Two women, both of whom seemed to fit the bill, had been rejected out of hand by Gabriel, on the spurious excuse that he just couldn’t see himself having a long and problem-free working relationship with either of them.
‘But it would only be for two days during the week,’ Rose had mumbled unconvincingly, because in her head she had already slotted her replacement in on a full-time basis, while she went somewhere else to lick her wounds.
‘Would it?’ he had asked darkly, and she had given him a weak smile.
Now, at five-thirty, they had just seen off the latest in the ever-increasing line and Rose knew, without doubt, that it had been another unsuccessful interviewee.
She hated this bit, when she walked down to the grand reception area in the foyer and did her best to fend off pointed and anxious questions as to whether the interview had been a success or not. This evening, however, it wasn’t too bad. Elaine Forbes, number thirteen in the line, was destined to prove true the superstition because her lightweight qualifications had made the business of rejection easier than usual.
Five minutes debriefing with Gabriel and she would be out of the office and ready to begin her weekend.
She arrived back at her office to find him lounging in her chair, feet propped up on her desk, hands folded behind his head.
‘Well?’ he asked, picking up her pen and twirling it over, ‘what did you think of Ms Forbes?’
‘I think we can strike her off the list,’ Rose told him, skirting round his indolent figure and gathering her various bits and pieces in preparation for going home. She could feel his eyes following her and hated herself for the excited ripple of reaction. She also hated it when he invaded her space. It was much easier to be in his office, because she could leave it and shut the door behind her. Right now, he was focused fully on her and it was difficult to escape the crazy notion that he was doing it on purpose, because he knew it rattled her. It was a thought that had occurred to her previously during the week and whenever it did she always hastened to tell herself that she was being silly, imagining things because of what had happened between them.
‘What makes you say that?’ Gabriel asked in a surprised voice and Rose paused to give him a jaundiced glance.
‘Oh, I don’t know, Gabriel. I guess it might have something to do with her staggering failure to master the basic test I set for her to judge how familiar she was with our computer package. Or maybe her lack of speed and accuracy when it came to taking notes on what I was saying.’ Rose knew Gabriel well enough to know that he said most things once and expected immediate comprehension. Floundering was not a quality he appreciated and Elaine Forbes had floundered in a fairly spectacular fashion.
‘She was remarkably attractive. Did you notice?’
Rose flushed. Yes, she had noticed, as a matter of fact. It would have been hard not to. Five foot ten of curves clad in a handkerchief of a skirt and a top that just skimmed her waistline. Long blonde hair and wide green eyes that had sized Gabriel up and clearly not found him wanting.
‘I’m not sure what that has to do with anything.’ She fetched her lightweight jacket and slung it over her shoulders. It would still be too warm to put it on when she went outside but old habits died hard. She still felt undressed if she left the house without a jacket or a cardigan. Unlike the most recent candidate, who would probably have felt overdressed in anything as mundane as a cardigan. Or cream lightweight jacket.
‘Her credentials weren’t up to scratch,’ she said irritably, irked at the small smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he obviously contemplated the other assets Ms Forbes would bring to any job.
‘Which isn’t to say that we might not be able to put her on a course, get her up to speed. Provided her attitude is right…’
‘And what…’Rose was in danger of snapping, ‘would you qualify as the right attitude?’
‘An ability to work in perfect harmony with me. That is to say, do whatever I want without complaining.’
Rose narrowed her eyes and was about to ask whether he had a problem with her just because she happened to have lodged a couple of small complaints after four years when she realised that he was joking.
‘Ha, ha.’
‘I admit she might not have the required intellect to hold down the job,’ Gabriel conceded, ‘despite all her other, highly visible assets.’
Rose was getting tired of being baited. ‘I really must be off, Gabriel.’
‘Not so fast.’
‘Well, there’s not much left to say on the subject of Ms Forbes. I’m glad we both agree that the person who fills the position will have to have more going for them than long legs, long hair and breasts.’
‘I wasn’t about to prolong the conversation about the delectable Ms Forbes. I was going to tell you that there are some emails I need to get out today. The interviewing has thrown everything out of sync. So…you’ll have to stay on an extra hour or so until we get the workload covered.’ He held up his hands as if defending himself from the possibility of a physical attack. ‘And yes, I know it probably crashes through your work to rule barrier but I want to remind you of exactly how generous your pay package is.’
‘I don’t have a problem working an extra hour or two, Gabriel.’ And he knew it. ‘You know that! I only have a problem when you ask me to work ridiculous hours and it really only reared its head because, if I’m going to be studying, I’m going to need to prioritise my spare time!’
Gabriel was beginning to wonder how it was that he had never noticed the feisty, challenging side of his perfect secretary’s personality. How could he ever have found her soothing? She was about as soothing as a shark in search of blood! Fortunately he was man enough to tackle any form of shark. And to enjoy the tussle. Right now he was mightily enjoying the sight of her turning pink as her feathers were well and truly ruffled. He also liked the fact that he got under her skin, that under her carefully cultivated cool exterior, the one that had had him hoodwinked for so long, she responded to him. As a man. He was pretty sure that she hadn’t been able to relegate that kiss to the back of her mind and that pleased him because he sure as hell hadn’t been able to forget it. Just thinking about her cool lips against his, about that instant, that one fleeting moment, when she had opened up and returned the kiss with a fire she was at pains to hide, was enough to make him feel hard. Like an adolescent in the throes of his first crush.
