‘And we both know we’d run our course. You deserve more, Geraldine.’
For a moment she lost her cool edge and her cheeks flushed. Then she chuckled and reverted to femme fatale again, slowly tracing his cheekbones with her manicured finger. ‘Now where am I likely to get more than the sexy heir to the Faulkner empire?’
‘Is that what I was to you?’
Finally she dropped her act, slipping off the desk and pulling over a chair so she could sit opposite him. ‘You know you weren’t. The sex was important, but the rest wasn’t.’
‘I thought so. You know one day you’ll forgive yourself for falling in love with whoever broke your heart. Then you’ll be ready to be swept off your feet by a man who deserves you.’
‘But it won’t be you.’
‘No. You and I are too alike. We’re both too bitter. Too obsessed with holding onto past wrongs.’
‘I know who’s done me wrong, but what about you? Who are you angry with?’
Doug shook his head, annoyed he’d let the conversation get this far. ‘It’s not important. What is important is that you wake up to what’s happening and make some changes. Go and find yourself a man who wants you for your brain, your beauty, your bolshie personality. Not just sex.’
‘I like the first two, but bolshie?’
He grinned. ‘Some men will see it as an asset.’
‘And what do you see as an asset, Doug? Big brown eyes and a ditzy personality?’
He’d spent a lifetime masking his feelings, so why this time did he fail? Geraldine zeroed in on his frozen face. ‘Oh my goodness, I’m right, aren’t I? You’ve got your eyes on Miss Disney out there.’
‘I’m not discussing this,’ he replied tightly, fumbling for his control. ‘Not now, not ever. Tell me what you came here to say.’
Being the smart lady she was, Geraldine immediately got down to business. When they’d discussed and agreed her proposal she stood and ran a finger lightly down his arm. ‘You know I won’t say a word to anyone, Doug. I hope things work out for you, I really do. I may have been a bit harsh on Abby earlier and I’m sorry for that. You deserve someone, too.’
Doug tried to put his female issues behind him and finalise his canvas selection but his mind wasn’t really in it. Though he was relieved he and Geraldine had sorted themselves out, he was terrified that if she could see his thing, for want of a better word, for Abby, then so could everyone else. Including Abby.
‘I wasn’t sure if you wanted a drink, so I brought you one just in case.’
She plonked the mug down in front of him.
He glanced at the coaster to his right, and then up at her. With a huff she picked up the mug and placed it on the coaster.
‘Thank you.’
She started to walk back to her desk.
‘Abby, have I upset you in some way?’
She came to a halt and slowly turned round. ‘No, of course not. Why?’
‘Because you haven’t smiled once today.’
‘Neither have you.’
‘Smiling isn’t a usual part of my repertoire. It is yours.’
‘Maybe I’ve not had very much to smile about today.’
He clearly wasn’t going to get anything out of her using the indirect approach. ‘Are you upset about Geraldine? Because she came to discuss a work issue. Nothing more.’
‘Fine.’ She shuffled her feet a little and scratched at the side of her nose. ‘Actually, that’s better than fine. You and she … well, you didn’t seem to work together as a couple. She didn’t make you happy.’
‘No.’ He wondered if happy, like smiling, was even in his repertoire. ‘Before you go I want to talk to you about a couple of things. First I’d like you to set up a meeting next week with the heads of department you think need to be involved in the implementation of your packaging proposal.’
She blinked up at him. ‘You’re going to go with it?’
‘Looks that way, though we need approval from the board, and in order to gain their approval we need to put a bit more flesh on the bones, hence this meeting. I’d like you to kick it off by going through your report.’
‘I … well … that’s good. I think.’ She scribbled something onto her notepad. ‘I mean, it’s good you’re considering the work I did. Great even.’
‘But?’
‘I’m not sure about the advisability of me delivering a presentation.’
‘It’s your work, Abby. You should take the credit.’
