It took her a while to find the bar. The hotel was enormous, with extensive shopping within it and several dining areas. Eventually, however, she was directed to one of the less casual bars, which was where she expected he would be. Relaxing over a whisky and soda and amusing himself with various scenarios involving George and his dismissal.
Sure enough, he was there, nursing a drink, although it looked like wine instead of whisky.
He glanced at her as soon as she began heading in his direction.
He had changed out of his travelling gear into a pair of cream trousers, an open-necked pale shirt and some loafers. He looked completely at ease—which had the perverse effect of making her feel totally out of place.
She had brought her tablet, which she placed on the table before sitting down.
‘What’s that for?’
Alessandro poured her a glass of wine before she could tell him that she wasn’t going to be drinking.
‘Have you decided that you’d rather watch a movie than talk to me?’
Instantly flustered, Kate adjusted the tablet and then sat back, hands on her lap. ‘I thought I’d take notes on it rather than on paper,’ she told him.
‘We’re having an informal chat.’ Alessandro finished his wine, and before he could top up his glass someone materialized and did it for him before subsiding back into the background. ‘I’m not dictating terms and conditions.’
‘Yes, I know that. But...’
‘No matter. If it makes you happy to busy yourself on a tablet then who am I to tell you otherwise? I thought we’d eat here. It’s less formal than one of the hotel restaurants and it saves us the trouble of venturing out... Unless you’d rather do a bit of city exploring...? See what’s out there...?’
He waited for a heated negative to that idea—which, predictably, he got.
Did she ever let her hair down? he wondered. Aside from when she was closeted away in her house, safe in her territory, where no one could see her? Unless they unexpectedly dropped by and refused to go away without being invited inside... What did she do for fun? Did she have any? Or was that an alien concept to be avoided at all costs?
Curiosity niggled away at him, and he wasn’t sure whether he was impatient with that, exasperated or invigorated—because curiosity and women was a combination that didn’t occur in his life.
His dark eyes lazily fastened to her face, he summoned the same guy who had leapt to refill his glass and somehow managed to convey a request for menus without actually saying anything.
Kate watched this interplay between power and subservience, unsettled but fascinated.
‘I sincerely hope you’ve brought something else to wear tomorrow, Kate. It’s boiling here at this time of year...’
‘I’ll be fine,’ Kate said airily.
‘Sure? Because if you’ve brought those shorts of yours then feel free to wear them. They’d be far more appropriate, given the weather. The food here’s excellent,’ he carried on, as menus were placed in front of them. ‘I stayed here the last time I was in Toronto and I couldn’t fault the food. Or the service.’
‘They’re very obliging,’ Kate said politely. ‘I guess it’s the least you’d expect, considering what you’re probably paying...’
Alessandro grinned. ‘A bit like the service and the hot meals in the first-class lounge...? Touché...’
‘I don’t suppose you ever slum it...’
‘I try and avoid that. Why? Have I been missing out?’
At the prospect of another detour into a personal conversation she didn’t want—one she would have to manoeuvre through with the adroitness of someone walking in a minefield—Kate brought the talk firmly round to business and the reason why she was sitting opposite him in the first place. In a darkened bar. Knees practically touching under the table. Chilled wine in front of them. She inched her knees to one side and hoped he hadn’t noticed.
‘You mentioned in the car on the way here that there was something you wanted to talk to me about in connection with this job promotion...that’s why I’ve brought my tablet, as a matter of fact. I thought it might be an idea to make some notes on the various responsibilities I’ll be taking on board.’
‘Ah, down to business straight away...’
Kate reddened, resenting the way that simple observation made her feel instantly like a bore. A bore in a semi-suit.
‘Good idea. You’re right. We’ll probably both need our beauty sleep if tomorrow’s going to be a long day.’
Kate searched his face for typical Alessandro irony but he returned her gaze seriously. Not that she believed he needed to go to sleep at this hour. She doubted he needed much sleep at all. Maybe even none. He struck her as the sort of guy who could just keep going...and going...and going...taking the occasional power nap while the rest of the world collapsed, exhausted, in his wake.
And he’d be able to do that whilst still managing to look, frankly, drop-dead gorgeous.
They both ordered something light from the menu and then she nervously gulped down a generous mouthful of wine and looked to him to carry on the conversation. He didn’t.
‘Yes...’ she returned feebly at last. ‘So...’
‘So here’s the thing, Kate.’
He leaned forward, suddenly all business, and she inched back in the chair, taking the wine glass with her.
‘If you recall, I expressed some concern that you might find the hours attached to your new role a little tedious if you’re forced to do them...and that’s something we should clear up right here and right now before going any further...’
He really had the most amazing eyelashes. He hadn’t shaved, and there was a shadowy stubble on his chin that also looked pretty amazing.
Kate tore her eyes away from both those amazing features and focused on him with a slight frown.
‘There’s nothing to clear up,’ she told him crisply. ‘I have no problem working long hours, if required. I one hundred per cent realize that that’s all part and parcel of any job that entails responsibility.’
