“Jolie? I think she’s a lunatic who needs a vacation, in a resort for lunatics on a faraway lunatic island—”
“Ah, Lunatic Island, the jewel of the Lunatic Sea. So exclusive.”
He sighed. “She’d be happy there.”
“We’re not being fair.” Hope stifled her laughter. “And I’m being mean. She’s actually okay, despite all the weird stuff. She’s very hardworking, and she knows the business inside out. I guess she’s just a little socially awkward.”
“But do you like her? What do you really think of her as a woman, not your boss? I know she can be a little intense.”
“Intense! I had to bribe her to get my stapler back.”
“Bribe her?”
“I had to go out and buy a novelty stapler to tempt her into letting the other one go. It’s like psyching out Tadpole. Only easier.”
“You had to buy a stapler?”
“No, not really. I’ve set up a petty cash account for her office. It pays for the doughnuts and pastries and I’m hoping to organize a team event around Christmas. The morale is very low, and this is too important a project to fall apart over something as easily fixable as team spirit.”
“You really do look after her, don’t you?”
“It’s my job. And I want her to do well. She’s my boss and she reflects back on me, and my performance. Not to mention my end-ofyear bonus.”
“If you say so.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean aside from all those business-type things, I think you like her.”
Hope mulled this over as their food arrived. “Yes, yes, I suppose I do.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jolie turned onto Tacoma and then the Sellwood Bridge, crossing the Willamette toward home. Sliding into her private parking space beneath her apartment block, she eyed Andre’s Lexus LX sitting in the visitors’ bay. Minutes later she opened her apartment door to be greeted by the mouthwatering smell of garlic bread.
“What are you doing here?” she called as she dumped her coat and bag in the cloakroom before moving through to the open plan living room and kitchen.
“Thought I’d swing by and make you supper.” He was fussing around her stove, a mammoth flowery oven glove on his hand. “Where were you? The lasagna’s almost ready.”
“What if I’d had other arrangements and wasn’t coming home? You can’t just waltz in here and try to make up by cooking me my favorite meal, you know.”
“I can’t? Wow, all the more for me, then.”
Jolie ignored him and went over to her wine rack and selected a robust local red. “Pinot noir?”
“What year?”
Jolie snorted. “Snob. Two thousand four.”
“A perfect vintage for my cooking.”
“For your heating up, you mean. I can see the wrappers in the trash can.”
“One more word out of you and I shall collect my peace offering and walk. Now pour me a glass. Where were you, by the way? It’s not like you to go AWOL between here and the office.”
“I dropped Hope home.”
Andre’s eyebrows shot up. “What? Is she okay? Is she feeling unwell?”
“Relax. She’s a lot better off than her car. The starter’s gone. A guy is coming out in the morning to tow it.” She grinned, and he calmed down.
“And you drove her home.” He noticed her smile. She smiled a lot when the subject of conversation was Hope. Smiled, or scowled. Either way, Hope had an effect on her.
“Yes. She had to meet Godfrey for their night class. Don’t think I don’t realize why you’re here. You hate being on your own. This has nothing to do with being sorry at headhunting my assistant.”
“I see I’ve been found out. And I’m not going to poach her. I wouldn’t break up a winning team.” He sipped his wine. “This is a tiny glassful.”
“You’re driving. It’s all you’re getting.” She settled on a high stool at the kitchen counter and watched as he served. “We are a winning team. I like working with her. She’s competent.”
“Yeah, one small bundle of red-hot competence. Gotcha.” He winked and she glared back at him, immediately defensive.
“She knows Ambereye inside and out, and all our contractors and clients as if they were family. The other day she got a delivery date moved forward by two weeks just by talking. They’d never have done that for me, no matter how much I threatened.”
“Wow, talking. That is a skill. I can see why your office needs her.”
“I do…I mean, my office does…need her. So…hands off.”
“Received and understood.” He produced a store-bought green salad from the fridge with great aplomb, and perched beside her to enjoy their impromptu meal together.
