72473948 kerry allyne legally bound

7/30/2019 72473948 Kerry Allyne Legally Bound

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L EG A L L Y B O U N D - k e rr y a l ly n e

F iv e yea rs ag o Jenna ha d w a lked ou t o f t he to u gh La ne Fo r rest e r 's l if e fo r

eve r o r so she t hou gh t ! A f te r

t h e r e m o r se le ss t r e a t m e n t h e h a d su b je cte d h e r t o a f t e r t h e t r a g e d y w h i ch

ha d f i na l ly dest royed t he i r

m a r r ia ge , w hy w a s he so a d a m a n t i n h i s re fusa l to a l low a d i vo rce? Esp ecia l ly

w it h t h e b ea u t if u l

Rosa l ind Corne l l w a i t i ng in t he w ings, r ead y t o b ecom e th e nex t M rs Fo r rest e r !

CH A P T ER O N E

`H i ! H ow d id you r ho l i da ys go?' enq u i red F reda Sew e l l, t he ch ie f secre ta ry a t

Hodgson Industr ies, of

Je n n a B o w m a n o n h e r f ir st d a y b a c k a t w o r k .

L o o k in g t a n n e d a n d r e la x e d , h er lig h t b r o w n , sh o u ld e r l en g th h a i r e v e n m o r e

sun -s t reaked than usua l ,

Je n n a g a v e a m o ck r u e fu l sm i le . A l l t o o q u i ck ly , I'm a f r a i d , a l t h o u g h t h e y

w e re ce r t a in l y e n jo y a b le . N o t

t h a t I re a l ly w e n t a n y w h e r e in p a r t i cu l a r , a p a r t f r o m a w e ek 's v i sit w it h M u m

a n d D a d u p i n t he

m o u n t a in s. T h e re st o f t h e t i m e I m a i n l y sp e n t l a z in g a r o u n d o n t h e b e a c h

e v e ry d a y .'

`So I ga th e red ,' F reda lau ghed , cast ing t he yo un ger g i r l's d a rk ly g o lden sk in a

w ry l y env ious look . H e ro w n p a l e r t h a n p a l e sk i n t o n e s m a d e t h e b e a c h v i rt u a l ly t a b o o w h e r e sh e

w a s con cerned . `B u t I 'm su re

g lad to see you b ack , a nd look ing so f i t a nd re f reshed , becau se w e 've b een up

to o u r ea r s i n p a p e rw o r k

t h is la st cou p le of w eek s, ' she p a u sed , her exp ression b ecom ing sp ecula t ive; ` I

su p p ose Ken t 's a l read y

to l d y o u t h e r e 's a t a k e - o v e r o f t h e f i r m i n t h e p ip e li n e?'


3/202

Ken t Sha rm a n w a s th e H od gson ' s sa les rep resen t a t i ve w hom Jenna ha d b een

d a t ing fo r t he last six

m on t hs. Yes, a s a m a t te r o f fac t he d id te l l m e the re w ere st ron g ru m ou rs t o

th a t e f f e ct f l y in g a r o u n d

ju st a f t er t h e f irst w eek o f m y h o l id a y s,' sh e n o d d ed a s sh e rem o v ed t h e co v er

f r om h e r t y p e w r it e r . H e r

sm ok y grey eyes rose to t he o t her g i r l 's p leasa nt ly rou nd ed fa ce in t e rest ed ly ,

`So i t 's d ef in i te no w , is i t? '

`A s fa r a s I ca n t e l l ,' F reda a d v ised , shru gg ing . `Every t h ing 's st i ll v ery h u sh-

h u sh , a n d o l d m a n H o d g so n

is d e f in i te ly p lay ing i t p re t t y c lose to h is chest , b u t M r M or r is,' she na m ed t he

W o rk s M a n a g e r w h o w a s

a lso he r boss, `w a s d rop p ing h in t s t he o th e r da y t ha t h e m igh t be re t i r ing a

fe w m o n t h s e a r l ie r t h a n h e

p la n n e d b e ca u se h e w a s t o o o ld a d o g t o b e le a r n i n g n e w t r i ck s a t su ch a l a t e

st ag e . Bu t th a t ' s a s m uch a s

I'v e b e e n a b le t o g e t o u t o f h i m .'

W h ich w a s un u su a l enou gh in i t se lf , Jenna m u sed . Und er no rm a l

ci r cu m st an ces, Tom M or r i s k ep t no

bu siness in fo rm a t ion w ha tsoeve r f r om h is ex t rem e ly t r ust w or t hy secre ta ry .

` N o t e v en t h e n a m e o f t h e

f i rm th a t 's i n te rest ed in t ak ing u s ov e r?' she p robed .

Freda sho ok her hea d . `N ot so m u ch a s a w h isp er ,' she re layed in ob v iou slyd isap p o in t ed t ones.

` A lt h o u g h f r o m w o r d s p ick e d u p h e r e a n d t h e r e I'v e g o t m y o w n su sp i cio n s

t h a t i t co u l d b e q u i t e a l a r g e

conce rn , an d t ha t be ing t he case , I gu ess i t cou ld a l so m ean a p rom ot ion fo r

yo u r b oss, esp ecia l ly i f M r

M orr is d oes ret i re.'


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A p o sit io n Je n n a d id n o t d o u b t Ia n L e o n a r d w a s f u l ly q u a l if i ed t o f il l, b u t , a t

t he sa m e t im e. .. Ù nless,

o f cou rse , i f th is f i rm is a s b ig a s yo u su sp ect , they d ecide t o rep lace M r M or r is

w it h o n e o f t h eir o w n

st a f f inst ea d . O r even o t hers p resent ly em p loyed here a s w e l l, i f it com es t o

t ha t ,' she su rm ised w i th t he

beg inn ing s o f a f r ow n m ar r ing he r fo rehea d . W i th j obs so d i f f i cu l t to com e by

t hese da ys, now w a s not

an a usp icious t im e to sud d en ly f i nd on ese l f ou t o f w o rk . A f te r a l l,' she

co n t i n u e d i n a t h o u g h t f u l v e in ,

à s every one k no w s, i t ' s b een som et h ing o f a st ru gg le fo r H od gson 's t o k eep

go in g t h is last cou p le o f

yea rs, so I su p p ose it w ou ld b e qu i te w i th in th e rea lm s o f p ossib i l it y fo r t hem

t o w a n t t o r ep l a ce a n d o r ,

a t l ea st r ed u ce som e o f th e st a f f h e re in o rd e r to ge t th e com p a ny ' s f i na nces

h e a d i n g i n t h e r i g h t d ir e ct io n

a g a in , w o u ld n 't it ?'

`M m , you cou ld ha ve a p o in t , ' F reda conceded slow ly , r e luc ta n t l y . Then

g r i m a c e d . W it h m in e t h e f i r st

p osi t ion on t he l ine I exp ect , on ce M r M or r is ha s gon e.'

Ò h, I shou ldn 't t h ink so , ' Jenn a w a s q u ick t o rea ssu re her . `You 'v e b een here

th e l o n g e st , a n d y o u k n o w

every o f f i ce p rocedu re b ack w ard s. Besides, if Ian do es b ecom e W ork sM a n a g e r y o u 'l l u n d o u b t e d l y b e

h is secre ta ry - w h ich m ea ns, o f cou rse . . .' she u t t e red a ra t her h o l low ha l f

la u g h , ` t h a t I 'm m o r e lik e ly t o

b e th e one considered su p er f luo u s t o t he orga n isa t ion ... no t yo u .'

F r ed a 's f a i r b r o w s d r e w t o g e th e r sh a r p l y , ` Bu t t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o a p p o in t

an o t he r P ro jects M a na ger in

Ian 's p lace , su re ly . I m ea n, w e 've a lw a ys ha d one. '


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` M a y b e .' Je n n a ' s so f t m o u t h c u r v e d w r y l y . A n d m a y b e w h o e v e r 's b i d d i n g f o r

t h e co m p a n y h a s o n e o f

t he i r ow n t oo ... com p lete w i th secre ta ry a l read y .'

`W e ll, even i f tha t w as t he ca se , I can 't im ag ine them le t t i ng y ou go . You 're

t o o g o o d a t y o u r w o r k , '

dec la red F red a , b r i sk l y encou rag ing . ` In a ny even t , it 's a l l sup p osi t i on a t t h i s

sta g e , a n y w a y . F o r a l l w e

k n o w th e t a k e o v e r m a y n e v e r e v e n tu a t e , a n d w e 'l l h a v e h a d t h is d e p r e ssin g

conv e rsa t ion fo r n o t h ing .'

F o r t h e sa k e o f h e r o w n p e a ce o f m i n d Je n n a w a s i n cl in e d t o a g r e e , a n d a s

t he o f f i ce g ra du a l ly f i l led

w it h h e r f e llo w w o r k e r s a n d sh e w a s ca l le d u p o n t o a n sw e r m o r e e n q u ir ie s

rega rd ing he r va ca t ion , she

m a d e a

co n ce r t e d e f f o r t t o d ism iss- t h e w o r r y in g m a t t e r f r o m h e r t h o u g h t s.

N eve r the less, th e m om en t t he fa t he r l y f igu re o f her boss ap p eared , an d he

sho r t l y th e rea f t e r ca l led he r

in to h i s o f f i ce fo r som e d ict a t i on , th e sub ject p rom p t ly resu r fa ced a ga in ; an d

she to ok th e sea t on t he

o p p o sit e sid e o f t h e le a t h e r - t o p p e d d e sk i n a so m e w h a t p r eo ccu p ie d m a n n e r .

` I hope t ha t l ook on y ou r face isn ' t a re f lect ion o f you r fee li ngs a t b e ing ba ck

w o r k i n g fo r m e a g a i n ,' Ia n

L e o n a r d i n t e r ru p te d h e r re v e r ie o n a jo k in g n o t e .`W ha t? O h , no , o f cou rse no t ,' she den ied , r ecov e r ing an d g i v ing h im a w ide

sm i le . In t ru t h , and a s he

w a s w e ll a w a r e , sh e h a d t h o r o u g h l y en j o y e d w o r k in g f o r h i m f o r t h e p a st

t h ree year s. H ow cou ld she no t

h a v e d o n e w h e n h e w a s p r o b a b l y t h e m o st co n sid e r a t e a n d e v e n t em p e r e d

m a n f o r w h o m sh e h a d e v e r

w o r k e d ?


6/202

` T h en w h a t i s t h e t r o u b le ? Yo u a n d K e n t h a d a f e w h a st y w o r d s?' h e

h a z a r d e d b a n t e rin g l y , k n o w i ng o f

h e r r e la t io n sh i p w it h t h e y o u n g e r m a n .

` N o , n o t h in g l ik e t h a t , ' Je n n a sh o o k h e r h e a d a n d sm i le d a g a i n . O n ly t h e

u p w a r d cu r v e o f h e r lip s w a s

n o t q u it e so p r o n o u n ce d t h i s t im e , n o r d i d it r e m a in i n p la c e q u it e so l o n g a s

she u n con sciou sly b ega n

chew ing a t he r l ow er l ip . I t 's j ust t h i s p rop osed a cqu isi t i on o f th e f i rm t ha t

F r ed a w a s t e l li n g m e a b o u t

ea r l i er . W il l i t r ea l ly ha p p en , do you t h ink , Ian ?' H e r th i ck l y l ashed eyes sou gh t

his a nx iou sly .

