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She was about to reach out and end the call when Zeph held up his hand.
‘One more thing. My wife and I will not be available for the next few weeks. As you can understand, we have a lot of catching up to do. Can I be reassured that you will step in and manage the day-to-day?’ It was framed as a question, but Imogen and the board members knew it was not. It was a directive.
There was the barest amount of fidgeting before agreeable nods reflected across the screens.
‘Good,’ he said. ‘There is a matter with the Canadians my wife will send an email about shortly. That will be the end of her working day until further notice. But she will expect a full report at the end of each day from each of you.’
Then, amid the torrent of English and Greek that belatedly welcomed him back, Zeph pressed a button to end the call.
He didn’t move away in the silence that ensued. He stayed right next to her, his scent filling her senses, his presence overwhelming her. And those eyes she truly believed saw beneath her skin boring straight into her.
‘You didn’t need to do that,’ she murmured.
‘No,’ he concurred easily. ‘But it was either do that or fire every last one of them.’
Her gaze swung to his, astonishment weaving through her. ‘But...you’ve known some of them for years.’
He shrugged. ‘I don’t care. I will not have you disrespected.’
You don’t even know me! What about when you regain your memories and realise I’m the enemy?
Imogen wanted to yell those statements at him. To keep common sense at the forefront of her mind and heart. And yet, those simply uttered words were burrowing inside her, seeking and warming the vulnerable place where she’d yearned for affection and affirmation. Where she’d despaired that she would never be good enough.
In that moment, not a single cell in her body could deny the effect of Zeph’s words on her. Giving her what no other person on earth had given her.
Respect. Recognition. Acceptance.
She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and glanced up. The gaze that met and held hers steadily zapped something else inside her.
Was that connection-seeking?
Was that loneliness she spotted deep in his eyes?
No. It couldn’t be. She was getting carried away. Forgetting the sort of man she was dealing with. Even without recognising a single member of the board, he’d got them to jump to his command. It was simply the effect he had on mere mortals.
And if that effect included getting her onside...
She watched him return to his seat. ‘And what was that about taking several weeks off?’
He tugged on her seat until she’d turned sideways to face him, one eyebrow quirked at her. ‘Are you going to take my head off for it?’
Belatedly, she tried to summon irritation or hurt at his high-handedness. ‘You planned this all along, didn’t you?’
‘Not entirely. But I can’t help but notice that you are bearing the lion’s share of the work when the board is there for a reason. None of them looked like they are in Athens currently. Am I wrong?’
She bit the inside of her cheek. ‘They took their annual holidays last week.’
‘All of them. At the same time?’
She shrugged. ‘Is it really work if I enjoy it?’
‘If it takes away time from your newly returned husband? Yes, it is. And before you say it, you may be unwilling but it’s decided.’
‘Just like that?’
‘You went to all the trouble to find me. Pardon me if I’m not going to turn my back on whatever it is that is going on here. So you can come clean with whatever else you’re withholding from me or we can spend time together. I said you had until tonight but I’m happy for you to give me your answer now.’
And with that ball lobbed firmly in her court, Imogen felt the last of her freedom draining away. ‘Jeopardise your health by feeding you information or spend time in your company. Those are my choices?’
