“I might like that,” she said spinning in his chair.
“I don’t doubt it, darling, but we need to talk business,” he said more seriously.
“We could talk business after lunch and I have to admit that I am not actually hungry, not for food.” She looked up at him, now perched on the edge of his desk facing her.
“I thought we were taking things slowly even without a sex ban.” His earlier grin only broadened watching her get worked up beneath the persona of her business dress.
“There was never a sex ban.” She threw in a pout as if to prove her claim, although it had the opposite effect.
“No? So that whole I am not having sex with you spiel was what?” he asked openly teasing her now.
“God you are infuriating,” she hissed through gritted teeth.
“And you are gorgeous, especially when you’re horny.” He pulled her from his chair. Placing her close between his openthighs where he held her against him tightly to inhale the smell of her hair, a mixture of fruit and flowers.
“What are you going to do about Sophie and the Montague deal tomorrow?” Jon lifted Steph’s head so that she was looking up at him.
She shrugged but admitted, “I don’t know exactly, but I probably will let her sit in on it, however, one bat of the eyelids or tales of my dad and your dad and I will either sack her or punch her.”
Jon laughed at her outburst and reassuringly said, “You have nothing to worry about with Sophie, I’ve told you that.”
“And I thought I had everything to worry about with Lucy and look how that panned out,” she replied seriously, but was surprised at her own outburst that she hadn’t planned on having.
“How many times? We have been over this. Let’s get on with work before we end up having a blazing row about the lies I may have allowed to go unchallenged, about the wife I don’t have and then I will retaliate with digs about your unwillingness to deal with Simon and some inference that maybe you enjoy the attention of having an abusive ex who just won’t leave you alone!” spat Jon as he retook his seat and gestured for her to sit opposite him.
She stared at him and could feel a million emotions and retorts swimming around her head but they were stalled by Jon speaking again.
“So, Miss Pryor, where are you with the Richards deal?”
Steph was leavingthe building with thoughts of a planned night in with Lindsay when she saw Martin again.
“Twice in one day.” She smiled. “And a Thursday at that.”
“Where are you off to?” asked Martin gesturing right and left in front of the building.
“Tube station,” she replied, pointing right.
“Me too, let’s walk and talk, shall we?” Martin was already leading them towards the station.
“So?” asked Steph again, the curiosity crippling her.
“I know something you don’t know,” he sang.
“Sod you, Martin, I will just ask Mr Brooker,” she bluffed.
“Except you’ve already done that. I know how you like to be in the know,” he told her as they entered the station.
“Whatever,” said Steph beginning to tire of the banter.
“Your boyfriend has offered me a job.”
“My boyfriend? A job?” questioned Steph unsure which question was the priority.
“You know the guy who has your picture on his desk looking very cosy, the boss of us all, you know him, tall, dark, handsome, seriously loaded, owns half the world it seems, oh and a job; he’s going to pay me to do work for him, for you, looks like you’re gonna be my boss again.” He grinned as he headed for the line to take him home. “See you tomorrow, boss.”
Twenty-Three
Steph sat nervously in the conference room dressed entirely appropriately for the meeting in a navy blue knee length pencil skirt and matching jacket with a pale blue, silk, button through blouse and navy blue designer heels that she rarely wore. She was sipping a cup of tea while she waited for anyone else to arrive and decided that this was the bit she hated about big money jobs, the anticipation, the way she tried to run through all possibilities beforehand, just in case. Andrea was first to appear, followed by Jon, then Sonia Hansen. Steph looked at the time on her watch, laptop and the large clock on the far wall and all three confirmed that it was 9:24. The phone rang near to where Andrea stood and she smiled at them as she responded to the caller.
