by L. J. Dee
What the hell kind of amusement was he thinking of?
“I have Melody now, wait in the car,” he said coldly and she left as quickly as she’d arrived. I looked on, increasingly uncomfortable and concerned for my colleague. What the hell did she think she was doing?
“Call Lucas and tell him I want to see him now,” he said, running his fingers down Melody’s face as she put a gentle hand on his thick, muscular forearm and held it there.
“I can’t, Dimitri. This is Lucas Hunter. He is ready when he’s ready,” she said and I could hear the tension in her voice as he tilted his head, holding her gaze, saying nothing else. There was a strange threat in that silent look and Melody understood it loud and clear.
I watched her carefully as she rounded the desk and picked up her phone. “Mr Hunter, Dimitri Gorav is here and he wishes to see you now.” The colour drained from her face as I watched the ordinarily confident ice queen all but thaw to a dribbling wet puddle as she replaced the receiver. “He said he will see you at eleven as agreed, Dimitri.” she muttered nervously.
“Call him back,” he snapped angrily at Melody as the phone on her desk rang and she glanced at me before picking it up, listening intently for a couple of seconds.
“I’m needed immediately in the boardroom, excuse me,” she said, hurrying through the doors and leaving me to deal with the odd Russian.
I picked up her phone as it rang again. “It’s Jacob from the front desk. I was just trying to tell Melody that the dry cleaners called to say Lucas’s suits are ready, but I got cut off,” he said as I narrowed my eyes.
“Jacob, can you tell me if the boardrooms are occupied right now?” I asked, unable to believe that even Melody would be so callous as to disappear and leave me alone with this psycho.
“None of them are booked out, Jess,” he said as I shook my head. Fucking bitch.
“Your boss is disrespectful,” Dimitri’s voice boomed as he turned his attention on me, walking closer and closer to my desk as I wondered what the hell he was going to do. I had never felt threatened in the office, but right now this man was making my heart pound out of my chest. I considered calling security, but what the hell would I say?
“You call him,” he said and there was no mistaking the threat that lay beneath his words as I rose, rounding the desk until I was standing before him, trying to stay calm and retain the most professional demeanour I could.
“Mr Gorav, Lucas will see you at your scheduled appointment time. Please take a seat or feel free to leave and return at eleven, but I will not be disturbing him again,” I said firmly, wondering where my confidence was coming from as he laughed mockingly.
“I wonder if you would be so defiant laid out before me with your legs spread wide,” he said, staring at me hard with those deep black eyes and sending a chilled shiver through me. I gasped in shock and the door to Lucas’s office flew open. His gaze landed on me briefly before he turned his attention to his peculiar visitor.
“This is not how I do business, Mr Gorav, and I will not have my staff harassed,” Lucas said in a tone so calm but so powerful it momentarily stopped my heart from beating. He put a firm arm on Dimitri’s back, walking him forcefully towards the door as the Russian turned and glared at him. I took a sharp intake of breath, but Lucas looked far from intimidated.
“You have just made a big fucking mistake, Lucas Hunter,” he said, fixing a powerful, defiant stare on my boss.
“On the contrary. I believe I have just avoided making a huge mistake. Now get out of my office or I will have security remove you,” he said in a tone so firm that it brokered no argument, even from Dimitri. I shuddered as he smiled almost maniacally before finally leaving the office as Lucas strode back towards me.
“Are you okay, Jessica?” he asked as I nodded, swallowing hard. “You’re trembling,” he said, holding my arms and gazing deeply into my eyes as I tried to ignore the stirrings in my stomach and the shots of electricity Lucas was firing through my cells. Christ, I was all over the place.
“Who is he?” I asked shakily as the adrenaline that had driven my confidence began to ebb away.
“Someone who won’t be coming here again,” he smiled, rubbing my arms reassuringly and all I wanted was to feel them around me, but I knew that wouldn’t happen. This was Lucas Hunter and that would have been incredibly inappropriate I thought, trying to normalise my breathing and pull myself together.
