Chapter 9
From the corner of my eye, Jackson runs a hand through his hair and fixes everyone a smile until he gets to me. He stares at me, his face unreadable.
I wait the agonisingly slow seconds that it takes for him to recognise me. It has literally only been fifty minutes since he declared he’d never forget me.
For a split second, his face lights up, until his gaze travels the length of my uniform and a range of expressions crosses his face.
Delight. Surprise. Confusion. Realisation.
Finally, his nostrils flare as though trying to ascertain whether I am a figment of his imagination.
Seconds tick by as he stands frozen to the spot.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
I see him visibly swallow. He is not making any moves to indicate that I will be swept into his adoring embrace any time soon. A sinking feeling consumes me. This is not going to be the romantic reunion I had hoped for.
How embarrassing. I cannot believe that the universe would do this to me.
Oblivious, Erika waves her arm around the group.
‘I’ll introduce you individually later. First, Jackson and I need a catch-up while you lot self-medicate with caffeine.
If you can keep it in the cups, I’d appreciate it.
’ She flicks her gaze to the pieces of smashed cup lying in a pool of coffee at my feet and gives me a bewildered look before she wanders over to sit down at a table in the far corner.
Jackson nods at Erika, a serious expression on his face as he scratches his chin. ‘I’ll be right over, Erika. Give me a second.’
My heart thumps wildly as I try to process this startling turn of events. Jackson is the new boss of head office. I am his employee. And he is clearly not happy about it.
It’s as though he’s purposefully walking in slow motion while I struggle with a wide-ranging array of emotions. Once he gets close and his gaze meets mine, I feel my body temperature rocket. There is literally no difference between me and the Earth’s core right now.
I’m usually such a well-ordered, disciplined person. I like things to go to plan. Yet, since I stepped foot on the tarmac in Turkey, nothing has gone as it should have. Not one sodding thing. ‘Hi.’ I wring my hands together, uncertain as to how this is all going to play out.
He stops a few feet away, motionless, his face like granite before he finally steps towards me. ‘Maddie?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘What are you doing here?’ he says, sounding tense.
‘I could ask you the same.’ My voice is barely a whisper.
‘You told me you were here on holiday,’ he declares through tight lips.
‘I told you it was my first time in Turkey.’ Christ, I’m doing quotation marks at him. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were here to work with LoveIt Holidays?’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ he says in an incredulous tone. ‘Otherwise, I’d never have encouraged…’
Like it’s all my fault!
‘Thanks a lot.’
‘You must know what I mean?’ He looks nervously around to check no one is watching us.
‘Enlighten me.’
He runs a hand through his hair, clearly agitated at my presence here. ‘Why did you act like a holidaymaker? You even suggested a holiday fling.’
‘Well, if we’re playing twenty questions, why did you bring me to a screaming orgasm in the middle of the Aegean Sea and ask me to run away with you?’
This conversation seems to be escalating too quickly for my liking.
Jackson’s face drops. He looks from side to side, his voice almost harsh. ‘Keep your voice down.’
Such a stab in the heart.
‘I don’t care for your tone.’ I fold my arms forcefully.
A sudden flashback of Jackson elbowing me in the eye while we were sitting on the dancefloor pretending to row each other like boats pops into my head.
I’d leaned around to tell him he had lovely long thigh bones.
I wish I’d never bothered. ‘You haven’t even apologised for giving me a black eye. ’
Jackson’s face goes white. ‘I what?’
I point to my eye, hoping I’m pointing at the correct one. It doesn’t even hurt. He immediately backtracks. ‘I’m so sorry. I have absolutely no recollection. In fact, most of last night is a complete blur.’ He briefly closes his eyes as he rubs his forehead.
No recollection of our life-changing, soulful union. No recollection of my almost French-like sexual allure. Charming. ‘Forget it,’ I say, gloomily. ‘I suppose we were pretty wasted.’
I can’t believe he doesn’t remember. I feel so deflated. It reminds me of some depressing statistics. Most humans will be regularly disappointed on average five times a day.
‘Hey,’ he utters gently. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. Of course I remember… some bits.’ He gives me an intense look. He has dark circles underneath his eyes. Like me, he’ll be exhausted and hungover. And this has been a shock for both of us.
I suppose if we are going to be working together, and he is technically my boss, then we should clear the air. ‘Do you remember tap dancing on the bar while juggling tequila bottles?’ I say out of the side of my mouth.
He waits for me to elaborate, a worrying crease forming on his brow.
‘We should really go back and offer to pay for the damage. How’s your back? That was quite a nasty fall.’
Jackson tips his head back with a groan. Various expressions career across his face before he lets out a depressed moan.
‘Don’t worry,’ I say, reassuringly. One of us needs to be mature about this whole affair. ‘Your secret is safe with me.’
‘What secret?’ His eyes grow wide. ‘What did I say? What else did I do?’
