‘From?’
Right at that moment he didn’t much care about the who or the why, he simply wanted to keep her looking like that, and the stub of his pencil continued to work as she shook her head and a wisp of hair escaped the prim little knot, floating for a moment before settling against her cheek.
She frowned. ‘I can’t be sure. It all happened so fast... Someone had it all worked out in advance and knew exactly which buttons to press.’ She pulled a face. ‘There’s nothing like a champagne celebration to show the world that it’s business as usual.’
‘Does this someone have a name? I’m sure my lawyer would like to know.’
‘No doubt, but I’m not here to help you bring them down,’ she said. Nevertheless, the tiny frown persisted. She wanted answers, too.
‘So you do want your job back,’ he pushed.
‘That’s not going to happen.’
‘You won’t work for the man who took your job?’
She shrugged, managed a smile of sorts. ‘Never say never. Who knows how desperate I’ll get...? How do you like your tea?’ she asked, glancing across at him. ‘Weak, medium, stand up your spoon...’ She stopped. ‘Are you drawing me?’
‘Yes. Do you mind?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘I’ll stop if you insist,’ he said. ‘And strong. Dash of milk. No sugar. You think Morgan will regret it?’ he asked, dragging his gaze from his contemplation of her long upper lip just long enough to commit it to paper. ‘Grabbing the easy option?’
‘Who knows? Toby’s bright enough, but he’s never allowed work to interfere with his weekends on the rugby field. He’s always put that first. To be honest, I never thought he was that interested in property sales and management. I had the impression that his family had pushed him into the day job.’
Toby. He logged the name to look up later. ‘I’m surprised he got the job at all if that’s his attitude.’
‘His great-aunt is married to Peter Black.’
‘Oh.’
‘He’s just turned twenty-three,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘Maybe he’s realised he’s not going to get a professional contract.’
‘He lost his dream so stole yours? It demonstrates a ruthless streak. That’s vital in business, or so I’m told.’
‘It’s a trait he kept well hidden. I still find it hard to believe...’ She shrugged, letting whatever it was she found hard to believe go. ‘Lazy and ruthless is a bad combination, Darius. Would you want him at your back in a crisis? More to the point, would you want to work for a man who’d thrown you to the wolves without a proper hearing? Without any kind of investigation? Forget Toby Denton. He might have my promotion, but it’ll always be second best as far as he’s concerned. It’s Miles I can’t forgive. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I work for him again.’
‘Never say never,’ he reminded her and got a reprise of the smile for his pains.
‘Maybe if he offered me a full partnership,’ she said, ‘which is undoubtedly his version of a cold day in hell at the moment.’