Chapter 54
An uneasy intuition started to grow as he passed through the village lanes lined with green foliage. Through the open car window he smelt the winter wheat being cut in the fields. He observed a row of cottages through the windscreen and had a distinct feeling ofdéjà vu. Reading the signpost, it all became clear. Treweham. He was in the village where he and Megan had visited her gran.
‘What’s the name of the place we’re staying again?’
‘The Templar,’ she answered, squinting, trying to read the sat nav for directions.
Adam’s thoughts turned to Megan, making him shift uncomfortably. She had left under a cloud, never returning to the office. Everybody had sussed out why, apart from the senior partners he was answerable to; he’d made sure of that. His fling with Moneypenny hadn’t lasted long. Once everyone knew what was going on, their dalliance proved to be more of an embarrassment, a far cry from the daring, exciting liaison it had started as. Plus the fact she had a stropping, six-foot boyfriend the size of a brick outhouse didn’t help matters. In the end Kay, Fay or May (he still couldn’t remember) had resigned and a new secretary had taken her place. Jennifer.
Jennifer was quiet and conscientious. She was what he had described as ‘reasonably attractive’ to his mates, with her short, brown hair and trendy glasses. Jennifer was exceptionally good at her job, which made his life a whole lot easier. It was all very well taking Moneypenny over his desk, behind the filing cabinets and in the stationery store, but even he concededsomework had to be done. His new secretary’s super efficiency and eagerness to take on more work meant he had more time to himself. Instead of his evening poring over files whilst eating takeaway meals, he watched TV, went out with his mates, played football and enjoyed corporate events laid on by the firm. Jennifer was forever there, in the office tending to his every need. Well, almost every need. At first he thought she might be a lesbian. Why else would she ignore his subtle flirting? The lack of apparent interest increased his. It had been some time since a girl had played hard to get with him. It had been a challenge. Then after three months of sharing the same office, nine to five, five days a week, he had made a breakthrough. It was whilst she had been busy typing away at her computer, squinting at the report of legal acts and legislation in front of her that he had seized the moment.
‘Jennifer, have I been overworking you?’ Her face looked up from the printed sheets.
‘No,’ she said simply, and carried on typing.
‘You look tired. I blame myself. Jennifer, please stop typing.’ The irritation in his voice was enough to make her cease tapping away and give him her full attention. ‘Why don’t you let me take you out for lunch?’ he asked in a softer tone, accompanied with a winning smile.
‘Because you never ask me,’ she answered matter-of-factly. She had taken the question literally. Adam chewed his bottom lip. He’d never experienced someone quite like her. She was unusual, kind of quirky, the way she looked at things so black and white.
‘Well, I’m asking you now.’ He cocked his head to one side. Jennifer nodded.
‘Then, yes.’ She lowered her eyes back to the report and carried on typing. The conversation was apparently over. Jennifer’s idiosyncrasy kept Adam on his toes because he never quite knew how to read her. Taking her for granted was out of the question, for he wasn’t entirely certain if he had won her over in the first place.
Lunch had been an interesting affair. Entering the Italian restaurant, he had been amazed at how many people she had known, politely nodding and saying hello to various tables. Even the staff had asked if she had wanted her usual tale. Curiosity getting the better of him, Adam enquired of her apparent popularity.
‘Daddy’s clients,’ she supplied, reading the menu.
‘What does… Daddy do?’
‘Lots of things. Mainly real estate.’
‘I see,’ Adam replied, his brain ticking into overdrive. Then the penny dropped. Jennifer Goldsmith. She was the daughter of Clifford Goldsmith, business tycoon. Settling into his chair, he smugly surveyed the wine list. Well, this had been worth persevering, hadn’t it?
From then on Adam played it carefully. Understanding how Jennifer worked was an art in itself, but one he was determined to conquer. Adam was ambitious, a social climber, and her family, in particular her father, gave a whole new meaning to networking. Rubbing shoulders with Clifford Goldsmith would orbit him into a higher level altogether and he wasn’t about to mess up. It wouldn’t do his status any harm at the office either, once the senior partners got wind of his connections. So Adam had taken things slowly, gradually building up a relationship which, to everyone’s surprise, including his own, had started to gel quite nicely. She was a contrast to his rather vain manner. Her pragmatic approach cut to the chase. Instead of getting jealous when he had flirted with another girl one evening, she’d asked him directly, ‘If you’d prefer her company, what are you doing here with me?’ The confrontation had slightly embarrassed him, turning his flirtation into something pointless and childish, which in many ways it was. Jennifer had a knack of reaching the point immediately, completely hitting the nail on the head, which he found refreshing in a woman. It was almost like being with his mates, that no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is attitude.
Physically, he had another battle on his hands. Jennifer was classy. She wore stylish clothes that very cleverly hinted at what lay beneath. Unlike Moneypenny, who had constantly showcased her trophies, Jennifer only allowed the slightest bit of bare flesh to be exposed, which skilfully left him wanting more. They say the mind is the most powerful sex organ in the body and Adam’s was haywire at the moment. Trying to read her signals, if indeed she was sending any, was impossible. One minute he thought he’d cracked it when she’d suggested a drink after work, only to discover it was with a group of them, not the cosy twosome he’d been expecting. She fitted in well with the office, being well liked by the girls in the admin team and also the management. He supposed it was because she was used to the business environment, having worked for her father. Adam was interested as to why she had applied for a position with his firm.
‘I need outside experience,’ she’d told him, ‘somewhere people accept me for who I am, not the boss’s daughter.’
‘Very wise,’ agreed Adam. Secretly he thought she was mad. Why put yourself through it? He’d be happy to be the boss’s son-in-law and wallow in all the trappings that brought.
After four months of treading on eggshells and finally meeting the man himself, Clifford Goldsmith, Adam had plucked up the courage and invited Jennifer on a weekend away. He’d collared her one late afternoon, when the office was quiet. ‘Jennifer, I think we both deserve a break. Would you like to go away for the weekend?’
‘Where to?’ Forever practical, he thought. Did it matter as long as he could finally nail her?
‘Wherever you like, you decide.’
‘Leave it with me.’ She put the pile of letters awaiting his signature on his desk, reached for her coat and bid him goodbye. What exactly was that supposed to mean? He shook his head in exasperation. The following morning an itinerary, map and leaflet of an old country pub in the Cotswolds greeted him on his desk. Browsing through the material he was impressed with, not only her usual efficiency, but her choice of venue:A place to unwind and relax in a rustic, country setting, with inglenook fires, traditional food and a cosy, friendly atmosphere.This was hitting the spot, Jennifer had come up trumps again.
‘What do you think?’ She’d been watching him perusing her handiwork.
‘Perfect,’ he smiled.
‘We leave at 8.30 a.m. sharp on Saturday, arriving at approximately 11a.m.’
‘Sounds good.’ He stifled a laugh.
‘I’ll drive. I’m a safer driver than you.’