‘Okay. In that case I’m going to take a deep breath and thank you for the opportunity. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Everyone will be very happy to listen to your PA, who by the way has only been with the company just over two months, present her ideas on how Crumbs should change the packaging that’s been the hallmark of the company for the last hundred years.’ She bit into her bottom lip. ‘Yes, it’ll be just fine.’
‘It will be. I’ll be there, Abby. You won’t be going into the vipers’ nest alone.’
‘Good to hear you calling it a vipers’ nest. Very reassuring.’ Her head bobbed and she gave him a wonky smile. ‘And the second thing?’
‘It’s the item Geraldine came to discuss with me. I should have asked you to listen in, because it was actually all your idea, so I apologise I didn’t.’
‘What idea?’
‘You told me on day one not to get rid of the three brands Taylors were keen to get their hands on. We didn’t, though I confess my decision to abandon discussions wasn’t entirely down to a desire to keep them all at Crumbs.’ His mind flashed up an image of her terrified face when he’d burst into Teddy’s room and his fist clenched automatically. ‘Geraldine and I were discussing the revised marketing strategy for the brands, targeted at the younger generation who, I’m reliably informed, value traditional biscuit brands.’
Her face paled. ‘Oh no, please don’t tell me you’ve devised a whole campaign on one of my throwaway comments. I’d read it somewhere but I haven’t looked into it properly. It might have been rubbish—’
‘Relax, I’m not that naïve. Geraldine and the team have gone through all the previous research and conducted new research. They’re convinced a focused campaign will prove beneficial.’ He grabbed at a pen and Post-it note. ‘I’m going to give you my log in for the sales database. You can keep an eye on it and see for yourself if you were right.’
She stared at the paper for a few moments before taking it from him, careful not to touch his fingers. ‘Wow, well thank you.’
‘No, thank you. If you were right, and I highly suspect you were, then sales will go up and I’ll look good.’
‘And if I’m wrong?’
‘It’ll be one more stick for my father to beat me with, though I doubt he’ll find it amongst the forest he’s already gathered.’ He nodded towards the log in details he’d given her. ‘Guard that with your life. Otherwise it won’t just be my father breathing fire down my neck. It will be the IT department, too.’
Finally, finally, she smiled. The warmth from it seeped into every part of his body. ‘I’ll memorise it, then I’ll eat it.’
His face cracked into a responding smile, proving smiling was in his repertoire. At least when he was with Abby.
Chapter Eleven
Abby warily opened the door to the meeting room. The moment she was spotted conversations stopped and all eyes turned on her. Though she recognised the faces there was only one person she knew to talk to. Geraldine. And the seat next to her was empty. Better to sit next to someone she didn’t know, or someone she knew but was downright hostile? Oh, and who’d slept with her boss. She started to walk towards the grey-haired male head of packaging when Geraldine cleared her throat.
‘Hello, Abby. Why don’t you take the seat next to me and I’ll introduce you to this motley crew.’
Realising there was no way she could refuse the olive branch, Abby slipped into the seat beside Geraldine while she made the introductions. Following a few curt greetings the others – all men – we
nt back to their conversation. Geraldine, though, seemed determined to talk to her.
‘Is our leader showing any signs of gracing us with his presence?’
‘He’ll be here in a minute. He’s just finalising something.’ She’d overheard him on the phone discussing arrangements for some do he was going to tonight. It crossed her mind that Geraldine might know where he was going – might even be going with him. Not that it bothered her, of course, because she and Doug weren’t an item. Even though he’d given her the best kiss of her life.
‘How are you getting on with him?’ Geraldine’s voice cut through her wayward thoughts. ‘In your role it must be so important to get on with your boss. The rest of us only have to deal with our managers now and again but as Doug’s assistant you must practically work on top of each other.’
Please, don’t let her blush. ‘He’s very easy to work for but I don’t see that much of him. He spends a lot of time in meetings.’
‘Would you like to see more of him?’ Abby felt the sting to her cheeks but before her shocked brain could think of a reply Geraldine put a hand on her arm. ‘Sorry, rude question. It probably seems very catty of me to ask that considering Doug and I … well, you know.’