Ò h, yes, i t ' s a g oer a l l r igh t ,' he conf i rm ed . Lea n ing f o rw a rd sl igh t ly , h is

fo rea rm s rest ing on t he d esk

t op , he p ee red a t h e r close ly : À l thou gh I can 't see wh y t ha t shou ld ha ve

ca u se d y o u a n y w o r r y .'

`W el l, i t 's no t u ncom m on fo r job s t o b e lost in su ch ci rcu m st a nces, is i t? ' She

sh rugged d i f f i den t l y .

À nd you t h ink y ou rs m igh t be one o f t hem ?' H is exp ression w as one o f to t a l

surprise.

Je n n a m a d e a v a g u e m o v e m e n t w it h h e r h a n d s, ` I w e l l- i t ' s a d ist in ct

possibi l i ty, isn' t i t , i f you should

b e co m e W o r k s M a n a g e r w h e n M r M o r r is r e t ir e s? Yo u w o n 't n e e d t w o

secre t a r ies, a nd i f t h is f i rm t ha t 'st ak ing ove r do esn 't choose to a p p o in t som eone to rep lace you , th a t cou ld so r t

o f m a k e m e so m e w h a t

r e d u n d a n t , ' sh e p a r t l y la u g h e d , p a r t ly g r i m a ce d .

` Ex ce p t t h a t n o m a t t e r w h o t h e n e xt W o r k s M a n a g e r 's se cr e ta r y m i g h t b e , if

an y hea d s a re go ing to ro l l I

ca n t h i n k o f q u it e a n u m b e r t h a t w i ll d o so b e fo r e eit h e r y o u r s o r F re d a 's

d oes, be l iev e m e! ' he a d v ised in


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i ron ic a ccent s. ` In a ny case, a com p a ny a s p rog ressive a nd su ccessfu l a s

Forrester Electronics d idn ' t get

w here i t i s to da y b y d i sp osing o f t he i r m ost p ro f i cien t sta f f . They p re fer t o

e xp a n d i n o rd e r t o m a k e fu l l

use o f t hem .'

There w a s on ly a second or t w o fo r Jenn a t o a p p recia t e h is f i r st rea ssu r ing

rem ark be fo re h i s second h i t

h e r lik e a t h u n d e r b o lt a n d e v e r y scr a p o f co l o u r d r a i n ed f r o m h e r f a ce . 'W h -

w ho d id y ou sa y?' she ju st

m a n a g e d t o f o r ce o u t in a co n st r i ct e d v o i ce .

'Fo r rest e r E lect ron ics,' Ia n rep ea t ed o b l ig ing ly . You m u st ha v e hea rd o f t hem .

They ' re one o f t he la rg est

d ist r ibu t ors o f e lect ron ic com p on ent s a long t he east coa st !'

Je n n a n o d d e d w e a k ly , t h a n k fu l t h a t t h e su n , st r e a m in g so b r il lia n t ly t h r o u g h

t he o f f ice w indo w b eside

her , w a s a t least p a r t ia l ly sha d ing her fa ce as she st rov e f ran t ica l ly t o rega in

som e com p osu re . A nd

t ha t 's w ho w i ll be - w i ll be ou r hea d com p a ny , is i t?' She st i ll cou ld no t

a l t o g e t h e r k e e p h e r v o i ce f r o m

shak ing .

'M m m , t h a t ' s r ig h t ,' ca m e t h e c a su a l v e r i f ica t io n t h a t h a d t h e c h u r n i n g f e el in g

in her st om a ch inc reasing .

`Eve ry th ing 's been k ep t un de r v e ry close w rap s un t i l now , bu t as t he la st o ft he do cu m en t s w ere f ina l ised

a n d d u ly sig n e d la st n i g h t I d o n 't su p p o se i t w i ll m a t t e r y o u k n o w i n g . It w i ll

p r o b a b ly b e co m m o n

k n o w le d g e in a d a y o r t w o a n y w a y . ' H a l t i n g , h e se n t h e r a co m fo r t i n g sm i le .

`So a s I sa id , w i th a f i rm

l ik e t h a t I v e r y m u ch d o u b t y o u n e e d h a v e a n y f e a r s a b o u t l o sin g y o u r

posi t ion. '


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O h, God , if he on ly k new ! she d esp a i red , even a s she m ad e a sup rem e e f fo r t

t o a p p e a r a t l ea st o u t w a r d l y

ch e er e d b y h i s w o r d s. If sh e h a d t h o u g h t h e r jo b m a y h a v e b e e n i n je o p a r d y

be fo re , i t w a s no t h ing

co m p a r ed t o t h e d a n g e r sh e k n e w it t o b e in n o w !

N o t t h a t sh e h a d e v e r t o l d a n y o n e in t h e o f f ice , a p a r t f r o m Ke n t , b u t sh e h a d

b e e n m a r r ie d a t e ig h t e e n a n d

to n o n e o t h e r t h a n L a n e F o r r este r , t h e o w n e r , t h e b r a i n s, a n d t h e d r iv i n g

force beh ind For rest er

Elect ron ics. W a s st i l l m a r r ied t o h im , in f a c t ! she reca l led a lm ost hyst er ica l ly ,

desp i te the i r hav ing been

sepa ra t ed fo r the last f i ve yea rs- a lt hou gh t ha t p iece o f i n fo rm a t ion , as w e ll a s

her hu sb a nd 's na m e, she

h a d n o t se e n f it t o d i v u lg e , e v e n t o Ke n t . Bu t t h e ir p a r t i n g h a d n o t b e en a n

a m i ca b le o n e, q u it e t h e

o p p o sit e r e a l ly ; t h e m e m o r y r etu r n e d t o h a u n t h e r , a n d f o r t h a t r e a so n a lo n e ,

i f for no ot her , she su rm ised

t h a t t h e d a y L a n e d i sco v e r ed h e r n a m e o n h i s p a y r o ll w o u ld u n d o u b t e d l y b e

h e r la st w it h t h e co m p a n y .

W it h e v en m o r e d i st u r b in g t h o u g h t s t o o ccu p y h e r m in d n o w t h a n w h e n sh e

ha d f i r st en te red t he o f f i ce ,

h o w sh e m a n a g e d t o t a k e d o w n Ia n 's d i ct a t i o n t h a t m o r n in g Je n n a n e v e r

k new ! A l thou gh , since he rsh o r t h a n d w a s t h e r e su lt o f a n a u t o m a t ic a c t i o n ra t h e r t h a n a n a t t e n t i v e o n e ,

she rea l l y w a s no t a t a l l

su rp r ised w hen she exper ienced som e d i f f i cu l ty in t ra nscr ib ing her no t es la t e r .

A n o c cu r r en ce t h a t h a d h e r w o n d e r in g i f sh e w o u l d n o t b e b e t t e r d isp o se d t o

r e sig n i m m e d i a t e ly r a t h e r

t h a n w a i t m e ek ly f o r t h e w o r st t o e v e n t u a t e , b u t a s it w a s su ch a h a p p y

o f f i ce and eve ryone w ork ed in so


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w e ll t o g e th e r - n o t w it h sta n d in g h a v i n g a b so l u te l y n o id e a h o w sh e co u l d

p ossib ly exp la in su ch a

p recip i ta t e ac t ion sa t i sfa cto r i ly t o K en t w i thou t d i sclosing th e t r u th -she f i na l ly

d ism issed t he id ea . A f t e r

a l l , w hy shou ld she b e fo r ced in to l ea v ing? She l ik ed i t he re , an d su re ly i t w as

d o u b t f u l if L a n e h i m se lf

w o u l d b e co n d u c t i n g t h e t a k e - o v e r ? H i s f i rm w a s ce r t a in l y la r g e e n o u g h n o w

f o r hi m t o h a v e o t h e r s

d o i n g t h a t k i nd o f w o r k f o r h i m ; a n d e v e n if h e d id t a k e a h a n d i t w a s st i ll

h i gh ly im p r o b a b le t h a t h e

w ou ld show a ny in t e rest in h is new ly acqu i red , b u t low ly , secre t a r ies, w a sn ' t i t?

Du r ing th e next t w o w eek s va r ious m em b ers o f th e Fo r reste r o rga n isa t ion

m a de v i si t s t o t he H od gson

o f f ice a n d m a n u f a ct u r in g p la n t , b u t a s L a n e w a sn 't a m o n g t h e m Je n n a

g r a d u a l ly f e lt a b le t o r e la x o n c e

m o r e , a n d b e p l ea se d t h a t sh e h a d n o t a l l o w e d h e r se lf t o b e sta m p e d e d in t o

res igning.

` I t 's n i ce to see you b ack t o no rm a l ag a in ,' even K en t com m ent ed a s he sa w

h e r t o t h e d o o r o f h e r sm a l l

f l a t in B u rw ood , one o f Syd ney ' s w est e rn su bu rb s, a f t e r an ev en ing a t t he ci t y ' s

n e w En t e r t a i n m e n t

Cen t re . You seem to ha ve b een ve ry d i sta n t an d p reoccup ied since ret u rn ing

f rom ho l ida ys.'`H av e I?' she coun te red l igh t l y , p re tend ing n o t to ha ve rea l ised . ` I'm so r r y , I

d i d n 't m e a n t o b e .' O p e n in g

h e r f ro n t d o o r , sh e w e n t o n q u i ck ly . ` H o w a b o u t a c u p o f co f f e e b e fo r e y o u

go?'

H e gav e a sl igh t sha k e o f h i s fa i r head . N o , I'd be t te r no t , t ha nk s a l l t he

sa m e. I t 's la t e a nd I 'v e st i l l go t


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t o ge t t h rou gh a l l th a t ci t y t r a f f i c aga in to reach m y p lace. Besides,' h is vo ice

th i ck e n e d a s h e ca u g h t h e r

t o h im p ossessive ly , i t 's ha rd enou gh say ing go od n igh t to you he re , w i thou t

do ing it i n sigh t o f you r

b e d r o o m !' W it h a g r o a n h e lo w e r ed h i s m o u t h t o h e r s, h i s b r ea t h i n g b e co m in g

increa sing ly hea v y a s she

resp ond ed . `Fo r God ' s sak e , Jenna , w hy w on ' t yo u m a r ry m e?' he p lea ded

ho a rsely a ga inst her soft l ips.

` Y o u k n o w h o w I f ee l a b o u t y o u , h o w m u ch I w a n t y o u !'

Easing a w ay f rom h im as fa r as h i s a rm s w ou ld p e rm i t , Jenna d i scom f i ted ly

a v e r t e d h e r g a ze , A n d y o u

k n o w h o w I f e el a b o u t m a r r ia g e ,' sh e m u r m u r e d i n d e p r e ca t i n g t o n e s. I'm

so r r y , Ken t , bu t once w as

enough . '

` B u t y o u w e re on l y e ig h t e e n t h en ! H a r d l y o ld e n o u g h t o k n o w w h a t m a r r ia g e

en ta i led ! ' he de fend ed

e a r n e st ly . Yo u ' r e tw e n t y - f iv e n o w , t h o u g h , a n d it ' s a w h o l e n e w b a l l g a m e .

Ju st b eca u se yo u r f irst

m a r r ia g e w e n t o n t h e r o ck s, d o e sn 't m e a n o u r s w o u l d t o o .'

