Land Lover (Michaels Legacy Book 1)

She entered the large tower in downtown Minneapolis. Reporting for her first day on the job with Kingston Industries. Dressed in a navy skirt suit, cream satin blouse, and navy four-inch heel pumps. She looked around the large reception area once exiting the elevator on the thirtieth floor. At twenty-three, she was eager to begin her new career, her master’s degree freshly framed at home.

“May I help you?” the young receptionist asked when she approached.

“Randall Pierce. I’m here to begin my new position in Finance,” she answered.

The receptionist dialed an extension and asked her to take a seat. A few moments passed before she was greeted. “Miss Pierce,” the woman extended her hand to her. “Please follow me. I’ll introduce you to your new boss.”

Randi had never interviewed for a position without meeting the person she’d be working with before. The owner himself had interviewed her, yet she’d never met the executive she was now hired to support. Randi was a bit apprehensive as they walked through the aisles of cubicles to a large corner office. “This will be your desk, Miss Pierce,” the woman indicated an assistant space larger than any of the offices she’d ever been in before. “Why don’t you put your things down and I’ll introduce you to Mr. Kingston.”

His door was open. Judith Williams lightly knocked, waiting for his gesture to allow them inside. When they entered, Randi took in the sight. The office was huge. He was seated at an extra-large desk of deep mahogany. On the other side of his office was a matching conference table surrounded by twelve chairs. Along one wall was a built-in, fully stocked bar with refrigerator. Beyond that was his own private bathroom. The view from his window giving a clear view to Lake Calhoun and its surrounding homes.

“Mr. Kingston, I’d like you to meet your new assistant,” Judith announced as Randi extended her hand to Andrew Kingston, executive on the rise.

“Randall Pierce,” she announced her own name as their hands shook. “But most people call me Randi.”

“Welcome aboard, Miss Pierce,” he returned. “I trust Miss Williams will fill you in on office protocol,” he continued, giving Judith a look.

Randi took in his appearance. He was so young; he couldn’t possibly be older than twenty-five. His light brown hair cut short without a hair out of place. His green eyes seemed unhappy. He too was dressed in a navy suit, though a much more expensive one than hers. His pale blue tie snuggly at his neck. “Once Miss Williams shows you around, please stop in so we can go over our working relationship,” he instructed.

The two women turned and left his office, Judith closing his door once they were outside. “Mr. Kingston is very strict on formality in the office, Randi,” she told her.

“Seems a little young to be a stuffed shirt, don’t you think?” Randi asked in return.

“You’d be best to go by the rules,” the older woman advised her as they walked along the aisles again, “or you’ll find it very difficult to work here.”

Later that morning, a young woman with wavy blonde hair and light blue eyes approached Randi’s desk. “Hi!” the woman greeted. “I’m Cathy Reed, an assistant in Accounting.”

Randi wearily looked up. “Randall Pierce,” she introduced herself back, extending her hand.

Cathy’s smile lit up her face. “You look like you could use a break. Wanna grab some coffee or something?”

Randi smiled back. “I could use a very large mocha latte right now.”

The first six months as Andrew’s assistant turned out to be one battle after another with her young boss. He made it perfectly clear he wanted everything done by the book and was always upset when she did otherwise, no matter how she argued greater efficiency.

“Here are the reports you wanted for today,” Randi announced as she walked toward his desk.

He was busy writing when she entered the room and didn’t look up as she deposited the reports on his desk and walked away. As she was about to leave the room, she heard his voice, still not raising his head. “Pierce, I’d like a word with you.” He had dropped the use of the title Miss a short time after she started. Probably made it easier for him during their battles.

She turned to face him. It had only taken an hour today for the battle to begin. “Yes Mr. Kingston.”

It was seconds before his head rose and they were looking at one another. “I understand you’ve been putting in some overtime as of late,” his face serious. “Anything I should be concerned with?”

“Mr. Woods asked if I could work on some figures for him,” she answered.

“Is his assistant unable to do her job efficiently?”

“Becky is a mom who needs to pick her kids up from daycare,” she replied walking closer to his desk. “He asked for my help and I agreed.”

“Woods knows the rules. No overtime unless absolutely necessary,” his voice rising.

She continued walking closer until she was just in front of his desk. “It’s no bother.”

“Ask Woods to come into my office, please.”

“Look,” she began, “I’m not reporting it as overtime if that’s what’s bothering you.”

“Pierce!” he shouted. “You are to follow the office rules! I will speak to him about having his assistant do his work for him. If Becky isn’t able, then he needs to find another one!”

“Is your tie tied too tight?” she asked angrily. “I can inform him of the rules the next time he asks for my help.”

“Pierce!” his palms flat on the desk, anger filling his young face. “I will not repeat this. You are to follow office protocol! Do I make myself clear?”

