Just One Night: Part 5 (6 page)

I have to hide my smile. He’s really good with people, not just girls like me, apparently. Seeing him in action is making it hard for me to dwell on what a douche Hank is. I’m so lucky I found William.
Please, God, don’t let him screw me over.

“And what do we do about our contract?” Agatha asks.

“We can draw up a new one today and send it over to you by courier if that suits you,” William supplies.

“We’ll be playing handball this afternoon, but if it comes around five we should be home.”

“You play handball?” I ask, kind of shocked.

“Of course, dear,” Agatha says. “You don’t think I wear these clothes to go shopping do you?” She’s smiling.

“I thought you played tennis.”

“No, we prefer handball. More action.” Lionel winks at me. Then he turns his attention to William and holds out his hand. “I like you. We’ll be happy to sign your contract, so long as you have Jennifer on your team.”

William shakes his hand and graces them with the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. “Thank you, sir. We appreciate the faith and trust you’re putting in us. We won’t let you down.” He pauses. “By the way … are you by any chance related to Gloria Goodman?”

Agatha brightens. “Why yes, of course. She’s Lionel’s sister. How do you know her?”

“She and my brother are both wine collectors,” he says, smiling politely.

“You know …” Agatha looks at Lionel, “…Lionel you should talk to her. Maybe she’s like to be involved.”

He nods and looks at me. “Shall I give her a call?”

I nod, my pulse picking up with excitement. I know Gloria doesn’t own this building, but if she wants to invest in the project, I’d be thrilled to have her on board. “If you’d just let her know we’ll be contacting her and that we have your blessing, that would be great.”

The older man smiles. “I’ll do that today.”

“Thank you very much, sir,” William says. “And madam, it was a pleasure meeting you both today.” William gives them a short bow and then shakes Agatha’s hand, remaining bent at the waist a little. It makes it easier for them to look up at him since he’s at least a foot taller than them both. It’s little kindnesses like that, that make my heart go a little crazy for him.

“I just love his accent, don’t you?” Agatha asks as they walk away.

“Where’s he from? Australia?” Lionel asks. They climb into a giant Cadillac and I never get to hear her answer.

I burst out laughing as soon as we’re in William’s car.

“What’s so funny?” William asks.

“I’m not sure,” I say, feeling a little lightheaded. “It could be the fact that they think you’re Australian, or the fact that they play handball, or the fact that just when I think Hank can’t be any more of an asshole, he surprises me by proving otherwise.”

William pats me on the leg, his fingers warm and strong. “Don’t worry, darling. He’ll get what’s coming to him, trust me. In the meantime, I believe we’ve earned the right to celebrate.”

I look at him out of the corner of my eye. “Are you talking about another quickie?”

He blinks his eyes a few times before responding. “Actually, I was thinking about a drink at the local pub, but if you insist…”

I laugh, feeling the tension leave my body. “No, I think I’ll go for that drink, actually.”

“I knew it,” he says, banging on the wheel. “It was too fast, wasn’t it? Damn those breasts of yours.”

“Damn my breasts?” I’m feeling giddy with happiness. He’s so silly.

“Yes. I cannot hold back when I’m in their thrall. I tried to think of ugly old hags when we were making love, but it didn’t work.”

“I’m not sure whether to be disturbed or impressed that you’re thinking of those things when we’re in the middle of having sex.”

“Be impressed, I beg you.”

I can’t stop smiling, even when we walk in the pub near my apartment and find Mia, Edward, and Rachel there finishing up what looks like a very long and involved lunch together.

CHAPTER SIX

William

A CONSPIRACY. THAT’S WHAT THIS is. My throat seizes up as I walk into the British-style pub and find my brother and former assistant canoodling together over fish and chips. I nearly choke with it.

“Oh my god, what is she doing?” Jennifer asks under her breath.

“Miss Meechum, do you mean? Who would know? She could be planning an assassination of the president for all we know. Don’t trust her.”

“Are you serious?” Jennifer looks up at me with concern in her eyes.

“No, not really. While she may be constructing the assassination plan, I don’t think she’d be able to pull it off. There are too many paper trays between him and the rest of the world.”

She nods. “I was actually thinking about Mia when I said that, but I know what you mean.”

