Making It Personal, Wells, C. [best books under 200 pages .TXT] 📗

New Year’s Eve party at the office next week. You’re invited. I’m going to be making an announcement at that time and I really need you to be there.” He winked at Will, who stared back at him, a crease between his eyes. Blake blew him a kiss and smiled reassuringly. “Can you make it?”

The note of glee in her voice was all too evident. “Of course! I might have to go shopping for a new outfit just for the occasion.”

Blake fought hard to control his laughter. “That sounds like a good idea. You’ll want to look your best.” He gazed at the man next to him and all of a sudden he was in no mood to continue the conversation. “Sorry, Melissa, I have to do some online shopping. I’ll see you at the party. It’ll start at eight. Have a good Christmas.” Before she could say another word, he ended the call.

Will took the phone away from him and then regarded him closely. “Care to share any of this with me?”

Blake shook his head. “No. It’s going to be a surprise for everyone.” His expression softened. “I can promise you one thing, though. You’ll like it.” He winked. “But I guarantee Melissa won’t.” He leaned forward and kissed Will softly on the lips. “Now, what say we go back to what we were doing before we were so rudely interrupted?”

Will’s face creased into a beautiful smile. Blake liked that answer.

Chapter Fourteen

“Mr. Parkinson, could I have a word with you and Mr. Davis, please—in private?” Karen spoke in a low voice.

Will stiffened. Karen hadn’t said a word to him during the last three days. She’d returned to work on the Tuesday morning, her face looking less bruised, but she had studiously avoided him. He knew Blake had requested an interview with her, but that she’d been less than forthcoming. They were still both clueless as to why she’d accused him. But it saddened him that he’d gone from being ‘Will’ to ‘Mr. Parkinson.’

He glanced around the conference room. The preparations were all but complete. Lizzie, Rick and Beth had decked out the room in balloons, and the food Blake had ordered now weighed down the table. Peter had rigged up a sound system and was busily putting together the music for the party. It was to be a real family affair. Blake had instructed the team to invite their partners and families. He’d even invited Dave. Justin was due to arrive shortly.

Karen was regarding him anxiously, twisting her watch around her wrist. Will glanced at the clock. There was plenty of time before the party was due to start. “Come on, let’s step into Blake’s office.” Karen let out a huge breath and gave him a grateful smile. Will led her to Blake’s office. The door was ajar. Blake was going through a set of folders on his desk, tidying things up. He looked up in surprise to see Karen with Will. “Is there something wrong?”

Before Will could say a word, Karen launched into a speech that she’d clearly been preparing. Will struggled to keep up with her, she spoke so fast.

“I had to speak to you both, to apologize for what I did last week. After I spoke with the police, they decided not to press charges, but only because I told them what was really going on. You see, I—”

“Karen, slow down.” Blake gestured toward the sofa. “Sit down for a minute, please.”

Karen took a breath and then walked to the sofa. She eyed them both warily. Blake sat at the other end of the sofa. Will stood leaning back against Blake’s desk, watching her as she fingered her necklace. Will noted for the first time that her style of dress had changed. Gone were the tight blouse and skirt. Karen wore a dark pair of pants and a modest yet elegant blouse.

“Okay, now let’s start again.” Will loved Blake’s calm manner. “Who did this to you?”

Karen stared first at Blake, then at Will, her cheeks gradually becoming more flushed. “My boyfriend, Tom.” The words were delivered in a hushed tone.

Will stared incredulously. “Then why on earth would you tell the police that it was me?” He was dismayed to notice fat tears welling in her eyes, spilling out over her cheeks.

“Because he made me say it!” Karen wailed. Will and Blake regarded each other, frowning. “It’s all my fault.”

Blake got up from the sofa and entered his bathroom, returning with a wad of toilet tissue which he handed to Karen. She blew her nose loudly. He retook his seat, looking distinctly unhappy. “Karen, you can’t blame yourself. He did this to you.”

“Yes, but it was because of something I did.” She hiccupped. “He came to pick me up one evening after work, and saw me leaving the building with Will. He…he saw me touching Will’s arm, and…”

Will recalled the event instantly. Karen had been her usual flirtatious self. “But that was weeks ago.” She nodded miserably. Something occurred to him. “Karen, has he ever hit you before?”

She stiffened. For a moment there was silence, and then finally she whispered, “Yes.”

Blake groaned. “Then for God’s sake, why did you stay with him? Why not leave?”

Karen stifled a sob. “He kept telling me that I was useless as a girlfriend, that no one would ever love me. And then he’d tell me how lucky I was that he stayed with me. I heard it so many times this last year, it got so that I believed it.”

Will’s heart went out to her. He knew it was common for someone in an abusive relationship to put up with such treatment, the lengths they would go to in order to keep someone. But it still didn’t answer his question. “So why tell the police it was me?”

She twisted the tissue in her hands. “He kept on at me, asking me if I was seeing you, if I was interested in you. I told him the truth, but he