Stormy Relationship

by Margaret Mayo

  Hannah felt nauseated.

  ‘Sweetheart, you know how impossible it is for me to get away.’ He put his hands on either side of her face, seeming not to notice Hannah standing there. ‘Why don’t you go to my place? Mrs Braden will look after you. I’ll be home as soon as I possibly can.’

  It was obvious to Hannah that Riva was not pleased with this suggestion, and that her smile was as false as her ridiculously long eyelashes. ‘If you promise not to be long, darling?’

  ‘I’ll do my best,’ he said, and Hannah noted that he used the same toe-curling growl as he had when he told her she was beautiful the day before. What a two-faced swine he was! No doubt the instant Riva’s back was turned the compliments would be back in her court.

  He escorted the blonde to the door, murmuring something soft and low in her ear which caused her to give Hannah a sly triumphant smile over his shoulder. Grin all you like, she thought, you’re welcome to him.

  Once the girl had gone Hannah dived straight in. ‘Mr. Quest, I shan’t have time to finish both the minutes and your letters. Which would you like me to do?’

  An expected black scowl appeared on his brow; she knew how he hated leaving anything over until the next day. He glanced at his watch. ‘There’s no question about which you do. It’s imperative I have everything on my desk before you leave this afternoon.’

  ‘That’s impossible, I’m afraid.’ She fearlessly returned the coolness of his gaze.

  ‘Ring Mrs Howard and tell her you’ll be late,’ he demanded imperiously.

  ‘I can’t do that,’ Hannah protested. ‘She does a job for the Samaritans. They rely on her to be punctual.’

  He swore violently. ‘It’s obviously no good, you working these ridiculous hours. You’d better make some different arrangements as far as your son is concerned.’

  Hannah drew herself up angrily. ‘My son is more important to me than your job! If you’re not happy with things the way they are then find yourself another secretary. I do my best to get your work done in the time I’m here. I’m sorry you’re not satisfied.’

  Jordan closed, his eyes and swung angrily away. ‘The question of being satisfied is not in dispute. These minutes are important. I need them for a meeting at nine o’clock in the morning.’

  ‘So I’ll do those and leave your letters.’

  ‘But it’s vital they’re sent off today too.’

  ‘Then get one of the other secretaries to do them.’

  He snorted impatiently. ‘And find half a dozen mistakes? Anyone would think I was an ogre, the way some of those girls dither around when I ask them to do anything!’ He paused fractionally. ‘However, I think I might have a solution. If you do my letters now you can come in early in the morning to finish the minutes. Surely that Howard woman can take the child to school for once? I’ll pick you up at about eight.’

  Hannah gasped. ‘You really do think you can walk all over people, don’t you? We don’t all live and breathe work the same as you do. We do have a home life, which is pretty sacrosanct as far as I’m concerned. I don’t see why I should shunt my son on to someone else simply to please you. The hours we spend together are precious.’ She realised that she should not be talking to her employer in this manner, but he really did annoy her when he spoke about Daniel so carelessly.

  ‘You’ll be earning yourself extra money.’

  ‘And you think that will solve everything―money?’ she scorned. ‘You think it’s the answer to all problems?’ Her face was a fiery red, caution thrown to the winds.

  ‘As far as I can see,’ he said, his tone calm, but all the more dangerous because of it, ‘you’re in dire need of every penny you can earn. A flat is no place to bring up a child. He needs a garden to play in, he needs space. You need a house.’

  ‘You think I’m not aware of that, Mr. Quest? It’s on my mind constantly. But being with my son is more important to me than earning money. I realise you don’t understand, having no family of your own, but that’s the way it is. And you did know these things before you took me on as your secretary.’

  ‘Yes, yes, I knew, I knew,’ he exclaimed tetchily, ‘but I didn’t realise what a difference that hour would make.’

  ‘I think that even if I worked normal hours you’d still find something you wanted doing at the last minute,’ Hannah snapped back. ‘You’re a workaholic and expect the same of everyone else.’

  ‘If you want to get on in this life you don’t have to be afraid of hard work,’ Jordan informed her tersely.

  ‘You mean making money is the most important thing in your life?’

  Suddenly he smiled. ‘I think you could become important to me.’

  Hannah gasped, ‘Me?’ This was the last thing she had expected. ‘Why me?’ Unless it was the female sex in general he was talking about. She could still picture the way he had spoken to Riva March a few minutes ago, his voice deep and intimate as though she meant more to him than any other person. It was clear he was like this with every girl he met.

  ‘As I said the other day, you’re both sensuous and beautiful, and you deserve a lot more out of life than you’re getting at the moment.’

  Meaning she needed a man to take her to bed! Hannah stared at him scornfully. ‘I don’t think my personal life is any of your business,’ she said coldly.

  ‘How old are you, Hannah? You really don’t look old enough to be saddled with the responsibility of an eighty-ear-old child.’

