Bryce. I understand perfectly.’ Oh yes, she understood. She understood that her luck had run out, just when she was starting to make headway with Phillipa. She hadn’t yet found an opening with a design firm, let alone a position, and he was already kicking her out.
‘I don’t think you do understand, Meg.’ He appeared deflated suddenly, almost sad.
‘Why don’t I make it easy on you? I’ll be gone by the end of the week. That should give you enough time to find a replacement.’
‘No.’ His voice turned harsh as he reached out a hand to stop her from turning away. His touch was hot, his fingers damp on her wrist. ‘I don’t want you to quit.’
Meg’s pulse skyrocketed in a way she hoped he wouldn’t notice. ‘You’d rather I wait until you fire me?’
‘I’m not going to fire you.’ Everything in his expression told her he it was the truth. ‘I was simply trying to say that hiring you was not one of my most carefully considered decisions. But I do believe it was the right decision for my daughter.’
‘But you don’t think I should have an opinion on what might make her happy.’
‘I’m willing to hear your opinions, Meg. As long as you remember that I am Phillipa’s father. As far as she’s concerned, what I say goes. Is that understood?’
For a long time, Meg returned his earnest gaze. He hadn’t relinquished his hold on her arm, as though he still felt the need to prevent her from leaving. The contact burned the sensitive skin of her wrist, made her pulse leap even further beyond her control. Although contact was restricted to that one, fairly innocuous, element, their bodies aligned closely, making Meg more than a little aware of how much she would like to be able to touch Bryce elsewhere.
The knowledge hit her like a sledgehammer. She didn’t merely appreciate Bryce’s attributes in an objective any-woman-would-take-a-second-look kind of way. She had developed a full-blown attraction to him — more than an attraction. The feeling that coursed through her was desire, hot and tingly.
And unrequited.
Oh, wasn’t she pitiable? The poor, lowly nanny lusting after her handsome, beyond-reach boss? She should take this opportunity to insist on handing in her resignation. But she couldn’t afford to leave until another job came up. She was simply going to have to harness her emotions and get on with things for now.
With a nod Meg replied, ‘Understood.’ She prayed her hormones got the message as well.
***
‘Carlton, I asked if you had any cause to see things differently than the rest of the board.’
Stanley Donaldson’s peevish tone snagged Bryce’s attention when his monotone report on the proposed changes to the organisation’s structure had not. Not that he had needed to listen. Bryce had read all the documentation necessary to make his own report, and had his own opinion about what should be done to improve DCA’s share price.
Still, it wasn’t like him to take a mental holiday during a meeting of the board of directors, even given their tendency to be overlong and not nearly as productive as he wished. At least, it hadn’t been like him until he had made the rash decision to hire Meg Lacy. Ever since, daydreaming about her had become his new hobby.
Forcing his attention to the business at hand, Bryce eyed the older man levelly. ‘I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear I do see things differently, Stanley. You’re already well aware of my opinion on the subject of cutting staff in our branches and focussing more on online customer service. I think it’s a mistake, and that the staff that have been loyal to DCA despite the recent merger and several management overhauls deserve better.’
A chorus of wearied murmurs broke out amid the sound of gold-plated pens being tossed on the lacquered boardroom table. Bryce remained composed in his leather chair and waited for the ruckus to die down, knowing he would spend the next hour or more trying to convince the
‘I don’t think you do understand, Meg.’ He appeared deflated suddenly, almost sad.
‘Why don’t I make it easy on you? I’ll be gone by the end of the week. That should give you enough time to find a replacement.’
‘No.’ His voice turned harsh as he reached out a hand to stop her from turning away. His touch was hot, his fingers damp on her wrist. ‘I don’t want you to quit.’
Meg’s pulse skyrocketed in a way she hoped he wouldn’t notice. ‘You’d rather I wait until you fire me?’
‘I’m not going to fire you.’ Everything in his expression told her he it was the truth. ‘I was simply trying to say that hiring you was not one of my most carefully considered decisions. But I do believe it was the right decision for my daughter.’
‘But you don’t think I should have an opinion on what might make her happy.’
‘I’m willing to hear your opinions, Meg. As long as you remember that I am Phillipa’s father. As far as she’s concerned, what I say goes. Is that understood?’
For a long time, Meg returned his earnest gaze. He hadn’t relinquished his hold on her arm, as though he still felt the need to prevent her from leaving. The contact burned the sensitive skin of her wrist, made her pulse leap even further beyond her control. Although contact was restricted to that one, fairly innocuous, element, their bodies aligned closely, making Meg more than a little aware of how much she would like to be able to touch Bryce elsewhere.
The knowledge hit her like a sledgehammer. She didn’t merely appreciate Bryce’s attributes in an objective any-woman-would-take-a-second-look kind of way. She had developed a full-blown attraction to him — more than an attraction. The feeling that coursed through her was desire, hot and tingly.
And unrequited.
Oh, wasn’t she pitiable? The poor, lowly nanny lusting after her handsome, beyond-reach boss? She should take this opportunity to insist on handing in her resignation. But she couldn’t afford to leave until another job came up. She was simply going to have to harness her emotions and get on with things for now.
With a nod Meg replied, ‘Understood.’ She prayed her hormones got the message as well.
***
‘Carlton, I asked if you had any cause to see things differently than the rest of the board.’
Stanley Donaldson’s peevish tone snagged Bryce’s attention when his monotone report on the proposed changes to the organisation’s structure had not. Not that he had needed to listen. Bryce had read all the documentation necessary to make his own report, and had his own opinion about what should be done to improve DCA’s share price.
Still, it wasn’t like him to take a mental holiday during a meeting of the board of directors, even given their tendency to be overlong and not nearly as productive as he wished. At least, it hadn’t been like him until he had made the rash decision to hire Meg Lacy. Ever since, daydreaming about her had become his new hobby.
Forcing his attention to the business at hand, Bryce eyed the older man levelly. ‘I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear I do see things differently, Stanley. You’re already well aware of my opinion on the subject of cutting staff in our branches and focussing more on online customer service. I think it’s a mistake, and that the staff that have been loyal to DCA despite the recent merger and several management overhauls deserve better.’
A chorus of wearied murmurs broke out amid the sound of gold-plated pens being tossed on the lacquered boardroom table. Bryce remained composed in his leather chair and waited for the ruckus to die down, knowing he would spend the next hour or more trying to convince the
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