Perfect Stranger

by Sofia Grey

  “I hope not. Who else is going?”

  Did he need to know? Isobel organized it, and I was sketchy on the details. When I saw my team leader walking toward my desk it was enough of an excuse to leave the call.

  “Sorry, Rob, I have to go. Marella needs me.”

  “We haven’t finished yet.”

  I ignored the warning note in his voice and spoke over him. “I have to go. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Trouble?” Marella raised one delicately sculpted eyebrow.

  “Oh, nothing really. Just a bit of confusion over the arrangements for this weekend. Rob forgot I’m going out with my friends.” The moment I said his name, my phone rang. The display showed Rob’s number, and my heart sank. “Can I take this call?” I grabbed the receiver, conscious of her gaze following me. “Hi, Jenny speaking.”

  “I told you, we hadn’t finished.” Rob’s voice was icily controlled.

  Dear God, this would piss him off no end. “I’m sorry. I’m in the middle of something right now. I’ll call you back in five minutes. Thanks.” I hung up before I could over-think the conversation.

  My chest was tight, and I knew my cheeks were going pink, but I managed a pleasant smile for Marella. “Sorry about that. What can I do for you?”

  Her lips tugged up at the corners. “It’s something I can do for you. I want to introduce you to our newest developer. He’s going to be working on the Ynos account, so you’ll be spending a lot of time together.”

  Marella glanced over her shoulder and beckoned someone forward, and the bottom dropped out of my world.

  Oh. Fuck. No.

  My face froze in a parody of a smile, but Marella didn’t seem to notice. “Jenny, this is Cade Brisley. Cade, meet Jenny Allerton, Customer Liaison.”

  He gave me a jerky nod, his eyes wary. Neither of us reached out to shake hands, and Marella frowned. “Do you guys know each other already?”

  My phone rang. I was so pleased at the rescue, I snatched up the receiver without checking the caller details.

  “Don’t hang up on me this time.” Oh shit, it was Rob. Which was the lesser of the two evils? Making small talk with Cade Brisley or pacifying my husband?

  “I’m sorry.” I worked hard to inject a humble tone. “I have my boss at my desk. I’ll call you back in a few minutes. Okay?”

  “No, it’s not fucking okay. Okay?” His shout hurt my ear. Worse, Marella and Cade must have heard him too. I wanted the floor to open and swallow me up. I wanted them to walk away from my desk and forget they’d heard Rob’s words. I wanted Cade to stop staring as though he was sorry for me.

  Paralyzed with embarrassment I didn’t pay attention to Rob, apart from registering that he got louder.

  I looked at Marella. She opened her mouth to speak, but Cade interrupted. “I’ve got a ton of questions. Why don’t we grab a coffee, if you’ve got time, and I can run through them with you?”

  The phone was pressed so hard to my ear, my head hurt. Or it might be Rob’s voice causing that. I still hadn’t managed to get a word in. Marella’s frown looked somewhere between concerned and curious, and I silently begged her to go with Cade.

  “Back soon,” she whispered to me, and mimed taking a drink. I nodded, the fixed smile on my face hurting my cheek muscles, and with an immense sense of relief, watched them walk away. Cade was talking about something, moving his hands rapidly as he sketched out some shape in the air.

  Holy shit. Had he just rescued me? Again?

  4.6 Kate

  As I walked into the conference room with my team, Adam stepped forward and halted me with a hand on my arm. “Kate. Do you have a minute?” I couldn’t very well say no, and he carried on anyway. “Hunter Travel. Did you fulfil the urgent order?”

  They were one of our top ten customers, and we’d pulled out all the stops to complete their requirements for a new data center. Everything shipped on time, and as a courtesy I’d emailed Adam to let him know. “Yes, it all went out. Did you not see my email yesterday?”

  “Yesterday?” His sandy brows dipped in a frown. “I’m talking about the order that came in this morning.”

  My team sat quietly, listening to the exchange. I beckoned to Paula. It was her account. “Was there an urgent order today?”

  She came to my side. “Yes. They realized they needed another switch and asked for it to go on a same-day shipment. It’s being packed as we speak.”

