“I am here, Dad.” Rising, he tossed the rest of the liquor and put away the glass. “No need to pile on the compliments.” With a nod, he headed for the doors. “I will see you first thing in the morning.”
William watched him leave with a smile and made a mental note to give Jacinth a bonus.
*****
“I am here to see Reginald.”
“And you are?” Jacinth could not understand the instant dislike for the blonde who had wafted into her office, trailing exotic perfume and sensuality. The woman was poured into tight leather pants, knee-high black boots, and a powder pink designer sweater. A pink and white shawl was thrown carelessly around her shoulders.
“Jayne. He is expecting me.”
“Have a seat,” Jacinth told her a little discourteously, spitefully determined to make her wait.
“He told me you are very good at what you do.” The woman commented as she lowered herself into one of the plush chairs.
Jacinth was surprised and annoyed that he had discussed her with this woman who was obviously on intimate terms with him. “Is that right?”
“Yes.” Jayne flashed her a fake smile.
Without responding, Jacinth took her time to proof a line of the report she was typing before pressing the intercom.
“Yes?”
“You have a Jayne here to see you.”
“Please send her right in.”
“Do you have time for this? The McClennan’s are on their way as we speak.”
“Send her in. I don’t need you to be my time manager.” He responded curtly.
“As you wish.” Careful to keep the anger from her face, she nodded to the woman. “You may go in.”
“Where- “
“Take the doors to your left and make a right along the passageway.”
“Thank you.”
Without acknowledging that, Jacinth went back to work, fuming.
*****
Jacinth decided against knocking and pushed the doors open instead. She stood there rooted to the spot and felt a strange twisting inside her chest as the couple disentangled. He was sitting on the edge of his desk with the woman between his thighs, and she had interrupted an intimate moment. She did not give a damn.
“I made him late for his meeting,” Jayne murmured with a pretty smile before she could say anything.
Ignoring the woman, she aimed a contemptuous look at the man staring at her. “I put the McClennans in Conference Room A and provided some refreshments. If you had looked at the file, you would know they do not like to be kept waiting.” Turning around, she walked away.
“I am sorry, darling.” Jayne’s voice was contrite as he swore beneath his breath.
“It’s on me.” Putting her down, he went behind his desk and shrugged into his jacket.
“Will I be seeing you later?”
“It depends on what time I get out of here. I will call.”
He was furious that the woman had looked at him and addressed him as if speaking to a child who had done something wrong and was due for a spanking. He was going to have it out with her once and for all.
Grabbing the files off his desk, he guided Jayne out of the room. He took the time to wish her goodbye and assure her he would call her. He waited until she had left before turning toward the woman, pecking away at her computer as if he were invisible.
“Get up!”
Instead of reacting, she continued typing.
“Did you hear me?”
Rising gracefully, she went over to the printer to retrieve several pages. “I am certain the entire sixty-fifth floor heard you.” She handed him a sheaf of papers. “This is additional leverage you need to go into that meeting. While you were making out with your girlfriend, I managed to dig up some vital things for your meeting. We have kept the gentlemen waiting far too long and should get in there.” Without waiting for his response, she swept out on black heels that brought attention to her hips’ provocative sway.
*****
He got through the meeting somehow. It took all of his wits about him to enter into the discussion with the men in that conference room when his blood was boiling. He could not help but glance at her now and then while she was seated around the table, taking notes and contributing to the discussion. He also felt a flare of something when the younger man tried to charm her by turning to her to draw her in.
When she smiled at him, he was taken aback by how the movement transformed an already beautiful face into exquisite beauty, the white teeth a vivid contrast to the coral-painted lips. And it drew attention to the lush bottom lip that had his body tightening in response.
Waiting until the men had cleared the room, he told her coldly to stay.
“Your Dad is waiting- “
“I don’t give a damn!” He snapped. “You undermined my authority- “
“How did I do that?” She asked with raised brows.
“By walking into my office and speaking to me like that in front of my friend.”
“You mean the woman you are banging?”