by Shel Stone
It would never do her any good delving into that question, because the answer was probably never going to correspond to any fairy tale she knew. If he wasn’t using her for political leverage—a declaration she didn’t entirely buy—then he was just using her for a quick lay. He’d made it abundantly clear that there was nothing between them going forward.
Urging herself to dismiss that little scene, she to refuse to think about it. A couple of more people to greet and she could escape this place. It really was ridiculous flying over here just to show her face at a party, even with the bonus of getting to spend some time with her mum.
When it came time to leave, her feet felt heavy. It felt like she was giving away an opportunity; that the night had potential if she stayed. Or so thought that same part of her that wished he was sincere about telling her he wasn’t using her. It was the same part that hoped that he had completely fallen in love with her, and thought she was the most interesting and fabulous female he’d ever met. Granted, she was neither gorgeous nor particularly fascinating, but she was to him—she was the one he’d been waiting for all his life. Stupid notions that made her feel nothing but silly. She had to get a grip, and a smart girl would walk out the door and get on with her life, not hang around waiting for some unattainable guy to decide she was the one for them.
Forcing herself to leave, she braved the wind picking up outside, as it bit into her skin through the light dress. She ran down the street towards the hotel and she felt better the farther away she got from the restaurant and the absurd hope that the little fling she’d had with Damon D’Arth had actually been meaningful, despite the seemingly bad outcome.
Chapter 12
EDMUND SEEMED TO KNOW the exact day her contract ran out. She was flattered that he kept tabs on her and that he wanted to make sure she didn’t disappear off the radar, but she wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted. There was nothing special about her; she wasn’t some star performer with mad skills that were irreplaceable. Maybe he was just loyal to his own people and she had become one of those when he took her on as his personal assistant. She’d certainly been around long enough to know that most people didn’t care beyond the point where they got exactly what they were after: to complete their project.
For some reason, she couldn’t seem to think beyond her current contract and she’d been so busy, she hadn’t had time to actually do anything about securing a new one. Perhaps she was due a break anyway, while she found something new. She hadn’t even made any decisions about whether she wanted to return to New Zealand or stay in Australia.
“Now Bella, you remember Jack Vester, you met him at the party a couple of months back.”
“I remember.”
“He is getting a consortium together to bid on a combined-cycle power plant down south. He needs some help coordinating the bid. The project’s just starting and I think you should put your hat in the ring for it.”
“I’m an analyst, Edmund. I’m not sure anyone would hire me to take on a project like that. And I don’t have any experience in energy.”
“Pish, infrastructure is infrastructure, no matter what one does with it. You have some good experience and some meaty projects behind you. You know what to do. This is a natural next step for you,” he said, dismissing her concerns. It was a next step—a big one. “Why don’t you come to the presentation on Friday? You don’t need to make your mind up until after you see what the project is. It would be a great little project though, and it would look fantastic on your CV. You shouldn’t let opportunities like this pass.”
It did sound exciting, and it would be a project that would springboard her career to the next level. She’d sworn she was out of that game, but this was such a fantastic opportunity, and she knew Edmund would push to get her the job. It wasn’t a sedate and tame environment to work in and it required a lot from her, but it would be both exciting and rewarding. She really should have spent more time thinking about what to do next, because the only other options before her seemed pale in comparison. Edmund’s support and mentorship would do more for her career than anything she could do on her own. She knew this was one of those crossroads where she decided her own future.
She’d been pretty content in the job until things had changed. The stress was there; it always would be, but so was the excitement too—and it had all been exciting until she’d decided to sleep with the ridiculously attractive account manager. This opportunity was too good to pass up. This was the path to becoming Damon D’Arth—to run the kind of projects he did. If she passed on it, she would be passing on that kind of career, because she wasn’t going to get this opportunity again. Maybe she should just harden up and not be scared away by the one mistake she’d made.
“Maybe I could check out the presentation,” she said tentatively.
“You’re making the right decision, Bella.” It was nice to hear it, but she wasn’t entirely certain. This was a game with high stakes and high reward, and there were unscrupulous people in it; she just have to learn to deal with it and to protect her own interests.
*
From there it happened rather smoothly, there wasn’t a big offer which she needed to accept; she’d just ended up being absorbed into the job, starting with an offer after the presentation to come review the plan at the office, then material just started being sent to her. Before she knew it, it was her project and she was being introduced to Robyn Keets, who was a bit of a consents and legislative guru.
They met one morning and they were about the same age. Robyn had come from the consulting world and she was smart, ambitious and dedicated. They both knew this project would make or break their reputation in the industry. Robyn had a wicked sense of humour and even though they were different, they got on really well and were both there to get the job done. Before long, they worked well together as a team with both of them pulling the project forward at a good pace.
