Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
S teph was relieved that Dave had not been around on Monday or Tuesday and although they had no plans to see each other personally until Wednesday night, Jon had text her several times and ensured that she left the building no later than five o’clock, but had left her to work alone in the conference room which she was glad of because she had still managed to avoid discussing her dismissal of a further spanking. Although the conversation they had managed had made her feel better, a little more secure, she was in no doubt that when things ended between them she would struggle to be in the same building as him.
She had arranged to meet up with Lindsay on Thursday to discuss a girly holiday and her sister, Jess, had called her to say that the whole family were still singing Jon’s praises after Sunday lunch and none seemed to suspect that he was married or anything else, although she did disclose that Paul had figured out that Jon was seriously minted, which Steph thought was in itself not necessarily a bad thing.
As she entered the car park on Wednesday morning a message was received on her phone.
Good morning, am so glad it is Wednesday. I can’t wait to see you tonight. Do not bring that fucking laptop home or I may throw it in The Thames! I have a meeting first thing, but should be in the conference room with you and Dave no later than 9.30. Jon x
I missed you too. Ok, no laptop. Will c u later, try not to be late and leave me with Dave for any longer than you have to. He really doesn’t like me you know, Steph x
Steph had been in the conference room for about half an hour when Dave appeared and although she smiled and uttered a token, “Morning,” he completely ignored her.
Returning her attention to her computer screen, she smiled as she looked up and saw Andrea coming through the door, then panicked slightly as she thought that maybe Jon had been delayed and wouldn’t be able to join them after all.
“I am putting tea and coffee on for when Mr Brooker arrives and the canteen are providing breakfast shortly,” she explained.
“Put out the flags while you’re at it,” muttered Dave sarcastically.
Andrea ignored him but smiled across at Steph. “I believe you’ll be with us for a few months.”
“Yes, I hope so,” she said sincerely.
“Not if you don’t sign your contract.” Dave spoke without looking up from his own computer.
Steph looked across at him and he then elaborated.
“H.R. emailed me last Friday to say that they needed your contract signed and returned by the start of business today or they’d assume you had decided against working here.” He smirked as he looked up at the clock and saw that it was almost a quarter to ten.
“You want rid of me that much?” asked Steph disbelievingly.
“I don’t know what you mean, but if your time here has come to an end, you remember that you worked for me, not the other way around. So, if you were too busy doing whatever or whoever it is you do and didn’t sign your contract that is your fault, not mine,” he spat at her ferociously.
“Then I will go and see H.R. now,” she shouted back and stormed out while Andrea looked between the exchange as if she was watching a game of tennis.
As Steph’s back disappeared from sight, Andrea turned to Dave, “You really are a prize prat,” and she too left leaving Dave laughing to himself.
Steph furiously stormed into the lift and was glad for the empty space. She checked out her flushed appearance and wondered whether she should just quit and set up her own consultancy or temp somewhere else, but remembering Jon’s words when he’d apologised a few days before about wanting her on his team, she assumed he’d put up a fight to keep her. She smiled at her reflection and was glad that she had opted for the new red, sleeveless shift dress with a peplum that flattered her small waist and round bottom. Her eyes lowered to the plain black, heeled court shoes that she had worn with bare legs and thought that the whole outfit was both appropriate for work when she added the black short jacket she had left upstairs, but also very sexy as she wore it now and that was the look that she had gone for this morning when she had selected it, knowing that tonight was one of her nights to see Jon.
Grant in H.R. was perfectly lovely about her contract and had another copy ready for her to sign, which she did immediately, although still unread, but she trusted that Jon wouldn’t have allowed her to have been offered a contract that was unfair or detrimental to her in any way.
Just as she was ready to leave him Grant asked her, “Is everything okay in accounts, with Mr Madeley?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” asked Steph in response, wondering if Dave had begun to plant the seeds of her downfall.
“Because the rumours are that he is being most unpleasant to and about you and if that is the case, it needs to stop. Mr Brooker has a zero tolerance policy for workplace bullying so if you need any advice just call down.”
“Thank you.”
“And check your induction pack because there should be a copy of our grievance proceedings,” Grant told her as she left and headed back up to the conference room where Jon was now sitting opposite her empty seat, several spaces away from Dave.
Jon and Andrea, who was still there with her own laptop at the far end of the desk both looked up as Steph entered the room.
