Kate Takes Care Of Business

By Rachel Cartwright

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Kate relaxed on the leather sofa in her spacious luxury suite overlooking beautiful Central Park. Dad, as was his custom, completed his mandatory inspection to make sure the room met the luxury and security standards advertised by the hotel.
“Dad? Come on. I’ll be twenty-four next month. The room is perfect. Stop worrying.”
Her father locked and unlocked the sliding glass doors leading to the balcony. He jiggled the lock again to make certain it was secure. “Feels a little loose to me. I’ll call the front—”
“No, please, you don’t have to.” She put her hand on his. “I’m not twelve years old anymore. Everything’s fine. I’m fine. Okay?”
Her father glanced down at his shoes. “Well, I’m only three floors down next to the meeting room if you need me. I left the number by your bedside phone. Enter it into your cell just in case.”
Kate realized that she had bruised his pride but didn’t know any other way to say it. He was too protective sometimes and although she loved him deeply for that and so much more, he had to realize that she could take care of herself now.
She kissed him on the cheek. “I will.”
Dad looked up at her and frowned. “Still . . . I don’t understand why you made such a big commotion about attending this year’s meeting. You never showed that much interest in the business before.”
Kate turned from him. “Then it’s about time I did. I am the president’s daughter, aren’t I? There’s so much more I could be doing to help if only you’d let me.”
“You’ve done so much for me already, Kate, and you still do but it’s time you thought about what would make you happy for a change.” Her father walked to the door. “Because you’re right. You’re not a little girl anymore.” He stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him.
Kate sighed and walked into the bedroom adjoining the main suite. She flopped down on the comfy bed and hoped the redness from the sun had concealed the guilty color she felt rising in her cheeks. She was embarrassed to admit even to herself that her decision to come to New York had more to do with the chance of meeting a lanky man with sandy brown hair that could never be tamed by a comb.
Reid Griffin.
Kate only wished that the rest of him would not prove to be so unmanageable too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Cartwright
• Release date: Sep 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9780988090781

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Kate.Takes.Care.of.Business.Cover.FNL.02

Kate Takes Care Of Business

by Rachel Cartwright

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 eRead Press

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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©  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and current events are used in a fictitious manner as literary sources for the author’s imagination.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Jacket design by rapantin.

ISBN: 978-0-9880907-8-1

CHAPTER ONE

Why do they always pick the hottest week in July? Kate’s father puffed and wiped the sweat off his forehead as he guided her through the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton overlooking Central Park. I like seeing the trees but it’s not the same as being home in Westport.

Kate knew that her father had not wanted her to attend the annual shareholders meeting this year in New York. He didn’t come right out and say it but as the struggling president of the fiber optics manufacturing giant, Hallman and Winslow, she was well aware that he was under increasing pressure from the Board of Directors. The rumor was they wanted him to step down and let a younger executive with a 21st century strategic vision, as they put it, take the helm.

Turning away from the perspiring shareholders complaining about the heat and the delays at the front desk, Kate was relieved to feel the cool air wafting down from the AC ceiling vent. Her shoulders and arms were still a little sunburned from the weekend on the beach.

Kate took off her sun hat letting her shining dark hair fall to her slim shoulders. She checked her appearance in one of the lobby mirrors. Okay, she was still a little red in the face despite all the sunscreen but she still looked fresh and pretty in her white chiffon blouse and tan capris judging by the looks some men had given her. And more than one man over the years had paid compliment to her Carolina light-blue eyes and ivory oval face.

Gasping, her father loosened his floral patterned tie. Are you sure you don’t want to go home? You can drive with the top down all the way and cool off on the beach. He looked back at the door. Or with Sterling and your friends on Chesapeake Bay.

Kate sighed loudly and shook her head. Stop it, Dad. I said I’m staying and that’s it.

Her father smiled. As you wish my dear, and headed for the elevators, grinning and making promises to meet the many people who stopped him.

Kate followed after Dad or Mr. Adam Clayton Winslow to everyone else. As a founding owner of the company, her father had put on extra pounds in the last year that he explained away as a result of long days and nights filled with stress, Scotch, and take-out leading up to this year’s shareholders meeting. A stocky tower of a man with thinning gray hair, her haggard father struggled to maintain his once commanding and unflustered appearance in spite of the sweltering heat outside and the pressure-cooker building inside the hotel.

To appease his concerned daughter and nagging personal assistant, Lucille, Dad had promised he would change his diet and start exercising again once the meeting was over—whatever the outcome.

Kate relaxed on the leather sofa in her spacious luxury suite overlooking beautiful Central Park. Dad, as was his custom, completed his mandatory inspection to make sure the room met the luxury and security standards advertised by the hotel.

Dad? Come on. I’ll be twenty-four next month. The room is perfect. Stop worrying.

Her father locked and unlocked the sliding glass doors leading to the balcony. He jiggled the lock again to make certain it was secure. Feels a little loose to me. I’ll call the front—

No, please, you don’t have to. She put her hand on his. "I’m not twelve years old anymore. Everything’s fine. I’m fine. Okay?"

Her father glanced down at his shoes. Well, I’m only three floors down next to the meeting room if you need me. I left the number by your bedside phone. Enter it into your cell just in case.

Kate realized that she had bruised his pride but didn’t know any other way to say it. He was too protective sometimes and although she loved him deeply for that and so much more, he had to realize that she could take care of herself now.

She kissed him on the cheek. I will.

Dad looked up at her and frowned. Still . . . I don’t understand why you made such a big commotion about attending this year’s meeting. You never showed that much interest in the business before.

Kate turned from him. "Then it’s about time I did. I am the president’s daughter, aren’t I? There’s so much more I could be doing to help if only you’d let me."

You’ve done so much for me already, Kate, and you still do but it’s time you thought about what would make you happy for a change. Her father walked to the door. Because you’re right. You’re not a little girl anymore. He stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him.

Kate sighed and walked into the bedroom adjoining the main suite. She flopped down on the comfy bed and hoped the redness from the sun had concealed the guilty color she felt rising in her