The Sapphire Pendant (10 page)

The woman stared up at the unthreatening female before her. She didn’t look like the typical silly fluff that came around to haggle her boss, with their short skirts and tight blouses, but she wouldn’t put it past her. “Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but—”

“Then I’m afraid he can’t see you.” She went back to typing.

“Ms. Mathew—” she began, reading
Glenda Mathew
on the desk.

“
Mrs
. Mathew, if you please,” the woman corrected. “I haven’t been married for twenty-eight years to be called ‘
Ms.
’”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Mathew, but it’s important business.” The woman gave her a look that said
I’ve heard that before
.

Jessie leaned closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “Listen, there’s a lady claiming that she’ll file a paternity suit against Mr. Preston. I’ve been able to dissuade her from spreading her story, but I have to talk to him about it. It’s a very delicate matter. I hope that I can trust you to keep this situation to yourself.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Of course.”

“May I please speak to him?”

The assistant picked up the phone, muttered a few words, then replaced the receiver. “Wait over there,” she ordered, pointing to a row of chairs. “He’ll be ready to see you in a few minutes.”

Jessie couldn’t believe it had worked. Kenneth must be a busy guy for a lie like that to succeed. She took a seat, sinking into the too-soft leather cushions, and picked up one of the magazines on the side table.

“I had the best date ever last night with Kenneth,” she overheard an employee say.

“Couldn’t have been as good as mine,” another woman replied.

Jessie lowered her magazine to the bridge of her nose. The first woman was tall, in a willowy way, with handsome features; the other woman had a friendly face and hair so stiff that it looked like it was in danger of breaking off.

“So where did he take you?” Willow Woman asked.

“To that new Thai restaurant.”

The other woman lifted her nose a notch higher. “Well, he took me to see a play that just opened.”

Jessie shook her head. Dating his employees, just like the rumors said. Had the guy no morals? She turned to glance at the assistant to see if she had overheard. But instead of seeing her typing, Ms. Mathew was staring straight at her.

“For the
third
time, he’s ready to see you now,” she said tartly.

“Oh.” Jessie tossed the magazine down and stood. “Thank you.”

She took a deep breath and said a silent prayer before opening the door. She desperately hoped that she wouldn’t twist her ankle in the stilts the fashion industry called high heels. She opened the door, then stood paralyzed. She had expected to see an office. This was a presidential suite at a luxury hotel. It was the size of her living room and expertly decorated in the colors of green and gray. It had an inviting fireplace, with a glass coffee table and a charcoal leather couch facing it. Jessie didn’t doubt that he put all three to use.

It wasn’t only the office that rendered her speechless, but the man who filled it with his magnetic presence. Kenneth sat casually on the edge of his desk, looking down at his computer, dressed in a dark suit that accentuated his strong build. He suddenly looked like a stranger to her, a ruthless tycoon who could easily destroy a company with the flick of his wrist. He turned to her, and his keen brown eyes bore into hers.

Kenneth shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m not really in the mood for games today. What do you want?”

“I…I…” For some reason her mouth and brain wouldn’t connect. Perhaps Deborah was right: there were certain men out of her league.

“What are you doing here?” Kenneth rested an arm over his knee. “Glenda said that you had a delicate issue to discuss with me.”

Jessie slowly shut the door and went towards him, unsure if she felt unsteady on her feet because of the heels or the look Kenneth was sending her. The hostility coming from him was as tangible as hot coal, and just as scorching. He had every right to look at her with distrust, and she didn’t know how to change it. As she approached the desk, she discovered why he had been sitting on it. A little girl spun around in his chair.

Jessie stopped and stared; the girl did the same. “You!” they chorused.

“You two know each other?” Kenneth asked, curious.

“No,” Jessie said.

“Yes,” the girl replied.

Kenneth rubbed his chin. “Which is it, yes or no?”

“Yes,” Jessie corrected.

“No,” the girl said.

Kenneth frowned.

“We met in the ladies’ room,” Jessie said, noticing that the girl’s knuckles had gone pale. They quickly relaxed.

“I see. Well, this is my niece, Ace,” Kenneth said absently.