For Gabriel that was a sensation so novel that it was enough to keep him up at night. He suspected that thoughts of him might well keep her up at night too. With any other woman he would have asked, knowing that it was really a very sexy question, especially if he qualified it by saying that the sleepless nights were mutual, but that was the last thing he would have done with Rose. He had no doubt that she would have flung that damned resignation letter straight at him and this time she would have not been open to persuasion.
But he wanted her and he was pretty sure that she wanted him and he had time on his side. Well, sufficient time anyway.
‘Of course I know that! But we still have some work to put in here and I’m glad you don’t have a problem.’ He stretched and rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Now, if you want to come into my office, we can start downloading the files we need to have a look at and you have my word that I won’t keep you past the witching hour.’
Not so fast, Rose wanted to shout as he disappeared towards his office.
‘I’m afraid there’s a bit of a problem with staying on tonight,’ she said awkwardly, following him in but standing in the doorway, hands in her jacket pockets.
Gabriel, who was leaning over his desk, booting up his computer in preparation, looked up and frowned.
‘I thought we’d sorted that one out,’ he said abruptly.
‘You don’t understand. I can’t work tonight because I’m busy…’
‘You’re busy?’
He sounded truly shocked and Rose knew why. Because in all the four years that she had worked for him, she had rarel
y denied his requests that she work beyond the call of duty. She had put her job ahead of everything. It satisfied her and coincidentally fed her hidden addiction to him. Over the years he must have gained the impression that she had no social life, nothing to distract her from her complete slavish dedication to him.
She felt an illicit thrill of pleasure at bursting the bubble.
‘I’m busy,’ she repeated with a slight nod. ‘I could work late on Monday, if it’ll keep till then.’
‘It won’t keep till then,’ Gabriel said irritably, giving her his full, undivided attention. ‘Things at this level don’t keep indefinitely, Rose. Business doesn’t take time out so that we can all have a bit of a rest.’
This was Gabriel at his most coldly sarcastic. It was the voice he saved for when he was well and truly disgusted. He had not scaled the heights by being kind, considerate and retiring. Yes, he was charming and witty and could promote the illusion of being absolutely relaxed, but beneath the velvet glove was the steel hand.
‘Well, Gabriel, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do. If you like, I can see whether Emily’s free and doesn’t mind working late this evening.’
‘I have a better idea. Why don’t you just cancel whatever it is you were doing? If you were going out with your girlfriends, tell them, from me, that I’ll treat them to an evening out next week, wherever they want to go, no expense spared. Call it compensation for putting you out.’
‘I’m not going out with my girlfriends,’ Rose said eventually. She could almost see his ears prick up.
‘No?’
‘No.’
‘Then what’s so important that you can’t cancel…?’
‘Really, Gabriel, it’s none of your business.’ But he would make it his business. She knew that. And she didn’t know why she was bothering to resist. It wasn’t as though she was hiding some shameful secret.
‘I think I deserve a decent excuse…’
‘I’m going out on a date, if you must know. To the theatre, actually. To see Les Miserables. I’ve wanted to see that for ages. The tickets are all booked and, really, I have just enough time to make it to the theatre. Then Joe and I are going go have a quick bite afterwards. So you see there’s no chance I can stay late. I’m sorry.’
‘The theatre? Joe? Who the hell is Joe? A quick bite?’
‘I have to go or I’ll be late.’
‘Who is this Joe character?’
‘Have a good weekend and I shall see you on Monday, Gabriel!’ With which, Rose fled. Not ostensibly. Not to the extent that she was working up a sweat, but moving quickly enough to put a stop to Gabriel’s barrage of questions.
She only breathed a sigh of relief when she was in the taxi and speeding to the theatre, and really, really, only relaxed when she was delivered to the theatre and spotted Joe waving at her through the milling crowds.
This was going to be their first date and Rose teetered between anticipation and apprehension. After all, she didn’t know him that well. They had met only a couple of weeks previously, a case of pure coincidence. Rose had gone to see one of the colleges on her list and, having set off in anxious pursuit of the business studies department, had ended up in completely the wrong area and knocking on completely the wrong door.
Fortunately for her, Joe had answered it and he had been so nice and so helpful that Rose had found herself opening up to him and confessing her complete ignorance of the further education system, not to mention her utter confusion at finding herself surrounded by so many students, carrying files and laptops, listening to their iPods and generally making her feel like someone from another era.
She had made sure to go to the college dressed in jeans and trainers, in an attempt to blend in, but even her jeans and trainers seemed to be of just the wrong variety, ever so slightly off-key. Rose had poured it all out over the coffee Joe had insisted on buying her in the college canteen.
In the end she had found the right department but, as it turned out, the course wasn’t quite what she wanted. So the college was out but Joe, a friend made, was in.