` I k no w ,' she sighed m isera b ly a s fee l ings o f gu i lt sw a m p ed h er . She rea l ly

sh o u l d h a v e t o l d h i m t h e

w ho le t r u th a t th e beg inn ing o f t he ir r e la t i onsh ip , she sup p osed , bu t ev en .

a f t e r so m an y yea rs t hee m o t io n s e v o k e d b y ju st t a l k in g a b o u t h e r m a r r i a g e w e r e so p o w e r fu l, a n d so

distressing, that she could

st i ll on l y t ou ch on th e sub ject i n th e b r iefest p ossib le m a nner . A t th e t im e i t

ha d just n eve r occu r red t o

he r tha t h e r assoc ia t i on w i th Ken t w ou ld last so long . Ce rt a in l y non e o f the

f ew o t h e r m e n sh e h a d d a t e d


11/202

since lea v ing L a ne ha d su cceeded in see ing he r m ore t ha n a cou p le o f t im es.

She sighe d a ga in, sm i l ing

ha l f - a p o loge t i ca l ly , ` It ' s j ust t ha t I d on ' t r ea l l y fee l I 'm read y t o t r y a ga in ye t .'

` O r y o u d o n 't lo v e m e en o u g h t o w a n t t o ?' h e d e d u c ed o n a d i sa p p o in t e d

n o t e .

These da ys Jenn a w a s not su re she eve n k new w ha t love w a s. She ha d

be l ieved she d id once , bu t now ...

Sh e l ik e d Ke n t , lik e d h i m a lo t , b u t a s sh e k n e w o n l y t o o w e ll, t h a t w a s a f a r

cr y f r o m a c tu a l ly l o v i n g

som eone . `Le t ' s j ust say I'm w ary o f eve r a ga in com m i t t i ng m yse l f to t a l ly , ' she

co m p r o m i se d .

`O h, Jen ... Jen ! ' H e shoo k h is hea d d esp a i r ing ly . `Yo u m a k e it t ou gh o n a gu y ,

you rea l ly d o . Bu t I 'm

no t g i v ing u p .' H is vo ice st reng t hened reso lu t e ly . ` I' ll ha ve y ou ag ree ing w i th

m e ye t , yo u see if I do n ' t . '

`Pe rha p s you w i ll , a t t ha t ,' she sm i led encou ra g ing ly . It w ou ld de f in i te l y m ak e

t h ing s ea sier if he cou ld .

Then she w ou ld ha ve no rese rva t ions a t a l l ab ou t t e ll ing h im she w a s on ly

se p a r a t e d , a n d n o t d i v o r ce d a s

h e b e l ie v e d - a n d w o u ld f i n a l ly p r o v i d e h e r w i t h a st r o n g e n o u g h r e a so n t o

su b ject herse l f t o t he

so m e t i m e s t u r b u le n t , b u t a l w a y s co st ly , p r o ce d u r e t h a t w o u ld e l im i n a te t h e

la st t i e t h a t k e p t h e r le g a l lyb o u n d t o L a n e.

`W el l, I su re hop e it 's soo n. I d on 't t h ink I ca n w a i t m u ch lon ger , ' Kent d ecla red

o n a r o u g h e n in g n o t e a s

he t h read ed h is f i nge rs w i th in t he su n - b r igh t ened st ra nd s o f he r h a ir . You 're

v e ry t e m p t in g , y o u k n o w ,

a n d a t m o m e n ts l ik e t h i s a l l I ca n t h i n k a b o u t is m a k i n g lo v e t o y o u ,' h e

p a u sed , h is eyes ho ld ing h ers


12/202

ha l f p lead ing , ha l f jok ing . ` I d on ' t su p p ose you 'd conside r m ov ing in w i th m e

w h i le y o u 'r e m a k in g u p

y o u r m in d ?'

W it h a w r y cu r v e ca t ch i n g a t h e r m o u t h , Je n n a g a v e a n e g a t iv e sh a k e o f h e r

h e a d . ` Y o u a lr e a d y k n o w

m y a n sw e r t o t h a t .'

`Yeah , I k now .' H e exp e lled a hea v i l y resigned b rea t h . `Tha t ' s p roba b ly one o f

t he reasons w hy I w a n t

you so m uch . I k now you 're no t t he ty p e tha t sleeps a rou nd . St i l l, i t w a s w or t h

an o t he r t r y ,' he sm i led

cr o o k e d l y , a n d p l a n te d a l in g e r in g k iss t o h e r p a r t e d l ip s. In t h e m e a n t i m e ,

t h o u g h , it ' s n o t g e t t in g a n y

e a r l ie r , a n d I g u e ss it w o u l d n 't d o t o b e l a t e f o r w o r k t h e f i r st d a y u n d e r t h e

new reg im e, so I expec t I 'd

best b e on m y w a y .' Re leasing he r re lu ct a n t l y , he too k a step t ow ard s t he

st a ir s l ea d ing dow n to t he

bu i ld ing ' s en t ra nce.

` T h a t ' s r i g h t , t o m o r r o w 's t h e b ig d a y w h e n w e o f f icia l ly b e co m e e m p lo y e e s o f

Forrester Electronics, isn't

i t ?' She cou ld no t k eep a t inge o f sa rdo n ic asce rb i t y ou t o f he r v o ice , a l thou gh

t h a n k f u l ly K e n t d i d n o t

a p p e a r t o n o t i ce it .

` Su r e is,' h e n o d d e d . ` A n d I m u st a d m it t h a t I , f o r o n e , a m lo o k i n g f o r w a r d t oi t . I w a s sp eak ing to t he i r

Sa l e s M a n a g e r w h e n h e ca m e to i n sp e ct o u r se t - u p la st w e ek , a n d f r o m w h a t

h e h a d t o sa y I t h in k it ' s

g o i n g t o b e a p le a su r e w o r k i n g f o r su c h a g o - a h e a d co m p a n y . T h er e 's

ce r t a i n l y n o v a c ill a t in g a m o n g

t he i r execu t ives a s t o w h ich lines w i l l b e se l le rs a nd w h ich w on 't . N ot l ik e th ere

u se d t o b e w it h o ld m a n


13/202

Hodgson . '

W h y w o u l d t h e r e b e w it h L a n e F o rr e ste r a t t h e h e lm ? g r i m a ce d Je n n a t a r t ly .

A s she k new f rom

exper ience, he exud ed a dy na m ic con f idence th a t w as d i f f icu l t t o resi st , an d

w h e n co u p le d w it h a f a r sig h t e d

an d a stu te i n t e l li gence , i t m a de fo r a n ex t rem e ly su ccessfu l com b ina t ion in the

b u siness w o r ld .

A lo u d , a n d d e sp it e h a v i n g t h o u g h t o f t h e i r m a n a g i n g d i re cto r a s so m e th i n g

o f a d od d ere r herse lf on a

nu m b er o f occa sions, she st i l l fe l t b ou nd t o p ro t est , `Tha t 's no t fa i r ! A f t e r a l l,

M r H od gson is p u sh ing

seven t y . M ore th a n t w ice th e age o f t he hea d o f Fo r reste r ' s.'

Ò h?' Ken t ' s b row s l if ted in su rp r i se . H ow do you k now th a t ? H as he been

d o w n t o t h e p la n t t o o ?'

Be r a t i n g h e r se lf f o r h a v in g m a d e su c h a n u n t h i n k i n g r em a r k , Je n n a t r ie d t o

rect i f y he r m ista k e as

noncha lan t l y as p ossib le . N o , I j ust ha p p ened t o rem em ber i t f r om a n a r t i cle I

r ea d a b o u t h im so m e t im e

in o n e o f t h e t r a d e m a g a z in e s.'

` I d o n 't r e ca l l a n y su ch a r t i cle ,' Ken t f r o w n e d . ` W h i ch m a g a z in e w o u l d t h a t

ha ve b een , t hen?'

` I ca n ' t r e m e m b e r ,' sh e p r e v a r ica t e d . ` A n d m a y b e it w a s in o n e t h a t a r r iv e d

w h i le y o u w e re a w a y o n t h er o a d o n e t i m e . D o e s it r e a l ly m a t t e r ?'

`Prob a b ly no t , ' he g ran ted , to he r re li ef . À l tho ug h I sup p ose I shou ld ha ve

gu essed h e w a s l ik e ly t o b e

un der fo r t y t oo . Eve ry o th e r m em ber , o f h i s sta f f t ha t w e 've seen so fa r seem s

to h a v e b e e n .'

Jenna d id a n u nconsciou s ca lcu la t ion . À ct u a l ly , he 's t h i r t y - fou r ,' she su p p l ied ,

a n d t h e n co u l d h a v e


14/202

b i t t e n h e r t o n g u e o u t f o r h a v in g o n ce a g a in r e v e a l ed a k n o w le d g e sh e w o u l d

r a t h e r n o o n e k n e w sh e

p ossessed . I t w a s ev ident ly som et h ing she w ou ld ha ve t o w a t ch v ery c lose ly

f ro m n o w o n .

F o r t u n a t e ly , Ke n t a p p e a r e d t o p r esu m e th a t w a s ju st a n o t h e r f a c t sh e h a d

g l ea n e d f r o m th e n o n e x ist e n t

t r ad e m ag a z ine , becau se h i s on ly com m ent w as a sl igh t l y env ious, `Th i r t y -

f o u r , a n d a l re a d y a t t h e t o p o f

h is f ie ld , eh? H a l f h is luck ! '

L u c k h a d h a d n o t h i n g t o d o w it h i t , a s Je n n a w a s a w a r e , b u t t h i s t i m e m a d e

ce r t a i n sh e d i d n o t c o m m it

an o t he r e r ro r by say ing so , a nd m ere ly resp ond ed w i th a seem ing ly concu r r ing

sm i le inst ead .

`O h , w e l l, a t l east t he re 's one conso la t i on in b e ing a sm a l l cog in th e co rp o ra te

w hee l,' he con t end ed

h u m o r o u sly , ` it p r o v i d e s o n e w it h a lit t le l ee w a y r a th e r t h a n h a v i n g t h e b i g

bo ss k eep ing a n ea g le eye on

you a l l the t im e . In fac t , it w ou ldn ' t su rp r i se m e if w e neve r even ge t to see

For rest er h im se l f a t a l l. O u r

l it t l e sub sid ia ry w i ll be t oo sm a l l a f i sh t o w ar ra n t h i s p e rsona l a t t en t ion , I'l l be

b o u n d . '

`You rea l l y th ink so?' she q uest ioned in ho p e fu l to nes. I f tha t i ndeed tu rned

ou t to be t he case , no on ew o u l d b e m o r e p l ea se d t h a n sh e w o u l d .

` I r eck on , ' he retu rned lacon ica l ly be fo re b id d ing he r a f i na l good n igh t an d

st a r t ing do w n t he st a i rs.

I t w as an assu r an ce Jenna d w e lt o n ha p p i ly a s she m a de rea dy fo r bed , a nd

w h ich p r o v id e d h e r w it h t h e

f i r st r ea l l y un t rou b led sleep she ha d ha d since lea rn ing o f t he im p end ing

a m a l g a m a t io n . W h e n sh e


15/202

a w o k e t h e n e xt m o r n i n g t h e sa m e fee l in g o f h a v i n g b e e n r ep r ie v e d w a s st i ll

w i th her , a nd a s a resu l t she

se t o f f f o r t h e o f f ice in h e r so m e w h a t b a t t e r e d o l d V o lk sw a g e n in a m o r e

ca r e f r ee f ra m e o f m i n d t h a t sh e

h a d d o n e f o r so m e t i m e .

