Dave ignored Steph for a second. “I’ll be back at half one, Andrea. Try not to be late back,” he said to Steph as he left.
Andrea shook her head. “You really do bring out the worst in him, Steph.”
“For what it’s worth I am not entirely sure there is any good in him,” Steph mused.
“You should tell Mr Brooker how he treats you. He wouldn’t stand for him treating any staff member like that, least of all you.”
“Which is why I would rather keep Jo– Mr Brooker out of this, but thank you, Andrea.” Steph wanted to kick herself for almost slipping up by using his first name.
“Whatever you want. Oh, Mr Brooker invited you to join him in his office for lunch,” Andrea told her.
“Then I’d better not keep him waiting.” Smiling, Steph grabbed her jacket and bag.
Standingat the door to Jon’s office, Steph knocked it gently and waited. She didn’t wait long before the door opened and she was surprised to find Grant from H.R. coming out, followed by Jon.
“Thanks, Grant. Miss Pryor go in and take a seat, please,” said Jon.
Steph followed his instructions while both men moved out through Andrea’s office and into the corridor. When he returned to his office, Jon found Steph eating her second brie and cranberry sandwich.
“Thanks for waiting for me before you started.” A wry smile curled Jon’s lips.
“Sorry, but you’ve been gone ages,” she said in her defence making him laugh at her as he took the last of her sandwich from between her fingers with his mouth.
She smacked him gently on the arm. “That was mine.”
Jon said nothing as he swallowed the food in his mouth, he just smiled. Watching Steph closely the smile disappeared, giving way to something else, something darker causing her to swallow hard with expectation before he roughly pulled her towards him. “You are looking pretty damned hot today and it has killed me to maintain my professional persona this morningwith you and your sexy red dress.” He buried his face in her neck and inhaled her scent.
She smiled as she manoeuvred herself so that she was looking back up at him now.
“I found your professional, corporate persona rather attractive.” She brushed a finger across his lips and squealed as he nipped at her finger.
“Eat the rest of your lunch before I forget that I have a professional persona and shag you right here,” he said seriously.
“Maybe I’ve had enough lunch, I had two breakfasts,” she said, toying with his tie.
“Then fill up on lunch and maybe we can skip dinner.” Jon bent down to kiss her gently on the lips as his hand found her behind. “And you can finish telling me what you started to about spanking on Monday morning.”
“Or not!” she said releasing herself from Jon to pick up a slice of chocolate cake, hoping to distract him from just how much she was blushing.
“Looks like we will leave it for now, again.”
“You really will have to stop providing me with meals or I will end up looking like the back end of a bus,” she told him seriously.
“Yes and then I would be forced to trade you in for a newer model,” he said laughing, but stopped when he saw the expression on Steph’s face and realised what she was thinking. “That was a joke,” he said seriously.
“If you say so, but I am an easily replaced accessory, aren’t I?” Before he could reply she changed the subject. “What were you doing with Grant?” She was concerned that he may have taken his concerns about Dave’s treatment of her straight to Jon after her reluctance to be forthcoming, or maybe Andrea had been to see him.
“Stephanie, are you in the habit of demanding to know why the CEO is meeting with the head of H.R.?” His tone was light and clearly teasing.
“No, sorry. I was just curious,” she lied.
“Curious? Did you think it was about you?” he asked now.
“No, of course not, that would be most egotistical of me, wouldn’t it?” She forced a giggle.
“Yes it would, unless you think there is a reason why Grant may need to speak to me about you, darling.” Suspicion entered his voice.
“No, although I did go and sign my contract this morning.”