“Where’s Melody?”
She hated me, but I wasn’t about to grass her up. “She was needed in the boardroom,” I said quietly, looking at the floor as Lucas frowned deeply.
“Tell her to come to my office the moment she returns.” I wondered for a second if he knew she’d abandoned me and exactly what had gone on out here. It wouldn’t surprise me; Lucas Hunter seemed to know absolutely everything that went on in this building.
“Yes, Sir,” I said as Lucas smiled.
“You were brave, Jessica, and I apologise that this happened today,” he said as I flushed under the intensity of his gaze and the accompanying look of pride before he retreated back to his office.
I sat there and thought about the strange interaction and the threatening words of the Russian for over an hour, grateful that Lucas had come to my rescue when he had and wondering what the hell had happened to Melody. I knew she was due out this afternoon and began to wonder as twelve o- clock rolled around whether she’d bother to come back at all, looking up as the door opened at five past and she walked in, glancing around cagily.
“He’s gone and Lucas wants to see you,” I said as she teetered over to his office in her five inch heels and her perfect suit, straightening her glossy locks with perfectly manicured hands before pushing open the door. She hadn’t even bothered to enquire whether I was okay.
I could hear Lucas’s deep firm voice even through the thick door, grateful that I wasn’t Melody right now and deciding to make myself scarce before she came back out. I knew instinctively that she’d assume I’d told Lucas she’d lied. That would probably move the cold war she’d instigated between us up to a whole new level, but I couldn’t worry about it now.
I grabbed my coat instead and headed for the bustling school hall and this year’s nativity play where Dex would be sporting his home made shepherd costume.
Me and Chas had both worked for Elite Entertainment long enough to know costumes. He was the best looking little shepherd that school had ever seen and my heart melted. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.
“Wasn’t he great,” Chas quipped as I nodded excitedly.
“Brilliant! I could totally hear him above all the other kids during Silent Night,” I said, proud of my little boy and the way he was turning out. It was hard without Jake and as I saw the other girls and boys with their dads, my heart ached for him. It was something Dex would never know. But Chas was a God send, despite her quirky ways.
“I love you, Sis,” I said, suddenly feeling incredibly emotional as she threw me a puzzled frown, pulling me into a hug when she saw me gazing longingly at the families surrounding me and intuitively reading my mind.
“He was the best shepherd by a mile,” she smiled as Dex ran over and jumped onto my lap.
“You were amazing,” I grinned, kissing the top of his head.
“Did you hear me, Mummy? I talked really loud like you told me,” he gushed, looking up at me proudly.
“I did and you were so good,” I laughed, holding him tight.
“You were awesome, Squirt,” Chas beamed, ruffling his little blond curls as he laughed, jumping over to her knee and whispering in her ear.
“After a performance like that, of course you can, Dexter,” I heard her say. I could only guess he’d be asking for chocolate, sweets or some other crap that he thought I’d say no to. That little boy could play us like no one else on this earth I thought, smiling broadly.
Suddenly I had an idea that I thought just might work, depending on whether Melody was due back in the office or not. I
was desperate to show Lucas Hunter I was more than capable of doing the tasks he was denying me, and it was clear he’d been unimpressed that I was off today. I’d spent a week doing nothing at the expense of his company and turned to Chas.
“There’s something I need to do. Can you take Dex home? ” I asked, kissing him swiftly and running for the tube as soon as she nodded, before she had the chance to talk me out of it.
It was a quarter to five by the time I arrived. Under Mr Turnbull, everyone would have left the office at this time on a Friday, but no one had gone today. Lucas Hunter didn’t allow early finishes just because it was the weekend. Everyone earned their money under his leadership. Everyone except me. They were all still at their desks as I made my way through to the stairwell and jogged up two at a time, panting by the time I reached the office.
The recording machine was sat neatly on Melody’s perfectly ordered desk with a small note that simply read ‘minutes’. Charming! I grabbed the machine and fired up my computer, attached the headset and started to type. I didn’t know how he liked them, but I was determined to do this.