Bella was surprised by how much she’d actually learnt at Contil-Symax. Having observed others, she’d apparently stored away all that information in her brain. She knew what to do; she knew the stages they needed to go through and what they needed to deliver. She also knew what kind of people needed to be involved where, and the decisions that they needed to make. Robyn knew her way around the laws, the councils and the approvals processes.
While the job was fantastic, there was one big drawback to being back in Auckland—the constant reminders of her previous illustrious former account leader were everywhere. His photos were in the media all the time, being the way he always was, looking fantastic as some exclusive event with a model or a society girl beside him. There was even an article on him for one of the regional architecture magazines, including photos taken by a professional photographer, someone who apparently knew how to bring out his raw sex appeal in an image. Bella groaned when she saw the photos.
“He’s just friggin hot, isn’t he?” Robyn said as she came and sat down next to her. “You worked with him, didn’t you? Does he always look like that?”
“Pretty much,” Bella replied. She didn’t want to talk about him, because she didn’t want to think about him. It was bad enough that she would occasionally see his car driving past as she walked to the train in the commuter crowd. “What’s up?” Bella knew Robyn was seeking her out for something and she wasn’t wrong. Robyn wanted to discuss a bylaw issue.
Bella loved working with Robyn; there was no politics, they just got on with the job. They both needed each other to pull this off and Bella went home every night feeling good because she knew she’d done what she could that day, and usually they were making good progress.
She still met Edmund every Tuesday, and he advised her on what she should watch out for and sometimes people she should talk to. She wasn’t entirely sure how Edmund was involved with the projects, but he was. She suspected he was one of the main investors and he was pleased with the progress they were making. He even told her that he knew his faith in her would be rewarded.
His approval d
id mean a lot to her, probably more than it should, but she’d been a bit short on older male guidance growing up. Her father had only intermittently been in the picture, and when he was, he was too distracted to engage more than superficially. She had worked on herself to ensure that she wasn’t out seeking a father figure, but when Edmund Carmichael had taken her under his wing, she had got one anyway.
*
“Jack’s here, he wants to see us,” Robyn said one morning.
“What for?” Bella asked, concerned at it being outside the scheduled times when Jack checked in on them and the progress of the project. Something was up. Robyn shrugged.
“Nothing’s gone wrong as far as I can tell,” Robyn said and picked up her tablet.
Bella was curious, but she also knew that things were coming to a head in the project. It was evolving and things were getting harder; it was actually keeping her up at night, trying to think through the increasingly difficult tasks ahead.
Giving each other a questioning look, they walked over to the meeting room Jack tended to use.
“I hope he’s quick,” Robyn said. “I have a meeting at the council in twenty minutes. Do you think I have to cancel? I hope not, it would take me another week to schedule a new meeting, and I can’t afford to lose a week.” Bella had no useful information to add.
“Girls, take a seat,” Jack said as they walked in. Bella suspected Jack secretly loved having ambitious girls running his project. He wasn’t sleazy or crude about it, but he loved it. He also respected them and their abilities, which made for a nice working relationship between them all. “You have both done a fantastic job so far and you have every right to be proud of what you’ve achieved. But as you know, we are getting to a stage where things are getting really tricky and we need some political buy-in. We really need to schmooze some of the politicians down in Wellington if we’re going to get central Government buy-in.”
Robyn and Bella exchanged glances; this was an area that was out of their collective experience and skill set. Bella had seen this coming and she’d tried to get her head around it. As Jack was talking, Bella knew what he was getting at—they needed someone with experience on that level, they needed someone like Damon D’Arth. She hated it, but it was true. As smart and ambitious as both she and Robyn were, this was just something you couldn’t feel your way through.
“We need to bring someone in at this point, someone who can get us through this difficult part,” Jack continued. Bella struggled with conflicting emotions, on the one hand, she knew it was true, on the other, she hated the idea of someone coming in and potentially messing up the lovely dynamic they had going. “Let’s discuss it more at lunch. I have a reservation at the Grasshopper at one, come by then and we’ll talk more.” There were being dismissed and Jack’s incoming phone call meant the meeting was over.
“I have to run,” Robyn said when they got out. “Let’s talk about this when I get back.” Bella knew Robyn was concerned as well. Robyn was not a fan of unknown entities in their project, while Bella just had a bad feeling. The Grasshopper was one of Edmund’s restaurants; it was where he liked doing business. She’d bet money that Edmund was across this; he might even be there at lunch. Bella’s uncomfortable feeling stuck with her the rest of the morning.
*
Bella and Robyn walked over to the Grasshopper in time to be there at one. Bella just felt this was going to be bad, and she knew she was right as she walked through the door. Edmund was at his usual table with Jack—and Damon D’Arth. Bella swore under her breath. She’d known in her gut they were bringing him onto the project. Feeling a surge of dread, she looked over at them. He was sitting with his back to her, relaxed and confident. She didn’t even have to see his face to know it was him, his dark blond hair neatly trimmed, broad shoulders and the expensive suit was enough to tell her who it was.