“Sorry, I had to pop down to H.R.” she explained.
“Is everything okay?” asked Jon.
“Yes, fine, thanks. Grant was most helpful.” She glared up at Dave who only briefly looked at her.
“Good, right then down to work. If we have all looked through the figures maybe we could start by discussing any problems or concerns we have with the figures or possible future concerns,” said Jon.
Steph smiled when she decided he was acting like the boss. Any boss. Her boss, and to the outside world there would be no hint that they were anything more than boss and employee, which she liked, especially with Dave sitting there.
They worked through several of the accounts before lunch, with Dave leading with his concerns and queries and by the time lunchtime arrived Steph was becoming worried that his concerns were trivial and that she and Dave didn’t appear to be on the same page. So either she was way off the mark in her judgements which Dave would love to point out, or he was, and that would become apparent soon and he would hate her even more. She became slightly lost in her thoughts and felt herself jump as she became aware of Jon’s voice.
“Miss Pryor, I said we should break for lunch and meet back here at half past one.”
“Yes, sorry.”
Jon was already leaving the room and as he closed the door behind him Dave began to laugh. “I won’t actually need to do anything to help you on your way if you continue to switch off in meetings with the CEO. Brooker hates incompetence and lack of focus.” Dave laughed at her again as Andrea watched on.
“He can’t hate incompetence too much if he still employs you!” hissed Steph, already on her feet.
“I could sack you here and now for your insubordination,” threatened Dave, sounding smug, but looking slightly flummoxed which Steph found rather satisfying.
“Mr Madeley, I think if you were able to do that I would be at home watching daytime TV right now. So, if you don’t mind you appear to be encroaching on my lunch hour.” Despite sounding it, Steph wasn’t sure of herself.
Dave ignored Steph for a second. “I’ll be back at half one, Andrea. Try not to be late back,” he said to Steph as he left.
Andrea shook her head. “You really do bring out the worst in him, Steph.”
“For what it’s worth I am not entirely sure there is any good in him,” Steph mused.
“You should tell Mr Brooker how he treats you. He wouldn’t stand for him treating any staff member like that, least of all you.”
“Which is why I would rather keep Jo– Mr Brooker out of this, but thank you, Andrea.” Steph wanted to kick herself for almost slipping up by using his first name.
“Whatever you want. Oh, Mr Brooker invited you to join him in his office for lunch,” Andrea told her.
“Then I’d better not keep him waiting.” Smiling, Steph grabbed her jacket and bag.
Standing at the door to Jon’s office, Steph knocked it gently and waited. She didn’t wait long before the door opened and she was surprised to find Grant from H.R. coming out, followed by Jon.
“Thanks, Grant. Miss Pryor go in and take a seat, please,” said Jon.
Steph followed his instructions while both men moved out through Andrea’s office and into the corridor. When he returned to his office, Jon found Steph eating her second brie and cranberry sandwich.
“Thanks for waiting for me before you started.” A wry smile curled Jon’s lips.
“Sorry, but you’ve been gone ages,” she said in her defence making him laugh at her as he took the last of her sandwich from between her fingers with his mouth.
She smacked him gently on the arm. “That was mine.”
Jon said nothing as he swallowed the food in his mouth, he just smiled. Watching Steph closely the smile disappeared, giving way to something else, something darker causing her to swallow hard with expectation before he roughly pulled her towards him. “You are looking pretty damned hot today and it has killed me to maintain my professional persona this morning with you and your sexy red dress.” He buried his face in her neck and inhaled her scent.
She smiled as she manoeuvred herself so that she was looking back up at him now.
“I found your professional, corporate persona rather attractive.” She brushed a finger across his lips and squealed as he nipped at her finger.
“Eat the rest of your lunch before I forget that I have a professional persona and shag you right here,” he said seriously.
“Maybe I’ve had enough lunch, I had two breakfasts,” she said, toying with his tie.
“Then fill up on lunch and maybe we can skip dinner.” Jon bent down to kiss her gently on the lips as his hand found her behind. “And you can finish telling me what you started to about spanking on Monday morning.”
“Or not!” she said releasing herself from Jon to pick up a slice of chocolate cake, hoping to distract him from just how much she was blushing.
“Looks like we will leave it for now, again.”
“You really will have to stop providing me with meals or I will end up looking like the back end of a bus,” she told him seriously.