Her anger rose to match his. She placed her palms flat on his desk, her face inches from his. “Fire me!” she returned angrily.

He glared at her for a moment, “I can’t do that,” he informed her as he stood straight.

“Why not?” she asked, matching his stance.

“Because you’re damn good at your job, that’s why!”

“Then, I’d best get back to it!” she retorted as she turned on her heel and left his office, closing the door behind her.

All eyes were upon her as she exited his office. Randi knew everyone within a one-mile radius heard their latest bout as his door had been open. She ignored their stares and returned to her desk, busying herself.

Later that afternoon, Randi was clearing her desk to leave. Everyone else had left only moments before to begin their weekend. She heard him approach behind her. “Don’t worry,” she answered before he could ask, not turning to look at him. “No overtime for this girl.”

“Big plans?” he asked, standing in the office doorway. How can one woman frustrate me so?

She turned to face him. “Not really,” she answered. “Just a relaxing night with a book.”

“How about dinner?” he asked.

“Yeah, I plan to eat.”

A soft laugh escaped him. “I meant may I take you to dinner?”

She looked at him in surprise. “Me?”

Andrew chuckled. “I don’t see anyone else in the room,” he returned, wondering where the invitation came from.

She gave him a scrutinizing once-over before finally agreeing to his invitation. They met up at an Italian restaurant outside the downtown city limits. Most of the meal was eaten in silence at the awkwardness they both felt in each other’s company outside the office.

He is rather handsome, she thought taking in the sight of him. His light brown hair and emerald eyes suited him perfectly. He really didn’t look the part of the tough executive he presented himself to be. He tried so hard to please his father, Arthur Kingston, only to feel he never quite measured up to those expectations.

“You know, I’d fire you if you didn’t do your job so damn well,” he told her as they walked to her car in the parking lot.

“So you’ve told me,” she smiled as she looked up at him next to her car door. “And I’d quit if I didn’t enjoy harassing you so much.”

He looked down at her smiling face. “You do enjoy it don’t you,” he stated more than asked.

“Immensely,” she answered. “You’re a real stuffed shirt, y’ know,” she told him as she unlocked her door.

“Am I now?”

She turned to face him again. “I think you were born wearing that blasted tie,” she teased. She looked into his eyes when he didn’t answer. She balanced on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for dinner.”

She was a petite woman. Barely five-foot six inches and one-hundred ten pounds. His six-foot muscular frame slightly taller than hers in her four-inch heels. He stood silently as she slid in the driver’s seat, started her car and pulled away.

“Mr. Kingston!” she exclaimed when she saw him at her door the next morning. She couldn’t believe he was at her door, let alone wearing jeans.

“May I come in?” She stepped aside to let him pass. “I need some help on these ledgers,” he said as she closed the door. She looked at him and shook her head in disbelief. “What?” he asked.

“I don’t believe you,” she answered, walking over to him. “This isn’t the office, loosen up,” she ordered, sliding the sport coat from his shoulders and placing it on the chair.

“Pierce.”

“I’m not formal ’round here either. My name is Randi.”

“Randi,” he repeated softly.

She held the files he brought with him in her hand. “These files don’t need work,” she informed him. “These accounts are complete,” she turned to face him again. “But you knew that didn’t you?” she asked.

He moved closer to her. She looked into his emerald eyes as he held her face in his hands and lowered his lips to hers.

When he lifted his lips from hers, his mouth a mere inch from hers. “Mr. Kingston…” she whispered, her breathing irregular from the sensations running through her.

“I’m not formal right now either. I’m Andrew,” he whispered back.

“Andrew,” she breathlessly repeated closing her eyes.

“And I’ve been wanting this for a very long time,” he stated before his lips returned to hers.

He came into the office late on Monday morning. She smiled up at him from her desk as he walked past and slammed his office door.

All eyes were upon him when he opened his door an hour later and approached her desk. His suit coat was removed, sleeve cuffs turned up, tie loose and top collar button undone. He didn’t notice all the attention he was attracting. “Prepare these reports up for me, would you please Randi?”

“Certainly,” she smiled, taking the papers from him.

He looked about and noticed a number of staff looking in their direction. “May I see you in my office please?”

She followed him inside. “Close the door,” he ordered. She closed the door and turned to face him. “What are they all staring at out there?” he asked.

“You.”

“Me? Why?”

“This is the first time they’ve seen a normal person in you,” she said, walking over to him leaning against the front of his desk.

“Making love with a beautiful brunette tends to make one loosen up,” he whispered before pulling her close.

“Then what took you so long?” she asked before pulling his lips to hers.