Alessandro made a non-committal sound under his breath and sat back, pushing his chair away from the table so that he could cross his legs. He looked at her long and thoughtfully.
‘What about your personal life? Not to put too fine a point on it, I wouldn’t like to find that I’ve promoted you and you’re not up to the challenge because there’s some guy in the background, waiting for you to return home to cook his dinner...’
‘That won’t be the case,’ Kate responded hotly. ‘Firstly, there’s no man in the background—and secondly, even if there was, I certainly wouldn’t expect him to be a demanding kind of guy who wants his dinner cooked by me! In fact the reason I broke up with my last boyfriend—’ She clamped shut her mouth and stared at him, aghast.
He returned her stare, unperturbed.
‘Those sort of demanding men are to be avoided at all costs,’ he murmured softly. ‘I’m taking it that the boyfriend wanted more than you were prepared to give...? Hence he was given the heave-ho...?’
‘I... It was a very busy time for me... I...’ She cleared her throat and attempted to recover her lost composure. ‘So you needn’t fear that my mind won’t be completely on the job.’
‘I’m relieved. Although,’ he mused, ‘I sympathize. I guess he must have been an important person in your life, because you did tell me that you don’t believe in transitory relationships...’
‘It didn’t work out,’ Kate told him firmly, as she frantically sought an exit from the conversation. ‘I don’t dwell on the past.’
‘Very wise. Although you do allow it to influence certain aspects of your life. For instance, your dress code.’
At which point she decided that the next thing she would do, just as soon as she got the chance, would be to wipe that smirk off his face by making a point of showing him just how much it did not affect her dress code.
One slip-up—one slip up and the wretched man thought that he knew everything there was
to know about her.
‘And now that we’ve settled that,’ she said calmly, ‘maybe you could let me know how you plan on handling tomorrow...?’
CHAPTER SIX
[KATE SPENT A restless night, even though she’d checked and double-checked and, just for good measure, triple-checked that the interconnecting door was firmly locked.
She didn’t expect him to waltz into her room—not at all—but she knew that she would have no peace of mind unless he was physically incapable of doing so.
As it was, she didn’t have much peace of mind anyway.
Her brain was buzzing with thoughts of promotion, of George—poor George—and the surprise he was going to have delivered to him the following morning in the form of Alessandro and herself, of her helplessness when it came to taking a step back from Alessandro...
She had left him sauntering towards one of the hotel lounges, where he’d intended to relax and work. She had no idea what time he had eventually returned to his bedroom, but she had not settled into sleep until after midnight.
Now, with her alarm buzzing her awake at seven sharp, she felt tired and unrested.
She took a few minutes just to lie there, appreciating the splendour of her surroundings. The sleeping area of her suite was twice the size of her bedroom at home. A super-king-sized four-poster bed dominated the space—wickedly, decadently romantic, with gauze curtains—and through the shimmery cream veils she could make out the sleek fitted wardrobes, the clutch of chairs by the window for relaxing...
Beyond the bedroom was an exquisite sitting area, with sofas, a concealed plasma television, a drinks cabinet...
It was a home away from home—except Kate felt anything but relaxed as she contemplated the day ahead.
Alessandro had the name of the hotel where George and his wife were holidaying. Somewhere slightly outside the main hub of the city. They would get the whole thing over and done with and then, from there, devote the remainder of the day to arranging meetings with the company he wanted to buy and two others he might or might not want to have a look at.
He had made no appointments ahead of their arrival but she knew that that would not matter. He had such clout that doors would open before he even got round to knocking on them.
‘You look tense,’ were his opening words as she took a seat opposite him in the dining area where they were having breakfast. He indicated the buffet area, which was extensive, and told her that a cup of strong coffee and plenty of food would settle her nerves.
‘I’m not nervous,’ Kate lied. ‘Yes, I’m tense, because what we have to do will be unpleasant, but I’m not nervous.’ Because nervousness was closely related to timidity, and they were not up sides when it came to a job promotion.
At any rate, Alessandro thought wryly, she was doing her utmost to ward off the nerves she claimed not to have by wearing yet another suit and having her hair scraped back into its habitual bun. Just in case he didn’t get the message, her choice of clothes would remind him that she was here to do a job and relaxing wasn’t part of the programme.
He had almost had to drag her down to have dinner with him, and even then she had kept up the professional facade that he was increasingly tempted to shatter.
The glimpses he had had of the real, living, breathing, passionate woman underneath the straitjackets she insisted on wearing 24/7 had whetted his appetite.
Of course it didn’t make sense. He had enough choice in his life when it came to women not ever to make the mistake of hunting one down in his own office building. He also had enough choice to avoid any woman who gave off signals of looking for more than he was prepared to offer, and Kate Watson was definitely one of those women. He liked no-strings-attached, no-demands-made sex. She wanted strings and he was pretty sure she would be demanding. Not for her a few casual words of warning and then full steam ahead.
