Page 39 of Strictly Business

“Nothing that I can’t cancel,” Ruth says.

I nod, glad that she’ll be along to keep things running smoothly. I go on.

“I need flights booked and a hotel please. Make sure the hotel is reasonably close to the Bellisario head office as that’s where we are going to present their campaign to them in person. Make it a nice hotel. If we land the contract, we can afford to branch out and if we don’t, then I will be taking Mr Bellisario up on his offer to cover the costs of the trip. We will need three seats and three rooms,” I say.

Ruth has been entering the information I gave her into her cell phone presumably, so she doesn’t forget any of the details of what I need. She looks up from the cell phone.

“Why three?” she asks. “Me and you obviously, and who else?”

“Serena will be joining us. She has worked as hard on this project as I have and she deserves to be in the pitch,” I say.

I kick myself internally for explaining myself. I should have just said Serena and left it at that.

“Are you sure that’s necessary? The trip will be a whole lot cheaper if it’s just the two of us going,” Ruth says.

Before I can respond, Serena speaks up.

“She’s right you know. About the cost, I mean, not about me not going. Obviously, I’ll be going because I’ll be a part of the pitch. But there’s really no need to drag Ruth along too. I’m sure I can handle taking notes and grabbing a few coffees along with my own job,” she says.

She says it so sweetly and so innocently that I know for a fact she was expecting the bristling reaction she gets from Ruth at her words. I have to bite my tongue to not laugh, but at the same time, I value Ruth as a lot more than as just someone who grabs my coffee and I want her on this trip. I decide to intervene before this whole thing gets out of hand.

“While I appreciate you both trying to save the company money, we’re not exactly in a place where we need to be watching every last cent ladies. I would very much like both of you to come on the trip. Ruth, if you can arrange that as soon as possible please and let me know the times of the flights,” I say.

“Of course,” Ruth says.

She glares at Serena for another few seconds before she leaves the office and closes the door behind her. I’m almost certain she will be standing behind that door for at least a few seconds to see what is being said.

“Ruth is joining us because she keeps everything running smoothly,” I say, choosing my words carefully. I want Ruth to hear that I do value her, but I don’t want Serena to feel like I’m telling her off. “The fact that you think all she does is make coffee is actually a great compliment to her because it means everything is running so smoothly you don’t realize it’s because Ruth makes it happen.”

Serena shakes her head and waves away my words with one hand.

“I know how much a good PA does,” she says, a smile of amusement on her face. “But come on. You have to admit that Ruth takes herself far too seriously sometimes and honestly, it’s kind of fun to mess with her.”

I have a feeling there’s more to it than what Serena is telling me, but if she wanted to say more, she would have, and quite honestly, I have no intention of getting involved in some sort of power struggle between Ruth and Serena. They will figure it out for themselves at some point.

“Right,” I say, standing up. “Let ‘s go and grab some lunch. Are you hungry?”

Serena nods and gets up.

CHAPTER29

Wyatt

“Won’t people talk though if we’re seen going out for lunch together?” she says.

“If one of the advertising executives was on the brink of landing a big client and they took their associate out to lunch to discuss the pitch, would you assume they were sleeping together?” I ask.

“No, of course not,” Serena says.

“Exactly. And people won’t think that about us. It’s just because we know we are sleeping together we think others will see it easier. I think Ruth probably has an idea about it though,” I say. I look down and see I have tucked my shirt back in at some point while I was talking to Ruth. It’s just a reflex action and I don’t remember doing it. I look back up. “I was a bit dishevelled when she first came in.”

“She’s your PA though. She knows better than to gossip about you,” Serena says.

“Yes, that’s true,” I agree. “Come on then. I’m starving.”

We leave my office and I stick my head in Ruth’s office on the way past.

“I’m going out for lunch. Email me the details of the flights once they are confirmed please,” I say.

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