‘But…?’
‘But I guess this wasn’t where my dreams lay.’
‘Where did they lie, those dreams of yours?’
‘I fancied getting involved in efforts to combat climate change.’ Ella suddenly laughed. ‘I was a big dreamer.’
‘Sounds like a perfectly reasonable dream. But landing this job…it must have seemed like a stroke of luck. Like I’ve said, you’re young to be in such a position of seniority.’
‘I worked here over the holidays from the age of fourteen,’ Ella confided. ‘My mum worked in the haberdashery department and she pulled a few strings to get me temp jobs in the store so that I could have pocket money for the summer hols. After my Leaving Certificate, I came back and worked for a few years to save for my tuition fees at university. I didn’t want to have a student loan outstanding.’
She cleared her throat and, when she yanked herself back to reality, she was appalled to consider how much she had revealed to a perfect stranger. Appalled and just a little bit…alarmed. What on earth was going on with her?
‘Apologies. I went off-topic,’ Ella said briskly. ‘You’re here for practical advice so, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask provided they pertain to the reason you’re here.’
‘Just the one.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Can I shadow you for the duration of my stay here? I think I would learn a lot more with one dedicated mentor than if I flitted from department to department under the supervision of random people, picking up all the boring back-room jobs no one is interested in doing.’
‘How do you know I won’t lumber you with the same back-room jobs?’
‘I don’t, but I’m willing to take the chance.’
‘I really can’t promise that you can spend your time here under my sole supervision.’ But her heart was thudding and she felt as though she needed to clear her head. Right now she wasn’t in charge of her emotions. She was behaving unprofessionally and allowing him to get under her skin. If she didn’t get some air, at the risk of appearing rude, then she was going to explode. No, worse—she was going to carry on waging war with common sense and that wouldn’t do.
She thought of Steve and what he had put her through. She had been led astray by her emotions into ignoring red flags and handing her heart over to a guy who had never deserved it. Right now, the ground was shifting under her feet, and it was imperative that she didn’t allow that to happen.
‘Look at the time!’ She stood up, leaving him no choice but to follow suit.
He stood up slowly and she followed that easy, graceful motion with fascinated attention.
He looked at his watch. ‘Time flies when you’re having fun,’ he drawled and Ella felt that, yes, he couldn’t have hit the nail on the head more accurately. She’d been having fun! It was crazy. She was supposed to give orders and do a job!
‘I’m afraid I have some important chores to do in town but I’ll hand you over to one of my colleagues at the staff canteen and you can grab some lunch there.’
‘And when you get back…?’
‘When I return, I’ll settle you in front of some…’
‘Filing. I can transpose everything onto the system.’
‘Would you know how to do that?’
‘I can confidently tell you that it won’t be a problem. And if I have more questions…?’
‘Naturally, that’s what I’m here for.’ Ella’s eyes locked with his and her heart picked up pace.
‘I’m glad to hear that. And would you be prepared to answer them over dinner with me…?’
Chapter Two
Over dinner with me?
What a nerve! He was there to shadow her, follow her instructions! Basically, when she thought about it, she washis bossfor two weeks. He was on a par with Claire and Sharon, the eighteen-year-olds who constantly had to be told off for giggling and trying on make-up when no customers were waiting to be served.
Admittedly, there were some differences… Jose was thirty-two, wouldn’t know how to giggle if he took a course on it and was a drop-dead-gorgeous, sex-on-legs guy. But she wasstill his boss for two weeks!Which was why she’d given him a cool, amused, derisory look four days ago when he’d voiced that outrageous suggestion.