They had exchanged numbers and from that peculiar meeting had blossomed a growing friendship on the telephone.
Rose wasn’t sure what would emerge from the friendship but she was willing to follow the road wherever it might take her.
And the evening was a success. The play was good and, over a very late evening meal, they discussed it amongst a thousand other things. She even found herself telling him about Gabriel! Not about her ridiculous feelings for him, of course, but about his annoying, unpredictable ways. In fact, she had to stop herself or risk becoming a bore, and then they chatted easily about Joe and what he did and, before she knew it, it had gone midnight and he was hailing a cab for her.
‘I guess this is the time when I ask whether you’d like to risk my company again,’ he said, pulling her to one side and kissing her on the forehead. A perfect end to a lovely evening, Rose thought. No pressure for sex, no pushiness. And he was cute too. Blond hair, blue eyes that crinkled when he smiled, and he smiled a lot.
‘I think I could see my way to doing that…’Rose couldn’t help but smile back at him. ‘It’s been a great evening out.’
‘And we never even got around to discussing what course you’ve finally signed up to.’
‘Oh, and that’s the most riveting conversation in the world!’
‘Absolutely riveting. Don’t forget I’m a lecturer. I like to know what it is that you students are interested in.’ He smiled again and turned to open the cab door for her. ‘So there’s no question now. We have to go on another date. Research purposes for me. I’ll give you a call on Monday, first thing. I have no idea how much time I’ll have to myself on this outward bound weekend of mine. Does this ogre of a boss allow you to use the land line for personal calls or should I call your mobile?’
‘Mobile…’ Rose said hurriedly, as a mental picture of Gabriel flashed into her head. ‘Definitely mobile.’
‘In case he ties you to the typewriter and forces you to type a thousand times…I must never disobey company rules…?’
‘Oh, no. Gabriel’s very fair.’ It was fine for her to air her moans but she felt hot and flustered at Joe’s slight hint of criticism. ‘In fact, there’s a very low employee turnover rate. One of the lowest in the city. He would…’
‘It was meant to be funny, Rose,’ Joe interjected gently. ‘Now, off you go, Cinderella, before the taxi decides to leave you behind. I’ll call you tomorrow.’
He would. Amongst all his good qualities there was a dependability to Joe that Rose knew was just what every woman wanted. If he said he would call, then he would. He was, she went to bed musing, a thoroughly decent man. Not the sort to string a woman along. Not the sort to equate caring with buying expensive gifts. Not a man given to large, extravagant gestures. Definitely not a man who should carry a Dangerous to Health warning on his forehead so that women could take note and keep away. And not a man that would make her skin tremble every time he was near.
But there was a spring in her step when she went to work the following Monday. Joe hadn’t called but he had sent her a couple of brief text messages, making her laugh with his outward bound stories which he promised to bore her with more fully when they met.
She arrived to find Gabriel already at his desk and, judging from his rolled up sleeves and lack of tie, he had been there a good while. And he did not seem to be in the best of moods.
Rose decided that she wouldn’t allow that to deflate her. She fetched him his coffee before making her way into his office and the smile only wavered when he raised his head and frowned at her.
‘I’m pleased to see that one of us had a good weekend.’
‘Good morning, Gabriel.’ She sat in her usual chair, facing his desk, notepad on her lap, ready to begin the day.
He grunted.
‘I’ve brought you your coffee. Is there anything urgent you need me to do or shall I just crack on with the emails from Friday? Don�
��t forget you’ve got another two ladies to see this afternoon. I’ve already had the preliminary interviews with them and both seem promising.’
‘Cancel them.’
‘What? Why?’
‘Because one of our places in the Caribbean is behind with some building work and now there’s a hold up on some vital equipment, so we’re going to have to try and sort this out before the end of the week, preferably before the end of the day.’
‘Why the urgency?’ Rose was well aware of which particular development this was. There had been ongoing problems with it from day one. The island was very small and very difficult to access. Supplies, in the first stages of building, had been a nightmare to ship across and things had pretty much carried on with that handicap. Gabriel had mentally written the venture off as an ongoing white elephant. It had lost its appeal as a commercial venture, but she knew from the way he spoke about it that he had developed a peculiar fondness for the place. The original structure of a hotel had gradually morphed into a massive villa overlooking the wild side of the Atlantic and the details were more appropriate to a private residence than to a busy tourist spot. Gabriel now nurtured the plan of turning it into an exclusive fourteen bedroomed villa which would be rented for corporate entertaining or else hired by the super-wealthy for the occasional retreat from the rat race.
‘There are murmurs of an approaching hurricane. Eileen’s sweeping towards Florida but there’s a chance it might divert and if it hits us it’s going to be fatal for the project. There just aren’t sufficient bricks in place to stave off a category four.’
‘I’ll see what I can do…’Rose privately thought that there was nothing she could do. Time and urgency meant different things out there. The infrastructure on the island, from everything she read in the files, was basic. There were some shops, a school, transport to and from the island. Business was something that happened offshore, largely.
‘Good. And, in the meantime, sort out flights for me to get there. I’ll leave first thing in the morning or today if nothing’s available for tomorrow.’
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