Perfect Partners

Letty was stunned by the gall of the man. He was sitting behind her desk just as if he owned the place! She was vaguely surprised to realize how territorial she had become about Thornquist Gear.
    “Letty my dear.” Philip got to his feet and came around the desk. He held out his arms. “I was told you were out of town. I’ve been wondering when you’d get back. We have so much to talk about.”
    He was smiling, Letty noticed. It was a classic Philip Dixon smile, graciously condescending, yet imbued with a certain patronizing charm. Philip had perfected that smile for use at faculty teas. It also worked very well, apparently, with graduate students.
    The fact that Philip Dixon was extremely good looking in a very patrician style helped.
    He was wearing a tweed jacket with flannel trousers, a blue button-down oxford-cloth shirt, and a maroon striped old-school tie, which Letty happened to know was a fake. Philip had graduated from a large California public university, not a private East Coast Ivy League school. One would never know that, however, unless one happened to inquire.
    “What on earth are you doing in my office, Philip?” She evaded his outstretched arms and brushed past him to reclaim her chair. She sat down quickly and tossed Keith Escott’s five-year plan down onto her desk. Back in control of her own office, she folded her hands in front of her. “For that matter, what are you doing here in Seattle?”
    “Letty my dear, what a silly question.” Philip sauntered over to the chair on the other side of the desk, hitched up his neatly pressed trousers, and sat down. He crossed his legs and regarded her with gentle concern. “I’m here to see you, of course.”
    “Why?”
    Philip shook his head, looking saddened as well as concerned. “So much hostility, Letty. I was hoping you would have recovered your sense of perspective by now. I told you the other morning when I talked to you on the phone that we really must consider counseling for you. A good cognitive therapist will do wonders, I’m sure.”
    With an enormous effort of will, Letty hung on to her temper. “I thought you said I needed sex therapy.”
    Philip frowned thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the hostility factor is part of the problem behind your inability to respond sexually. Again, a strong cognitive approach should get to the bottom of things in a relatively short time. But we can discuss that later.”
    “Really? And just what is it you wish to discuss now, Philip?”
    He smiled. “Why, Thornquist Gear, of course. Don’t worry, Letty. I realize you’re in way over your head here.” He chuckled kindly. “Let’s face it, how many librarians would be equipped to take on the management of a company the size of Thornquist? But as your fiancé, I am fully prepared to deal with the business for you.”
    Letty nearly choked. “Is that right?”
    “After all, who better to take over the reins than me? This is my area of expertise, as you well know. As a member of the faculty at Vellacott, I have acted as a management consultant to businesses of this size and scope for some time now. As your future husband I see it as my responsibility as well as my pleasure to take the burden of Thornquist Gear off your shoulders.”
    Letty struggled for breath. “Philip, I don’t think you’re seeing the big picture here. Thornquist is my company. I don’t need anyone to help me run it.”
    “Now, darling, I know it all seems like great fun at the moment, but the fact is, running a firm of this size takes considerable experience and training. If you want to dabble in it for a while, I don’t see why we can’t create a special title for you. Even let you have an office of your own.”
    “I
have
an office of my own.” Letty shot to her feet. “And you’re in it. I would like you to get out. Now.”
    “Letty, you’re becoming emotional, darling.” Philip said soothingly. “That’s not like you.”
    The office door slammed open, and Joel walked into the room. His eyes swept Letty’s tense features and then swung to Philip. “Your secretary apparently called mine earlier about a problem here, Ms. Thornquist. Who is this?”
    Letty took a deep breath. “Allow me to make introductions. Philip, meet Joel Blackstone. He’s my CEO . Joel, this is Philip Dixon.”
    “
Professor
Philip Dixon. On leave of absence from Vellacott College.” Philip smiled and got to his feet. He stuck out his hand. “I’m pleased to meet