Page 40 of The Grand Duel

Fuck. She’s right. I sigh and stand. “Look, I’m sorry, Ed.”

“Don’t be.” Her face softens. “I understand how busy you are at the minute.”

“It’s not that.”

“Well, whatever it is.” She doesn’t finish, giving me a look my mum would likely wear if she were here.

“Could you have Miss Elton leave the files for my meeting at reception, please.”

“No need. She’s accompanying you to take notes. It will allow you to be a little more personable with your clients.”

“I’m personable enough.”

“You’re wonderful,” she agrees. “But I’m not going to be here to try and make sense of your notes forever. Lissie is waiting in the car. It’s out front. Get to know her. She’s lovely.”

“Wait.” I round my desk and follow her as she leaves my office. “She’s not driving me.”

“Correct. The driver’s name is Scott. Came highly recommended by Mr Lowell.”

“Edna, you didn’t.”

She tilts her head and smiles, her tired eyes assessing me. “Humour me. Please? I’ve known you for fifteen years, Charles. I’m not doing this to be difficult.”

For fuck’s sake.

She places a hand on my arm. “You can’t keep going the way that you are. I saw the damage to the front of the Jag.”

“I’m fine, Edna. I promise.” I sigh and walk back to my office to get my jacket and things.

Fantastic. I now have a thirty- to forty-minute drive to my meeting trapped in a car with the woman I not only fucked but tipped five thousand pounds for the pleasure. “Shit,” I mumble to myself.

Why does she even need two jobs?

I’m going to have to fire her.

When I walk back out, Edna’s still standing in the same spot. She’s always there, Ed. Probably cares more about me and my shit than her own.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You seem awfully off today.”

“Thank you for organising the car. I’ll see you at lunch.”

Lissie

I’m in the car for no more than a couple of minutes when the door is pulled open, and Mr Aldridge climbs in.

I’d love to make this journey as awkward for him as he’s made all our encounters so far, but I’m not an idiot and know that the quicker I make the man warm to me, the quicker we can cut the grumpy millionaire act and get along.

That, and the fact he’s gorgeous, and I’m feeling a little disarmed by the man.

I don’t turn to look at him right away, allowing him a moment to get himself situated and comfortable first, and allowing my eyes some respite from that face.

As the car pulls away, I twist in my seat slightly, finding him facing the opposite direction with his pointer finger and thumb holding the bridge of his nose.

I close my eyes briefly, pulling air into my lungs as I put on my big girl pants and pretend I’m not attracted to tall, dark, and handsome.

“Mr Aldridge, I have some paracetamol in my bag if you’d like some?”

He doesn’t look towards me.