a grey sleeveless tailored dress with a short tulip skirt, grab the matching jacket and slip on a pair of black patent stiletto heels. Hanging the towel in the bathroom, I catch sight of my pale cheeks, bloodless lips and puffy eyes. Not a good look. I hurriedly apply the basics – pressed powder, eyeliner, clear lip gloss – and comb my fringe down with shaking hands. How will I face Alex?
I was going to kiss him.
And he knew it.
Oh, God.
I’ll just have to make the best of it. Apologise then maintain the biggest physical distance from him.
Arriving in reception, the polite professional smile I’ve pasted on falters when Alex steps forward from the front desk clad in a sharp black suit and narrow black tie, looking like he’s about to attend a funeral. Dark but devastating. Great. I address a spot above his left shoulder. ‘Shall we go in for breakfast?’
He drags his gaze over my outfit and frowns, carefully fixing his attention somewhere around my right earlobe. ‘Something’s come up,’ he says curtly. ‘I’ve got to sort out a problem with a new acquisition. Go ahead and eat without me.’
‘B–but,’ my throat goes achy and weird, ‘if it’s a business issue I should help you with it. Don’t you need me?’
He pauses, eyes raking over my face, expression guarded. ‘No,’ he replies tightly. ‘I don’t. I’ll see you later. Don’t look for me, I’ll find you.’
I don’t get a chance to say anything before he stalks off. Obviously he’s annoyed because of what happened by the pool, but that was just rude. And what can I do when he’s not given me the chance to say sorry? And what will I do if the almost-kiss has blasted away any professional respect he has for me, undermining my credibility? My plan will be totally shot.
The anxious thoughts whirl around in my jumbled head twenty minutes later as I push aside food I’ve only toyed with. Finishing my fresh orange juice, I stare down at the tablecloth, something inside hurting. I’ve got the horrid feeling it’s not just Alex’s opinion of me as an employee that matters. It’s his view of me as a woman too.
Despite everything, I want him to like me. We had such a good time at dinner last night. He was so funny once he relaxed, and I opened up to him more than I’d planned to. I enjoyed his company. And he is respectful of women after all, and—
No. Oh no. Don’t do it, Charley.
I’m being sloppy and sentimental. It’s the exhaustion of lost sleep talking, the stress of the last few months. Alex doesn’t – can’t – matter to me in that way.
I text Jess, not expecting an answer because of the time difference.
Morning sleepyhead, need to talk later. Made a complete fool of myself with Alex this morning. Could do with some advice. C x
As I order another juice and decide whether to wait for Alex as requested or go look for him, my phone vibrates.
Morning, no probs, but now I’m intrigued! Shall have to wait until 2nite to find out what the big mystery is. Until then, advice = whatever it is, keep your cool! J X
Easy for her to say – she isn’t stuck with The Most Gorgeous Man Ever for the entire weekend. Tucking my phone away, I jump as Alex appears beside me, one hand in the pocket of his exquisitely cut trousers, his buttoned-up suit jacket showing off his broad shoulders and flat stomach. Pure lust erupts inside me, along with a vision of the mouth-watering body I caught a glimpse of by the pool. Then Jess’s advice ping-pongs around my head. Keep your cool. It might not be easy to follow, but it is sensible. Winter ice cool, that’s what I’ll go for.
‘Hello,’ I clip politely. ‘Ready?’ I grab my bag and stand up.
‘Yes, thank you.’ His voice is equally bland. ‘Ready to go and run over the PowerPoint presentation?’
‘Yes, thank you. Lead the way.’
After striding across the lobby, we climb a small flight of carpeted stairs leading to a short corridor filled with gold-handled doors. He holds one open for me wordlessly.
‘Thanks.’ I slip into a large conference room, more like a hall. Stepping over to a box-filled table, I tuck my bag away as Alex stalks to the front of the room. ‘I’ll just get set up,’ I call over. ‘Give me five minutes.’
‘No problem,’ he responds distractedly, fiddling with his laptop.
A few minutes later I’m satisfied the name badges, delegate list, notepads and pen pots are laid out properly and walk along the blue-carpeted aisle created by the two sections of chairs set out in lines. Stepping onto the slightly raised stage, Alex is standing at the podium, adjusting the microphone with a deep line cutting between his dark eyebrows.
He gestures to the wireless laptop set on a glass table over to the side and I nod, hustling over to it. Sitting down, I tap a finger on the Enter key and a sign-in screen appears.
‘Password?’ I prompt.
‘Sorry, I didn’t expect it to have gone into sleep mode already.’ I jerk as the words flow directly into my ear, his warm breath sweeping over my cheekbone. A shiver runs up my back. I can’t sigh out loud, so I hold my breath instead. ‘Here.’ Reaching across me, he types his password in whilst I try not to flinch, holding my position as I will myself not to stare at his long lashes and the faint stubble along his jaw. He’s close enough I can smell his trendy male scent. It’s gorgeous; clean, masculine and sexy. Just like him. As I start to unwittingly lean closer, he straightens.
‘Okay?’ he asks.
‘Yes.’ I breathe out.
‘Well?’
‘Yes?’ I swing my head to look at him.
‘It’s ready for you to use.’
I must look blank because he gestures to the laptop, mouth curving in a slight smile. ‘Care to rejoin me on planet Earth so we can get started?’ He pauses. ‘I interrupted your nap earlier, perhaps you’re still tired?’
The mild sarcasm makes me flush. ‘That was an accident. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I just didn’t sleep properly last night.’
‘Hmm,’ slipping me a sideways glance, ‘I know the feeling.’
Not sure what he means, I ignore his comment. ‘Look Alex, I owe you an apology. I shouldn’t have—’
‘Now’s not the time. Let’s get on with this.’ Not waiting for an answer to his comment, he strolls back to the microphone.
I bite my lip. ‘Fine. But we’ll talk later,’ I mutter crossly under my breath. ‘That’s a promise.’
The next few hours are ridiculously busy. It’s exhilarating, even if not the work I’m used to any more. After syncing the laptop to the massive SMART board above the stage, we run through Alex’s presentation three times before he’s happy with it. He has a clicker to control the slides, but insists I know the timings in case of technical faults, in which case I’ll use the laptop to change the slides.
I greet the few dozen employees and some of the shareholders as they flood in, Alex explaining to me in a low voice that anyone not present can vote by proxy or electronically. Giving out badges, ticking off lists and making small talk, I enjoy the buzz in the air. There are probably about two hundred attendees and they all look pleased to be here.
Whilst coffee is served ahead of the meeting, it strikes me as bitterly ironic to be representing the global umbrella organisation of the company in the capacity of a temporary PA when my ultimate ambition was to fast-track into a promoted position elsewhere in the group. If it weren’t for Tony, one day I might have been attending an AGM as a senior manager. It’s not fair.
Face burning with troubled thoughts, I’m glad when Alex nods at me across the room to get started.