Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Ellie could see the inner battle Knox Wilder seemed to be having with himself from the frown between his challenging brown eyes and the flaring of his nostrils as he breathed heavily. As if he wanted to say so much more but was trying to hold back from saying anything she might find insulting.
Not, Ellie believed, because he liked or wanted her here, but because she was related to the woman who was his permanent PA, who would eventually be returning to that position.
“Okay, I can see that you really do need that coffee, so I’ll take pity on you and turn the machine on for you,” Ellie announced as she stood up. “I believe it’s the same model as the one I have at…home.” She substituted that word for what would have been her original comment.
His brows rose over that razor-sharp gaze. “Drink a lot of coffee ‘at home,’ do you?”
Ellie easily met those challenging brown eyes. “Shall we?” She indicated for him to enter his office ahead of her.
She followed him in, then set up the machine before collecting some water from the adjoining bathroom.
“Angel is five years old and the daughter of one of my best friends.”
Ellie turned to see that Knox was now sitting behind his own imposing gray marble desk. He somehow still managed to dominate that space, despite the huge chunk of striated rock in front of him that probably weighed a ton and must have cost a fortune.
She raised one brow. “Is there a reason I needed to know that?”
He nodded. “To emphasize that she’s…special, and very important to me.”
Ellie nodded. “Karen already told me that. But only because she felt it was something her replacement needed to be aware of,” she added so that he didn’t think Karen had been gossiping about her employer away from the office.
Because that was something the other woman never did.
Which was probably why she’d had no idea that Karen’s boss was lethally attractive!
“It is, yes,” Knox confirmed.
“And I will ensure that Sally is also aware of that situation. Is there anyone else she needs to be aware of?” Such as a mistress? Or girlfriend? Or a sleep buddy—
“Angel is the only female who will ever call or visit me here. She lives in the UK and calls me, sometimes here at the office, but the latter won’t happen often.”
Having filled up the water and put the fresh coffee beans in the appropriate part of the machine, a blend she was rather partial to herself, Ellie now flicked the switch to turn it on. She was instantly rewarded with the familiar sound of coffee beans grinding and the water heating.
“How about your mother?” she turned to prompt.
“My mother is dead.”
“Sister?”
“Don’t have one.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “So, let’s be clear. None of the women of your acquaintance, one-night stands or otherwise, will ever telephone or visit you here. But if they do, Sally is to check with you first before putting them through?”
“What the hell…?” His jaw tightened. “Are you making assumptions or speaking from prior knowledge?”
“I’ve already told you Karen doesn’t gossip about you. She certainly hasn’t told me anything about your private life,” she assured primly.
“So, you were just making assumptions?”
She shrugged. “You just give off that vibe.”
He bristled even more. “What vibe?”
“Sure you want me to answer that?”
“Yes!”
“Okay.” She nodded. “You’re aged in your early forties, your public bio, which I read on the way here, says you aren’t married and have no children.
I’m guessing the reason for that is that you prefer not to become involved in emotional relationships.
As you don’t look like a man who would choose celibacy, I can only assume any…
encounters you do have are of the brief and uncomplicated kind.
Hence my mention of one-night stands. Does that answer your question? ”
His gaze had turned icy. “It tells me that, despite having read some intrusive bio on me online, you actually know absolutely nothing about me or my private life.”
Ellie sensed she had said something that struck a nerve.
Was it the mention of his age, or something else?
Maybe Knox thought he looked younger. If she knew what she’d said to produce this icy demeanor in a man who up until now had been distant but polite, she would make sure never to step over that line again.
As Knox didn’t look as if he was about to answer that question, even if she asked it, she decided to change the subject instead. “Would you prefer that I call you Mr. Wilder or Knox for the short time that I’ll be here?”
“Knox,” he grated.
She nodded. “Ellie.”
“Well, Ellie, during the short time you’re here, could you arrange for some flowers to be sent to Karen and Geoff?” he instructed. “Along with a couple of balloons, one blue, one pink, to welcome their babies.”
She held his gaze across the desk. “Geoff said they’ll probably be staying in the hospital overnight, and if all is well, he’ll be taking Karen and the babies home in the morning.”
