“I think we see where the other is coming from and now I need you to go and put some quarterly figures together with people and that should take no longer than half a day really, but I will give you tomorrow too. Rather than you cluttering up my department I have arranged for you to use the conference room on the twenty-third floor tomorrow and you will be based there next week whilst you go through the figures, not that you really need to, I have almost completed that, but I’d like to see what you’re made of, accounting wise,” he said passing her the details of the four departments that still hadn’t completed their figures.
She got to her feet thinking that if he had almost finished his initial overview of the figures he was an even more inept accountant than she’d thought, or a genius to have got so far when Jon had only begun emailing them yesterday, but didn’t say that. Instead she settled with saying, “I should be getting on then.”
“You’re dismissed.” He wore an expression of absolute fury to find himself looking up at her again.
Steph was sittingin retail when she saw and then heard Sonia Hansen. “Stephanie, what a lovely surprise.”
“Hello.” Steph stood up to greet Sonia.
“What brings you here?” asked Sonia curiously.
“I’m working here, temporarily, with the accounts team,” she explained. “And I am trying to compile retail’s quarterly figures,” she added.
“I have submitted mine to the head of retail.”
Her defensive words made Steph smile. “Yes, I have those, but to be honest retail’s were almost done, although I have duplicated a copy of yours to view separately and now I am off to publishing,” she said.
“Can I tempt you to a coffee first?” Sonia asked with a kindness and friendliness that felt completely genuine, something Steph was only too happy to embrace.
She looked at her watch and as it was just after three o’clock she decided she was due a brief break. “I would love to.” She smiled and followed Sonia to the lifts. “Where are we going?”
“The canteen on the first floor where our little coffee house franchise is located.” Sonia reached over to press the button for the first floor when a body leapt into the lift.
Steph looked up and for some reason was shocked to find Jon joining them.
“Ladies,” he said smiling at them.
“Mr Brooker,” they replied in unison.
He moved to the back of the car and stood next to Steph, close enough that she could smell him, his aftershave and washing products. She inhaled deeply and suddenly wanted to reach up and touch him, to kiss him. He looked down at her and smiled as she became aware of his hand caressing her behind making her cough loudly as an alternative to speaking or moaning.
“Nasty cough you have there, Miss Pryor,” he said as he gently patted her back.
“Mmm, it’s one of those dry, irritating coughs,” she replied making him grin down at her.
“I know the sort, but they often get worse before they get better so you take care of yourself and be sure to keep warm.” He managed to sound as though he was genuinely offering advice for a cough.
The lift stopped at the fourth floor and Jon prepared to leave, but turned back to Sonia. “Thanks for preparing your figures so promptly, Sonia. Adam said you were first to compile in retail, but could you send me a copy of yours separately too? I’d like to view yours independently as well as combined with retail.”
“Are you two telepathically linked?” asked Sonia laughing. “Steph has already taken a copy of mine to view separately.”
“Great minds think alike.” Jon smiled at them both and the lift doors closed.
“He likes you,” said Sonia.
“What?” Steph was panicking slightly.
“You can tell that he likes you, values you, and the fact that you obviously think like him to have taken my figures independently just like him. He likes like-minded people,” said Sonia as they arrived at the first floor.
Twenty-Seven
It was almost six o’clock and Steph had now unloaded most of her stuff for the following day into the conference room and had completed the compilation of retail’s figures and had almost finished publishing’s. She had arranged to meet the head of fleet management first thing in the morning followed by estates maintenance. She sat at the table and was finalising the figures for publishing when she heard a voice behind her.
“Shouldn’t you have finished an hour ago?” asked Jon who was sitting on the seat next to her now.
“Well I am sure my arsehole of a boss will be happy to know I have made my hours up!”
“I take it you are referring to Dave and not me?” he asked wryly.
