Gift Wrapped for Christmas: A Contemporary Romance Read online

  Chapter Five

  “Shall we go?” Chase smiled down at Annie. “I thought we’d go to that Italian place today. What do you say?”

  Maddie could have told him that anywhere would have been okay with Annie, but for once she managed to keep her opinion to herself.

  “Okay with you?” He turned to Maddie.

  “I don’t want to interfere,” she said.

  “Come with us.” Annie grabbed her hand.

  “Yes, come with us. We can talk business over lunch, if you don’t mind.” Chase glanced at his watch. “It looks like our board meeting is going to carry on after lunch.” His eyes glittered with barely concealed excitement. “Our chief geologist brought us some exciting news this morning.”

  Maddie knew very little about the oil industry except that Calgary was the business epicentre of Canadian oil production. The “oil patch,” as it was often called, drew workers from all over the country, driving rents sky-high. Tourists often complained that almost every motel in the province had a No Vacancy sign out.

  “Okay, let’s do it.” Maddie slipped into her cape and joined Annie on the sidewalk. A few degrees below freezing, the air felt much colder, and they walked briskly the block to the restaurant.

  “Mr. Drummond.” A short man with a long white apron met them at the door. “Ladies,” he intoned with a slight bow and showed them to a table. “Franco will be here in a moment to take your order, but I can tell you that our specials today are spaghetti carbonara and veal marsala.” He motioned to the bottle of Pellegrino on the table. “Shall I pour?”

  Chase nodded. “For me as well, Tony. I have an important meeting this afternoon and can’t afford to muddy my thinking by having a drink.” He watched with undisguised pleasure as the head waiter poured some San Pellegrino in a stemmed glass for Annie, then for Maddie and himself.

  Annie held the stemmed glass comfortably, and Maddie caught the look of pride on her face as she lifted it to drink. “Thanks for coming with us, Maddie. This is fun.”

  Maddie lifted her glass in a silent salute. “Thank you.”

  Chase leaned forward, all business. “So, Maddie. I understand you wanted to talk to me about a rental? Before you say anything, I apologize for bringing up business before we’ve even eaten.” He gave her a wry grin. “In the movies they always wait, but I’m afraid I don’t have that luxury today.”

  “I understand. I’m interested in renting the little shop in the lobby. It’s a perfect size for what I have in mind.” She decided to lay her cards on the table. “Trouble is, I’d only need it for a couple of months.” She watched him for a reaction, but got none. “From now until the end of the year, to be precise.”

  The waiter arrived and took their orders, giving Chase time to consider her proposal. “Is this rental for yourself? When we met yesterday, I got the impression that you were employed somewhere in the building. I heard you say hello to David.”

  Maddie felt a goofy smile transform her face. “Yeah, David. He’s one of my favourite things about the building. I met him a few days after I started working there. That would be about six months ago.”

  “So you haven’t worked there long?”

  Time to come clean. “I don’t work there any more. I got laid off yesterday.” She frowned to herself. “I guess that’s the way to describe it. The company I worked for lost an account, and I was one of the team members.” She drew her hand across her throat. “Goodbye, Maddie.”

  He nodded. “CCT Accounting. I heard about that.” He thought for a moment. “I’ve rented the space to someone else.”

  Maddie’s dreams crashed and burned at his words.

  “But they’re not taking over until the New Year.” He sat back in his chair and studied her. “What type of business did you have in mind?”

  Maddie shot a quick glance at Annie, who had been watching the exchange with interest. “I was talking to someone yesterday who didn’t know what to buy a relative for Christmas, and I had the idea of a gift buying service, coupled with gift wrapping. I think I could do well.”

  He nodded vigorously. “I know you could. All I’d have to do is mention it at the Oilmen’s Club, and you’d have more business than you could handle.”

  The waiter placed a plate of spaghetti carbonara in front of her, but the luscious smell barely registered. “Would you really do that?”

  “Of course he would!” Annie bounced excitedly in her seat. “Wouldn’t you, Uncle Chase?”