O n p assing th rou gh t he doo rs o f th e o ld b r i ck a d m in ist ra t i on bu i ld ing si ted

beside t he sm a l l fac to ry ,

t h o u g h , sh e w a s g r e ete d b y a n u n e x p e cte d h i v e o f a c t i v it y a n d f o r a m o m e n t

she sta red a b ou t he r i n

con fu sion . The re seem ed t o b e t r a d esm en eve ryw here ! A l read y p a in t e rs'

t r est l es ha d been e rected a long

o n e w a l l a n d d u st sh e et s l a i d o u t t o p r o te ct t h e f u r n i t u r e b e l o w . N o t f a r f ro m

h e r o w n d e sk a c o u p le o f

ca r p e n te r s w e re w e ll o n t h e i r w a y t o r em o v i n g o n e o f t h e h e a v y , w o o d e n -

g r a i n e d w in d o w s t h a t h a d so

o f t en b rok en he r na i l s i n he r a t t em p t s to op en them , w h i le lu st i nside the

sm a ll re ce p t io n a r e a m o r e

w ork m en w ere beg inn ing t o re li eve the f loo r o f i t s o ld fa sh ioned , an d in p laces,

w o r n o u t l in o le u m

cove r ing .

` Isn ' t i t t e r r i f i c? The o ld p lace get t ing a fa ce- l if t a t last ,' en t hu sed H o l ly , the

yo u ng r ecept ionist , a s Jenn a

b e g a n m o v i n g p a st t h e f ro n t d e sk .`W e ll, I w on ' t sa y i t d idn ' t n eed i t , bu t . ..'

`O u r new b oss cer ta in ly b e l iev es in inst a n t a ct ion , doesn ' t h e?' cu t in Fred a

ga i ly a s she jo ined t hem .

` A p p a r e n t ly h e 's a b e l ie v e r i n p l e a sa n t su r r o u n d i n g s m a k i n g f o r b e t t e r

p r o d u ct iv i t y . Bu t y o u ju st w a it

un t i l you m ee t h im , you 'l l l ove h im ,' she con t inued w i th u ncha ra ct e r i st i c

fe r vou r . H e 's a rea l cha rm er !'


16/202

` Is he ev er !' ad d ed H o l ly , her eyes ro l l ing exp ressive ly . ` I near ly fe l l o f f m y cha i r

w h en I f o u n d o u t w h y

h e w a s h e r e. I n ev e r d r e a m t w e 'd b e w o r k in g f o r su c h a n i n cr e d i b le h u n k .'

Jenna sup p ressed an a m u sed sm i le . She ha d k now n t he i r new hea d o f f i ce

in tend ed send ing one o f th e ir

o w n sta f f d o w n t o r e p l a ce M r H o d g so n , b u t sh e g a th e r e d t h e ir m a n a g i n g

d i rect o r ' s rep lacem en t m ust b e

rea l l y som eth ing to ha ve im p ressed H o l ly a nd F red a t o such an ex ten t .

`So just w ho is t h is m a cho p erson i f ica t ion o f m a le a t t r ibu t es, t hen?' she

qu izzed d r i ly .

F reda w as on ly t oo w i lli ng t o t e ll he r : Un b e l ieva b ly , i t 's non e o t he r th an ...'

`La ne For rest er h im se l f !' H o l ly conc lu d ed exc it ed ly fo r her .

` L a n e ! ' T h e a g h a st e xcl a m a t io n b u r st f o r t h f r o m Je n n a in v o l u n t a r i ly , b u t o n

no t ing t he st ra nge look s i t

engen d ered o n her com p a n ions' fa ces, t r ied t o cover herse l f by p a ssing i t o f f

w i th a shru g. 'I t - i t ' s a n

un usu a l nam e,' she sm i led w eak ly . A nd so m u ch fo r Ken t 's a ssu m p t ion ! th e

d isp i r i t i ng though t

i m m e d i a te l y f o l lo w e d . `Bu t w h y sh o u ld h e b e co n ce r n in g h i m se lf w it h su ch a

re la t ive ly sm a l l concern? I

w o u l d h a v e t h o u g h t h e h a d m o r e im p o r t a n t m a t t e r s r eq u ir in g h i s a t t e n t i o n .'

`W e ll, as I und e rsta nd eve ry sub sid ia ry o f t he o rga n isa t ion i s expect ed to p u l l

it s o w n w e ig h t , m a y b e h eju st l ik es t h e ch a ll en g e o f t u rn in g a ra t h er u n sp ect a cu la r b u sin ess in t o a

su ccessfu l on e,' p rop osed Fred a .

O r m a y b e h e h a d ju st d i sco v e r e d h i s w if e w o r k e d t h e r e a n d w a n t e d t h e

p leasu re o f f i r ing her p erson a l ly !

Jenna sp ecu la t ed m isera b ly , b eg inn ing t o w ish she ha d resigned w hen she ha d

f i rst consid ered i t , an d

w hi le she ha d st i ll ha d t he cha nce o f esca p ing h is no t ice .


17/202

` A n y w a y , si n ce t h e r e's n o o n e w it h h i m a t t h e m o m e n t ,' F r ed a w e n t o n

cheer fu l ly , ` I'l l t a k e you a long

an d in t rod u ce you , th en you 'l l be a b le to j ud ge fo r you rse l f . H e sa id he

w a n t e d t o m e et a ll t h e st a f f a s

soon a s t hey a r r ived .'

Sw a l low ing a p p rehensive ly , Jenna nod d ed he r com p l ia nce. She sup p osed she

h a d t o c o m e f a ce t o f a c e

w it h h i m so m e t i m e , so m a y b e t h e so o n e r sh e g o t i t o v e r a n d d o n e w it h t h e

b et t e r , b u t a s she

accom p a n ied t he o lde r g i r l tow a rd s th e b u i l d ing ' s l a rgest o f f i ce on d i st i nct l y

sha k y legs, he r t hou gh t s

w ere now here nea r a s resigned .

H o w o n e a r t h w a s sh e ex p e ct e d t o a ck n o w le d g e h i m ? A s a h it h e r t o u n k n o w n

em p loye r , o r a s som eone

w it h w h o m sh e w a s a lr e a d y a cq u a i n te d ? Bu t t h e n , h o w co u ld sh e d o t h e

la t te r w hen she ha d o n ly j ust

im p l ied he w a s a st ra nge r t o he r? Besides, none o f t he st a f f even k new she

h a d b e e n m a r r i ed , le t a l o n e t o

th e v e r y m a n sh e w a s su p p o se d l y a b o u t t o m e et f o r t h e f i r st t i m e ! A s w e ll a s

t h a t , a n d e v e n m o r e

i m p o r ta n t l y p e r h a p s, w h a t w a s h e l ik e ly t o sa y t o h e r ? M o ck in g l y g r e et h e r a s

h i s w if e a n d t h e m

p rom p t l y in fo rm he r th a t he r se rv i ces w ere no longe r requ i red ? O r w orse st i l l,if h e w a s n o t a l r e a d y

a w a r e sh e w o r k e d t h e r e, m i g h t n o t t h e sh o ck m a k e h im r efu se ev e n t o

a c k n o w le d g e h e r a t a l l? O h , L o r d ,

i f on ly th i s m ee t ing h a d no t been sp run g o n he r w it h so l it t l e no t ice , she

g roa ned , sw eep ing he r ha i r ba ck

f r o m h e r f a c e in a d ist r a c te d g e stu r e a s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e o f f ice d o o r lo o m e d

la r g e b e f o r e t h e m .


18/202

W it h h e r h a n d lif t e d t o k n o ck o n t h e w o o d e n p a n e llin g , F re d a g a v e a st a r t

w h e n t h e d o o r su d d e n l y

sw u ng op en be fo re he r f i nge rs cou ld reach i t , an d a ta l l m a le f i gu re f i ll ed t he

o p e n i n g .

`O h , Mr Fo r rest e r , I w as just . . .' Freda beg an w i th a ha l f lau gh .

For Jenn a 's p a r t , t ha t w a s a l l she hea rd o f t he o t her g i r l 's in t rod u ct ion a s she

to o k a n in v o lu n ta r y st e p

ba ck w ard s, he r w ide sp aced g rey eyes conn ect ing w i th a p a i r o f ebon y lashed ,

ha ze l-g reen , an d she fe l t a

w arm f l ood o f co lou r su rg e in t o he r sa t in sm oo t h cheek s be fo re i t a b ru p t l y

receded ag a in as q u ick l y as i t

ha d a r i sen .

To he r su rp r i se , an d conside ra b le pe r t u rba t ion , he r i n it ia l thou gh t w as th a t he

w as st i ll as da m na b ly

a t t r a ct i v e a s h e h a d e v e r b e e n , b u t a s t h a t d e f i n it e l y w a s n o t a f e a tu r e sh e

ca red to be rem inded o f , she

d e t e r m in e d l y f o rce d t h e i d e a o u t o f h e r m in d a n d co n ce n t r a t e d o n k e ep i n g

her ob serv a t ions a s

d isp a ssiona t e a s p ossib le . H is d a rk b row n h a i r w a s cu t a s c lose ly t o h is

conf ident ly he ld hea d a s she

rem em bered i t , she no t ed ; h is eyes a s a ler t an d a p p ra ising ; h i s f i rm ly m ou lded

m o u t h r et a i n in g t h e sa m e

sl igh t l y crook ed cu rv e a b ov e a n in f lex ib l y se t j aw . The co f fee co lou red su i t hew a s w e a r in g w a s

o b v io u sly cu sto m ta ilo r e d ; t h e b r o a d sh o u l d e r ed a n d le a n h i p p e d f r a m e

benea t h just a s ob v iou sly i n p eak

cond i t i on ; t he u nsp ok en fo rce o f h i s p e rson a l i t y equ a l l y im p ossib le to i gno re .

Su d d en ly , on rea l ising Fred a h a d st op p ed sp eak ing , Jenn a sensed t he o t her

g i rl w a s w a it i n g f o r h e r t o


19/202

say som et h ing no w an d , li ck ing ne rv ou sly a t d r y l ip s, she nod ded st i f f ly a nd

offered in a sel f -consc ious

m u r m u r , ` M r F o r re ste r .'

`M iss Bo w m an ,' he st ressed sign i f ica n t l y , a l thou gh n o t to o m ark ed ly , in re t u rn .

A p a rt f ro m a n

im p ercep t ib le t i gh t en ing o f h i s sha p e ly m ou t h a nd th e coo l l y a ssessing look

th a t h a d e n te r e d h i s e y es

w h e n h e f ir st sa w h e r , it w a s t h e o n ly i n d i ca t io n h e h a d g i v e n t h a t h e e v e n

recogn ised he r - m uch to

Jenna's relief!

` W e ll, t h a t w a s ce rt a i n ly b r i ef a n d t o t h e p o i n t ,' r e m a r k e d F r e d a i n o b v io u s

surpr ise as Lane proceeded

in to Ian Leo na rd 's new o f f ice . H e 's ha d q u i te a cha t t o every on e e lse so fa r .'

Som eth ing Jenna w as u nu t te ra b ly g ra t e fu l to h av e been sp a red ! `Yes, w e l l,

t h e r e p r o b a b l y i sn 't t i m e f o r

h i m t o d o t h a t w it h a l l t h e o f f i ce st a f f . I ex p e ct h e 's g o t a lo t o n h i s m i n d a t t h e

m o m e n t . '

`M m m , I gu ess so , ' Fred a shru gg ed , a l low ing herse l f to b e conv inced . `B u t

w h a t d id y o u t h i nk o f him ?

H e 's a w h o l e h e a p b e t t e r t o l o o k a t t h a n o l d M r H o d g so n , isn 't h e ?'

