Chapter Three
When Plans Collide
Charlotte could hardly call herself a PI if she couldn’t get past the front desk. Her plan was to get into his office and convince him to give her a job. Once she was in the office, she would see what she could find out. First, though, she had to charm her way past the woman guarding his office. “Hello; I’m Charlotte.” She paused. She couldn’t use her real name. She really should have come better prepared. “Charlotte Jones. I have an appointment with Jordan.”
“Jordan? Oh, do you mean Mr. Lovett?” The older woman smiled kindly at her and then looked at her screen. “I’m sorry, I don’t have your details. Who do you represent?” She stood and closed the door behind her before looking Charlotte up and down.
Mr. Lovett. She should have guessed the man would insist on his staff treating him so formally, for all of his playboy reputation. She leaned forward for a better look at the woman’s monitor. There was definitely an empty slot there, where she wouldn’t be stepping over another appointment. “I’m a bit early, to be honest. He told me to come in at 10 and he’d see me personally.”
The woman looked dubious. “Regarding?”
None of your business. But clearly it was; the woman must be Jordan Lovett’s personal PA and she had the demeanor of a guard dog now. Charlotte scanned her desk. Everything was super neat and tidy. There was a photograph of a young woman about Charlotte’s age, almost certainly the PA’s daughter. Maybe she could gain the woman’s sympathy. “I’m here about the job.”
“That’s usually done through Terri in HR,” said the woman, flipping to another screen.
“It’s a contract job for Mr. Lovett personally. He asked me to come speak to him, said it was all a bit hush-hush.” Charlotte was pretty sure she could see some hesitation in the woman’s eyes. Ruthless, she reminded herself. “I came all the way from Mission by bus. I’m just starting out and I was excited about the chance to work at Lovett.” She paused, holding eye contact, hoping for just an ounce of female solidarity. “I just need a chance.”
A long second of silence and then the woman glanced at her watch and then at the schedule. “Take a seat there and I’ll speak to Mr. Lovett.”
“Thank you so much!” Charlotte beamed at the woman. This ruthless stuff really worked. She felt bad about tugging at the woman’s heart strings but if she could just get in there to see the man, she could bluff her way into something.
Charlotte sat down. But then a woman in a bright suit walked in and interrupted the PA. “I wanted to look at the consortium records but there’s nothing scanned into the archives. It must be hard copy only.”
“That’d be with Mr. Lovett,” she said. “George Lovett. You’ll need to speak to him about that.”
“I thought he was retired?”
“He is, but he took all of his personal files with him. The paperwork must have been in his office filing cabinet.”
“He retired his files?”
“Yes, they literally hauled every filing cabinet out of here. If you want to see the originals, you’ll need to see him in Haven.”
“Huh, there goes my excuse to see Lovett Jr.” The woman fanned herself. When she saw Charlotte looking, she winked.
The PA didn’t look amused. “I’m afraid not.” She picked up the phone. “Your ten o’clock is here, Mr. Lovett.”
Charlotte stared at the floor, trying to pretend that she hadn’t been listening in. The door behind the desk opened and a man stepped out. “Joyce, I don’t have a ten o’clock. And I said to leave the door open. You don’t need to use the intercom.”
Charlotte stood up to introduce herself but she couldn’t get a word out. The portrait in the newspaper, she had to admit, didn’t do the man justice. He wore an expensive suit, almost certainly designer, but his collar was unbuttoned and his sleeves rolled up. His short dark hair was slightly ruffed as if he’d been running his hands through it. There was a five o’clock shadow on his chiseled jaw even though it was not yet ten o’clock. She realized she was staring at his lips before raising her eyes to look into his: dark, intense, penetrating.
He looked her up and down. “Oh, wait. You’re Buddy’s friend?”
She nodded uncertainly, not understanding but not wanting to turn this man down in any way.
Jordan smiled back at her, that same charming smile as in the photograph. The same penetrating eyes, his broad shoulders stunning in the Italian suit (also worth more than her annual income, a bitchy part of her mind said) and large, tanned hands looking oh-so-touchable.
Get yourself together, Nichols. “Hi, my name is Charlotte and—”
“Charlotte?” He furrowed his brow. “Is that your real name?”
What kind of question was that? And how on earth did this man get her so off-balance so quickly? “Yes. My name is Charlotte Jones.”
She glanced at the personal assistant, who was watching her with a raised eyebrow. She repeated her lie, hoping the billionaire playboy wouldn’t remember what he’d said to which girl when out on the town. “You told me to come in and—”
His mobile phone rang. “Just a minute. Yes, I’m in a meeting. Fine, I’ll be there. Talk to Joyce.” He hung up. “Joyce, that’s Steven. He’s got a meeting at three, make sure I know where to be.”
“Mr. Lovett, Lauren called again. I told her you were in meetings all day but she said it’s urgent, about this weekend.
He positively growled. “I’m busy.” Then his eyes locked with Charlotte’s. “Tell her I’ll be there.”