  “Thank you, Franco.” He acknowledged the server, checked Annie’s plate, and then turned back to Maddie. “I think you have a fan.” He looked affectionately at his niece.

  “We’re a gang,” Annie said proudly. “We’re a gang of three.”

  Chase paused, his glass halfway to his mouth. “What is this, West Side Story?”

  Maddie and Annie looked at each other and laughed out loud.

  “What?” Chase raised an eyebrow. “What did I say?”

  “That’s what Lily said when we told her about the gang. Wait ‘til I tell her you said the same thing.” Annie expertly twirled her spaghetti. “You’ll like her, Uncle Chase. Too bad she had to leave.”

  Chase flushed; Maddie suspected that wasn’t something that happened very often. “Yes, too bad.” He turned back to Maddie. “There will be some paperwork to complete, but that sounds fine. When do you want to set up?”

  “Yesterday.” She held his gaze. “Thank you, Chase. I appreciate this.”

  “You’re welcome.” He cut into his veal. “Marilyn will make sure you get to see the right people, and they will co-ordinate with the building superintendent regarding access.”

  Maddie thought of the man she’d seen earlier and her heart did a little flip flop in her chest. “Right,” she said.

  “Get some business cards printed up and a few colourful flyers. Between me and my top executives, we belong to just about every men’s club in town. I play handball several days a week, and there’s a bulletin board in there, as well as at the gyms we frequent.” He seemed to be enjoying himself. “This is just like starting out all over again, but you don’t have much time to get the word out, so you’ll need all the help you can get.”

  Maddie put down her fork. “At the risk of sounding blunt, why are you helping me? I wasn’t even sure you’d let me have the space, let alone help me out.”

  His expression softened. “Two reasons. First of all, Annie likes you and she’s an excellent judge of character.”

  Annie’s head bobbed up and down, her mouth full of spaghetti.

  “And secondly, because David speaks highly of you. I spoke to him before I came over here today, and he told me you’re one of the few people who ever bothered to learn his name, and that you say hello to him every day.” He looked at her steadily. “I like that.”

  “Thank you.”

  Annie wiped her mouth with her napkin. “This is so cool. I’ll get to see you all the time.”

  “Yes, you will.” Maddie grinned at the youngster, but her mind was spinning. There was so much to do; it was almost overwhelming.

  “What will you do when the Christmas season is over?” Chase poured some more sparkling water.

  “I haven’t thought that far ahead, but I’ll find something.” She finished the last of her spaghetti. “Now isn’t a good time to be looking for a new job anyway what with the holidays and all.”

  “I’d have to agree with you there.” He toyed with his fork, then set it deliberately on his plate.

  “Your friend, Lily. What type of work does she do?”

  Annie couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “She’s a clothes designer! I saw some of her designs at a fashion show.”

  Chase looked from his niece to Maddie, a puzzled frown on his face.

  “There was a fashion show at Draper’s,” volunteered Maddie. “Annie and I had been talking about it, and I told her that my friend was going to be there. Actually, she owns a very successful silk screening studio and she’s recently expande
d into fashion.”

  “And you know her well?” Colour crept up his neck again.

  “We’re roommates. We went to high school together and then we both went on to study at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Lily took Applied Arts. I didn’t know what interested me so I did what everyone does in that case. I was going for my BA.”

  “And you ended up in accounting?”

  “I’m putting that down to temporary insanity.” Maddie shrugged her shoulders. “It’s a fine occupation. After all, we all need accountants, but I didn’t realize how much I disliked it until yesterday.”

  He chuckled and looked up at their server, who was clearing the plates. “Dessert anyone? Or coffee?” He looked from Annie to Maddie.

  “Not for me, thanks,” said Maddie. “I don’t usually eat this much at lunch.”

  “Me neither.” Annie had managed to finish her whole meal. “But thank you.”

  “The cheque please, Franco.” Chase leaned across and placed his hand on Annie’s. “So you’ll take care of my girl when it’s time for her to visit Lily’s studio?”

  Maddie had been wondering when he’d bring Lily back into the conversation. “Yes, I will.” She stopped to think. “I’m going to be quite busy for the next little while. Would it be okay if Lily picks up Annie?”

