Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
She was a slender little thing, with a conservative taste in clothing that seemed more suitable for women twice her age. Maybe even thrice, considering the rather popular trend for those in their forties and fifties to take the cougar route.
Her posture also made for interesting study: head dipped low, back ramrod straight, and hips that barely swayed. It hinted of pride and submissiveness, a subtle but infinitely heady combination that the average man would have easily overlooked. Gareth might've even gone as far as suspect the woman to be Mr. Collins' mistress if the old man's homosexuality wasn’t one of those open secrets that the whole company knew about but didn't speak of.
Thus begging the question, Gareth thought idly.
After being known to turn down multiple promotions for undisclosed reasons, why had Pippilotta Jones accepted the temporary transfer at his request?
Pippi had barely taken her seat when the door behind her swung open again, and a tall, lean figure came striding in. Blond, blue-eyed, and deeply tanned, he looked like the grown-up, corporate version of Barbie's Ken, and the thought somewhat helped her relax and even manage a brief smile as she rose to her feet and lifted her gaze to her new employer.
"Good morning, Mr. Evans."
"Ms. Jones, isn't it?" His voice was deeper than she had expected to be. "Sorry for being late."
"Not at all, sir."
He took a seat, but the girl remained standing. Well-trained of her, but he doubted it had anything to do with Collins' tutelage.
"Please take a seat, Ms. Jones."
"Thank you, Mr. Evans."
He watched her do as asked and was amused at the way she resembled a headmistress, with her back barely touching the back of the chair and her hands resting delicately on her lap.
"Gareth, please."
"Of course, sir." Her voice was steady, but he didn't miss the way her eyes flickered.
"You're not comfortable with it, sir?"
"It's only because of the things I'm used to with Mr. Collins."
A perfect alibi meant to soothe any ruffled feathers, but he also noted the way she had managed to avoid calling Gareth by his name.
"May I be frank with you, Ms. Jones?" At her nod, he asked bluntly, "As you do not strike me as either the scheming or manipulative type, would you mind telling me what made you accept the temporary transfer to my office?"
Fifteen minutes later, and Pippi was able to breathe a sigh of relief the moment she came out of Gareth Evans' office and headed back to Mr. Collins. Her phone rang then, and she answered it without looking to see who it was. "Hello?"
"Do I have any reason to fire my vice president, Ms. Jones?"
Pippi nearly dropped her iPhone in shock. "A—-ah my God!"
"Remarkably quick-witted of you, Ms. Jones, but I'm afraid it doesn't answer my question."
"This is such a surprise." Pippi knew she was babbling for no reason, but she couldn't help it. She just felt so guilty and embarrassed at taking a personal call, never mind if he was also the CEO of the company that employed her.
"Yes or no, Ms. Jones."
"No, of course not!" Her unusually shrill gasp had the other employees in the hallway glancing at her oddly, and Pippi felt like skulking away in shame.
"Then why do you look so guilty?"
"What—-" It hit her then, and as soon as she turned her gaze upwards, her eyes unerringly spotted the CCTV camera mounted on the ceiling. Cupping a hand over her mouth to keep anyone from accidentally hearing her, she demanded in an incredulous whisper, "Are you spying on me?"
"I'm guarding what belongs to me, that's all." The words, uttered in a low, edgy tone, completely threw her off. On one hand, he was being unreasonably suspicious. But on the other hand - didn't this mean he was being jealous...over her?
"A—-" She stopped in time, but she was feeling doubly frustrated by her failure to keep the fact that she was on a first-name basis with Acheron Simonides a secret. And to think she was the one worried about Acheron slipping up!
"I read your file with HR."
"What?" This time, Acheron's words had her halting in her tracks, which consequently caused the person behind her to crash into Pippi's back. Face flaming, Pippi stammered an apology and, no longer confident of her ability to function normally, hastened towards the nearest fire exit.
As soon as the heavy doors closed behind her, the words she had been holding back burst out of her in a beseeching rush. "Can we please talk after work?"
"We're just talking."
"But I'm at work."
"And I'm your boyfriend as well as your boss—-"
"Which no one's supposed to know," she pointed out helplessly.
"Then it's time that should change."
"What? No!"
"Why not?" Acheron's tone was cutting. "Or should I even bother asking when the answer's obvious?"
Pippi nearly threw her hands up in surrender. "I have no idea what you're talking about."