“She likes old black and whites,” Jolie said out of the blue. Andre looked at her questioningly. “Classic movies. That’s the class she’s taking with Godfrey.”
“Thought they were going ballroom dancing?”
“No, dopey. She can’t do that. At least not yet. Her depth perception needs to adjust over time. And her balance is still a problem. That’s why she sometimes goes woozy if she moves too fast.”
“Ah.” Andre nodded wisely. He was surprised Jolie knew all these facts considering only a week ago she hadn’t even known Hope was partially sighted. She must have been reading up on vision impairment somewhere. It was obvious she was interested in Hope, but how and to what extent? And did Jolie even realize it? That was another issue.
“You like her, don’t you.”
“She’s okay. Like I said, she’s a good worker—”
“I don’t mean work.”
She looked over at him, perplexed.
“It’s all right, Jolie. She’s a really nice girl, is all.” Something in her eyes alerted him that she hadn’t worked out what was happening yet. Hastily he backpedaled. “I agree, Hope’s brilliant at her job,” he finished lamely.
Jolie nodded, still digesting his earlier comments.
“Yes. She is nice. Everyone likes her. I like her,” she said, sounding pleased.
Andre watched her quietly. It hurt him to see such an intelligent, capable woman so awkward with her emotional self. But Jolie always had been a late developer that way. She had hidden behind his gregariousness all her life, content with her own company and space.
And for a wolven, there was nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong at all. Except he sensed she was no longer happy or at peace with her choices. Had quietly outgrown the singular future she had carved for herself. She needed a mate, a life-bond. It was programmed into her, but Andre was unsure how clearly she understood the bloodcall within her that was growing daily.
He shook himself out of his reverie and moved on to family news.
“I called Mom earlier. She says all’s well in Little Dip. Leone’s made a great recovery and Connie’s coping well. And the almanac will go to press right on time.”
Jolie perked up. The news caught her full attention. “Great. Our project couldn’t be better timed. When’s Marie coming up?”
“That’s just it. She may not if Connie still needs her.”
“Huh? But I have my actuals and forecast ready for the meeting.”
“Well, Mom said Marie is toying with the idea of holding the meeting in Little Dip over Thanksgiving.” Jolie looked stunned at his news. “It’s a great idea if she goes with it,” Andre continued. “Most of the board will be there already for the holiday, so it can be a sort of mini company meeting. Of course, that would be ideal for Godfrey and me. We’re taking the following week off to go skiing. It’s no bother dropping into Little Dip for a few days before heading off. It’s practically on our way.”
Back in the bistro, Godfrey and Hope were finishing their meal.
The conversation moved on to the upcoming holiday.
“Any plans for Thanksgiving?” Godfrey asked.
Hope shook her head. “Andre says you two are going skiing?”
“Yes. I’m looking forwar
d to the break, but not the skiing. I’d rather be après than en piste, anytime.”
“I’m looking forward to the break, too. Just me and Tadpole snuggled up at home, and a lot of peace and quiet.” Hope sighed happily at the thought of it.
Dessert arrived and Godfrey began to probe as delicately as a surgeon looking for buckshot. He knew he was pushing it, but he was under strict instructions from his better half to bring home the bacon.
Andre was plotting, and nothing would deter him when he got in meddle mode.
“So, Jolie gave you a lift home? That was uncharacteristically kind,” he said.
“If we lived in Stepford I’d be suspicious. But I reckon Jolie has a sweet side she keeps hidden deep down in the molten core of the seventh level of hell.”
“She’s attractive, though. Don’t you think?”
“Of course she is. Andre and Jolie are both gorgeous. But personality-wise, they’re the yin and yang of twin world.”
“True, but demanding as she is, at least you got yourself a little nine-to-five eye candy, eh?”
“Please. Look at her long enough and you’d end up diabetic. She’s a lot more demanding than her brother. Perfectionist, meticulous, preposterous. And at least Andre doesn’t swipe my stuff.”
“You’ve obviously never baked cookies and turned your back for a split second.”
