Page 34 of Richard

“I told Karen to hold your calls for the next ten minutes. I figured that’s about how long we are going to need.” She plopped herself on one of the chairs and stared at Collette expectantly.

“Good Christ, he even smells expensive,” she added, sniffing the air. “And he seemed upset.” She shook her head. “No, not upset. He seemed determined about something. What was it?”

Collette had been desperately trying to come up with a plausible reason for Richard McBride to storm her office like that and had barely enough time to think of one.

“The- uhm– the article on Lenny Bolt, the last one.”

“About his illness and why he kept it a secret.” A frown touched Babs’ brow. “I thought it was a very endearing one and certain to have his fans weeping. I know I shed a tear or two. What did he say about it?”

Collette hated lying, but she had no choice.

“He said it was too sappy,” she improvised quickly. “He wanted more about Lenny’s work as an artist, less about his illness.”

Babs’ frown deepened. “I think he is wrong. Did he want you to write a retraction?”

“No,” she shook her head. “I finally convinced him that it was good for the company. I hadn’t run the piece by him before it was printed.” That much was true, at least.

Babs nodded. “Men like Richard McBride always want to be in control of the narrative.” She looked at her friend curiously. “When I came in here, I had the feeling there was something else going on.”

It took all her effort to appear nonchalant and clueless, but Collette managed it. “Like what?”

“Like–”Babs shrugged. “I hoped it was something of a romantic nature. Not that he looked the least bit like that. He appeared sort of determined about something.”

“He just wanted to set things straight.”

“Why didn’t he call? A man like him just doesn't pop up like that.”

“He said he was in the neighborhood,” she said swiftly. Shuffling some files on her desk, she gave Babs a pointed look. “Now I really had to get some work done. I am swamped.”

To her relief, the woman rose and made her way to the door.

“You have to admit that he is very hot. All that tall, imposing male sent my heart shivering. It makes one wonder what he is like in the sack.”

I don’t have to wonder, I know. Collette thought despairingly. And knowing has been driving me crazy for eight days.

“That’s highly inappropriate.” She said instead.

“Is it?” Babs mused as she left the room and closed the door behind her.

Sagging back in her chair, she drew the first easy breath since he burst into her office. Picking up the card, she stared at the gold embossed words bearing his name and title and several phone numbers.

Turning it around, she read his bold scrawl. She knew where the loft was, of course, in that exclusive neighborhood that was home to several celebrities.

She also knew it was very private and out of the way. She was going to ignore his summons, naturally, because how dare he think he could just march into her office and demand that she present herself at his place, like one of his employees?

She had been aware of the missed deadline but had figured he would have moved on by now. She did not kid herself that a man like him would ever be interested in her. That night had been a fluke.

Yes, it was constantly on her mind, and she was having difficulty sleeping at night, but eventually, she would get over it. It would be dangerous and foolish to pursue a relationship with Richard McBride, nothing good can come of it.

So, when the seven days had passed, she had just gone about her day as usual. She had ignored his calls, thinking that he would get the message and move on to someone else.

She was also not going to admit to herself or to anyone else that seeing him just now had set her heart racing giddily. He looked great in black, the jacket molding his splendid broad shoulders wonderfully well. His green eyes did something funny to her insides and his expensive cologne was still lingering in her nostrils.

“I will just not go,” she whispered. “He cannot make me.”

Putting the card away, she buried her face in her hands and took a shaky breath.

*****

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