Chapter 2
The Past – And the beginning…
“He is not in his office.” She murmured without looking up from the document she was proofing.
“Where the hell is he?”
“At a meeting.”
“I have been calling his phone for the past fifteen minutes, and he is not picking up.”
“It might be because he is in a meeting.”
“Do you know who the hell I am?”
Jacinth looked up and took in the irate, approximately 6’2” tall, black-haired man with strange tawny eyes. She gave him a coolly polite smile, letting him know she was not intimidated by him.
“You are the wayward son. Of course, I know who you are.”
He went rigid and approached her desk, his hands clenched into fists. “What did you just say to me?”
“I am not in the habit of repeating myself, and I am pretty certain you do not have a hearing problem. If you want to speak to your father, make an appointment or find him at home.”
“You are just a goddamned secretary, which means you are an employee. I am Reginald Tanner and heir to all of this.”
“I don’t give a blessed damn if you are the King of England. Either make an appointment or see your father at home. It’s up to you.”
“How long have you been working here?” His deep voice was ominous.
“Six months.”
“I hope you have been saving up your money, whatever your name is- “
“Jacinth Lewis, yes, I have a habit of making wise investments, but thanks for the concern.”
He stood there staring at her, and his anger threatened to get the better of him. She was not his target, or had not been initially, but now he was going to make sure she was out on her ass by the end of the week.
Leaning back, Jacinth closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. It was the first time she had met him, but she had seen his photos in the papers and realized since she arrived at the company that he was the bane of his parents’ existence.
When she came to him from a rival company, William Tanner had hired her on the spot, and she had proven herself indispensable. She was excellent at her job, and her uncanny ability to anticipate his needs impressed him the first week she arrived. She also had something else, and he had confided in her. That was what had swayed him most about her.
She was not afraid of anyone. She was loyal, and she had done just that when it came to going above and beyond the call of duty. When his long-time secretary retired after thirty years, he wanted someone he could rely on. He had also confided in her that his son was dragging his feet in joining the company.
“Reginald is brilliant, too brilliant for his own good, and spoiled. He prefers to spend his time gadding around the globe and going to parties than to be here where he will be the one to take over after I am gone.”
“I know it’s not my place- “She had begun.
“Please feel free to speak, my dear.” He had invited.
“If you cut his funding, he will be forced to reevaluate his decision.”
They had not spoken about the matter again, but a few days ago, she knew he had sent several emails to Reginald, which sounded more like an order or ultimatum. She supposed that had him rushing back into the country after his European trip. She shook her head and returned to her document, removing Reginald Tanner from her mind.
*****
When he entered his apartment, he headed straight for the liquor cabinet. Plucking the first handy decanter, he splashed the scotch into a glass and ignored the ice. Taking it with him, he went to stand at the mantle and propped one booted foot on the rail, his expression thunderous.
How dare she talk to him like that! Who the hell gave her the authority anyway? And what the hell did she mean by ‘wayward son’? Had Dad been speaking about him to her, and if so, what gave him the goddamned right?
He had been summoned back into the country, and several tersely written emails were ordering him to come back or else. Or else what? His allowance was going to be taken away. So, what if he did not have the stomach for investment banking? And it does matter that he was a few months shy of his thirtieth birthday? He was not going to have anything shoved down his throat.
He would take his rightful place one day and make it his duty to see that she was fired without a reference. And his dad had better back him on that. Tossing back the scotch, he returned to the cabinet to pour more when his phone rang. Thinking his dad was calling him back, he snatched the phone from his jacket pocket.
Swearing beneath his breath, he thought about not answering but decided against it. “This is not a good time.”
“Darling, you left in the middle of the party.”
“My Dad sent the jet for me. I had no choice.”
“Is something wrong?”
“I am about to find out. I have been trying to see him, but he is dodging me.”
“Do you think you will be coming back to Italy?”
“Jayne, I have no damn idea what I am doing.”
“Are you mad at me?” She sounded affronted, and he realized that he was using her as a punching bag.
“No,” he told her wearily, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. “But I have no idea what the hell is going on.”
“It’s not fun here without you.”
He smiled at the whimsical note in her sultry voice that brought on a surge of lust. Tamping it down deliberately, he injected a casual note in his voice.