Chapter 5
I want to be back in New York.
Aiden stared out the window as a nursing assistant unpacked his father’s bag, and his parents bickered at each other. Their low-level quarrel had gone on all weekend, and as far as Aiden could tell, it was about nothing in particular. They’d nagged at him as well; his father making unsubtle digs about his decision to live in New York, and his mother complaining about his single lifestyle.
How does Francesca put up with it? he wondered. Francesca had been hostile too, making it plain she resented his presence in the company, and Gareth was just Gareth. Slimy. At least his father was settling into his private hospital room. The operation was scheduled for the following day, and William had a day of tests and starvation ahead of him.
“Aiden.” His father’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “I want you to keep a personal eye on the Essex development. It’s very prestigious and—”
“That’s my project.” Francesca’s voice held an unfamiliar note of fury.
“Take your mind off your work for once,” his mother snapped.
William Marlowe ignored both of them and focussed on Aiden. “It’s the most important—”
“Stop it.” His mother stamped one foot on the polished parquet floor.
“I realise that,” Aiden said. “I should—”
“Don’t encourage him.” His mother folded her arms and glared at him. “It’s your problem now.”
“Father,” Francesca interrupted, “I think you should—”
“And you can stop it as well,” her mother said.
“I’d better go.” Aiden pushed an annoying lock of hair away from his face and left the room while the other three carried on arguing. He disturbed two nurses who loitered outside the door, looking bored and impatient, and trying not to eavesdrop.
“Just go in,” he said. “They’ll carry on for hours if you don’t.” He nodded at them and walked to the taxi waiting in the drive.
He arrived at the office at twelve noon.
The receptionist glanced up as he strode through the automatic doors and into Marlowe’s foyer. “Good afternoon, Mr Marlowe.”
He smiled at her but kept walking towards the lifts, letting his gaze travel over the reception area as he wondered idly if he would see the fairy again. I need something to cheer me up. Does she even work here?
The lifts were both at the top of the building so, rather than wait, he ran up the stairs to the seventh floor and his new office.
Elaine sat behind her empty desk in the outer office, talking to a young man who leaned one hip on the corner as he listened to her. Aiden nodded at them both and strode through into the CEO’s inner sanctum, which felt deserted and much larger in the absence of his father. The office suited his father, but the old-fashioned opulent décor gave Aiden claustrophobia. The window was too small and looked out across the street to another high-rise office block. He hung the jacket of his linen suit on the coat stand and sat down behind his father’s desk to check his emails. It was probably still too early to ring New York; even Loretta wouldn’t be at her desk yet.
He logged on and was scrolling through his mail when the door opened again and Elaine walked through.
For fuck’s sake. Why couldn’t she knock? He frowned at her.
She frowned back. “Mr Marlowe? I need to speak to you.” She sat in the chair in front of his desk, crossing her legs and letting one high-heeled shoe dangle from her foot. For a woman who must be in her fifties, she had superb legs.
He dragged his attention to her face. “We should talk about—”
She interrupted. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve handed in my resignation.”
“What? Why?” If Elaine left, his job would instantly become a hundred times more difficult. “Does my father know?”
“Not yet. I don’t want to worry him until he’s feeling better. I hope you won’t tell him either.” Her pale grey eyes met his.
“Elaine?” Aiden gave her a pleading look, quelling the urge to shout at her. “Won’t you reconsider? Just until my father comes back?”
“I’ve stayed here for years because of your father.” She inspected the glossy ruby red varnish on her nails and rubbed an invisible smear from her thumbnail. Her ash blonde hair swung against her cheek. “My guess is he’ll decide not to come back at all. I’ll be leaving on Friday, but as a favour to William, I’ll spend the rest of this week working with my replacement.”
Aiden clenched his jaw. His father had called her the perfect assistant, loyal and efficient, but her resignation wasn’t his idea of loyalty. However, there was no point in arguing with her; he had the feeling she would welcome the opportunity to give him a put-down. He had no idea why. What the hell does Father see in her? He couldn’t understand it. “Your replacement?”
Elaine pushed herself to her feet, and walking to the door, opened it. “Davy? Can you come through for a moment?”
The young man sauntered into the office. He looked to be in his early twenties, his skin was smooth, his hair was fashionably cut, and he wore a perfectly tailored business suit. Aiden stared at him until he shifted nervously and leaned over the desk, holding out his hand. “I’m Davy Tollington-Rees. It’s an honour to be given this opportunity.”
After a moment, Aiden clasped it briefly. It wasn’t fair to make a judgement just because he was annoyed with Elaine.
