‘Thanks, but not for me. I’m driving.’
‘Come on, Gemma, I’m not drinking alone. We can share a cab back. Red or white?’
I’ve never been one to give in to peer pressure, but this contract is important to me so I decide that half a glass won’t hurt. I’ll sip it slowly and make it last, then I’ll still be okay to drive. ‘Okay then, white.’
‘Excellent.’
After a quick perusal of the wine list, Mick chooses a bottle of something I’ve never heard of. The waiter brings it over and pours. It’s delicious – I’ll have to be careful to stick to my self-imposed half a glass. We order our food – he orders pasta, I have my usual Caesar salad – and then we turn straight to business.
‘Shall I walk you through the figures while we wait for lunch to arrive?’ I ask, pulling my laptop out of my bag.
‘Good idea.’ Mick moves his chair around so he’s sitting by my side. I suppose it’s more practical this way as we can now look at the screen together. But I’m aware he’s awfully close, and as he reaches for his wine glass, his bare arm brushes mine. I discreetly move my chair an inch to the left and launch into my pitch.
We’re only ten minutes into my presentation when Mick lifts the wine out of the ice bucket and holds it out over my glass.
‘Not for me, thank you.’
‘You can’t expect me to drink the whole lot on my own. I won’t be able to concentrate.’ I’m too late to cover the glass with my hand, and he pours despite my protests.
‘I’ll be giving you all the wrong figures!’ I joke. ‘You’re a bad influence.’
‘I hope so,’ he chuckles. And then, bold as anything, he rests his hand on my thigh.
My instinct is to flinch and throw his hand off my leg. It’s now pretty clear Mick Cosgrove is interested in more than just a business relationship. But I can’t let him think of me this way. It will ruin everything that I’ve worked so hard for. I need to get this meeting back on track. Steer it round to something unsexy. Like cleaning contracts. To deal with his hand on my thigh, I close the laptop, and get to my feet to excuse myself. ‘Just nipping to the bathroom, back in a minute.’
‘Take your time,’ he drawls.
Shit.I weave my way past the other diners, feeling more than a little unsteady on my feet. And it’s not down to the wine. When I reach the ladies, the echoing chatter of the restaurant mutes as the door swings shut after me. I stare at myself in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed, and my breathing is shallow. Just because Mick Cosgrove is this hotshot businessman, I’m letting him get away with totally outrageous behaviour.
Splashing cool water on my face, I try to clear my head, to think about the best way to handle this without causing any offence, and without blowing this deal. I come to a swift decision. Mick Cosgrove is rich, successful and very good looking. But it doesn’t give him the right to expect anything from me other than professional courtesy. I pat my face dry, take a breath and leave the bathroom, walking confidently back to the table. Once there, I move my chair a couple of feet away from his and pour myself a glass of water.
Thankfully, our food arrives and the conversation continues in a business vein.
‘It’s all sounding great,’ Mick says. ‘I really think I’m going to enjoy working with you.’ His gaze rests on my face a little too long, and my chest tightens with disappointment. If he’s going to insist on flirting so obviously, then this business relationship between us is not going to work.
‘I’m pleased you think GB Facilities could be the right company for you,’ I say, going for neutral corporate speak. ‘I’ll email you the presentation so you’ll have all the information to mull over in your own time.’
‘What about dessert?’ he asks.
I pat my stomach, pretending I’m full up. ‘Not for me. But do go ahead and order one, if you’d like.’
‘I would like,’ he says, shifting his chair closer again. ‘But there’s something else I’d like much more.’
I’m just about to stand when he slides his hand right up my skirt between my thighs. Instantly, I shove his hand away, jerk my chair back and get to my feet. He reaches out and tries to take hold of my hand, but I snatch it away.
‘This is a business meeting and you just groped me!’ I glance around the restaurant to see if anyone saw what just happened. But the place is busy and no one is paying us any attention.
‘I’m married!’ I snap. ‘And I love my husband. And I don’t appreciate being touched up like I’m a piece of meat.’ I gather my things together with trembling hands.
‘So what if you’re married?’ he says with a shrug. ‘I won’t tell if you won’t.’
The man has skin as thick as a rhino. ‘I’m leaving now,’ I reply through gritted teeth.
‘Look, Gemma. If you must know, I was never interested in your business. You’re small fry. You’re unprofessional, inexperienced and unfocused,’ he says coolly. ‘But I would have overlooked those issues if there was something else in it for me. End of the day, it’s your loss.’
‘You’re unbelievable!’ I flee the restaurant, trying not to give in to the threatening tears of fury. I need to get away from here as fast as I can. At least I’ll never have to see his sexist face again. Not if I can help it anyway.
By the time I’ve collected Katie from school, and turned into Diane’s drive to pick up Eva, I’ve managed to calm down a little. Katie’s chatter in the car about school reminds me that business isn’t what’s most important. Family is everything to me. I realise I’m better off finding out now that Mick is a sleaze, rather than discovering the fact after we’ve signed a contract and I’m stuck with him. He’s a predator. I should report him to the police.
