She had meals out with girlfriends on a fairly regular basis, but it had been a while since she had had a meal out with a man, and against all better judgement she found herself sneaking glances at Bruno as he contemplated the menu in front of him and ordered a bottle of white wine.
It was a unique experience to walk into a room and know that female heads were surreptitiously turning in their direction as they watched and assessed from under lowered lashes. She did not have the immediately captivating face of someone who aroused curious second looks. She was not unattractive, but she knew, deep down, that the few attractions she did possess were played down. Her mind and intelligence were what she wanted on display, rather than her physical attributes. It felt peculiar to be speculated upon by perfect strangers, even if it was simply because she was in the company of Bruno Carr.
He looked up suddenly from the menu and she dropped her eyes, ruffled to think that he might have caught her stare and followed the train of her thoughts from it.
âSo,' he said lazily, âshall we launch immediately into a work-related discussion or would you like to have a glass of wine first?'
Why did she get the impression that, although he recognised her intelligence, he was secretly laughing at her?
âI do have it in me to converse about things other than work,' she told him coldly, unsettled by his attitude. She felt as though he was toying with her, in much the same way that a cat toyed with a mouse. âI just thought that that was my reason for flying over to see you at this time of the night.'
He ignored that part of her little speech. âOther things than work...well, I guess that means...play?' He had ordered a bottle of white wine, and he looked at her as he tasted a thumbful, nodded, and then waited while two glasses were poured. âSo, aside from law books and court cases, what other forms of play do you indulge in?'
He tilted his head slightly to one side, sipped his wine and contemplated her with a gravity which she knew was fake. He was highly amused by her and she found it exasperating.
âI'm sure you know,' she informed him calmly, taking a mouthful of wine and savouring the taste on her tongue, âconsidering you had my CV in front of you in my office and it was all listed there. But, in case you forgot, I enjoy going to the theatre, reading and foreign travel. What about you?' She looked at him without blinking and decided that two could play that game. âOops, sorry. I saw firsthand in your office what sort of play you enjoy indulging in.'
Had she said that?
Had she gone completely mad?
He grinned at her wickedly. âI do enjoy going to the theatre, reading, and foreign travel as well. But I'll admit there are other, more absorbing types of play I prefer.'
âRight.' She could feel colour stealing into her cheeks, and she hurriedly drank some more wine. âNow, shall we discuss this case? At least go over a few things? I'm sure you have a hectic schedule tomorrow and the lessâ'
âDear me. Surely you can do better than that.' He shot her a surprised look. âJust when I thought that we were going to have a little chat about these...things other than work you enjoy talking about.'
âOkay. Then let's talk about why you ordered me over to see you only to drag me out here the minute I step foot through the door.'
âDrag you out here? You have a way with words, don't you?'
âI'm sorry,' Jessica said stiffly, âI didn't mean to appear rude.'
âOh, feel free to speak your mind. I appreciate honesty in a person.'
âIn that case, I might as well tell you that I'm a great believer in discussion. I don't like being commanded to do things. I realise that you're my boss...'
âAnd have the authority to tell you precisely what I want you to do...?' His voice was soft and when he drank his wine he continued to look at her over the rim of his glass.
âTheoretically.' The conversation seemed to be getting out of hand and she wondered when they had veered away from the conventional boss-employee line of chit-chat. âYou did say that you wanted me to be honest,' she said a little defensively, in anticipation of criticism.
âOh, I know. And there's no need to look so alarmed. I'm not about to invoke the wrath of Khan on you for your temerity. After all, we
will
be working together to some extent. We might as well make sure that we can co-operate. I'm a great believer in the open forum.'
âExcept for tonight.'
âExcept for tonight,' he agreed, half smiling.
âBecause...?' She looked at him, and tried to let that suggestion of great charm wash over her. âBecause...' Bruno Carr did things for a reason. âYou wanted me at your office...at that precise moment...because...' It suddenly clicked. âBecause you wanted to get rid of your girlfriend and my appearance was the most convenient way of doing that... am I right?'
âYou have a suspicious mind,' he answered, leaning back slightly as plates of food were put in front of them, and vegetables were distributed with flourish. âIt must be the lawyer in you.'
âI don't like being used, Mr Carr.'
âWhy don't you call me Bruno? I encourage first names among my employees. Good for company morale. Makes people feel more comfortable.'
âBut that's an illusion, isn't it?' Jessica said in a steely voice. âAs tonight proved. You wanted me over because it was an expedient way of getting your girlfriend to leave.'
She could see that he was getting uncomfortable with her persistence but the thought of such blatant manipulation of her stuck in her throat.
âOh, for God's sake, you're like a dog with a bone. If it makes you feel any better to hear me admit it, then, yes, you're right. You telephoned, and the idea occurred to me that an unavoidable business meeting was just what I needed'
Jessica finished her glass of wine and it was immediately refilled.
âThat's despicable.' She thought it, yes, but she was still amazed when it popped out of her mouth, almost as though any connection between thought and action had been severed. She knew that she ought to apologise. Whatever he said about first names and appreciating honesty and trying to make his employees feel comfortable, he still owned the company she worked for.
