Page 7 of Dante (Members From Money Season 2. #153)

Courtney had no idea what would have happened if the man in question had not come striding out as if he had heard the commotion.

"Darling!" It was fascinating to see the woman's expression change from one of fury to sexy and inviting in the space of a few seconds. She really was a very good actress, Courtney mused.

"I was in the neighborhood and this, this--" She waved a beringed hand in Courtney's direction as she placed the other on his chest intimately. "Your secretary--"

"Admin."

The couple turned to look at her and the woman blinked. "Excuse me?"

Looking up from the notes she was making on a document, Courtney offered a polite smile.

"I was just correcting you. We're no longer called secretaries, but admin assistants.

" Turning to the silent Dante, she continued.

"I was explaining to Ms. Deloitte that since she does not have an appointment, she could not be admitted. One of those pesky little rules."

Dante stared at her for a moment and had to bite down the urge to grin. He also realized that his admiration for her had gone up another notch. She had spunk and was decidedly fearless. Knowing it would not do for Magda to see his humor, he nodded briskly.

"I have a few minutes. Please hold my calls."

"Of course."

Courtney returned the woman's baleful glance with a mild one and went back to her work.

"You should fire her." Magda hissed as soon as he closed the doors.

"Why?" Pecking her on the cheek, he released her and went behind his desk. "She's only doing what she's paid to do."

"She was being a bitch." Magda was so furious, she could barely contain herself. "And why didn't you tell me you had changed assistants?"

He glanced up at her, his expression coolly amused. "Why would I tell you any such thing?"

Tamping down the hurt and the insecurity she was feeling, Magda glided towards the desk and sat on the edge of it, one shapely leg swinging. "Darling, she was completely rude."

"She was merely doing her job." He sat and turned the chair to avoid bumping legs with her. "You cannot just pop up when you feel like it. I happen to be a very busy man. In another few minutes you would have missed me."

She quickly backtracked and swallowed the panic and hatred for the classically beautiful woman seated around the desk in the other room. It had stopped her in her tracks to see a stranger seated there and such a beautiful one at that.

"I was having lunch with my agent at Kelly's and decided to drop by." She reached out a hand to touch his cheek. "To remind you of the upcoming function."

Clamping a hand on her wrist, he removed it and managed to hide his annoyance. "I remember. My assistant is very good at her job as I said. I'll be there." He glanced at his watch and rose. "Now you'll have to excuse me--" He turned as the intercom sounded.

"Yes?"

"You have Mr. Chen on the line."

"Give me a minute." He depressed the button and slid Magda a dismissive look. "I need to take this."

"Will I see you tonight?"

"I'll let you know."

Seeing the impatient look on his face, she slid off the desk. Leaning forward, she kissed him on the cheek. Gathering her dignity and her wrap, she made her way out, stopping at the desk where Courtney was transferring the call.

"He's mine."

The last thing she expected was the hateful look directed at her and the furious statement.

"Excuse me?"

Magda smiled grimly. "Whatever you did to get this job, know that I'm going to do everything in my power to see to it that you're replaced."

Sitting back, she aimed a mildly interested look at the seething woman.

"Give it a shot. In the meantime, let me assure you that I have no designs on my boss.

I'm a professional and so is he. If you're really in a relationship with him, you would know that.

Please excuse me, I must take this." Picking up the phone, she turned and ignored the woman standing there.

And not once did she reveal by her expression that she was shaking inside.

Accepting the beer, Caleb popped the cap and stared at his sister in blanket shock. "You told her that?"

Shrugging one shoulder, Courtney went back to stirring the stew she had decided on for supper.

She had gotten through her first week and was not fired.

Every day after the incident with Magda, she kept expecting to hear the words: 'Pack your things and leave', but that had not happened.

And he had given her no indication that he was going to.

She had caught him staring at her with a quizzical expression on his face several times, but he had not said a word to her.

