“So, you’re going to spend more time with him?” she asked. “Get to know him?”
Simon nodded. “Dad dropping in so unexpectedly is still a shock, but this might be a chance at a fresh start with him. Granted, we have a lot of baggage to get through.” He sighed. “I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad about being standoffish, but you really are the most important person in my life. Right now, I want to take the time to get to know my father again. If he’s willing to reach out, then I want to do the same. And it would mean a lot if you gave my father a chance, Heather.”
How could she say no to such a reasonable request? After all, Simon had accepted her son and had never once made Finn feel unwelcome. It wouldn’t be fair to be the reason that Simon didn’t get a second chance with his father.
Her time working at Dover had jaded her enough to make her wary now. A twinge in her stomach gave her pause. Even if she gave his father a chance, she knew that nothing was going to stop the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. The feeling that told her something about Simon’s father just didn’t add up.
Taking a deep breath she decided to give him what he wanted, despite her misgivings. “Okay, Simon. I promise to give your father a chance.”
Chapter 3
Heather started the work week fielding calls from various board members who wanted to congratulate her about the interviews she had managed to get Simon to do the week before. As she hung up the phone after a nice chat with Linda Schaffer, there was a knock on her office door.
“Come in,” she said.
Simon stepped inside, a smile on his face. “Am I interrupting something?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I’ve just been getting a ton of calls from board members. They’re really pleased about the interviews.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” he said. “The board is so happy with your hard work that they want to announce some kind of surprise for us.”
Excitement made her lean forward in her swivel chair. After the rocky start she’d had at Dover, getting the board’s approval meant the world to her. It was what she had worked so hard to get. Her position as Simon’s media relations assistant and spokeswoman was new, but she wasn’t going to waste any time. She had been partially responsible for Dover’s recent bad press, and it was now her job to do everything she could to fix the company’s image. “What is it? How come none of the board members told me about it on the phone?”
“Agnes Morton wants to be the one to give you the good news,” Simon said. “She’s in my office right now and has invited us to an early lunch to talk to us. I suspect it just means more work for you and a headache for me, but I’m going to try not to hate this.”
She laughed and stood up. “I’m sure it’s something good, Simon.”
His eyebrow arched. “Good for whom? I have a feeling this surprise from the board is just going to add extra stress to my life.”
“Well, I have good news of my own. I got it this morning and I think you and Agnes are going to want to hear it.” She walked over to him and gently pressed her lips to his.
His arms slid around her, pinning her to his solid body. Simon returned the kiss, his demanding mouth setting her on fire. It was definitely inappropriate to be kissing her boss at the office while a board member was in the next room, but after the weekend she’d had she needed the reassurance of his kiss. Needed to know that even though they had argued about his father, Simon was still there for her.
When she pulled back to end the kiss she smiled, her lips tingling from the sensation of his mouth on hers.
“Okay, so what’s your good news?” he asked. Even though she had broken the kiss he was still embracing her, those strong arms of his making her never want to walk out of there.
“You hate surprises, Simon. Which is why, for once, I’m not dreading a meeting with Agnes,” she said. “I’m going to need all the reinforcements I can get.”
He let out a groan and started to guide her out of her office. They met up with Agnes in Simon’s office and then decided to take Simon’s car to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Heather wasn’t surprised that Agnes had chosen such a tasteful, elegant place to eat. All the tables were made from the most expensive mahogany, and Heather recognized some of the patrons. Most of them were CEOs and board members of elite companies in Seattle. Getting an invite from Dover’s most important board member to a place like this for a work lunch was definitely a big deal.
Once they were seated and looking over their menus, Agnes cleared her throat.
“Heather, I’m so glad that you’re here,” Agnes said. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you in more informal settings over these past several weeks.”
“Informal?” Heather glanced around the restaurant. The place was so fancy the tablecloths were made of silk.
“Wh
en I say informal, I mean outside the workplace,” Agnes said.
“Oh. Right.” Heather shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She had taken a real liking to Agnes, but that didn’t mean the formidable woman didn’t keep her on her toes. Agnes was one of those businesswomen who inspired both anxiety, and a desire to be on one’s best behavior. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, too.”
“Wonderful.” Agnes smiled. “Well, I’ve invited you both here to congratulate you on the interviews you did last week. I saw the reaction to some of Simon’s photos going up on the internet. I was surprised to see so many women getting excited about them, considering it was a men’s magazine.”
Heather laughed as she watched Simon’s face turn red. “I told you that photo shoot was a good idea.”