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“Hello, Michael,” I greeted him. “Please come in.”
Turning to Ratface, I smiled and happily informed him. “You’ll be pleased to know that the graphics department is raving about the photoshoot. The changes Ares and I made have them positively gleeful.”
I could not stop the grin from spreading over my face as he blustered. “Why have I not heard this?”
I pointed at my laptop with my pencil. “Received the email approximately two minutes before you came barreling in.” I made a show of checking it again. “Yes. You’re copied in as per usual.”
He tipped his nose up while his eyes trailed over me with distaste. “It was unprofessional.”
“What exactly was unprofessional, Ratcliffe?” I stood and crossed over to him.
As expected, he took a step back. He did not enjoy female colleagues who towered over him.
And in these heels? I did.
“You left in the middle of a photoshoot,” he accused. “Highly unprofessional.” He pointed his fat finger at me. “Representing this company is not to be taken lightly, young lady.”
I smiled. “Young lady? How very condescending of you.” I turned to Michael. “Wouldn’t you say, Michael? I do hate to put you in this position, but if pressed, and this behavior,” I waved a hand to indicate Ratcliffe, “continues, I may need to speak to HR and I will ask you to be truthful.”
“Of course,” Michael answered firmly. “If asked, I will be honest.”
Ratcliffe glared at Michael who met his glare calmly. “Let’s go. We’ve got more important things to be doing right now.”
“Indeed,” I could not help adding.
Michael shook his head and shot me a wink as he left.
Out in the hall, Ratcliffe’s booming voice carried and another voice, one to which my ear had become adeptly attuned, joined him.
I got to my door in time to see Ares enter the elevator with Ratcliffe and Michael. His eyes met mine briefly and he gave me a barely perceptible nod. What was that about? Should I have contacted him when I got home? Updated him on Brayleigh?
I waited for half an hour and then texted him.
Hope: Hi, Ares. Thanks for everything you did to get me home the other day.
Ares: No problem.
Hope: I think it made a significant dent in your layaway debt!
Ares: Anyone would have done the same.
Hope: I disagree. When do you want to settle your bill?
Ares: We’ll talk after the Christmas Fashion Show. I’m away next week on private business, the fashion show is the week after. I agreed to shoot the show as well as the behind-the-scenes.
This marked a serious delay.
And a massive change in attitude.
Where was the man whose hands shook when he touched me? Who held me tenderly? Who wanted me so bad he ran from my apartment?
I sighed.
His childhood scarred him. Trust would not come easy. If at all. I wondered again if the beautiful man trapped beneath the ice would ever fully surface.
Hope: No problem. We’ll connect after the fashion show. I hope your trip goes well next week.
His dots appeared and disappeared for several minutes.