` I 'm su rp r i sed you shou ld ha ve no t i ced , ' Jenna p a r r ied t easing ly ra t he r th a n

an sw er ing d i rect l y . La ne w as

no t a su b ject she w an ted to d i scu ss, i n any sha p e o r fo rm . I thou gh t you w erea h a p p ily m a r rie d w o m a n

a n d t o t a l ly d e v o t e d t o y o u r h u sb a n d .'

` D e v o te d , y e s, b u t b l in d , n o !' w a s t h e la u g h i n g r e to r t . ` A n d Ke n t o r n o Ke n t ,

d o n 't t e ll m e y o u d o n 't f i n d

h i m a t t r a ct iv e t o o b e ca u se I ju st w o u l d n ' t b e l ie v e y o u !P

'A l l r i gh t t hen , I w on ' t , ' Jenna op ted to n e it he r con f i rm no r deny t he

con t en t ion . Then , i n the ho p e o f


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ch a n g i n g t h e t o p ic a lt o g e th e r , So w h e n w a s it d e c id e d t h a t a l l t h i s w o r k

shou ld b e do ne?' Ind ica t ing t he

bu si ly em p loyed t ra desm en th ey had to sk i rt in o rd e r to reach the i r desk s.

`O h , som e t im e la st w eek , I be l i eve , ' F reda re lay ed o f fh an ded ly . You

r em e m b e r t h e f e lle r w h o w a s

w a n d e r i n g r o u n d t h e o f f ice f o r so l o n g t a k in g m e a su r e m e n ts, et c ete r a - I ca n ' t

r em e m b e r h is n a m e w e ll,

a p p a r e n t l y t h a t 's w h a t h e w a s h e r e f o r.' L o o k in g a b o u t h e r , sh e g a v e a l ig h t

la u g h . ` N o t t h a t I e xp e cte d

t he t ran sfo rm a t ion to beg in qu i te th i s soon , t hou gh .'

Je n n a r e p l ie d w it h so m e t h i n g a p p r o p r ia t e b u t w a s t h a n k f u l w h e n t h e f a i r -

ha i red g i r l f i na l ly con t inued on

t o he r ow n d esk . A l thou gh she sup p osed h e r f ir st m ee t ing w i th he r hu sba nd

a f t e r su ch a lo n g t i m e h a d

no t been a s dev a sta t ing a s i t cou ld h av e b een , o r a s she ha d an t i cipa t ed , she

st i ll f e lt un bea ra b ly ten se

a n d a p p r e h en siv e . F e eli n g s t h a t w e r e in n o w a y a ssu a g e d w h e n L a n e

reap p ear ed f rom her b oss's o f f ice

so m e m in u t e s l a t e r a n d m o ck i n g ly i n f o r m e d h e r t h a t Ia n w i sh e d t o sp e a k t o

her .

A u t o m a t i ca l ly t a k in g h e r n o t e p a d a n d p e n ci l w it h h e r, Je n n a e n t e r e d t h e

room hesi ta n t ly , u nsu re just

w h a t t o e xp e ct . Th e r e h a d t o h a v e b e e n so m e r ea so n f o r t h a t n o t ice a b lyt au n t ing no t e in La ne 's vo ice . M r

Fo r reste r sa id you w a n t ed t o see m e ,' she m u rm ured d i f f i den t l y as she to ok

he r cu sto m a ry sea t beside t he

w i n d o w .

`O h , yes ... a l t hou gh n o t fo r d i ct a t i on ,' Ia n sm i led b r ie f l y on see ing t he p a d in

he r ha nd . H is k ind ly


21/202

f e a tu r e s so b e r e d a g a i n a l m o st i m m e d i a t e l y . In f a ct , p r o b a b ly n o t f o r

d i ct a t io n e v e r a g a i n , u n fo r t u n a t e ly .'

Jenna cou ld on ly st a re a t h im m u t e ly , her f ingers c lench ing rou nd her p enc il so

t igh t l y she w as a m a zed i t

d i d n ' t sn a p . So , sh e h a d b e e n r ig h t i n b e i n g w a r y o f t h a t g o a d in g t o n e o f

La ne 's. She w a s go ing t o b e

f i r ed a f t e r a l l ! O n ly he d id n 't ha ve t he gu t s to do i t h im se lf ! she den ou nced

b i t t e r l y .

`Yo u see, La ne- M r For rest er ,' she su d d en ly rea l ised Ia n w a s con t inu ing , `ha s

dec ided th a t since I'm new

in th i s p osi t i on now th a t Tom M or r i s ha s re t i r ed , i t w ou ld be p re fe rab le i f I

t ook F reda a s m y secre ta ry

f rom now on see ing she k now s w here eve ry t h ing i s th a t I m igh t need as Tom 's

successor, and in turn

yo u b ecom e h is secret a ry .' P a u sing , he sent her a ru e fu l b u t resigned look .

` A lt h o u g h I 'l l b e e x t r e m e ly

sor ry t o lose you , o f cou rse , I m u st a d m i t i t d oes seem t o b e th e best

a r ra n g e m e n t a s w h a t w it h a l l t h e

ch a n g e s t h a t a r e a b o u t t o t a k e p l a ce , t h e r e 'l l u n d o u b t e d l y b e m a n y i n sta n ce s

w hen I'l l need som eone w it h

a co m p le t e k n o w le d g e o f h o w T o m r a n t h i n g s.'

F rom ha v ing been ra i li ng a ga inst th e p rosp ect o f l osing he r j ob en t i r e ly , Jenna

now fou nd h e rse lfho r r i f ied a t t he tho ug h t o f k eep ing i t . `You m ean , I' ll b e w ork ing so le ly fo r ...

fo r M r Fo rrest er?' she

g a sp e d , o n ly j u st m a n a g i n g t o a v o i d c a l lin g h i m b y h i s f i rst n a m e . Bu t w h y

m e? Su re ly he m u st h av e a

secre ta ry o f h i s ow n f l oa t ing a rou nd som ew here !' A resen t fu l no t e bega n

edg ing in t o he r vo ice . N o


22/202

w o n d e r L a n e h a d l o o k e d so m o ck in g . H e h a d k n o w n f u l l w e ll t h a t w o r k in g i n

close p rox im i ty w i th h im

w a s t h e l a st t h i n g sh e w o u l d w a n t !

N o t su r p r isin g l y , Ia n a p p e a r e d so m e w h a t n o n p lu sse d b y t h e v e h e m e n ce o f

he r ou t bu rst . `You ' re sa y ing ,

y o u d o n 't w a n t t o w o r k f o r h i m ?' h e so u n d e d i n p a r t l y d i sb e l ie v i n g a c ce n t s.

Sh e sh r u g g e d n o n co m m it t a l ly , a t t e m p t in g t o ca m o u f l a g e h e r d i sm a y . If sh e

w asn 't m ore ca re fu l she

w ou ld soon b e arou singg ev eryo ne 's su sp icions. ` I 'd r a t her con t inue w ork ing

for you, ' she answered

sincerely , hopefu l ly .

`Yes, w e l l, I 'd b e p lea sed i f yo u cou ld t oo , bu t u n fo r t u na t e ly . . .' H e ra ised h is

sho u lde rs in a help less

g e stu r e , a n d t h e n g a v e a c o n t r i t e la u g h . M a y b e I sh o u l d n 't h a v e g i v e n y o u

su ch a g low ing re ference.

T h o u g h I d o n 't t h i n k y o u 'l l f i n d h i m a h a r d m a n t o w o r k f o r . H e se e m s a v e r y

d e ce n t t y p e t o m e ,' h e

sm i led encou rag ing ly .

N o d ou b t he w a s- t o t he rest o f h i s em p loyees! m used Jenna w h im sica l ly . Bu t

n o t h a r d t o w o r k f o r ...

w e l l, t ha t cou ld b e som eth ing e lse ag a in . W here she w a s con cerned she d id

n o t e x p e ct i t t o b e a n y t h i n g

b u t u n a d u l t e r a t e d p u r g a to r y ! N o t t h a t sh e co u l d sa y a s m u c h t o Ia n , o fcourse.

`O h , w e l l- t hem 's t he b reak s, I gu ess,' she q u ip p ed d r i ly , em p t i ly r e t u r n ing h i s

sm i le on ly w i th an e f fo r t

as she rose to h e r feet . I t w ou ld a p p ear I 'v e been p rom ot ed . '

`Tha t 's p rob ab ly the best w ay o f l ook ing a t i t , ' Ia n endo rsed , chu ck l ing .

Ba ck a t he r d esk , Jenna ha d on ly j ust beg un to cu rso r i ly so r t th rou gh h e r f i ling

w h e n t h e in t e r n a l p h o n e


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r an g , and w i th he r t hou gh t s st i ll o the rw ise enga ged she a nsw ered i t a bsen t l y .

` W h e r e t h e h e ll h a v e y o u b e e n ?' L a n e 's e xa sp e r a te d e n q u ir y p r o m p t l y cu t in

t o he r reve r ie .

Unconsciou sly , he r head a ng led d e f ia n t l y , even t hou gh he w a s no t t he re to see

it . ` Sp e a k in g w it h I a n

Leon a rd ... as inst ru ct ed !' she re t or t ed .

` A ll t h i s t i m e ? W h a t d i d h e d o , m a k e y o u a cu p o f t e a i n o r d e r t o h e lp y o u

recov er f rom t he shock ?'

`Since th e re w a s no shock -on ly a m i ld su rp r i se t he re w as no t h ing to recove r

f rom ,' she d u lce t ly

con t end ed , refu sing to g i ve h im t he p lea su re o f hav ing he r r ise to h i s

d e l ib e r a t e g o a d in g , o r t o a d m it ju st

h o w a l a r m e d sh e h a d b e e n o n l ea r n in g o f h e r n e w p o sit io n . ` Ia n m e r ely t o o k

t h e t r o u b l e t o e x p la i n w h y

su ch a cha ng e w a s consid ered necessa ry, t ha t 's a l l .'

`D id he no w ?' The sa t i r ica l in f lect ion in h is vo ice becam e not iceab ly

p ronou nced . W e ll , as you

o b v io u sly h a v e n o o b je ct io n s t o t h e a r r a n g e m e n t , p e r h a p s y o u w o u l d c a r e t o

b r i n g y o u r b o o k i n , t o g e th e r

w i th t he f il e, on t he new cap ac i to r p ro ject , M iss Bow m a n .' A ga in t ha t exp l ici t

em p ha sis w h ich b rou gh t

u nb idd en t he rea d y co lour t o Jenn a 's cheek s. `Tha t is, i f you ca n f ind i t . The

f i l ing syst em in t h is p la ce isa sha m b les!'

I f he w a s re fer r ing t o t hose ca b ine t s in h is o f f ice t hen she w a s incl ined t o a gree

w it h h i m . U n f o r t u n a t e ly

o ld M r H od gson ha d h ad a d i sconce rt i ng ha b i t o f r ep la cing p a p e rs in the f i r st

conv en ien t sp a ce tha t

h a p p e n e d t o p r ese n t i t se lf . H o w e v e r , t h e o p p o r t u n it y w a s t o o g o o d n o t t o d o

a l it t le r e tu r n n i g g l in g o f


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h e r o w n .

` If y o u 'r e u n a b le t o f in d a n y th i n g , M r F o r r este r , y o u o n l y h a v e t o a sk a n d I'm

su re i t w i ll p rov e no

d i f f icu lt y a t a l l fo r o n e o f u s t o im m e d i a t e ly l o ca t e w h a te v e r y o u r e q u i r e,' sh e

r e tu r n e d in l ig h t ly t a r t

condescension.

