Part 4 (1/2)

”No, Gates, that's not it. I, well, it's a little difficult to explain.” As she was about to continue, there was a knock on the door.

”Come in.” Sloane figured it was Liyah coming back to rescue her. Watching the door open slowly, she felt every drop of moisture leave her mouth as Chase walked in. ”Chase. What are you doing here?” Glued to her seat and unable to move from behind her desk, she looked from Chase to Gates.

”We were supposed to have lunch today, remember?” Chase looked confused at her lack of remembering she owed him lunch for all of the babysitting duties he'd provided lately. Chase turned, noticing Gates. ”Oh, I'm sorry...I didn't realize-”

”I-” She was about to reply before being interrupted by Gates. Standing and offering his hand, Gates introduced himself.

”Hi. Chase, is it? Gates McCall.” She couldn't tell what was going on in Gates' head as he shook Chase's hand.

Accepting and equally returning the firm handshake of his friend's ex, Chase offered a smile to Gates. ”So you're Gates? Sloane's told me about you.”

Craning his head to the side, Gates took note of Sloane's obvious discomfort. ”Well, unfortunately I can't say the same, but you're a lucky man Chase. Sloane is quite a woman, but I don't have to tell you that do I?” Sloane realized in that moment, Gates a.s.sumed she and Chase were a couple.

”Uh, well-” She could tell Chase was about to correct Gates and before she knew it she'd interrupted with her own version of the 'truth.'

”Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I forgot all about lunch.” Sloane came around the desk to squeeze Chase's arm. She could feel him looking at her with his mouth gaped open, and she squeezed harder as he started to say something.

”Well, don't let me hold you up. I just wanted to stop by and apologize again for the other night.” Gates nodded to Sloane. ”Again, Chase, nice to meet you. Sloane, I'll see you soon. Have a great lunch.” Both watched Gates exit the office before Chase turned to glare at Sloane.

”Honey? You want to tell me what's going on?” He crossed his arms waiting for her to divulge her impulsive thoughts.

Shrugging, she tilted her head. ”I told you I had to think of something.”

”And that's the best you could come up with? What've you gotten me into?” Chase huffed and moved past her to sit in the chair Gates vacated.

Motioning over to the calla lilies sitting on her desk, Sloane tried to explain her actions. ”Gates sent these as a peace offering and I needed a way to keep him at bay until he goes back to New York. What was I supposed to do?”

”Hmm, I don't know. Maybe tell him the truth.” Chase shook his head at Sloane. ”So, you want him to think we're together? Are you crazy? What about Brayden?”

”What about him? Gates doesn't know about him.” She walked back to her chair and sat down. Picking up her pen and tapping it on the desk; she knew it was wrong, but having Chase pose as her boyfriend could work. Couldn't it?

”h.e.l.lo, I don't think so,” Chase said, pointing to the picture behind her. ”The picture behind your desk says otherwise. I'm sure he saw it and is wondering about it.”

Looking up quickly, Sloane spun around to look at the tiny innocent face of her baby boy in the picture frame behind her desk. ”Oh no! I forgot all about that.” It was an older picture of him so Gates probably got the impression Brayden was a newborn. It was in plain view for Gates and she wasn't sure if he'd seen it, but if he had, she had a lot of explaining to do. Turning back to face her friend, she pleaded for his help. ”I really need your help on this, Chase. I know it's a lot to ask, but-”

Chase could see the question in Sloane's eyes and realized what she was asking. ”Oh no, no, Sloane. It's bad enough you have him thinking we're together, but now you want him to think Brayden's mine? No. I'm not doing it.”

Skirting around the desk, Sloane knelt beside him and placed her hands on the arm of the chair. ”Chase, please. It's only for a little while, just until he goes back to New York. Please?”

”Sloane, this is wrong on all accounts.” Chase stood and walked over to look out of her window.

”Please.” She stood from her spot, wringing her hands and continuing to beg for his help. She didn't have a clue what else to do and she needed him more than ever now.

