Obsessed (BBW Billionaire Light Romance) Page 6

  She was still out delivering the floral arrangements to hotels, restaurants and offices – including Centrax.

  She made sure she was dressed properly, her hair tidy, as she made the journey up and down in the lift to the Centrax offices twice a week.

  She didn't quite know whether or not she wanted to bump into James, or if she could even face him. He’d never contacted her, and Leah knew she wouldn't handle the situation with any sort of composure. She would just go weak at the knees at the sight of him. She knew she had to try and forget that day in Oxford.

  She simply put the flower arrangements for Reception and Amanda's office on the large desk, said a few words to the receptionist, just to keep things on a friendly note, and disappeared into the lift.

  Once or twice she saw Amanda, who would pass the time of day or wave quickly to her. She always seemed to be busy, efficiently organised and elegantly dressed.

  Leah wished she herself could give the same sort of impression.

  One Thursday, as she was making the usual delivery, Jude, the receptionist, seemed to be ready to talk. She was a little on edge, jumpy, but leaned over the huge desk and whispered to Leah.

  "It's been terrible here today. Amanda has gone!"

  "Gone?" Leah was surprised; Amanda had seemed to run the office and she was the one that Leah was supposed to report to about the shop and the loan.

  "You mean she's found another job?" she asked.

  Jude looked around carefully, making sure that the there was no-one else in the area before speaking.

  "There was a scene yesterday. Mr Willoughby heard her say something in the general office. We don't know what exactly, but she was talking to one of the computer guys, and made a comment about some financial thing, a loan or something. She didn't realise Mr Willoughby had come out of a meeting to collect something and was just behind her."

  "Oh?" Leah was intrigued.

  The perfect Amanda, acting totally out of character.

  "What happened next?"

  "He took her into his office and people heard him shouting. He never usually shouts. She was in there for some time and when she came out she was white as a sheet. She went into her own office and shut the door. And then at lunchtime she went home."

  "Where is she now?" Leah asked. She wanted to hear the rest, but someone had just come out of the lift, she waited until he walked down the corridor.

  "She's been transferred to one of the branch offices, demoted. We're all a bit shaken."

  "What had she said, about a loan?"

  Leah had a sudden, dreadful feeling deep in the pit of her stomach. Could Amanda have been talking about her loan – the one to the shop? Perhaps she’d disapproved, thought it a foolish investment, and expressed her opinion.

  "No idea. Well, then Mr Willoughby had Dave, the computer guy in, and he's totally clammed up, won't say a word about anything. He's been warned, and he doesn't want to be moved as well."

  "So, who's doing Amanda’s job?" Leah asked. She felt she had to know.

  "A temp, from an agency, until they recruit someone else from outside."

  §

  A little while later, Leah sat in the van going over the news. Amanda demoted and moved, a new PA coming in, and James obviously losing his temper. What had it all been about? And could it have been her own loan? She felt for Amanda, but surely she knew that she had to be discreet in that job, not discuss things.

  Then she remembered what Emma had said about not telling Lucy everything, and being careful because she was married to Sam and Sam was an old friend of the Willoughby family.

  How near had she come to risking things herself by gossiping?

  The loan, luckily, had gone through. There would be a new PA to deal with, and she would be very wary around James. If she ever saw him again.

  §

  When she got home after work, Leah related the whole story to Emma.

  "You were right about not telling Lucy everything,” Leah said. “Although I still don't like it."

  Emma remained thoughtful. She was really good at thinking things through, and coming up with the right answer.

  "In a way, Amanda was lucky not to be fired, especially as it sounds as though James was really angry. So, just keep friendship and business in separate compartments, okay? Be careful you don't say anything about it tomorrow night."

  "Tomorrow night?" Leah asked.

  "I told you, but you were so wrapped up in the shop at the moment. Lucy and Sam have invited us out for a meal tomorrow, to thank us for being bridesmaids. Eight at La Cuchina, that little Italian place. It's better than Lucy trying to cook."

  "It is a good idea, very nice of them – and we do deserve a treat after wearing those terrible dresses!” Leah smiled.

  §

  It was to be just a relaxing evening in a little Italian café. Leah put on her best jeans and a silky, navy top with a strand of blue, and glass beads around her neck. Simple. They walked as it was only a few streets away, and Emma said they would have to try and see more of Lucy, before she went off to Canada.

  They entered the little room and spotted Sam and Lucy already seated at a side table.

  Lucy waved at them. They all hugged, even Sam, who was looking a bit tired; his hospital shifts were obviously wearing.

  "This is great," Leah said. "What a nice idea."

  "Just a sort of wedding thank you," said Sam. "Lucy thought of it."

  He poured them each a glass of red wine and passed the menus around, Leah noticed that they had been seated at a table for six, so they had plenty of room to relax.

  She was trying to decide what to order, when she saw Sam look up, towards the door.

  "Oh, they've made it!" he said.

