Buttoned-Up Secretary, British Boss Read online

  They reached the car, and as he handed Sabrina into the passenger seat he could see that she was quietly furious with him. He raised one hand submissively, then closed the door and walked around to his side and got in, pausing for a moment before inserting the key into the ignition.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said briefly. ‘It was the only thing I could come up with.’

  ‘What? To get yourself out of the party you never wanted to come to anyway? Or were you hiding behind me to give your lady friends the final brush-off?’ Sabrina clasped her hands together tightly, trying to regain control of her anger. It wasn’t just anger she was feeling, it was acute anxiety. How on earth was this going to affect her job, her precious job? Could she possibly go on working with Alexander McDonald? Surely they’d both be horribly embarrassed in each other’s company? Sabrina knew very well what she should do—she should give him her notice now! But did she have the strength of mind, could she afford, to walk away from that salary he was paying her?

  Trying desperately hard to make some sense of this mind-boggling turn of events, she felt a surge of anger well up inside her. For his own ends, she thought, he had taken complete advantage of her, of her situation, saying the first stupid thing that had come into his head. She swallowed, keeping her voice deadly calm.

  ‘Alexander,’ she said quietly. ‘I promised to be your secretary, your personal assistant, and to do everything in my power to help you with your present project. I did not expect to join you in a total and very public lie.’

  ‘Yes. I thought you supported me very well,’ he said. ‘The booking you’d made for our dinner—what time did you say it was, nine-thirty?—sounded utterly convincing.’ He paused and Sabrina saw his eyes twinkle maddeningly as she looked across at him. ‘I’m beginning to feel quite hungry, actually,’ he added.

  Now he was teasing her, and this made Sabrina feel so annoyed she could have hit him.

  ‘This isn’t funny,’ she said flatly. ‘Because of who you are, our fictitious engagement is sure to get in the papers. What were you thinking of?’

  He waited before replying. ‘I was thinking of you,’ he said quietly. ‘And how you must be feeling. I was so incensed at my mother’s behaviour that I decided to put the cat amongst the pigeons.’ He looked across at Sabrina for a moment, thinking how unspoilt and defenceless she looked, and so appealing, even though she was clearly very angry with him. He shifted in his seat. ‘And, by the way, I never hide behind anyone,’ he said. ‘If this does become public, we’ll deny it, simple as that. It won’t last more than one edition of any newspaper.’ He put the key in the ignition and started the engine, glancing across at her again. ‘And don’t worry. You’re quite safe with me. I don’t intend marrying anyone—ever.’

  Back at the party, with the deafening noise fuelled by drink louder than ever, Lydia looked around at the handful of her guests who’d been witness to Alexander’s announcement. Determined not to let the staggering incident spoil the atmosphere, she said gaily, ‘All that was total nonsense, of course! It’ll never happen. My son is a writer. He’s always making things up—makes his living at it!’

  She paused, fixing each of them with an intensely steely gaze. ‘And I do not expect a word of this to be breathed by anyone. Anyone at all.’ She stared, almost glared, at the bewildered faces looking back at her. ‘I hope I’ve made myself clear,’ she added.

  The four or five women concerned, looking back fearfully at their majestic hostess, had no option but to agree that they’d all keep mum.

  Sitting beside Alexander as he drove the car smoothly along the country roads, Sabrina began to calm down a bit. Although it had seemed a very impetuous thing for him to do, she couldn’t help believing him when he said it had been his way of defending her feelings, of standing up for her. It certainly wasn’t in his own interests to have said such a thing. Sabrina breathed a long, deep sigh and glanced across at him, at the chiselled features and strong chin, at the strength of his thighs clearly visible beneath the fine fabric of his trousers. She decided to offer an olive branch.

  ‘I’m quite hungry too,’ she said.

  At once, the handsome face creased into a broad grin, and without looking at her he said, ‘Wonderful. I know just the place.’