  Adam nodded and pinned me with his icy gaze. “How come you didn’t recommend the switch on the original order?”

  “We did, as part of the quote, but they wanted to keep the costs down. They said they’d consider the extra switch for a future order, once the data center was up and running.”

  “We should have pushed them to take it. You know that. Make sure we don’t charge them for shipment. You can absorb the cost.”

  I couldn’t decide what irritated me the most—that he made a show out of a routine query in front of my entire team, or that he overrode my judgment with this particular customer. I swallowed down my anger.

  “Adam, we’re about to have our team meeting. Would you care to join us?” My stomach clenched at his reptilian smile. It felt as though I needed a pointed stick, to control him.

  I handed out the revised account lists to everyone. There were the usual rumbles of discontent, as I explained my thinking behind the reallocations. I had to give some accounts to Caroline and Liane, the two new team members, although they’d work under supervision for the first month or so. I tried to keep reshuffles to a minimum. There was no point in getting familiar with a customer and then moving on to another. The whole point of the department was to work closely with customers and account managers, and offer stability for the day-to-day operations.

  Adam kept interrupting, asking why I’d done this or that, and generally being disruptive. At one point, he shook his head, sighed, and gazed out of the window, his disdain clear.

  Finally, the meeting was over. Caroline and Liane were allocated their buddies, in this case Paula and Dave, and I was about to suggest we head back to the phones, when Adam took the floor.

  “A few words from me.” He smiled around the room. “In view of how rapidly the team is growing, I think it’s time we had some off-site meetings, team-building events, that sort of thing. I’d like to suggest we have end-of-month team meetings at the pub. After work, of course.” He smirked at me. “We can all relax more over a quiet drink.”

  I refused to be intimidated, but to my disgust, he winked at me—in front of the team—before casting his attention back to the assembled group. “So how about next Wednesday, at the Lovely Legs Bar?” The raised eyebrows and titters from Paula and Liane made him smirk some more. He held up his hands. “Okay. It was worth a try. So how about the Quay House? Four thirty. I think we can safely knock off half an hour early, once a month.”

  Next Wednesday was when I had to assemble the data for the monthly reports, and Adam knew it. A meeting at the pub meant I’d have to come back to work afterward or come in ridiculously early, in order to finish the reports. He wouldn’t accept a team meeting as an excuse not to get his monthly figures. I almost missed his next statement.

  “I don’t think Kate mentioned it today, but we have another new team member starting soon. Colin Hooper.” I hadn’t mentioned it, because I didn’t know anything about it. “Colin is joining us as Relationship Manager, and he’ll be working closely with me, to ensure we maximize our potential across the customer base. I’ll invite him on Wednesday. It can be an informal introduction for him, before he starts the week after.”

  Relationship Manager? What the hell was that? I tried to cover my annoyance at Adam’s hijacking the meeting. The team filed out of the room and back to their desks. I tried to catch Adam’s eye, but he was deep in conversation on his phone.

  Paula snagged my attention. “What’s Colin like?”

  “Sorry, I’ve no idea. I didn’t interview him.”

  “Oh.” She fidgeted in
her seat. “It’s just that you and Adam are so close, we all assumed you knew him as well.”

  Me and Adam close? Never in a million years. What the fuck had he been saying? My chest was tight when I spoke. “What do you mean, as well?”

  “He’s Adam’s best mate, isn’t he?”

  I almost asked her to repeat herself. Adam’s best mate. My throat constricted, and I couldn’t draw breath into my lungs. How could he do this? How could he get away with recruiting his friend to a senior position? And why did I know nothing about it?

  “I must dash; I’m late for something.” I walked away, unsure where I was heading but needing some space. My head spun.

  Common sense began to reassert itself when I sat behind my desk. I knew nothing, because he was nothing to do with my team. He’d be working with the account managers.

  It niggled at me, though. If Adam could get away with this, what else was he up to?

  Chapter 5

  5.1 Jordan

  There was a discreet cough from my office door, and I looked up to see Marcus.

  “Hey. I didn’t hear you,” I said.