  There was James, coming towards the table, a beautiful woman at his side. She was tall and slim, with short chestnut-coloured hair in a sleek, brushed style, and she had strong, striking features, high cheekbones and brown eyes. She was dressed in a short, knee skimming, fantastically expensive-looking black dress. She wore a gold chain around her neck and small gold studs in her ears. Perched atop a pair of giant Jimmy Choos, she approached the table and lightly kissed Sam, ruffling his hair. It was obvious she knew him quite well. She stood and looked around, so elegant and confident.

  James looked uncomfortable for a moment, then gathered himself.

  "Let me introduce Elizabeth," he said. "Of course you know Sam, and this is Lucy, Sam's wife, and this is Emma and Leah, who were the bridesmaids ..." He stopped, refusing to look directly at Leah.

  "Elizabeth has just got back from New York," he supplied.

  She must be his girlfriend, Leah thought, the woman who left that crimson robe on the door in his bathroom.

  She found herself flushing. The moment had caught her off guard, and she found it difficult to face being near James, especially here, with everyone sitting around.

  Emma, with a sudden realisation, took over, asking Elizabeth about New York, how long she’d been there, was it the first time, and the conversation began to flow. Elizabeth explained that she’d been making arrangements to open a small office in New York, and the difficulty of finding suitable accommodation. She was polished, interesting and completely at ease with new people.

  Leah found herself sitting next to James as he took the only empty seat, and she quietly tried to shuffle her chair further away. She just wanted to melt into the background, for the evening to be over and to get away.

  As the conversation became more lively, and the food arrived, Leah managed to whisper to Lucy, who was seated on her other side, "I didn't know you'd invited the others? I thought it was just us ..." She kept her voice low.

  "Oh, Sam invited them,” Lucy whispered back. “He said we had to ask James, as he paid for the wedding, and Elizabeth is his girlfriend.”

  Leah managed to calm down. She avoided looking at James and tried to follow the general talk. Lucy and Sam suddenly decided that they wanted to order some special champagne. They both got up and
went to have a word with the manager. Elizabeth said she was going to find the cloakroom, and, before Leah could stop her, Emma stood and said she would go, too.

  Leah made to rise from her chair, as there was no way she wanted to be left alone with James, but all of a sudden she felt his hand come across, under the table, holding her knee, pinning her to the chair.

  They were alone.

  "I didn't know you would be here," James said quietly. "Sam invited me and Elizabeth, I thought it was going to be just the four of us."

  Leah looked at him at last.

  Her eyes looking directly into his as she spoke. "Same here,” she said. “We thought Lucy had just invited the bridesmaids."

  "I don't want to make you feel awkward, but ..."

  "Then take your hand off my knee," Leah cut in.

  "Sorry," he said as he removed it, but he gave a little smile at the same time, and Leah instantly knew that he'd felt her tremble as he held her.

  It was still there: the instant, insistent urge flaring between them. She breathed deeply. She had to control herself.

  A moment later, everyone returned to the table and the champagne arrived. Leah drained her glass, then became aware of James watching her. He must think she always drank too quickly and too much. So she slowed down, but at the same time found herself wondering why on Earth she should care what he thought.

  Sam and Elizabeth had pushed their chairs closer and were deep in conversation, every so often bursting into laughter. They seemed to get on so well. And Lucy, as charming as ever, kept up a flow of talk which Emma joined in on too.

  Only James and Leah remained rather quiet. Leah was surprised to notice that two hours had gone by so quickly. Just then James stood up and touched Elizabeth's shoulder.

  "I asked my driver to come around ten, so we should make a move," he said.

  "It's early, Elizabeth replied, glancing up at him. “I'm not ready to go yet."

  "Well, you've only flown back this morning. I thought you might be tired, and I don't want to keep Harry hanging around too long," James said, as he remained standing.

  There was a small silence, an under-lying battle of wills, then Elizabeth stood up.

  "Thank you for a lovely, if short, evening," she said to the table. "We must all get together again before Canada."

  It was perfectly said, all in good manners, but Leah could see that James was fuming.

  §

  They finished up the drinks, then said goodbye and Leah and Emma walked slowly back to the house.

  "Was that a bit awkward for you?" Emma asked.

  "Yes, but it probably had to happen that we would meet again at some point, so I’m just glad that's it over."

  "He seems quite nice, for a millionaire," Emma observed.

  "How many do you know?" Leah smiled.

  "Well, just the one actually. He did seem a bit put out when Elizabeth wanted to stay."

  "Used to getting his own way," Leah stated.

  "Like he did with you?" Emma asked.

  "No, to be really honest, that day in Oxford, well, I wanted it just as much," Leah confessed.

  "Elizabeth was a bit of a surprise," Emma added.

  "Yes, she seems to be perfect - brains, her own company and beautiful as well. Some people just have everything, not like me," Leah sighed.

  "Don't put yourself down, you're practically part owner of a flower shop and definitely attractive in a curvy way. James certainly had his eyes on you from time to time," Emma replied.

  "Really?"

  "Totally," Emma went on. "You were so busy avoiding him, you didn't even notice."

  Leah thought it over as they slowly walked home. She’d dreaded meeting James again, but when it happened she found him as compelling as before, even though she realised it was hopeless. He had a totally different lifestyle and on top of that, an amazing girlfriend, too.

