Page 27 of The Surrender

“Of course!” I smile. “It’s all in hand.”

“Oh, good, because those letters are going out—”

“First thing in the morning.” I dash back to my office, swearing all the way, checking the time on my phone. “Oh Jesus.” Keep an ear to the ground, Gary said. I haven’t.Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Leighton is strolling down the corridor with a coffee in his hand, apparently unperturbed by the shitty news. He stops. Notes my fluster. “Oh, you didn’t?”

I growl at him as I hurry past. I haven’t got time for his ego right now.

“You did!” He laughs. “After everything you told me this morning,youmissed the news?”

“Fuck off, Leighton. I didn’t miss the news.” I want to punch my own face in. I’ve been so lost in emails, calls, and other outside lingering thoughts, I’ve not watched my notifications.

“Sure. You should have come to me, babe,” Leighton sings. “I would have shared my inside information.”

I stop, facing him. “What inside information?”

He smiles, smug, and gets on his way.

“Fuck it.” I grab my phone and call Jude. “Hey.”

“Hey, baby, how’s your day been?”

I push my way into my office and try to breathe. Can’t. All I can think about are the dozens of drafted letters on my computer waiting to be sent in the morning. I’m also considering the merits of calling the fuckhead at Hollenbeck who convinced me the plan was a no-brainer and threatening physical pain. Itwasa no-brainer, God damn it. Unless, of course, the bank’s on the brink of ruin. Which it was. That fucker must have known.

“I’ve had better.” What the hell am I going to do? It’s the end of the financial year, and I have precisely ... I look at my mobile and breathe in. I have sixteen hours before the letters are sent and only another few days to get my clients’ approval to reinvest their money before the year-end deadline.

“Let me fix that. I’m just pulling up outside,” Jude says, and I cringe.

“I can’t come.” I switch my phone to my left hand so I can take my mouse, hissing and switching it straight back to my right hand.

“What?”

I look down at the dressing and see a few spots of blood seeping through. I need to change the dressing. “Can we do tomorrow night?”

“No,” he says, flat-out refusing. “We negotiated, and you agreed I got tonight.”

“Something’s gone wrong, Jude, and I need to fix it,” I explain, trying to give him some context. “I have a pile of letters in my email waiting to go out to clients tomorrow morning, and I just heard a merger has gone horribly wrong, so the shares have dropped like a rock. I have to stay late and rewrite my recommendations.” I place my hand over my head and breathe in deeply. This is a fucking disaster.

“Pack your laptop,” he says. “Bring your files.”

“What? And work at Arlington Hall?”

“Yes,” he says simply, as if it’s that simple.

“Jude, Ihaveto work.” He’ll never let me concentrate, and neither will my mind if I know he’s nearby.

“I promise I will let you work. I’ve got to see you, Amelia. Today’s dragged unbearably. You can do what you have to do, and I won’t disturb you, I promise. I just want you close.”

He wants me close.Oh my heart.

“You’ve not missed me?” he asks.

“I’ve missed you.” Terribly. It hurts.

“Then pack your files and get that gorgeous arse down here.”

“Okay.” I can’t argue. I’m going to need a cuddle after this mammoth mission. “I’ll be downstairs in five.” I literally sweep my arm across my desk and shove everything into my bag, before gathering the files I need and rushing out, hurrying to the elevator.