He moved across towards her and looked down into her upturned face. ‘We do, naturally, have plans for the company,’ he said smoothly, ‘but at this stage it would be unwise to say anything.’ He placed a hand briefly on her arm, feeling her tremble perceptibly. ‘Hydebound must change course—must develop and move on. Every company must, or die. You should know that. Something has to happen here. The firm cannot linger on, getting more and more into debt.’ He paused. ‘But try not to worry too much. You will all be informed in plenty of time as to if and when you are likely to be affected.’
Cryssie shook her head forlornly. ‘It’s not a good season of the year to have this kind of upheaval,’ she said, rather stupidly. ‘I for one can do without it.’
‘I’m sorry about that,’ he said dryly. ‘I can see that I must improve on my timing.’
And that was that. Cryssie went back to her office no wiser. It was possible that some of them would be retained—but what of the rest?
Cryssie found it hard to stop her eyes filling with tears. But was that surprising? She was tired and confused…but mostly confused…at the rollercoaster of her emotions.
Rose, who was packing up to go home, looked at her curiously. ‘What’s up with you?’ she asked. ‘He wasn’t unpleasant, was he?’ She picked up her bag. ‘I found him very charming—though not particularly forthcoming. Meeting us all was a mere formality, wasn’t it?’
‘No, he wasn’t unpleasant,’ Cryssie said. ‘But I feel sure something’s afoot that’s not going to suit everyone.’
‘Why—what’s he been saying?’
‘Only that all companies must move on. I don’t know what he actually meant by that, but I’m pretty certain that where he’s concerned there’s no sentiment in business.’ She turned off her computer and turned to the older woman. ‘Oh, Rose, I just wish that the Lewises were still here and that everything was back to normal! And I really, really, really wish that Jeremy Hunter didn’t exist at all!’ she added emphatically.
‘Hark at you,’ Rose said. ‘Never mind—he’ll probably keep us on. Especially if we keep on the right side of him. Men like him enjoy having submissive females around to massage their massive egos.’
‘Well, as far as I’m concerned he’d better not hold his breath,’ Cryssie said, switching off the light.
Meanwhile, as he stared moodily out of the window, his hands thrust in his pockets, Jed Hunter’s mind was working overtime. The woman had made the point only too well that disruptions to her life were unwelcome—well, she’d better get used to it, he thought. But there was one important detail to be sorted first…He had to find out just what kind of female she really was. Was she as impervious to male attentions as she appeared? Or was her coolness, her deliberate coolness with him, an act? His eyes narrowed as his mind went back over the events at the Laurels. Then his lip curled ever so slightly. He’d find out—sooner rather than later!
CHAPTER FIVE
IF SHE’D thought that her life was going to resume some sort of normality, Cryssie was in for a shock. A few weeks later Jed called her into his office, barely looking up as she sat down.
He finished what he was writing, glancing at her covertly from beneath his dark eyebrows. He couldn’t stop himself remembering the night that she’d lain in that big double bed, so fast asleep, with her lashes—surprisingly long, as he’d taken the time to notice—fluttering now and again as she breathed and dreamed. He was beginning to feel irritable with himself at the number of times she was creeping into his thoughts—and not always in a business sense either!
Now, he flipped his pen down on the desk. ‘Cryssie, things are going to move faster than I thought,’ he began. ‘I wanted you to be the first to know about it.’
Cryssie swallowed, trying to stem the ripple of anxiety that ran through her. The tone he was using didn’t sound as if the news was good. He came straight to the point.
‘I…we…intend winding Hydebound up,’ he said flatly. ‘The building is to be demolished to make way for a big hotel.’ He waited for her to say something, but when she just stared at him unbelievingly he went on quickly. ‘I wanted you to know first,’ he said again, ‘before all the rumours and chit-chat begin—which they undoubtedly will, because the planning application has already gone in to the Council. I shall call a meeting tomorrow to tell the rest of the staff.’
‘Do you mean that the firm…that Hydebound…will cease to exist…will die?’ Cryssie’s voice was no more than a horrified whisper, and in spite of himself Jed felt a pang of discomfort. Then he pulled himself together. This was business. He was a businessman!