“David’s mother knows your mother, so he’s almost family.” There was a note of malice in Elaine’s voice.
“Thank you.” Aiden felt his heart sink. “I’m sure you’ll do a great job.” He knew he sounded menacing.
Davy straightened and fingered his silk tie.
“Yes, Mr Marlowe.”
Aiden turned his attention to Elaine. “Can you prepare me a list of everything my father was dealing with before he became ill? And the people involved?” He turned back to his computer without bothering to dismiss them. It was rude and arrogant, but he was tired of the waves of hostility coming from Elaine. He couldn’t think what he’d done to affect her like that. Hopefully Davy had no pre-existing resentments and was too young to be involved in corporate crime. He wasn’t holding his breath.
Once they’d gone, he continued to scroll through his emails before pulling up a file on the Essex development his father had been so concerned about.
However annoying Elaine was, at least she was efficient. All the information he had asked for was on his desk by mid-afternoon, and a quick flick through it had shown Aiden that his father really did adopt a hands-off attitude to management. No wonder his staff were able to get away with criminal activities.
Aiden sent another email to Elaine asking for a list of all the projects the company was working on, as well as the name of the person in charge of each one.
~ ~ ~
A week later, Elaine was gone. Aiden couldn’t believe how much he missed her, even though he decided she was a duplicitous bitch, who could probably have run the company single-handed, while governing a small country in her spare time. Why hadn’t his father given the job to her, Aiden wondered bitterly. She had left him with her replacement, whose incompetence she’d done a good job of hiding during the week they’d worked together.
On Monday, Davy turned up at nine-thirty. Aiden had to commute from Surrey, and he still managed to be in the office by eight o’clock. On Tuesday, Davy arrived at ten o’clock, and set a pattern for the whole week. When Aiden asked him to clarify his working hours, his face froze.
“Well?” Aiden tapped one finger on his desktop. He still had mild jetlag, and his temper was on a short fuse.
“Thirty-seven and a half hours?” Davy said. “Per week?”
“Are you ambitious?”
Davy squinted at him through the carefully nurtured lock of hair that hung over his eyes. He obviously recognised it as a trick question. “Of course. I see my future with Marlowe’s.”
“Hmm.” Aiden thought differently, but on Wednesday morning, he left a pile of work on his assistant’s desk before he headed out to visit one of the construction sites. When he returned at four thirty, Davy had already left, but the work was still in an untouched pile at the side of his computer monitor.
On Thursday, Davy arrived at ten forty-five, his eyes heavy and bloodshot and his face unshaven.
Aiden stalked out of his office, folded his arms, and stared at him until he shifted nervously and pushed his chair back from his desk. “Do you know what time it is?”
“I’ll work late.”
Aiden didn’t believe a word of it. “And what about the work I gave you yesterday?”
“I was busy.” Davy sounded like a sullen teenager.
Aiden gritted his teeth. Tollington-Rees was completely useless, and Aiden intended to talk to the human resources department as soon as possible. “Can you ring round some estate agents this morning? I need somewhere to live.” His parent’s house in Surrey was as unwelcoming as always; his mother was her usual chilly self, and Francesca was still giving him the cold shoulder. He intended to stay until his father came home and then move out. He couldn’t wait.
Davy nodded.
“I’m looking for a short-term contract within walking distance of the office,” Aiden said. “A serviced flat.” That shouldn’t be too difficult, he thought, even for dozy Davy.
On Friday morning, he asked how the search was going.
“It’s on the list for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday,” Aiden said.
“Oh, so it is.” Davy grinned sheepishly, but Aiden wasn’t amused. The next time he emerged from his office, his assistant was leaning back in his chair, feet on the desk, discussing his weekend plans.
Aiden turned around and headed straight to his phone to call human resources. “I want him out of my office this afternoon. I don’t want to see his face again, and I want you to send me someone competent.” If they turned up by nine o’clock on Monday morning, it would be a big improvement.
Pamela Addison’s voice had a soothing note in it. “What’s the problem with him?”
“He’s lazy, incompetent, and insubordinate.”
“I see,” Pamela said. “However, his mother is a friend of Mrs Marlowe’s.”
Aiden couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Send him to work for my mother then, and give me someone who’s some use.”
“Mr Marlowe?” Pamela’s voice was sharp. “You are aware that we have a recruitment freeze on. We’re short-handed at the moment.”
“That’s not my problem,” Aiden said. “I’m supposed to be running this company, and I need an assistant who knows what they’re doing. Send me the best you’ve got.”
“Very well.” Pamela sighed. “There’ll be someone with you on Monday morning.”
