Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Well, I won’t tell him about this lunch, if you won’t.” Alistair winked and took another bite of his sandwich.
“He’s in a meeting now, so you should be good.”
“Oh, I know. I heard Maxine when she came to remind him. He doesn’t normally come to this side of the office at all. It was a bit jarring to see him this morning, let alone be reprimanded for merely existing.”
“I’m sorry he did that. You were very helpful to me on my first day before Art came back. I told Sig that.”
Alistair popped open his drink and chuckled. “I don’t think that’s what he wanted to hear.”
“How is he perceived around here?” I set down my sandwich. “Are people afraid of him or something?”
“He mostly keeps to himself, doesn’t really socialize with us after hours or anything. We have a few tight-knit cliques that go out to the pubs after work. I know some of the women have invited him, but he never comes.” Alistair shrugged. “Probably thinks he’s too good for us.”
“Hmm…” I said noncommittally.
Alistair sat with me for the remainder of lunch. I kept looking over my shoulder, unsure of what I wished more—that Sig would catch me with Alistair or that I could make it back to my cubicle without him seeing a thing.
CHAPTER 15
* * *
Abby
Track 15: “Pictures of You” by The Cure
I was already back at my desk, shortly after 1 PM, when Sig returned from his meeting. I’d either dodged a bullet or dodged the perfect opportunity to get him riled up.
He worked by my side the remainder of the afternoon, smelling like heaven and wearing a scowl on his face. And at the end of the day, he opted to drive me back to Westfordshire.
As we started our ride home, I decided to broach the subject of Alistair. I didn’t want to get him in trouble, so I played dumb. “What did you say to Alistair when you pulled him aside this morning?”
“What does that matter?”
“Well, he basically disappeared after that. Plus, you were in that conference room long enough to say more than a sentence or two.”
“It’s none of your concern.”
“If it involved me at all, it is my concern. Should I just ask him?”
Sig’s jaw tensed. “I told him to stay away from you.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because he’s bad news.”
“You previously said that he wasn’t qualified to train me. Now you’re saying he’s bad news?”
“He is bad news.”
“How so?”
“He’s a well-known womanizer who’s only after one thing.”
“It takes one to know one?”
Sig rolled his eyes. “Alistair is far worse than I ever was, even at his age.”
“And that’s saying a lot?”
“Well…” He paused. “Yes.”
I crossed my arms and looked out at the London fog. “I can take care of myself, you know. I don’t need you to decide who should stay away from me.”
“I run the business. I have every right to decide what happens.”
“You don’t have a right to tell me who I can and cannot interact with.”
“If it’s at the business I run, I do have that right, actually.”
I decided to mess with him—see where it would go. I liked him a little riled up.
“Okay, well, if I want to interact with him, I’ll have to do it outside of work.”
He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, and he was grinding his teeth.
“You didn’t think I’d have no social life here, did you?”
“You can have a social life without getting involved with a notorious philanderer.”
“If you keep your distance from your staffers, as you seem to, how do you know so much about his reputation?”
He whipped his head toward me. “Who says I keep my distance?”
Shit. Alistair did. But I wasn’t going to admit that. “Just a guess.”
“Even if I don’t join them for their little after-work outings, that doesn’t mean I have my head in the sand. I listen to what they’re talking about. I hear the whispers. He’s bagged more than one woman from Covington.”
“Good for him,” I taunted.
Sig’s eyes darted toward me.
Then I burst out laughing. “I love making you mad.”
He sighed. “You’re very good at it. One of your few talents.”
I snorted. “In all seriousness, though, while I appreciate your opinion, I don’t accept you telling me who I can and cannot associate with, at work or otherwise. I’m here in the UK for one reason, but that doesn’t include you dictating who I date.”
“Date?” His voice cracked. “You’re going on a date with him now?”
“No. I didn’t necessarily mean Alistair. But that’s what this is about, isn’t it? You’re worried he’s going to ask me out and I’m going to become the latest of his conquests? What would that matter to you?”
“Given the circumstances that brought you here, it should be clear why I have an interest in who you’re associating with.”
“Really… Well, that could be a problem, then. It’s going to be a long nine months or more. I can’t be expected to not date that whole time. You mean to tell me if I meet someone, I have to approve it through you? That’s not what I signed up for.” This had started as teasing, but now I was feeling a little riled up by his egotistical stance.