Moving Forward

By Dennis Hays

Amanda Cooper, scarred from burns received in a car accident, runs into her high school sweetheart, while vacationing in the Bahamas. She keeps him at arms length, not ready to open herself to any intimacy because of her history of failed relationships and also because of her disfigurement. Eric, however, wants to rekindle what they once had.ten years ago.

Can Amanda see herself as healed despite the scars and love again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dennis Hays
• Release date: Oct 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370277858

Dennis Hays

Dennis Hays lives in upstate New York, USA, where he hides himself from his family, two dogs and five cats, and pounds on a keyboard to try and make sense of the words and images in his head. Writing, he says, is an invisible performance art. He considers himself to be a renaissance man, stuck in time, working with various media, including photography, to express himself. While most of his books and short stories are contemporary romance, he is secretly working on other genres in his underground lair.Above this lair, he lives with his wife and various furry friends. As he is a reverse snow bird from Florida, Dennis relishes the four season climate, but hates cleaning the snow off his car in the winter.

Book preview

Moving Forward

Dennis Hays

Published by Dennis Hays at Smashwords

Copyright 2011-2017 Dennis Hays

Discover other titles by Dennis Hays at Smashwords

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase and additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

For my mother, Anne, my wife, Allison, my daughters, Jeni and Alex, and my sister, Karen – the dynamic women in my life.

Contents

The Ice Queen

Trial by Fire

Slow Recovery

Back at Work

Taking a Break

Rest and Relaxation

Ten Years After

Look Through My Eyes

The Morning After

Ten Years Ago

Wanting

Closer

Back to the Real World

Katie's Daddy

Matters of the Heart

Halloween Mask

By the Book

Heated Emotions

Introspection

Distance of the Heart

Magic Lost, Magic Reclaimed

Celebration

The Ice Queen

Natasha stood and looked over the cubicle wall separating her from Carolyn Meyers and waited until Carolyn finished and noticed her. Absentmindedly, she thrummed her fingers on the top of the wall and looked at the pictures Carolyn had pinned above her desk. After a minute Carolyn looked up, first at Natasha’s fingers and then at her face.

Do you have any plans for the weekend? Natasha asked.

No, I’m free and clear, hoping the weather holds so I can get some sun. I can’t wait to lie on a chaise with a cold drink and a book. What about you?

Alex and I are going to take Alex Junior to a movie and out for pizza. It’s his seventh birthday, Natasha said.

Seven already? I can’t believe it. I remember when you brought him home.

How soon are you leaving today? Do you want to stop for a quick drink at Carlo’s Pub before going home?

I wish I could. I need to get this sales report out before I go, and the Ice Queen wants to see me at 4:30.

Uh oh. You know what happens when you’re called into her office late on a Friday afternoon! Natasha said, drawing her finger across her neck.

I’m not concerned. We’re not laying off anyone, business is good, and I haven’t done anything wrong that I know of.

Still, no one goes in her office and comes out the same, especially after being Cooperized. Her laser beam eyes will cut you apart and she never shows mercy. You’re in trouble, kid!

* * * *

Carolyn knocked on the door frame. You wanted to see me, Ms. Cooper?

Come on in and sit down. I’ll be with you in a minute, Amanda Cooper said, saving a file and looking for some papers buried in a pile at the edge of her desk.

Carolyn looked around the office. Amanda had a glass desk supported by a white wrought iron frame, holding a laptop computer, three piles of papers, and a mug of stale coffee. In front of the desk were two white leather wing-back chairs. Carolyn sat on one of them. Behind her, the room divided into two parts. To the left of the office door there were a round table and chairs seating up to five people. On the right side, against the wall, there were a black leather couch, two matching leather chairs with end tables between each chair and the couch, and each of them had a copper-clad lamp. The coffee table, centered between the setup, was bare with the exception of a small remote control for the sound system, hidden inside the shelving behind Amanda.

Amanda found what she was looking for and got up from her desk. I invited Diedre in to meet with us… Gosh, don’t look so nervous, there’s nothing wrong.

I hope not, but when the President and Vice President want to see you, late on a Friday afternoon…

Amanda smiled and stopped in front of Carolyn. Don’t worry, you’re not getting fired. This is going to be a good meeting. Here comes Diedre now.

Carolyn got out of her chair to welcome Diedre, who motioned for her to sit back down but pointed to the other side of the room where there were a table and chairs.

