CHAPTER FOUR: CHLOE

“I’m afraid Mr Black is in meetings all afternoon,” I said, gazing up at an irate Emily Grandstein. “You’re more than welcome to wait, Miss Grandstein.”

She flattened her hands on my desk and leant over in a way I supposed was intended to be menacing, but rather made her look a bit ridiculous. “When will he be done?”

“As I said, he’s in meetings all afternoon.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“It’s the only answer I have for you.”

I was doing my damnedest to keep my temper, but this morning had been a shitshow from beginning to end. I had one nerve left and she was fraying it greatly.

She was yet someone else in my life who needed whacking with a box file.

“Are you really his executive secretary?” she asked, straightening up and putting her hands on her hips. “You seem incompetent.”

“Miss Grandstein,” I said sharply. “I’ve informed you that Mr Black is in meetings all afternoon more than once now. If you are incapable of understanding that he’s a busy man, that has nothing to do with my competence.”

“Are you saying I’m stupid?”

Yes.

That was exactly what I was saying.

“You’re disrupting the work of Mr Black’s secretarial team. If you’re unwilling to wait quietly on the off chance that he may have time to see you, you’re welcome to leave.” I met her gaze. “I would be happy to ask security to help you find your way out.”

She snatched up her bag from the desk and opened her mouth to speak when The Bastard’s office door swung open, and he stepped out. Today’s suit was a sharp grey that matched the current coldness of his eyes to a tee.

Her eyes, however, lit up. “Theo—”

“Miss Grandstein,” he said coolly, cutting her off. “I’ve just had to excuse myself from a business call early because of the racket you’re making out here.”

She froze, staring at him with confusion. “But I—”

“Nothing bothers me more than those who ignore and insult my secretary.”

I sipped my tea.

Now she’d done it.

She’d poked the beast.

The man was a giant pain in the arse, but he was fiercely protective over his staff.

“If you wish to see me, you may make an appointment like everyone else. As for today, I believe Miss St. James has told you more than once that I’m in meetings all afternoon and am unlikely to have time to speak with you. However, personal appointments during work hours are booked at my secretary’s discretion.” His smile was icy cold, and one I’d seen a thousand times.

In fact, I might have been the only person to have not been on the receiving end of such an attack.

I pulled out a card and held it out, smiling up at Emily Grandstein with my best ‘business smile.’ “Please call this number to make an appointment.”

She snatched the card out of my hand, and the edge of it sliced my fingertip.

Ouch.

She’d given me a fucking papercut.

I pressed my thumb against my fingertip in an attempt to block the sting left behind and kept my business smile firmly on my face. “I hope to—”

“Daniel, please call for security to escort Miss Grandstein out.” Theodore closed the distance between himself and Emily and plucked the business card from her hand. “Don’t bother calling. There’s nothing I wish to discuss with someone who ignores, insults, and injures my secretary.”

Wait.

How did he…

Emily flinched. “Theo, my father—”

“We’re not close enough for you to address me in such a manner,” he replied, his cold tone leaving no room for an argument. “My grandfather has already responded to your father’s idiotic proposal. It would be best if you didn’t come here again.”

The office doors opened, and two security guards walked in. “We received a call from your office, sir?”

Theodore turned his gaze to them. “Yes. Escort Miss Grandstein out.”

“Theo, please! My father’s business—” She grabbed his arm, but she was barely able to hold on after he forcefully shook her off and the female guard took hold of her arm.

“Your father’s business is none of my concern.” He paused, looking at her with disdain before a cold smile crept across his face. “Unless he wishes to sell it to me, of course.”

Ouch.

“Miss St. James.” He turned to me. “Follow me.”

“Yes, sir.” I got up and glanced at Daniel. I mouthed a “Good job,” to him as Emily was removed from the office, then followed Theodore into his. “My apologies, sir. She refused to leave, and—”

“Show me your finger.” He held his hand out to me.

I glanced from his hand to his face and back again. “Excuse me?”

“Your finger. You cut it when she took the card from you, correct?” He raised his eyebrows, and his gaze was much softer than it was a moment ago.

“Um, yes, but it’s just a papercut.”

“You’re bleeding.” He stepped closer to me and took hold of my wrist, flipping my hand over and peeling my thumb away from where it was pressing my fingertip. “It’s quite deep for a papercut.”

What was happening right now?

A tingle ran up my forearm where his fingers pressed against my pulse point, and I wrestled my wrist from his grip. I licked my finger where the little cut was, then showed him. “Just a papercut, see? It’ll be fine soon.”