But she found it difficult not to voice her objections. She had spent too many years witnessing the price of her mother's silence.
âWhy didn't you just tell the poor woman that you were tired of her?'
â
The poor woman?
' All trace of charm had disappeared from his face and he glowered at her. âYou have no idea what you're talking about when you refer to Rachel as
the poor woman,
and I have no idea why I'm bothering to elaborate on any of this with you.'
âGuilt?' she suggested. âGuilt that I saw through your little manoeuvre? A basic sense of decency in realising that I need some kind of explanation? Even if I
am
only an employee? I wouldn't suggest this normally, but you did say that you enjoyed the open forum.'
He shook his head and raked his fingers through his hair, then he shot her a frustrated, perplexed look from under his lashes. âSo, I gather, do you,' he commented, eyebrows raised, and she smiled serenely at him.
âI'm not in the habit of being quite so outspokenâ'
âNot in the habit! God, I should think you send men running in the opposite direction as fast as their legs can take them the minute you confront them with your brand of open forum chit-chat!'
Jessica went bright red and stabbed a few of the vegetables on her plate with misdirected aggression.
âThis is ridiculous,' she muttered, eating a mouthful of food that now tasted like sawdust. âAll of this is beside the point. Whatever your reasons for getting me to your office, and whether I approve of them or not, the point of my being here is in my briefcase on the ground.'
âOh, no, you don't,' he told her darkly. âYou generated this topic of conversation, and we'll finish it.'
âLike you said, you don't owe me an explanation...'
âBut we'll be working together and I don't intend to spend my time being treated like some kind of inhuman monster.'
âDoes it matter, just so long as we get the job done?'
âYes, I rather think it does.'
Jessica didn't say anything. She concentrated on her food and waited for him to speak.
âAnd would you like to know why? Because I wouldn't want you to think that I spend my time chasing women. We'll be working together, and I can't have you feeling threatened, now, can I?' Which, she thought, neatly put her in her place.
âI feel so much better for that. Thank you for setting my anxious mind at rest.'
âWhere do you get it from?'
âGet what from?'
âThat special talent you have for biting sarcasm? I can't see Robert dealing all that well with that viperlike tongue of yours.'
âRobert,' Jessica informed him stoutly, âis a sweetie.' And I'm not normally prone to biting sarcasm, she thought to herself, but then again the rest of the human race don't provoke me quite like you do.
âOh, good grief.' He closed his knife and fork and signalled for another bottle of wine.
Had they consumed one already? She had barely noticed what she had been drinking, and, looking down, she realised that she had done justice to her plate of food, also without noticing.
âAnd just to clear the air,' he informed her, âI don't walk around treating women like second-rate citizens.'
âI'm sure you don't.'
âThat's right, so you can wipe that supercilious expression off your face.'
âLook, there's really no need...'
âRachel, just for the record, started off as a bit of fun, but I discovered that she wasn't as content as I thought just to have a good time. Pretty soon, she...she...'
âWanted more?' Jessica said helpfully.
âOh, you're aware of the phenomenon, are you?'
âNot personally.'
âWell...' he shrugged and adopted a hangdog expression â...what can a man do?'
The blue eyes scoured her face with boyish bewilderment.
âOh, please!' Jessica told him awkwardly, recognising that this was the essence of true charm. Bruno Carr, arrogant and self-confident that he was, would never veer into the arena of cruelty, because he genuinely liked women. His natural instincts were to persuade, even when seduction played no part in a hidden agenda. The ability to flirt was as inherent with him as the ability to breathe. He did it without thinking, which was why he was so adept at it
âWomen.' He raised both shoulders expressively. âSometimes I don't think I understand them at all.'
âReally. Now I wonder why I find that so hard to believe.'
âRachel started talking about the importance of families, of having children, the benefits of settling down.'
âPoor, misguided girl,' Jessica said without a trace of sympathy in her voice for him. âAnd what a dreadful predicament for you, I'm sure. One minute, you have a willing, vivacious partner, the next minute she's gazing into jeweller shops and dropping hints about permanence.'
âI'm not the marrying sort,' he said. âSome men are and some men aren't.'
âYou mean it's all in the genes?'
âWhereas all women are. Eventually.'
âAh. I see.' She nodded slowly. In a strange, masochistic way, and even though she still resented his high-handed behaviour and was appalled by his train of thought, she found that she was enjoying this conversation. She must be mad.
âI mean,' he said, âyou come across as being the archetypal career woman, but, if you were to be brutally honest with yourself, wouldn't you agree that when you see the odd pram being pushed you get a certain pang?'
âWhat kind of pang?'
âA pang of longing. Something to do with a biological clock, I gather.' He poured another glass of wine for them both.
âWell, not that I've ever recognised, but I suppose if your theory's true then I must subconsciously have that pang lurking in there somewhere.' How come the conversation was suddenly featuring her in the starring role? Her mind was feeling a little unreliable from the wine.
âAnd you don't?'
Jessica shook her head and frowned. âI thought we were talking about you,' she said, thinking furiously.
âWe were, but then somehow we've ended up talking about you. I think it's important to have some insight into the people who work with me.'
âYou mean you enjoy prying into their lives?'