blake is good.”

  “What about that NBC anchor who’s been there forever. Is she worth talking to?”

  “I’ve had several conversations with her already, and I think she was more interested in telling her news director that we were talking to her. I’m sure she was just trying to get more money from her station.”

  “Tom, are you sure there isn’t another reason you want Blake to get this?”

  “I know what you’re thinking. There isn’t any other reason than I think she’s the best one for the position.”

  Jack thought he’d better be clear now that the elephant in the room was brought up. “What if the two of you can’t get along in your personal life? How is that going to play in the newsroom?”

  “Everything will be cool. We’re two adults and we know what’s important, and besides, I’m thinking about taking our relationship to the next level.”

  Jack and John looked at each other, somewhat surprised.

  “What the hell does that mean?” Jack asked.

  “Never mind, that was stupid for me to say. Blake is the right person for the anchor desk. I promise that we will manage it properly on and off the set.” Tom kicked himself. He couldn’t believe he let the cat out of the bag.

  “John, I have to agree that Blake is the right one for this job.” The news director looked right at Tom. “And you need to understand if anything, and I mean anything, goes wrong with your relationship, I won’t hesitate to make another change.”

  Tom nodded, never thinking the change could be him.

  “Okay, Jack. This is your call and I’ll support it, but it is your ass if anything goes wrong with this,” John said.

  An hour later Blake Summer was in Jack’s office being offered the anchor position. She was ahead of her schedule.

  “Jack, thank you for having the confidence in me. I won’t let you down.”

  “Just so we’re on the same page, I told Tom this and I will tell you the same thing. If the two of you can’t control your relationship outside the station and I start having problems, I will make changes. I’m not going to have any BS disrupt what we’re trying to do here,” he said softly as if lecturing a teenage daughter.

  “Mr. Router, between you and me I plan on telling Tom that I don’t think it’s a very good idea that we continue to see each other now that I’m going to be his co-anchor. I plan to tell him later tonight.”

  “It’s none of my business, Blake. I just can’t have any drama in the workplace. Get it worked out before you take the anchor position on Monday.”

  Jack suspected that Blake Summer romanced Tom to get his support. Now that she had the job, Tom was no longer important to her. Blake’s going to kick the shit out of him by dropping him. Jack Router was not looking forward to having to deal with this situation on top of everything else.

  ***

  “Stewart, I love you. You know that.”

  Lisa was sitting in her favorite spot in Stewart’s living room.

  “Uh-oh; I’m hearing a but coming.”

  This was the longest ongoing relationship that Stewart had ever had. He never expected his relationship with Lisa to last. His relationships never did. Lisa was different, though, and he felt committed to her, even when he was thought he was incapable of loving any one person. Now he did, and he suddenly felt vulnerable.

  Taking a small gulp of air, Lisa spoke the words she had been practicing for more than a week.

  “But I need more in my life than seeing you, or being with you, only a few days a month. I’ve been faithful to you and monogamous, and I know you can’t say the same thing. I never expected that from you. You’ve taken great care of me, but I’m at the age now that I need more from a relationship. And if you’re honest with yourself, you know you can’t give me that.”

  “I know, Lisa. I know. We have had some fun, and I hope you know how much I care for you.”

  Stewart wouldn’t use the word love. He thought it was misleading because most people couldn’t live up to its expectation—certainly not a philandering billionaire like him.

  “I’m guessing you’ve found someone you are interested in?”

  Stewart got off his couch and reached out. Lisa took his hand and stood up so she was facing him.

  “I met someone, and in fairness to you, I haven’t been able to act on it because of how I feel for you. Stewart, I need more.” Lisa’s voice was soft, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “I need more from you and I know you can’t give me that.”

  “You know, Lisa, we will never be apart from each other very long because of what we have between us. If I married anyone in the world, it would be you. I hope you believe that, because it’s true. It is so true.”

  Lisa nodded.

  “I will continue to be there for you for anything you will ever need. Don’t ever hesitate to call me,” he said.

  Stewart pulled Lisa into his arms and let her tears roll onto his shirt. In all the years they’ve been together, she had never cried in front of him before. The moment lasted the better part of fifteen minutes. Then Stewart slowly backed her up so he could look her in the eye.

  “Lisa, I have one favor to ask of you before you get to serious or too involved with your new man.” Stewart was surprised at himself. He was a cold son of a bitch, but what he was about to do was even low for him.

  “Remember David Stenner? You met him at the broadcaster’s convention in Monterey not quite a year ago. I need you to do something for me. I don’t want you to be offended, and I don’t want you to think I don’t have any respect for you. You know that’s not the case. This is business and nothing more.”

  “Stewart, you are beginning to scare me. What is it you want me to do?”