It was a discussion regarding the planning of an event to promote a new build of luxury apartments in the docklands area. A sprawling complex with unparalleled parking facilities boasting an impressive sounding array of restaurants, a gym and even a swimming pool, aimed at young professionals. It was due for completion in eight months and they were looking to garner interest early and create a buzz in the currently stagnant housing market.
I rewound it several times to double and triple check the figures I’d put in were correct, allowing it to keep running as I looked over the minutes one last time. A new conversation had started and Charlie was asking Lucas if he wanted a coffee. I wasn’t paying much attention until I heard my name and then I was all ears.
“So how’s Jessica working out, Lucas?” It sounded like the others had left.
“I wouldn’t know, Melody’s doing all my work,” he replied flatly.
I could hear Charlie’s low chuckle and the coffee machine strike up in the background as I concentrated hard on the recording. “What, so you’re paying her to do nothing? You’re a stubborn bastard, Lucas. We can’t get rid of her, that contract is airtight. Unless you want to give that girl a fifty grand payoff, find her something to do and fast. Or are you hoping she’ll quit, is that your plan?” Charlie said and I was astounded.
Fifty thousand pounds? What the hell were they talking about?
There was a pause in the recording before Lucas spoke. “Why would a partner in the final stage negotiations of a hostile takeover, make one of his last jobs to revise the contract of an under qualified PA who’s been with the company less than eight weeks, Charlie? The fuckers made sure we can’t get rid of her without it costing us,” he said and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
After a long pause, Charlie was the next to speak and my heart was pounding in my chest. “I don’t know. You’d think he’d have more important things to worry about. Unless it’s about sex, there’s nothing more important than that,” he laughed and I felt sick.
“Exactly, Charlie, what the hell else could it be? If Jessica’s sleeping with Turnbull and he’s protecting her, I want her nowhere near any confidential information about this company. Neither do I want a PA who thinks that fucking her boss is the best way forward,” he sneered as my heart stopped beating and unwieldy tears sprang from my eyes.
Part of me wanted to tear the headphones off, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I had to hear everything.
“Even the change in company is part of the deal. I’ve spoken to the lawyers at length and there is no easy way around this. No quick solution, brother. Just find a reason to fire her, Lucas.”
“And see her walk away with fifty grand when we’ve just had to lay off good, innocent, hard working people. I wouldn’t do that on fucking principle, Charlie. She’ll quit, it’s the only way she doesn’t get the money,” he replied harshly. So that’s what they thought. I wasn’t surprised Melody was giving me the cold shoulder and Lucas was giving me nothing. I didn’t even know Mr Turnbull had amended my contract in that way. An extra day’s holiday he told me when I signed it across his desk.
I tried to wipe away the tears that sprang silently from my eyes, so intent on listening to the recording to find out if there was more, that I didn’t see the door to Lucas’s office open. I glanced up to find Charlie staring at me. His face was a mask of absolute horror as he turned quickly and disappeared back inside.
I tore off the headset and emailed the minutes, grabbed my coat and got the hell out of there, throwing the machine on my desk and unable to process what I’d heard. My boss thought I was screwing his predecessor, and if Charlie was right about my contract, I wasn’t surprised. I’d have probably thought the same. It was so far from the truth it was almost laughable, except it wasn’t.
I called ahead to Chas. “Stick Dexter in front of the TV. If you get any arguments you have my permission to put on anything he wants.”
“Anything?” she questioned, knowing I was beyond strict when it came to what I thought was appropriate viewing for my son. “Yes and get out the onions,” I said, hanging up and desperately trying to pull myself together as I jumped on the tube, staring at the floor. She’d know it was bad.
I managed to stem the tide of tears just long enough, kissing my little shepherd and knowing I had about one minute before I broke down completely, running to the kitchen where Chas was waiting with a box of tissues and a bottle of wine.
