That declaration didn’t get him the reaction he’d been expecting. Instead of the shock and horror he’d anticipated Lani did the very opposite. The contrary girl burst out laughing.
“I heard you could be a joker but this takes the cake. So you’re a businessman turned comedian now?” She wasn’t shy with her guffaws. She was laughing so hard Ridge was thinking she might pitch forward and fall out of her chair.
But he wouldn’t say a word. He would let her have her moment of fun and then he would set her straight. That grin would be wiped from her face soon enough.
When she finally calmed down enough to stop laughing and slide back in her chair Ridge got up and walked over to the credenza on top of which sat an ice bucket with bottles of water and juice. He glanced over at her. “Want one?” he asked.
She shook her head.
With a shrug he turned, grabbed a bottle of water and tipped it to his lips. He downed a third of it in one swig. As he lowered the bottle and replaced the cap he regarded her with casual interest. “Ready to talk to me now?”
“About what?” she asked, a smile teasing the corner of her mouth. “Of course you weren’t serious.”
He gave her a slow smile. “I’m dead serious.”
It was only then that things seemed to sink in for Lani. The smile that had tickled her mouth disappeared. The lips that had just curled so prettily now turned thin and firm. “But why?” she asked, her tone half combative, half confused. “Why would you want me to marry you? We don’t even like each other.”
And the way she said the last sentence, curling her lips like the very thought repulsed her, made him even more determined to stick to his guns. He would bring her to heel if it killed him.
“Let’s just say I’ve got my reasons.” He spoke calmly, not giving away the fact that she’d just pissed him off. There would be time enough to get his revenge for that transgression.
“But I don’t get it.” As he walked back to his desk her eyes followed him, boring into him, never letting him go. He definitely had her attention now. “Ever since we met,” she continued, “we’ve been at loggerheads. In fact, I wouldn’t even be in your office right now if I weren’t desperate.”
Ridge smiled. “That, little Lani, is the operative word. The question is, how desperate are you?” He made sure to put emphasis on the word just so she didn’t miss the point.
Lani’s breathing was growing more and more agitated by the minute. Nostrils flaring, she got up and out of the chair and stood there, hands clenched at her sides. “You’re sick. You know that?”
His smile deepened. “I may be,” he said, his tone relaxed as ever, “but you’re the one who’s going to make this decision. Not me.”
With a shrug he sank back into his chair and looked at the seething woman standing in front of his desk. “My condition is on the table, Lani. Take it or leave it.”
***
Lani couldn’t believe the pickle she was in. Worse, she couldn’t believe her only way out might be to consider Ridge Kent's insane proposal. Marry him just so she could get funding for her research? He must be mad.
When he’d laid down his condition she’d stormed out of his office, slamming the door shut behind her. Then she’d gone straight to the research lab and put in six more hours of work even though that had her leaving at minutes after ten o’clock. She’d been so worked up she couldn’t have slept even if she’d tried and so she’d worked into the late hours of the night. By the time she quit and went home she was exhausted.
But if she’d thought making herself super tired would ensure a night of deep sleep she was sadly mistaken. After a long night of fitful sleep she dragged herself out of bed and readied herself for another busy day. And thanks to Ridge she felt as beat up as an old jalopy. Great.
After a quick shower and some cereal Lani grabbed her bag and a clean lab coat then headed for the elevator. She’d just exited the underground parking garage and was driving away from her apartment building when her cell phone rang. “Lani, where are you? I stopped at The Breakfast Klub and got you a Katfish and Grits meal. You’re gonna get here soon?”
“Just heading out,” she said as she turned onto South Heights Boulevard. “Be there in fifteen minutes.”
As she hung up from her assistant Lani sighed. Chris was as good as it got when it came to assistants – dedicated, focused and always ready to go the extra mile. She only hoped she wouldn’t have to let him go. But if they ran out of money what else could she do? She was the only one who knew it but the research lab was this close to being closed down.
When she got to the lab Chris had already set up the test tubes and Bunsen burners and was busy washing beakers in the sink. As she came in he turned. “Hey, boss. What took you so long? Your food’s getting cold.” Then he frowned and a look of concern crossed his face. “You don’t look so good. Are you all right?”
She grimaced. “I’m okay. Just tired, that’s all. I didn’t sleep so good last night." She shrugged out of her jacket and donned her lab coat. “And the traffic this morning didn’t help, either. Why is traffic always so tight in Houston? I hate Westheimer Road.”
Chris grimaced. “I avoid it like the plague, especially at this time of year. Don’t you know March is the worst month to want to be on that road? Too many tourists in town for the rodeo.”
Lani rolled her eyes. “Now he tells me.” Then she walked over to look at the Petri dishes on the long table against the back wall. She stared at her specimens for a while then, growing thoughtful, she put her finger to her chin. “We haven’t made much progress with these cultures,” she said to no-one in particular. “I just hope we haven’t wasted the last three weeks.”
“But we can’t go any further until you get some more plant samples, remember?” Of course, Chris had to remind her about something she already knew, so his stating the obvious didn’t help her any.
“Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “But that comes with a price tag.” It was a price they couldn’t afford. She didn’t bother telling him that part.
As lead researcher and director of Allied Labs it was her job to worry about where the money was going to come from to pay for plant supplies, the equipment, the salaries and all the overseas trips that would be required to source the supplies. Beside herself, she had Chris and Minerva to worry about. Even though Minerva was part-time her wages were still a strain on the already meager budget. But right now she didn’t even want to think about that. She had a long day ahead of her and she was already depressed. There was no sense in making things worse by dwelling on the problems.