The Rebel

This is my adaptation of “Rebel With A Cause” by Kim Hansen.

Chapter 14

“I wish I could have been there.”

Jax smiled at Lilly. “Yes, you would have enjoyed it. Sonny looked very good
wet.” Jax crossed his arms across his chest and studied her as he sat on the
corner of her desk. She was holding the oversize glasses she usually wore that
hid a face that was very pretty even without the aid of makeup. “So why weren’t
you there? You are part of an officer’s staff.”

Her eyes fell from his. “I wanted to go. I really did, but I was afraid of...”

“Is Brenda in?" A voice from behind them bellowed.

Watching Lilly jump and then hastily shove the glasses on her nose as if in
self-defense, Jax slid from the desk to face who he was suddenly sure she was
afraid of. “No,” he told Sonny Corinthos, and let his gaze run over the perfectly
pressed blue linen suit and white shirt minus the usual tie that he always wore.
“You’re dry today, I see.”

Sonny’s brown eyes frosted over. “No thanks to you. How on earth is it possible
that you didn’t fall in when I did?”

Jax flashed Sonny a smile. “I didn’t overextend my reach. Some people are
prone to doing that...and with the inevitable result.”

Brown and blue/green gazes clashed. Hurrying from the elevator and into the
office, Brenda stepped out of the hallway and in between the men with an
alarmed rush. The air cracking around them was thick enough to cut, but she
managed to slice through it with a forced smile. “Good morning, everyone.
Sorry I’m late, but I’m not used to driving in from Malibu.”

“Malibu?” Sonny questioned, moving his gaze from Jax to her.

“Yes, I’ve rented a beach house,” she said, and slid a sideways glance at Jax.
“It came highly recommended.”

Jax smiled and stepped aside as she headed towards her office. “Did you need
something, Sonny? She asked. But before he could answer, she turned to get a
better look at him. “I see you dried off all right.”

She swung away, Jax and Lilly stifled their laughter, and Sonny faltered before
following through the door. “I was just curious. How’s the project at Malibu
going? You didn’t move out there to supervise, did you?

Brenda smiled and ignored the unpleasant undertones to the conversation. “I
appreciate you interest, Sonny, but I was going to give everyone a status report
at this morning’s meeting.” She set her purse down on her desk. “As far as
moving out there, I did it because I love the ocean and my parents. We both
needed our independence.”

A knock came from the still-open door and Brenda looked up to see Jax waiting
and listening, his blue/green eyes flashing storm warnings as he stared hard at
Sonny. “Kevin Carmichael’s here.”

Again Brenda had to step between the two men as Sonny’s glare narrowed in
silent combat. “You’ll have to excuse me, Sonny, but Mr. Carmicheal’s our
contractor for the Malibu project. He’s bringing me his bid.”

“Carmichael?” Sonny protested, not budging from where he stood. “You didn’t
use who I recommended?”

Brenda put a guiding and persuasive hand on Sonny’s shoulder as she quickly
showed him the door. “I’ll tell you all about it at the meeting in half an hour. Jax,
please show Mr. Carmichael in.”

But the contractor didn’t stay long. An exchange of paper, a quick handshake
and a promise of a prompt contract, and he was out the door again leaving
Brenda alone with Jax.

“Excited?” he asked her.

“Thrilled,” she agreed as she stood behind her desk reviewing the bid. “I can’t
believe how quickly it’s gone...or how easily. Thanks to you.”

He shook his head as her eyes lifted to his. “You could have done it all by
yourself.”

“Maybe, but it took you to make sure I did it.”

He grinned. “Does that mean a promotion in the future?”

“No, but I do have something else to thank you for.” She came around the desk
to stand beside him and immediately felt the heat radiating from his body reach
out and touch her. She took a deep breath to resist the effect. And to stop
herself from touching him. “The house in Malibu. I love it.”

“And you’re already moved in?” he asked, feeling the heat, too, and fighting this
sudden and overpowering urge to take her in his arms. He could smell her
perfume. The scent had haunted him all weekend.

“Yes, but it didn’t take much effort, since most of the rooms are empty.” She
managed to smile even though her heart was thudding with slow, anticipatory
beats. “If I have any company, I’m afraid they’ll have to sit on the floor.”

“I don’t mind.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the quiet promise. “Still looking for a private
showing?”

“Still want to give it?”