` A n d if t h e f i le s w e r e in a n y r e a so n a b le o r d e r , I w o u l d n ' t n e e d t o w a ste m y

t im e ask ing , M iss Bow m a n !'

The re w a s m ore o f a st i ng th a n a ta u n t i n h i s to ne now . So I m igh t sug gest

y o u m a k e it y o u r f i rst

p r io r it y t o e n su r e I ca n f i n d w h a t I w a n t , w h e n I w a n t i t ! '

'Yes, si r !' she a ssent ed in exag gera t ed , bu t d ou b t fu l de feren ce. A s soo n a s

p o ssib le, sir!'

'Jenna !' It w as th e f i r st t im e he ha d u sed he r Chr i st i an n a m e, an d w i th such

om inou s so f t ness t ha t i t h a d

h e r in v o lu n ta r i ly su c k i n g in a n e r v o u s b r ea th . ` D o y o u w a n t t o b e t h r o w n o u t

on yo u r ea r?'

In v i e w o f w h a t sh e w a s su b je ct i n g h e r se lf t o i n o r d e r t o r e m a i n w it h t h e f ir m ?

`N-not especia l ly , ' she

o w n e d je rk i ly , g r u d g i n g ly .

`Then I r ecom m end you fo rge t th e w isecra ck s an d just ge t you rse lf i n he re ...

now !' he sna p p ed , be fo re

sl a m m i n g h is p h o n e d o w n w it h a f o r ce t h a t l ef t h e r w in c in g .A f e w m i n u te s la t e r , a r m e d o n c e m o r e w it h h e r p a d a n d p e n ci l, Je n n a

k n o ck e d t e n t a t i v e ly o n h e r

hu sb an d ' s d oo r , an d o n ly en te red t he room w hen she hea rd h i s deep vo ice

b i d d in g h e r t o d o so . H a v in g

d isca rd ed h is jack et a nd w i th h is sh i r t sleeves ro l led u p t o h is e lbow s, Lan e

k ep t h i s ha nd s rest ing on t he

desk as he lean t b ack sl igh t l y , w a t ch ing he r ap p roa ch w it h an im p a ssive ga ze .


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` D o y o u a lw a y s k n o ck a n d t h e n w a it t o b e t o l d t o e n t e r?' h e su r p r i se d h e r b y

a b r u p t ly a sk in g .

`N o t usu a ll y , no , ' she sh ru gged . N o rm a l l y w e ju st k nock a nd t hen go st ra igh t

in. U n less t he re's a v isit or

in t he o f f ice, of cou rse.'

`Then in o rde r to sav e t im e I sug gest y ou d on ' t t r ea t m y o f f i ce any d if fe ren t l y , '

he d i rected in i r on ic

accents.

` I w as on ly b e ing p o l it e .'

O ne da rk b row rose sm oo t h ly , g ra p h ica l ly up w a rds.. I t 's a l it t le la t e fo r th a t ,

isn ' t i t? ' Then , w hen she

d id n o t rep ly , h is g la nce w a s cent red sign i f ican t ly on t he t w o a r t icles she he ld

in her h a nd s. `So w here 's

t he f i le I ask ed fo r? O r cou ldn ' t y ou f i nd it e ith e r , a f t e r a l l?'

D e te r m i n ed o n c e a g a in n o t t o a l lo w h i m t o n e t t le h er , Je n n a m e r ely n o d d e d

t ow ard s th e th ree f i l ing

cab ine ts sta nd ing a ga inst a side w a l l. It shou ld b e ove r th e re . M r H od gson

w a s t he last p erson t o ha ve i t .'

` I 've a l read y look ed t h rou gh a l l o f t hose !' she w as in fo rm ed on a t esty no t e .

W it h he r l i ps p ressing t oge t he r , Jenna hea ded fo r t he ca b ine ts w i tho u t

co m m e n t i n g , a n d b e in g w i se t o

t he i r l ast m an a g ing d i rect o r ' s fo ib les w a s a b le to l oca t e the req u i red fo lde r

be fo re ve ry l ong . M a in lybecau se she w a s a l so a w are o f t he o t he r f i les M r H od gson h ad ha d o u t on h i s

last d ay .

`O bv iously no t th o rou gh ly enou gh , thou gh , si r,' she d id a nsw er now , if

so m e w h a t t o n g u e - in - c he ek , a s

she la id t he fo lder o n h is d esk .

`Than k you .' Lane inc l ined h i s hea d b r ie f ly . `Bu t l et 's ge t one t h ing st ra igh t

r i gh t f r o m th e sta r t , sha l l


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w e?' Sud den ly he rose to h i s fee t t o t ow er m ena c ing ly ov e r he r . N o one in m y

org a n isa t ion ca l ls m e si r ,

le a st o f a l l m y o w n d a m n e d w if e ! D o I m a k e m y se lf cle a r ?'

`A s c ryst a l !' she f la red sa rca st ica l ly . `B u t y ou need n ' t t h ink I 'm go ing t o ca l l

yo u M r For rest er e it her ! '

'I w ou ldn ' t exp ect you to ! The na m e 's ob v iously to o d i st aste fu l fo r you , isn ' t i t ,

M iss Bo w m a n?' he

g r o u n d o u t sa v a g e ly .

` I tho ug h t you 'd p re fer no t to ha ve a M rs Fo r rest e r on th e scene ,' she t h rew

b a ck a t h i m , f lip p a n t ly

p r o te c t i v e .

A m u sc le st i r red a t t he side o f Lan e 's u ncom p rom ising jaw . Excep t th a t t he

su n h a sn ' t y e t r isen o n t he

da y w hen yo u 'd p u t conside ra t ion fo r som eone e lse be fo re you r ow n w ishes!'

'O h, a nd you a lw a ys d id , I su p p ose!' H er g rey eyes w idened fa cet iously . I

m e a n , y o u u se d t o co m e

hom e be fo re m idn igh t so in f requ en t l y tha t I 'm su rp r i sed you even rea l i sed you

h a d a w if e !'

'A n d y o u k n e w d a m n e d w e ll w h y I w a s w o r k in g su c h lo n g h o u r s! Be ca u se I

h a d t o r ep a ir t h e d a m a g e

do ne b y leav ing t oo m uch con t ro l o f th e bu siness in o t he r p eop le' s ha nd s w h i le

I w a s t ry ing t o sa t isfy

you r cap r i ciou s w h im s!' he rasp ed . `Besides, w ha t w ou ld ha ve b een th e po in to f m e co m in g h o m e

ear l i er? You w ere ra re ly t he re anyw ay ! You w ere t oo b usy en joy ing th e soc ia l

w h i r l ... r em em b er?'

` O n ly b e c a u se I h a d t o h a v e so m e co m p a n y , a n d I h a d t o f i ll in m y t i m e

som eh ow !' Jenn a f lashed

defensively .

` Ev e n a f t e r t h e b a b y w a s b o r n ?'


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Je n n a t u r n e d d e a t h l y p a le , h e r a n g e r r a p i d ly e v a p o r a t in g a n d le a v in g o n l y

a ng u ish in i t s st ead a s La ne 's

b leak w ord s sta b bed a t he r re len t lessl y . O h , God , w hy ha d he ha d t o b r ing

t ha t up ? she d esp a i red

b r o k e n ly . It h a d t a k e n h e r y ea r s t o f in a l ly co m e to t e r m s, o u t w a r d ly a t l e a st ,

w it h t h e t r a g e d y o f t h e ir

t i n y d a u g h t e r 's d e a t h , b u t t h e k n o w le d g e t h a t if sh e h a d n o t g o n e o u t t h a t

p a r t i cu la r ev e n i n g t h e

un necessa ry a cciden t w ou ld p rob ab ly neve r ha ve occu r red , had st i ll le f t sca rs

on her con sc ience t ha t she

k n ew w o u ld n e v e r f a d e .

I t ha d a l l hap p ened so inno cen t ly , so u nexpec ted ly , she reca l led w i th a

conv u lsive shu d d er. Becau se she

h a d b e e n g o in g t o a p a r t y t h a t n ig h t - w it h o u t L a n e , a s u su a l - sh e h a d

a r r a n g e d f o r t h e ir u su a l t e en a g e d

ba by si t te r t o l ook a f t e r tw e lve m on t hs o ld Ke r r yn , ju st a s she ha d o n

nu m erou s ot her su ch occa sions.

O n l y t h a t p a r t icu la r e v e n i n g y o u n g D e n a , u su a lly so r e l ia b le , h a d b e e n

b a t h in g t h e b a b y w h e n h er

b o y f r ie n d c a l le d a t t h e h o u se a n d , in t e n d i n g t o l ea v e Ke r ry n h a p p i ly p la y in g

w it h h e r t o y s i n t h e b a th f o r

o n l y a m o m e n t , sh e h a d g o n e t o a n sw e r t h e d o o r . A d m it t e d l y , sh e h a d n o t

in v it e d t h e b o y i n sid e , b u t a tt h e sa m e t i m e sh e h a d a p p a r e n t l y st a y e d t a l k in g t o h i m f o r lo n g e r t h a n sh e

rea l ised , b ecau se w hen she

f in a lly r etu r n e d t o t h e b a t h r o o m it w a s t o d i sco v e r t h e b a b y f a ce d o w n in t h e

w a t e r a n d n o a m o u n t o f

resu sci ta t i on a b le to rev i ve t he st i ll l it t l e fo rm .

T h e p o o r l it t le g i r l h a d b e e n d i st r a u g h t w h e n sh e p h o n e d Je n n a w it h t h e

m in d - n u m b i n g n ew s, a n d t h e


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e v e n t h a d se t t h e f in a l se a l o n Je n n a a n d L a n e ' s m a r r ia g e . H e h a d b l a m e d

h e r f o r le a v i n g t h e c h ild w it h a

b a b y sit t e r - a s in d e ed sh e b l a m e d h e r se lf - b u t in d e fe n ce sh e w o u ld n o t a d m it

a n y su c h t h i n g a n d si m p ly

co u n t e re d w it h t h e a ccu sa t io n t h a t i f h e h a d b e e n p l a n n i n g t o a r r iv e h o m e a t

a d ecen t ho u r then she

w o u l d n o t h a v e g o n e o u t i n t h e f i r st p la ce .

A f t e r t h a t t h i n g s h a d m e r e ly g o n e f r o m b a d t o w o r se . W h e n sh e h a d sh o w n

few v isib le sign s of gr ief

( b e ca u se t h e y h a d b e en t o o t i g h t ly b o t t le d u p in si d e h e r a t t h a t st a g e ) , L a n e

h a d m a i n t a in e d it ,w a s d u e t o

re li ef a t be ing r i d o f t he ch i l d becau se then she d id no t ha ve t o sp a re a ny o f

h er t im e o n a n y t h in g b u t t h e

p u rsu i t o f he r ow n p leasu re . W h i le , i n reta l ia t i on , becau se the d ay a f te r t he

dep ressing fu ne ra l he w as

b a ck t o b e ing a s eng rossed in h is w ork a s he ha d ev er been, she ha d cha rged

t h a t a s t h e b a b y h a d o n l y

b e e n a g i rl, a n d n o t t h e b o y h e w o u l d u n d o u b t e d l y h a v e p r e f er re d , it h a d n o t

a p p e a r e d t o ca u se h i m

m u c h so r r ow a n y w a y .

