Chesnie Cosgrove, she introduced herself, shaking his hand. Im afraid your son is at a business lunch. Can I help you at all?
Oh, dear, thats a nuisance! Ive driven all the way across the city hoping hed take me to lunch, Davenport Senior replied with a sigh.
Chesnie thought for a moment. The matter was settled when it came to her that Joels father was only about ten years younger than Gramps. She wouldnt hesitate to take her grandfather to lunch. Ill take you if you like? she offered.
I thought youd never ask! he beamed.
Over lunch she discovered Magnus Davenport was a bit of a rascal. He insisted that she call him by his first name, but as he chatted away freely, about everything and everyone, she found that as well as being an outrageous gossip he was also a bit of a flirtbut quite harmless.
He openly told her that his wife, Joels mother, had thrown him out and divorced him years ago. Said I was shiftless. Can you believe that? And that shed had enough. Chesnie was on the point of feeling sorry for him when all of a sudden he laughed. Dyou know, I cant really blame her? I never did hold down a job for long. Come to think of it, one of the happiest days Ive had was when I retired.
Chesnie had to laugh too; he had a sort of infectious quality about him. I must think about getting back, she hinted, when he seemed inclined to linger over his coffee.
Im going to the races tomorrow. Fancy coming with me? he asked.
She smiled and declined, and knew she was going to be late when Magnus Davenport drove her back to the Yeatman Trading building. She was not unduly alarmed that it was nearer half past two than two oclock when Magnus dropped her off. She had worked late many times, and would cheerfully work late tonight if she hadnt finished her workload by five.
I wont come ingive me a call if you change your mind about the races, he said, and handed her his card.
Chesnie was smiling as she bade him goodbye, but had work on her mind as she opened the door to her office. She noticed at once that the communicating door to her employers office was open and that Joel was back from his business lunch.
Courtesy demanded that she commented on her lateness. She crossed that carpet and was aware that Joel knew she had returned, even though she hadnt noticed him look up.
Nor did he glance up then, when she stood to the side of his desk. For some reason it niggled her. Shed be blessed if shed say a word till he acknowledged her presence.
Just as she was about to turn around and go back to her office, however, he carefully laid down his pen. Then his head came up. He leaned back in his chair, silently appraising her, from the top of her red-blonde hair, to her slender but curvy figure in the royal blue suit, and all the way down to her shoes. Then, while she was studying his firm jaw, noticing that his mouth was pretty terrific even without the semblance of a smile, he moved his glance swiftly upwards and his blue eyes met her stubborn green ones head on.
Good, shed got his attention. He waitedwaited for her to speak firstand she felt quite irritated about that too. But she had been at pains to adopt a cool front; she wasnt about to let it slip now.
Your father called, she began evenly, pleasantly. He was disappointed not to see you, she added. We went to lunch, she informed him, when Davenport said nothing.
No doubt you were able to help him over his disappointment, he threw in sourly, and at that moment pugilistic tendencies awakened in Chesnie that shed had no idea she possessed. To her amazement she felt a momentary desire to poke Davenport Junior in the eye with something sharp and painful. Who paid? he asked abruptly, his tone toughening.
What was it with him? The nerve! Your father was my guest, she answered primly.
He conned you into taking him to lunch, didnt he?
Not at all. I liked him, she began. He
Ill reimburse you! Joel Davenport cut in sharplyand her anger went soaring, and with it her cool image.
No, you wont! she flared hotly, and saw him smileevery bit as if he really enjoyed fracturing the cool front shed displayed this past six weeks.
He shrugged. So I wont, he agreed, his tone all at once silky, and picked up his pen.
Chesnie went swiftly back to her own office. She felt then that she hated him. Hed done that on purposemade her forget her poise for a moment. She didnt want her front fractured; it made her feel vulnerable. She did not care for the feeling.
She slammed into her work and wanted nothing to do with him. This was what happened when you let personalities in on the scene. Meeting his father, liking him, laughing with him, had put a severe dent in the Chesnie Cosgrove she preferred to show the world. It seemed as if one Davenport had softened her up for another. Well, she wasnt having it.