  “I need you to run into David. Dugan can arrange the details. I need you to spend an evening with him. It’s extremely important for a business deal I’m putting together.”

  “Stewart, are you asking me to do what I think you are?” Her voice grew louder. “Are you asking me to sleep with him? Are you pimping me out?”

  Lisa was shocked. How can this man who I’ve loved for years and been totally faithful to ask me to sleep with someone else?

  “Is that how you think of me? I can’t believe you. Tonight, of all nights, you ask me to do this.” Lisa stepped away, grabbing her bag she ran out the door. When she got outside, she didn’t know what to do because Dugan had always had her car ready for her. She left Stewart’s house so fast that Dugan wasn’t prepared. Luckily, Dugan left the keys in the ignition.

  “That bastard,” she said over and over, slamming her palms down on the steering wheel. Her tires squealed as she drove away.

  ***

  Walter Campbell had spent months trying to do more than d
inner and a movie with Lisa. She wouldn’t let the relationship develop any further than an occasional night out, or a few drinks, or a movie every now and then.

  Walter answered his phone on the second ring.

  “Walter, this is Lisa. Would it be okay if I stopped by to see you?”

  Lisa got the answer she wanted and immediately turned the car toward Rancho Mirage.

  Walter lived at the Thunderbird Country Club, just off the corner of Hwy 111 and Country Club Drive. Lisa checked in at the guardhouse and was waved through. She wound through the streets until she found herself up against the foothills that came down to the golf course, outlining the private homes. Walter had four major spotlights shining from his backyard onto the mountain. It was an incredibly beautiful view.

  Lisa rang the doorbell, and within seconds Walter greeted her. His hair was still wet from the shower he took after Lisa’s call. Lisa never said a word. She took his hand and headed for what she thought was the master bedroom. She was right.

  Once inside the bedroom, Lisa angrily kissed Walter while her hands practically ripped his shirt off, like she was having makeup sex with someone she hadn’t even really dated. Walter didn’t say a word. He didn’t understand what Lisa was doing, but he wasn’t about to stop her. He had fantasized about this night since the first time he met her standing in the line at the convention.

  Lisa was lost in the anger and the passion. Two hours and three mind-blowing orgasms later, the only reason they stopped was because they were both sore with pleasure. They lay there holding each other. For the first time that evening, they could hear Walter’s music playing. After fifteen minutes of silently lying in each other’s arms, he spoke.

  “Do you want to talk about it? It’s okay. You can trust me. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “No. I’m okay. I just didn’t want another day to go by without having you.”

  What could I possibly say to that? He lay there perfectly content with Lisa’s head on his chest.

  Lisa spent the night, and when she left in the morning she noticed she had seven messages from Stewart. She never returned his calls. He didn’t have a clue as to what triggered the volatile reaction in Lisa, and he was okay not knowing.

  ***

  Blake rolled over and slowly moved her hand down Tom Preston’s flat stomach. He was still asleep but quickly became aroused. Blake lightly stroked him, which woke him, and the two spent the next twenty minutes making love as if it were their last time.

  Tom loved making breakfast for the two of them on the weekends. Blake jumped into the shower to clean up before coming out of the bedroom with a packed bag.

  “Are you going somewhere?” Tom asked.

  “I’m going back to my place. I can’t stay here anymore. To be honest, I’m concerned about starting my new job and you and me as an item. I think it may cause problems at work, and you know how important my career is.”

  Blake’s words cut Tom. She’s dumping me? After I helped get her the job? He had fallen hard for this girl. She was ten years younger, beautiful, talented, smart, and he thought she was as much in love with him as he was with her. What is this about?

  “Blake, what is going on? We made love this morning and now you’re walking out?”

  Blake looked up through her long bangs. “It was a thank you, Tom. A thank you for all you’ve done for me and all your help, but now I have to make this on my own. People are already going to talk as if you got me this job.”

  “I did get you this job,” Tom said with a punch in volume. He was pissed. He was getting dumped, again. What is it about me and relationships? His head pounded as he realized that he had been played. “Don’t go, Blake. We don’t have to let what we have outside the station affect us inside the station.”

  “Tom, I can’t take that chance. My career is everything. You’ll find another intern or young reporter to replace me with. Let’s just remember the great times we had here.” Blake put her bag down and held Tom as she kissed him. She then picked up her bag and walked out the door.

  Tom turned off the stove and walked away from the frying pan where breakfast was almost ready. He went to the couch and sat down, trying to understand what just happened. He woke up in the best of moods, and within forty-five minutes his life was empty. Tom stayed on the couch the entire day, only getting up twice to pee. He never turned on the TV or even looked at his phone.

  The next day, the phone calls started. Tom called Blake a dozen times over the course of the day. He left a pathetic message every single time. Blake was home but knew who was calling, so she didn’t pick up the phone. The message was always the same.