Each of the women differed in style from the other. Amanda dressed all in black, her favorite non-color, had shoulder-length auburn hair styled in soft curls, and dark and naturally tanned skin. Diedre, the President of Malcolm & Cooper, had straight brown hair, short but still framed her perpetually smiling face, fair skin, and a dark skirt and crème-colored silk blouse. Carolyn was a natural blonde, with long wild, curly hair down to her mid back, and she always wore pant suits, Today, she had on a navy blue with charcoal gray pinstripe suit, picked up from the tailor yesterday on her way home..

I called Natasha and told her we need to see her before she leaves, in case we run late, Diedre said, closing the office door behind her.

Once they were seated at the table, Amanda started the meeting. Diedre and I have decided to make some changes, one of which includes you. Our little company has grown over the past year to where we’re not so little anymore. Are you aware of the sales this year over last?

17.6 percent, as of the end of last month, Carolyn said.

Diedre leaned forward. Do you know the revenue difference?" she asked.

Carolyn looked up for a second, then back at Diedre. Again, as of the end of last month, we took in a little over two point three million… $2,326,000 to be exact... this year over last year.

I’m impressed! Diedre said. How do you remember everything?

I have to have the numbers at hand when Ms. Cooper calls, but to be honest with you, she blushed, most of what she asks for regularly, I have written on a card pinned above the telephone. Since I’ve started here I’ve kept track of the company’s growth, so I have all the figures for the past five years charted. I can’t remember everything, but give me a few minutes and I’ll find the information.

Diedre looked at Amanda and nodded, I agree with you, she’s the one. Carolyn looked back and forth between them with both curiosity and concern.

I’m the one what? she asked. What’s going on here? She straightened in her chair and looked furtively between the two women.

Relax, Amanda said. I’m offering you the new Assistant Vice President position, reporting to me. Your job is to back me up, be my right arm, and work alongside me. When can you give me your answer?

Can you tell me more about the position, please?

Amanda put her pen down and leaned forward on her forearms. Your new office is beside mine, the empty one to the right. Later, next week, we’re having a door put in between us. Your main tasks are to go wherever I go, meetings, business trips, anywhere. You’ll need to make all the travel arrangements, but, mainly, I want you to take notes and listen. Before any meeting, you’ll gather all the needed material: files, charts, any data you feel necessary. I don’t know how else to explain it, but you and I will work side by side. Do you think you can stand in the shadow of the Ice Queen?

Carolyn’s hand covered her mouth and her eyes widened at the reference. Oh, you don’t think I know what they call me? Amanda said and smiled. When can I have your decision?

Carolyn got up and walked to the window, folding her arms across her chest. She stayed looking outside, in thought, for a few minutes, determining whether she wanted the added responsibilities and whether she could work with Amanda. Turning around, she said, I’ll accept your offer, but who’s going to assimilate the sales and expense data…my old position? She sat down in her chair.

Natasha Wyatt, if she accepts the offer, Diedre said. I’ll call her in now.

Minutes later Natasha walked into Amanda’s office, looking confused when she saw the three women waiting for her. She relaxed when she saw the smiles, sat at the table, and captured a quick wink from Carolyn.

Thanks for staying and meeting with us, Amanda said. Carolyn’s position is available, if you want it.

Natasha smiled and looked again at the three women. Of course.

Good. Except, we’re expanding the position to include customer oversight. You’d have to go to a client’s site when there are problems. While travel is required, it’s sporadic and rarely more than a day, but sometimes, I have to tell you, it may be more than that.

That shouldn’t be a problem for me.

Will it be a problem for your family? Diedre asked.

I don’t think so. Alex works from home and he’s there when Alex Junior gets off the bus, Natasha said.

Can you ask him tonight?

I’ll do better than that. She opened her cell phone and called home, nodding her head as she talked to her husband, then smiled and said goodbye. It isn’t an issue.

Amanda sat back, looking at her two employees, gave a brief smile and leaned forward again. I’d like the both of you to come to my house tomorrow around ten, so we can talk in some detail. Plan on spending a full day. Natasha…

Please call me ‘Nish.’

Nish, Amanda said, nodding to accept the change, please feel free to bring your husband and son, and dress causal. Also, bring your bathing suits so we can relax around the pool. She looked at Carolyn. If you have anyone you’re seeing, please invite them, as well.

There isn’t anyone.

"Didi, you’re bringing Jack and Charlie, aren’t you?

We’ll be there.

Trial By Fire

You’re hurting me.

I’m almost there, he said, panting and pummeling her pussy.

Jeffrey grunted and held her hips, driving his cock into her, pushing against her ass and pulling back until his cock was outside, then driving forward again, slapping her wet skin. He thrust forward one last time and then he held still, deep within her, and grunted, spurting his seed.

Amanda didn’t move, allowing