  Chase’s eyes danced. “Well, I don’t know...”

  “Uncle Chase!” Annie knew her uncle well.

  “Yes, of course.” He put on a serious face. “But you have to give me advance warning, young lady. None of this running off without telling anyone.”

  Annie nodded soberly. “Yes, Uncle Chase.”

  Maddie had been right. Not much got past Chase Drummond.

  Chapter Six

  Maddie was busy making lists when Lily got home from work. She kicked off her shoes, snagged a bottle of water from the fridge and climbed up on a stool across from Maddie. They’d often joked about needing a step stool, but Lily always managed.

  “I’m tired,” she said, unscrewing the top and taking a long drink. “It’s been a long day.” She glanced at Maddie’s lists. “I see you got the place.”

  “Yes.” Maddie could tell there was something wrong, but she knew Lily well enough not to push. She shuffled the papers and tried to push down her mounting panic at the amount of work to be done. “I may have bitten off more than I can chew this time.”

  Lily reached for the lists and studied them for a few moments. “When were you planning to open for business?”

  Maddie watched her friend carefully. Lily’s normal “take no prisoners” attitude seemed to have deserted her. She couldn’t help but wonder if it had anything to do with her reaction to Chase Drummond.

  “I think around the fifteenth of November. That will give me time to get some printing done, put up some flyers, get in supplies and get some arrangements in place with a few stores.

  Lily tapped the lists, deep in thought. “Do you think you’ll have any problems when it comes to money? What if someone tries to stiff you?”

  Maddie had considered that. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.” She gave a short laugh. “This may be a large city, but it’s a small town if you know what I mean. The people who ask me to shop for them will be so grateful they’ll fall all over themselves to pay me. Besides, they all know each other in the oil business. With Chase Drummond as my landlord, they wouldn’t dare give me a bad time. Their reputations would be shredded.”

  Lily toyed with the water bottle. “Are you going to hire anyone? This could be a very popular service, and in case you haven’t noticed, there’s only one of you.”

  Maddie shook her head. “I think I can get away with having people contact me on my cell, at least in the beginning. They can either come to the shop or I’ll go to them if necessary. I think I’ll play it by ear.”

  “You can always hire someone closer to Christmas if it comes to that.” Lily removed the chopsticks from her hair and pulled a few strands around to the front, winding them around her finger.

  “What did you think of Chase?” she said finally. She wouldn’t meet Maddie’s eyes, but at least she had mentioned him. It was progress of a sort.

  Maddie took a moment to collect her thoughts. “He was amazing, actually.”

  Lily’s head came up. She seemed startled.

  “He’s going to help me with getting out the word.” Maddie couldn’t help but smile as she recalled Chase’s generous offer. “He says he’ll tell all his oil buddies about my service, and he even offered to put some flyers up in the gym. And when I went to sign the papers for the shop, I couldn’t believe the price they quoted me. I mean, it was next to nothing. I thought they’d made a mistake but they said no, Mr. Drummond had personally set the price.”

  Lily’s keen business instincts took over. “Why would he do that?”

  “I asked him.”

  “Really?” Lily offered a slight smile. “That was gutsy. What did he say?”

  “He seems to think that because Annie likes me I must be okay.” She hesitated.

  “There’s something else. What?”

  “It’s about David. You know, the concierge in the building; I’ve mentioned him to you. He likes the fact that I got to know David by name, and that I say hello to him every day.”

  “Interesting.” Lily pulled the strand of hair across her lips. Her gaze drifted to the window, where snowflakes fell against the glass. “There’s something about him...” Her voice drifted off.

  Maddie waited for Lily to continue but when she remained silent, decided to jump in. “I noticed your reaction to him when he came in.”

  Lily glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. “Was it so obvious?”

  “Not to him, but I know you and I’ve never seen you like that before.”

  Lily’s eyes took on a faraway look. “When he walked in, something passed between us, you know?”

  “Hello! Jeez, Lily, a person would have to be in a coma not to notice the sparks between the two of you.” She sat forward. “Why did you run?”

