Page 24 of The Surrender

God give me strength. “It’s Gleneagles and Hollenbeck,” I tell him before he’s forced to butter me up some more as I pull my cup off the stand and take that first glorious sip. “I think one of them is secretly struggling, but who is yet to be determined. If the merger is handled well, it could skyrocket the shares.”

“And if it doesn’t—”

“Crash and burn,” I whisper, sounding menacing.

“Fuck, I have both in some of my clients’ portfolios,” Leighton muses, looking off into the distance.

“Me too, hence I’m keeping my ears open.” I walk off, feeling Leighton’s eyes on my arse. I glance back. I wasn’t wrong.

He smiles, folding his arms over his chest. “You’re a fair player, Amelia. Just let me know how I can repay you.”

He can repay me by keeping his slimy eyes off me. “Have a good day, Leighton.” I shudder, bumping into Shelley in the doorway. “Hey.”

“Morning,” she chimes.

“Here’s the birthday girl!” Leighton sings.

“Wait, it’s your birthday?”

“Thirty-five today,” Shelley says, giving Leighton pursed lips as she passes him on her way to the fridge. “I don’t need a birthday kiss.”

I laugh.

“You sure?” he asks, puckering.

“I’d rather burn in the deepest depths of hell.”

“Be careful, sweetheart—a PA is written in my stars, and I’ll choose you,” he declares, getting himself a coffee.

I widen my eyes, and Shelley looks like she could throw up all over the kitchen. “I’d quit first, Steers.”

He sounds sure he’s going to make partner and therefore get a PA thrown in with the role. Does he know something I don’t? I eye his back as he waits for his coffee but force the question down my throat—I don’t want him to think I’m worried—and walk back to my office, thoughtful, entering and coming to a startled stop when I find a bouquet of flowers on my desk. I already know they’re not Jude’s doing. He doesn’t do small when it comes to flowers. “Shit,” I breathe, approaching with caution. I spot a card nestled amid the carnations and pluck it out, cringing all over the words from Nick.

You looked beautiful on Saturday. It was so good to see you. Nick. xxx

I groan and drop to my chair, tossing the card onto my desk. Did he forget I ignored him hammering on my hotel room door?

“I’ve never seen someone so pissed off after receiving flowers,” Sue says, her head popped around the door.

“It’s my ex,” I explain, moving them to the side.

“Oh, I see.” She slinks in and looks out to the corridor before shutting the door.

“Are you okay?” I ask. She’s acting shifty.

“I’m great.” She puts herself in the chair opposite me. “I didn’t want to mention it in front of Steers.”

“Mention what?” I ask as she slips a card towards me. I pick it up, scanning the bold silver writing. “Leo Lombardy? Who’s Leo Lombardy?” I flip the card over and find a telephone number.

“He’s a potential high-wealth client,” Sue says, getting my attention. “He’s in the yacht industry. As in, he builds them.”

“Oh?”

“He’s recently parted ways with his adviser, and I thought you’d do great with him.”

“Parted ways with his adviser?”

“Lost him in his divorce.”