Executive Mother-To-Be

by Nicola Marsh

  It had been one night, nearly three months ago, for goodness’ sake! One incredible, amazing night when she’d connected with a guy whose surname she didn’t even know.

  Yeah, really connected.

  Shaking her head, she wiped her damp palms against her skirt, tugged at her jacket hem and, swinging her bag over her shoulder, she rapped sharply at the door.

  However, as the door opened and she willed her legs to stay upright, Kristen knew forgetting Nate and that one eventful night would be impossible.

  Totally impossible considering Nathan Boyd, CEO—Nathan Boyd, her new boss—was her Nate.

  The guy who had rocked her world.

  Nate’s smile faded as Kristen tried her best not to reel back in shock.

  ‘Kris?’

  Not the smoothest of opening lines, but then considering she couldn’t think let alone form words at that moment he was faring a damn sight better than her.

  Looking way too calm, he stepped aside and gestured her in. ‘Please come in.’

  She ignored his invitation, her legs rooted to the spot. Wasn’t he the least bit rattled to find her on his doorstep? How could he look so cool, so unflappable?

  Suddenly, white-hot anger shot through her as she studied his composed face, knowing exactly why she’d been headhunted for this job, and by whom.

  ‘I don’t believe this!’ she finally blurted, years of professionalism deserting her as she stared at him in growing horror, heat surging to her cheeks.

  ‘Come inside and we’ll discuss it,’ he said, his voice as deep and steady as she remembered as he opened the door wider and waited for her to step inside.

  Marching through the door like a woman sentenced to the gallows, she collapsed into the nearest chair on the visitor’s side of his desk, and took several calming breaths before she exploded.

  ‘Did you know about this?’

  Taking a seat behind his desk, he sat back, shoulders relaxed and arms resting comfortably on his fancy leather director’s chair, while she could barely keep a lid on her growing temper.

  ‘About you working here? No.’

  ‘Really? I’m guessing there aren’t a lot of executive producers named Kristen. Were you behind me being headhunted?’

  ‘Why would you think that?’

  Rolling her eyes, she said, ‘Come on, you’re a smart man. Do I need to spell it out? Singapore—the night we were together?’

  His lips thinned into a compressed line as he ran a hand through his hair, the first sign he was anything other than on top of the situation.

  ‘Look, I had no idea who the new exec producer was till I opened that door and saw you standing there. I’ve been in charge of this operation less than twenty-four hours, and have spent most of that time out on the studio floor. I haven’t studied employee lists, haven’t had the time. Instead, I’ve asked Hallie to send along everyone from the top down at half-hourly intervals so I can get acquainted face to face rather than studying boring CV’s.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ she said, her anger somewhat deflating at the sincerity in his voice as the reality of the situation finally hit her.

  She’d just barged into her new boss’s office with the finesse of a wounded rhino, flinging wild accusations and acting like the injured party, when in fact this was her dream job and she could’ve just botched it with her erratic behaviour.

  ‘I’m surprised you didn’t do your homework. You know, study up on who you’d be working for.’

  Nate fixed her with a stare she found disconcertingly familiar, a gleam of challenge in the dark depths of his eyes, and she bristled, hating his implications that she wasn’t professional.

  ‘I did. Though I guess the contract I signed or the prospectus I read didn’t mention your name.’

  She snapped her fingers, not willing to give him an inch, her latent anger taking little to reignite. ‘Then again, I wouldn’t have made the connection, not knowing your surname and all.’

  He stiffened, the faintest red staining his tanned cheeks. ‘You’re overreacting. You don’t see me throwing around allegations, like maybe you knew I was CEO here and wanted to give me a shake-up by walking in here today as my newest employee?’

  ‘Overreacting?’

  She leaped from her chair before she could think twice, planting her hands on his desk and leaning forward.

  ‘Aren’t you the least bit thrown by this nightmare situation? Don’t you feel awkward? And do you honestly think I’d go to the trouble of faking a shocked reaction just to get a rise out of you?’

  Shaking her head, she plopped back down in her chair, suddenly embarrassed by her outburst. ‘Look, I’m sorry if I did overreact, but honestly finding out you’re my boss has thrown me.’

