Page 3 of Claiming His Wife
Being alone in a new city, at twenty with no family to depend on for emotional support, had forced her to become self-reliant. It still rattled her mind just thinking about her growth, which had come during her college days majorly. She managed to emancipate herself from the chains of her past that held her back. The need for stepping out from under her parents’ control had dawned upon her years ago, and she had ridden that wave gracefully and willfully. It was about time too, considering the circumstances under which she had left Montréal. She had to show that strength today in other to get what she came back for. She was no longer that lovesick puppy willing to believe that being in love solved all problems and that the world belonged to her.
Yanking open the taxi’s door with an uncharacteristic defiance, she slid out the backseat and slammed the door shut behind her. Standing outside the car, the building was an even larger behemoth. Its hulking height was overpowering – it reminded her of the two men who had caused her life to be in such disarray. The building threatened to suck the steel right out of her soul; she wouldn’t allow it. She was a woman on a mission.
Squaring her shoulders, Kalilah pushed forward. Putting one foot in front of the other would likely cost her dearly, but this was the only place she could come to get what she wanted. God help her and Finn, because she was determined to fully be free of them.
The lobby doors of Anderson Realty opened with a smooth hiss and the doorman bowed slightly at the waist as he ushered her in. Her heels clicked on the smooth, polished stone floors as she advanced toward the elevators. The large receptionist desk was empty. The understated opulence of the open space was an improvement over the last time she was here.
This new design was clean, bright, and airy. The stone was a perfect contrast to the textured walls and gold, stainless steel details. She took in the sparse furnishings, which consisted of five gold wire chairs covered with white sheepskin padding, strategically positioned around a glass coffee table situated in the center of the lobby. The last time she was here, the place was filled with grey carpet and dark walls. She turned from her survey of the room and stepped into the already open elevator. She pressed the familiar numbers of the floor where his office was located. When the elevator finally reached the 15th floor, she walked confidently toward a middle-aged Asian receptionist waiting with a patient smile. Kalilah couldn’t remember this woman working here before she left.
She must be new,she thought.
“I am here to see Fi—Mr. Tremblay.” She had almost said Finn but had bitten her tongue. She wanted to keep this meeting as professional as possible.
The receptionist only inclined her head slightly as if she’d missed the almost faux pas.
“Do you have an appointment?”
Kalilah clenched her fist and then took a deep breath to calm herself. All week she had debated if she should book an appointment. One part of her thought it best, but the other part of her, that rebellious side she had discovered years ago when she had first met him – the person she loved most and was ready to do anything to be with – vehemently refused to give her enemies any warning before she struck.
Enemies?The thought struck something deep within her heart.
“Tell him it’s Kalilah Anderson. He knows who I am,” she replied, witnessing the receptionist widening her eyes.
“Of course, ma’am; please have a seat while I check if Mr. Tremblay is free.”
Kalilah turned back to study the open room. Marble floors, glass walls, and subtle hints of gold scattered throughout the decor were a long way from the white walls, black trim, and tiled floors she remembered. Which reminded her, she needed to be nothing like that twenty-year-old girl who had cried herself to sleep for so many nights, wondering why she wasn’t enough for him.
“Madame,” the soft voice grabbed her attention and she turned toward the receptionist again,
“Please proceed to the very end of this hallway.” She pointed to an area Kalilah had never seen before. “Mr. Tremblay's administrative assistant will be waiting for you.” The choice of words brought a wry smile to her lips.An administrative assistant and a receptionist – business must be booming!she thought to herself.
The clicking of her heels filled the silence as she strode down the hallway. She passed several smaller offices until she came face to face with a stocky woman whose straight black hair was filled with grey strands. She regarded Kalilah with barely concealed curiosity.
“Madame Anderson?” she asked, her blue eyes brightening as she outstretched her hand.
Kalilah accepted the cool hands in hers and offered a small smile.
“Oui, c’est moi. Quel est votre nom?” She hadn’t spoken the language in five years and was surprised by how quickly it came back to her.
“Please, call me Sabrina,” she responded politely, in English, and then made a gesture with her hand. “Right this way. Mr. Tremblay is waiting for you. You’re lucky to have come at this time, since he doesn’t have any impending meetings.”
Kalilah murmured something unintelligible under her breath at that snippet of information but didn’t offer any response to Finn’s assistant. She intended for this meeting to be short and quick.
After thanking Sabrina for walking her to Finn’s office door, she raised her hand slowly and knocked. Why did she knock? Old habits die hard. It was something that was ingrained into her when her father was in his office. It gave too much power to that room, to her past.
“Come in!” A male voice sounded through the door.
***
In the five years of heading this company, Finn could admit that he had never waited for an appointment with bated breath before today. The call from his assistant stating that Kalilah Anderson was here to see him had shattered his morning, like cold water coming into contact with a hot glass. Instantly feeling a trickle of sweat on his nape, anger suddenly replaced a heady feeling.Anger is better, he told himself. It afforded him a level of control. At least that was something he could manage – controlling his emotions came easy because of his line of work.
In business, it was dangerous to allow your opponents to see you sweat.
Rebranding the company and pushing it to even greater heights had taken up a chunk of his time. Working 14- to 16-hour days helped him forget the mess he had called his life. The truth was that he had been running. The worst part about the entire fiasco was that he wasn’t guilty of anything Kalilah accused him of or believed him to be. He still didn’t understand how things had gotten so out of hand between them. He blamed himself for the chasm that now separated them. He took full responsibility for that. He should’ve tried harder to tell her the truth. Now, she was on her way to his office, and he didn’t know what to think.
The knock on his office door further destabilized him. His spine stiffened. He masked his emotions before saying, “Come on in!” He hoped his voice sounded more confident than he felt. He rose from his chair and walked across to the glass wall which overlooked downtown Montréal. His eyes were accosted by a view he couldn’t appreciate in that moment. He had known from the moment she left Seattle and had received a call the moment her flight had landed in the Canada, yet he felt unprepared to meet her. He never expected to be her first stop. He would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit to hoping that she had returned to finally settle down here – with him.
The door swung open and he turned to look her over.
