True Love. Brenda Jackson

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СКАЧАТЬ met her aunt's worried stare. "I won't, Aunt Callie. I know what I'm doing."

      Callie heard Shayla's words, but she was fearful that she really didn't.

      "After reading Mom's diary I think she let Chenault Electronics off too easy."

      Callie raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

      Shayla released a long sigh. "I kept rereading the entry she made on the day she got fired. If I knew I was innocent of something I was accused of, I would stand my ground. There's no way I would have let them get rid of me without a fight on their hands."

      Callie couldn't keep from smiling. Knowing Shayla and her stubbornness, she could see that happening. "Eva did speak up for herself, although I doubt she took it to the extremes that you would. She was a soft-spoken, easygoing person, Shayla. You know that. She never liked conflict of any kind. She was just that way. She was a peacemaker, and everyone loved her."

      Shayla's smile was thoughtful, reflective, and filled with loving memories. "Yes, everyone did love her, didn't they?"

      Callie shared Shayla's smile. "Yes, they did."

      Chapter 3

      Shayla sat cross-legged on her living room floor, mapping out in her daily planner all the things she needed to accomplish in the coming week. She was compulsive when it came to organization, and preferred doing things systematically by following a well-thought-out schedule. Although she could be flexible-if she had to be-she much preferred order to disorder, preparation to no preparation, and planning to last-minute decisions.

      Those were the main reasons why at three o'clock Sunday afternoon, anticipating her first day on the job at Chenault Electronics on Monday, she was diligently planning the week ahead. No doubt her first week at work would be spent going through some sort of new employee orientation and a fast-paced management training program. However, the hours she spent away from work were her main concern at the moment. She needed to plan her meals for the week, get her clothes together, make a trip to the grocery store, squeeze in an appointment at the dentist, and arrange time for a repairman to come in and check out her washing machine. The spin cycle didn't seem to be working properly. Last, but definitely not least, she wanted to include spending time with Aunt Callie. They had decided to get together and enjoy dinner at some nice restaurant at least once a week.

      Satisfied that she had covered all her bases for the week in an organized fashion, Shayla closed her planner. At that exact moment her phone rang. She reached over and grabbed it. "Hello."

      "Ms. Kirkland?"

      "Yes."

      "This is Leanne Johnson, Mr. Chenault's secretary. I'm sorry to bother you at home, but Mr. Chenault asked me to call you to discuss your reporting to work tomorrow."

      Shayla frowned. "Yes?"

      "He apologizes for this last-minute change, but he's been called out of town on a very important business trip, and would like you to join him as soon as you can. He feels you can most definitely be useful to him right now."

      Shayla's frown deepened. "I don't understand. Useful in what way? And where exactly am I supposed to join him?"

      "China."

      "China!" She thought she had misunderstood the woman.

      Leanne Johnson's response assured her she hadn't. "Yes, China. There seems to be a glitch in some business negotiations, and he needs your help. Your résumé indicates you speak fluent Chinese."

      "Yes. But what about my first day on the job tomorrow, here in Chicago?" Whatever happened to new employees' orientation or management training! She wanted to scream.

      "Well, now it seems that your first day on the job will be in Hong Kong. Mr. Chenault has been placed in a bind, and really needs your help with some very important negotiations." As if that explanation were enough, Leanne Johnson added, "I just got off the phone with the airlines. Your tickets are ready. I hope your passport's in order."

      "Yes, it is, but this is totally unexpected," Shayla implored.

      "I know, and Mr. Chenault apologizes for any inconvenience, but he hopes you'll come through and meet him there. A courier will deliver a package containing information about the Ling Deal to you before seven this evening. He wants you to study it and become familiar with it. May I relay a message back to Mr. Chenault that you'll be joining him?"

      No, no, no! Shayla wanted to scream. What gave Nicholas Chenault the right to mess with her well-ordered life? Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to remember why she had sought employment with Chenault Electronics in the first place-revenge. A major part of dishing out that revenge was getting to know as much about the company as possible, and what better way than to have firsthand knowledge of Chenault's business dealings? She released a deep sigh. She wasn't crazy about the idea of going anywhere, especially out of the country, on such short notice. At the university where she had worked for the past two years, business trips were planned far in advance, especially those that took her out of the country. Evidently in the private sector things were different. They were fast-paced, competitive, and last-minute.

      "Yes, tell Mr. Chenault I will be joining him there."

      "Thank you, Ms. Kirkland, and I hope you have a nice week."

      After hanging up the phone Shayla looked down at the planner in her lap. All her well-thought-out plans for the week had just been cancelled-big-time.

      Shayla had not given much thought to the mistake she might be making by going to Hong Kong until she began packing later that night.

      After her conversation with Ms. Johnson, she had immediately called her aunt. Callie owned one of the most exclusive clothing stores in Chicago, and she was a lifesaver, helping Shayla get ready for her trip, opening the store that evening just for her. Shayla had met her aunt at Callie's Fashions and shopped to her heart's content.

      Now they were in her bedroom, while Shayla packed.

      "Are you sure you're doing the right thing, Shayla?" Her aunt's question interrupted Shayla's thought. She decided not to tell her that she was beginning to have second thoughts. Instead she said, "Yes. I have to do this, Aunt Callie. I know you don't understand, and I respect that, but there's no way I can let Chenault Electronics or TJ Electronics get away with what they did to Mama."

      "Things worked out fine in the end for Eva. If you ask me, they did her a favor. If things hadn't turned out the way they did, she would never have married Glenn. Have you thought of that?"

      Shayla nodded. Yes, she had. But still, their treatment of her mother was inexcusable, unforgivable.

      "Tell me about Nicholas Chenault," Callie said quietly.

      Shayla continued packing, hoping her aunt would not notice the tint that colored her face. For some reason just the thought of Nicholas Chenault did that to her, and that wasn't good. "What do you want to know?"

      "Well, is he good-looking?"

      Shayla turned to her aunt. The eyes that met hers were filled with curiosity, knowledge, and understanding-a woman's understanding.

      "Yes, he's good-looking."

      There was a moment of silence before her aunt spoke again. Her СКАЧАТЬ