In t h e w e ek s t h a t f o l lo w e d Je n n a co u ld r e m e m b e r n e e d i n g L a n e 's co m p a n y

m o r e t h a n ev e r b u t n e i t h e r

he r p r ide , no r he r fee li ngs o f gu i lt , w ou ld a l low he r to a sk fo r i t , l et a lonea c k n o w le d g e i t o n t h o se f e w

o cca sio n s w h e n h e d id sp e n d so m e t im e a t h o m e . Ev e n tu a lly , a f t e r a b o u t

t h ree m on t hs o f su ch to r tu red

m ise ry , she ha d k now n she ha d t o l ea ve t he increasing ly st ra ined a tm osp here

a l t oge t he r i f she w as eve r

t o recove r f r om th e ago n ising exp e r ience, an d w i th j ust a t e r se no t e to La ne

a d v i si n g h i m sh e w o u l d n o t


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be re tu rn ing , she ha d g one b a ck t o t he soo t h ing su r rou nd ings o f he r p a ren t s'

h o m e .

N ow a l l tho se ca re fu l l y r ep ressed m em or ies ha d been ca l l ously w renched ba ck

to t h e f o re f ro n t o f h e r

m ind a ga in an d , un m ind fu l o f th e tea rs sp i lli ng on to he r th i ck l ashes, Jenna

g a z ed u p a t h e r h u sb a n d

c o n te m p tu o u s l y .

`Yo u p i t i less b a st a rd ! I w ish t o G od I 'd nev er se t eyes on yo u a ga in !' she

b r e a t h e d i n lo w , ch o k i n g t o n e s.

`You ju st cou ldn 't w a i t to b r ing tha t u p ag a in , cou ld you ? Ju st a s you 'd nev e r

let m e fo rge t i t b e fo re ! It

a lw ay s d id g i ve y ou a sense o f sa t i sfac t ion to ho ld - to ho ld Ke r r yn ' s dea th ove r

m y h e a d , d id n 't it , L a n e ?'

`D id i t?' he cou n t e red on a b it te r , r ou gh -ed ged no te , h is eyes na r row ing

co ld ly . H o w w o u ld y o u k n o w ?

You w ere a lw ay s to o ab so rbed in you r ow n se lf - p i t y to ev en ca re , m uch less

b e a w a r e , h o w I f elt a b o u t

a n y th in g ! ' H a lt i n g , h e r a k e d a h a n d t h r o u g h h i s h a ir sa v a g e l y a n d e xp e lle d a

h e a v y b r e a th . In a n y e v e n t ,

as i t so ha p p ens, an d w he th e r you choose to b e li eve it o r no t , I d idn ' t i n tend to

m e n t io n t h e b a b y i n a n y

co n t e xt . It si m p ly sl ip p e d o u t i n t h e h e a t o f t h e m o m e n t , t h a t ' s a ll .' W it h a

sigh , he sho ok h is hea dw ear i l y . H ow ever , as none o f th i s ha s a ny t h ing to d o w it h w hy w e 're he re, I

m ig h t su g g e st w e m a k e a n

e f f o rt t o k e ep t h e p a st a n d t h e p r e se n t se p a r a t e , a n d ju st g e t o n w it h t h e

d ic ta t i on I o r ig ina l l y ca l led yo u

in t o t a k e .'

D ict a t io n ! H e t h o u g h t sh e co u ld ca l m ly t a k e n o te s a f t e r ju st h a v i n g b e e n

hear t l essl y rem inded o f t he


30/202

m ost dev a st a t ing p e r iod o f he r l if e ! W ha t d id he t h ink she w as? A s insensi t i ve

an d u n fee l ing a s h im se l f?

Je n n a c o n d e m n e d sca t h i n g ly , a n d i n a m o m e n t o f st o r m y r e se n tm e n t f l u n g

her p ad a nd p enci l ac ross th e

r o o m .

` T o h e ll w it h y o u r d a m n e d d ict a t io n ! ' sh e cr ie d . ` An d if t h a t m e a n s I'm f i re d , I

d o n 't c a r e ! D o y o u h e a r

m e? I don 't ca re !' She b ega n t o sob he lp lessly a s she t u rned fo r t he d oor .

'Jenn a ... fo r G od 's sa k e! ' Tw o fo rce fu l ha nd s su d d en ly g r ipp ed her sha k ing

sho u lde rs a n d sp u n h er c lose

t o a b road chest . `You ca n ' t go ou t i n to t he o f f i ce in th a t st a t e .'

` I d on ' t ca re ! ' she rep ea t ed , sha k ing he r head w i ld l y and w h ipp ing long

st ran ds o f si lk y ha i r ab ou t he r

da m p cheek s a s she fou gh t va in ly t o f r ee he rse lf .

R est r a i n i n g h e r e a sily w it h o n e h a n d , L a n e b r u sh e d t h e h a ir b a ck f r o m h e r

face w it h h i s o t he r i n a

su rp r i sing ly gen t le m ovem en t . So you k eep insi st i ng , a lt hou gh I dou b t i t ' s

en t i re ly t ru e ,' he d eclared

so m e w h a t w r y ly .

` W h y ? Be ca u se it ' s u n h e a r d o f f o r a n y f e m a l e n o t t o w a n t t o w o r k f o r t h e e

u l t r a m a scu l in e L a n e

For reste r?' she a t t em p ted a tea r fu l g ibe . She cou ld st i ll r em em b er the e f fect

he r v i r il e hu sb a nd h a da l w a y s h a d o n o t h e r m e m b e r s o f h e r o w n se x.

` N o , b e ca u se if y o u h a d n 't w a n t e d t o r em a i n y o u w o u l d h a v e r esig n e d

im m ed ia t e l y you d i scov e red ju st

w h i ch co m p a n y w a s b u y i n g t h i s o n e o u t !'

'I c- conside red i t , b - be l ieve m e !' H e r vo ice shook un con t ro l la b ly . B -b u t how

w a s I t o k n o w y o u 'd t a k e a

p -p e rsona l in t e rest i n t he f i rm ?'


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`You shou ld ha ve ,' he retu rned sa r do n ica l ly . ` I a lw ay s do in new v en tu res ... a s

I a l so d id d u r in g o u r t i m e

toge the r . '

Sh e h a d n o t r e a l i se d . N o t t h a t it m a t t e r e d n o w , a n y w a y . ` W e ll, w h e th e r I c-

ca r e o r n o t i s i m m a t e r ia l

rea l ly , isn ' t i t?' she c la im ed on a r ising n o t e , her eyes b lu r r ing invo lun t a r i ly

once m ore . So w hy d on ' t

you just ge t o n w i th i t a nd f i r e m e? O r do es i t g i ve you a tw isted sense o f

p o w e r t o k e ep m e in

su sp ense?' She st ru ck ou t a t h im b l ind ly .

` A n y t h i n g b u t , y o u o v e r w r o u g h t l it t le v ir a g o !' L a n e r e p u d ia t e d f i er ce ly ,

succinct l y , an d w i th n o

gent leness a t a l l in e it her o f h is ha nd s no w a s he ga ve her a v io len t sha k e.

Jenna 's a t tem p t s t o escap e b ecam e increasing ly t u rb u len t . Becau se you 've

so m e th i n g e v e n m o r e

veng e fu l i n m ind?' she jee red in re t a l i a t i on .

` D o n ' t t e m p t m e !' h e b i t o u t co r r o siv e l y , a n d h a u l in g h e r t o w a r d s t h e c h a i r in

f ron t o f h is d esk , t h ru st her

in t o it w it h o u t ce r em o n y . W it h h i s h a n d s r e st i n g o n t h e w o o d e n a r m s o n e i t h e r

sid e of h er , he lea nt

f o rw a r d o v e r p o w e ri ng ly . B u t m a i n ly b e ca u se I h a v e a m o u n d o f w o r k t o g e t

t h r o u g h , a n d f o r t h a t I n e e d

a secret a ry ! 'M o m e n ta r i ly , t h e o n l y so u n d i n t h e r o o m w a s t h a t o f t h e ir q u i ck e n e d

brea th ing a s she sta red a t h im

conf u sed ly . Yo u m ea n ...' her eyes st ra yed com p u lsive ly to w here her

n o t e b o o k a n d p e n ci l la y sca t t e r e d

on t he f loor , `you 're no t d ism issing m e?'

The l ine o f h i s sha p e ly m ou th t ook on a cau st i c cu r ve . `The m essag e f i na l ly g o t

t h rou gh , d id it?'


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Jenna 's th ou gh t s w ere too cha o t i c fo r he r t o t ak e excep t ion to th e sa r ca sm . In

fa ct, she w a s u nsu re a s t o

w h e th e r sh e w a s e v e n r e lie v e d a t h a v i n g r e ta i n e d h e r jo b . 'Bu t - b u t w h y ?' sh e

fa l t e r e d . Yo u c o u l d h a v e

u sed one o f t he o t her g i r ls in t he o f f ice .'

` Ex ce p t t h e y d o n 't h a p p e n t o b e a cq u a in t e d w it h t h e v a r io u s p r o je ct s e it h e r

in o p e ra t io n , o r u n d e r

considera t ion . You d o! ' he st ressed w i th a b r ie f nod . `So I 'm sor ry , m y lov e ,' in a

d ist i nc t l y m ock ing ,

ce rt a i nly n o t a f f e ct i o n a t e t o n e , b u t it w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t w h e t h er w e lik e it

o r n o t , f o r t h e t i m e b e in g a t

lea st w e 're st uck w i th ea ch o t he r .' It w a s h i s eyes th a t g lan ced m ean ing fu l ly a t

her d isca rd ed t oo ls o f

t r ad e th i s t im e . Even i f i t d oes seem li ke l y yo u 're go ing t o b e the m ost vo la t i le

secre t a ry I 've ev er ha d .'

H is ac t ion on ly se rved t o rem ind Jenna o f t he reason fo r t hem be ing t he re and

she h a d t o p ress her l ip s

t oget her to st op t he i r t rem b l ing . ` I t ' s no u se, La ne, ' she b ega n u nst ea d i ly . ` I f

w e n ee d e d a n y p r o o f , t h i s

m o r n i n g h a s j u st sh o w n h o w i m p o ssi b le i t w o u l d b e f o r u s t o w o r k t o g e t h e r .

O n e w o r d a b o u t - a b o u t ...'

le a v in g t h e n a m e u n sa id , sh e h u r r i ed o n , ` a n d w e w o u l d o n ly b e a t e a ch

ot her 's t h roa t s a l l ov er ag a in .'` Yo u t h i n k I d o n 't k n o w th a t?' H i s v o i ce w a s h a r sh a s h e sw u n g a w a y t o st a n d

r u b b i n g a t t h e b a c k o f h is

n eck w it h a n i m p a t i en t h a n d .

H e r sh i m m e r in g g r e y e y es sh a d e d w it h u n c er t a i n t y .

'W - w e ll, t h e n ?' L a n e d r e w i n a d e e p b r e a t h a n d t u r n e d b a c k t o f a c e Je n n a

dispass ionate ly . `Then we' l l

ju st h a v e t o en su re sh e isn 't m en t io n ed , w o n 't w e?'


33/202

Jcnna chew ed a t her l ip in si len t cont em p la t ion . ` I su p p ose so , ' she f ina l ly h a d

l it t l e o p t io n b u t t o a g r e e,

a lb e it a t r i f le dou b t fu l ly . Un d er t he ci r cu m sta nces i t p rem ed th e on ly l og ica l

so lu t i on , bu t w he t he r it

w o u l d 0 so p r o v e t o b e a p r a ct i ca l o n e , o n l y t i m e w o u l d t e l l.

