The Deal

Austin was glad to get back to work on Monday, it was hard being home with Blair. She wouldn't talk to him, or sit and watch TV. The only time he saw her was when they ate their meals together. He missed seeing her smile, missed hearing her breathing next to him at night when she was asleep. He knew the next few months were going to be murder and he didn't know what to do to make it up to her, but he had to try. So picking up his phone he ordered two dozen red roses to be sent to her office.

Harry peeked his head inside Austin's office door. "You busy?" he asked, showing off the two cups of coffee he was carrying.

"No, come in," he said, motioning for him to enter.

Sitting down he hands Austin his coffee. "So I take it you didn't go to Blair's party."

"No, I didn't."

"How did she take it? You're still alive so she didn't kill you, that's good, right?"

Austin sat back, he ran his hand over his face. "I think I made a huge mistake by not going. You should have seen the look on her face when she came home. I'll never get over that look of hurt in her eyes when she looked at me. I broke her heart and have to find a way to make it up to her."

"Why do you care? I thought you wanted her to feel what you did all those years ago."

"I guess it's because she's not that bad after all. Yes, she's still spoiled, a little selfish and very arrogant. But she is also strong-willed and does work hard, she has earned the right to own that company."

"You do understand once you get all of the shares plus the ones she's giving you it will change things. You could force her out, destroy her as you planned on doing."

"I have no intentions of kicking her out. She can still run the company so, in a sense, it will still be hers. I'll just own more of it than she will."

"You'll actually be her boss in a way. I doubt Blair will just sit back and take it."

"I won't tell her."

"Austin, she's bound to find out at some point. Why don't you forget about this revenge plan of yours? It's not too late to stop, just keep the shares you have and let the girl keep her company."

"It's already too late. I need you to find a man for me, his name is Patrick Burnett. Find out what you can about him, where he works and what he's been up to."

"Why, who is he?"

"He's Blair's ex-boyfriend and he showed up at her party. The fucker had the nerve to drive her home and told her he wanted her back. He knows she's married and yet he still had the nerve to hit on her."

Harry stood up. "I'll get on it after lunch."

"No, I want that information now. I'd do it myself but I have a meeting in five minutes. I want it by the time I get back here."

Half an hour later when he returned to his office Harry was there, holding out a piece of paper and handed it to him.

"The man is in town on business for a few days. He just broke up with his girlfriend, who by the way is filthy rich. Actually, she broke up with him when she found him cheating. The man is a player who goes after women with money. I think when he found out Blair was going to be the new owner of the cosmetics company he decided to go after her. Since they were once an item I guess he figured she'd be an easy target. So what are you going to do now Austin?"

"I'm going to his hotel and warn him to stay away from my wife."

"It's funny hearing you call her your wife, makes me think that you're still in love with her. So are you?"

Austin gets up, going over to the window he leans against the wall and looks out. "I was so in love with her when we were in high school but she never noticed me. For years I dreamed of finding her again and make her pay, make her feel the hurt that I felt. I thought I hated her but to be honest, I'm still in love with her. I need to get her to forgive me, then maybe I'll have a shot of getting her to fall in love with me."

"What about all the shares to her company that you managed to get?"

"I'll figure out something later, right now I have to come up with a plan to get her away for a few days. Clear my schedule next week, I'm taking her on a trip." Grabbing his keys he left his office and headed to Patrick's hotel.

When he got to the hotel and asked for his room number he was told that Patrick was in the dining room having lunch. He walked over to the table where two men were sitting and talking, he figured one of them might be Patrick.

"I'm looking for Patrick Burnett."

The younger stood up. "I'm Patrick, how can I help you?" he asked, smiling.

Austin didn't take the other man's hand when he held it out to him, what he did do was punch Patrick in the face, making him stumble back. "You can stay away from my wife, Blair. Don't send her any more flowers or call her."

"Some husband you are, you couldn't even be bothered going to her party. Let me tell you this Mr. Cooke, if you don't start treating her right you'll lose her and I'll be there to pick up the pieces."

Austin points a finger at him. "I'm warning you, stay away from her," he said, turning he walked away. He had the feeling that Patrick was going to be a problem, he would have to work quickly to get her to forgive him.

Back at Blair's office: Rachel walked in carrying the roses that Austin had delivered to her. "These just came for you," she said, placing them on Blair's desk. "Aren't they beautiful?"