“That’s your friend there, isn’t it?” My nostrils flare. “With my brother, no less. How cosy.”

“Should we hide? Leave?” Jennifer asks.

“Definitely not,” I say, taking her by the hand and leading her directly over to their table. “No better time than the present to clear the air, wouldn’t you say?”

“Not necessarily,” she mumbles behind me.

I ignore the other diners and focus on my brother. He has not yet realized his doom draws near, the tosser.

“Oh, hey!” Mia says as we arrive at the table. I can detect no regret or hidden agenda in her tone. “I didn’t know you guys were going to be here.” She looks at her lunch partners. “Did you guys invite them?”

Both Edward and Rachel shake their heads no. They look decidedly uncomfortable.

“What are
you
doing here?” Jennifer asks, apparently no longer suffering the fear of confrontation.

“Having lunch,” Mia says. “Talking business.” She points at my brother. “Edward is in the market for some wine.” She winks at Jennifer and smiles at me.

I raise an eyebrow. “And Miss Meechum? Is she also in the market for some wine?”

Miss Meechum shakes her head, her hair moving right along with it in a manner that reminds me of a motorcycle helmet. “No, I don’t like wine very much. I’m more of a beer person.”

“You’re looking dashing,” Edward says, finally looking at me.

“Is that a surprise, then?” I ask, annoyed that he’s mocking me while pretending he’s not.

He shrugs. “Dunno. Could be I expected you to be wallowing in self-pity and not out and about the town looking so swish.”

Unfortunately my brother knows me all too well, but I play it off as though he doesn’t. “Not likely. I’ve just been to a business meeting with my new partner.” I put my hand on the small of Jennifer’s back.

“Oh my god, you guys are working together?” Miss Meechum smiles and claps her hands together like a mad circus monkey. “That’s so cute! I’m totally going to take credit for that!”

“So you’re the one who fired me from my position as CEO at Stratford Investments,” I say, my tone dry. “And all this time I thought it was my father.”

Miss Meechum’s smile and clap-fest die together, a very quick death, thank goodness.

“Och, come off it, man,” Edward scolds. “You did that all on your own.”

I’m using all my super-human powers not to give him the clack on the nose that he deserves. “You know nothing about which you speak, so I shall forgive your ignorance as a matter of course.”

“I know a hell of a lot more than you do, that’s for sure.” He rolls his eyes and carelessly pops a chip in his mouth.

“How are you enjoying the chair, Edward?” I ask, hoping they cannot see the steam coming from my ears.

Edward looks down at his seat. “Fine.”

“I mean the chair in my former office. It’s imported Italian leather, you know.”

He shrugs. “Didn’t notice. Seems all right. Might be a little hot on the trinkets, though, all that leather, now that I think of it. I’ll have to see about changing it for something with more breathe to it.”

He’s deliberately baiting me. I will not fall into his trap. “Good. Glad to hear it. Just chuck the other in the bin, then. And your assistant? You finding her services adequate?”

“Is he talking about me now?” Miss Meechum asks Mia.

Mia nods.

“She’s the dog’s bollocks,” Edward says, smiling at her. “Smart as a whip.”

Miss Meechum smiles. “Thank you, Edward. But Mr. Stratford knows that. He and I did a lot of good work together.” She looks up at me and nods several times, flashing me a knowing expression.

“Mr. Stratford?” Edward laughs. “Who’s that, then? My da?”

“No, I’m talking about the other Mr. Stratford.” Miss Meechum points at me. “Him.”

Edward looks up, his eyebrows in his hairline. “She calls you Mr. Stratford?”

“First name basis is not really how he rolls,” she says, smiling way too much. I can see her silly molars from across the table.

Edward laughs. “Yeah. Stick up his bum. Always had one there. I think he was born with it.”

“Okay, okay,” Mia says, holding out her hands. “Enough of the pissing contest. Do you guys want to get down to business or what?”

Jennifer puts her hands on her hips. “Down to business? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Mia sighs heavily. “I lied. We weren’t just talking about wine.”

“Oy, now you’ve gone and ruined the surprise,” Edward says, throwing a chip at her plate.

I blink my eyes several times to clear them of the illusion before me.