“Yes and then I would be forced to trade you in for a newer model,” he said laughing, but stopped when he saw the expression on Steph’s face and realised what she was thinking. “That was a joke,” he said seriously.
“If you say so, but I am an easily replaced accessory, aren’t I?” Before he could reply she changed the subject. “What were you doing with Grant?” She was concerned that he may have taken his concerns about Dave’s treatment of her straight to Jon after her reluctance to be forthcoming, or maybe Andrea had been to see him.
“Stephanie, are you in the habit of demanding to know why the CEO is meeting with the head of H.R.?” His tone was light and clearly teasing.
“No, sorry. I was just curious,” she lied.
“Curious? Did you think it was about you?” he asked now.
“No, of course not, that would be most egotistical of me, wouldn’t it?” She forced a giggle.
“Yes it would, unless you think there is a reason why Grant may need to speak to me about you, darling.” Suspicion entered his voice.
“No, although I did go and sign my contract this morning.”
“You finally got round to reading the small print then?” He stared at her with a half-smile but was glad she had now signed her contract.
“No,” she admitted. “But I figured I could trust you not to shaft me, at least not on the contract.” She offered him a broad grin.
“Absolutely, darling.” He grinned back before passing her a bottle of water that she took back to the conference room that she thought of as round two with Dave.
As the afternoon wore on, Jon directed the discussion towards Steph’s findings and after several attempts by Dave to ridicule and undermine Steph, Jon addressed his attitude. “Is there a problem, Dave? If you are unwell or you need some space I am sure Miss Pryor and I can manage without you.”
Steph allowed herself a small smile in the direction of Andrea as Dave began to mutter apologies and explanations before finally shutting up and allowing Jon to return to Steph to voice her concerns.
“So, Miss Pryor, you were saying that you had some reservations about the figures provided by our newly acquired hotel chain,” prompted Jon.
“Yes, I have reviewed the figures several times, most recently at four a.m. on Monday,” she told Jon and whilst he arched a brow at her Dave interrupted.
“But they have the largest profit margin of all, so what is to be concerned by?” His scoffing earned him a frown from Jon.
“What do you mean, Dave, the largest profit margin? I have them down as in the red to the tune of over a million pounds still,” said a slightly confused Steph.
“I also have them at a loss, not as great as Miss Pryor, but still a loss for year to date, so maybe you could explain your figures, Miss Pryor.” Jon offered her an encouraging smile.
“When the company was acquired they were two million pounds in debt and over the first quarter they made ￡400,000 and then this quarter they have added a further ￡700,000, however they have had ￡300,000 invested in P.R. and advertising, which gives them a deficit balance of one point two million pounds,” explained Steph.
“I had actually forgotten to take into account the ￡300,000 of investment, which is why our loss figures differ slightly,” admitted Jon. “Dave, maybe you’d like to explain where your profit comes from,” said Jon, making it sound like Dave had a choice in the matter, but they all knew that he didn’t.
“I have them down as ￡800,000 in profit as they made 1.1 million, minus the ￡300,000 investment,” he said, smirking smugly at Steph before looking back at Jon and smiling more genuinely.
“Do you see why we have the company showing as making a loss?” asked Jon calmly.
“Yes I can see your error, Mr Brooker, but Miss Pryor,” he sighed and then added a tut-tut making her want to punch him really, really hard.
“I didn’t make an error, you did, and a novice one at that! They came to Brookers with debts of two million, not a loss for their previous owners, but debts that I believe Brookers took on as part of the purchase so you can’t just write it off, it has to form part of their figures to give the full picture. I don’t think they are a cause for concern as their projected end of year figure should show a profit, albeit a small one,” Steph said firmly.
“You really do have an answer for everything, don’t you?” started Dave before Jon intervened.
“Dave, stop there. We need to talk. Miss Pryor, I think we can let you go and check if things in legal are running smoothly, Steve has been asking whether you would have some availability and now you do.”
“But we haven’t finished,” she retorted and received a cold steely stare that left her in no doubt that she was dealing with corporate Jon, her boss, not her lover.
“You have,” he told her more firmly. “Andrea, escort Miss Pryor to legal please, now,” he said with a rise in his voice.
Steph petulantly grabbed her bag and jacket and as she reached towards her laptop he said, “You can leave your laptop, Andrea will lock it away for you overnight, I am sure you should have better things to do at four in the morning than look over accounts.”