Seducing the Billionaire's Wife(20)
Ella lifted an auburn brow, her brown eyes soft, yet shrewd. “I know you’ve already eaten, but I added a little extra to this morning’s refreshments since that man will be here at eight.”
Drew bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “He has a name.”
“I’m sure he loves to hear the sound of it.” Ella set the tray on his desk, poured a cup of tea, and made a plate fruit and muffins. Then she sat down and began to eat.
“You’re welcome to stay for my meeting with Blake, you know. Most secretaries would stay.”
Ella’s mouth twisted. “If you need me to stay, I will. But only know I’m doing so for you. Not him.”
“Whatever would I do without you?” He genuinely liked Ella, as did everyone who met her. She’d been his secretary going on five years now, replacing the woman who’d used to work for his father.
She blushed at the compliment and smiled. “You wouldn’t be able to do a thing.”
“Oh, spare me, Simpson. Andrew is perfectly capable of functioning without you,” Blake said as he walked inside Drew’s office.
Ella stiffened in her seat. “I’ll go now. Please email me what appointments you’d like added to your schedule. I’ll check back in with you before noon.”
Blake waved a hand her way, a bottle of champagne in his free hand. “You should stay, honestly. We’ve a wedding to celebrate.”
Ella made a face. “Who in their right mind would marry you?”
“Oh, I’m not the lucky bloke. Our man, Andrew, is.” Blake popped the cork. “He was married yesterday to his childhood sweetheart.”
Ella’s face went white, her teacup tumbling to the floor. “You married Alexis George?”
Blake frowned, and Drew rose from his seat. He joined Ella, helping her clean up the spilled tea.
“I have it. It’s my job,” she said, clearly distraught as Blake set the bottle down before joining in on the clean up. “Whatever I can’t mop up, I’ll have cleaning services attend to.”
“He’s not married to Alexis George,” Blake said softly.
Ella’s glanced away from both of them. “It’s none of my business.”
“He’s right; I didn’t marry her.”
“You’re not married?” Looking up, she glared at Blake. “This mess is all your fault.”
“You sound exactly like my mum,” Blake murmured. “Lovely.”
“Blake, could you give Ella and me a minute? I need to bring her up to speed.”
With a nod, Blake grabbed the teacup and left the office.
Drew and Ella stood, facing one another.
“I’m sorry,” she began. “I don’t know what got into me. Well, I do—that man is always doing things to irritate me.”
“Blake is a good guy. The two of you rub each other the wrong way.”
“I’d rather he not rub me at all,” Ella muttered.
Drew put his hands into his pockets. “Blake was also telling the truth. I did get married yesterday to my… childhood sweetheart.” The description of Hannah was apt, though they’d never been together. She was a sweetheart and hadn’t changed over the years into someone different.
Unlike him.
“But—but you said you didn’t marry Alexis,” Ella sputtered. “Please tell me you didn’t.”
“I didn’t. I married Hannah Miller, and I’d like for you to keep this quiet. My father knows, of course—it was his demand, after all—and Blake. But I haven’t decided how to share the news.” He strolled to the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office. “Never know how the shareholders will take the news.”
“You didn’t want to get married?”
His jaw clenched. “Not particularly. But it was either marry or allow thousands to lose their jobs.”
“Thousands?”
Drew nodded. “Yes. I had no other choice.” He felt her presence behind him suddenly, and he braced for contact. He knew Ella had feelings for him—there was no mistaking her longing gaze over the years—but she had never acted on it, always choosing to keep things professional. As for himself, he had never thought of Ella in those terms and had made it a rule to never get involved romantically with his employees. Marrying Hannah didn’t count since The Magnificent Dunes was her wedding present.
“I’m so sorry,” Ella said.
“Would you do me a favor?”
“Anything,” she breathed, still not touching him. Thank God.
He pivoted, finding her only a couple of feet away. “Hannah and I plan to have a formal ceremony, and I would be honored if you would serve as a bridesmaid.”