By four that afternoon her cool exterior was firmly back in place. At four-fifteen Larry Jenkins from Accounts came into her office with a query that wasnt strictly in her domain, but she was pleased to be able to handle it. Though Larry didnt stay long when the door opened and Joel Davenport strode in.
Joel watched him hastily leave. I hear this corridor is alive with senior executives in need of guidance from you on some urgent matter or other, he commented.
What was she supposed to answer to that? And how did he know? Though she supposed that not a lot got by himeven when he wasnt around! Is there something you need guidance with? she enquired coolly of his visitand didnt hate him any more when he actually laughed, as though the way shed bounced that back at him had amused him.
Are you still mad at me? he asked, with such a wealth of natural charm there that she began to like him very much again.
You deliberately provoked me! she accused primly.
Did I? he asked innocentlyand a moment later was all business and instruction.
Chesnie went home that night in a happy frame of mind. She liked her job, had never felt so stimulated by any work she had done before, and she liked her boss too. He wasChesnie came to, to realise she had drifted off for quite some time to thinking of Joel Davenport, her good-looking boss. My, did he have it all. Gina had rung him this morning, but he hadnt stayed talking to her above a minute. Chesnie had an idea that Gina was on her way out.
Aware that her employer would be flying up to Scotland first thing on Thursday morning, Chesnie went into the office earlier than usual on Wednesday, so she could complete any information he needed to take with him before he left the office that night.
Good morning, she called as she went in, and hardly thought he would notice her early arrival.
Couldnt sleep?
She should have known betterthere was no detail small enough that hed miss. She grinned to herself and started her day.
She did not feel like grinning when, in Joels office, taking notes later that morning, the phone on her desk rang. Saving time, Joel stretched out a hand and pressed a button to divert the call to his phone, and took the call himself.
Whoever it was had been put through to the right phone in the first place. Who wants her? he demanded. And while Chesnie was thinking it must be some business call, because her family would only phone in the direst emergency, he was charmingly saying, Im sorry, Pomeroy, my PA isnt available just now. So saying, he put down the phone and terminated the call. Then, as cool as you like, he calmly carried on from where he had left off.
Feeling little short of amazed, Chesnie stared disbelievingly at her employer. Even while she was recognising that someone named Pomeroy had phoned to speak to her, and that the only Pomeroy she knew was Philip Pomeroy, Chesnie was astonished that Joel Davenport had not passed the call over to her.
She quickly found her voice. Anyone I should ring back? she enquired politely, annoyance straining at the leash.
Joel looked across at her, his blue glance icy. How do you know Philip Pomeroy? he demanded.
Ready to tell him it was none of his business, Chesnie decided that one of them should show some manners here. I met him at a party. She forced the words out.
Joel grunted, didnt look impressed, and stated coldly, You do know hes with the opposition?
Opposition?
In case you didnt know he heads Symington Technologyour competitors in the technology field.
I didnt know, Chesnie answered, and started to feel cross that Joel Davenport was as good as reminding her that the work she did for him was highly confidential. She resented that unsaid reminder, resented his icy manner, and tilted her chin a defiant fraction. You obviously know him better than I do, she replied, her control back. And, knowing she was pushing it, Do you happen to have his number?
Icy blue eyes bored into hers; she refused to back down. I shouldnt bother, he replied shortly. Hell ring again.
Chesnie was still silently mutinying against Joel Davenport when she went back to her desk. She didnt particularly wish to speak to Philip Pomeroyand thank you, Nerissa, for telling him where I workbut that was for her to decide, not Davenport. He spoke to his girlfriends when they rang him at the office. Where did he get off not allowing her that same courtesy? Even if Philip Pomeroy was the opposition.
Chesnie was not feeling any more Davenport-friendly when, around midday, just as he had predicted, Philip Pomeroy rang again. Had the door between the two offices not been open, and Joel Davenport privy to everything she said, Chesnie might well have refused Philips invitation to dinner. As it was, she knew full well he had heard her Hello, Philip and would more than likely be tuned in. Stubbornly she determined that Davenport should know exactly what she thought of his offensive, if unspoken, reminder that her work was highly confidential.
Say yes, Philip was urging. You cant still be unpacking.
She glanced through to the other officeDavenport appeared to be working, but she knew his capability to handle several things at once. Id love to go out with you, she heard herself replyand loved it when Davenport turned his head to glance her way. He was unsmiling. She smiledshe couldnt help itthen dipped her head so he shouldnt see her smile, though she guessed he had.
Tonight? Philip was pressing. Give me your address and Ill pick you up at
ErI cant tonight, she interrupted hurriedly. Heaven alone knew what time she would finish work tonight. Tomorrow, though, with Joel up in Scotland, should be much easier. I can make tomorrow if
Philip snapped up the alternative, asked again for her address, and when she had told him where she lived he, as busy as she, said he would look forward to tomorrow and rang off.
After that Chesnie was too busy to give thought to anything but the work she was involved with. She stayed late at her desk; so too did the man in the next room. At ten past seven she tidied her desk for the day, double-checked that Joel had all the information he would need for his trip, and went in to see him.
They spent another ten minutes finalising everything, then she said she was going homeand found she was looking into a pair of inscrutable sharp blue eyes.
He was unsmiling at first, but then relaxed to say quietly, Youre turning out to be something of a treasure, Chesnie Cosgrove.
Her heart gave the most peculiar bump, and she was so delighted by the compliment that she almost fell for his charm and smiled. But she wasnt forgetting his attitude earlier in the day, so she remained pleasant, but otherwise aloof, aslike any well-brought-up PA wouldshe wished him a pleasant trip and went home.
Strangelyor perhaps, she mused, it wasnt so strangeJoel Davenport was in her head very much that night. She could not remember ever being so annoyed with an employer before. Hector Browning didnt count; it was his father she had worked for.
Feeling unable to settle, Joel Davenport still in her head, she rang her sister at half past nine. I expected you to ring before this, Nerissa said by way of apology. He rang, didnt he?
Did you have to tell him where I work?
What else could I do? You said not to give him your phone number. And anyway, I ran out of excuses. Wheres he taking you?
I dont know. Hes calling for me at
Hah! Nerissa cut in. Youre going out with him!
Chesnie had to laugh. Tomorrow, she agreed, then chatted for another few minutes and rang offto have Joel Davenport back in her head. He thought she was a treasure. She found she was smilingand quickly cancelled that. Soft soap!
As anticipated, she was less busy on Thursday, and was extremely pleased that she seemed to coast through her work that day. True, there wasnt the same buzz about the office with Joel not there, but at least it looked as if she would be leaving on time that night. Which would suit her quite nicely. Time to go home, have a relaxing bath and get ready to go out with Philip Pomeroy.
At five past four she glanced at her watch, assessed the work she still had to do and knew for certain that she would be leaving at five. The best-laid plans
At four-thirty her phone rang. Joel Davenports office, she answered pleasantly.
Hello, Chesnie, the man himself answered, and her insides went all kind of crumbly. Ridiculous, she told herself stoutly. Im sorry to trouble you, he began, not sounding sorry at all, but Ive arranged an early meeting in London tomorrow. Do you think you can have some paperwork ready for me?
Of course, she answered automatically, and had her notepad in hand. Fire away.
She was getting writers cramp before he was halfway finished. Was he joking? It would take her hours to complete this little lot! She almost stopped him then and there, to remind him that she had a date that night. But remembered in time how at her job interview he had asked her supposing she had a date but he needed her to accompany him at short notice. Without hesitation shed indicated it would not be a problemthat she would change her plans for the evening. This wasnt accompanying him anywhere, but it amounted to the same thing.
I havent given you too much to do there, have I? he asked, when he eventually came to an end.
What are treasures for? she found she had answered, before she could think about it.
I knew I could rely on you, he commented charmingly, and rang off.
Chesnie was busying herself making a start, collecting information together, before she realised that there was no way she could get everything sorted, no way she could type up reams and reams of confidential matter, and keep her date with Philip Pomeroy.
Her hand went to the phone, but before she could carry out her intention to put a call through to Symington Technology she had another thought. How about if she got all the paperwork already to hand checked over, then typed as much as she could of the new stuff before she went home? Then, with her computer installed at home in that apology for a second bedroom, she could work as late as she had to after her dinner with Philip. Brilliant, or what?