while I waited, curious to know what he wanted to talk about.
When he returned, he sat uncomfortably close, his thigh pressed against mine. I sidled away, but as I sat in the corner, I couldn’t move far. I compressed my knees together and gave him a chilly smile. “Well?” Adam didn’t move, and I cursed my choice of seat. I was stuck.
He was brisk and businesslike, as he outlined his plans to create a new Customer Services Department, and then he suggested I’d be ideal for Manager. His leg moved into my space again. I worked hard to resist the impulse to push it away. Making a fuss about my boss being overly friendly wouldn’t go down well. We had to work together, and if it meant I tolerated things like this, I’d grit my teeth and get on with it.
Then he moved even closer. “Of course,” he murmured, “we have to be sure we select the most suitable candidate.”
I sighed inwardly. I knew what was coming next. “And how will you decide?”
“Let’s just say”—his gaze glued to my chest—”they’d have to be capable of sustaining a close relationship with me.”
Single or not, he was the last person I wanted to get involved with. My thoughts raced, and I pretended to think about his offer. “I’m not interested in that role.”
“You do surprise me.” His smile was shark like, and I longed to wipe it off his face. Preferably with a blunt object. “You always struck me as being career minded, Kate. Guess I was wrong.”
My heart thudded, and my temperature rose. How dare he diminish the work I’d done? I had to tread carefully. “I set up the Call Center, and already the team is performing above expectations. We’ve increased sales across a number of key customers, as you well know.”
At last, he leaned back in his seat and opened a gap I might be able to squeeze through. I longed to tell him to shove his new department up his ass, but I was under no illusions. Not only would it make life very awkward at work, it would be difficult to move elsewhere. Adam knew a lot of people in the industry, and his thoughts carried weight
Like it or not, I had to remain polite.
I glanced at my watch, and then stood and picked up my bag. “Thanks for the drink, Adam.” I inched past him, making sure to avoid brushing against his legs.
I expected him to move, but he didn’t. His smile broadened, and my heart sank. What now?
“Come on, Kate. You must be lonely at home, now that Lover Boy has left.”
“Who told you that?” I said nothing at work about Tony leaving.
Adam smirked. “He’s shacked up with Gillian Banks. It’s the talk of the office.”
Was he telling the truth? How did I miss that? I felt sick. Gillian had been one of the Sales staff, and she left a few weeks ago. I organized the collection for her going-away present. There was a distinctly unpleasant taste in my mouth. I tried to hold onto my temper. “That’s none of your business.”
Adam leaned forward and closed one hand over mine. “So let’s talk a little more about my offer.”
Hell would freeze over first. I yanked my hand free, and in a burst of fury, swept my abandoned drink off the table and into his lap. Ice cubes chinked and clattered like dice on the tabletop, and cola splattered over his shirt and trousers. “Oops.”
“Bitch,” he snarled, his eyes flashing fire.
I fled while he grabbed the paper napkins.
As I sat in the car, I sank my head into my hands. This was not the most sensible thing to do. Adam wouldn’t like being made a laughing stock.
He’d make me pay for it.
4.4 Jordan
Back in my London office, I wasn’t surprised to see Cassie at her desk, despite the early hour. My personal assistant was superbly efficient, and after working with me for over a year, she was able to anticipate my needs.
I smiled a greeting and slid a box of fudge across her desk. “A souvenir from Devon. Apparently it’s a local specialty.”
Her eyebrows tugged together in a frown, but then she smiled
When he returned, he sat uncomfortably close, his thigh pressed against mine. I sidled away, but as I sat in the corner, I couldn’t move far. I compressed my knees together and gave him a chilly smile. “Well?” Adam didn’t move, and I cursed my choice of seat. I was stuck.
He was brisk and businesslike, as he outlined his plans to create a new Customer Services Department, and then he suggested I’d be ideal for Manager. His leg moved into my space again. I worked hard to resist the impulse to push it away. Making a fuss about my boss being overly friendly wouldn’t go down well. We had to work together, and if it meant I tolerated things like this, I’d grit my teeth and get on with it.
Then he moved even closer. “Of course,” he murmured, “we have to be sure we select the most suitable candidate.”
I sighed inwardly. I knew what was coming next. “And how will you decide?”
“Let’s just say”—his gaze glued to my chest—”they’d have to be capable of sustaining a close relationship with me.”
Single or not, he was the last person I wanted to get involved with. My thoughts raced, and I pretended to think about his offer. “I’m not interested in that role.”
“You do surprise me.” His smile was shark like, and I longed to wipe it off his face. Preferably with a blunt object. “You always struck me as being career minded, Kate. Guess I was wrong.”
My heart thudded, and my temperature rose. How dare he diminish the work I’d done? I had to tread carefully. “I set up the Call Center, and already the team is performing above expectations. We’ve increased sales across a number of key customers, as you well know.”
At last, he leaned back in his seat and opened a gap I might be able to squeeze through. I longed to tell him to shove his new department up his ass, but I was under no illusions. Not only would it make life very awkward at work, it would be difficult to move elsewhere. Adam knew a lot of people in the industry, and his thoughts carried weight
Like it or not, I had to remain polite.
I glanced at my watch, and then stood and picked up my bag. “Thanks for the drink, Adam.” I inched past him, making sure to avoid brushing against his legs.
I expected him to move, but he didn’t. His smile broadened, and my heart sank. What now?
“Come on, Kate. You must be lonely at home, now that Lover Boy has left.”
“Who told you that?” I said nothing at work about Tony leaving.
Adam smirked. “He’s shacked up with Gillian Banks. It’s the talk of the office.”
Was he telling the truth? How did I miss that? I felt sick. Gillian had been one of the Sales staff, and she left a few weeks ago. I organized the collection for her going-away present. There was a distinctly unpleasant taste in my mouth. I tried to hold onto my temper. “That’s none of your business.”
Adam leaned forward and closed one hand over mine. “So let’s talk a little more about my offer.”
Hell would freeze over first. I yanked my hand free, and in a burst of fury, swept my abandoned drink off the table and into his lap. Ice cubes chinked and clattered like dice on the tabletop, and cola splattered over his shirt and trousers. “Oops.”
“Bitch,” he snarled, his eyes flashing fire.
I fled while he grabbed the paper napkins.
As I sat in the car, I sank my head into my hands. This was not the most sensible thing to do. Adam wouldn’t like being made a laughing stock.
He’d make me pay for it.
4.4 Jordan
Back in my London office, I wasn’t surprised to see Cassie at her desk, despite the early hour. My personal assistant was superbly efficient, and after working with me for over a year, she was able to anticipate my needs.
I smiled a greeting and slid a box of fudge across her desk. “A souvenir from Devon. Apparently it’s a local specialty.”
Her eyebrows tugged together in a frown, but then she smiled
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