Turning to face her, Chase shook his head. ”What's so wrong with you telling him the truth?”

”I can't. You know that. Please, I really need this favor. Think about what's best for Brayden.”

”What's best for him is to know who his father is.”

”After talking to Gates the other night, I don't know if it's best to tell him. Please Chase. Please do this for me? I'll never ask you for anything else.” She walked to his side and clutched his arm presenting the biggest, saddest eyes she could muster.

”Don't lie.”

”Okay, I won't ask you for anything this big. Please?” She batted her eyelashes at him and hoped he would agree to her plan.

”I cannot believe I'm agreeing to this.” Chase grumbled. ”Okay, fine. But this is only until he leaves.”

”Okay.” She breathed deep trying to dismiss the nagging thoughts of how badly this farce could backfire if Gates found out the truth. She walked back to the shelf behind her desk and picked up the frame holding the picture of Brayden.

”I hope this doesn't come back to bite you.” Chase added, waiting for her to get her things so they could go to lunch.

Staring at her precious baby's face behind the gla.s.s, she wiped her fingers across his image and sighed. ”Me too.”

Chapter 5.

”As you can see, the hospital will not only bring opportunities for children to be treated for very severe injuries, but will also increase the opportunities for more jobs. With more medical professionals in the area, it will increase the chances for more research and grants and give this community a chance to capitalize on various educational prospects as well.” Sloane couldn't tell if Gates was really listening or not as she finished their presentation, and then watched as he leaned back in the leather chair and flipped through their proposal. Evan had returned and sat on Gates' right. He was a welcomed face in the boardroom and she was thankful he was there.

She wasn't sure exactly what to do next and it seemed Gates was taking his sweet time with making any type of comments as to whether he liked the proposal, or wanted her to drop dead in the middle of the floor. He hadn't mentioned anything about meeting Chase, nor had he said anything about the picture of Brayden. Actually, he hadn't said much of anything to her. Noticing the growing apprehension on her face, Evan cleared his throat and started to say something just as Gates spoke up.

”Sounds good. I'll have to give this a little more thought. I'm not saying it's a go, but you've given me something to think about.” He placed the proposal on the desk before standing and reaching for his buzzing cell phone.

”Okay. Again, thank you for allowing us the time to present to you and if you have any further questions, Liyah and I'll be happy to answer them at any time.” Gates nodded and motioned to his phone.

”Good. Well, ladies, if you'll excuse me, I have a phone call I need to take. Evan, can you wrap things up?”

”No problem.” Evan watched his boss retreat from the room then turned to the two eager faces watching his every move.

”So, what do you think?” Sloane waited on baited breath to hear Evan's point of view as she placed her notes into her briefcase.

”Sloane, you and Liyah made a great case for the hospital. I don't see any negatives to the project. But ultimately, it's Gates' decision.”

”That's a safe answer, Evan. What do you really think? Is he going to do this or is he stringing us along?”

”Sloane, you did great. Don't worry, okay.” Evan offered as he packed up his briefcase and moved toward the boardroom door. ”Hey, he's listening to you at least, right?”

”I guess now we hurry up and wait.” Liyah looked over at Sloane as they watched Evan leave the room and both continued packing up their things.

”Yeah, I guess so. I don't know, I kind of thought he would've been a little more receptive or would've asked more questions. I'm guessing introducing him to Chase wasn't as great of an idea as I thought.”

Liyah stopped what she was doing to look at Sloane. ”What?”

”Yesterday, when he came to the office. After you left, Chase showed up. We were supposed to go to lunch and I'd completely forgotten about it. I guess I, well, I kinda gave him the impression Chase and I are together and I'm pretty sure he saw the picture of Brayden behind my desk.” Watching her friend's jaw go slack, Sloane waited for the fall out she knew was coming.

”You WHAT! You didn't?”

”Before I knew what I was doing, I made it seem like Chase and I were a happy couple.” Biting her bottom lip, Sloane tried to explain that she panicked and before she knew it one lie was piling up on another one. ”It's not like he wasn't a.s.suming it already.”