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‘Sorry?’
‘Well, if there is it’s best we get ahead of it.’
He didn’t respond. Instead he started to talk to Jordan about their crack-of-dawn departure the following morning. Except even though he was ignoring her question Beatrice couldn’t ignore him. Julius’s thigh was in her periphery, and his hand still held her desk, and shecouldn’tignore that.
Thank goodness he flew out tomorrow, or she might just have to walk out on her job today.
This minute, in fact.
She wanted to nudge his fingers, to let him know her hand was close and feel the bliss of his hand closing over hers for a second...a squeeze of acknowledgement, saying that heknew, that they were both aware of each other, even as they did nothing, even as he chatted away...
‘I might go and have lunch,’ Beatrice said, and started to pack up her things.
‘Leave all that,’ Jordan said. ‘I need you up here this afternoon. Anyway, lunch is being catered today. Tobias is doing the gender reveal...’
‘Why?’ Julius frowned. ‘We already know it’s a boy.’
‘He’s not expecting you to be there,’ Jordan said. ‘It’s just us that have to act surprised.’
‘We all know, though.’
‘Just...’ Jordan was cross. ‘Have lunch with us all, Beatrice.’
‘I actually brought my own in,’ Beatrice said. ‘I might get some air.’
Snap, close, zip.
Julius saw Jordan’s eyes close in frustration at Beatrice’s refusal to join in, and then open wide as Beatrice took herself off for lunch.
‘See?’ Jordan hissed. ‘Why even try to include her?’
Julius didn’t respond. Normally he didn’t get involved in office politics, but where Beatrice was concerned...
‘Are you going to speak with her, sir?’
‘About...?’
‘Well, I can’t offer her a permanent role without telling her what it entails.’
‘Be vague.’
‘That won’t wash with Beatrice,’ Jordan warned. ‘You know her contract expires in two weeks. She’s already fielding approaches.’
‘Who from?’
‘I don’t know. She closes her door, or goes to the lake...’ She walked over to a window. ‘She’s on her phone now.’
‘You said you had reservations,’ Julius reminded her.
‘Some,’ Jordan admitted. ‘Though they’re nothing I can’t address with Beatrice myself. It’s your call, sir.’
He nodded.
‘I’m going to pop down to the staffroom. You do remember I’m finishing at two...?’
‘Yes, I’ll see you at dawn.’
‘I’ll be here long before then. Sir, if you want me to squeeze in a formal interview with Beatrice before I leave...?’
