“Steph, please, don’t do this, not now. I really don’t have time but trust me, we will talk when I get back at the weekend. We’ve put it off long enough.” When he gently brushed his thumb across her lips, she felt completely at his mercy again, and also the familiar ache in the pit of her stomach.
“I don’t think I can do the weekend,” she said petulantly, trying to distract herself from the effect he was having on her standing there with his naked, morning, tussled look.
The alarm suddenly sounded from behind them.
“I need to get ready, but think about the weekend, but if you really can’t make it can we meet on Monday, please?” he asked with a note of pleading in his voice.
“We’re already meeting on Monday, to discuss my contract, remember?” Sadness was beginning to give way to anger as the sound of his alarm went off again.
Jon sprang across the room and turned it off, but as he turned back towards the bathroom he shook his head at her. “I know you’re upset Steph, but I didn’t think we would discuss our relationship with Grant, or anyone else.”
“Sorry,” she said, the last thing she wanted was for them to part on bad terms and the reality was that neither of them had time for this discussion.
“So, Monday night, here or at yours, whatever you want. What have you got planned for the weekend?” he asked as he tried to lighten the mood.
“I am sorting my holiday with Lindsay and I thought I would see Jess if she’s free,” she replied.
He nodded as he watched her leave the bedroom calling behind her, “I’ll make you some coffee.”
Steph was sittingat her desk waiting for Friday’s close of business to arrive when her phone rang.
“Mr Mason from Richards for you,” said Rosie.
“What’s he want?” Steph felt irritated by him. Although the truth was she had been irritated by everyone since Jon had left for Dublin.
“He said it was about the deal, but no more.”
Steph sighed loudly. “Put him through and then you can get off if you want to Rosie,” she said and after the call was put through she put on a more professional persona. “Stephanie Pryor.”
“Hi Steph, it’s Jonah Mason, I think we have a problem with the deal,” he started.
“Why’s that?”
“The board aren’t so keen on the increase in control that your man Brooker is after,” he explained.
“Then turn down the offer,” she said feeling lonely and fed up, but irritated by Richards dragging their heels still, not to mention his use of the phraseyour man Brookerbecause he was many things, but not hers.
“Are you okay? You sound upset,” said Jonah.
“I’m fine, but the deal is a one off, Brooker told you that. So your lot should take it or leave it and at this moment in time I couldn’t give a toss which,” she declared making him laugh.
“If this is you at knocking off time on a Friday I would hate to see you when you get up on a Monday morning.” He laughed again, a rich, throaty laugh that made her laugh too. “Although that’s not strictly true,” he added making her regret her tone and bad mood because the last thing she wanted was to have to fend off his clumsy attempts at flirting or banter, whatever the hell it was.
“Sorry,” she said sincerely and then asked, “What would your lot happily give up for Brooker?”
“Well, Mr Richards would like to retain the controlling interest, so with the other shareholders stakes taken into consideration I really think that they are looking at Brooker getting no more than 33%,” he replied.
She laughed loudly and then asked, “Have you met my boyfriend, I mean boss,” she stammered cursing herself. “Sorry, I am waiting for a call from my boyfriend and it is late on a Friday.” She hoped she had covered her mistake up.
Jonah laughed again at her. “It’s a good job it is Friday. So what are you saying, about the deal?” he asked serious again.
“I am saying that I can speak to Mr Brooker next week, but he wants the controlling interest because if Mr Richards retains that, who’s to say that he won’t make more poor choices and lose Brooker money as well as Richards money? Also, Richards is arelatively silent member of the board from what I can gather. I mean, his involvement has been noticeably lacking in this deal so why should he retain control? You see that don’t you?”
“Yeah, course, but if you would run it past your boss and get back to me next week, or if you want to discuss it over the weekend I am free, my wife is at her mother’s in Newcastle all weekend,” he said shocking Steph. “The other day when I said you were very attractive, I actually meant highly fuckable.”
Steph laughed at Jonah and herself, him for being so obvious and herself for seeming to attract him.
“My wife won’t be back until Monday,” he said now, as if she was considering his offer, which she wasn’t.