  Though, in all honesty, not half as thrown as how attracted she was to him even in a crazy situation like this.

  While she wanted to rant and rave at the injustice of having to work with a guy she’d rather forget, she couldn’t help but admire his charcoal-grey designer suit and the way it fitted the great body she’d already had the pleasure of exploring in intimate detail.

  As for his eyes…They had a mesmerising quality, their darkness a fathomless pool of mystery which begged to be explored, and her pulse raced at the memories of how far she’d taken that exploration…

  Sitting back, he clasped his hands behind his head, every bit the consummate professional, while she struggled to refocus her wandering attention and come to terms with her new employer.

  ‘A coincidence over which I had no control. Now, what do you want to do?’

  She wanted to walk out of his office and never look back.

  She wanted to stop noticing the way his business shirt stretched across his chest as he leaned back, the same hard, muscular chest she’d had one-on-one contact with.

  But most of all she wanted to forget how he’d made her feel on that one incredible night.

  Taking a steadying breath, she said, ‘I want to be the best damn executive producer RX has ever had. But this is still uncomfortable.’

  She waved her hands between the two of them, wishing he wouldn’t look at her like that, the intensity of his dark gaze resurrecting memories she’d rather forget, her mind still reeling from the fact they’d be working together.

  ‘It doesn’t have to be. We’re professionals. I’m sure what’s happened in the past doesn’t have to affect our work.’

  ‘Professionals. Right.’

  Suddenly her shoulders relaxed, and she sat back in the chair, knowing she’d faced a lot hairier situations and come out on top. Besides, how hard could working with Nate be?

  ‘You’re right. We both didn’t mind the anonymity that night, and it’s in the past. Done. Forgotten. So, Nathan Boyd, what’s your vision for Channel RX and how do you see me fitting into it?’

  Straight to the point and no bull. She liked that in the people she worked with, and hoped he did too, especially considering her rather emotional outbursts since she’d first set foot in this office.

  Thankfully, he accepted her switch back to professionalism and, gathering a stack of papers in front of him, he shuffled a stapled bundle into a glossy navy folder and handed it to her.

  ‘My vision’s in there, laid out in black and white. I want Channel RX to ultimately be number one in Australia. I want ratings in prime-time slots to soar, I want innovation, I want a fresh slant on old faithfuls such as the news and current affairs. In a nutshell? I want it all.’

  ‘You’re aiming big,’ she said, a tiny thrill of excitement shooting through her at the thought of working with a boss who had a clear vision. ‘I like that.’

  Nodding, he clasped his hands and leaned forward. ‘As I haven’t had a chance to find out from other sources yet, tell me what you bring to RX.’

  ‘That’s easy. I’m the best.’

  She shrugged, knowing now wasn’t a time for modesty. She needed to impress Nate, to wow him, to show him that what they’d shared really was in the past, and she could giv
e one hundred percent to the job despite her earlier uncharacteristic tantrum.

  His lips twitched, resurrecting instant memories of how they’d felt, how he kissed, and she quickly subdued that train of thought.

  ‘You’re very confident.’

  ‘You have to be in this business,’ she said, fixing him with a direct stare designed to convince him of her sincerity. ‘I love my job. I’m prepared to put in the long hours, to do whatever it takes to make the shows I work on successful. I demand respect, and I treat co-workers the same way I’d like to be treated. I won’t settle for second best. I deserve more than that.’

  His lips curved upwards into a genuine smile as he stood and held out his hand. ‘I think you’ll be a great asset to this station. We’re going to make a good team.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  She shook his hand quickly, dropping it before she had time to register the quick surge of heat from his palm to hers. ‘I’ll go find my office and get acquainted with the rest of the gang.’

  ‘Great. I’ll see you later.’

  She headed for the door, wondering if this surreal experience was a dream and if she’d wake up as soon as she stepped out into the corridor.

  ‘Kris?’

  ‘Yes?’

  Her hand stilled on the doorknob as her heart thudded at the way he said her name, at the memories of how many times he’d murmured her name that night in Singapore.

