“Don’t even think about it,” I warned, wagging a finger at her. “Lee might be a hot little slice, but believe me, he’s not worth it.” I didn’t mention that I was ninety-nine-percent positive he was involved in some pretty dodgy dealings. I didn’t need to. Karla had been in her line of work long enough to recognise a criminal when she saw one. Don’t get me wrong, Lee had a heart of gold. In fact, alongside Stu, he’d cared for his younger brothers from the time he was fourteen and his parents died. So yeah, he had a good head on his shoulders. Unfortunately, his circumstances in life had pushed him to channel his brains in the wrong direction.
Karla scoffed, but I could tell by the brief expression that crossed her face that she had been tempted, even if she’d never allow herself to admit it. “I’m not stupid, Lexie. I wouldn’t touch that boy with a ten-foot bargepole. And I shudder to think what my dad would say if I did.”
I gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Karla’s father was a superintendent and had raised her hard. It was where she got her tough side from. In any case, she was right when she said he’d disapprove. In fact, he’d see right through Lee the second he met him. Not that it was ever going to happen. Unless, of course he was arresting him for something.
The rest of the weekend passed, and before I knew it, I was waking up on Monday morning for work. I’d just slipped into a black pencil skirt and a purple blouse when my phone began ringing. Seeing it was Eleanor, I picked it up.
“Alexis, I’m glad I caught you before you left for the office. I won’t be around today. Keith and I are seeing our estate agent about the house we’re buying in France. You know Mr King’s morning schedule well enough by now, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding even though she couldn’t see me. “I’ve got this. Don’t worry about me.” I had to use a little of my confidence-faking skills for that one. Sure, I knew King’s routine, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to mess it up.
Eleanor let out a relieved breath. “Great. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“See you tomorrow,” I said, and hung up.
Rubbing my suddenly sweaty palms on my skirt, I began quickly throwing everything I needed into my bag. My hair looked a bit wild, so I twisted it into a bun and off I went. I managed to make it to the office a half-hour early, grabbed the credit card Eleanor used for office expenses, and then dashed out to the nearest newsagents. And okay, I might have gotten a little distracted chatting with the portly old fellow who was working the counter. It’s a problem. When people start talking to me, I tend to get sucked in. This was why I took longer than planned to get the papers. I had ten of them tucked under my arm as I dashed into the elevator, only to be met with the icy blue gaze of Oliver King.
“Alexis, good morning,” he said, nodding to me in greeting and grinning a little at my efforts to keep hold of all the papers. Then he gestured for me to hand him some. “Here, let me help.”
I silently allowed him to relieve me of half the load, our fingers grazing as I explained, “Eleanor’s not coming in today. Also, I have to confess, I haven’t had a chance to read any of these.”
King’s lips twitched. “Well, given that you’re new, I’ll go easy on you. And don’t worry, I’ve already been informed of Eleanor’s absence.”
“I’m sorry. I would have made a start earlier if I’d known, but I’m going to try my best not to screw up your day.” Oh, God, if my hands were free, I would have face palmed at that. Way to show him I was a nervous wreck.
King’s expression warmed. “I have every faith that you won’t.”
A few seconds of silence ticked by before the doors pinged open. As I walked alongside him, he commented, “You know, I hardly recognised you today without the leopard print.”
I shot him an amused scowl, but strangely enough, his friendly teasing managed to ease some of my nerves. “Very funny, Mr. King.”
It was nice to know that just because he was my boss, it didn’t mean he was a slave driver. I was sure if I made a mistake today, he wouldn’t berate me for it. And God, speak of a mistake and watch it appear. We walked into the office, and Gillian shot up from her seat.
“Good morning, Mr King,” she greeted her boss brightly before her gaze came to me and her eyes flared meaningfully. King continued into his office. “Alexis,” she whispered, “you forgot his breakfast.” I swear, by the look in her eyes you’d think she was about to have a coronary at the horror of a breakfastless Oliver King.
“Crap, sorry! I’ll take care of it right away.”
“It’s supposed to be waiting for him when he arrives.”
“I know. It’s my mistake. I’ll go in now and apologise.”
I left before she could stress me out further and slipped inside King’s office. I held my hands up. “Mea culpa — I forgot your brekkie, but I’m remedying the matter right now. What ya got a hankering for?”
Brekkie, Alexis, really? For some reason my brain thought being funny about the mixup would make it less of a big deal.
King cocked a brow as he looked up at me from the newspaper he was scanning. “Te absolvo. Eggs Benedict and a double espresso. You speak Latin?”
I tried not to snicker. “Nah, I’m just clever like that. And that’s one eggs Benedict and a double espresso coming right up. I’ll be back quicker than John Travolta in a leather jacket.”
King shot me a confused glance but just shook his head. He clearly didn’t get my “Greased Lightning” joke, but whatever. I headed for the nearest café and got his breakfast. When I returned, he was in the middle of what sounded like a serious phone call, so I quietly set his food down on his desk. He gave my wrist a quick touch and mouthed a thank you before he was knee deep in his phone call again.
I returned to my desk and set to work, trying not to let my thoughts linger on the casual way he’d touched me. It was a touch of familiarity, and we weren’t familiar. Well, not really. Perhaps the way I joked around made him think we were, but that was just my way. I was incapable of putting on airs and graces, and tended to act the same whether I was talking to my grandma or the Queen of England. Not that I’ve ever met the Queen, but you know what I mean.
Mid-morning came and went, and then there was a handsome dark-skinned guy in a suit arriving at the office to see King. His exotic looks, however, didn’t match his public schoolboy accent. In fact, he sounded a lot like my boss.
“Ah, Mr Batage, it’s good to see you again,” said Gillian. “Is that a new suit?”
Mr Batage smiled at her and glanced down at what he was wearing. “Good to see you, too, Gill. And yes, it is new. Glad you noticed.”
Gillian preened at him shortening her name to “Gill” and gave him a demure, “Well, it looks really good on you, and I love the way you’re cutting your hair these days. Follow me — Mr King is just inside his office.”
Mr Batage gave me a nod hello before following Gillian. I continued working until she returned and shut the door behind her. She made sure it was closed tight before sidling up to my desk and giving me the lowdown.
“That’s Dilvan Batage. He’s a good friend of Mr King’s. They went to school together. Dilvan is a trader over at The Ring, but he comes from really old money. His family are wealthy tea exporters from Sri Lanka.”
I glanced up at her. “Huh. What’s The Ring?”
She looked at me like I was slow. “It’s the London metal exchange. Busy place. Mr King took me along on a visit once. It’s the only market that still trades solely in cash.”
“Ah. Got ya. So he’s some sort of hotshot, then?”
“Pretty much. He’s really successful.” I wasn’t mistaken when I saw the dreamy look flash across her face.
“And easy on the eyes, too,” I added, giving her a wink.
Gillian firmed her lips and straightened up. “That’s neither here nor there.”