Jane followed Elena as they made their way to Richard’s office. Jane resumed her position behind her desk and began to sort through the pile of papers and manila folders.
She lost track of time, but when she finished sorting the papers, she looked up to find Elena standing beside her desk.
“Do you need me to get you anything?” Jane asked.
Elena frowned. “What? Oh, no. I’m just thinking. Jane, did anyone work in my office while I was gone?”
“I know Mr. Arnold went in there a couple of times looking for things while he handled some of your clients. Is something missing?”
“No,” Elena said, a small frown marring her forehead. “No, I don’t believe there is. How long have you worked here?”
“Since last summer. Just about a year.” Jane was beginning to suspect there was more to Elena’s questions than met the eye. She glanced at Richard’s closed door and lowered her voice before she asked, “Should I be looking for another job? I know Mr. Arnold isn’t exactly thrilled with my work.”
Elena smiled and leaned down next to Jane. “He’s British,” she replied in a whisper. “He thinks he’s perfect.”
Jane couldn’t help but return her smile. Elena always put everyone at ease, which was why she’d climbed the latter of success at PureGems so quickly. Her clients loved her. Coworkers loved her.
Everyone loved her.
“Jane!” Richard’s voice shouted again through the desk phone.
She hurriedly rose to her feet, only to be stopped by Elena’s hand on her arm.
“He treats you poorly,” Elena said, her sage green eyes holding a wealth of sadness and a measure of anger.
Jane shrugged. “Yes, but it’s a good job, and I really like my flat. In order to keep it, I need the money he’s paying me.”
“Jane!” This time his voice bellowed through the door.
Elena’s brows snapped together. “I don’t care. No one should be treated like that. Don’t let him do it to you, Jane.”
Jane wanted to acknowledge that Elena was right, but she needed every penny earned—a beggar couldn’t be choosy.
“Thank you,” she said before she rushed to see what he needed, only to find herself running errands more suited to a mailroom clerk.
Richard kept her dashing about the rest of the day. She even missed lunch. When she finally looked up from the letter she was drafting to grab a drink of water, she noticed it was after six.
Then she saw a sticky note on her computer. She was supposed to go with a company driver and pick up a client at the airport a half hour ago.
Jane grabbed her purse, nearly falling on her face as she jumped up from her chair, and ran to the elevator. Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long for it to arrive, but every second felt like an eternity. She could just imagine how Mr. Arnold would react when he learned she’d been late to pick up his client. It could very well be the end of her employment at PureGems.
By the time she reached the bottom floor, she had all kinds of excuses lined up to present the client, as well as ways to make it up to them.
Jane pushed open the door, and her foot came out of her shoe when she took a step. She tried to turn around to get it—only to find people behind her, stomping on her shoe. Jane dodged several shoulders only to have a briefcase slam into her back as she grabbed her wayward shoe and put it back on.
A rumble of thunder greeted her on the sidewalk as she straightened. A quick look around showed her there was no car waiting. Had they left? Had Richard sent someone else and not told her?
A sick feeling began in her stomach. She parted her lips and took in several slow breaths to stop the quesiness and moved to the side of the building so she could lean against it. The day hadn’t started off well, and it was ending even worse.
“You look like you could use a drink.”
The smooth, deep voice sent goose bumps over her skin as it wrapped around her seductively. Sensuously.
Wantonly.
Her emotions were so strong, so astonishing that she closed her eyes and savored the feel of each incredible moment.
Then she opened her eyes and slowly turned her head to stare into the most amazing gray eyes. They were stormy, like the sky above her, and she could imagine they would be as cold as steel when he was angry.
His dark brown hair was a rich mahogany, tempting her to delve her fingers into the short strands. The trim cut accentuated his chiseled jaw and square chin to utter perfection. Brows, thick and as richly colored as his hair, slashed over his startling eyes. He had wide, full lips that were lifted in a mischievous, all-too-enticing grin.
“I do. More than you know. Too bad I can’t right now,” she finally said when she could form words again.
“Ah. An American,” he said, and pushed away from the building.
He didn’t say it with the usual scorn Jane was used to from Richard Arnold. Rather, this impossibly handsome specimen said it as if American accents were a common occurrence.
She swept her gaze over his tall form. He moved with fluid grace that seemed at odds with his height and the bulge of muscle his black suit couldn’t hide.
The suit and white shirt were impeccable and fit him as if they were custom made. She let her gaze linger on the breadth of his shoulders and the hint of thickly muscled chest when his jacket shifted.
He looked damned good in the suit, yet it seemed as if he were meant for more than such stiff clothing. She licked her lips as she wondered what he would look like in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.
Her heart hammered in her chest as her blood heated just looking at the man. She dragged her eyes back up to his face to find him watching her.
Jane had to make her feet stay in place despite the invisible pull she felt toward this complete stranger. It wasn’t just his amazing looks and mouthwatering body that attracted her, but also the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her.
As if he were really seeing her.