“You should clean it properly.” He walked around his desk and opened the drawer, only to remove a small First Aid kit.

“I really don’t—”

“Stop arguing.” He pulled out a box of plasters and antiseptic wipes.

“This is a bit of an overreaction for a papercut, sir.”

“Your hands are necessary for your work. It’d be an inconvenience for me if you couldn’t do it properly because it gets infected.” He held his hand out again. “Your hand, Chloe.”

With a sigh, I put my hand palm-up in his.

“This might sting a little.”

Mhmm.

It was fine.

I wasn’t sure I could feel much besides the warmth of his palm against the back of my hand or the gentle way he tended to the still-bleeding cut on my finger.

This was… unnerving, to say the least.

My eye twitched at the little sting from the antiseptic wipe, but it quickly disappeared as he wrapped a plaster around the tip of my finger and smoothed it down. Our hands lingered together for a moment, and I gently slid my hand out of his.

“Uh, thank you, sir.”

He cleared his throat and stepped back, gathering up the rubbish. “You’re welcome.”

“I’ll co-ordinate with security and make sure Miss Goldstein isn’t allowed past reception. I’ll also inform the President’s secretary that—”

“No need. I was on a call with my father,” he said, putting away the First Aid box and sitting down. He looked over at me. “Cancel my three o’clock meeting. Grandfather is coming and wishes to have a meeting with us both.”

What?

“Both of us, sir?”

“Yes, both of us. My father will also be present.”

That didn’t sound good.

“Don’t look so panicked, Miss St. James. It’s about an upcoming project I’ll be taking the lead on,” he explained. “Also, that report on the Grandstein Corp—where did you get the information?”

“One of my best friends is an investigative journalist.”

“Ask her what else she knows. I’ll pay her for her time.”

“Yes, sir.” I stepped back. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to work now.”

He nodded and turned to his computer. “Make sure there’s someone to cover the office when we’re out.”

Like I didn’t already know that, you git.

“Yes, sir.” I left his office and breathed a sigh of relief as I sat back at my desk.

“What did he want?” Daniel asked. “And what did he mean when he said you were injured?”

I held up my finger, showing off the plaster. “I got a papercut when she took the card.”

“How did he notice that?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. When is Melody back from lunch?”

“About ten minutes.”

“Go right after her. I’ll be out of the office with Mr Black at three o’clock for a meeting with the President and Duke of Ruxleigh.” I pulled up the contact details for the three o’clock meeting and tapped the number into my phone. “At least one of you will have to make sure you’re here.”

“You got it, boss lady.”

***

“Chloe!” The Duke of Ruxleigh wrapped his arms around me and scooped me into a massive bear hug before I’d even stepped foot into the President’s office. “Why don’t you ever come and see me anymore? I’ve missed you!”

I blinked in surprise as I automatically returned the hug. “You seem well, Your Grace.”

“What have I said about calling me that? I told you to call me Gramps,” he scolded me, stepping back and holding me at arm’s length. He looked me over with his warm blue eyes before smiling. “How are you? That rotten grandson of mine isn’t treating you badly, is he? Is he the reason you haven’t been to see me? Is he overworking you?”

“Father, at least let her sit down before you bombard her with questions,” Alastair said from behind his desk. “Come in, Chloe.”

“What am I, chopped liver?” Theodore asked. “I haven’t seen you in two weeks, Grandfather.”

“Whose fault is that, you swine? You know where I live,” the duke said, ushering me inside and sitting me down. “Cassidy, get us some tea, dear.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Cassidy shot me a smile before disappearing out of the office.

“Sit down, Theo. You’re making the place look untidy.” The duke sat on the sofa. “Alastair, let’s talk here. It’s more comfortable.”

“Only if you promise to wait until we’re done to interrogate Chloe.” Alastair got up and looked at me. “I heard about the business with Emily Grandstein. She didn’t cause too much trouble, did she?”

“She was a nuisance,” Theodore replied before I could. He took the armchair next to where I’d been plopped down by his grandfather. “She refused to leave and wouldn’t wait quietly, then questioned Chloe’s competence and gave her a papercut.”

The duke leant forwards, steepling his wrinkled fingers. “I see she’s chosen death.”

“Let’s not be quite so dramatic,” I said, waving my hands. “It’s only a papercut, and her rudeness is nothing I haven’t dealt with before. She’s hardly the first woman to march into the office and demand Mr Black’s attention.”

Alastair mimicked the duke’s position. “I see security have chosen death.”