Charlotte had his full and complete attention and it made her heart beat even faster. She understood his reputation as a ladies’ man, now. Just three seconds in his company and she was acting like blithering idiot. She forced a smile to her lips. “I’ll only take a moment of your time.” Her plan was rapidly falling apart but having got this far, she wanted to at least try to get him to recommend her to the HR department. Once she got her foot in the door, she could work out her next move. At least she’d have some income.
He looked her up and down, as if considering her suitability. And then, to her surprise, he nodded.
“Fine, come in.” He looked at his assistant. “And keep the door open.”
He showed her a seat and sat behind the desk. “So, what are you doing this weekend?”
Charlotte wasn’t sure what to say or what on earth he meant. Was he asking her out? But he wasn’t smiling.
His phone rang again. He held a hand up for her to wait and answered. “Right. Give me five minutes and you’ll have my full attention. Stop. Tell me in five minutes. I’ll call you back.”
She felt like she hadn’t actually managed to finish a sentence since she’d met him.
At least it gave her a second to think. She had no plans for the weekend, other than paperwork, but she couldn’t just accept a date like this. Of course she wouldn’t! She couldn’t think of anything worse than being hit on by George Lovett’s son. Other than maybe being hit on by George Lovett himself.
He hung up and turned his attention back to her. “One weekend. Three days. No extras. You can keep your clothes on.”
Charlotte opened and closed her mouth, unable to form any coherent words.
“Well, maybe not those clothes. I’ll throw in a clothes allowance. You’ve got a great figure but for a weekend in Haven, you better keep your curves under wraps. Women who brunch can be vicious if you step out of line. Conservative dresses. No slutty necklines, no mini-skirts.”
He came out from behind her desk. “Stand up.” He looked over her t-shirt and jeans. “You’ve got a good figure, you shouldn’t find it difficult to find something. Think Kate Middleton.”
She flushed under his gaze. Her outfit was certainly not low cut or questionable, but he made her feel as if she were barely dressed. Meanwhile, he pulled out his wallet. “You need three day outfits and then something to change into for dinner. The engagement party is Sunday night. You’ll need a special dress.” His eyes jagged at her neckline again. “Try to avoid anything too slinky.”
She raised her hands to fend him off. “Mr. Lovett!” He might be used to smooth talking his way through anything but she had no idea what he was on about. “What weekend?”
“Oh, didn’t he tell you? This one coming. I apologize for the short notice.”
That wasn’t what she was asking but he wasn’t paying any attention. The man was all business as he peeled off half a dozen bills and handed it to her. All she could see was hundred dollar bills. She started to push the money back.
“That’s separate to your payment. $2,000 for your time, starting Friday afternoon and ending Monday afternoon. Make sure you aren’t working on Monday, I don’t want to have to worry about rushing home.”
He finally paused and seemed to notice the look on her face. “No extras required. I just need you to stay by my side and look at me adoringly. Do you think you can manage that?”
“I don’t think—”
He cut her off. “Are you really going to keep haggling on this? I’m sure it can’t be that difficult to pretend to be my girlfriend for three short days.”
He stepped closer to her. She felt something electric rush between them and stepped back instinctively. “Is it really that terrible to spend a weekend with me?” She looked up at him, her mouth slightly open in surprise. The room felt like it was spinning as she stared into his eyes. They remained like that, frozen in times for a few seconds. Then he cleared his throat and stepped back. She couldn’t deny the jolt of disappointment which spread through her.
The phone rang again, interrupting the awkward silence. She was pretty sure she saw relief on his face as he moved back behind the desk. “I need to deal with this. $4,000 to be my companion for the weekend, take it or leave it. I’m leaving the office at 3 o’clock on Friday. Sharp.” He answered the phone without waiting for her to respond. “Yes, I’m all yours now. Tell me again what Rigsby said.”
She stared at him for a moment. He didn’t seem to notice, focused on his conversation. He was all raw power and grit and determination. She could see how hard it would be to stand in his way. How easy it would be to kiss him. And especially, how easy it was to get steamrolled by him. Half of her wanted to interrupt his phone call right now and stand up to him, tell him what an idiot he was being.
She picked up her coat. He glanced her way as she walked out and cupped the mouthpiece of the phone. “See you Friday.” There was something boyish about his smile. Then he was on the phone and all business again.
Charlotte stumbled out of his office and straight out the door, without saying goodbye to the PA.
She didn’t need to do anything at all, he’d find out what an idiot he was all on his own. Once he spoke to his assistant, he’d find out she wasn’t who he thought she was, and then he’d feel stupid. She hoped the PA wouldn’t get into trouble. It wasn’t her fault Lovett never gave Charlotte a chance to get a word in edgewise.
She wished she could see his face when he realized. At the latest, he would know when Friday afternoon arrived and there was no one waiting for him. Charlotte was certainly not spending the weekend with him. Not a chance.
It was only after she was safely out of the building that she realized she was still clutching his cash in her hand.