She gazed up at him. He seemed more relaxed, but the tension was there,
sizzling between them, holding the two of them together. It was difficult to shake
her head. “I’m not sure.”

Disappointment collided with anger, a frown curved his mouth and his eyes
darkened, but he didn’t move. “Why?”

It was a simple question and she had the answer, but it was hard to give it.
“Because,” she said, not looking away from him, “I usually don’t invite strangers
into my house.”

His gaze didn’t leave hers. “Strangers.”

“Yes.” She lifted her chin slightly in unconscious challenge. “How was your
weekend?”

He blinked, not surprised but unprepared for the confrontation, and slowly let out
the breath that he’d silently been holding. She’d had him worried for a moment.
But it was only the weight of his true identify that was keeping them apart.

“You look tired,” she prompted, and turned away from him to walk behind her
desk again.

“It was a very busy one,” he conceded.

“Perhaps you’d like to tell me about it.”

It was the perfect opportunity to throw in the towel. She didn’t need him
anymore. Not as an associate, not as a crutch, not as a confidant, but
confession meant he’d no longer be able to remain close to her. Not during the
day. But at night, if she could accept who he was. “Bren...”

“The meetings about to start.”

Lilly’s pronouncement came from the open door, and Jax cursed his timing.
With Brenda, it never seemed to be quite right. He looked from her to Lilly and
back again.

“We better go. The lions are waiting.”

She nodded and her eyes searched his, but she could find nothing. Not regret.
Not hope. But it had been there. For an instant. Reluctantly, she reached for
her papers. “I’m ready.”

The walk down the hall was long and quiet. Unspoken words lay heavily
between her and Jax. Reaching the conference room door, she hesitated and
turned to face him, but she couldn’t think of anything to say.

He smiled, as if reading her scrambled thoughts, and lifted a hand to lightly
brush her cheek. “Later. We’ll talk later.”

The promise was enough. It calmed her anxiety, soothed her nerves and helped
her stand fast when Sonny came at her mere moments later.

Waiting until she had finished giving her report to those seated around the big
conference table, he sat back and calmly started to tear it apart.

“Brenda, what do we know about this man or his work?” he demanded.

“We only know what others tell us,” she admitted without hesitation. “Kevin
Carmichael comes highly recommended. By the bank, by other contractors, but
his work really speaks for itself. I toured some of the homes he’s completed.
They’re magnificent.”

She turned from Sonny to her father.

“He’s worked extensively in Malibu,” she explained. “He understands the
working conditions, the type of ground he’ll be building on. His experience will
be a major asset, and what’s more, he can start work on the project immediately.
He’s just coming off another job and is ready to begin something new. It will
mean the development of the property will be completed much sooner then we
could have hoped or expected, and we’ll have a quicker turnaround in capital.
We can begin selling the lots as soon as the first home is finished.”

Harlan Barrett nodded, approval in his eyes, but Sonny wasn’t finished with his
tirade.

“You used a different bank.”

“I did,” Brenda admitted and was immediately aware of her father’s scowl.

“Why?” Harlan Barrett demanded.

“Because it offered a better interest rate on the project account. We’ll earn more
on the contract proceeds while waiting to pay them out.”

“But...” Sonny started to speak again but was unexpectedly waved to silence.

Her father drummed his fingers on the table, and Brenda held her breath along
with everyone else as she waited for him to speak.

“When can the work begin?” he finally asked.

Brenda linked her fingers together and sat forward in her chair. “If we approve
his bid today, Mr. Carmichael can start by the end of the week.”

Harlan Barrett almost smiled as he examined the bid sitting on the table before
him. Approving murmurs came from around the table as others recognized his
acceptance. “You’ve done well, Brenda. So well, in fact, I think Sonny should
have you help him on the Mason account.

“I...” Sonny began.

“Have been having some difficulty in getting that wrapped up.” Harlan Barrett
smiled at his daughter. “Perhaps, Brenda can use her persuasive skills to our
advantage again. As I recall, Mason’s account is one of several that have been
waiting to be closed for too long.”

“Of course,” Sonny agreed with a stiff nod, but Brenda barely heard. And she
didn’t notice his hidden scowl. Rather she saw only the wink that was sent to
her by the man seated off to the side and away from the table. His conspiratorial
gesture meant more to her than Sonny’s defeat. More, even, then her father’s
approval.