A Special Relationship Read Online Free Page B

at those rare kind words, but Robert glanced up at her, as if he was daring her to smile, so she didn’t.   “Ross said they could change the bottom line projections if the board wants the numbers more high-end,” she decided to say.   “But he’ll stick with them, he said , if you can.”
      Robert hesitated, seemingly reading one page in particular.   “I can,” he said.
      Marva stared at Robert, and then she exhaled.   “Robert?” she said and she refused to say another word until he looked at her.   He did.
      “Yes, Marva?”
      “Why don’t you take a vacation?”
      “A vacation?   In the middle of an acquisition?   Come on.”
      “Just for a few days.   It’ll do you good.”
      Robert tried to show his appreciation for her concern, to curl his beautiful mouth into something that could resemble a smile, but it was Marva and she knew better.   He couldn’t pull it off.   He looked back down at his papers instead.   “I’m fine,” he said.
      “You’re not fine, Robert, even on an ordinary day.   And we both know this is no ordinary day.”
      Robert almost looked up at his secretary again.   He almost acknowledged what she was saying.   But he didn’t remove his eyes from the page before him.   He’d never forget that triumphant look on Gloria’s face when she told him she wanted a divorce.   And not just to divorce him, which was bad enough, but so that she could marry Paul Hathaway of all people, one of their oldest friends.   But when she told him about Ashley.   When she told him that the daughter that shared his last name and, he thought, his expressive gray eyes, was not his, a part of him died right where he stood.   He even insisted on another DNA test, just to see it for himself, and it was all true.   Ashley Kincaid, his daughter, was no kin to him at all.  
      “Why don’t you come with me tonight?” Marva said, as if she could read his thoughts.   “After the board meeting.”   It was ludicrous, the idea of Robert Kincaid running around town with her, and she knew it, but she couldn’t help wondering if maybe he could use some company tonight.  
      And it did get his attention.   He looked up at her.   “Come with you?”
      “Yes.”
      Robert smiled this time, a strained, forced one, but a smile nonetheless.   “What, Marva, don’t tell me you’re still out there partying.”
      “Very funny.   We’re in revival at my church all this week.”
      “A revival?”
      “Yes, Robert, you remember those, don’t you?”
      “I remember.”
      “Then you’ll come?”
      “No.”
      “Some of the best preaching you’d ever wanna hear.”
      “Nope.”
      “Oh, why not, Robert?   You used to love to go to revival meetings.   That’s what everybody around here admired about you.   Your devotion to your faith and your God.   The senior vice president of Dyson was also a God-fearing, born again Christian man.   It was refreshing.   But now you’re—”
      “Now I’m what?   No longer admired by the masses?   Well I could have told them a long time ago that they were wasting their time.”
      “I still admire you, Robert Kincaid.”
      “Then you’re a fool, Marva Cox.   Now go home.   Get dressed, go to church, enjoy yourself.   Good night.”
      “I leave when you leave.”
      Robert shook his head.   “What am I going to do with you, lady?”
      “You’re gonna accept my invitation to go to church, for starters.   Then you’re going to get back on the good foot with God so He can send you a woman who can prove to you, once and for all, that we aren’t all like Gloria.”
      Robert looked at his secretary.   “I’m going to have to take a rain check on church if you don’t mind,” he said.   “And as for this miracle woman, I’ll rain check her too.”
      “You need a woman, Robert.”
      “I have more than enough, thank-you.”
      “Those are just sex kittens.”