Page 5 of Fallen Roses

“Excuse me.”

I’m confused, and he laughs softly. “Lunch, Ana. A necessary part of the day and a requirement in law to take a break.”

“I don’t take lunch.”

I’m annoyed at the intrusion and even more annoyed at the suggestive gleam in his eye as he shakes his head.

“You know what they say when all work and no play makes Ana a dull girl.”

“Then they’d be right.” I fire back because this situation needs shooting down in flames right from the start.

I say coolly, “Forgive me, David, but I have a lot of work to do to become acquainted with my position. Iintend on working through lunch today, but thank you for the offer.”

He makes to speak and I say as an aside, “There is also my meeting with James Warner at two pm and I need the preparation time.”

“I see.” He shakes his head and chuckles softly. “Watch out for him, Ana.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s a smarmy son of a bitch who believes he’s God’s gift to women. There’s not a woman here who hasn’t fallen for his charms, and I doubt you will be the exception.”

“Then I will delight in proving you wrong, David.”

I fix him with a cool stare, leaving him in no doubt at all that I mean every word I say. “I am not here to find a love interest. I’m here to do a job that I’m being paid for, and that is all. You have my word on that.”

He appears a little taken aback and lowers his voice. “Listen honey, I know it’s your first day and you want to make a good impression, and I must commend you on that.”

I stare at him blankly as he whispers, “There really is no need. We’re not ogres here, and lunch is something you’re entitled to. Nobody will think any less of you for taking the hour and if you want to fit in here, it also involves making time to socialize with your colleagues.”

“Thanks for the advice, David. Maybe I can take a rain check on that lunch.”

I force a warm smile because he does have a point.Gossip can reveal many secrets that spreadsheets never can, but it’s not David I’ll be asking. The man who will be an invaluable directory of information to me is sitting in front of me now and isn’t interested in me in any other way than an ear to offload into. Perhaps I will take that drink after work and the man I’ll be accompanying will be my soon to be new best friend, Eric.

Just before two pm, I head to the door at the far end of the corridor as instructed. I’m fascinated to meet the current CEO of The Rose Foundation because by the sound of him, I’ll hate him on sight.

I’ve met men like him before who use their position of power to their advantage. Believing they own the right to control their staff to suit their agenda and I hate everything they stand for.

As I approach his door, I steel myself to meet a man who may hold all the answers I seek, but I remind myself to remain guarded around him. If he knew why I was really here, I would be out as quickly as I came and I mustn’t underestimate him at all.

At exactly two pm, I knock loudly on his door and hear a gruff, “Enter.”

As I push through the door, I notice him sitting at his desk and as he raises his eyes in my direction, we say at the same time. “You!”

He appears as shocked as I am and I wish I could disappear into thin air because how is this possible?

He stands and stares at me with a wild disbelief and shakes his head as if he doubts his own eyes. However, Ikeep my cool because I’ve been trained all my life for that and merely stare at him with a blank expression.

“This is awkward.” I remark and he raises his eyes.

“You think.”

He runs his fingers through his hair and it’s strangely endearing and I hate the way my heart is fluttering right now.

“Was last night part of some kind of plan?”

His words irritate the shit out of me and I snap, “Don’t flatter yourself. You were merely a means to an end.”

He raises his eyes. “So you didn’t know I was your new boss?”

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