I sobbed my heart out to my stunned sister, recalling every detail of the conversation and she was even more incensed than me.
“The cheeky bastards. You should have kept that recording to sue them for sexual harassment, or discrimination, Jess,” she spat. “They obviously think you know about the contract because you’ve signed it. It sounds like Turnbull played a blinder and decided to stick one to the Hunter brothers before he was forced out. He trained as a lawyer you know and it sounds like he’s outsmarted them. He always did like to have the last laugh. I’ll have to thank him for that,” she grinned as I forced a tight smile.
“What am I going to do, Chas?” I asked, my voice reflecting the sickening panic that was rippling through my stomach.
“First thing on Monday you explain that Mr Turnbull said there was a small change to your contract, so you just signed it with no idea that it was not as inconsequential as you thought. Then you need to tell them that you haven’t screwed your boss or anyone else for five years,” she said calmly.
“That’s none of their business. I have no intention of telling the Hunter brothers about my sex life, or lack of it, and there is absolutely no way I ever want them to find out about Dexter. Lucas Hunter is one judgemental bastard and I’m not giving him any more ammunition, Sis,” I said, sighing deeply. “I should just quit.”
Chas was immediately in my face. “You will not fucking quit. Be smart here. If they ask you to do nothing, do it and rub their smug faces in it. Make them fire you and get the fifty grand. I mean it, Jess, you sit there with your feet up on your desk reading gossip magazines if that’s what it takes, and tell Melody to go and fuck herself if she even glances in your direction. You need to get tough here, it sounds like those Hunter brothers are,” she said firmly and didn’t I know it.
“I just want to do my job, Chas. I don’t want any of this shit,” I said as the tears threatened again, just as the kitchen door edged open ever so slightly.
“Come in Dexter,” Chas smiled as he came to hug me.
“Why are you crying, Mummy?” He gazed up at me, genuine concern etched on every feature of his five year old face.
“Onions,” I said, pointing at the worktop and picking him up. It was the standard explanation for mine and Chas’s tearful kitchen moments, which were thankfully less frequent than they used to be and he was still at the age where he bought it.
“Come on Dex, let’s play castles.”
�
��You need to quit that fairytale crap and play something else,” Chas scalded.
“Aunty Chas said ‘crap’, Mummy,” Dex gasped as I glared at her.
“Naughty me,” she winked at him, giggling as he giggled back.
“No princesses today though, Dex, we need to be slaying dragons,” I said, looking back at Chas.
“Indeed you do.”
CHAPTER 5
Considering the events of the day, the evening was surprisingly pleasant as me and Dex slayed imaginary dragons in a mythical land where everything sparkled and the good guys always won. We ate, bathed and cuddled on the couch and by the time I read him a story and put him to bed I was exhausted, falling asleep in the lounge in front of a film with a glass of wine still in my hand.
Chas was shaking me as I woke with a giant grin on her face. “How was your night?” I asked, still coming round and wondering why the hell she looked so excited. Her eyes were blazing as she bounced onto the couch next to me and I wondered which unobtainable gazillionaire she’d managed to land tonight.
“Before you go mental, you’ve got to hear me out,” she said quickly. Oh God, there was nothing guaranteed to pull me out of my semi sleeping state more than Chas pre-warning me not to go mental. She poured herself a wine as I took a swig of mine and sat back staring at her.
“So this is how it went down...” she said, taking a deep breath as I took another glug of wine. I was not going to like this one bit.
“Tonight was really classy, a big house in the middle of Kensington, you know the ones. There were about a hundred or so people and I’d miscalculated and really over staffed us, so there were lots of opportunities for breaks and stuff. Anyway, I’m standing on the patio outside, grabbing some air when this really cute guy comes out and lights a cigar, leaning on the balustrade in front of me and strikes up a conversation....” I was eyeing her intently.
“When I say cute, Jess, I mean really hot. I knew just to look at him that he ticked all my boxes. He was gorgeous, obviously loaded, no ring...”