  Twenty minutes later, still long before they’d reached the motorway, Alexander turned left into a narrow road. Half a mile along it they could see a sign which said ‘The Woodcutter’. Almost immediately he pulled into a wooded car park and brought the car to a halt, glancing briefly across at Sabrina.

  ‘I hope you’re going to like this,’ he said. ‘I don’t manage to get here very often, but it’s certainly one of my favourite places to eat.’

  Sabrina was still gazing up at the inviting-looking building, which she could see was almost completely surrounded by fir trees and holly bushes. The rosy lighting which shone from every latticed window added to its welcoming appearance.

  ‘Well, at first glance this is a delightful place,’ she said. ‘And rather remote. I didn’t know it existed. How did you find it?’

  He smiled at her, feeling upbeat and optimistic for a second—not only because he’d successfully extricated them both from his mother’s party, but because he was here with Sabrina. He realized, with a jolt of surprise, how quickly she was melding into the fabric of his life. How, from almost the first day, she’d seemed to know exactly what was required of her without any fuss or unnecessary querying. Just his sort of woman, he thought, counting himself lucky that she’d accepted the post.

  ‘Oh, I chanced upon it several years ago after visiting my parents,’ he said in answer to her question. ‘I haven’t been here for a while, but the chef—if it’s the same one—has a fine reputation.’

  Sabrina waited for him to come round and open her door, thinking that whatever was on tonight’s menu she’d enjoy it, because by now she was starving.

  As they walked up the short path to the entrance, a comfortably happy sound of chatting and laughter reached their ears. Sabrina felt overwhelmingly thankful that she was here and not at Lydia’s party. From nightmare to nirvana, she thought instinctively.

  Almost at once, the man serving drinks at the crowded bar looked up and smiled, raising his hand in greeting.

  ‘Hi, Alex!’ he called over. ‘Where’ve you been? Hiding yourself away again?’

  Alexander moved towards the bar, his hand on Sabrina’s waist for a second as he guided her slightly in front of him. ‘Hello, Grant. Yes, sorry, I’ve been out of touch for a while.’ He paused, noting the man’s questioning glance in Sabrina’s direction. ‘I’ve brought my secretary, Sabrina, with me tonight for a well-deserved supper. Have you still got a table available?’

  Grant nodded affably. He’d make sure he’d accommodate Alexander McDonald, his most famous customer. He finished pulling a pint for the man he was dealing with, then came from behind the bar to join Alexander and Sabrina. ‘Sit over there by the window just for ten minutes, Alex,’ he said. ‘I’ll send someone to take your drinks order, and a table will be available in the restaurant at nine-thirty. Is that OK?’

  Sabrina and Alexander exchanged smiles, and he said, ‘That suits us perfectly, doesn’t it, Sabrina? Thanks, Grant.’

  Sitting at their discreet table for two, Sabrina looked around her appreciatively, realizing just how much she’d missed this kind of occasion. As she looked up into the solemn gaze of Alexander’s black eyes, studying her intently, she had to admit that she wasn’t going to complain at being here. To be with such a handsome and attentive member of the opposite sex had a certain palpable magic, so she might as well enjoy it, she thought. Enjoy this evening which seemed to be turning into a theatrical production.

  As the light from the candle flickering on the table in front of them lit up Sabrina’s features, and her thoughts, Alexander sensed again that there was an unusual depth to her character—a depth which he’d like to delve into.

  He suddenly remembered her telling him at the interview that
she had a sister, so casually he enquired, ‘How is your sister at the moment? I think you mentioned that she didn’t enjoy the best of health.’

  Brought back abruptly from her lingering thoughts, Sabrina put down her glass and looked across at him. As her wide and moist eyes looked into his, Alexander had difficulty in not gently putting his fingers beneath her chin and tilting her face closer to his. Instead, he put down his own glass and waited for her to reply to his question.