But he couldn’t get that image of her wearing those shorts and that cropped top out of his head. He couldn’t forget how she looked without make-up, with her hair swinging in a ponytail and those cute little freckles sprinkling her nose.
‘I’m relieved to hear it,’ he said.
Alessandro wondered whether she was aware of the challenge she was posing by wearing those unappealing suits at every opportunity. Maybe he should tell her that all items of clothing that were buttoned to the neck begged to be ripped off. Perhaps he could slip that into the conversation somewhere along the line. Her white, sensible blouse was buttoned to the neck...
‘Are you insisting on taking me with you to dispatch George as some kind of test?’
Alessandro’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You mean to see if you pass out at the ordeal? We’ll be dealing with a common criminal, Kate. I’m not asking you to visit a morgue and identify a body. But, like I said, it’s important to know how to be tough when the occasion demands. I’m surprised that you’re fixating on the stress of this fairly straightforward situation,’ he added with silky assurance, ‘when you brushed your last boyfriend aside because he wouldn’t do as you wanted...’
Without giving her a chance to say anything, and with his eyes firmly pinned to her face, he summoned one of the many hovering waitresses and ordered them both a full breakfast.
‘You’ll need it. If we’re heading up to see Wakeley’s there’s no guarantee that lunch is going to be on the agenda. We might have to grab something on the way. Now, you were about to explain how it is that this situation is bringing you out in a cold sweat when dispatching the potential love of your life didn’t...’
‘I was not about to explain any such thing!’
‘Apologies. I had no idea that it was still such an issue for you...’
‘It’s not an issue for me!’ Kate felt like a swimmer, desperately trying to fight against a current. Why had he ordered breakfast for her? She was fine with fruit and a croissant! Fine with removing herself from his suffocating presence on the pretext of taking her time to choose items from the buffet table.
‘There’s no need to explain why you’d rather not discuss this. I was only making conversation, Kate. No need to panic.’
‘I am not panicking,’ she gritted tightly, and he threw her a kindly smile which implied that he didn’t believe a word she was saying.
‘And why,’ she pressed on, snatching at the coffee and taking a restorative mouthful, ‘do you insist on asking me loads of personal questions? Which have nothing to do with my job?’
‘Like I said, I was only making conversation. If I’d known that you were still sensitive on the topic of your ex-boyfriend then I would never have gone there. Trust me.’
Kate resisted the urge to burst into manic laughter. Trust him? She would rather trust a river seething with hungry piranha.
‘And as to asking you “loads of personal questions”...I like knowing a bit about the people who work for me—especially those higher up the pecking order, in positions of responsibility. Which, I’m sure, is where you will be very soon, given your talents... It helps if I know whether they’re married, involved in a serious relationship, have children... That way I can tailor the needs of the job to accommodate their needs as much as is possible...’
He had never given it any such thought before, but now that he had it sort of made sense. Not that he would be playing by those rules. Ever. Still, never let it be said that he wasn’t a man who didn’t see things from every angle.
Kate allowed her ruffled feathers to be soothed. She had overreacted. Breaking up with her ex was not exactly state-secret fodder. Who cared? Did Alessandro Preda really give a damn whether she had called off a relationship years ago with a man who no longer featured in her life? Wasn’t he telling the truth when he said that he was just making conversation? Polite conversation? The sort of polite conversation that was made every second of every day between people who didn’t know one another all that well?
‘It didn’t work out,’ she told him. ‘Simple as that. And before you tell me that I’m a hypocrite, because I make such a big deal a
bout the importance of taking relationship building seriously...’
‘Relationship building? What’s that?’
Something my mother never did, was the reply that immediately sprang to mind, but she bit it back because that would be perfect proof of just how much she had been influenced by her mother’s behaviour.
In truth, looking back on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, she could see that it had been built on hope—hope that he might be the one because they got along and because he ticked all the boxes. Like her, he had been studying accountancy. He had been reliable, feet firmly planted on the ground, a solid, dependable sort. He had been just the type of guy who made sense.
‘It’s when two people take the time to really establish the building blocks of a future together.’
‘It sounds riveting. How do they do that?’
Kate lowered her eyes and remained silent.
‘Please don’t tell me you’re going to slip back into I couldn’t possibly say because I’m just your employee mode...’
‘I am just your employee.’
‘I’m giving you permission to speak your mind. Believe it or not...’ he sat back as enough breakfast to feed a small developing country was placed in front of them ‘...I do have conversations with some of my employees that don’t revolve exclusively around work...’
‘I doubt you’d understand the sort of building blocks I’m talking about,’ Kate told him politely. She stared at the mound of food facing her and wondered where to begin. She speared some egg and then eyed the tempting waffles at the side. ‘Considering you’re not into building relationships.’
‘Fill me in. I want to see what I’ve been missing.’
Kate looked at him with exasperation. The man was utterly impossible, even though the smile on his face was so charming that it would knock any woman for six. She hurriedly focused on her food as her heart picked up speed and started relaying all those taboo messages from her brain to her body.
At Her Boss's Pleasure Page 9