“First thing,” Aiden growled. “I don’t want anyone who thinks ten o’clock is acceptable.”
“Yes, sir.” It sounded as though the extremely professional Pamela had slammed down the phone.
~ ~ ~
Friday was Tallulah’s last day at Marlowe’s, and she loved last days—especially final Fridays. With temping, she got a lot of them. She had to listen to Cathryn’s constant burbling for eight more hours and then she’d never see her again. No more days when she was the first one in the office and the last one out. She hoped her next placement would have a better work ethic. Next week she would be working at a big law firm near Ludgate Hill, and in her experience, law firms always worked under high pressure and to deadlines. She’d had enough of the lack-lustre attitudes at Marlowe Development. She was bored.
Finishing off the corrections to the last contract, she wrote a brief summary of where she’d left things. She was almost done by half past two, when the phone rang. She picked it up.
“Tallulah?” Pamela Addison’s crisp upper-class tones rang in her ear.
“Yes?”
“Can you pop into the office for a moment?”
Locking her computer, she stacked the pile of reports at the side of her desk, and stood up, stretching. Thin silver bracelets jangled around her right wrist as she raised her hands to tuck a loose strand of hair back into her ponytail. She wore a long daisy-covered dress and flip-flops; her clothes even more casual than usual as it was her last day.
She knocked on the door of the HR office, waiting until she heard the invitation to enter. Pamela’s smile reminded her of a crocodile’s gaping jaws, and Tallulah stiffened. That sort of smile usually meant someone wanted something.
“Tallulah? How are you?”
“I’m fine, Mrs Addison.”
“This is your last day, isn’t it?”
“I was just finishing things off,” Tallulah said. “I’ve left a written account of where the work is, and I’ll copy it to you and the head of department before I leave.”
Pamela waved a dismissive hand. “I’m sure you’ve been very thorough. There was something else I needed to talk to you about.”
Tallulah raised an eyebrow. What’s Pamela up to? That smile definitely means trouble.
“I wondered whether you would consider extending your contract for another month.”
“I can’t.” Tallulah made herself sound regretful. She was relieved to have her next work commitment already in place. “I’m working for the Beldene Partnership next week. They’re a law company. Property law,” she added helpfully.
Pamela smiled again. “I’ve spoken to your agency. They’re quite happy to send someone else to Beldene. They agreed you could stay here if you want to. They seemed sure you’d agree.”
Tallulah didn’t want to. “You know I prefer short term contracts, for the variety. Of course, I’d be happy to return in a few months.”
Pamela’s smile faded. “We need you now. And you don’t need to worry about variety.”
“But—” Tallulah wasn’t going to give in.
“I’m empowered to offer you an increased rate of payment.” She met Tallulah’s gaze. “Double your present rate.”
Tallulah’s jaw dropped. “I’m not killing anyone.”
Pamela laughed. “You are funny. It’s nothing illegal.”
That was a pity. She could have used an excuse to turn it down. Double the salary though?
“Remember I told you we had a recruitment freeze?”
“Yes.” Tallulah couldn’t see how that had changed in the month she’d spent in the legal department.
“The CEO’s secretary resigned last week. The replacement didn’t work out, and we need to fill the position quickly.”
“With a temp?” Tallulah was incredulous. “There must be someone here who could do it? Anyway, I thought he was on extended leave. Isn’t he sick?”
“I meant the acting CEO,” Pamela said. “Mr Marlowe’s son.”
Tallulah nodded, her pulse rate increasing. He was the good-looking one she’d bumped into in the foyer. Cathryn had told her who he was, but she hadn’t seen him since.
“You’re good at your job,” Pamela said. “You know that. You’re efficient, flexible, unflappable, and you’ve got an excellent work ethic.”
As far as Tallulah was concerned, she was pouring on the compliments far too thickly. What’s she up to? she wondered. What’s wrong with Mr Gorgeous?
“And we can tell Mr Marlowe junior that we’ve offered you a permanent job,” Pamela continued. “We don’t need to tell him that you turned it down.”
Tallulah pursed her lips thoughtfully.
“So? Will you accept?”
“Double the money?”
Pamela nodded. She must be desperate, Tallulah thought, although a CEO’s secretary had to be close to the top of the salary scale.
Tallulah considered. “I’ve got a brother. He’s seventeen and looking for a work experience placement.”
Pamela caught on quickly. She nodded again. “We could offer him a summer internship. Minimum wage?”