‘Yes.’
‘We’re no longer together, though. In fact we never really were, not in the true sense of the word. Does that help with your answer to my question?’
Thankfully Doug chose that moment to walk into the room. As Abby’s heart gave its habitual lurch she almost laughed. It must be highly obvious to anyone who bothered to look at her that she wanted to see more of Doug in every sense.
‘Sorry I’m late. Have you all met Abby?’ When the room nodded, he continued. ‘Good. Abby isn’t here today as my PA, she’s here as the brains behind the packaging proposal we’re about to discuss.’ Unconsciously Abby shrunk several inches down in her chair. ‘Abby has a business degree and is keen to learn about how Crumbs operates, which is why I asked her to look at this project.’ For the first time since he’d entered the room he looked directly at her and though his face was expressionless, his eyes were warm and encouraging. ‘Abby, if you could please bring everyone up to speed with your ideas? Then we’ll move on to how we should implement them.’
Before she could move, hard to when her muscles were frozen with nerves, one of The Three Stooges, as Abby had privately named the respective heads of packaging, manufacturing and sales, stirred in his seat.
‘Just to clarify, there will be no discussion on the ideas themselves? Just the implementation?’
‘That’s correct, Richard. Your packaging team has already looked into this and the board turned down your proposal.’
Richard looked less than happy. ‘No disrespect,’ he said, flicking a brief, impolite glance in her direction, ‘but we’re being asked to accept the findings of a personal assistant on an area she has zero experience in, compared to our collective fifty odd years?’
As Abby died a thousand deaths, Doug narrowed his eyes. ‘We’re going to listen with an open mind to Abby’s suggestions. After that, if there are any legitimate concerns we’ll talk through them in a considered, non-judgmental fashion. If you see Abby as anything other than an astute businesswoman at the end of her presentation, you have prejudices that have no place in modern business.’ He nodded again in her direction. ‘Abby.’
He’s not trying to big you up so you’ll fail. She reminded herself of that as she pushed back her chair and walked to the waiting computer, willing her rubbery legs to function properly. He was showing them all he had confidence in her. It was up to her to prove it wasn’t misplaced.
‘After an introduction like that I’m almost afraid to open my mouth.’ Taking a breath she gripped onto the table so nobody could see how much her hands were shaking. ‘As those who know me will testify though, I can never go for too long without talking.’
Her gaze swept over her small audience. Three stony-faced men, a marketing head who appeared to have decided she wanted to be friends, and Doug. As her eyes met his she read the message loud and clear. Show them what you’re made of.
Clearing her throat she clicked onto her first slide.
Doug listened to the way Abby handled the sometimes antagonistic questions and worked hard to suppress a grin. The three chauvinists were clearly out to prove that sweet looking young blondes had no place driving big business decisions. They’d yet to realise that behind the cute exterior Abby was sharp and tough; Red Riding Hood maybe, but with the cunning of the wolf and the strength of the huntsman, too.
Only when the questions and objections finally petered out did he speak. ‘Now we’re all in agreement on the way forward, let’s take a ten minute comfort break before we discuss implementation.’
As the men trooped out he touched Abby lightly on her arm. ‘Wait a minute, please.’
Geraldine caught his gesture and gave him a sly smile before firmly shutting the door behind her.
All ready to tell Abby how well she’d done, the words died on his lips as he stared at her. She was loving this, he realised. It was there in her wide smile and pink cheeks, but even clearer in her dancing eyes. He’d never wanted to kiss a woman more, so he deliberately stepped away and went to turn off the computer. If only turning off his attraction was as easy.
‘You enjoyed that, didn’t you?’ he finally asked.
‘Would you think I’m crazy if I said yes?’
‘No crazier than I already do.’
Her giggle bounced round the room and into his heart. This time Doug wanted more than to kiss her. He wanted to touch, hug, enclose her in his arms and let her vibrancy, her enthusiasm for life seep into his cynical bones.