  He must know how old she was, he only had to look at her personnel records, but she jutted her chin and said firmly, ‘I’m twenty-seven. I married when I was eighteen.’

  ‘Had you known your husband long?’ He leaned against the edge of her desk, seeming prepared to stay and talk for however long it took him to find out about her, his important work for the moment forgotten.

  She sighed. ‘Since I was fifteen. Why are you asking me all these things?’

  ‘Because I’m interested in you. Was he your only boyfriend?’

  Hannah nodded.

  ‘And you want no one else? He must have been someone very special?’

  ‘He was.’

  ‘I’d like you to tell me about him.’

  Hannah’s patience deserted her. ‘I’m sorry, I refuse to go into any more details about my private life. If you want your letters done before I go I’d better get on with them.’

  ‘Forget the letters,’ he crisped. ‘I have no wish to appear rude or insensitive; all I’m trying to do is help. You’re so detached, so withdrawn from everyday life. You live in your own little shell, and it’s not good for you.’

  ‘I don’t need help from anyone, especially you,’ she said, looking at him coolly. She did not believe that his intentions were strictly honourable. He wanted more from her than she was prepared to give. Had the circumstances been different, had she never married, had there been no Riva March on the scene, then she might have fallen for his manifest charm. As things were, she wanted to keep as much distance between them as possible. And it was as well that he knew it.

  ‘Do you intend to spend the rest of your life living on the memories of your dead husband?’ he demanded.

  Hannah gasped anew at his insensitivity, trying not to remember the fact that her parents had said exactly the same thing to her not so very long ago. She lifted her chin, her blue eyes defensive. ‘Mr. Quest, I think we should get one thing very straight. What I do, how I feel, is up to me. I don’t want anyone else interfering. If you don’t like the way I am, if you want more from me than I’m prepared to give, then I think we should call a halt to things right now. In fact, I think it’s best. I resign.’

  His face was a picture of astonishment and disbelief. Hannah almost wanted to laugh, but instead she walked round to her desk and sat down; if she hadn’t her legs would have collapsed beneath her. She did not have to think about it to know that she had been very rude, that she had spoken completely out of turn. And to top it all she had thrown in the best job she’d ever had!

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nbsp; ‘Hannah.’ Jordan followed her and now his voice was close in her ear. ‘Hannah, don’t be impulsive. You need this job as much as I need you to do it.’

  She refused to look at him, instead she fiddled with a piece of paper on her desk. ‘I’m not given to impulses. I had my doubts when I took the job, but the money was tempting and I thought it might work out. Now I can see that it won’t. If I’ve caused you any inconvenience I’m sorry.’

  ‘Hannah, I want you to stay.’ His hands came down on her shoulders and she froze, her whole body stiffening and rejecting him. It was an entirely involuntary reaction, brought on by a desperate need to preserve the cocoon in which she had wrapped herself.

  But although she felt him tense at her rejection he did not let her go. In fact the pressure of his fingers increased. ‘You’re doing yourself no good by acting like this. It’s time you came out of mourning and entered the real world.’

  ‘I am in the real world,’ she insisted. ‘You don’t understand.’

  ‘I understand you’re afraid to let another man touch you. Relax, Hannah, I mean you no harm.’

  She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, forcing her tense muscles to slacken.

  ‘That’s better. Now look at me.’

  She did not want to look at him, she did not want to see those dark eyes that sometimes appeared as though they were looking right into her soul. He saw too much.

  ‘Hannah.’

  Still she fought her inner battle. But when his hand slid from her shoulder along the column of her neck, his fingers creeping beneath her hair, his thumb a gentle caress behind her ear, her eyes shot wide and she jerked away.

  He smiled. ‘So there is life inside you?’

  ‘Of course. I never said there wasn’t.’

  ‘Will you stay and work for me?’

  To say no would be to admit that he disturbed her―but wouldn’t she be lining up more trouble for herself if she carried on? He was making his interest in her very clear.

  ‘Think of your son, think what a difference the extra money will make to his life. Don’t you owe him that much?’

  Reluctantly Hannah nodded.

  ‘Then you’ll stay?’

  ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘Good. I knew you’d see sense.’ His smile was warm and all-encompassing, as if she really meant something to him, as if there was no Riva March in his life. ‘And you’ll come in early in the morning to finish typing those minutes?’

  To her intense surprise Hannah found herself agreeing. ‘But it will be a one-off occasion.’

  ‘Of course.’

  He said it too easily and she knew that if something else cropped up that was equally urgent he would have no compunction about pressurising her again.

  Hannah found it difficult to concentrate on his letters. She had always known he was a disturbing man, but the knowledge had now been pushed firmly home and it was going to be very difficult ignoring him. In fact she made so many mistakes that it was well after half-past four when she finally left, and she had to run all the way home so that she would not be late.