“Please control yourself, sir.” Cassidy set a tray down in front of us with four cups of tea and handed them out. “You cannot kill the security team for something so trivial.”

The duke looked at her. “Emily Grandstein gave our Chloe a papercut.”

Cassidy paused, setting his tea in front of him. “I’ll contact an assassin immediately.”

“Oh, not you, too.” I couldn’t help but laugh as I took my cup. “Thank you.”

“Cassidy, arrange for all my investments in Goldstein Corp to be withdrawn,” Alastair said. “And sell whatever shares we may hold in any business related to the Goldstein family. Not only do they insult us by suggesting their daughter is a suitable wife for my son, but they hurt someone dear to us and cause a ruckus in our office.”

She bowed her head. “Right away, sir. What shall I tell them if they ask why we’ve pulled investments?”

“Tell them I said to piss off,” the duke declared. “And tell Eddie to handle mine, too.”

If anyone outside of this room heard these words coming out of the mouth of the great Duke of Ruxleigh, they’d be absolutely horrified.

I, however, was more than used to it.

“Very well, Your Grace,” Cassidy said, not batting an eyelid. “If that’s all, I’ll leave you to your meeting.”

“Yes, can we get on with it?” Theodore asked, sitting back in the armchair. “I’m busy.”

“Not as busy as us, you little shrew,” the duke said. “Are you joining us in retrieving your money from those bastards or not?”

“I’ve already done it. I told Emily her father’s business is no concern of mine unless he’s selling it, so I thought I’d show her I wasn’t messing around.”

“You’re a ruthless little shit, aren’t you?”

Alastair cleared his throat. “Pa, we’re in the office. Please keep your insults to one every five minutes, rather than one every sentence.”

Theodore slid his gaze towards his father. “Surely you should be telling him not to insult me at all. I’m your son.”

“Who am I to tell him what to do? He’s still head of the House of Ruxleigh. He doesn’t listen to me.”

“There are only two people I listen to,” the duke said.

Yes.

Thankfully, one of them was in this room.

Me.

“Perhaps we should get on with it, Your Grace,” I said, resting my hands in my lap. “Let’s save the familial squabble for after we’ve discussed business.”

“I agree,” Theodore said. “There’s a lot to prepare for this, so we shouldn’t waste time.”

“Yes, yes.” The duke shuffled until he was sitting up straight. “Chloe, you’re familiar with the Adair Travel acquisition, aren’t you?”

I peered over at him. “Of course. Isn’t the announcement scheduled for next week?”

“It is. The reason we were able to acquire the company so easily is because some of their holiday rental properties were leaseholds on land that our family has managed for years,” he explained. “It was easier for them to sell to us rather than have to worry about transferring the leases to a third party, and it was beneficial to us to take over what was once a successful business. I’m sure you’re familiar with why their business struggled.”

“Yes, of course. After the death of the CEO ten years ago, his son took over and didn’t manage the funds properly. A lot of the properties are in disrepair, and the new ones he bought at auction for renovation are sitting there untouched because he lacks capital. He was hoping to have the lease fees on the older properties reduced in the hope he could sell them, but you purchased the whole business instead.”

“Indeed. It was the new properties that made it so attractive—they’re cottages surrounding a large lake, and each one has privacy as well as their own dock. However, like you said, they’re run down, and he ran into issues with the previous landowner,” Alastair explained. “He wasn’t able to purchase the patch of land either, but that wasn’t an issue for us. We closed on it last week, and the fifty acres of land the lake and cottages sit on now belong to us. We can begin renovating as soon as the acquisition is complete next week.”

“Should I be writing this down?” I asked, looking between all three men.

They all shook their heads.

“No. You’re here because we’ve decided to put Theo in charge of this project,” the duke said. “There are some directors still making noise about him becoming the Vice-President so soon, and the best way to shut people up is with results. Theo will be taking over as the Director of Adair Travel and will be tasked with turning it around within the next two years.”

“I told you I only need a year,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “As soon as the lake cottages are done, I only need a year from then.”

This was exactly why people thought he was arrogant.

He was.

He was likely also correct.

“Then they’ll be even more shocked if we tell them two years,” the duke continued without bothering to look at him. “However, Chloe, getting this up and running will require Theo to temporarily relocate to the Lake District to oversee the renovations and set up the holiday letting offices. He’ll also be overseeing the opening of real estate offices in the area.”

Oh.

A temporary relocation?

Was this… was this my chance? Was this my escape route?

“And, Chloe, I’d like you to go with him.”