Page 36 of Tainted Love

I grin, because not only is Jackson on holiday, he’s in St Lucia, preparing for his wedding to my favourite woman, friend and stand-in mum. ‘Okay. I’m coming. Two minutes. But where is Greg?—’

The line goes dead.

I drink the last mouthful of latte from the takeaway cup on my desk and click send on my email of instructions to the associate I’ve asked to manage our foreign counsel whilst I’m away. Despite being tired from my all-nighter, I smile as my computer shuts down for two whole weeks. Two whole weeks of a devastatingly sexy CEO.

I wanted so much to go home with him after our showdown on the sofa in his office but I had Kenneth drop me back at Saunders, knowing I’d be leaving from here to go direct to the airport. It’s been a long night but the plan to register the intellectual property rights inBlack Diamondsis set in Europe, China, the US and Australia, then the rest of the world. Once that’s done, Gregory and Constant Sources can develop the game and keep it on the market, or they can box it, but one thing’s for sure, his company profits will be safe now and, on reflection and after a good tension-busting shag, maybe seven hundred and fifty thousand wasn’t too high a price for the benefits Constant Sources could reap.Not that I’ll be letting Mr Arrogant know that.

I fasten the button of my damson blazer over my dress and pull on my grey mac, releasing my hair across my shoulders. It’s soft and a little wavy after the rush job I made of showering and drying my hair in the firm’s facilities a couple of hours ago but at least I’m clean.

Not having packed myself or watched my suitcase being lugged into a car to go to the airport is making me slightly anxious. I don’t know how Gregory delegates all these things. I really hope Amy didn’t forget anything. A little flutter of excitement comes over me. Lots of people who love Sandy and Jackson in one place to witness their marriage.Eek!

Before I leave, I hand a manuscript amended document to Margaret in the secretary’s station.

‘Aren’t you supposed to be at the airport by now?’

I glance at my watch:9.17.

‘Seventeen minutes ago. This is the last thing. Please would you make these changes then save the document to the Constant Sources file and email it to Hugh? He’ll be managing things whilst I’m away but if you get the faintest scent that he’s in over his head, please call me. I’ll have my phone?—’

‘Scarlett, go, now!’

‘Okay, I’m going. But call me if?—’

‘I’m not calling you, Scarlett. Go!’

* * *

A black stretch-limousine, freshly polished for the occasion, waits outside the revolving doors. A grouchy-looking, muscular man who’s making a really poor show of wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie steps out of the driver side.

‘Miss Heath,’ he grumbles with a dip of his head.

‘Hi, erm?’

‘Scott.’

‘Nice to meet you, Scott. Sorry for the delay. Where’s Kenneth?’

Scott moves to the back door of the limousine. ‘He’s driving Mr Ryans to the airport.’

‘Gregory isn’t coming with us?’

‘No.’

Feeling like I’ve exhausted Scott’s desire to converse, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the giddiness inside the car.

‘Finallyyyyyy!’ Amanda leaps from the limousine and wraps her arms tightly around my neck. ‘Hurry up and get inside; I’ll get hives from being too close to the office.’

Amanda looks a million dollars, as ever. Her long, flowing, striped maxi seems out of place for the beginning of February in England but less so than the oversized floppy hat that she repositions on her head as she sits back into the black leather of the limo.

‘Here,’ she says, shuffling a weekend bag my way. ‘I think it’s stuff for you to change into on the plane.’ I peek inside the bag to see material in summer colours and Harrods tags poking through tissue paper.

Julia and Lucas, my knights in Jimmy Choos.

Williams drops a kiss to my cheek as he hands me a glass of champagne. ‘Not a replacement for sleep but you could probably use this.’

‘Pol Roger,’ I confirm after the first sip. ‘Where’s Gregory?’

‘He had things to do. Work, I think he said. He didn’t really give me any details.’