  ‘It’s good seeing you again.’

  Managing a half-strangled smile, she bolted out the door.

  Kristen willed her legs to move at a sedate pace from Nate’s office, when in fact she wanted to bolt down the long corridor and keep running till she reached the massive front doors and beyond.

  Seeing the guy she’d spent countless sleepless nights trying to forget open that office door had been like a slap in the face, a swift, sharp wake-up call that she hadn’t forgotten him at all. Or, more precisely, hadn’t forgotten how he’d made her feel: feminine, desired and special.

  How could he elicit those feelings when she barely knew him?

  How could she face him on a daily basis knowing he had that sort of power over her?

  Rounding a corner, she pulled up short as Hallie held up her hands to prevent a collision. ‘Hey! You okay?’

  Schooling her face into a practised confident mask, she nodded. ‘Sure.’

  By Hallie’s raised eyebrow, she didn’t believe her. ‘Didn’t the meeting with the boss go well?’

  ‘It was fine.’

  Yeah, right.

  ‘You look like you could use a coffee. I’m heading to the cafeteria. Want to join me?’

  Kristen would’ve preferred to find her office and get settled in while getting her emotions under control, but the lure of caffeine proved too strong. She needed something to jolt her out of the trance-like shock at finding Mr Handsome was none other than Nathan Boyd, her new boss!

  ‘Love to,’ she said, falling into step with Hallie, who stood a head shorter than her but moved with the speed of light despite her three-inch stilettos.

  ‘What did you think of the boss?’

  Kristen chose her words carefully. ‘Nathan seems like a man with a vision. The channel should go far.’

  ‘Nathan, huh?’

  Hallie sent her a wink, and Kristen battled a rising blush and failed, speaking quickly to cover her gaff. ‘He’s very informal for a CEO. Actually, I didn’t expect to meet him on the first day. The CEOs of stations I’ve worked at before didn’t get too hands-on, but I get the impression he likes to be quite involved, especially on the creative side.’

  ‘The boss only started yesterday, and if you want my opinion he can get hands-on with me any time.’

  ‘That’s not very professional,’ Kris blurted, wishing she’d bitten her tongue as Hallie stared at her in wide-eyed confusion.

  Thankfully, a group of cameramen greeting Hallie like a long-lost friend defused the moment. Besides, she wasn’t jealous. She had to care to be jealous, and she didn’t, she couldn’t.

  ‘Okay, here we are. Welcome to the Ritz,’ Hallie said, waving off the boys and holding open the cafeteria door for her. ‘Come on, the coffee isn’t bad, if you don’t mind the odd dreg or two.’

  Smiling at the receptionist’s sense of humour, Kristen followed her into a cavernous room filled with stainless-steel tables and chairs, chafing dishes piled high with hot food lining one wall, and a huge selection of crisps, chocolate bars and sodas nearby.

  From what she’d seen so far, Channel RX did things on a grand scale, and if the quality of their current shows that she’d managed to watch so far was any indication she’d made a good decision.

  ‘What’ll it be? They do a mean latte and, seeing as it’s your first day, my shout.’

  ‘Latte’s fine. And thanks,’ Kristen said, feeling like a chick being pushed around by a mother hen.

  ‘Right, here you go. Let’s sit over there, and you can tell me the Kristen Lewis story,’ Hallie said, handing her a steaming latte in record time and making for a table in the farthest corner.

  ‘Not much to tell,’ Kristen said, unable to resist Hallie’s open friendliness, but wary all the same. ‘Besides, if I tell you all my deep, dark secrets on the first day, you’ll think I’m a gossip.’

  Hallie rolled her eyes. ‘As if. I’ve only been here a couple of months, you’re new, and so I’m bestowing you the great honour of being my work buddy.’

  Kristen didn’t know what to say, and before she could come up with something Hallie held up her hand. ‘Uh-uh. Don’t thank me. I know it’s a highly coveted position to be on the good side of the receptionist. I know you’re probably shell-shocked but, trust me, I’ll be nice.’

