Page 5 of Storm over the Caribbean
“Um…err…I meant I’m going to get back to work now, Mr Ambrose, Sir. I’m working free overtime today, haha! I love working! I love working for free so much!”
“That’s what I thought you said.”
And he strode off, towing me down the corridor. Just before we stepped into the elevator, I sent Mr Stone a wave. Somehow losing his balance while seated, he teetered precariously, and a moment later—
Thump!
“Agh!”
Oh my.
I smiled to myself. If this was what working life as a married woman was going to be like, it would end up being rather amusing.
Ding!
A short journey later, the elevator doors opened at the bottom of the shaft, and the two of us stepped out into the entry hall. The moment we did, the gossiping crowd of clerks that was scattered throughout the hall fell suddenly silent and did their best to lookverybusy.
“So…” Mr Ambrose’s icy gaze swept through the hall. “This is how things are, are they?”
The clerks did their best to sink into the floor. Unfortunately, it was made of very solid stone.
“I see. Well, if you have so much time to gossip, I’m sure you’ll also have enough time to stay to work a few extra hours for no additional compensation, won’t you?”
“Yes, Mr Ambrose, Sir!” a chorus of hurried murmurs echoed through the hall. “Of course, Mr Ambrose, Sir!”
“Well? What are you waiting for?”
“Nothing, Sir!”
The hall burst into a beehive of activity. As for me—I scrutinized my dear husband’s profile. “Did you just use me as a way to get your employees to work free overtime?”
“Only a despicable, greedy person would do such a thing, Mrs Ambrose.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “So that means yes?”
Reaching out, he gently stroked a thumb across my cheek. The tiny motion sent a delicious shiver down my spine. His dark, sea-coloured eyes bored straight into my soul. “You know…I am reliably informed that knowing your spouse well is an excellent sign for a stable, lasting marriage.”
“I-is that so?”
Damn you, my bloody useless, uncooperative tongue! And damn those darn deep, dark, hypnotic eyes of his!
“Now, enough time wasted.” He stepped forward, and I noticed that, somehow, we were across the hall already.
Dammit, when did we move so far?
Pushing open the front door, he stepped outside and snapped his fingers. “Coach!”
A moment later, a simple but elegant black carriage came to a halt in front of us. And, wonder of wonders, it did indeed have two horses harnessed in front. The fact that one of them happened to be the scruffy little grey nag that was previously pulling Mr Ambrose’s little chaise didn’t detract from the amazing miracle in the least.
“Sahib.” Jumping down from the box, Karim inclined his head and held open the carriage door.
“Karim.” With a curt nod back at the bodyguard, Mr Ambrose strode past him and helped me into the coach. “Take us home.”
“Home?” I blinked, suppressing a yawn. I only just realized this was the second time he’d said that. Darn, I really had to be getting tired if I missed obvious stuff like that. “Aren’t we going back to the hotel?”
The day we arrived back from America, we had checked into a hotel near the docks, since Empire House wasn’t exactly equipped with anything remotely resembling lodgings. I had expected we’d be going back there.
Giving me a cool look, he cocked his head at me. “Did you really expect me to pay for a hotel room one day longer than absolutely necessary?” Then, without breaking eye contact, he placed his hand on my bulging stomach, ever so gently.