‘In that case I’ll admit I enjoyed every minute. No, hang on, I enjoyed every minute after the bit when I nearly died from nerves while you were saying all those wildly flattering things.’
‘All true.’
Her smile grew even wider. ‘If you say so, Mr Boss. But wow, when they were firing off all those questions and I knew, just knew I had the answer. It was incredible. More satisfying than pizza, more enjoyable than a romcom, more of a buzz than a roller coaster ride. It was like a sword fight and a chess game all rolled into one. And I think I came out on top.’
Her statement was without guile or arrogance. In fact there was a hint of wonder to it, as if she couldn’t believe she’d handled it so well. ‘You definitely came out on top. You handled the presentation and the questions like a true pro. I’m delighted you enjoyed it. Amazed, but delighted.’
‘Why amazed? Because I’m only a PA—’
‘Don’t,’ he cut in harshly, causing her to jump. ‘Don’t ever put yourself down like that,’ he expanded more calmly. ‘I’m amazed you enjoyed it the same way I’m amazed anyone would enjoy this business.’
‘Because you don’t.’ It wasn’t a question.
‘You’re right. I don’t.’
‘Then why do it?’
Good question. He kept quiet.
‘Does it have to do with your father?’ She was too sharp to lie to but really, what could he say? Thankfully she slapped a hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry, I ask far too many questions. I really am a nosey bitch sometimes.’
‘I’ve met a few bitches, and you’re not one.’ He glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘If you don’t escape now, you won’t get that break.’
‘Question neatly avoided because you’re right, I do need to pee. My bladder is about to burst …’ She threw a hand over her mouth. ‘Oh crumbs, that was too much information. I’m leaving now before I say anything more stupid.’
Once again, she left him smiling.
The meeting had gone better than she’d dared to hope. Well, apart from the bit during the break where she’d decided to discuss bodily functions with her boss. Again. Ten weeks after that mortifying interview though she’d not only presented her ideas to change the Crumbs packaging, she’d done so like a real pro, according to that same boss.
So why could
n’t she be happy with that? Why did she want Doug to be impressed by Abby the woman, as well as Abby the PA? If only he hadn’t kissed her. Then she could have told herself it was all one-sided and she didn’t have a hope of catching his eye.
Stop thinking about it!
Figuring a blast of fresh air would do her good, and hopefully take her mind off the fact that she fancied her boss, she took a stroll to the local deli in her lunch hour.
Gripping onto the sandwich, drink, apple and bag of crisps – why hadn’t she paid for a flipping carrier? – she was legging it back to the office when she collided with a man walking down the corridor in the opposite direction.
‘I’m so sorry … Roger? What on earth are you doing here?’
‘Hey, Abby.’ He nodded down to her, his fringe falling into his eyes. ‘I wondered if I’d see you. Mandy said I was bound to, seeing as you’re the boss man’s secretary, but I guess you were at lunch when I went up.’
‘You went up? To see Doug?’
‘Well, yeah.’ He scratched at the back of his neck. ‘I mean I phoned him first. It’s not like I just turned up.’
‘But why did you need to see him? You’re not in any trouble are you, because if you are you really can’t go running to—’
‘He told me to call him,’ Roger cut in, looking miffed. ‘After that day at your house. He said when I decided to man up to my responsibilities I should give him a call. So I did.’
‘Right.’ Abby’s mind was about to blow. ‘And? What did you talk about?’
‘He’s gonna give me a job.’
She stared at the lanky, tattoo-riddled father of her nephew. ‘A job?’
‘That’s what I said.’
‘Doing what?’
‘I’ll start in production, just basic stuff. If I’m any good he said I can do a rotation in other departments to see what I enjoy most.’ Her expression must have betrayed her because Roger gave an agitated shake of his head. ‘Look, I won’t let you or him down, I promise. I know you don’t like me much and I can see why. I’ve been a total loser, but that’s gonna stop now. I’ll work hard and prove to Mandy I can be a good father. Maybe even a good boyfriend, husband, whatever, if it all goes well.’
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