“Greta,” replied Jason in a barely audible voice.
“Ah, that’s right. A very pretty little blonde if I recall from the photo I saw. Swedish, is she?” asked Ian mockingly.
“How did you-” began Jason.
Ian regarded him in disbelief. “Do you really need to ask me that, Jason? I know everything. Or at least the things I need to know. And for obvious reasons I’ve kept very close tabs on you over the last few years.”
Jason’s expression was sullen as Ian finally released him. He straightened his rumpled shirt and tie, and ran a hand through his sun-streaked hair. “So what am I supposed to tell Charlotte about the reason for this sudden transfer?’
Ian shrugged. “Tell her whatever the hell you want. I’m certain it won’t be the truth. But then you must have become quite the expert at lying to her after all this time.”
Jason glared. “What I can’t quite figure out is exactly what provoked these extreme measures. With the others, they were the ones who got transferred. Why can’t you move Tessa somewhere else? She’s just a fucking secretary while I’m part of the family.”
The expression on Ian’s face was scathing. “You’re sure as hell not my family. At least not that I’d acknowledge. And frankly, that girl is a far more valuable member of my management team than you could ever be. So she stays – you go. Now, I’ve got a dinner to attend so you can leave now. I’ll have your personal belongings packed up and delivered to you at your new office. Best get a good night’s rest, Jason – don’t forget you’ll have a bit of a drive tomorrow.”
But Jason wasn’t quite through and a mischievous smirk turned his mouth up at the corners. “I get it now. The real reason you’re sticking up for Tessa is because you fancy her for yourself. You’re pushing me out because I dared to put my hands on her when you want to do the exact same thing. Is that it, mate? You’re getting the competition out of the way so you can shag the hot little bitch to your heart’s content?”
The grin on his face was abruptly replaced with a grimace of pain as Ian twisted his arm behind his back and held it pinned in an iron grip. Ian brought his face so close that Jason could count his eyelashes if he was so inclined.
“First of all,” began Ian in a not so pleasant voice, “you would never be competition for me in any way, and especially not with a woman. Second, you are beyond offensive, beyond reprehensible. Tessa is a married woman, and unlike most of the others in this office – like your little fuck buddy Morgan – she’s also a lady. Lastly, if I ever see you speak to her or – God forbid – touch her again, or even hear that you’ve done so, I’ll break your jaw, all ten fingers, and kick you so hard in the balls you won’t be able to fuck anything for a year. And if you think I’m not capable of all of those things, don’t forget I was the heavyweight champion at Oxford for three years in a row. Now get out of my sight, you miserable piece of shit.”
As Jason made a swift exit, Ian paced furiously around his office, finally stopping in front of the wet bar in one corner. He poured himself three fingers of a very rare single malt Scotch and bolted it down in two gulps.
He was on his third drink – which he was now sipping – before he felt the rage begin to subside. He had never come close to displaying this sort of anger before, to losing control of his ironclad emotions. But then he’d never felt this way about a woman before, and every protective instinct in his body had risen up automatically when Jason had tried to accost Tessa.
‘I should have broken the slimy bastard’s wrist,’ Ian thought furiously. ‘For starters.’
There had been no question in his mind – and zero delay in making it happen – that Jason simply had to go. Ian knew his uncle wouldn’t be pleased but it was just tough shit. The family had stuck Ian with the horny little prick when he’d been appointed to this post, so it ought to be completely his decision on how to manage him. If it meant Jason now had an hour’s commute each way to his job, then in Ian’s opinion it was nothing less than he deserved. When Ian thought of how frightened Tessa had looked when he’d been fortunate enough to walk by the fitness room at the right time, he wanted to drag Jason back into this office and use him like a punching bag.
Christ, she had looked delectable – and very, very fuckable – in those tiny little shorts that had bared the long, streamlined length of her shapely legs. And that top she was wearing – more like a longer length exercise bra – had been molded to her lush breasts like a second skin. He hadn’t missed the way her nipples had peaked and pressed against the Lycra fabric, either.