  “Blake, this is Tom. I’m not sure what I did, but I’m sorry. Please call me so we can talk about it. We can get through this together.”

  Blake had no interest in getting through anything with Tom. She had gotten exactly what she wanted—tomorrow she would become the number one female anchor on the number one news station in Palm Springs. She had another plan she would put into action right away.

  Finally, at 10:30 in the evening, Blake answered the phone. Tom was surprised; he thought he’d get the message machine again.

  “Hello.” The voice repeated when no one answered. “Hello?”

  “Blake, this is Tom. I’m so glad you picked up.”

  “Tom, you have to get a grip and quit calling me. You are like stalking me now and it has to stop.” Blake’s voice trembled.

  “Blake, I just want to talk to you. That’s all. Can I come over?”

  “No. I don’t want to see you. And stop calling me.” Tom heard the phone hang up. He was devastated. Why is this happening to me?

  Blake smiled as she unplugged the tape recorder she had attached to her answering machine.

  Over the next couple of months, this scene played out several times a week. Blake always recorded Tom’s calls. What she didn’t record were the calls she made to him, usually between one and three in the morning, filling Tom with hope of the possibility of getting back together. Blake Summer was working her plan.

  The chemistry on the air was entirely different from the emotional drama off camera. Blake was powerful and held her own from day one with Tom. She belonged in the anchor chair. The two sparred on camera with friendly jabs, hinting at some tension but in a flirtatious way. That passion played well with viewers. Were they friends, or did they hate each other? It was all part of Blake’s game plan.

  The November television ratings for Palm Springs came out a few days before Christmas. TV3 continued their domination of the market. They were a solid number one in every news time period. Jack was pleased but still on edge about the dynamic between his main anchors. He hoped every day that their on-air teasing didn’t erupt into something unseemly.

  ***

  Walter was five years older than Lisa and a well-known and respected up-and-coming market manager for Clear Channel radio stations. Over the next six months, they became a couple, and between the television station and Walter’s position with the radio stations, they had plenty of opportunities to mingle with desert royalty.

  Lisa charmed the desert mavens. Ten to fifteen different ladies ran the many philanthropic events held during the desert high season. No one had more clout than Jackie Lee Houston, who seemed to be the queen of the desert’s philanthropic society. Lisa’s old friend Barbara Sinatra was certainly in that circle, and she introduced Lisa to every important player. Now that Lisa had Walter Campbell on her arm, the two made a very powerful media couple.

  The couple earned their stripes, too. They got involved in key charity events, and with their connections they raised a lot of money for some of the very important people who put their names on these special causes.

  Walter kept pushing for Lisa to move into his country club estate, but Lisa always declined.

  “I’m not giving up my independence without a total commitment. So, no, I won’t move in with you.”

  Walter, as frustrating as it was for him, understood. He wasn’t
sure he was going to make that kind of commitment to her, even though he loved her more than anyone he had ever been with. He knew in his heart, and could sense from Lisa, that her heart was totally committed to him.

  ***

  Lisa and Stewart hadn’t talked for quite a long time when he next visited his Palm Springs television station. She didn’t see him standing at the door watching her. John Miller had told the department heads that the owner was coming by; Lisa seemed unfazed.

  Stewart held a copy of that month’s Palm Springs Life magazine showing Lisa and Walter attending one of the fabulous Houston parties.

  “Lisa, how are you?” Stewart couldn’t help but think that she looked more beautiful today than the first time he met her at Frank Sinatra’s house years earlier. “This picture doesn’t do you justice.” Stewart showed her which one he was talking about.

  Lisa stood and met Stewart halfway. They hugged for a short minute and he kissed her cheek. Lisa’s heart was in her stomach. This wasn’t the reaction she expected. She was still in love with her owner, but she couldn’t let him know it.

  “I’m good, Mr. Simpson.”

  It didn’t bother Stewart that Lisa called him Mr. Simpson. She often did that, so it felt normal, especially inside the workplace.

  “How’s Walter treating you?”

  Lisa wasn’t surprised by the question. She had gotten used to Stewart knowing all the intimate details of people’s lives and assumed that he continued to know hers.

  “Walter is a good guy. He takes care of me and he loves me.”

  Stewart understood what the woman he could never get out of his mind was telling him. “I’m happy for you. Truly happy. When he asks you to marry him, I would like to pay for it. You need to let me pay for your wedding. Promise me.”

  “Stewart, I will probably never get married, but if Walt ever asks and I accept, then you can pay for it. And I want a big wedding.”

  The two laughed, and it felt good.

  “Let’s talk business. Tell me how your sales numbers.”

  “It’s always about the business for you, isn’t it? Sales are good. You see my numbers.”