Their relationship grew in the following six months. They made an unbeatable team at work. He listened to her suggestions before attending a business deal. As the deals and meetings increased, she even took his place at a few, presenting his ideas in his steed. She wondered how she could feel such love.

“Andrew, why do you have to go?” she pouted as she sat in the middle of his bed watching him pack.

“Randi,” he looked up, “don’t look at me that way. You know why I have to go.”

“But I had dinner plans for us tonight. Candles, fireplace…”

He sat down next to her on the bed. “Randi, if you want to discuss wedding plans, we can do that when I get back.”

“I want to celebrate,” she announced.

“Celebrate? Celebrate what?”

“Being in love with you,” she began a trail of kisses at his neck.

He pulled free from her torture before she gained the upper hand. Standing, he looked down to her. “My father wants me to join him on this one.”

“He never needed your help before. Why now?”

“I’ll only be gone for a few days. I promise, when I get back, I’ll never leave you again,” he reached for her and held her close.

“I’ll hold you to that promise, Andrew Kingston,” she replied, snuggling in the softness of his sweater.

“We can celebrate anything you want when I get back,” he pulled free and resumed packing.

“Let me go with you,” she looked up at him.

“Randi don’t be silly. It’s a business trip.”

“Your nights won’t be business, will they?” she asked seductively.

“Don’t tempt me,” he replied, closing the zipper on his bag. “I have to prove to my father that I can handle this.”

“He knows you can. Look at the work you do in the office.”

“Randi, please,” he said irritated. “I don’t want to argue.”

She stood at the departure gate after kissing him good-bye. He turned to face her. “I love you Pierce,” his lips formed to her through the glass between them before he turned and walked to the corporate jet.

She was preparing to leave to meet his flight home when a knock came to her door.

“Mr. Kingston!” She was surprised to see Adam Kingston, Andrew’s grandfather, at her door.

“Randi, there’s been an accident,” he told her once he entered and closed the door.

She turned and walked away from the door. He stood in the entry. “Andrew?” she whispered.

“Randi.” He came to her and wrapped his arms about her. “The plane went down a half hour after it left the airport in Miami.”

“How badly is he hurt?” she asked, the knot in her stomach tightening.

Adam looked at the dining table she had set, complete with candles and champagne. “There were no survivors. I’m sorry.”

She pulled away from him sharply. “You’re lying!” she screamed at him. “He has to be alright.” She saw the pain in his eyes. “He promised me,” she whispered hoarsely before slumping to the sofa. “He promised me we could celebrate whatever I wanted when he got back,” her cries overtaking her as Adam held her shaking body close.

“Why didn’t you take me with you?” she sobbed aloud as Adam held her close and they shared their grief.

Andrew’s funeral was three days later, on a picture-perfect sunny day in June. The mourners gathered at the Kingston estate following the service. “Uncle Adam, Aunt Meredith, I am so sorry. I don’t know what to say.”

Adam hugged his nephew close. “Thank you for coming Son.”

“I wish I knew him better. He and I are, were, so close in age.”

Adam looked up to his tall nephew. “Son, don’t you worry on that. It’s not like we live next door to each other. Your being here is a comfort just the same.”

“I do have to catch a flight back home. I was hoping to convey my condolences to his fiancée before leaving.”

Meredith looked up with watery eyes. “Oh the poor dear. She’s taken Andrew’s passing especially hard. I’m afraid the poor child collapsed from exhaustion this morning and didn’t make the service.”

“I understand. Wasn’t their wedding this month?”

“She’s a lovely girl. I don’t know how she’s going to get through this.” Meredith spoke softly.

“Ah, but she’s a tough one. We’ll make sure she gets through this dear,” Adam reassured his wife.

“I’m afraid I really do have to get to the airport. Father is expecting me at a meeting this evening.”

Adam looked up to him. “You tell that father of yours there are more important things in life than business!” the anger apparent in Adam’s sad voice. “I trust you will remember the same?” he asked.

“Andrew was much too young to pass,” his nephew said. “I assure you; this puts many things in perspective.”

“Your mother would be so proud of you Son.” Meredith hugged him good-bye.

Adam was at her apartment door two weeks later. He knew she had taken Andrew’s passing quite hard but seeing her in her disheveled state tore at his heart strings.

Randi was dressed in sweatpants and shirt, with her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. Her eyes rimmed in red indicating her latest crying spell.

“May I come in?” Adam asked softly.

Randi stepped back, giving him room to step past. “I’m sorry Mr. Kingston, had I known you’d be stopping by…”

Adam stepped up to face her and placed his hands on her delicate shoulders. Her usually bright eyes were dull and full of sadness as they looked into his. “Why haven’t you been out to the house?” he asked.

“Mr. Kingston?”

“You are still family to Meredith and me. We’ve all experienced a great loss. We don’t want to lose you as well.”

