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fidgeting with my fingers
in my lap. “The legal team have been looking at it all day. There’s nothing we
can do, it’s absolutely airtight,” he said; his smile fading slowly as he
listened intently. “We could, but it will take time. You have yourself a new PA,”
he laughed eventually, ending the call and I wondered what the hell was going
on.
    My
nerves and impatience got the better of me and I couldn’t wait any longer.
“What’s going on, Sir?” Something about my situation was different. Everyone
else had been in or out in five minutes flat. Staying or going, simple. My
appointment had been put back until six, an hour after my usual finishing time
and I’d been here at least five minutes and was still none the wiser.
    “Hunter
Industries have acquired Capitol Industries and we are restructuring. Some
divisions will be incorporated into our existing business and others will cease
to exist,” he said firmly without a hint of regret or apology.
      “What’s going to happen to me?” I asked
quietly. It seemed like the obvious question and the small smile played again
around his full lips.
    “I’m
Charlie Hunter. Lucas Hunter will be running the operation down here and taking
the position previously occupied by Mr Turnbull, Jessica. To be entirely honest
with you, we brought you here to let you go, but your contract is unusual to
say the least,” he laughed gently as I stared at him puzzled.
    I’d
read my contract and it was pretty standard employment stuff.
    He
continued before I could speak. “Anyway, the decision has been made that you
will retain your position working for Lucas, at least for now, so turn up
tomorrow and we’ll take it from there.”
    “I’m
not out,” I gasped, surprised, relieved and absolutely ecstatic, my voice
unrecognisable even to me.
    “It
would appear not, Miss Evangelista,” he smiled as I stood to leave, grinning
broadly. “Good luck, Jessica,” he shouted after me with an unmistakable edge of
humour in his voice. I didn’t know why and I didn’t care. I couldn’t really
understand any of this, but it didn’t matter. I had a job, we would have our
Christmas and Chas and Dex would be thrilled.
    The
building was abnormally quiet as I made my way back up to the office, hearing only
the low hum of the floor polishers and vacuum cleaners somewhere in the
distance. Already it felt strangely different and I hoped this wouldn’t set the
tone for our new owners.
    Capitol
had been a great, fun place to work. Charlie Hunter had seemed OK, polite and
smiley like he’d been at the party. I was just so grateful to still have a job
that I didn’t give it any more thought as I pulled my phone from my bag,
reaching across the desk for my coat.
    Chas
wasn’t working and I had big plans. Tonight the Evangelista’s would be
celebrating. “Are you out on a hot date with one of those gorgeous and
fabulously unobtainable men tonight?”
    “No.”
    “Good.
Get your glad rags on. I’ve had one hell of a day, Chas, and we are celebrating,”
I laughed, pressing end call as the deep voice reverberated behind me. If I
wasn’t mistaken it was laced with more than a little annoyance and I froze.
    “That
might be a little premature.”
    Fuck.
I didn’t turn around for long enough to make the whole situation awkward and
uncomfortable and the second I did, I wished I hadn’t. ‘No, no,no,no,no’ I
screamed inwardly, my cheeks burning and my mouth dropping open as I soaked in
the beautiful vision standing directly in front of me. He looked every bit as
utterly shocked and stunned as I did before he quickly regained his composure,
standing there cool, serious and more than a tad menacing.
    “I’m
sorry, you startled me,” I muttered quickly, trying to buy a bit of time as we
just stood and gazed at each other. He recognised me. I knew that much and I
sure as hell recognised him. I didn’t know whether to ignore that fact or
acknowledge it, deciding to follow his lead after