Jessie reached out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Ace grinned, pleased with the gesture. “She thought I was a boy at first. Most people think I’m a boy, but I don’t mind.”

“Why do they call you Ace?”

“My father wanted a boy.”

Jessie smiled. “That figures. My grandfather wanted a boy too. Until I was thirteen, he called me Jay. I got mistaken for a boy all the time. It was really funny to trick people and see their faces when they discovered I was a girl.”

Ace giggled. “It’s true. Once I joined this secret club that was supposed to be all boys. But I dropped out because it was boring.”

“I know. Have you ever—” She stopped, noticing that Kenneth was watching her with an odd expression. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

Kenneth stood, his eyes wary. “Why are you here?”

Jessie glanced at Ace, then back at him. “Perhaps this matter would be best discussed where she can’t hear it.”

“Probably,” he said, resigned.

“Nice to meet you, Ace,” Jessie said.

The girl smiled. “Right.”

Ace tugged on her uncle’s sleeve, then whispered something in his ear. His eyebrows shot up and he shook his head. Ace continued to talk until he closed his eyes and groaned. He ushered her out of the room, but not before she was able to give Jessie the thumbs-up sign.

He asked Jessie to sit, and took a seat behind his desk. He did so with such grace and efficiency that Jessie could only stare. She had never seen him this way, so in command and in control. She had known he had it in him—that behind his friendly I and devastating smile lived a darker, colder side—but she’d never seen it before. It was similar to witnessing a beloved pet turn into a ferocious predator. And he was definitely a predator. His eyes gave away nothing except his determination to know what she was up to.

Jessie walked towards the offered chair, accidentally tripping over the rug. She looked down and saw the gigantic head of a bear displaying its teeth. She let out a little squeal, then she noticed that it was not a real head that was ready to bite her exposed ankles. Her imagination was getting the best of her.

“Are you okay?” Kenneth asked, standing.

“I’m fine.” She took a seat. He resumed his seat as well.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked, watching Jessie fidgeting in her chair. She looked left and right, as if she expected the walls to crush her.

“Uh…no, thanks.” She tried to smile, but her mouth wouldn’t move.
Charm him, charm him
, her mind kept telling her, but she didn’t know how to begin. She couldn’t do it, she suddenly realized. She was a plain jock, an ex-waitress who lived with her sisters. She couldn’t charm this man, this stranger with an intelligence and ambition that had given him financial success. He was clever; he had outwitted her before, hadn’t he? She couldn’t ask him for a job. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to bend that low.

* * *

She stood. She would have to come up with another plan. “I’m sorry I’ve taken up your time.”

“Sit down.” He said the words softly, but the command was clear.

She hesitated, but sat. She fought the urge to bite her nails.

“You’re wearing one of Michelle’s suits, aren’t you?”

She glanced down and fingered the lapel of her jacket. Oh, God, was it that obvious? “Uh, yes.”

He watched her with intense eyes and put his fingers together, forming a steeple. “Do you need money? Is that why you’re here?”

Jessie shook her head. “No, no, no. I’m, um…” Why couldn’t she just say what she needed? She wished she were Michelle, with her calm gaze and smooth voice. Or as pleasant as Teresa, with a ready smile and gentle eyes. Or even someone with the seductive powers of Gran Sonya, with her brilliant mind and dangerous body. But she was Jessie, the only woman around who could annoy him. She rubbed her temples, a headache dancing against her skull with foolish abandon.

Kenneth let out a fierce sigh and stood. “Why do you do this?”

“Do what?” she asked, watching him as he poured a glass of water.

“Get so anxious that you give yourself a headache? On the field, you’re as cool as lemonade, but off, you’re a bundle of nerves.” He handed her the glass and aspirin.

“Thank you.”

After she swallowed, Kenneth took the glass from her and held her hand. “You still bite your nails, huh?”

She pulled her hand away and frowned at them. “I’m trying to stop.”

He scratched the back of his wrist. “Why are you here?” he asked again, tucking away a layer of his hostility.

She decided to stall a little longer. “You look different.”

He had begun to sit, but paused and looked at her. “What?”