  “The perils of taking a few days off, huh?” He gestured toward the pile of documents strewn across the desk, and strolled up to sit opposite me.

  I sat back and rolled my shoulders. It felt good. I wondered how long I’d been hunched over. “Things are crazy here at the moment. There’s been a leak to the Financial Times about us pulling out of the Darrow Barnes contract.”

  “I heard about that.” Marcus turned his head to the window and stared out at the darkening sky. “I’m only in town for a couple days. Wanna beer?”

  “Sounds like a plan.” I shuffled the files into some sort of order and then stood and stretched my arms over my head. “I’ve been here since seven this morning. I even beat Cassie to her desk.”

  “Your daddy won’t thank you for killing yourself.”

  “All Thaddeus cares about is the profit margin.”

  Marcus glanced sharply at me. He knew I wasn’t joking. I was relieved when he changed the subject. “How is the gorgeous Cassie?”

  “She went home early today. Mentioned something about the dentist.” A thought struck me. “You don’t think she’s going after another job, do you? She never leaves early.”

  Marcus snorted with laughter as we headed to the elevator. “Cassie? Leave here? She’s crazy about you. She’d walk over hot coals, to please you. God knows why. I’ve tried to persuade her more than once to transfer to my team. She says no. I ask you, what do you have that I don’t?”

  It was an old, much chewed-over debate. “Let’s see. Charisma, good looks…”

  “I’m better at squash.” Marcus feigned indignation.

  “Says who?” We jostled each other for the elevator button.

  “Have you ever asked Cassie on a date?”

  His question came out of the blue, and I laughed. “Cassie? Hell, no. She’s my PA.” Marcus couldn’t be serious.

  “She’s a beautiful woman, who’s more than a little in love with you.”

  “You’re shitting me. She’s engaged, you know.”

  Marcus shrugged. “Just telling it as I see it.”

  We walked out into the mugginess of Canary Wharf and headed to our regular pub.

  Marcus wasn’t done with his interrogation. “Anyway. What’s to stop you from seeing Cassie? It’s not as if you’ve got someone else. Or do you?”

  I thought of Kate. “Maybe.”

  “Maybe?” He chuckled. “Not that accountant again. Rowena?”

  “No. She was an animal. We had one drink, and I thought she was going to eat me alive. This is someone new.” Someone I wanted very much.

  “Hmm.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I enjoyed these infrequent sessions with Marcus. I appreciated being able to talk openly.

  “It means you’re being cagey as usual. How new?”

  “Very new. Not-up-for-discussion new.”

  Over several beers and pizza, we chewed over the world at large, the multitude of problems at TM-Tech, the aggravation Louisa was heaping on Marcus, and a little about Kate. “There’s something about her. I can’t describe it. She’s vulnerable but steely. I’ve seen her hopping mad, as Brits say, and she’s awesome.”

  “Louisa is always hopping mad. Usually with me.” Marcus was gloomy. “She hates that I’m in Europe without her, but I hate to have her trailing behind me all the time. That’s no life.”

  “Are you around this weekend? Do you wanna come over?”

  Marcus shook his head. “I’m hoping to get back to Houston and pacify Louisa. She says she wants to talk.”

  I shook my head. “Good luck, old chap.” I faked an English accent, and we both cracked up. “I don’t envy you.”

  “It’s not so easy on you, either. I know she comes running to you every time we have an argument.”

  The subject of Louisa and Marcus’s relationship made me uncomfortable. “I don’t want to get involved. It’s your marriage, and I keep telling her that.”

  “Do you think you’ll ever get married, J? Have a family?”

  “You sound just like Lou.” I stared into my beer bottle. “Maybe get married, one day. But kids? No way.”

  My complicated feelings toward families were hard even for me to understand. Growing up, I hardly ever saw my father; he was too busy running his company. I’d be doing the same.

  I tried to explain to Marcus. “You say it’s no life for Louisa, trailing about behind you, but what if you had kids? Would you be happy seeing them once or twice a month?”

  “I guess not.” Marcus didn’t sound convinced. “But what’s the point of spending your life building the company, if you’ve got nobody to leave it to?”

