Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon

On the morning the third interview was to take place, David walked into Kate’s office, his face pale. “Is my job still open?”

Kate looked at his expression and stood up in alarm. “What is it, David?”

“I—I—” He sank into a chair. “Something has happened.”

Kate was out from behind the desk and by his side in an instant. “Tell me!”

“I just got a letter from Tim O’Neil. He’s sold the business.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. He accepted an offer of two hundred thousand dollars and a royalty for his patent from the Three Star Meat Packing Company in Chicago.” David’s voice was filled with bitterness. “The company would like to hire me to manage it for them. He regrets any inconvenience to me, but he couldn’t turn down that kind of money.”

Kate looked at him intently. “And Josephine? What does she say? She must be furious with her father.”

“There was a letter from her, too. We’ll marry as soon as I come to San Francisco.”

“And you’re not going?”

“Of course I’m not going!” David exploded. “Before, I had something to offer. I could have built it into a great company. But they were in too much of a damned hurry for the money.”

“David, you’re not being fair when you say ‘they.’ Just be—”

“O’Neil would never have made that deal without Josephine’s approval.”

“I—I don’t know what to say, David.”

“There is nothing to say. Except that I almost made the biggest mistake of my life.”

Kate walked over to the desk and picked up the list of candidates. Slowly, she began to tear it up.

 

 

In the weeks that followed, David plunged himself deeply into his work, trying to forget his bitterness and hurt. He received several letters from Josephine O’Neil, and he threw them all away, unread. But he could not get her out of his mind. Kate, deeply aware of David’s pain, let him know she was there if he needed her.

 

 

Six months had passed since David received the letter from Tim O’Neil. During that time, Kate and David continued to work closely together, travel together and be alone together much of the time. Kate tried to please him in every way she could. She dressed for him, planned things he would enjoy and went out of her way to make his life as happy as possible. As far as she could tell, it was having no effect at all. And finally she lost her patience.

She and David were in Rio de Janeiro, checking on a new mineral find. They had had dinner at their hotel and were in Kate’s room going over some figures late at night. Kate had changed to a comfortable kimono and slippers. When they finished, David stretched and said, “Well, that’s it for tonight. I guess I’ll go on to bed.”

Kate said quietly, “Isn’t it time you came out of mourning, David?”

He looked at her in surprise. “Mourning?”

“For Josephine O’Neil.”

“She’s out of my life.”

“Then act like it.”

“Just what would you like me to do, Kate?” he asked curtly.

Kate was angry now. Angry at David’s blindness, angry about all the wasted time. “I’ll tell you what I’d like you to do—kiss me.”

“What?”

“Bloody hell, David! I’m your boss, damn it!” She moved close to him. “Kiss me.” And she pressed her lips against his and put her arms around him. She felt him resist and start to draw back. And then slowly his arms circled her body, and he kissed her.

“Kate…”

She whispered against his lips. “I thought you’d never ask…”

 

 

They were married six weeks later. It was the biggest wedding Klipdrift had ever seen or would see again. It was held in the town’s largest church and afterward there was a reception in the town hall and everyone was invited. There were mountains of food and uncounted cases of beer and whiskey and champagne, and musicians played and the festivities lasted until dawn. When the sun came up, Kate and David slipped away.

“I’ll go home and finish packing,” Kate said. “Pick me up in an hour.”