“You are going to tell me I will be working for you and your son as well.” Jacinth kept her professional smile in place with a force of will and almost laughed at the surprised look on the man’s face. He had insisted she call him William the second week she started working for him, and after thinking about it, she did just that.
“You know things before they are made public knowledge.” There was a wealth of admiration in his gray eyes. “I am afraid he will not be easy to deal with.”
“Really?” Her tapered eyebrows lifted. “I was under the impression that he was going to be a teddy bear.”
The man behind the desk burst out laughing, gray eyes twinkling. “I feel my son will not know what hits him.”
“Would you like me to arrange for him to have the adjoining offices?”
“That would be great. But get someone to deal with it. You have too much on your hands as it is. He starts on Monday.”
“I know that too.” She nodded to the blinking light on the phone. “The lawyers are waiting. I will stall them in the conference room until you arrive.”
With a nod of approval, William watched her leave before picking up the phone.
Chapter 3
Jacinth sifted through the different messages and set about color-coding them in order of priority. It was Monday, and she had spent yesterday serving at the soup kitchen at her aunt’s church and then going home to prepare for today.
She had not said anything to William, but she was not looking forward to another confrontation with that entitled son of his. She had done her duty by ensuring he had everything he needed to step into his role, whatever that role meant, but she was not looking forward to being his secretary. The father was sweet and hardworking, the son – Well, as far as she was concerned, the man was a slacker.
He had all that brilliance, the best education money can buy, and what had he done with it? He spent his time partying and whoring all over the world. While she held his father in the highest esteem, she had nothing for him except contempt. But being a professional, she would do her best to hide her feelings behind polite smiles and absolute courtesy.
She had arrived early that morning to ensure everything was in order so that he would have nothing to complain about.
And if he did find something to complain about, she decided to hell with him.
She had even dressed for the part. The black and white wool dress and shoes were brand new. Her hair was brushed severely back from her face and secured in an elegant chignon at the nape of her neck. She had even put on a little makeup, even though she did not need it with her skin tone. But something had told her that she needed to look her very best.
Walking out of William’s office, she opened the connecting doors that led to the ones assigned to him. His office was a little smaller than his dad’s but was no less elegant. The teal blue and gold décor on the walls was a perfect foil for the wide glass desk; the tan leather sofas braced against the walls, and the granite marble place.
She was unsure he should be starting at the top, considering he had been ducking his responsibility over the years, but it was none of her business. William had assured her that he was a genius regarding figures.
“He only needs to settle down, and he will do wonders and find a way to take his place.”
She was hoping for his parents’ sake, and that was the truth.
“What the hell are you doing in here?”
The decision to be polite and professional disintegrated at the sound of that deep voice behind her.
Taking a deep, calming breath, she turned around and tried not to notice how good he looked in a dark blue pinstriped suit. The red lines in the material echoed the color of his shirt and tie. His ink-black hair was brushed ruthlessly back from his handsome, tanned face, now hardened with acute displeasure.
“Have you had a good look at me, Ms. Lewis? I asked you a damn question. What the hell are you doing in my office?”
“Good morning, Mr. Tanner.” She kept her smile in place by sheer force of will, determined not to allow him to get under her skin. “I am certain that your father told you I will also be your secretary until a suitable individual is found to assist you. Your first meeting is set for nine, and the client is Mr. Rosenberg, who has been with the company for the past five years.” She gestured with one hand. “The file is on your desk for you to get acquainted with the man and what he requires to be done. I don’t get coffee; I am not that person if you need anything personally done. If you need anything about the business, please let me know.”
“I don’t want you.” He gritted.
“You can take that up with your Dad. Excuse me, I must set up a meeting in Conference Room B.”
Reginald watched her walk unhurriedly out of the room and closed the doors behind her. Marching over to the cabinet, he poured himself a cup of coffee and restrained himself from adding scotch.
He was going to take it with his father, all right. How dare he foisted that woman on him! And what gave her the right to behave as if she was in charge? Tossing back the coffee, he was about to march over to his desk and call his father when the intercom sounded.
“What?”
There was a slight pause before the hated woman responded. “Your father is on the line.”
Without deigning to respond, he punched the button to answer the call.
“You did not have the common courtesy to get me my secretary?” He asked furiously.
“Welcome home, son; I trust you have been told about the meeting with Rosenberg?”
“I asked you a question.” Reginald gritted.
“There was no time to train someone the ins and outs of what is required. Jacinth knows everything there is to know about what we do, and she has kindly agreed to split her time between us. She will have to train the secretary assigned to you and does not have the time to do so. It’s a Monday morning, and we are already swamped with meetings. I do not have time for your histrionics today. Is there anything else?”
“No.” Reginald snapped. “I have a meeting to prepare for.” Hanging up the phone, he dragged the file toward him and forced himself to calm down. He would hire his goddamned secretary, but for now, he was going to have to put up with that insufferable woman. And during that time, she had better stay out of his way!
*****
“Where the hell is the rest of the file?” His resolve to stay out of her way went to hell for the next hour.
Ignoring him, she finished the call she was on and replaced the receiver. “Now, how may I help you?”
Reginald thought he had reached his quota on anger, but that was not the case. “You left a half-ass file on my desk and embarrassed me in front of the client. Was that your intention all along?”
“I left a file on your desk for you to acquaint yourself with the client. A thicker file with all the relevant details you need for the meeting is on the right of your desk. I buzzed you ten minutes before the meeting to remind you that you also needed that particular file and did not pick it up.”
Picking up a folder, she opened it in dismissal. Reginald imagined himself reaching across the desk and wrapping his hands around her neck. He visualized himself squeezing the breath from her lungs and throwing her limp body across the room.
It took him several minutes to calm himself down enough to speak with some modicum of control. “Why didn’t you tell me of that when you were in my office?”
“You told me to get out; frankly, I am tired of your childish tantrums. You don’t want to be here, we get it, but the least you can do is start behaving like an adult. I have your Dad’s work to deal with and now yours. I do not have time to be holding your hand.”
Reginald felt a surge of rage flowing through his body at an alarming rate and knew that if he did not get out of there, he would not be responsible for what he did next.