Logan Black wanted something. From her.
But why did he need a special meeting? Why couldn’t he have asked her straight out, or sent an email?
At lunch time in the park, while pigeons hovered, eyeing sandwich crusts, Sally wished she could share the boss’s puzzling request with Kim. Instead, she fished for information about his white roses.
‘I suppose they must be for someone special,’ she suggested.
Kim pulled a face as she threw a crust that brought pigeons fluttering and swooping like paper in a whirlwind. ‘I doubt it.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘He seems to have a string of women. All high-flyers—businesswomen, politicians, lawyers. Every time his photo’s in the paper he’s with someone different. The white roses must be for his current favourite.’
‘You mean they all get the same treatment? How unimaginative!’ Sally’s vehemence surprised her.
Kim laughed. ‘Give the man a break. He’s a mere male. We can’t expect too much.’
‘So true,’ Sally said with a sigh. But now she felt more confused than ever. At the workshop last week, when she had suggested to Logan that there was someone special in his life, he hadn’t denied it. But Kim was confident that he had a procession of women.
She should be pleased about either possibility, of course. At least she now knew exactly where she stood.
Completely out of the picture.
Maria Paige rang shortly after lunch. ‘Are you very busy, Sally?’
‘Not especially.’
‘Mr Black would like an up-to-date file of all the media coverage of Blackcorp’s activities. It’s a matter of searching on the Internet for articles in newspapers and mining magazines published over the last couple of months. Do you think you could manage that?’
‘Sure. I can do it now if you like.’
‘Wonderful. Could you make a file of the articles and then email them through to me?’
‘No problem.’
As Sally turned to her computer and clicked on a search engine, she wondered if this was the ‘help’ Logan had wanted to discuss with her. Perhaps he’d mentioned it to Maria Paige, suggesting that it was a task suitable for Sally. Perhaps Maria had jumped in and asked Sally first to prove how super-efficient she was?
Sally was happy to do the task, but the possibility that there wouldn’t be anything left to discuss with Logan at five o’clock took the shine off her afternoon.
It was interesting, however, to discover how many news stories and articles had been written about Blackcorp. By the end of the day, she had a much better grasp of the huge range of mining ventures the company supported, as well as Blackcorp’s role in many industry innovations, their outstanding annual profits and the soaring value of BMC shares. It was all a little overwhelming.
Shortly before five, she sent an email with the file she’d created through to Maria, then waited nervously for the boss. He arrived at her desk at four and a half minutes past the hour.
‘I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.’
‘No, not at all. I’ve just sent the media file through to Maria.’
Logan looked puzzled. ‘What media file?’
‘The one you wanted. The last few months’ media coverage of Blackcorp.’
‘Really? Maria asked you to compile that?’
‘Yes. Was that what you planned to ask me?’
His brow furrowed as he shook his head, clearly puzzled. Then he looked at her and the frown disappeared. ‘No, my question has nothing to do with work.’
‘Oh.’ The single syllable was almost more than Sally could manage. She stood very still, hardly daring to breathe.
Logan smiled another of his rare surprise-attack smiles. ‘I’d rather not discuss it here. Do you have time for a drink? There’s a quiet bar around the corner.’
Sally’s sense of bewilderment deepened. This couldn’t be a date, could it? Surely the boss didn’t want to add her to his string of women?
Watching her, the lines at the sides of Logan’s eyes crinkled. ‘I promise I won’t keep you long.’
‘Right.’ Sally gathered up her handbag and hoped he didn’t notice that she was shaking. ‘Let’s go.’
Out on the street, the afternoon had turned gloomy and grey clouds pressed low to the tops of the city buildings. Rain threatened and the temperature had dropped and Sally hadn’t brought a coat, so she was doubly glad that Logan hadn’t exaggerated—the bar was, indeed, just around the corner.
Logan pushed open the gilt-framed heavy glass door and ushered Sally inside and, as the door closed behind them, the roar and beeping of peak hour traffic disappeared and they were enveloped by warmth and luxury.