“But you want to, we both know that and I want to and I always get what I want, Miss Pryor.” He sounded more like Jon from the club now. “Think about it and we’ll talk again, but I have a meeting now, okay?” he asked a little gentler again.
“Okay,” she replied and then realised he had hung up and she had no way of contacting him, so he was in control.
It was just beforetwo o’clock when Steph arrived in the ground floor foyer and grimaced as she realised that Jack Baker was watching her boobs bounce as she almost ran towards him. She fastened the button on her jacket to end the entertainment as she reached him.
“You look very smart, Miss Pryor, and yet feminine, lovely,” he mused as he led her towards a waiting cab.
It took about half an hour to make the trip across town and as they pulled up outside the skyscraper of Brooker Incorporated Steph asked, “Which floor are they on?”
“All of them. The whole building is occupied by them in various guises; property, hospitality, tourism, retail, Mr Brooker has fingers in all kinds of pies which is why we could gain serious financial security from this deal because if we can get in on the act for one side of their business, as it expands further we will be laughing.”
Steph nodded at him and admitted, “I’m rather nervous.”
“So you should be, but so am I, although I wasn’t expecting them to invite you along too or I may have cancelled your leave last week.” He scratched his head as if wondering why they had invited her. “But that email was only sent on Sunday morning, so you may have been an afterthought.”
Unsure whether she had inadvertently been affronted by her boss’ reference to her as an afterthought, Steph almost missed Jack gesturing for her to lead the way into reception where she announced their arrival.
“Jack Baker and Stephanie Pryor of Baker, Ross and Riley for Mr Brooker.”
A security man stood up and nodded. “This way.” He led them to one of the lifts at the rear of the huge open and minimalistic foyer while the receptionist called ahead.
With security using a key to activate the lift it took them to the twenty-fourth floor where they were greeted by a very tall, willowy, blonde woman with perfect teeth and flawless make up while her hair was scraped back, into an unfeasibly tight and sleek bun.
“Good afternoon,” she said in a slightly ‘plummy’ accent that made Steph feel slightly uncomfortable and out of her comfort zone. “Andrea Stewart,” she introduced herself but was already leading them on. “This way please,” she told them until they stopped at a large mahogany door that opened into a huge conference room with a large mahogany table framed by at least thirty chairs.
“Sit down, please.” She gestured towards two specific chairs and as they sat she asked, “Tea, coffee, water?”
“Scotch would be better,” said Jack.
Andrea laughed lowly and repeated, “Tea, coffee, water?
Steph smiled at her. “Tea would be nice, thank you. Jack?”
He smiled at Andrea. “The same, thanks.” Andrea left them alone and as they sat there Jack said, “This is part of the game, isn’t it? Leaving us alone, to stew, to get jittery so that we end up giving away a better deal. Brooker is well known as a slippery bastard so be careful what you say.”
Steph nodded but said nothing as her nerves moved up several notches at the potential enormity of her situation.
“That secretary is a pretty little thing. Hot, isn’t she? I would certainly give her one, although I wouldn’t stand a chance, but I reckon Brooker is fucking her.”
Steph looked at him shocked now, shocked by the meaning behind his words, but also by the crudity of them.
“Why do you say that?” She was curious to know her boss’ logic behind his assumptions.
“Because you don’t employ women that look like her for any other reason than to get into their knickers and I bet they’re very little knickers at that.”
Steph was horrified that her boss thought that way, even more so that he spoke those disgusting thoughts aloud. She pushed her distaste away, then said, “If this is part of the game I hope the room isn’t bugged or under surveillance or you could be in trouble if Brooker is shagging the lovely Andrea.”
Jack looked uncomfortable now making Steph smile smugly as Andrea reappeared with a tray of tea and coffee.
She put it down in front of Jack and Steph before sitting opposite Jack and smiling.
“Mr Brooker will be here shortly, he has been delayed on an overseas call,” Andrea explained.
They sat for possibly only a matter of seconds, but it felt longer as Steph shuffled the duplicate schedules she had brought with her.
“Apologies for my delay,” came the voice behind them and as he appeared, Steph smiled in spite of the game play at work.
He extended a hand across the table. “Miss Pryor, Mr Baker.”