  One Sunday afternoon of sex was obviously just a passing bit of fun for him. No. She must try to move on.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  James

  It seems as though everything’s gone wrong, and I don't even know why.

  First Amanda. I caught her talking about the loan that I'd made to Leah. I could hardly believe it! I hauled her into my office and totally lost it. She knows that an important part of the job is complete discretion. So I simply can't trust her now.

  I started shouting at her and was going to fire her right there and then, but she started crying. I looked at her and realised how young she is, and felt an absolute shit. So I said she should go home at lunchtime and then she would be transferred to another branch.

  It's a demotion, but she's still got a job.

  I've told HR to put in a temp and find me a new PA as soon as possible, someone more mature and experienced. But Amanda was a good PA. I'll miss her.

  Then, Friday morning, I found that an arrangement had been put into my computer’s diary. A meal with Sam and Lucy. Elizabeth was due back from New York, but I thought we could just go to the Italian, have my driver collect us early and then head back to my place, so she would stay the night.

  Even if she's tired, Elizabeth is usually keen to see me when we've been apart, catch up, and sleep it off later. She’s the perfect, part time girlfriend; we've known each other since Oxford. Just a bit of a fling there, and then hooked up again a couple of years ago.

  She's very ambitious, developing her own Management Consultancy business, but we get together when we can. She probably suspects that I stray occasionally, but doesn't ask or make a scene. If ever I thought about marriage – not yet though – I think we’d make a pretty good pair. Same background, same university, same friends.

  But then, when I said it was time to go, at the cafe, she didn't want to. I was already feeling uncomfortable because it was a bit of a shock to see that Leah girl there and I was just ready to go home. So I insisted, and when we got outside Elizabeth said she was too tired to come to mine, and flounced off in a taxi!

  Then, Leah. I managed to have a quick word, I don't want things to be difficult if we happen to meet again. Surely she knows what happened between us was a one-off. But then, I put my hand on her knee and she started to tremble and, well, it got to me.

  I wanted to take her outside there and then and have her up against the back wall in the alleyway.

  What does she do to me?

  She's definitely not my usual type, but that lovely body of hers ... She seems so wary around me, too, sort of nervous, even though we had such a great day in Oxford, and after I’ve approved the loan.

  I don't usually have any trouble with women. I treat them properly, keep things pretty cool, and everything flows smoothly. But this week? Amanda gossiped and I made her cry, Elizabeth went off in a huff, and Leah looked at me as though she thinks I'm some sort of sex maniac.

  I pour myself a large whisky.

  I think I'll clear off for a few days, ring Jake and go over to Crete. I won't take the private plane, just go out on an ordinary flight like a tourist. I can chill, swim, hang out, work in the bar and see if Jake needs any financial help. After all, he doesn't like to ask.

  And when I come back, I'll get everything under control again.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Leah stood back and admired the changes in the shop. It was a few weeks since the loan had been approved and she was proud of the progress. The new window was wooden, with a slightly bowed effect, and gave the front some much-needed character. The inside had been painted in dazzling white for the ceilings and a delicate blue on the walls. She wanted a particular shade. She remembered, when she was small, finding half a robin's egg shell on the ground after the chick had hatched. It was a colour that had remained in her mind and she searched for colour charts to find it. In the end she’d had the paint specially mixed and it worked perfectly. She had arranged for a carpenter to come and fix wooden shelves for display - they were painted white and she would have old-fashioned, silver coloured metal buckets, each filled to bursting with
one colour of flower. Roses in all shades, deep blue cornflowers, tulips, poppies, freesias, the list went on.

  Charlie had been a little wary; most florists had loads of flowers on display on the floor, but Leah wanted to raise them up, to eye height. She planned another area where they would sell containers, beautiful cut glass vases, stone jugs, unusual pottery, so that customers would be tempted to buy a special, expensive item to display their flowers.

  "It looks great," Charlie said as he stood back, admiring the changes. "When the shelves are dry, we'll fill them. You should go into interior design, you've got a real gift!"

  Leah shook her head. "No more changes of career for me," she answered. "I have to make a success of this. I'm really going for the challenge."

  Leah was indeed enjoying making the decisions, and seeing her plans carried out, and she felt that her confidence was steadily growing.

  "When the decorating's finished,” she said, “we’ll have to think about a good advertising campaign. It's great to have the shop looking so good, but that just attracts more passing trade. We must get a better website, too."

  They were both busy, still supplying all the outside orders, as well as trying to run the shop whilst the alterations took place.

  "We'll go and look at vans next week," Charlie suggested. "We need something better, we can't afford to have that old banger break down again."

  Leah was pleased that all was going so smoothly and Charlie had really thrown himself into it. They worked well as a team, and he also found time to train Maggie in the art of arrangement and decoration. She was attending college two days a week. They both hoped that she would soon be able to take over more of the simple flower arrangements, as the shop was starting to get busy.

  They’d installed an old-fashioned, brass bell over the door, too. It was a different touch, and Leah turned round from admiring the new paintwork, ready to welcome a customer as she heard it jingle.