  ‘You could have asked Jordan Quest for a lift,’ said Yvonne with a grin. ‘He’s welcome here any time, you know that.’

  It seemed every woman was interested in him except her, thought Hannah as she proceeded to tell Yvonne about his plans for the next morning. ‘I hope you don’t mind. I know it’s an awful cheek, but he really does need those minutes. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t urgent.’

  ‘Of course I don’t mind,’ said Yvonne at once. ‘I’ll take Danny to school every morning if you wish.’

  But Hannah did not want to change her son’s routine too drastically. She enjoyed taking him to school, seeing him mix with his friends; it was a part of his growing up that she did not want to miss.

  ‘Will Mr. Quest give me a ride in his car when he comes in the morning, Mummy?’ asked Daniel when they were back in their own flat. ‘Can he take me to school in it?’

  Hannah grimaced. ‘He won’t have the time, darling.’

  ‘I wish we had a car,’ grumbled Daniel unhappily. ‘All the children at school come in cars―and all the children at school have daddies. I want a new daddy. Why can’t I have a new daddy? Why can’t Mr. Quest be my daddy, and then we’d have a better car than anyone else?’

  ‘Danny!’ Hannah was stunned by his question, even though it was put in all innocence. ‘You shouldn’t say things like that. Mr Quest is just someone I work for.’

  ‘But I still want a new daddy. I want someone to take me to football matches and play games with me and—’

  ‘Oh, Danny, I know you miss your father. I miss him too.’ She pulled him into her arms and held him close, feeling tears prick the backs of her eyelids. It was the first time in ages that Danny had mentioned his father, and the first time ever that he had said he would like another one. But why had he picked on Jordan Quest, of all people?

  After Daniel had gone to bed that night Hannah could not help thinking about what he had said. Was she truly being fair on him, shutting men out of her life for ever? Was she being totally selfish? She hoped not. She was firm in her resolve that she wanted no one to take Roger’s place. Daniel had never said anything like this before. Perhaps it was a one-off thing; perhaps he wouldn’t mention it again?

  Jordan Quest arrived early the next morning, well before eight, and Hannah had no recourse but to invite him into their flat when he came pounding at the door. Although she kept it clean and neat the furniture was cheap and the curtains thin, some of the carpets were threadbare, and she felt ashamed of it. But worse than that, she had been so busy getting Daniel ready, making sure he ate all his breakfast and had his school books in his bag, that she wasn’t dressed herself. Beneath her well-worn blue dressing-gown she still wore her cotton nightdress, and her cheeks coloured in embarrassment.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, ‘I didn’t expect you this early. Please sit down, I won’t be long.’

  His eyes missed nothing, the threadbare dressing-gown or the fact that she was almost naked beneath. It was a long slow appraisal that brought warmth to her skin and the blood surging through her veins. ‘Take your time, I’m sure your son will keep me entertained. Isn’t that right, Daniel?’

  Daniel was not quite sure what it was Jordan Quest was asking him, but he nodded all the same. Hannah was just closing her bedroom door when she heard him say, ‘When are you going to take me for a ride in your car, Mr Quest?’ She turned back in horror, a reprimand ready on her lips, but Jordan was already answering.

  ‘How about tonight when I finish work―that’s if your mother approves?’

  ‘She will, she will,’ answered Daniel excitedly. ‘Wow! Wait till I tell my friends at school!’

  Hannah did not listen to any more. It seemed to her that this man was becoming a part of her life whether she liked it or not. And in his car on the way to the office he intruded even further. ‘Now I’ve seen how small your flat is I’m even more convinced that it’s not the right sort of environment to bring up a child,’ he told her.

  ‘I entirely agree,’ she retorted tightly. ‘You don’t have to tell me. But it’s no business of yours.’

  ‘I don’t like to think of you not getting the best out of life.’

  Hannah shot him a flash of scorn. ‘Do you show as much curiosity about the private lives of all your employees?’ she queried.

  ‘Of course not.’

  ‘Then why single me out?’

  ‘I’ve told you before, you interest me.’

  ‘So much so that you spend time thinking about me and the way I live? I think that’s a bit out of order, Mr. Quest!’

  ‘When are you going to start calling me Jordan?’

  ‘Never,’ she replied coolly. Except in her thoughts. He was Jordan then, and her thoughts were far too scaring and intimate to ever admit―and getting more and more so!

  ‘That’s a pity, because it’s difficult to strike up any kind of a relationship when you
insist on being so formal,’ he told her.

  She threw another disdainful look in his direction. ‘As I’ve told you before, I have no inclination to involve a man in my life.’

  His jaw firmed. ‘How does your son feel about that? Are you being strictly fair on him?’

  ‘I don’t have to answer that question.’ Hannah shrugged.

  ‘You mean you’re evading it?’ His brown eyes flashed in her direction and in that fleeting moment saw every expression on her face.