  Staring into Hallie’s guileless blue eyes, registering her wide, friendly smile, Kristen knew that at least she had one ally at RX.

  Taking a sip of her surprisingly good latte, she said, ‘Are you always this upfront?’

  Hallie nodded, her auburn curls bouncing around her face. ‘Yep. Only way to be. I know you’re an exec and will probably blow me off after this, but hey, no harm in trying, right?’

  Kristen fought a rising blush and lost. ‘Actually, I’ve always been a bit of a loner on the job. Too tied up in my work, I guess. But, hey, I appreciate the coffee. If you buzz me any time you’re having one, and I’m free, I promise not to blow you off. Deal?’

  ‘Deal.’

  Hallie settled back into her chair as if snuggling into a comfy sofa, when in fact Kristen knew the hard, cold steel chairs were there to discourage occupants from getting too cosy and encourage them to get back to work pronto. ‘So, what’s your background?’

  ‘I’ve worked in Singapore the last four years, London for a while, brief stint in LA, and before that Sydney, which I guess I call home. Worked my way up to executive producer through those jobs, loved every minute of it.’

  ‘Wow, sounds glamorous.’ Hallie’s eyes lit up, and Kristen wondered when she’d last had that wide-eyed interest in anything. ‘But you’ve basically given me a run-down of your CV. What about your personal life? Any goss there?’

  Determinedly ignoring a fleeting image of a naked Nate which flashed across her mind, she forced a laugh and made a grimace. ‘Not so much, I’m afraid. I’m a confirmed workaholic. Single and loving it.’

  Hallie sent her a dubious look, but continued her grilling anyway.

  ‘Why Melbourne? Why RX?’

  ‘The station has a stellar reputation in the industry. I wanted to come back to Australia, and the opportunity knocked on my door so I took it. Now, if you could spare me a minute in this interrogation, I’d like to have this latte before it goes cold.’

  She’d meant it as a joke, but it looked like her buddy skills were on a par with her maintaining-a-relationship skills, as Hallie’s face fell.

  Darn it; she knew there was a reason she didn’t do the friendship thing. Being direct was the only way she knew, and treading around bruised feelings was foreign to
her.

  She guessed she’d better learn fast if she didn’t want to alienate the one person who’d been genuinely nice to her in the last week.

  ‘Sorry, didn’t mean to sound so harsh. I’m a bit strung out with the move to Melbourne and starting the new job.’

  ‘No worries,’ Hallie said, her resident cheery smile slipping back into place. ‘I have to get back to work anyway. I’ll save the rest of the interrogation for later.’

  ‘Later?’

  She’d envisaged a long day getting acquainted with the running sheets, her co-workers and the station in general. She’d have no time for further coffee breaks, especially ones fraught with probing questions from a girl just trying to be friendly.

  Hallie snapped her fingers. ‘I forgot, you probably don’t know about Manic Mondays.’

  ‘Actually, I think I do,’ Kristen deadpanned, knowing the frantic rush of a new working week all too well.

  She usually grabbed a bite to eat at her desk for dinner, working all hours to get the week’s scheduling on track. It had been the same at every station around the world, and it was comforting to know things weren’t so different around here.

  ‘Bet you don’t.’

  Hallie’s sly grin piqued her curiosity, and she grabbed her latte, falling into step beside the petite receptionist.

  ‘Okay, enlighten me.’

  ‘Every Monday everyone stops work at eight and convenes to our local bar for a bit of team bonding and boosting of morale. It’s great.’

  Taking time out of her busy schedule to have a drink at a bar with co-workers on a Monday night? As if.

  ‘I’m sure it is, but I’ll be tied up tonight.’ And for every Monday night while she worked here.

  She didn’t do the casual socialising thing well, preferring to maintain a distance with work colleagues. Sharing a coffee with Hallie was a first, and if the girl knew she’d probably label her a freak.

  Not that she cared. She’d been labelled a heck of a lot worse growing up, and she’d survived.

  ‘I’m betting you’re not.’

  Hallie held open the door and Kristen walked through, sending her one of her characteristic ‘don’t mess with me’ looks. ‘Why’s that?’