Page 41 of Never Again
“I can’t tell you anything except that I’ll handle the problem, and there’s nothing for you to worry about. The conversation may have sounded intense, but I have everything under control. And I don’t need your money. The last thing I want to do is take money from you for problems I created myself.”
“So you admit there’s a problem. Carlos—”
“Carmen, listen to me.” He took both of her hands and tugged her forward until she stood between his legs. “You have to trust me right now, okay? I know I seem very secretive, but it’s for a good reason. You can’t help me, and I can handle this on my own.”
She stared down at the hands grasping hers.
“Hey.” He tugged more gently this time and forced her eyes to focus on his. “Stop worrying.”
“If you need my help, you would tell me, right?”
“Yes. But this is something I need to take care of myself. I can’t explain, and I won’t let you help me.”
“Please don’t let your stupid male pride create problems when I’m right here and able to assist,” she pleaded.
“It’s not male pride. It’s me trying to right a wrong. An error in judgment that I regret.”
“Doesn’t sound like the person you were talking to will allow you to fix it.”
“Not right now, but I’m working on the situation, and I need time, that’s all.” He squeezed her hands. “Trust me. This problem is nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
She straddled his thighs and wound her arms around his neck. “I accept your answer. I don’t like it, but I do, because I trust you. I only have one question, and I need you to answer me honestly. Are you involved in anything illegal?” She hated to ask, but a late-night, furtive conversation that he couldn’t give her details about had her imagination running wild.
He actually graced her with a brief smile. “Nothing quite so exciting.”
Carmen breathed a little easier. “Good. Then I’ll leave it alone, and you can tell me when you’re ready.”
Carlos kissed her softly and tightened his arms around her waist. “Thank you for trusting me.”
“Don’t make me regret it.”
For two seconds, his brow creased again, but then the lines disappeared. “I’ll do my best,” he said solemnly, which was not the answer she’d wanted to hear.
17
Carmen walked through the halls of Fit Body Gyms corporate office with an extra pep in her step. Tomorrow she’d be on a plane to Atlanta. A month had passed since she last saw Carlos in the flesh, and she couldn’t wait to be with him again.
She stopped at her assistant’s desk, Trudy, an older redhead with black-framed glasses whose sunny disposition always brightened her day.
“Almost ready to leave?” Trudy asked with a knowing grin.
Carmen had confided in her about Carlos and explained that they’d reunited, without divulging Alfred’s role in the split. She didn’t want to sully her father’s reputation. After all, he was still the head of the company and came in every day. No need to start gossip that would cause employees to dislike him.
“Almost. Before I do, I need twenty copies each of these and the Mathis contract emailed to me so I can work on the revisions. I’m going to take it home with me tonight.”
“Will you have time to read it, with packing and getting ready to leave tomorrow?” Trudy asked.
“I had Valencia pack for me,” Carmen replied, referring to her housekeeper. She handed over the papers to Trudy. “But even if she hadn’t, I’d stay up all night because I’m determined to complete the revisions and have the final copy ready before I leave.” The last thing she wanted was to let her personal travels affect her work.
“Now that’s dedication, or someone determined not to let work interrupt their trip,” Trudy said.
Carmen laughed, downright giddy she would soon be able to see Carlos. “A little bit of both, but I’ll be working in Atlanta like I always do. This isn’t a vacation. I just need to get that contract completed and in to legal by first thing Monday morning.”
Carmen headed toward her office.
“You’ll be missed around here for the next week,” Trudy called after her. “By the way, your father stopped by while you were in the meeting.”
Carmen turned away from the door. “Did he say what he wanted?”
