Her Boss and His Client by Tamsin Flowers

Author:Tamsin Flowers
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783755851
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

I went into work late the next morning, with an old fedora pulled low over my brow. I scuttled through reception and took a thankfully empty lift up to our floor. Then I scurried across to my carrel and only took off the hat once I was well hunkered down in my chair, obstructed from view by my computer screen.

Of course, it wasn’t long before someone noticed; then word spread and I noticed a steady stream of my co-workers finding spurious excuses to pass my desk so they could stop and stare. And, if they were brave, ask me what happened.

‘I walked into a door,’ I said to Shannon, knowing it would never convince her. But what did I care? I could hardly blurt out the truth. And in any case, I was more concerned about how Jack would react to seeing me than bothering with what the rest of the office thought.

I didn’t have to wait long.

Ten minutes after Shannon had got bored with pumping me for information, the phone on my desk rang. Jack’s number came up on caller ID. I didn’t want to pick it up but it kept ringing; even after going to voicemail, it started up again almost immediately. Jack must have seen me come in. Reluctantly, I lifted the receiver to my ear.

‘In my office now, please, Dana.’

That was all he said, then the phone at the other end clicked and the line went dead. I pulled a small hand mirror out of my desk drawer and checked how I looked. Even my best efforts with make-up hadn’t been able to hide entirely the two blue-black bruises on my face and I felt certain my nose, swollen and red, looked a little bit out of joint.

I stood up and looked around the office. All eyes were upon me and I heard one of the girls in design gasp out loud. With my head held high, I walked through the centre of the long room, knocked on Jack’s door, and went in.

He was talking on the phone but I saw a look of shock register in his eyes. He put down the receiver and came out from behind the desk to where I stood. He grabbed my chin to angle my face better to the light and I winced.

‘Jesus, Dana. Did we do this?’

I nodded, my body electrified and melting under the warmth of his touch. God, I ached for him. I whimpered slightly.

Jack snatched his hand away as if he’d been burned.

‘You should go home,’ he said. ‘It hardly looks professional coming in here looking like that. I’m sorry it happened; you know neither of us meant to hit you.’

I nodded, stung by the frostiness of his tone.

‘Take a couple of days off. And maybe you’ll find some time to think about your conduct. How dare you jeopardise our most important account by getting involved with a client.’

‘You’re not serious?’ I said.

Jack glared at me, the gold flecks in his eyes darkening to burnished bronze.

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