I hold my hands up. ‘I just meant your Turkish spoon dancing routine. It’s a forgotten art form.
Oh, and the fact we were buying illegal substances, of course.
Just as well we were in it together so you can’t report me.
’ I lower my voice, grinning nervously. ‘Best keep quiet about that I think, seeing as we’ll be working together at head office. ’
‘What do you mean working together? You’re joking, right?’
Ah. Awkward.
‘I’m the new account manager. I’ve come to work at head office.’
Jackson pulls his hands roughly down his face. ‘Fuck me. What have I done?’
Eh? How rude.
‘Erm, excuse me,’ I say rather too loudly. ‘Sorry for giving you the best night of your entire life. Or have you forgotten you said that already?’
‘No, of course I haven’t forgotten. Last night was…’ He pauses, blinks slowly and gives me a reluctant half-smile. ‘…incredible. Of course it was.’
I exhale, relieved it wasn’t all one-sided and I hadn’t imagined it.
‘But honestly, I would never have hooked up with you if I’d known where you worked. This makes things very complicated.’
Back to being rude again.
Wait. I suddenly remember him telling me about the incompetent staff who are running the company into the ground and all the people he will be sacking.
Of course, he will be worried about his unprofessional breach of confidence.
I certainly would if it was me. Fancy telling a total stranger all that sensitive office politics. What was he thinking?
‘I won’t say anything.’ I lower my voice again. ‘You know, about the sackings and the imminent disciplinary action?’
He lets out another agonised groan as if only just remembering.
‘I’m fully aware that it’s an unprofessional breach of classified information. But trust me. My lips are sealed.’
I see him swallow a lump the size of a turnip as he fidgets with his collar as though it’s too tight for him to breathe. ‘Okay. Leave this with me.’
‘Leave what with you?’ I ask, but he’s already marching away towards Erika.
I slump down in the chair and sit like Norma-no-mates, a lone wolf, surveying the scene at the other end of the hall.
Less than two hours ago he had my nipple in his mouth and wanted to elope with me.
Now, here he is acting as if me giving him a lap dance wearing nothing but a tea towel and a pair of coconuts meant barely anything!
And even though it’s him with the problem, my skin is crawling with shame. Talk about the sting of rejection. He couldn’t have been clearer about regretting hooking up with me. And that there will certainly be no continuation of any kind.
I am mortified. I’m experiencing a horrific vision of me thrusting my pelvis in his face multiple times and us being asked to leave Club Cherry Lips on the grounds of lewd behaviour. I shake the flashback away.
My eyes are glued to Jackson. He hasn’t so much as given me a backward glance. My stomach plummets as I search the near vicinity for a place to hide… for a few hundred years.
I survey the two groups of reps. Bodrum North are keeping themselves to themselves on one side of the buffet table and Bodrum South are huddled on the other side.
I literally have nowhere to stand. Just as I’m about to go outside for some fresh air and a think, Jackson scrapes back his chair and walks over to me.
‘I’m sorry if I offended you earlier. But I’d appreciate it if you kept our… you know… to yourself. And anything that I told you.’ He can barely look me in the eye. My heart twangs with hurt and – maybe it’s the extreme fatigue – my eyes pool with tears. I look away, nodding.
‘Please, Maddie. Look at me. I genuinely don’t want to upset you.’
Too late. I swallow hard, keeping my gaze trained on the floor. After a lengthy wait, he makes his way back to Erika who asks everyone to gather round.
‘There’s been a slight change of plans,’ she explains, her eyes sweeping the large group of reps.
‘We’ve had a last-minute booking to host an exclusive party on board the Love Ahoy!
It’s one of those traditional wooden gulet boats with old-fashioned sails and not a mod con in sight. We’ll be allocating—’
‘I get seasick,’ interrupts Astrid. ‘So, you can count me out.’
‘I’m not a great swimmer,’ blurts Garry, flexing his scrawny biceps. ‘Obviously, I look like I am but I’m not. You don’t get this body from swimming. If you know what I mean.’
Erika tuts loudly before continuing. ‘We’ll be allocating Bodrum South team to this assignment because you have experience of sailing, and you all certainly like a good party.
You’ll be leaving tonight, so I suggest you go and buy some seasickness tablets, Astrid.
And Garry, I’m sure I can find some children’s armbands to fit you.
Jackson will do your briefing while I do my own team.
We’ll cover your patch as well as our own while you are away. Follow me, Bodrum North.’
I watch them follow Erika over to the table with all the papers, like obedient little ducklings. Meanwhile, Bodrum South follow Jackson to the other side of the hall. I’m left standing like a lemon in the middle. ‘Erm, Erika? What about me? I’m due to start at head—’
‘Maddie!’ booms Erika. ‘You’ve been reassigned. You’re now with Bodrum South team. Go on, princess! Get over there.’