“But . . .” started Jon.
“But she was being entertained by you.”
“She told you that?”
“More than that. She taunted me with the details and she told me about her dad and your dad and what a wonderful union you and she would be. She also told me that she was going to tell on me,” said Steph.
“What did you say?” asked Jon curiously.
“I told her that she could tell whoever she wanted, but my decision was final even though she had done some good work. She was going to give them too many shares,” Steph revealed.
“Would you consider allowing her back on board with the deal?” Jon adopted an air of caution.
“No, she needs to learn that being gorgeous is not enough to succeed and she also needs to stop batting her eyelids at you or going out of her way to annoy me,” said Steph, allowing the jealousy she felt about Sophie to become apparent.
“She is nothing to me Steph and lunch was to see if Sophie had listened at all to you earlier. To check if she understood your position and respected it,” he admitted.
“Well, it would appear she either didn’t hear or didn’t care and I won’t undermine myself. I have agreed to work through how much flexibility she should have allowed for and if she backs off and stops pissing me off I may allow her to observe Sonia sealing the deal because as soon as the deal goes through, Sonia will take responsibility for Montague as new retail. Unless you’re about to tell me I have to take her back.”
“And if I did, hypothetically?” His half-smile lifted his earlier frown and worry lines.
“I would walk, right now,” she replied bluntly.
“Professionally?” he queried making her smile slightly.
“Yes, professionally.”
“Then your decision is final, always was, but she is okay, if a little overzealous,” said Jon.
“Possibly, but she is old enough to contain that at work. She is older than I am and if nothing else I am a team player and she needs to be too,” said Steph firmly. “Now, why don’t you tell me how the hell you came to employ her? Was it a favour to her daddy?” Steph was unable to hide her sarcasm.
“You really have nothing to be worried about where Sophie is concerned and I didn’t employ her as a favour to anyone, not really. She had worked in sales for a big European company and she was struggling after a doomed relationship with her boss.”
“Relatable,” muttered Steph.
“Except ours isn’t doomed,” he shot back. “But I did think she would be better equipped to act as one of my new business managers from the off, as did her boss and Grant who interviewed her, however I may have overestimated her on that level. Maybe with a mentor she’d raise her game,” he suggested.
“You don’t mean me, please say you don’t mean me. She pisses me off by walking through the door at the moment so get her line manager to oversee what she’s doing, but I will walk her through how much to offer up in a deal,” conceded Steph.
“Okay, darling, whatever you want, but keep me posted. In fact, I will observe Sonia sealing the deal too, so email me the date and time or call Andrea. Look, I should go but come to mine for dinner and we can talk about us.”
Steph nodded and got up to see Jon to the door, but once there, standing before him she suddenly felt nervous and apprehensive at being so close, close enough to touch, to smell, to taste almost and she really was desperate to taste him.
“You have to know that I have a very strong desire to kiss you,” said Jon bluntly.
“Do you?” Her tone and slightly lowered eyes seemed coy.
“I think you know I do.” Jon brushed some loose hair off Steph’s face.
“I think we should talk later,” said Steph.
“I wasn’t suggesting talking, darling, I was thinking kissing and touching,” he said lowly, slowly moving his face towards hers.
“We should talk first,” she insisted. “I am still really mad with you about everything and I am a bit confused about where we’re at.”
“So you don’t want me to kiss you?” he asked still moving closer towards her.
“Sex has never been a problem for us, but I don’t think we should until we’ve talked,” replied Steph.
