Then her heart dropped to her feet. Perhaps he was going to tell his family that she was leaving sooner? Would he tell them why? That she’d made a play for him and put him in an awkward position? Her cheeks heated at the thought and she wanted to curl up in a ball and not see any of them again.#p#分页标题#e#
Yet pride wouldn’t allow her to do that. She’d held her head high when Carl had rejected her and she would do it again now. She would go up to the Manor and finish her tasks, and she would arrange her replacement. If she smiled at the others and acted carefree, then no one would know how bad she felt.
No one except Blake.
Half an hour later she sat at her desk at the Manor, relieved not to have seen anyone she knew on the way here. She didn’t want to answer questions about her accident, or anything else for that matter.
Thankfully the door to Blake’s office was shut, though the red light on the telephone told her he was making a call. Quickly she got herself organized, then found the number she was after and reached for the phone, hoping someone at the employment agency would be at their desk early like her. She knew that as soon as the red button on his phone lit up with her extension, Blake would learn she was here, but it couldn’t be helped.
She got the answering machine. Having dealt with this employment agency before for other office matters, she decided to leave a message. At least that would get the ball rolling. “Yes, this is Samantha Thompson calling on behalf of Blake Jarrod Enterprises. Could Mary Wentworth call me back as soon as possible…” The red light on Blake’s phone went off. Her heart started to race as a second later his door was flung open. “It’s about a position that’s become available.” He strode to her desk. “It’s—”
He pressed the button to disconnect the call, his eyes slamming into her. “What are you doing?” he demanded in a low tone.
She angled her chin as she looked up at him. “I’m trying to work.”
“I thought you’d have enough sense to rest up today.”
“I don’t need to rest up. I did plenty of that yesterday.” Calmly, she placed the telephone back on its handset. “I’m perfectly fine now.”
His eyes narrowed. “And why the hell are you calling someone about your job?”
“You need a new assistant.”
“I’m happy with my old one.”
She arched one eyebrow. “Really? It didn’t seem that way to me this morning,” she said, staying cool when all she wanted to do was fall in a heap and cry her eyes out.
He swore.
“Don’t worry, Blake. I’ll be leaving Aspen soon, so you don’t have to worry that I’ll attack you. I know you’re not that into me.”
He blinked, then, “What the hell!” He swore again. “We need to talk.”
“It’s a bit late for talking, don’t you think?” She went to pick up the phone again. He grabbed her hand, not hurting her but not letting her make the call either. “Stop manhandling me, Blake.”
He tried to stare her down. “No.”
“Blake, this isn’t getting us anywhere.”
“Listen, Samantha. You’re—”
Erica walked into the office and stopped dead, blinking in surprise as her gaze went from one to the other, then down at their hands gripped together. “Er…Blake, your car is here to take you to the airport.”
He casually let go of Samantha’s hand. “Thanks, Erica.”
Samantha felt the blood drain from her face. “You’re leaving?”
Like Carl?
He looked at her oddly. “Something cropped up overnight at one of the hotels and I need to go to Vegas and sort it out. I’ll tell you about it later.”
As fast as it had tightened, the tension unscrewed inside her. So he was coming back. It had been crazy of her to even think he wouldn’t. Blake wouldn’t give up all this because of her.#p#分页标题#e#
She went to get to her feet. “I’ll come with you.” Once she was in Vegas, she would start bringing her life there to a close.
“No, you stay here. You shouldn’t be flying with a head injury,” he said firmly, surprising her. She’d have thought he’d be eager to get her out of Aspen now.
He cast his half sister a look. “Erica, can you keep an eye on Samantha and make sure she doesn’t stay here too long today? I don’t want her overdoing things.”
Erica looked startled then pleased. “Of course.” It was obvious she valued being asked by her brother to help out, but Samantha was still surprised that Blake wanted her to stay in Aspen.