“Then it’s probably best to send the flowers there. And when you’ve done that, could you get someone at HE—Halliday Executive Recruitment Agency on the line, please,” he bit out before she could think of a suitable reply.
Her eyes widened. “Anyone in particular you wish to speak to there?”
“I vaguely recall that Karen told me a while ago that it’s owned and run by a couple, so one of them would be preferable.”
Now it was Ellie’s time to react, but inwardly, a coldness seemed to have gripped her heart before spreading outward until her whole chest felt like a solid block of ice.
Not because it seemed as if Knox was about to arrange for someone to be brought in from that agency.
No, it was something else he’d said that bothered her.
Something she had no intention of discussing with this tattooed man who gave off a dangerous sexual vibe and who she was totally physically aware of.
This instant attraction to a man had never happened to her before.
Not before, during, or since her long-term relationship had ended so badly six months ago.
Well…it had ended then, but Ellie had thought a lot about the situation since that time, and she’d realized that things had been off between her and Andrew for a couple of years before that.
“I’ll do that right now,” she agreed lightly before leaving the room.
Knowing, with every step she took, that Knox was watching her with those melted-chocolate-brown eyes. Because she could feel the intensity of that gaze on her, most especially on the gentle sway of her hips and bottom.
She was relieved once she could step out into the reception area and close the door behind her.
It took only a matter of seconds for her to order the flowers and balloons Knox had requested be delivered to Karen and Geoff’s home.
She sent another bouquet on her own behalf.
Once the happy couple was home from the hospital with their two babies, she would arrange for a pizza to be delivered to them one evening.
Karen was a planner, always had been, which was why she was so good at her job, so Ellie had no doubt the other woman also had food prepared and put away in the freezer for after the birth.
But bringing two babies home was sure to be chaotic, and no doubt a hot meal one evening that they didn’t have to think about would be welcome.
That done, Ellie put a call through to the HERA offices. “Hi, Benny,” she greeted the moment he answered the call. “Did you get my voicemail earlier and the note I left on your desk with a list of things I need you to do today?”
“Ells!” Benny squealed his pleasure at hearing her voice. “Yes, I heard the voicemail and read the note, but I’m no further forward in understanding why you or Sally decided to go into Wynter Security today. It wasn’t in your calendar.”
“Long story. The note already told you the short one: Karen went into labor, and so far, the agency hasn’t managed to find a suitable replacement to take her place while she’s on maternity leave.” Much to Ellie’s chagrin.
She had sent over the top three PAs on their books who were available for an interview, but none of them had found favor with the critical Knox Wilder.
“And you feel responsible,” Benny easily guessed. “It isn’t your fault the man is such a dick that he decided none of the candidates we sent were suitable.”
“I wouldn’t say he’s a dick…” Ellie had swung her chair round when she caught a slight movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see that Knox was now standing in the doorway to his executive office, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand as he blatantly listened to her side of the conversation.
“Not completely one anyway,” she added softly.
“What would you say, then?” Benny prompted.
Ellie continued to meet Knox’s challenging gaze. “I’d say, even though it can be slightly irritating to the people who are only trying to help him, that he has his own reasons for being unhappy about accepting a replacement for Karen. Even temporarily.”
“Dick reasons.”
“Possibly.”
There was a small silence on the other end of the line. “He’s listening, isn’t he?” Benny finally guessed.
“Yep.” The p popped at the end of the word.
“Ooh, ouch.” Benny feigned dismay on her behalf.
Ellie watched Knox as he crossed the room to stand in front of the desk before holding out his hand for her cell phone. She gave him a warning glance before handing it over. “Do not upset Benny, HERA wouldn’t be able to run at all without him.”
Knox gave her a mocking grin as he pressed the speaker button so she could hear and continue to be a part of their conversation.
“Good morning, Benny. It’s the dick speaking,” he introduced himself.
“Would I be right in thinking that the Ellie Hall currently sitting in my outer office is actually Eleanor Hall, cofounder and CFO of Halliday Executive Recruitment Agency, Andrew Day being the other cofounder and CEO?”
Impressive, Ellie thought, knowing Knox must have spent the time waiting for his coffee to brew by going online and looking up the name Ellie Hall, which, by a process of elimination, would have taken him to the HERA agency.
