Silence as he listened to the response.
‘Jeremy, it’s no good telling me this is an unreasonable expectation. I need you here until I can install a general manager.’
Caitlin’s mind did a triple-take. What on earth did David th
ink he was doing? Giving up the ground to Crawley? Distancing himself from some perceived danger? For David to pass over the reins of his business to someone else would be like cutting off his hands. It was so unlike anything she’d ever seen or heard or known of him that it felt as if the whole world was turning upside down.
‘I know it will rip your schedule to pieces,’ David was saying. ‘What do you think has happened to my schedule? It’s so ripped to pieces, there’s no schedule left at all.’
Caitlin could hear the sound of the raised voice on the other end of the phone even from where she was sitting.
‘It’s no good getting excited, Jeremy,’ David said smoothly. ‘If you can’t handle my needs, then I’ll have to get a firm of accountants who can.’
The sound of the raised voice diminished.
‘Dalhunty is the best in the field,’ David said. ‘He’ll be the new general manager.’
A further pause.
‘Jeremy, I don’t think you understood what I told you. I didn’t say I was trying to get Dalhunty. I already have him. He starts next Monday. You’re deputising for me here until such time as Dalhunty commences.’
A much shorter pause.
‘Thank you, Jeremy. I knew I would have your fullest co-operation. When you do get here in a couple of hours’ time you’ll find a few staff changes have been made. Simply carry on from there. I’d advise bringing your personal secretary with you.’ His eyes targeted Caitlin with their magnetic power fully charged. ‘My assistant will be accompanying me.’
David put the phone down.
Caitlin was now completely bewildered. ‘What does this mean?’
‘It means it’s time to see Jenny. Would you call her and ask her to step up to the office, please, Caitlin?’
She did as he requested. ‘What now?’ Caitlin asked bleakly, feeling miserable for the young receptionist although accepting that the matter couldn’t be overlooked.
‘I think we should be as gentle as possible.’
‘We?’ Caitlin looked at David as if she had never seen him before. David had never said we at any other time. Before today it would have been I. His decision. He was linking himself to her, as if they had a common bond, a common purpose. Which led to the burning questions...where was he expecting her to accompany him? For how long? For what purpose?
Unfortunately there wasn’t time to pursue the answers. They heard the elevator doors open and close. David called out, ‘We’re in Caitlin’s office, Jenny. Please come in.’
She did. Caitlin realised that Jenny had opted for defiance in her own defence. She bristled like a porcupine. Her eyes flashed fire. Caitlin felt like burying her head in her hands. Defiance wouldn’t get Jenny anywhere with David Hartley.
‘Please sit down, Jenny,’ he said, and brought her a chair. He did sound kindly disposed towards her, almost avuncular.
Jenny sat down. She folded her hands together in her lap, but did not lower her eyes. They followed every movement David made with punctilious care.
‘You must feel very confused, Jenny,’ David said quietly.
‘Not one bit.’
‘The reason I had a rule against the involvement of two of my employees in a relationship together,’ David went on as if unaware of the acid in Jenny’s voice, ‘was to avoid the pain that so often follows office affairs.’
Jenny’s face turned a rich scarlet. ‘I’m not involved in any office affair,’ she said stoutly.
‘Of course not,’ David replied, smoothing over the umbrage in Jenny’s voice. ‘It must therefore have been very confusing to you, and to others, when it appeared that I was breaking my own rule because of my...involvement...with Caitlin.’
Caitlin had to bite down on her tongue. She had not realised that David was about to plunge in and discuss their private concerns with anyone else at all. Why was he making a public confession of something that was intimate, personal and private? There were so many changes going on this morning, her head was starting to whirl.
‘It was obvious to everyone,’ Jenny replied tartly.