Page 6

As we rounded the House and made our way up the steps to the foyer entrance, he turned to Elliot who had remained stoically passive despite the tension between his employer and I. I expected he was used to his boss’s effect on the opposite sex.
"Deal with the car," Mr Tell told him with barely even a glance. Elliot dutifully nodded and walked off towards the car park. I stopped, gaping at the arrogant man.
"That was so rude."
"Excuse me?" He rounded on me, his voice barely above a whisper, but the chatter of the workmen stopped and I knew we had an audience.
"That." I gestured to Elliot's retreating form. "Do you treat everyone that way or just the people you pay to put up with it?"
This stranger was riling up the deepest parts of me and even though I knew I was screwing up in a big way, I just couldn’t let it go. Contract be damned.
"I'm a very busy man, Miss O'Connell," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent a tremor up my spine. "Elliot understands that. He also understands that I value him immensely." He took a step towards me and I held his gaze, my arms folded in front ofme, keeping him from getting too close. I stiffened as he took my chin in his hand.
"Never tell me how to speak to my employees, do you understand?"
His command did something to me. It rolled over my flesh and made me sweat. I felt a primal urge to drop to my knees in submission. Instead, I jerked my chin out of his hand.
"Or what? You'll put me on the naughty step?"Shut up, Lola!
Mr Tell took a step back and there was a silent intake of breath from everyone around us as we all waited to see what he would do. To my annoyance, he appeared to be biting back a smile.
He examined me with that cold gaze for a moment longer before his hand went to my back again and he guided me into the house. Somehow, even though I'd gotten the last word, he still seemed to have won. I opened my mouth to tell him again to remove his hand but that was quickly forgotten as I entered Harrington House.
"Wow." My eyes widened as I took in my surroundings. I found myself in a huge, circular entrance hall with rooms leading off either side and a dual staircase in front of me that led to separate wings of the House. The renovations weren't finished, that much was clear, but its bones were here, and the promise of what it would be was visible.
I itched with the urge to dash off and explore. I was practically bouncing on my toes, giddy with excitement.
A pair of workmen came by carrying a chandelier between them and I stared, open-mouthed. It was peculiar to see something so close that you could usually only see twenty feet up. I watched the men disappear with it into a room off to the left of the grand staircase. Without thinking, I followed them.
Everywhere smelled strongly of paint and varnish and in every room there were decorators busy at work. I found the menwith the chandelier placing it with care in the corner of a vast room. I turned to find Mr Tell following a pace behind me. It occurred to me that I should probably have asked permission before I went scampering around his property but he didn’t seem to mind.
"What room is this?" I asked, taking in the huge space. It took my breath away.
"The Gold Function Room. It was once used as a ballroom I believe." He watched me, his hands in his pockets as I explored the room a little. I looked up, admiring the gold ceiling panels.
"Ballroom sounds better," I told him and the corner of his mouth twitched again. "Your face won't crack if you smile, you know."
"Outspoken little thing, aren't you?"
"I prefer impertinent." Rosie would probably murder me if she knew I was speaking to him like this but I couldn't help it. I’d never been very good at holding my tongue and besides, he seemed to be enjoying it.
"Wow," I breathed again as I took in the Botticelli-style ceiling.
"Impressive isn't it? We had a team of painters from Italy fly in to paint the ceilings." His voice was smooth like honey. I was in awe, completely and utterly in awe. Never in my small, quiet life had I been anywhere like this. I felt him stepping closer to me, sealing me in a bubble of quiet despite the bustle around us.
"Do you like it?" he asked, his voice low.
"Of course. Your guests are going to be very happy here."
"But you," he stepped into my field of vision, gazing down at me as if I were an ancient language he couldn't decipher, "doyoulike it?"
I felt as if he was asking me about much more than just the building. My core clenched with instant arousal. What the hell was wrong with me today?
Luckily, I was spared from answering his question when we were interrupted by the click of heels on the marble floor.
The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen glided over to us on red Louboutin heels. Her hair was black and straight as an arrow down her back, and she wore a black pencil skirt paired with a cream blouse. She was stunning in a vampiric sort of way. I tugged at my dress, which suddenly felt a lot tighter. She clasped his hand in hers and kissed Mr Tell on both cheeks.
"Angie Carter, this is Lola O'Connell. She's here for a meeting with Riley." He turned to me. "Angie is my personal assistant."