She grabbedher phone and text Jon immediately.
Are you in your office and free? I really need to see you, but it will only take a couple of minutes. Steph x
She pulled the card from the huge number of red roses that the florist had managed to cram into the display box, so many that it even sounded as though the water was struggling to swoosh around.
I am sorry if I was responsible for
any tears you may have shed last night
or ever, darling.
Jon x
She was smilingat the card still when her phone beeped a reply from Jon.
Am free for about 20 mins, come up to my office now if you want to. Jon x
Steph threw the card from the flowers into her handbag and stuck her head round Hannah’s door. “I have to pop out for ten minutes, but I’ll be back,” she said grinning.
“I’ll take a message if anyone calls. Nice flowers,” added Hannah, obviously fishing.
“Thank you,” replied Steph.
“Special occasion?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” said Steph and scurried off to the lifts.
She stood outside of the door that would take her into Jon’s reception area where Andrea would undoubtedly be sitting and she felt apprehensive, embarrassed at the prospect of seeing her again after the circumstances of yesterday, but she knew that of all the people in this building Andrea was the soul of discretion. She took a deep breath and opened the door to reveal Andrea on the phone.
“I think his meeting has just started, but if you hold one moment I will see if he is available.”
Andrea smiled at Steph as she put the caller on hold. “He’s expecting you, go straight in,” she said and took the caller off hold. “Sorry, Mr Sanders, Mr Brooker’s meeting has started, but I will let him know that you called as soon as he is free.” Andrea’s voice carried an air of genuine honesty which seemed ironic as she was blatantly lying.
Steph stood at the door and as much as she willed herself not to knock, she still did but walked in after a single knock and smiled as she saw Jon smiling at her from behind his desk.
Neither of them spoke as she headed over to where he was. Swivelling in his chair to face her, he waited for her next move. That move involved Steph bending down to kiss him on the lips and as he kissed her back he pulled her down onto him. She parted his lips with her tongue and hungrily invaded his mouth while his hands disappeared into her hair that he had pulled free of the clip she’d had in. Jon pulled her away slightly, a little breathless and smiled at her.
“Darling, I am in no way complaining, but is there a reason for your visit this morning?” He brushed the hair back off her face.
“Yes, that was it.” The smile she wore looked almost shy.
“Well I approve, but what did I do to deserve that? I was anticipating a slightly frostier reception after yesterday,” he said sadly.
“You are a very lovely man, that’s what you did to deserve that.” She smiled. “Dave came to see me this morning and told me all about him and his wife and their baby and how brilliant you were and that’s why you haven’t sacked him.”
“That could be overstating it,” he said before she kissed him again.
“Although if that’s my reward for being, what was it you said? A very lovely man, I suppose I could accept that.” He grinned.
“And thank you for the flowers, they are beautiful, if unnecessary,” she said as she ran her fingers through his hair gently.
“They were very necessary, Steph.”
“Thank you,” she repeated. “And for the card.”
“You read the cards on the flowers I send you then?”
“Always,” she replied.