  I didn’t have an answer for that. More beer seemed like a good idea.

  5.2 Jenny

  As soon as Marella and Cade left my desk, I grabbed my cellphone and darted outside, to call Rob. He refused to take my call, and I had to text him, to apologize. I went back to my desk with a sick feeling in my gut, wondering how long it would take him to calm down. He didn’t call back nor did he reply to my text, and I’d no idea if he saw my conciliatory emails either. What did I have to do?

  To my eternal relief, Cade was otherwise occupied for the rest of the day. I had to face him at some point, and—God knew how—I’d have to work with him, but I was spared that for today.

  Worry gave way to a churning sense of disquiet, and as finishing time drew close, I wondered if Rob would bother to pick me up or if I had to get the bus. I cleared my desk, picked up my jacket and bag, and headed out, after making sure Cade was nowhere in sight. That’d be all I needed.

  Kate called as I left. “God, Jen. You won’t believe the day I’ve had. Don’t suppose you fancy going for a drink? Does Rob have football tonight?”

  If Rob didn’t pick me up, I might go and meet Kate to spite him. Or not. That would be childish. “He’s home for dinner tonight. Sorry. If it’s any consolation, I’ve had a day and a half too. Is it full moon or something?”

  “That’d fit with Adam turning into a vampire. He looks at me as though I’m his dinner, and it makes my flesh crawl.”

  I pressed the button for the elevator and let Kate’s chat wash over me. I didn’t like Rob being pissed with me. It was unsettling. I tuned back in as she asked a question, and thought for a moment.

  “I’ve heard of Colin Hooper, but I couldn’t tell you where. And talking of new starters, you’ll never guess who works here now. Cade Brisley.”

  “Cade? He’s lovely. I haven’t seen him since we all worked together. How is he?” She clucked her tongue. “What was his girlfriend’s name? Tansy?”

  “Tasha.”

  “We should get together for a drink. You, me, Belle, and Cade. Like old times.”

  Yeah, like that would ever happen. Why did I tell Kate? I shouldn’t have said anything. If they met up, Cade would be sure to tell her what happened, and I co
uldn’t bear that. My lungs grew tight at the thought. “I have to go, Kate. Talk to you soon.”

  I stepped out of the elevator and forced myself to breathe normally. No panic attacks today. Nu huh. I walked through the reception area, waved at one of my colleagues, and then examined my phone again. No missed calls or texts.

  “Jen.” It was Rob, leaning against the wall. “You took your time.” His eyes were hidden by sunglasses, but by the way he lounged, arms crossed over his chest, he looked anything but approachable.

  “Hi.” I took a step toward him.

  “Expecting a call?” He nodded at my phone, his voice curt.

  My cheeks heated. “I was hoping you’d call.”

  “You didn’t want to talk to me earlier. What’s changed?”

  I could tell from the rigid set of his jaw that he was more upset by our tiff than he cared to show. Rob was all about appearances. I walked to him and stretched up to press a kiss on his cheek. “I’ve already said sorry a dozen times, if you’d only check your emails and texts. I left a couple of voicemails too.” I kept my tone light and dropped a series of tiny kisses over his mouth. “Thank you for coming to pick me up. I do appreciate it.”

  The tension in his shoulders eased, and he slid the sunglasses from his face. “Do you have to go out on Saturday? I really want to take you to Malcolm’s barbecue.”

  “I promised to see Kate, and this was arranged weeks ago. Why don’t we invite your boss and his wife to our place some time?”

  “It’s not the same. They live in Didsbury, while we’ve got a one-bedroom rental in Stretford.”

  “It’s the nice part of Stretford.” I slid my arms around his neck. “We’ll have them over when we get our own place, then. You know it won’t be long.”

  “I suppose.” He finally relaxed enough to give me a brief squeeze. “Ready to go home?”

  * * * *

  I kept things light all evening. Cooked one of his favorite meals and did a mountain of his ironing, while he watched the sport channel, cold beer at his side. I was hanging up his shirts, when he sidled up behind me and snuck his hands around my waist. “Don’t ignore me again, dumpling. You know I don’t like that.”