CH A P T ER T W O

The fo l low ing cou p le o f w eek s w ere som eth ing o f a n eye -op ener fo r Jenna , as

she ca m e t o rea l ise ju st

how m u ch o f t he necessa ry e f fo r t r equ i red t o h av e Fo r reste r ' s new est

su b si d i a r y h ea d in g u p w a r d s

f inan c ia l ly once ag a in , w ou ld b e exp end ed b y he r husb a nd . O f cou rse she had

a l w a y s k n o w n h e

p ossessed a n inst inct iv e f la i r for b u siness, a nd for recogn ising t ho se p rod u cts

m o st l ik e ly t o c a p tu r e t h e

p u b l i c's fa ncy ; bu t i t w a s no t u n t i l he bega n rev iew ing the v a r ious new

m a n u fa ctu r i n g p r o je ct s t h e

co m p a n y h a d p la n n e d , t h a t sh e a ct u a l ly l ea r n t ju st h o w co m p e t e n t a n d

i m a g i n a t iv e a d e sig n e n g in e e r h e

w a s a s w e l l.

H e a l so w ork ed a t a n u n re len t ing p ace , she soon d i scov e red ru e fu l l y , bu t a s

t h i s seem ed t o p reclud e

m a ny op p or tu n i t i es fo r com m ent s o f a p e rsona l na tu re she w as incl ined t o fee l

t h e b e n e f it s o u t w e i g h e dth e d i sa d v a n ta g e s; e v e n t h o u g h i t m e a n t h e r w o r k in g h o u r s w e r e e xte n d e d

m o re of t en t h a n n o t - a n d q u i t e

d ra st i ca l ly so o n occasion . A n occu r rence Ken t fou nd now here nea r a s

accep t a b le, how ever , becau se on

t hose few even ings w hen Jenn a w a s a b le to sha re h is com p a ny she w a s u su a l ly

t o o d r a in ed t o w a n t t o d o

a n y th in g b u t sl ee p .


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` F o r h e a v e n ' s sa k e , y o u ' r e n o t w o r k i n g l a t e a g a in t o n i g h t , a r e y o u ?' h e m a d e

h is increa sing ly com m on

co m p la i n t y e t a g a i n o n e a f t e r n o o n o n h e a r i n g Je n n a a p o l o g ise f o r n o t b e in g

a v a i la b le t o g o t o t h e m o v i es

w it h h i m t h a t e v e n i n g . T h is i s g e t t i n g p a st t h e p o in t o f a jo k e , y o u k n o w ! T h e

m a n 's b e c o m i n g a

p osi t i ve slav e -d r i ve r ,' he sa id w i th a d i sg ru n t led look in th e d i rect ion o f La ne 's

o f f ice, `a nd I 'm su re a l l

t h is w ork ing b a ck ca n ' t rea l ly b e necessa ry . '

`La ne a p p a rent ly th ink s i t i s,' she shru gge d , sm i l ing cont r i te ly .

A r ep l y t h a t d i d n o t a p p e a r t o m o ll if y h i m f o r h is e y es p r o m p t ly n a r ro w e d

su sp iciously . `A nd t ha t ' s

a n o th e r t h i n g ! I n o t ice it d i d n 't t a k e y o u l o n g t o g e t o n f i rst n a m e te r m s w it h

h i m ,' h e g r o w le d .

`W el l, so is p ra ct ica l ly ev ery on e e lse,' she h a l f lau gh ed in su rp r ise.

`The b osses, m a yb e, b u t no t t he rest o f u s ... a nd cer t a in ly no t t he o f f ice st a f f ! '

h is re to r t cam e exp l ic it l y .

U n t i l t h e n Je n n a h a d n o t r e a l ly p a id t h e m a t t e r a n y a t t e n t i o n - p r o b a b ly

becau se she ha d b een to o b usy t o

t a k e n o t e o f a n y t h i n g m u ch a t a l l b esid e s h e r w o r k o f l a t e ; b u t n o w t h a t i t

h a d b e en p o i n t e d o u t t o h e r

she sud den ly rea l i sed i t w as th e t r u th , an d th a t no t even F reda ca l led t he i r

new b oss an y t h ing b u t M r Fo r rest e r .` I -w e l l - i t just ca m e ab ou t t h rou gh ou r w ork ing so close ly tog eth er , I gu ess,' she

o f fe red h a st i ly . A f te r

t he i r d ist u rb ing con f ro n t a t ion on , th e sub ject i t ha d a p p eared th e on ly sensib le

co u r se t o a d o p t .

`Bu t w o rk ing so c lose ly ... a t w ha t , I'm beg inn ing t o w ond er !'

'Ken t !' She ga zed u p a t h im , shocked . N o t on ly w a s h i s i nsinua t ion t he last

t h ing she ha d exp ected , a s


35/202

w e ll as be ing t he least l ik e l y to occu r , bu t i t w as a l so t he last t h ing she w a n t ed

a ny one t o su sp ect . It

m ig h t g i v e r ise t o t h e f u r t h e r sp e cu la t io n t h a t sh e a n d L a n e w e re n o t p e rh a p s

t he st ran ge rs eve ryone to

d a t e h a d

a ssu m e d t h e m to b e ! Yo u ' re le t t in g y o u r im a g i n a t io n r u n a w a y w it h y o u ,' sh e

ch i d e d w it h f o r ce d

h u m o u r . W h y o n e a r t h w o u ld L a n e - M r F o r re ste r , if y o u p r e fe r,' sh e

a m e n d e d d i p l o m a t i ca l ly , b e

in te rest ed in m e? To h im , I 'm just an o t he r secre ta ry w i th a requ isi te

k n o w le d g e o f sh o r t h a n d a n d a se t o f

n im b le f ingers, tha t 's a l l.' A nd just t o b e on t he sa fe side , in case he st i l l ha d

an y d ou b t s, it d id no t seem

un reasona b le to d i v u lge , `Besides, f r om w ha t I 've hea rd , he 's a lread y m a r r ied ,

a n y w a y . '

Ken t ev iden t l y d id no t see it i n th e sa m e li gh t . `So w hen d id th a t eve r sto p a

m a n in h i s p osi t i on f r om

w a n t i n g t h e b e st o f b o th w o r ld s?' h e im m e d i a t e ly sn e er e d .

St ran ge ly , consid e r ing h i s fa t a l a t t r a ct ion fo r t he op p osi te sex , th a t w as one

t ra n sgre ssion she h a d no t

a ccu sed h er hu sb a nd o f d u r ing t he i r year s t oget her , Jenn a reco l lec ted

ab sen t l y , th en shook he r head

q u ick ly to d ism iss t he p a st .`W hen I ha p p en to b e the secre ta ry i nvo lv ed , tha t ' s w hen ! ' she now an sw ered

in t a u t ly i n d i g n a n t t o n e s.

` A n d if t h o se a r e t h e o n l y t y p e o f re m a r k s y o u i n t e n d t o m a k e , t h e n I 'm

a f ra id you ' ll ha ve to excu se m e ,

b e ca u se I'm r a t h e r b u sy a t t h e m o m e n t .' Sh e lo w e r ed h e r h ea d a n d b e g a n

f l ick ing ove r t he p ag es o f he r

n o t e b o o k .


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F o r a m in u t e o r tw o Ke n t st o o d lo o k in g d o w n a t h e r in d e cisi v e ly , a n d t h e n h e

ga ve a rem orse fu l sigh .

Ò h , hel l, I 'm so r r y ,' he ap o log ised . À ctu a l ly , tha t w asn ' t w ha t I m ean t t o sa y

a t a l l. Forg ive m e ...?' H e

ben t t o l ook in to he r fa ce w i th ca jo li ng eyes.

Ò n ly i f you st op m ak ing such r i d i cu lou s innu end oes.' She a gg r ieved ly

re tu rned h i s ga ze .

` I w i ll , I p rom ise ,' he vow ed , and l if t ing a ha nd to uched i t l i gh t l y to he r cheek .

` I t 's ju st t ha t yo u ' re so

d a m n e d b e a u t i f u l I ca n 't p ict u r e a n y o t h e r m a n b e in g i m m u n e t o y o u e it h e r .'

Jenna f l ushed a nd look ed a bo u t h e r anx iously , hop ing no on e e lse ha d

ov erhea rd , a nd a s i f sensing her

sel f - consc iou sn ess a t h is choice of p la ce for su ch w or d s, Kent cont inu ed

hur r ied ly .

À s a m a t te r o f fa ct , w ha t I w as rea l l y go ing to say , o r ask you , w as i f you 'd

l ik e t o sp e n d n e x t w e ek e n d

a t m y p a r e n t s' p la ce u p a t W o y W o y . W e co u l d d o a sp o t o f sa i l in g , d r o p i n a

l ine for som e f ish in g, or

ju st g o t o t h e b ea ch . I t h o u g h t it w o u ld m a k e a n ice ch a n g e a s w e ll a s g iv e

y o u t h e c h a n ce t o r e l a x a b it

a f t e r a l l t h i s e xt r a w o r k y o u 'v e b e e n d o i n g o f la t e . Q u i t e a p a r t f r o m a l lo w in g

u s t o h a v e a l it t le m o r e t i m e

to g e th e r ,' h e a d d e d e n g a g in g l y .`Sou nd s g rea t , and just w ha t I need .' I t d idn ' t t ak e he r long to ag ree . She ha d

v isi ted h is p a rent s t w ice

b e fo r e a n d sh e l ik e d b o th o f t h e m , a n d t h e sm a l l co a sta l re so r t w h e r e t h e y

l iv e d a b o u t a n h o u r o r so 's

d r i ve no r th o f th e ci t y . `W hen d id you p lan t o l ea ve? F r iday n igh t , as usu a l?'

` M m m , I t h o u g h t st r a i g h t a f t e r w o r k , a n d t h e n w e 'l l b e t h e r e in t i m e f o r

d inner , ' he sa id , look ing


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co n sid e ra b l y h a p p ie r n o w . P r o v id in g , o f co u r se , y o u w o n 't b e w o r k i n g l a t e

t ha t n igh t a s w e ll !' H is

m o u t h sh a p e d w r y ly .

Jenna lau gh ed, her sm ok y g rey eyes sp a rk l ing b r igh t ly . `Yes, w e l l, I 'l l just ha ve

t o d o m y b e st t o

en su re. .. '

` If i t 's n o t t o o m u c h t r o u b le , M iss Bo w m a n , m i g h t I a sk ju st w h e n I 'm g o i n g t o

r e ce iv e t h a t b l u e p r in t I

ask ed you to ge t fo r m e ove r ha l f a n hou r ago ?' The a r ra si ve ly em p ha sised

requ est su d d en ly cu t a cross

Jenna 's w ord s an d ha d he r j um p ing a t r i f l e gu i l t i ly a s she sw u ng t o fa ce he r

hu sb an d ' s o f f i ce an d fou nd

h i m to b e sta n d i n g i n t h e d o o r w a y w it h h i s h a n d s r e st i n g o n le a n h ip s a n d a

decidedly less than p leased

exp ression o n h is t igh t ly set fea t u res.

'O h -e r - th e p lan t sa id t hey 'd send i t r i gh t a cross,' she sta m m ered aw k w ard ly ,

w o n d e r i n g ju st h o w lo n g h e

h a d b e e n t h e r e a n d i f h e h a d h e a r d a n y o f t h e i r co n v e r sa t io n .

La ne 's b row s l if t ed sa rcast ica l ly . ` I st i ll do n ' t ha ve i t , t hou gh .'

` I - I 'l l go a nd see w ha t 's ha p p ened t o i t , ' she o f fe red sw i f t l y , a l rea d y r ising t o

he r feet .

72473948 kerry allyne legally bound

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