“I can barely recognize you in this.” She gestured towards his attire.

“That makes two of us. Just a minute ago, I thought Michelle had walked in here, but of course she wouldn’t have her hair all over the place.”

Jessie’s hand flew to her hair. She could feel the rebellious strands. “Damn.”

“So you don’t like my suit?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it. You just look different.”

“Of course. It’s my armor. It helps to look intimidating in this line of work. The kind boy-next-door image doesn’t go far.” He took off his jacket and tie and rolled up his cuffs. “There. Now I’m the guy you’ve hated since—”

“I don’t hate you,” she cut in.

“Why are you here?” he asked. This time, his tone left no room for excuses or delays.

Jessie crossed her legs and leaned forward, deciding to be blunt. “You owe me a job.”

“I do?”

“Yes. If it hadn’t been for you, I’d be employed right now.”

He leaned back. The chair creaked softly under his weight. “I doubt that.”

“You said you had positions, and I know there’s one especially for me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The job that recently popped up—I want it.”

Kenneth sent her a dubious expression. “You want the job that badly?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

She cleared her throat. “That’s a good question.” One she hadn’t practiced an answer to. “Um…because I want to try something new. I’m a fast learner and, um…very responsible.”

He rubbed his chin. “I’m surprised word went around so fast. I had hoped to keep it quiet. So who else knows?”

Jessie frowned, unsure why the position would be a secret. “Just Michelle, I think.”

Kenneth nodded. Of course. Because Michelle had once run a temp company, she would be aware of different people and vacant positions. She was very trustworthy with her selection. However, he was surprised that she would recommend her sister for the job of looking after Ace.

“Have you done this type of work before?”

“I’ve done almost everything before. You can test me if you want.”

A corner of his mouth lifted. “I think that would be a little hard to do, don’t you think?”

Jessie didn’t think so, but agreed with him anyway.

Kenneth rubbed his hands on the arms of his chair. “I won’t deny that this is surprising, especially considering…” He let his words trail off. He rubbed his chin until it ached. When he looked down at his palm, it was red. He spread his hands flat on the desk and tried to choose his words wisely. “You probably know that I’m desperate, and that’s why you’ve come. Besides, Ace instantly liked you, and she doesn’t usually like people. She has requested, or rather demanded, that I hire you.”

Jessie furrowed her brows. “What does Ace have to do with anything?”

“Well, you’re going to look after her, right? It’s important that she likes you.”

Jessie stared at him in stunned silence.

He continued. “You can stay at my house, or commute, if you want. I don’t care. I’m rarely there. Ace usually wakes up around eight. From there, you can schedule your day together.” He folded his arms. “You will be well compensated, and I will pay for any activities you two do together. I just don’t have time, as you probably can guess. Can you start next Monday? I’d like to have the weekend to get things in order.”

Jessie was speechless. There had to be some sort of mistake. She was being hired to look after his niece? Like a nanny?

“Don’t act surprised. You knew I was desperate enough to hire you.”

She found her voice. “No, I didn’t.” She frowned; that hadn’t been much of a compliment.

He picked up three pens and lined them up, side by side. “Now that that’s cleared, what’s the real reason you’re here?”

“I told you. I need a job.”

He nodded. “I know that. What I really want to know is why you’re here in my office.”

She found it much easier to lie to him when he wasn’t looking at her. “I’m trying to change my ways.”

He sent her a doubtful glance, then draped his tie around his neck and began to arrange it. “I’m giving you this job because in spite of our differences, you’ve never betrayed me. You’ve hated me, but never that. The Cliftons have a good reputation when it comes to integrity. I hope that you won’t prove me wrong.”

Yes, the Cliftons had integrity; the Prestons, however, did not. “I won’t.”

He slipped into his jacket and looked up to study her face. His brown eyes were hard. The shark was back. “Because if you do, you will regret it.” His voice held a silken thread of warning.

“Don’t worry. I know what you’re capable of.”

He sighed. “Ace is very important to me. I trust that any dislike you have for me won’t affect how you treat her. She’s…” He stopped, refusing to give any more information than was necessary.