Breaking The Ice Queen

Chapter four

I thought by now I'd have forgotten all about the event that took place this morning, but I haven't. I just can't get his face out of my head! I keep thinking about what he must've heard and that he just reacted out of love for his daughter. I put the phone down after talking to my daughter and looked at Jasmine, who showed Tania into my office. She closed the doors behind her and immediately headed up to me.

"Mrs. Kendall, I don't know what you said or what caused my dad to react, but I'm so sorry," she immediately says and stops in front of my desk. I raise an eyebrow at her and rest my chin on my hand. "Jasmine explained to him what happened, and he wanted to apologize. So, if it's okay with you, I'd like him to come through and apologize personally to you."

"Tania, the only weight I see on you is the weight of the world," I say to her. She gives me an odd look. "The weight of never being a child. Having to grow up at a young age because your mom was never there and your dad had to work to provide. That's the only weight I want you to lose. I don't care if you pick up a hundred pounds working here at a bakery or dressed in leather for the cameras. I don't care about that. So take it as my apology. Your dad acted out of love. I speak in parables, and not everyone gets that."

"Mrs. Kendall," Jasmine opens the door again. I look at her and nod my head. She stands out of the way, allowing the man to walk in. He seems calmer now than earlier.

"Now, it's not every day I accept an apology from someone who set off on the wrong foot with me. This better be good," I say. I only act stubborn to protect myself. He walks towards us and stops next to his daughter.

"I'm sorry about the misunderstanding, Mrs. Kendall. I listened at the wrong time and reacted wrongfully," he says calmly. Wow, his voice sounds good. I nod my head slowly and glance over at Tania. "I just heard how you said that she is heavy and that you don't want her to suffocate."

"I was talking about work. Her running the bakery and the modeling," I explain to him and go around my desk towards Tania. "I honestly would've acted the same way. You have an amazingly talented daughter, and I'm so happy I took her in. So, for the sake of Tania, your apology is accepted."

"Then I don't want to apologize," he says. I raise an eyebrow with an odd look. Wow, this is a first. "You said that you'll accept my apology for Tania's sake. That's not good enough. I don't want to use my daughter's name just to get apologized by Rose-Ann Kendall. I make my own name where I go."

"Well, by so far you haven't made a good name by me," I tell him. What does this man want? He stands firmly in front of me. All I see is this big muscled man with good features, but deep down, I see n delicate soul waiting to be touched.

"I'm Stephen Jacobs," he says and gives his hand. I push my hand into his looking, worried at him. I can't read whether he's flirting or trying to earn my apology. "I don't beg for forgiveness, but for my daughter's sake, I want to apologize."

"That's not fair," I laugh and shake my head, looking at Tania, who looks horrified at us. "I can't forgive you for your daughter's sake, but you want to apologize for her sake?"

"Doesn't seem right, does it?" He asks. I pull my face back and scan his face. Well, he made his point. So what do I do? Do I just let him win?

"Okay, you've made a fair point," I finally reply and look at Tania. This girl seems very nervous. "Is there anything you want to add to this?"

"No," she replies, shaking her head looking nervously at her dad. He smiles at her and reaches out to touch her cheek. Their bond is very special, nothing to be concerned about.

"Then you're excused," I tell her and walk away from them towards the window. Stephen shakes his head slowly and follows his daughter out. "I said she is excused. Not you, Stephen Jacobs."

Tania looks worried at her dad and walks out. I smile softly and look out the window. I hear Stephen clear his throat, waiting for me to continue.

"Tania was getting uncomfortable," I tell him and sit back against the window frame. "Let this be strictly between us and not involve my employees."

"I thought you were just looking for an excuse to have me alone with you behind closed doors," he says. My eyes stretch in shock. Can you believe this man? Who the hell pulls stupid jokes like that? "But I assume you have more sense than that."

"I'm married," I tell him straightforwardly. "I know you're not. Tania told me a little bit about it."

"I'm going to be honest and admit that I don't know you at all. Tania wouldn't shut up about you. I just know what she told me," he says. I smile at him and look down. Is it wrong that I see so much in him? Friendship, yes. More? I don't know. I never look at someone and imagine a life with them. "How long have you been married?"

"Not long," I respond softly and get up from my position back to him. "If I may be so bold you ask you, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm a police officer," he replies. I inhale deeply. This took me by surprise. I thought he'd be a guy in an office having his way with everyone. This explains why he didn't pick Tania up.

"You never modeled or something?" I ask, glaring at him. He'd make a pretty damn gorgeous model. Somehow, I wish I could see him in his uniform. He shook his head with a little smile. "Would you... nevermind. I'm being silly now?"

"Consider standing half naked in front of a camera while they take pictures of me?" He asks. I raise an eyebrow. So that's how he sees it? Damn, I wish I could sit him down and tell him everything about my business. "I've never done that, but I'd be glad to do it. I just need permission from our head offices.

"Sure," I smile at him. He leans over to my desk and grabs my business card. He's been staring at it? How did he find it so quickly? Well, it's part of his job, isn't it?

"Good, I'll give you a call. You can save my number on your phone and let me know when you'd like me to come in for that... whatever you call it. Safe my name under Officer Jacobs so that your husband wouldn't get suspicious," he says. I rol my eyes and shook my head. He is so smooth! "I don't go through appointment calls. Just in case I'm busy while you need me. Don't worry, I never took an interest in married women. You're off limits. I get it."

"Don't worry. My husband's not like that," I add and look at Jasmine that came in. "Yes, Jas?"

"Uhm, it's one o'clock. Ariana will be at the airport at two," she says. I nod and grab my coat, hanging in the corner of the office. "I'll have a driver ready to take you away."

"No, it's okay. I want to get her myself," I tell Jasmine and grab my handbag along with my phone and car keys that lay there on my desk. "I need to talk to her about something. Call in a press meeting for tomorrow at ten. Only for ten minutes. I need to make an important announcement and answer small questions. The big ones are left for the grave."

"I'll walk you out," Stephen says and shows me to walk first. I make my way out of the office. Luckily, Jasmine will close the doors behind us. We go to the elevator and step in as soon as the doors open. I reached out to press for the ground floor, but he went ahead of me getting it first. "Are we on the right foot now?"

"Don't get your hopes up too quickly," I chuckle and hold onto my handbag. He laughs, folding his hands in front of him. "We're on the right foot for now."

"Good, because I hate to think what will happen if you get stuck in a bathroom and I turn up to save you," he jokes. Well, I hope he's joking. "If you need security or something, you can just phone me. I'd like to meet your husband and tell him how careful he should be with you walking around freely."

"Are you flirting with me, or are you just trying to fish out on my marriage?" I ask him straightforwardly. The doors go open, which sends him off before me. He just ignores my question and waves at me on his way out. I get out of the elevator just in time before it closed. He is such a strange man, but I do hope that this means something.