Kevin heaved a dramatic sigh. “Well, whoever the lucky lady he escorted last night was she’s probably wobbling around this morning. If that man isn’t built like a bull, I’d be shocked speechless. And for me, you know, that’s saying something. No pun intended.”
Shelby emitted one of her annoyingly chirpy little giggles. “What’s that saying about a man’s shoe size? I’ll bet he wears at least a size thirteen.”
Kevin cackled with glee, and for the next twenty minutes the conversation turned downright bawdy as he, Shelby, Gina and Alicia continued to speculate on Mr. Gregson’s sexual prowess. Tessa kept her attention focused on the report she was working on, trying desperately to conceal the embarrassment she felt and the flush that stained her cheeks. It certainly wasn’t anything she hadn’t heard before – or much worse after sitting next to Kevin for two years. But she was more embarrassed for Mr. Gregson than herself, finding this talk about the size of his “equipment”, or how many women he’d nailed, or what sexual position he would probably prefer, to be completely disrespectful to a man who wasn’t just their boss and part of the family who owned this company, but a kind, dignified and almost regal man. If Mrs. Carrington could overhear even a snippet of their crude commentary she would fire every one of them on the spot.
Tessa missed the cantankerous office manager who had been her boss, her mentor, her friend, and at times her surrogate mother. Mrs. C. – as she preferred to be called – had taught Tessa everything about office etiquette and had instilled a strict work ethic in her. The very fearsome office manager had put the fear of God in her about gossiping, being late, eating at her desk, not proofreading everything she typed at least three times, or wearing her skirts too short. The rules of conduct the older woman followed were, by her own admission, very strict and more than a little old-fashioned. But Mrs. C. had insisted that if Tessa followed them to the letter that she would be successful and go far in the company.
Considering the behavior of all five of her co-workers, Tessa doubted any of them would last a day with Mrs. C. And the stern office manager would certainly be outraged to hear the gossip being spread about Mr. Gregson. Tessa was aware that her former and current bosses knew each other but had never been told what the exact connection was. The only thing Mrs. C. had told her was that Ian was hardworking and demanding but a fair employer who prized diligence and loyalty above all else. Tessa had strived to be the hardest working and most loyal employee he’d ever had from her first day in the office.
She only wished she had the nerve to stand up and tell her co-workers to shut up, that they were being horrible, rude people to discuss such a dignified gentleman like Mr. Gregson like he was some sleazy gigolo. Like that nasty, creepy Jason Baldwin, for example.
Tessa shuddered as she thought of the way Mr. Baldwin leered at her every single time he saw her. She knew the other girls thought him attractive – Gina insisted he could be David Beckham’s twin – but he gave Tessa the willies. She knew he was married to Mr. Gregson’s cousin and that they had three young children. Mrs. Baldwin and her brood visited the office occasionally, and from all appearances she was a very pretty, sweet woman who certainly deserved better than her lecherous, cheating husband. Tessa had heard all the rumors and gossip about what women Jason had hit on and slept with, and she wondered how on earth he could live with himself for constantly cheating on his poor wife.
But even if Jason Baldwin had been single, Tessa still wouldn’t have found him attractive. Oh, he was handsome enough, with his expertly cut dirty blond hair, evenly tanned features, and leanly muscled body. No, it was the predatory look in his eyes and his leering smirks that gave her the creeps. She had made it very, very clear to him – albeit in a polite, respectful manner considering that he was her superior and an extended member of the Gregson family – that she was most definitely not interested in him and was a happily married woman. But Jason persisted in flirting with her, trying to find ways to be alone with her or touch her in some manner, and making all sorts of suggestive comments.
Fortunately for Tessa, Andrew seemed to be very well aware of Jason’s interest in her and did as much as he could to keep her away from him. He never assigned her any projects where she would have to work with Jason, even though Tessa knew Mr. Baldwin had specifically requested her on multiple occasions. And somehow, as though he had radar, Andrew always seemed to appear whenever Jason was being especially obnoxious. Jason would mutter something like “here’s your guard dog again” before slinking off. Tessa didn’t know why Andrew had quietly appointed himself her protector, but she was exceedingly grateful to him. She had heard all the stories about Jason’s past troubles with female employees – including the one with Sarah, her own predecessor – and surmised that Andrew perhaps had been given strict orders to make sure no more unpleasant incidences occurred.