“I feel better. And the secretary work?”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to cover that as well until we get some help.”
“Katie’s gonna flip out. She’s already been through heck trying to get you to agree on a PA the first time. She’s not going to want to do it again.
“You and Ms. Carson can pick someone for me, and I’ll give the final approval
.” He caught her hand and narrowed his eyes. “And you’d better be looking for a PA and not a potential wife.”
She blushed furiously. Especially since her thoughts had indeed been heading in that direction. He released her hand and leaned back on the couch, stretching out his arms along the back. She was acutely aware of the slight contact of his arm against her shoulder. That familiar zing began where she felt his touch and spread downward, causing her heart to flutter. Her breathing became shallow with anticipation. What was wrong with her? What was she anticipating? Nothing was going to happen.
Gherring leaned across her to set his wine glass down on the end table, sending thousands of alarms throughout her body.
“Anne.” His voice seemed deeper, slightly raspy. Or maybe it was her imagination. “Anne, you know, we’ve spent—”
A loud rapping sound on the door interrupted his speech. He looked puzzled. “Excuse me. Let me see who’s at the door.” Anne watched from the sofa, but couldn’t see the person.
“Steven!” said a soft feminine voice. “I hope I didn’t come at a bad time. I really needed to see you. We really need to talk. You see, I’ve been thinking a lot about my feelings.”
“Wait, Michelle. Actually, this is kind of—”
“You’ve always been the one that understood me,” she continued. “The only one. And I know I can talk to you about anything. And your idea—the one about trying again, giving it another shot. I think I’m ready. I just need to be more selfless and understanding—”
Anne didn’t wait to hear the rest of the conversation.
“Hi, Michelle. Mr. Gherring and I had just finished our meeting.” Anne slipped through the doorway. “Thank you, Mr. Gherring. I’ll see you at the office. Michelle—it was good to see you again.”
Monday morning, Anne left early for the office. She wanted to get a head start on the administrative work so she’d have time to begin training for her new workload, whatever that might be. Meanwhile, she wrestled with her feelings about Michelle’s appearance at Gherring’s apartment the previous night. On one hand, this could be an answer to her problems. Her arrival had certainly put a damper on Gherring’s escalating lure. But she worried Michelle was too fickle for him. Hadn’t she been crying about Henri just the week before? In Anne’s experience, you couldn’t love one person one week and another the next. She didn’t want Gherring to be caught in a bad marriage. Especially one based on Michelle’s chameleon emotions.
Steven Gherring didn’t arrive until almost ten o’clock. And when he came, he came with a vengeance.
“Ms. Best,” he said as he breezed by her desk. “In my office please.”
She meekly followed him inside and he shut the door. “I’ve gotten caught up a little. I’ve already returned the phone calls from last week. We’ve had a few schedule changes, but nothing major—”
“Ms. Best, what are your plans for the Thanksgiving holidays?”
Anne swallowed hard. He wanted her to work during the holidays, but she was going to be in Paris. With Henri.
“I’m flying out tomorrow night, but I could be available to work by phone and internet if you need me.”
“You’re going to see your family for Thanksgiving?”
“The girls and I always get together with my dad for Thanksgiving.” So far, so good. She hadn’t actually lied yet.
His eyes narrowed. “So you’re flying to Fort Worth tomorrow night?”
“My plane leaves at six thirty. I was planning to leave work a little early. I hope that’s okay?”
This time his voice was strained. “Ms. Best. Are you flying to Texas tomorrow night, or are you flying to Paris?”
Her throat constricted. “Who… who told you?”
“Michelle told me, but that’s quite beside the point. The point is, why didn’t you tell me?”
Anne’s temper rose. “Because I didn’t think it was any of your business where I went for Thanksgiving.”
“So on one hand you want to know everything I do in this company and work with me on every business transaction and investment. But on the other hand, you don’t think it’s my business if you have an affair with the head of another company?”