“No,” Benny answered economically.
Knox perched that toned bottom on the edge of Ellie’s—Karen’s—desk. “Would she give me the same answer if I asked her?”
“Yes.”
Knox frowned his puzzlement. “Why would she?”
“Because Andrew Day is no longer a part of this company, so as such, Eleanor Hall is now both CEO and CFO.”
“Potatoes/potahtoes.”
“Actually, the original was tomayto and tomahto. I love that film,” Benny enthused. “Fred and Ginger are just divine together, aren’t they? Have you seen them in—”
“Benny,” Ellie chuckled. “I don’t think Mr. Wilder is interested in knowing your movie preferences.”
“Then he should be.” Benny sounded highly affronted. “Anyone with any taste at all has to love Fred and Ginger’s movies.”
She shrugged. “Then maybe Mr. Wilder doesn’t have any taste—”
“I actually do like Fred and Ginger movies,” Knox cut in. “Therefore, according to Benny, I must also have taste.” He gave Ellie a triumphant glance. “They had something special between them and were never as entertaining in the movies they starred in with other people.”
“Exactly,” the other man agreed. “I’ve been saying the same thing for years—”
“Benny, darling, it’s time for you to go now and start continuing to go through that long list of chores I left for you to do today,” she reminded pointedly.
“Just when the conversation was getting interesting too,” he tutted. “Nice talking to you, Mr. Wilder. And please be kind to Ellie. She has a habit of thinking of other people’s comfort rather than her own.”
“I will bear your advice in mind, thank you, Benny,” Knox returned smoothly.
“Bye, Ells,” the other man said warmly. “If he gives you any trouble at all, just give me a call, and I’ll come over there and sort him out for you.”
“Thanks, Benny.” Ellie chuckled before Knox pressed the button to end the call.
Leaving her alone with a no doubt even more curious Knox.
* * *
“Well.” Knox looked across the desk at the woman he now knew to be Eleanor Hall, co-owner of the employment agency, HERA. At least, she had been the co-owner, but according to Benny, the Day part of Halliday was no longer a part of the company.
Interestingly, there had been no mention of that on the HERA website he’d looked at a short time ago.
Nor did this Eleanor Hall look as confident and smiling as she did in the photograph on that same website. And he was right; she had definitely lost weight since that photograph had been taken.
In the photograph, she was standing in front of a desk empty of clutter on its surface, wearing a blue suit the same color as her glowing aqua-blue eyes, tailored to her luscious curves. The fitted jacket was worn over a cream silk blouse and a pencil-slim skirt.
Her blonde hair had been loose about her shoulders, revealing its length as being halfway down her spine.
Her long legs, beneath the knee-length skirt, were shown to advantage in high-heeled shoes.
There appeared to be mascara on her long lashes, making the unusual color of her eyes pop.
There was also a deep rose gloss on the fullness of her lips that made them look sexier than they already were.
The same woman and yet…not.
This Ellie had her blouse buttoned up to her throat and her hair tightly secured at her nape, and, as far as Knox knew, there was no laughter in those beautiful eyes hidden behind the tinted lenses of her glasses. Plus, there was that obvious weight loss.
To do with the missing Day part of the partnership, or because of something else?
“Are the glasses new?” he prompted curiously. “Because you weren’t wearing them in the company photograph of you online.”
Not that the glasses detracted from her appearance in the least. In fact, they made her appear all the more intriguing.
He’d also seen a photograph of Andrew Day, the now apparently defunct CEO. The guy looked to be about thirty, and good-looking in a carefully groomed sort of way, with artfully tousled blond hair, deep blue eyes, and a confident grin on his handsome features.
There was also a photograph of the receptionist, Benedict Gray. He was a slim young man with blond highlights in his light brown hair.
There was one other photograph on the website, of a fashionably slim and vivacious red-haired young lady with the name Sally Burrows.
The blurb beneath her photograph revealed that she was PA to both Andrew Day and Eleanor Hall.
Or rather, she had been, because Knox now knew the Day part of the company no longer worked there.
Making it even more curious as to what Ellie was doing here acting as his temporary PA when she was obviously already down a partner to help run her own company.