Chapter Ninety-Six
“We need to get going.” Lee stood up from the dining table and looked at Marella. He couldn't read her, her expression remained blank every time she looked in Lee's direction and even though he knew he deserved it, he hated it.
She stood up as well and slung her handbag over her shoulder. “Thanks for your help, Connor. We’ll talk soon.” The smile she gave Connor was one he usually received.
Connor walked Marella to the door and Kelley watched Lee’s every move. His fists clenched and unclenched and Kelley hoped that Connor knew what he was doing. Lee would definitely hurt him, badly. A pissed-off Lee would destroy everything in his path and he still talked like Marella belonged to him.
They moved to the foyer and Kelley checked the markets on his phone. Milana still seemed a little shy but he liked that she was crawling out of her shell. Her comment earlier had shown him that she wasn't really the meek and docile woman he'd thought she was.
Mason kissed Andrea as they stood in the foyer and Kelley opened the front door and faltered. “Carey.”
Carey stood there as Mason and Andrea practically jumped apart and she walked into the house. “I came to see if Milana would like to get out of this mausoleum for the day.”
“Mom …”
“Hello, Andrea.”
“Right … Mase, see you at the office.” Kelley turned towards Milana, kissed her cheek and then rushed out of the house where Lee stood next to his car glaring at Connor.
Milana looked at the trio, uncomfortable at the clear indication that Carey wasn’t happy with Andrea being there. “I’ll give you all some privacy.”
Carey stopped her in her tracks. “It’s okay, Milana. I thought you might want to tour the offices today since you said you’re interested in getting involved with the Company.”
“Mom, can we talk about this?”
Andrea hadn’t said a word and she stood half behind Mason. “No, Mason.”
Milana had her handbag with her and she looked from Andrea to Carey. “I’m ready.”
Carey smiled at her and turned away from Andrea and Mason. “Let’s get going then.”
Milana looked back over her shoulder as Andrea’s face fell and Mason sighed as he watched his mother leave. Carey climbed into her car and Milana slid into the passenger side, buckling in her safety belt as Carey smiled again and drove away.
“You don’t like Andrea?”
Carey glanced over at her. “It’s not that I don’t like her per se, it’s that I don’t know what she’s doing here.”
“Mason seems happy that she’s back.”
“You don’t look like the girl we took to lunch either, care to share?”
Milana smiled and her cheeks reddened slightly. “Kelley and I talked. I think we found middle ground with each other.”
Carey’s smile lit up her eyes. “See! I told you Kelley wasn’t so bad.”
“I think …”
Carey glanced at her again. “Yes?”
“I think I might like the real Kelley.”
Carey nodded her head and silence ensued. The silence was comfortable as Carey drove down to the warehouse and Milana watched the dock workers with interest. Carey parked her car and Black appeared behind her as they walked into the warehouse.
“Wow, this wasn’t what I expected at all.” The wonder in Milana’s voice was evident as Carey took her through the warehouse, and showed her the offices, the canteen, which was basically restaurant quality, the bunkrooms, training rooms and the conference rooms.
“The Company does everything from investments to construction and home stagings. Marella and I are very involved with the construction and redecorating of the real estate side. I’m sure there will be something that interests you.”
Marella was in a conference room with two other women as she went through checklists for the day’s happenings. Milana followed Carey through to another office and they sat down at the round table that acted as Carey’s desk as well.
“I’ve worked in a diner and at a pet shelter. I don’t really have any experience.” Milana lowered her head slightly and Carey shuffled papers together and pushed them to the side.
“Now you have the chance to reinvent yourself. Before all this, I was a nurse, Milana. You’re eighteen so see what speaks to you and we’ll go from there.”
Milana smiled brightly and nodded her head. “I’d like that.”
“What do you like to do?”
Milana sat in silence for a bit and then her eyes sparkled. “I’ve always liked to cook. I’ve got a very sensitive palette and I’m good with people. People like to talk to me and I remember things, silly things, stories they tell me and what they like. I remember the details that everyone else forgets.”
“You know, Kelley’s been talking about the restaurant business for a while now and I know he’s interested in upgrading the restaurants at the hotels, making them in-house.”
“No, I just meant maybe I could work in one of the restaurants.”
Carey’s eyes widened as she looked at Milana. “Mrs Alexander working in a restaurant? Are you crazy? Kelley would kill me. I was thinking more along the lines of tasting the menus, listening to the actual clients that eat there, and revamping them. We could do that together.”
“Really? You think Kelley would allow that?”
Carey laughed then and looked at Milana. She was so naive and innocent in some ways. “Kelley would appreciate you making your mark, especially with the family business.”
“I mean, if you’re sure … I don’t want to step on any toes or shove my nose where I’m not wanted.”
Carey took Milana’s hand in her own, feeling an intense sense of protection over the young girl. “Kelley’s like a son to me so essentially you’re my daughter-in-law and I’m telling you now Kelley wouldn’t mind.”
“Let’s get to work then.”
Carey’s office door opened and Andrea stood there, looking nervous. “Carey, can we talk?”
Milana could feel the tension rising and Carey's eyes had become cold and glaring. "I'll give you some privacy. I'm sure Marella can show me around."
Neither woman acknowledged Milana's words and she left the office quickly, wondering if they would have a full-out fight in Carey's office. She wouldn't want to be on Carey's bad side.