“But they work so well together. Look at the global success Ambereye is today. And in just under seven years.”
“Andre says it was the best decade to launch into games software development.”
“He’s very astute, very aware of trends and issues, and even industry politics. Whereas Jolie works in a total microcosm.”
“True. They’ve matured well as a business team. They complement each other beautifully.”
“You lazy git. You’re taking a whole week to go skiing? A whole week?” Jolie exploded.
“Yes, fathead.” Andre defended his holiday plans. “When was the last time you had a vacation? Huh?”
Jolie looked at him blankly and he plowed on. “Three years ago, that’s when. You need a break, too. And that’s why you’ll be going up to Little Dip with me. You, and your actuals, and your forecast.”
“I can’t just—”
“Can.”
“Can’t.”
“Can. And I told Mom you would. So there.”
“You can’t do that. I’ve—”
“Did.”
“You’re a pain in the ass.”
They lapsed into silence as they spooned a third helping of ice cream into their dishes. Eventually Andre broke the silence.
“I’m looking forward to visiting Little Dip again.”
Jolie nodded fervently.
“Me, too.”
The next day Jolie found herself behaving in an uncharacteristically thoughtful way. She knew Hope was using public transport, so she decided to take it upon herself to bring in the team pastries. Rather than going straight to her office from the parking lot, she took to the streets, speed-dialing Nadeem’s desk.
“Nadeem, I’m outside Cookie Heaven, what do I ask for?”
“Jolie?” he squeaked. “Is that you?”
“No, it’s the Donut Fairy. Of course it’s me. What do I ask for? Hurry up, man, I haven’t all day…Okay, got it.” Click.
She pushed open the door and walked up to the counter. “Can I have a dozen stud muffins, please.”
A short while later she stomped onto the floor. The general tittering immediately ceased as all eyes watched her scowling progress to her office. Entering, she glared at the pastry waiting for her on top of her desk…mocking her. Hope emerged from the staff kitchen, two cups of steaming coffee in her hands.
“What’s that?” Jolie huffed as Hope joined her and handed her a coffee.
“A stud muffin, apparently.” Hope tried to suppress a grin behind her cup, but Jolie caught it and huffed even more. Even Hope was laughing at her.
“I’m gonna kill the little bastard.”
“Too late, he went home sick before you arrived. I think he was in deep trauma that he actually had the nerve to joke with you.”
“He’ll be in a deep grave when he limps back in.”
“Well, another way to look at it is it’s the best morale boost your team has had in months. You might as well turn your lemon face to lemonade,” Hope said, and watched as Jolie processed her point.
“Doesn’t it mean anything that Nadeem tried to share a joke with you? When was the last time anyone did that? Candace says he nearly crapped himself when you hung up on him. He never thought you’d just barge off like that,” she continued, anxious for Jolie to understand the lightheartedness of the moment. No harm had been intended. Jolie growled, a deep rumble that made Hope tingle all over. But she could see Jolie’s tension begin to dissolve as she accepted that it was simple jokiness gone awry.
“Go on. Call him on his cell phone before he grabs the bus,” Hope gently urged. Jolie sulkily shuffled papers and ignored her. “Go on,” she pressed again before leaving Jolie’s office.
No sooner was she back at her desk than she saw Jolie reach for the phone with one hand and her pastry with the other. She could just about make out Jolie’s muted words into the receiver. “Hello, stud muffin, get back in here at once. There’s a cowardy custard bake with your name on it.” Click.
That’s my girl. With a satisfied smile Hope started her working day.
She was glad she had helped Jolie cope with a possibly embarrassing situation. It would have destroyed their precious team morale if Jolie had knee-jerked into a massive huff. Jolie had no contingency plans for events like this morning. She would have assumed the worst, that she had been made the butt of some office prank. Hope was beginning to realize there was incredible insecurity at the core of Jolie’s behavior. She had a small comfort zone that consisted mainly of her office. Anything outside of that was greeted aggressively. Now that she understood more about the complex woman who was her boss, Hope felt more inclined to help and guide her. What she had said to Godfrey the previous evening was true. She did like Jolie, and did want this project to work out for both of them. Loyalty was a natural emotion for Hope, but suddenly she was aware of a new feeling underlying that: protectiveness. She cared for Jolie Garoul a little bit beyond the office door and a five o’clock home time.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Later that afternoon Andre popped his head into Jolie’s office as she and Hope labored over a stack of reports.