  “I didn’t run.” It was a half-hearted attempt at denial.

  “Then what do you call it? It sure looked like running to me. The man stood and watched you race across the street as though somebody had ripped out his heart.”

  “You see? That’s what I mean!” Lily released the strand of hair she’d been playing with and flicked it over her shoulder.

  “Lily...” Maddie shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

  “He doesn’t know me!” She clenched her hand into a small fist and pounded it against her chest. “They never do. They see an attractive Asian woman and they get all these fantasies.” She held up a hand. “Don’t bother denying it, Maddie, it’s true. Many of them think an exotic looking woman is a status symbol.” Her dark eyes blazed with anger. “And the rest of them think you’re going to be submissive.”

  “You? Submissive? That’s a laugh.” Maddie smiled, but Lily was still vibrating with anger.

  “Listen, my friend. You must have your reasons for disliking Chase, but I don’t think he fits any of those stereotypes.”

  Lily’s head came up, and there were tears in her eyes. “I didn’t say I don’t like him. I wish it was that easy. But don’t you see? How could he be interested in me from one look? That kind of stuff only happens in books, and I don’t believe it there, either.”

  Maddie’s thoughts went to the man she’d seen in Chase’s office yesterday. It hadn’t mattered that he wore khakis while Chase wore tailored suits, or that he worked in maintenance while Chase was the CEO of an oil exploration company. The attraction had hit her like a bolt of lightning, and he hadn’t even noticed her. She forced herself to re-focus on Lily’s problem.

  She’d never seen her roommate this emotional. Lily had dated in Vancouver, picking and choosing among the many men who vied for her attention. But as to any relationships since she’d moved to Calgary two years ago, Maddie had no idea. In the six months she’d been i
n Calgary she couldn’t recall Lily going out once. She’d cited business pressures and lack of suitable men as the reason, but Maddie was beginning to wonder if there was more to the story than what Lily had told her. Perhaps something would come out if they talked about Chase some more.

  “So let’s get this straight,” Maddie began. “You like the look of Chase. There’s an attraction there that’s not just one-sided. You know nothing about him or his motives, and yet you’ve made some sort of arbitrary decision that you don’t want to get to know him.” She made a big show of nodding her head. “Of course, that makes sense. I should have realized.”

  Lily said nothing, which was very unusual. Tears ran down her face, and she dabbed at them impatiently, then slid off the stool and walked to stand in front of the window. Snow swirled against the building, glittering as the light caught it. Lily watched it without really seeing it.

  “I met him a few months after I arrived here,” she said, her words low and urgent as though she had to get them out before she changed her mind. “He was a wheat broker.”

  Maddie didn’t know such a job existed, but she didn’t want to interrupt.

  “His name was Randall.” She gave a short, mirthless laugh. “Not Randy. He hated the idea of being called that.” She sucked in a quick breath of air. “Anyway, we met and started going out. After a few months, it was getting serious...at least I thought so. He’d been taking me with him to business dinners, cocktail parties, that sort of thing.” She paused. “Did you know that Canada sells a lot of wheat to China? Yes? Well, I learned all about that, nodding and smiling through interminable dinners.”

  Her narrative seemed to lose momentum as she watched the changing patterns of the swirling snow. Then she shook herself and continued.

  “One weekend we were invited to a ranch down by High River. I bought all the right clothes.” A smile of remembrance lightened her features. “I even bought a pair of cowboy boots. Anyway, Randall had been out by the barbecue pit talking with the other men but I ran back to the room for something, and when I returned, he was off to the side, deep in conversation with another man. They were standing on the other side of a trellis. I can still see it; it was covered with yellow climbing roses...” Her voice faded again, and Maddie ached for her friend, knowing how difficult it must be to tell the story. Lily crossed her arms in front of her chest, hugging herself. “I was walking across the lawn when I heard Randall mention my name. I thought he was singing my praises, the way he always seemed to do when we went out with his business contacts. I can still hear his voice. ‘You need to get someone like Lily. Someone who understands how they think. I’ve been doing amazing since I hooked up with her.’