She pulled free from his light hold and made her way to her living room, sitting on the sofa, pulling her legs up beneath her. “I’m sorry. I just haven’t felt well lately.”

Adam took the chair facing her. “I want you to take as long as you need, Randi.”

Her entire face showed her confusion. “As long as I need?”

“Before coming back to the office.”

The very thought of returning to the office caused a sadness to flow through her she couldn’t explain. She stood and began pacing about the living room, trying to keep her emotions from surfacing again. “Mr. Kingston, I can’t go back there.” A single tear slid down her cheek.

Adam rose and walked to her. He pulled her into a comforting embrace, her head resting at his chest. He looked at the dining table. It was still set with candles, as it had been when he delivered the bad news. “Oh dear,” he sighed. “I’m going about this all wrong.”

He took her hands and guided her back to the sofa. He sat down next to her and held her hands in his. “I need you to come back, Randi.” She looked at him, still full of confusion. “I know it will take some time, but I need to see your bright, smiling face gracing our offices again.”

“Mr. Kingston…”

“Please, you must call me Adam. We’re family dear.”

Her mind was racing with so many thoughts and emotions. This was just one more thing she couldn’t add to her plate right now. She pulled her hands free and placed her fingers at her temples. “Mr.…Adam, I don’t think I can be an assistant to anyone else. The memories, reminders of Andrew…”

“And I don’t expect you to. With your accounting abilities and management style, I’d like you to supervise the new accounts area of finance.”

“Supervise the what?” her breathing became more rapid from the shock of his words.

“Randi, dear, it’s similar to some of the work you’ve been doing.”

She stood and began pacing nervously again. “Adam, I’m not a supervisor. I’ve only been with Kingston for less than a year.”

“Randall, I’ve seen how you’ve grown in that time. You have a natural ability about you I can’t explain,” he stood and walked to her again. “Besides, I’ll get to see you more. Please think it over. The job is yours whenever you want it.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Tears began escaping her eyes. “I just miss him so much. I don’t know if I can.”

He held her close again, his own eyes filling with emotion. “We can get through this. Together. You, me and Meredith.”

“Will the pain ever go away?” she asked through her tears.

He stepped back and cupped her face in his hands. “In time, dear. In time.”

Six months later…

Randi was working late one night when a noise in the outer office caught her attention. She looked at her watch. The staff had gone home hours ago. No one should be in this late. She quietly got up and walked to the outer office. She saw a light on in Jeff Woods’ office and walked toward it, standing out of sight when she saw him preparing to leave.

She watched him walk toward the elevator without his noticing her presence. After she saw the elevator doors close behind him, she entered his office.

“Why was he here so late?” she asked aloud. She noticed company ledgers and portfolios that she knew by sight belonged in Adam Kingston’s files. She sat at Jeff’s desk and looked at the figures he had penciled in. She knew Adam would never be able to recognize the difference of these figures from the ones that should be there. She gathered the ledgers and left the building.

Monday morning was a buzz. A secret impromptu meeting was taking place in Adam’s office.

She was startled when her assistant, Cathy Reed spoke to her from the doorway, not realizing anyone had entered. “Randi,” she began, “Mr. Kingston would like to see you in his office.”

When she entered the extremely large office, Mr. Kingston had just finished confronting Jeff with the facts of the ledgers as well as bank statements and other evidence against him. Kingston Industries filed formal embezzlement charges against him. He was being escorted from the office in handcuffs.

“I’d like to thank you, Randi, for letting me know what you found out,” Adam said to her after Jeff was out of sight.

“I wish I’d been wrong,” she said, looking up from the chair before his desk.

“Well,” he began, “Kingston needs a new Finance Manager. How would you like the job?”

She looked up at Adam in surprise. “I didn’t turn him in so I could have his job.”

“I realize that, Randall. My grandson spoke very highly of your abilities. I trust his judgment, along with the fine work you’ve been doing the past few months supervising in Accounting,” he smiled at her. “Please accept.”

He was half sitting on the corner of his desk. She stood to be more on his level. “I’ll accept on one condition,” she replied.

“And that would be?” he inquired.

“If I can’t do the job, you pull me out.”

“Fair enough,” he agreed.

“I mean it Adam. This is a big responsibility you’re giving me.”

He stood, leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You’re family my dear. There is no one else for the job. But, I promise, if you feel it’s too much…”

“Or you see I’m not doing the job well,” she interjected.

“Or I see you’re not doing the job well,” he repeated. “We’ll discuss it then.”

They shook hands on the deal.

And that was how it all began for her four years ago. She’d lost the man she loved in a plane crash and began her executive career in his family’s business. She threw herself into her new job. Not only could she handle the job, she was also becoming well known for her abilities throughout the business world.