Tallulah chewed on her lower lip. She’d been looking forward to moving on. The present job was no challenge, and she didn’t really like the people. Double the money though? She’d be a fool to refuse. And the job for Kyle was a bonus; it would keep him out of trouble. There was no way she’d let him freeload off her, but all he’d found so far was a zero hours contract at a fashion chain.
“Okay. I’ll do it for a month.”
Pamela picked up the phone and called her assistant in. Lucy arrived with a pile of paperwork.
“We’ve a new contract prepared.” Pamela took the papers, shuffled through them and handed them to Tallulah.
Lucy sat down in an empty chair. “So, you’re going to work for awkward Aiden?”
“Lucy.” Pamela’s forehead creased with annoyance. “Don’t call him that. He’s not that bad.”
“I suppose not.” Lucy shook her head. “He has got rid of two assistants in two weeks though. I call that good going.”
“Elaine wasn’t prepared to stay when William Marlowe left,” Pamela said, “and the other one was Davy Tollington-Rees.”
Tallulah shook her head blankly; she’d never heard of him.
“He got the job through family connections,” Pamela said. “He rubbed Mr Marlowe up the wrong way.”
“He’s a bit of a problem,” Lucy added. “His last manager suspected he had a cocaine habit.”
Tallulah grimaced. She knew cocaine was widely used at many city firms, but she hadn’t seen any sign of it at Marlowe’s.
“We’ve no proof of that.” Pamela shrugged. “I talked to him, but I don’t think work was his first priority.”
“So Aiden Marlowe sacked him?”
“Redeployed him,” Pamela said.
“If I get redeployed, do I get to keep the double salary?” Tallulah asked.
“Try not to annoy him.”
“Tell me about the job. What does he expect?” Tallulah leaned back in her chair and studied the silver ring on her little toe.
“He emphasized competence and good-timekeeping.”
It didn’t sound like much of a requirement, or particularly challenging.
“To be fair, Davy never gets in until ten o’clock,” Lucy pointed out.
Tallulah rolled her eyes. That didn’t seem unusual for Marlowe’s.
“And everyone knows Elaine was sleeping with Mr Marlowe, Senior,” Lucy added.
Tallulah hadn’t known that. “And Mr Marlowe Junior wouldn’t do the same?” she asked.
Lucy giggled. “It wasn’t an official perk of the job, and Elaine’s twenty-five years older than him. He’s gorgeous. He could have anyone.”
“Lucy,” Pamela snapped. “Tallulah is not interested in that sort of gossip. Mr Marlowe wants a competent administrative assistant, and Tallulah fits the bill.”
“Right.” Lucy didn’t look noticeably subdued by the reprimand.
“You’ll be doing normal admin work,” Pamela said. “Arranging meetings, taking minutes, booking travel, general PA work.”
It didn’t sound exciting, but for double her normal salary, Tallulah could live with another month of boredom, and if there was one thing she knew she did well, it was organisation. She’d organised the hell out of her family when she was growing up. She’d had to. Her mother lived in her own world, and if Tallulah hadn’t taken charge, her siblings wouldn’t have eaten meals, gone to school, or had anything to wear. She’d run their household while concealing the dysfunctional state of their family life from the authorities. A difficult CEO was a doddle in comparison. Even if he was a sex god. “I can do that.”
“Arrive at eight in the morning, and he’ll be impressed by your punctuality. You haven’t a lot to live up to.”
“I’m always in by eight.”
“You’ll do fine then.” Pamela ran her eyes over Tallulah’s dress. “This is a senior level role, so it would help if you could come to work in business wear.”
Tallulah glanced down at her dress. Her wardrobe didn’t contain a single business suit, and there was no way she was about to waste her money buying one. “Okay.”
“Good.” Pamela looked relieved. “Why don’t you finish early? Just leave that list of your work with me and you can go.”
Tallulah stood up. “I’ll bring Kyle in with me on Monday morning. You’ll get something fixed up for him?”
“I’ll sort it out now.” Pamela looked relieved.
“Where’ve you been?” Cathryn asked as soon as Tallulah returned to her desk.
“HR. I’m staying on for another month.”
“That’s great,” Cathryn said. “Here?”
“No. I’m filling in for the CEO’s assistant. Apparently she left.”
“Elaine? She was sleeping with the boss, wasn’t she?”
“Everyone knows that.” Tallulah couldn’t help the sarcasm, but Cathryn didn’t appear to be offended. Had she even noticed it?
“So you’ll be working for awesome Aiden?” she asked.
“Do you know him?” Awesome Aiden? Awkward Aiden? He’s only been here a week.
“I’ve seen him a couple of times. He’s gorgeous. I’ve heard he’s difficult to work for though.”