“Ah, I see, sorry, we are waiting because that is what we’ve been told to do, so can you make nine on Monday?” asked Grant now.
“Yes, that’s fine, in Mr Brooker’s office. See you then.” She hung up and began to pack her things away. She was just about to turn off her work mobile when it rang.
“Hello,” she answered a little impatiently.
“Miss Pryor, Jonah Mason here,” he said, making her frown.
“Mr Mason, what can I do for you?” she asked seriously.
“Oh, Miss Pryor, what a leading question!” He laughed, but Steph thought that his laugh sounded warmer now, maybe it was the phone softening it or perhaps he wasn’t actually the slimeball she’d earlier thought.
“Professionally, Mr Mason,” she said lightly.
“Okay if we must. The board here think that Mr Brooker is less than genuine, that this offer is not a one off and are considering negotiating and I thought that as you put the deal together and he trusts you, is there any point in us trying to get him to move on it?” he asked and sounded nervous, scared almost. Gone was the lecherous, sexist pig from earlier in the day.
She considered her reply. “Very little, in fact, none at all I wouldn’t have thought, but if your board choose to try and renegotiate, that really is their choice and they would need to consider the consequences if it doesn’t go their way,” she said honestly.
“Thanks for your frankness and if you change your mind about a date call me, anytime, day or night.” He suddenly sounded cheesy and a little bit desperate.
“Goodbye, Mr Mason.” She laughed and as she looked up Jon was standing in the doorway, filling it almost, with a huge frown on his face now.
Steph disconnected the call and turned her phone off throwing it into her bag before locking her laptop away in a filing cabinet. She knew he was watching her, but as they remained silent the tension between them built until it was almost stifling.
Eventually Jon spoke, “Did you drive into work today?”
“No,” she almost whispered, nervous tension rising until she was at a total loss as to what to say or do to dissolve the atmosphere between them.
“Good, then you can come home with me,” he said firmly.
“I will take the tube, people might see . . .” she started.
“Fuck people!” he snapped.
“What is the matter with you?” she asked, standing her ground, nerves giving way to annoyance.
“Me? What is the matter with you?” he asked in response causing a confused frown to settle on Steph’s face. “Oh, don’t play coy for my benefit. Maybe you should save that for your friendJonah,” Jon snapped and despite his obvious and very real anger, Steph couldn’t help but laugh at the realisation that Jon was jealous.
“You think this is fucking funny? Do I look amused to you?” he raged.
“No, but this is stupid. You are being ridiculous, Jon.”
“This whole situation is stupid, on that I agree but you’re the ridiculous one if you think I am going to let you do this, come on.”
“What? Do what? I don’t understand.” Steph pinched the bridge of her nose in an attempt to clear the confusion of the situation as well as the fog of her oncoming cold.
“You tell me you’re not slutty Steph and I want to believe it, I do believe it, and then you do this fucking giggly banter shit and I can’t help but question your word and my own thoughts,” he admitted looking slightly sheepish.
“I thought you had things to do tonight?” she asked seriously, but without anger as she saw his sad and perplexed expression
“It will wait, now come on,” he said grabbing her hand to pull her towards the door.
“You go and I will meet you at yours, or mine, wherever,” she said, smiling in an attempt to sway his intent for them to leave together.
“No can do, darling, now get your bag and let’s go,” he said as his mouth and jaw set in a hard line, his earlier perplexed expression gone, determination and annoyance back in its place.
“Jon . . .” she began.
“No! I really do not give a fuck who may or may not see us, now move your arse or I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of this place. Now that really would raise a few eyebrows, wouldn’t it?”
