THE REBEL AND THE RICH GIRL (22 page)

Realizing she was staring just as much as he was, Faith tore her gaze away, returning her attention to paying for her meal, but her hands trembled as she pulled the required change from her purse.

When Faith turned to follow her friend from the cafe, it took all the willpower she could muster to keep her eyes locked on the open glass doorway, as she concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Suddenly her knees felt as weak as water, and when they passed his table, she was acutely conscious of his presence. Her skin prickled with awareness, and even though it was a relatively cool early spring day, she grew hot and uncomfortable.

Then at last she was free. Standing on the footpath, she took a deep shuddering breath. Then as though the hounds of Hell were on her heels, Faith ran all the way back to work.

But she was unable to escape the past. The memories came after her, closing in on her like vultures as she tried to flee their grasping claws.

Stephanie called for her to slow down as she tried to keep up in her teetering heels, but Faith ignored her.

The worst night of her life had involved the man from the coffee shop.

Thank God for work, she thought, as she reached her building. It would help keep the memories at bay, like it always had when life got out of hand. Her job had been her savior before, and Faith promptly marched up to the reception counter to see if her next appointment had arrived. Since Stephanie had detoured via the ladies room, Faith dealt with the people waiting there before calling out the name on her list.

A slender middle-aged woman approached her from the waiting room, and Faith motioned for her to follow her. As she turned, Stephanie arrived at the counter. Faith didn’t bother saying anything to her about it. On the whole Stephanie worked well, and it irked Faith that their supervisor, Maureen, rostered Stephanie onto reception most of the time, when it was meant to be a shared responsibility.

Faith and Stephanie worked with eight other people for a small employment agency in the busy southern Sydney suburb of Hurstville. Faith had secured the position soon after completing her welfare studies. She liked working with people, and found nothing more satisfying than matching her clients to jobs, and hearing how happy they were when successful. It didn’t happen all the time, and occasionally things got stressful, particularly when dealing with clients suffering from emotional problems or those who received knock back after knock back.

Her current client was returning to the workforce after many years at home looking after her children. She’d recently undergone training in pathology imaging, and wanted work at one of the many labs in the area. Faith checked through her agency’s database and found several suitable positions.

Less than half an hour later the woman left with four interviews to attend, along with the names of several other labs she could approach.

As soon as the woman had gone, Stephanie appeared beside Faith’s desk. Like all the interview booths, it was set up behind a partition, but with enough space around it so that other people in the office could see one another should a problem arise.

“Me? What for?” Did she really have to ask? Obviously he had decided to come and make her life hell for a second time. Faith couldn’t believe her dirty rotten luck. As if it wasn’t bad enough coming across him in the coffee shop, he had to follow her to her office.

“That’s what I’d like to know, miss I wouldn’t walk up to a stranger and introduce myself," Stephanie teased, still totally oblivious to Faith's tension. "He clearly knows who you are, so you must know him.”

“What does he want?” Faith demanded, knowing she sounded harsher than she’d meant to. A police warrant for stalking would be a good start, she decided angrily.

“He said; I’ve come to talk to Faith Harding if she’s available please. Very polite and professional, I might add,” Stephanie replied, adopting a rather posh sounding accent.

Faith sprung to her feet, her pulse hammering loudly in her ears. “Did he give his name?” She didn’t really need to ask that either. She might not have found out his first name, but she would never forget his sister; Janelle Moore, the cattiest, bitchiest, and most beautiful girl in school.

“Er… no. But since he knows you I didn’t bother to ask him his.” Stephanie frowned at Faith, only now realizing something was bothering Faith about the man. "Do you want me to - "

“Never mind. I’ll deal with him.” If he plans on humiliating me a second time, he has another thing coming, she thought vehemently. Faith wasn’t that impressionable teenager anymore. She could give as good as she got.

Stephanie trailed after her as Faith approached the waiting area. She didn’t see him at first amongst the other clients, not until Stephanie motioned towards the bank of windows, and then returned to the reception desk. The man from her past had his back to them and was standing, gazing out into the street.

As she approached him Faith became conscious of how much taller than her he was, which wasn’t difficult since she was only five foot three and rarely wore heels.

Her steps slowed as she neared him, her eyes fixed on the back of his head, at the way his cute ponytail curled over his collar. What she really felt like doing was getting one of her burliest colleagues to march him straight out the door.

How dare he show up here after all this time to harass her! And why would he want to? It wasn’t as though that incident had meant anything to him.

Finally she was close enough to touch him, but still she refrained from making her presence known, continuing to hope he’d notice her of his own accord. After a few more moments of silent unease, she reached out and tapped his upper arm.

“You asked to see me,” she said as he turned around to face her. Once again she was struck by his eyes, so green and sensual, the eyes of a lover she couldn’t help thinking, despite herself. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he blinked down at her, but he didn’t say a single word.

Typical, she thought. Try and unnerve me with your sultry charm. Well, it isn’t going to work. I’ve seen and heard it all, so I’m completely immune to gorgeous men like you. Behind her back she crossed her fingers.

Deciding to maintain complete professionalism, she went on; “How can I help you?” If she thought to wipe the grin off his face it didn’t work. “You asked to see me. The least you could do is tell me who you are and why you’re here.”

“You don’t remember me?” he said at last. She really shouldn’t have been surprised that his voice was as sexy as his smile, deep, resonant, and definitely posh.

“I went to school with lots of people,” she said, knowing she’d played the right card. If she continued to pretend she’d forgotten, he’d get the message and leave. He couldn’t hurt her this time. They were standing in the middle of a waiting room, if not filled to capacity, there were enough people within hollering distance should she require their assistance.

