“Are you okay?” he asked. “You look a bit peaky,” he added with a hint of concern in his voice.
“No, I’m fine, I haven’t slept too well this week. I’m back at my dad’s until I move,” she said using that as an excuse.
“Oh right, if you’re sure. Now, I need to speak to you about Brookers,” he told her and shut her office door. “I have decided that next week I will send Martin in your place so you will be here all week, okay?”
She nodded. “Have I done something wrong? Are you unhappy with my work?”
“No. Far from it. It’s an exercise to see just how on the ball Mr Brooker is to a point. Steve Cannon is singing your praises to anyone who will listen and he hates women in the workplace and Brooker requested you and the rumours of him enticing you away are still circulating, so I just want to see how he will react. I will contact their H.R. department and give them the details for Martin and I need you to court some more big, new potential clients,” he explained.
“I will do whatever you want me to, Jack, but be careful of the contract,” she warned.
“Meaning?” He bristled slightly.
“Just that as I am named in the contract Brookers may have the option of suggesting breach of contract. It’s just a thought, but you’d know more about that than me, I’m not the lawyer, you are,” she added nervously, not wanting to offend her boss or sound anything other than compliant with his wishes.
“That’s a point, but let’s see what happens next week. Thanks, Steph, I do appreciate your input, but this is between us, okay?” He rose to his feet.
She stood up too and followed him to the door to see him out.
“Nice dress.” He looked her up and down and smiled at the 1950s secretary style black pencil dress with a cream mock blouse inset and a wide black belt around her waist.
She straightened the lapels and collar and brushed down the cap sleeves as she became increasingly uncomfortable under Jack’s gaze and was relieved when he properly prepared to leave.
“I’d better let you get off to Brooker’s for the afternoon. Be careful with Steve Cannon though, Steph. He would tell you that he loves all women, but he is the most disrespectful man I have ever met where women are concerned. Ask his wife.” He smiled at her smugly before leaving her alone.
Returning to her desk and feeling just how much the dress made her wiggle, she immediately regretted wearing it for a Brooker’s day especially with the black patent high heeled courts and lace top stay up stockings she’d opted for, even more so after what Jack had said about Steve, who she was scheduled to meet later. Why couldn’t her life be less complicated? Even her work life was getting messy now.
Fifteen
The phone rang at her desk in legal making her jump as she replied to emails.
“Stephanie Pryor.”
“Steph, it’s Steve Cannon. Can we meet upstairs at three o’clock rather than in my office?”
“Yeah sure, where upstairs?” she asked, confused as to why they’d need a conference room.
“Conference room, twenty-third floor. It would appear some more of the big wigs have questions for us on how things are panning out and other department heads are coming too,” he explained.
“They do know that we are all of a few weeks into the deal and it is very much early days, don’t they?” She felt a little concerned now.
“Yeah of course, but I think because Brooker chose to buy legal services in, other heads of departments are getting jittery that he could negotiate similar deals with other companies including accounting.” He laughed.
“Accounting?”
“Yes, you know the sort of thing; budgets, costings, profits and losses,” he joked. “Oh and I think the head of accounting may want to get a look at his new boss.”
“Is there a new boss in accounting?” she asked curiously.
“Not yet.” He laughed again as she realised he was referring to her.
Flushing, Steph was glad to be on her own and was more than a little relieved that Jack wasn’t there. It did make her wonder whether the rumours Jack had been talking about were actually genuine though.
“Ha-ha, very funny.” She laughed back at Steve. “Three o’clock upstairs then?”
“Yup and bring your laptop with your overviews and flowcharts on,” he told her, making her feel nervous that she was expected to give them a full presentation.
Steph nervously enteredthe empty conference room and found a note on the huge table:
