Page 33 of Mistaken Identity

“But you said they were merging with Banks, French and Stanley,” Hunter says, finishing her sentence.

“I said they might be, if the financials stacked up. Well… my friend who works at Banks, French and Stanley has just told me the deal’s off.”

Hunter leaps to his feet, his face lighting up. “You mean the merger isn’t going ahead?”

“Exactly.”

Hunter stares at her for a moment and then walks to the window, staring out at the skyline. I can see his shoulders relax, like there’s been a built-in tension that he’s finally releasing, and he sucks in a breath, his muscles flexing, as he turns back around again.

“What are Palmerston’s chances?” he asks, his eyes alight as he comes back over to the desk again.

“Not great,” Doreen says. “Without the merger, I’d say they’ve got weeks, rather than months.”

Hunter nods his head. “I agree. We need to act fast.”

“Shall I get all the account execs together for a meeting this afternoon?”

“Yes. And I don’t want any excuses. I don’t care what they’re doing. I want them all there.”

He’s like a different man. Not that I know him very well, but compared to how he was at my interview, he seems much more driven… determined… forceful.

Doreen heads for the door, and I follow in her wake.

“Sorry, Livia.” I stop, turning, as Hunter says my name and I see he’s smiling at me. “You probably didn’t understand a word of that.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” I look from him to Doreen, and back again. “I get how important this is. From what I could gather, one of your competitors was in trouble and was going to merge with another one?” He nods his head. “Only that’s all changed now, and the company that was in trouble is likely to go out of business in the next few weeks. You want to make the most of the situation by getting your sales team together, presumably so you can… I don’t know… swoop in and pick up their clients?”

There’s a very brief silence, of no more than a couple of seconds, and then Hunter laughs, throwing his head back. The sound is glorious and echoes through my body.

I turn to Doreen, and she smiles. “You’re gonna fit in just fine,” she says, and we both leave the room.

I doubt Doreen would still think so highly of me if she knew how little I’d understood of the meeting between Hunter and his account executives. It finished over thirty minutes ago, and my head is still spinning.

There were nine of us around the desk in the glass meeting room downstairs, including Hunter, Doreen and myself, and I can’t remember any of the other people’s names… except for Preston Tucker. I think that’s only because Doreen had already mentioned him, though. No-one was formally introduced to me. There wasn’t time, and Hunter was clearly keen to get on with the meeting. He took control, exerting his authority and making sure everyone knew what was required of them. It seemed to go well, even if I didn’t understand everything that was said, and everyone left seeming much more invigorated than when they’d arrived.

I can’t believe I’ve almost reached the end of my first day already. It’s been complicated and busy, but great fun, and I’ve enjoyed it enormously. Everyone I’ve met has been friendly and relaxed, and although I’m exhausted, I’m looking forward to tomorrow… and the next day.

“Livia?” I look up to see Hunter standing on the other side of Doreen’s desk, smiling down at me. We moved another chair in here this morning and I’ve been sitting beside her, getting to grips with the computer system… when we’ve had time.

“I meant to give these to you earlier, but it’s been a slightly crazy day, even by our standards.”

He hands over a box, which contains the latest iPhone, and on top of it, a set of car keys. I can’t contain my gasp when I notice the Mercedes logo on the key fob.

Seriously? A Mercedes?

“Um… thank you.”

He smiles, and my heart lurches in my chest. I need to get a grip. He’s my boss and even if I have fallen for him, it’s not practical – or sensible – to think about him in any other way. I have to keep telling myself he’s a playboy, and ignore the heat in the pit of my stomach, and the fact that he’s staring at me, and that I like it. Doreen coughs and he turns to her, clearing his throat. “Do you know where Livia’s car is parked? No-one told me.”

“It’s in bay twelve,” she says, looking at me. “That’s bay twelve of the parking garage in the basement of the building.”

“I see. Thank you so much. This is so, so kind.”

Hunter seems confused by my reaction, his brow furrowing, and he hesitates for a moment or two before returning to his office.

Doreen leans over. “If you want to head off, you can.”

I check my watch. “But there’s still fifteen minutes to go.”

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