She looks at the flowers, taking the card off them she reads who they're from and throws the card down. "They're from Austin, throw them away."

"But Blair, you can't throw them away, they must have cost him a fortune."

"Well, I don't want them. You can keep them or give them away, just get them out of my sight. If he thinks I'm going to forgive him with some flowers he has another thing coming."

"You never did tell me what happened when you got home."

She looks at Rachel, her eyes watered up as she explained how she found him at home and how he said he couldn't be bothered going. "He gave me his word and he broke it. He didn't care how much he had hurt me by not showing up." She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "To think I was going to tell him I was in love with him. I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to live under the same roof as him for the next three or four months."

"I hate to tell you I told you so, but I did. I thought Patrick was a bastard but Austin is a number one jerk. I just knew you were going to get hurt. Let me take you out for a girls night out. We'll go to a club, get wasted and dance the night away."

"We have to work tomorrow and I don't feel like working with a hangover."

"Oh, don't be such a party pooper, it wouldn't be the first time we've come to work feeling like shit. Come on Blair, what do you say?"

"I'm sorry, not on a work night. But I would go on Friday night if you still want to go out. I'm still getting over this past weekend."

"Alright, Friday it is then. I better get back to my desk, if you need anything just buzz me," she said, picking up the flowers took them with her when she left Blair's office. She placed them on her desk and was admiring them when a shadow crossed over her desk. Looking up she frowned when she saw who it was.

"Rachel, hi, is Blair in?"

"Patrick, you really shouldn't be here. But yes, she's here but is too busy to talk with you."

"Oh come on sweetheart, don't be like this. I just want a few words with her to make sure she's alright after the other night and then I'll leave."

"Just wait right there, I'll see if she's available," she said, picking up the phone. After talking to Blair she turns to Patrick. "You can go right in, but she only has a few minutes to spare." She watched as he went into her office, she never liked Patrick and was sure he was up to no good.

When Blair saw Patrick she stood up, staring at his eye. "Oh my God, what happened to you?" she asked, going over to him.

"Your husband is what happened to me."

"Austin, he did this to you, why?"

"He came to where I was having lunch and warned me to stay away from you. We got into an argument and he hit me. I really should go to the police and have him charged but for you, I won't. I wouldn't want him to get madder and take it out on you."

"What?" she asked, shocked. "Austin would never hit me if that's what you're saying."

"He has a bad temper and how do you know he'd never hit you? I'm worried about you sweetheart. I still love you."

Before she knew what was happening he pulled her into his arms and his mouth came down on hers. She tried pushing him away but he wouldn't let go as he moved her up against the desk. Putting her hands on his chest pushed him away, wiping her mouth. "Get out," she screamed at him.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. There's still this connection between us, you still love me, I can feel it and I know you do too."

"You're crazy if you think I still have feelings for you. It's true, I did once but not anymore. You destroyed any feelings I had for you when you cheated on me and it went on for months. If it was a one night stand I might have been able to get past it, but months Patrick." She held up her head high and stared him right in the eye. "I'm married and I love my husband, I will never cheat on him."

He moved closer to her, making her back up. "Alright, I'm going but I want you to know that when he breaks your heart, which he will end up doing I'll be here for you." He touched her cheek with the palm of his hand. "All you have to do is call and I'll come running."

She moved his hand away. "You better go," she said, moving away and putting some space between them. She sat down when he left, he shocked her the way he kissed her and wouldn't let go and she had flashbacks from when she was attacked, it scared her. He may be a cheater, a liar but he was not a rapist.

"Are you alright Blair? I heard you yelling."

"I'm fine. What is wrong with me Rachel? Why do I keep drawing these creeps to me? When he kissed me I yelled at him to get out."

"You let him kiss you?"

"No I didn't let him, he took me by surprise."

"What did he want?" she asked, sitting down across from Blair.

"Well, he came to tell me that Austin went to see him and apparently he punched him, he told Patrick to stay away from me. He says he still loves me and wants me to give him another chance. Before you say anything I have no intentions of getting back with him. I'm so tired of all this shit."

"What you need is a holiday, you haven't had one since you started working here. Why don't you take a few days off, I'll look after things around here."

"Oh, I don't know, there's so much to do."

"Blair, everything is running smoothly and there is nothing that important going on right now, go on, take some time off."

"I'll think about it, now get to work or I'll fire you," she said, smiling and winking at Rachel.