A Business Engagement by Jessica Steele

Author:Jessica Steele
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-09T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

THE weekend seemed to drag by on leaden feet. Ashlyn went out with her friends on Saturday and Sunday, as fond of them as ever. But she was ready and eager to go to work when Monday dawned. ‘See you at the usual time, I expect,’ she remarked to her mother on leaving.

‘Unless you’re delayed on some business matter,’ her father chipped in.

‘Bye,’ she smiled, and drove to Hamilton Holdings feeling a touch anxious that both her parents seemed to have blown up her role out of all proportion. Though, on thinking about it, she didn’t suppose many of the chairman’s staff were invited into his home to act as hostess. But her parents didn’t know about that!

Ashlyn entered her office wondering what the day would bring. Would Carter perhaps pop in to say hello? She felt that they were on better terms now than they had been.

She heard the lift stop many times and each time masculine footsteps neared her door she felt flustered. Then she wondered—as those footsteps went straight on past and faded away—what she was getting flustered about.

The only person she saw in that first hour was Ivy. ‘Are you all right for tea and coffee?’ she wanted to know.

‘Fine, thanks, Ivy. Have you time for a cup?’

‘Why not?’ Ivy answered, looking decidedly wicked. ‘They’ll never think of looking for me here!’

Ashlyn laughed—and was laughing again later when Vezio Morini telephoned her from Italy. They fell to speaking in Italian straight away. She soon discovered that his call was not a business call; Vezio told her that he had thought of nothing but her since meeting her last Thursday. She had to smile.

‘It’s very kind of you to say so,’ she replied. If nothing else, Vezio was extremely good for the ego.

‘It’s true!’ he protested, sounding upset that she might not believe him. He was still going on at length when her office door opened—and Carter stood there. She felt her cheeks go pink and, as Carter came in and sat himself down, she wished that Vezio—who was just coming to the point of his call—would hang up. ‘Which is why, since my schedule has me tied up here for the next week, I ask if you would like to fly here for dinner tonight. I can arrange a plane for you,’ he stated, making her blink.

Realising some comment from her was required, Ashlyn, not looking at Carter but aware that he was waiting his patient best for her to end her call, told Vezio that she didn’t think so. She caught a movement from Carter when he heard her speaking Italian and was certain he knew to whom she was talking. She confirmed it when, thanking her caller nicely, she ended, ‘Arrivederci, Vezio.’ Ashlyn’s heart was drumming wildly when she put down the phone. She glanced at Carter—and her spirits promptly nose-dived. Gone was the charm of Friday. Grim-faced, he stared at her. Ashlyn did not bother to ask why he had come to see her—she guessed she would have it fired at her, both barrels, soon enough.

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