“Is that..?” Robyn asked.
“Yep,” Bella responded. Robyn gave her an impressed look like they were having lunch with a rock star. Edmund spotted them and waved them over. Bella felt like she was walking in slow motion, her heart racing with nervous energy, making her hands feel clammy, and she wiped them on the back of her suit jacket. She also wanted to murder Edmund, while at the same time knowing Edmund didn’t care about personal mistakes and embarrassment—this was business and he did what was best for business.
The men all stood up when they got there. It reminded her a bit of old-time values when men stood up as women entered the room, but it was really part of the handshake ritual. Bella started in the opposite direction, but the table was too small for the ‘I won’t shake your hand because you’re too far away’ nod. She just had to take the bullet and shake his hand.
His hand was warm and her body seemed to remember its touch. Heat diffused throughout her face. This was going to be unbearable. As much as she disliked him and the things he stood for, she was still ridiculously attracted to him—more so now that she had a whole suite of sounds and images to go with those particular sensations. The sad fact was that she didn’t respond like this to anyone else, and now she’d been suckered into going googly eyes over him too. She was fine the way things were before that unfortunate trip to Singapore. He was attractive, but it didn’t affect her; it was just like a passing notion that didn’t take root in her mind in any meaningful way. It was a different story now; she could barely function around him with this relentless nervous awareness.
She would wish it away in a heartbeat if she could. Had to get this under control, being too smart to be losing her cool over some inappropriate man, no matter how hot he was. She really should take direction from Edmund—this was business and they needed him. She needed to focus on that.
“Damon will start in a couple of weeks,” Edmund said. Bella just nodded, unable to trust herself to speak at that moment.
“Cool,” Robyn said. “We can certainly use some help.”
“The way I hear it, you need some slight guidance at best,” Damon’s deep voice said. Robyn looked ecstatic at the praise. Bella looked at him. She hadn’t expected him to pay them any due, but it was also abundantly clear that they were now expected to take direction from him—a position she’d never officially been in before as she had always been a representative from an outside team, even when she chose to assist him with financing for the Singapore deal. Now, she was going to be his lackey. Closing her eyes, she cursed her misfortune. This would definitely have to go down as a potential story for those conversations girls had about disastrous misfortunes involving ex’s—not that they were ever in a relationship, but this would qualify for such a discussion. He was essentially going to be her boss for all intents and purposes. If that didn’t qualify for a horror ex story, she didn’t know what did.
*
Carmichael had been neglectful in specifying which girls he had working on this project. He had sung their praises—young, smart and aspiring. Damon should have known that the old codger would include his little pet in this project. For some reason, it hadn’t occurred to him; he’d assumed that she was still in Sydney, but now she was back and Carmichael had wheedled her onto his project without telling him. He was sure the old man was taunting him. Well, he had another thing coming.
Damon was not going to be distracted by her, nor was he going to succumb to her powerful but indiscernible charms. There was absolutely nothing special about her. She was pretty enough and she did have a healthy body under her business clothes. He couldn’t help tightening when he thought about her curves. Mentally rolled his eyes, he cursed Carmichael again. She still had some kind of grip on him, but he was not going to acknowledge it. For some reason, he found her attractive. He found lots of girls attractive. Attraction wasn’t compelling; he didn’t have to act on it. Although that was the exact same thing he’d thought in Singapore. But that had been different; he’d been weak with lack of sleep, jetlag and a consuming relief that they’d got a decent proposal into the client’s hands before the deadline. Circumstances had made him los
e control; it would not be repeated.
“This is an important project for all of us,” Carmichael said, smiling. “I think we have the right team to pull it off.” Damon wasn’t entirely sure if that was the only objective Carmichael had by pulling this particular group of team members together. Not that he wouldn’t do his best; he achieved his aims and he would do so with this project—inconsequential attraction or not.
Chapter 13
DAMON ARRIVAL ON the project changed things immediately. Anything tricky, they’d had to wait until Damon came, so he could make the decisions. It got to the point where Bella was too tied up to move until Damon came and released the breaks. And here he was.
A desk was ready for him in their project office. They had moved their informal meeting table out and replaced it with another desk.
From today on, he would be here every day, all day, sitting across the room from her, infusing the room with his masculinity and cologne.
From what she understood, he would return to his normal role at Contil-Symax when he was done here. It was through Edmund’s persuasion he was here at all, and likely with the proviso that Contil-Symax would be a part of the eventual build.
Bella heard his voice outside the office and she drew a deep breath, preparing herself for the day. Even just his energy was changing the office, and it would be with them for weeks. She gave him a quick nod as she walked in. As soon as he sat down, he reached for the phone and he gave her the barest nod back. Then she tried to block him out as she concentrated on her emails. Could she move her desk so she faced away from him?
“I need the project plan, Bella,” he said when he got off the phone.