“Hey, gals, is this where the stud muffins is at?” he said.
“Sorry, we’re all out. Just us babe biscuits left.” Hope giggled.
“You’re so funny. What do you want?” Jolie looked up scowling; the interruption was not welcome if he’d only come to gloat.
“I just came to tell you that the board meeting is a definite for Little Dip. I’m afraid I won’t be there for the first few days, Godfrey’s mom’s sick and he wants us to stick around, so we’ll be delayed.”
“What? You can’t. You’re the company president. You have to go.”
“What’s wrong with Mrs. Meyers?”
Jolie and Hope spoke at the same time, expressing separate concerns.
“You’re the VP, so you can stand in for me for at least a few days. She’s having a hernia operation and Godfrey wants to be here for her until his sister flies in.” He answered both in turn with his most handsome of smiles, the one he reserved for when he was dropping someone in it. “We’ll follow you both to Little Dip straight after.”
“I can’t do this all by myself!”
“I hope his mom gets well soon.”
Again, Jolie and Hope spoke over each other.
“Yes, you can because Hope will be with you. I’ll tell Mrs. Meyers you sent best wishes.” And again Andre answered each in turn.
“Oh? That might work.”
“What! I’ve got plans for Thanksgiving.”
This time it was Jolie who sounded happier and Hope who b
lustered in alarm.
“Yes, it will work perfectly,” Andre assured Jolie, and then turning to Hope, said bluntly, “No, you don’t. You told Godfrey you were staying home alone, like a big fat loser.”
Jolie frowned. Andre seemed suspiciously well rehearsed for this three-way discussion.
“Okay, it’s all sorted. Hope goes, too.” Jolie was suddenly very relaxed with the decision. It felt right in her gut.
“I can’t go.” Hope pouted, looking very put out.
“Yes, she does. Yes, you are.” Andre was still adroitly multitasking the conversation.
“And you’ll address the board as soon as you arrive?” Jolie had her mind on business while Hope obviously still clung to escape.
“I can’t go. What about my dog? Who will mind him?”
“Your dog?” Andre seemed surprised he had overlooked something.
“Tadpole.
“Rathole.”
Both spoke simultaneously yet again.
Hope turned to glare at Jolie. “It’s Tadpole,” she snipped.
“Close enough,” Jolie muttered, far from contrite.
Andre looked confused. “You bring him with you, of course. The little guy will love a trip to the mountains.”
Both women frowned as if Andre’s logic missed some crucial point, but neither could quite point out where.
Hope seemed surprised she had overlooked Tadpole’s enjoyment of an excursion to the mountains. “It would be ideal for him,” she murmured, mostly to herself.
Jolie wondered that the little rat weasel ever set foot out of doors, useless lapdog that he was. Fresh air would probably blow the top of his stupid head off.
Taking advantage of the temporary lull, Andre, like any high-level, top quality manager, took the opportunity to duck out.
“Gotta run. Candace has the details and will deal with any queries. Okay, guys, nice to chat.” And he was gone.
“I can’t believe he just did that to us.” Hope looked after him.
“And everyone thinks I’m the bastard,” Jolie muttered.
Secretly she was relieved Hope would be assisting her with the important presentation Andre had just dumped on her. The information she had collated was much more than needed, but she was confident in her projections. Now her report had to be manipulated for optimum content, and it was good to have another senior representative from the firm there to help. Hope knew this project almost as well Jolie did. She would be a great asset and would be well compensated for her time away on this business trip. Yes, all in all Jolie felt very relaxed with this new executive decision.
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