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In fact, she’d only talked about it in great detail right before he stopped contacting her.
The penny dropped. He’d known he was being sought for this position and had stopped dating a future employee.
She wished he’d finished calling her before they’d gone to bed together. Not only for the awkwardness of finding they had to work together, but for the glorious event itself, which would never be repeated.
She’d begun to fall a little in love with Trace, even knowing it could lead nowhere.
She kept her gaze on her notepad, her mind drifting to that night, try as she might to focus on his words to the group. Now at least she had a more logical reason for his lack of follow up.
Trace Williams moved his gaze around the room studying the features of each of the men and women who now reported to him as they introduced themselves. He knew Cath would be in this group. That had been the sole reason he stopped seeing her.
When his gaze locked in on her, when he heard her voice, he was surprised by a shock of awareness. They dated for several weeks. Once he learned that she worked for Signals, Inc., he stopped seeing her immediately. Preliminary negotiations for his new position had already begun—and he did not date fellow employees. Especially when they would soon be reporting to him.
Should he have suspected she worked for Signals, Inc. when he met her at the gym? As part of the compensation package he’d be getting membership. He’d gone to see if he liked the facility. It was two blocks from the office, crowded after work each day. He should have pushed more at the time to find out where she worked, but he’d been more interested in Cath herself than her employer.
He wasn’t into long-term relationships as a rule. He’d learned his lesson well from Cynthia. He wasn’t going to get suckered into anything like marriage again.
Still, he and Cath had meshed in many areas. She made no demands, nor had he. They’d been two people who had a lot in common. And who had ended up for one terrific night in bed.
He hadn’t been out with anyone else since he stopped calling her. The demands on winding up his former job and preparing for this one had been arduous. Nothing he couldn’t handle, but he wanted to hit the deck running. There’d be a sizable bonus in it if he increased the bottom line within a year. Trace was into achievement.
Forcing his attention back to the meeting, he continued to listen to the different managers and directors and wondered only briefly if Cath would cause a problem. He suspected she was too professional to make a scene in front of everybody, but with women, one never knew.
He’d have to make sure their former relationship didn’t throw an additional complication to the new challenge. There was enough to do to grow this business with the competition facing it, without having to worry about any problems within.
When the last manager finished, Trace spoke again.
“I’ve inherited Ellie Snodgrass as my PA. She has a list of those to whom I wish to speak today. I’ll keep the initial meetings short. I’ve been working for a number of weeks on ideas and changes in strategy, so I hope you’ll show up with an enthusiasm for a new direction and a determination to see Signals, Inc. move into the preeminent position in our field.”
He turned to Mr. Deerfield and offered his hand.
“I’ll do my best with your company, sir,” he said.
Everyone broke into spontaneous applause at the comment.
The sound made Cath feel even worse. She felt dizzy and achy and so tired she could hardly hold up her head. Her stomach roiled. She hoped she wasn’t contagious. Her fellow employees wouldn’t thank her if the flu ran rampant through the office.
Trace led the way from the conference room. Everyone scrambled to their feet and quickly left except Cath. She wanted to put her head down and cry at the unexpected turn of events.
Or sleep for a dozen years until she felt able to deal with things.
“Coming?” Sophie asked at the door.
Mr. Deerfield’s secretary Ellie peered in. She still had several packets left.
“In a minute,” Cath said.
Ellie came in and placed the large envelope beside Cath’s notepad and left.
The silence was welcomed. Cath folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them. She had to see if her name was on today’s list. If so, she prayed it was soon. Then she had the journey home—through the pouring rain, the short train ride and then the few blocks walk straight up a hill to her apartment. But once there, she could cuddle up with her cat and sleep until she felt well.
Or died, whichever.
It was bad enough to get the flu, but to have the shock of Trace Williams as her new boss was beyond anything she’d ever anticipated.
For a moment she wished it was last August again and they’d just met. First thing she’d do is tell him she worked for Signals, Inc.
Or maybe she should wish that they’d never met at all.