“I’m sure it will come to you…” he said after a moment. “Now, I have a position with my company I would like to fill. Can we go inside to discuss it?”

She hadn’t expected that, and wondered if he was making it up. Faith glanced pointedly down at her watch. “Well, I have an appointment due any moment. You really should have called first… I could check if one of the other officers is free to see you.” It would also save her from having to deal with him.

“I came here to see you, Faith.” The way he said her name made her shiver. He made it sound almost exotic with his soft, yet compelling voice.

“And why is that, may I ask?”

He smiled that quirky smile again. “I was told you were one of the best, so you’re the person I want to find me a secretary.”

“All right,” she relented, knowing she had a good reputation. But how had he found out about it? “Follow me, but should my appointment turn up I won’t want to keep her waiting too long.”

“She just might be the secretary I’m looking for,” he said, flashing her another debonair smile.

Faith turned away and marched back to the reception desk where she stopped to ask Stephanie if her two-thirty had arrived.

Stephanie shook her head, and smiled sweetly, no doubt to attract the attention of the tall man looming behind Faith. Faith pulled a face at her, which only succeeded in making Stephanie giggle like a school girl.

Gritting her teeth, Faith said; “Ok, follow me, Mr Moore.” As she glanced over her shoulder at him, she noticed he had a rather lop-sided gait, as though he might recently have sprained his ankle. He sat down in the chair indicated beside the desk, and drew his brief case up onto his lap with his right hand.

Faith slipped into her own seat and turned to her computer. “So what’s this job all about?”

He rummaged around inside his case before holding up a single sheet of paper. “I have the details right here.” He passed it to her, and Faith took it, ensuring their fingers didn’t accidentally touch, but she did notice that his hands were as nice to look at as everything else about him seemed to be. Having studied piano for a number of years, she liked nothing more than to watch a deft set of long tapered fingers dance across the keyboard. His would look beautiful gliding over the ebony and ivory, she decided.

Faith tore her gaze away and focused her attention on the page he’d given her, inwardly cursing herself for letting her mind wonder.

As she read it, she saw that it outlined the requirements for a secretary with his firm, Moore and Associates, Chartered Accountants. The letterhead looked official, with address and business numbers. She’d easily be able to verify if it was a genuine company. As she read the job description, her downstairs neighbor, Nicole West, came to mind. The position would suit her to a tee, but Nicole was as desperate as Stephanie for a man, meaning she’d probably spend more time drooling over her hot new boss than getting any work done.

“Well?” he prompted from beside her. “Can you help me? Is there any more information you need?”

“No, you’ve been quite thorough in your job description, Mr Moore. I don’t think we’ll have any trouble filling your position. Will you be interviewing the applicants yourself?” she asked, sitting back in her chair since he’d leant further across the desk to regard her over the edge of the page.

“Yes, I have Friday free to interview. If you send five of your best secretaries, I will see them then.”

“But today is Wednesday. That only leaves tomorrow for people to respond,” she protested.

“Then you’d better start ringing around,” he asserted. “And another thing, tell them we’ll be relocating to the CBD in a few months. Make sure they’re prepared to travel into the city each day. I’m planning on moving out of the area so I’m moving the business to a more central location.”

The conceit of the man, Faith thought in ire, but if he was anything like his sister, arrogance was probably his middle name. Why couldn’t he have shifted himself and his business before coming in here to throw his weight around? she thought crossly.

Just then Maureen sauntered past, and even though Faith didn’t think she was cut out for the job, she was the supervisor, so she motioned her over.

“You have a problem, Faith?” the five foot ten, five foot wide keg on legs wheezed down at her. Maureen always wore clothes that emphasized her bulges; whatever was fashionable for eighteen year old size eights.

Yes, I have an overbearing male problem I want to make disappear, she though grimly. But of course she didn’t say that. “Mr Moore, this is my supervisor, Maureen Lynch.”

He flashed Maureen one of his sexy smiles, and to Faith’s amazement, Maureen actually blushed. Now for the killer blow, Faith thought. Let’s see how Maureen responds to being told to do some work. “Mr Moore wants us to find him a secretary by Friday.”

“Um, that’s not very long for us to get the best,” Maureen hedged.

“Oh, I’m sure someone as capable and professional as Faith here could come up with the goods for me if she works on it tomorrow,” Jayden told Maureen confidently.

I so want to kill him, Faith thought, clenching her hands into fists. “I’d really like to Maureen, but I have a full schedule of appointments.”

“I’ll get Stephanie to rebook them. She’s not doing anything much on reception this afternoon. Have no fear, Mr Moore. I’ll make sure Faith finds you that secretary,” Maureen reassured him.

Just then Stephanie approached Faith’s work station. “Your three o’clock appointment’s here, Faith,” she announced, before sashaying off again, her hips swaying. You’re welcome to him, Steph, Faith thought crossly. Run your fingers through his multi-colored hair all you like. I’m sure it will make you both very happy. Argh, she thought, first I admire his hands, and now it’s his hair.

“Nice to meet you, Mr Moore,” Maureen said sweetly, before she too sashayed off, her hips wobbling.

Faith placed her head in her hands, and tried not to laugh. When she looked back up again, Jayden was smiling at her again. There was warmth in his eyes she wouldn’t have associated with the man who’d said such nasty things to her seven years ago. His dreamy green eyes seemed to melt into hers, urging her to lean forward and kiss his beautifully shaped lips... No, damn it. She blinked and tore her gaze away, realizing she was no more immune to a good looking man’s charms now than two years ago when Laurie had swept into her life and totally messed it up.

“Well, if that’s all I’d better call in my appointment,” she announced. If she refused to look at him, she was in a much better position of ignoring the heady effect he had on her.