"It just popped out of my mouth." She admitted. It was Friday night, and she was exhausted, but in a very pleasant way. Apart from the fact that her stomach was acting up, she felt good, relieved, with a feeling of accomplishment.

"Things always do." Caleb grinned at her. "Have I told you, you're my hero?"

Rolling her eyes at him, she turned the flame down and sat at the counter. "What I did was rude and unprofessional. I intended to call and alert him that the woman was here to see him, but the look she gave me ticked me off. She had a bitchy attitude, and it got my back up. So, I struck out."

"How does she look in person?"

She snorted and picked up her cup to take a sip of the horrible tea. "You're such a guy."

"Yes, yes. So? Is she as beautiful as she is on screen?"

"More." Courtney admitted bitterly. "She's freaking perfect. Who wears a cashmere wrap in the middle of the day?"

"People who can afford it." His smile widened. "You're hating on her."

"Can you blame me? She looked perfect. Not a hair out of place and makeup so subtle, it's like she was not wearing any.

And those shoes--" She sighed then. "Those alone made me want to punch her.

She did not stay in his office long." She added thoughtfully.

"And I get the feeling that she's more into the relationship than he is. "

"Oh?"

"Just an observation. Which is none of my business. On the bright side, I have an admirer."

He cocked a brow at her. "I'm not surprised. Who's he?"

"He's in charge of acquisitions. He brought me flowers and is very sweet."

"Does he know you're knocked up?" He asked her mildly, lifting a brow at the dirty look she sent him.

"No." Pushing away from the counter, she went to turn off the flame.

"Just saying."

"Oh shut up."

"And keeping it real." He had time to dodge the potato she threw at his head.

He wasn't in the mood and should never have agreed to the dinner in the first place.

But after the incident in his office with Magda and his new assistant, he felt as if he owed her.

So, he had agreed to have dinner at her place.

Now he regretted it. And was wondering when it was a good time to escape.

He knew she was hoping he would spend the night, which was not going to happen.

"Darling? More wine?"

"No." He shook his head and placed a hand over his glass. They were dining on her terrace and the view was spectacular. Spread out in front of them were lights from the towering buildings of the city. The sky was a clear velvet blue, peppered with stars and the moon a pale orb in the middle of it.

"I'm so happy you agreed to have dinner with me."

"You were very persuasive." He forced a smile. She was clingy and possessive, two things he tried to stay away from, not to mention popping into his office on a whim. The reminder of what his assistant had said to her had his lips curving in a genuine smile. The woman had spunk.

As if reading his mind, she picked up her wineglass and took a sip.

She had planned the evening carefully and had dismissed her maid.

The beef wellington was perfect as well as the baby potatoes and the wild vegetables.

She was wearing a new dress; the raw blue silk complemented her ivory skin to perfection.

She had dabbed some of her signature scent on strategic places on her body.

She was willing to forgive him for not jumping to her rescue when that bitch he had working for him insulted her. The nerve!

"Where did you find that assistant?" She asked casually. "I had no idea that Ms. Carstairs was leaving. She's been with you for so long."

He shrugged and was reminded that he had not realized the woman was leaving or remembered. "Her sister is ailing, and she wanted to go and take care of her."

Using the tip of her talon-like nail, she circled the rim of the glass. "But is that woman suitable? She's so young."

His thick brows lifted. "I'm aware of her age."

"I thought you said you never liked to hire people of a certain age. You prefer mature women."

"This one comes highly recommended and she's very efficient." He picked up his wine and eyed her. "Is there a question in there somewhere?"

She shook her head and offered a charming smile. "She was very rude."

A look of impatience passed over his face, warning her that she was too close to the edge. "She was doing her job." He shoved back the chair. "Thanks for dinner."

"Darling--" She rose in agitation. "I was hoping you would stay."

"Another time perhaps." Crossing to her, he pecked her on the cheek absently. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She waited until he had left before hurling the expensive wine glasses against the wall.