“What surprise?” Jennifer asks.

“The plan to get William his job back,” Miss Meechum says, smiling as though very proud of her intellectual prowess.

Jennifer looks up at me. “Do you want your old job back?” she asks.

I detect a note of vulnerability there. It makes me want to wrap her up in cotton wool and place her on a high shelf where nothing can touch her.

“Certainly not,” I say, being completely honest. “I’m perfectly content with my new arrangement.”

“You can’t be serious, brother,” Edward says. “You’ve worked your whole life to take over the family business.”

I shake my head, my future becoming crystal clear in that moment. “No, actually, I was working my whole life to be doing exactly what I’m doing now.”

“And what is that?” Edward asks. “Schluffing about begging people for their attention? Living out of a box?”

“No. Running an investment firm.”

“You don’t have an investment firm,” he says, obviously amused. “Don’t make me laugh.”

“Yes, he does,” Jennifer says, pride in her voice. “We are Stratford & Moorehouse Investments. And we have clients already, so you can suck it, Edward.”

Edward looks at her with surprise. “I can suck it? Really? Do you mean it?”

“Yes.” She nods. “You can definitely suck it.”

Edward turns his attention to me. “She just told me I can suck it, William. You going to let her talk to me that way?”

“I most certainly am. In fact, I think it’s an excellent idea. Why don’t you go suck it, Edward?” I feel completely empowered. Who knew silliness would be so energizing?

Edward looks at his lunch date. “Mia, my brother
and
his business partner have both told me I should go suck it. What do you make of that?”

Mia smiles, laughing silently. “I guess maybe you should go suck it, I don’t know.”

“Fine.” Edward stands and throws his napkin down on the table, feigning offense. “I shall leave then so that I can go suck it. Good day, ladies.” He nods at the women and leaves me standing there without a by your leave.

“They have the weirdest expressions in England,” Miss Meechum says. “What does that actually mean?”

“I think it means William just got stuck paying our lunch bill,” Mia says, giggling.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jennifer

“SO WHAT’S THE DEAL?” I ask, taking the seat that Edward vacated. William sits to my right using a chair he pulls over from a nearby empty table.

“Edward is sick over William leaving,” Mia says. “He really wants him to come back.”

William snorts. “Work has interfered in his plan to avoid work at all costs.”

“Harsh much?” Mia asks.

“Their father is the one behind everything,” Rachel says. “He’s a real ball buster.”

“I feel as though I’m stumbling around in the dark with a hood over my head,” William says. “What exactly is my father behind?”

“I’m with you,” I say, holding his hand under the table. “What’s going on?”

“Here’s the deal,” Mia says, “Edward got called in to take over when William left. He’s not happy about it, but he’s doing the best he can. He’s sure William will be back soon and he doesn’t want everything in the shitter when that happens, so he’s doing what he can to keep things at least in neutral.”

“You’re saying that he’s just holding things up for my return? He wants me to come back and take my Italian leather chair back as well?”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Bollocks.”

“He saw that problem in Scotland,” Rachel says, nodding her head really fast. “He totally did. I didn’t show him or anything and your father didn’t know anything about it. He’s not completely clueless is what I mean, but that doesn’t mean he wants your job.”

“I never did get to the bottom of that,” William says, his eyes getting a faraway look to them.

It makes me feel a little bad about taking him away from that stuff. Maybe he does want to go back and he’s just saying he doesn’t to make me feel better.

“Do you want to help Edward?” I ask, trying to read his mind through his expression.

He comes back to the present in a hurry. “Don’t be absurd. I have no interest whatsoever in managing his affairs.”

“But it’s your father’s company,” Rachel says. She looks sad. “Don’t you care about what happens to your father?”

William shakes his head. “You don’t know what he’s asked of me.”

“Oh, I know,” Rachel says, her eyebrows rising up high. “He told you that you had to be with that Ingrid woman. I heard aaaaalll about it, believe me.”

The idea of them together makes me sick to my stomach. Did his father really say that? Is that why William was so upset? Is that what made him quit? No wonder he was on such a bender. It makes me love him that much more that he stuck to his guns, even going so far as to lose his job.

Love
. I said the word love. Oh my god, I’m in so much trouble.