It's News to Her Read Free Page B

sir,” she told him.
    â€œNonsense, my dear. You’re entitled to your personal life. What I am is troubled that you’ve undoubtedly held this in for all of this time. It speaks all the more to your professionalism, but I can’t imagine what you suffered in private. Cord, I want you to sit down with her and fix this. You need a better foundation of trust and cooperation if you intend to communicate well and freely with each other.”
    â€œOf course,” Cord said immediately. “Are you free for lunch, Hunter?”
    â€œNo!” Hunter reached for her purse which she’d set beside her chair. “What I mean is that I’ve already missed a flight. I was to do a commencement speech inNew Jersey this evening. I thought you might have been told about it. It’s the high school I would have graduated from had I stayed up there,” she said to Henry. “They knew about it downstairs, but this morning’s events obviously caused it to slip their minds. I was about to see about catching another flight.”
    Distressed anew, Henry checked his watch and then the clock on his desk. “You’re due to speak tonight? Good heavens, the time. Cord…?”
    â€œI’ll take care of everything,” Cord replied. “Grandfather, if you don’t mind rescheduling our dinner plans, I’ll call the airport and get the jet refueled and ready.”
    â€œI heartily concur. Make it as easy as possible for Hunter to continue doing us proud—and stay close. They’ll obviously have advertised this up there, so don’t let another station have a chance at stealing her away from us.”
    Hunter looked from one man to the other, feeling a growing panic. “Excuse me?”
    Cord’s blue-gray eyes lit with either satisfaction or amusement—or both. “We’ll get you to your function in the corporate plane.” Before she could react, he stepped away from the desk, pulling out his BlackBerry and keying in a few numbers. “Change of plans, Murray,” he said into the device moments later. “Gas up and get a flight plan to—” he turned to Hunter “—where in Jersey exactly?”
    â€œMahwah. That’s the northernmost part of Bergen County. But—”
    â€œMahwah, New Jersey. And tell Lane to arrange forlimousine service to the high school. We have to be there by—” Once again, he glanced at Hunter.
    â€œSix was when they were going to have a short reception for staff and special guests. The program starts at seven,” she added with resignation.
    Glancing at his watch, Cord said, “ASAP, considering the hour difference and traffic congestion. We’re leaving the building now. Thanks.”
    As he disconnected, Hunter launched into her protest. She figured it was more professional than exhibiting an all-out panic attack. “I can’t let you do this.”
    â€œWhy not? We’re the cause of you missing your flight and, as you heard my grandfather say, you and I need to talk.”
    â€œAbsolutely,” Henry Yarrow said with an encouraging sweep of his hand. “Now you two run along and I’ll finish up one or two things and be on my way myself before Lenore calls and drafts half the building to come after me.”
    Seeing that she was trapped, and not willing to upset the man she owed so much to, Hunter rose and sought a calmness she didn’t feel despite her years in the business. “Mr. Henry…I’m afraid I’m stuck with the redundant, but thank you, again. For all you’ve done for me. Please know you’ll be in my prayers and in my heart every day.”
    â€œWould those sweet words by chance come with a hug?”
    Hunter rushed to him but was careful as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
    â€œThank you, dear and wise young friend,” Henry murmured near her ear. Then he kissed her cheek and held her at arm’s length.