Page 3 of Draco's Defiance
“I’ll send the files down now.” Triumph surged through Moira’s veins as she realized she’d finally reached the end of the document. Everything was in order for Monroe junior’s review.
“Er, actually, he wants to come up to your office and sign them now.”
Suzy sounded unsure for good reason. Come to Moira’s office? Jeffries had made sure to give her the smallest and darkest room in the entire tower. It wasn’t designed for clients.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Moira’s heart sped up as she looked at the numerous outstanding and messy piles of work that still required attention. “Send him to the conference room. He can sign there.”
Jeffries had inferred the client would take the contract away to review, but if he wanted to sign there and then, that was all the better as far as she was concerned. Perhaps it would get Jeffries off of her back until she could find a role where she was more valued?
“Okay.” Suzy’s tone suggested she might be about to argue, so seizing the initiative, Moira concluded the call.
“Thanks, Suzy.”
She placed down the receiver as she pulled an official Jeffries & Co. folder from her drawer. Shuffling the contract into a neat pile, she slid the papers inside the folder before rising to her feet. Her body ached as she stretched her neck and reached for the small mirror she kept in her top drawer. Opening the case, Moira flinched at her own drawn reflection. Two hours of being hunched over a desk without so much as a sip of water had taken its toll on her appearance. She was definitely going out for some fresh air once the contract had been handed over.
“Right.” Pulling on her suit jacket, she fastened the top button and grabbed for her purse and the folder. Whoever Monroe’s son was, she’d be happy to see the back of his damn contract. “Let’s get this over with.”
Striding for the door, she ensured it was closed behind her before making her way downstairs to the conference room. Entering through the emergency stairwell door, she clutched the folder to her chest as her destination came into sight at the end of the corridor.
Just another few minutes, she consoled herself. Smile for the paying client, and then I can get the hell out of here. I’m bloody starving!
Relieved at the thought of food, she barely noticed the tall, dark-haired guy as he emerged from the opening elevator. She certainly wasn’t paying attention as he loomed large in her path, and scarcely detected his smirk as he folded his arms across his chest.
“I think those are for me.” His voice stopped her dead in her tracks.
“Mr. Monroe?” Flustered, she glanced up at him, recalling that she vaguely recognized him from somewhere, though she couldn’t decide where.
“That’s right.” His arms fell to his sides. “You must be Moira.”
“Right.” Feigning a smile, she thrust her palm out in his direction, which he accepted. “I’m sorry. I was expecting to meet you in the conference room.”
“On my way there now.” Gesturing behind her, his hand jabbed lightly at the folder in her grasp. “Unless you want to do it right here in the hall?”
His arching eyebrow and glib tone suggested that he thought he was being funny; the assumption twisting the irritation churning in her stomach.
Men like him were part of the problem. Sure, he wasn’t old enough to have created the misogyny she’d had to deal with at every turn of her career. Looking at him, she wouldn’t have put him older than thirty. She might have expected better from a man around her own age, but no—there he was in his expensive suit, perpetuating every stereotype she’d come to expect from the men around her. Monroe, junior, as it turned out, was even worse than the likes of Jeffries.
“Let’s use the conference room, shall we?” She turned before he could answer, guiding him the short distance to their desired location.
“Of course.” Monroe still sounded cocky as he followed her, but she shrugged off his conceited tone. She had work to do, and that meant presenting the paperwork for his signature. After that, she was overdue for an extended lunch break.
“Here we are, sir.” Opening the file, she slid the papers across the table toward the place he was standing. “Please feel free to take a seat.”
“I’d rather not.” Clutching the papers, his gaze flew over the first few pages. “I’d like to get this signed and expedited today.”
“It’s your prerogative, Mr. Monroe.”
Settling on a nearby chair, she watched as he consumed the wording far faster than was recommended. Ideally, he should take the file away and ensure it was sound, or at least go through it thoroughly, but he’d already implied that neither of those things were going to happen.
That was his right, she supposed, biting down on her rising smile. Who was she to tell him not to sign the contract without reading it properly? After all, Jeffries technically represented his father’s needs, not those of the man flicking through papers before her.
“It all seems fine.” Agitated, he dropped the papers to the table and turned to the final page before glancing up at her. “Do you have a pen?”
Meeting his eyes, she was struck by how appealing his dark looks might have been if he hadn’t come across as being such an overinflated jerk.
“Sure.” Unfastening her jacket button, she reached for the pen she kept in her inside pocket. Passing it to him, she noticed how well-manicured his hands were. “Here we are.”
“Thank you.” His gaze fell to the line that required his signature. “I just sign and date here, do I?”