  ‘I sincerely hope that Melly is very well,’ she said lightly. She paused. ‘She flew to Spain this morning, on a teaching contract for a couple of weeks. I’m hoping that the complete change will do her good, cheer her up.’ Sabrina sipped her drink. ‘It’s a music-and-dance school,’ she explained. ‘She’s already texted to let me know they’ve arrived safely and are settling in.’

  Alexander hadn’t taken his eyes off her as she spoke. ‘Melly is younger than you?’ he asked, guessing that this was the case, because Sabrina’s whole attitude told him that she obviously felt responsible for her sister.

  ‘Only a couple of years,’ Sabrina said. ‘But she’s sometimes rather vulnerable when life seems to get the better of her, and I do have to pick up some pieces occasionally.’ She looked away for a moment. Melly was hundreds of miles away tonight, and must look after herself, but Sabrina was here sitting opposite the man who earlier this evening had taken it upon himself to inform anyone listening that she was about to become his wife! Another sudden wave of hot embarrassment swept over her as she remembered. That she was about to calmly eat supper with Alexander McDonald, and make inconsequential conversation with him, seemed absurd. She cleared her throat; she had to say something more about it, she thought.

  ‘I know you made light of what happened at Lydia’s party,’ she said carefully. ‘But I don’t feel as convinced as you seem to be that no more will come of it.’ She hesitated, lowering her voice. ‘I still can’t quite believe you said all that,’ she added. ‘I nearly dropped through the floor.’

  ‘Well, you covered your discomfort very well,’ he said smoothly. ‘No one could have guessed that you weren’t totally aware of—and happily in accordance with—the announcement.’ He grinned suddenly, disarmingly. ‘Forget it, Sabrina. It was an unexpected one-off, an unforeseen circumstance which we dealt with perfectly. And nothing has changed between us,’ he said, leaning forward. ‘You are my PA, and I am your somewhat demanding employer who expects you to rise to any occasion that may present itself. Which you did, with flying colours.’ He sat back, as if that was the end of the matter. ‘Ah, good, here comes our supper,’ he said cheerfully.

  To her surprise, Sabrina knew that she was going to be able to eat every morsel of the delicious food put in front of them, even though she admitted to feeling slightly traumatized at what had happened still. To hear herself discussed so publicly and so unpleasantly had been a horrible experience, and she knew she wouldn’t forget it for a long time. Then, even worse, for Alexander to have announced that she’d accepted his proposal of marriage still left her feeling shattered. It was like a silly dream, the sort of thing which she and Melly sometimes told each other about as they chatted at breakfast time—though Melly’s dreams were always more highly coloured than her own.

  Sabrina shrugged inwardly. She and her boss would really have to forget that the wretched business had ever taken place, even though she knew, whatever he said, that she was going to feel awkward when she turned up for work tomorrow morning. How could she help it?

  But now, as far as he was concerned, Alexander seemed completely unfazed as he tucked into the rare steak he’d ordered. He glanced across at her.

  ‘I thought you said you were hungry,’ he said casually. ‘You’re not eating anything.’

  Sabrina smiled quickly, then picked up her knife and fork. From the first mouthful her lamb cutlet and salad proved to be as mouth-watering as it looked.

  ‘I was just thinking,’ she said. ‘That’s all.’

  ‘And apparently you can’t eat and think at the same time?’ he enquired, reaching for more mustard.

  Sabrina didn’t bother to answer that. Then she asked curiously, ‘Why do you call your mother by her Christian name?’

  Alexander didn’t look up as he replied. ‘Because that is what she told us to do when we were kids, my brother and I.’ He picked up his glass of wine. ‘Lydia never took kindly to motherhood, I’m afraid,’ he went on, ‘so as long as we didn’t call her Mother—or, perish the thought, Mummy—she could forget she was one.’ He looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Not long after I was born she got herself sterilized to avoid the fatal mistake of conceiving any more little brats.’ His mouth twisted briefly. ‘Makes you wonder why she bothered in the first place.’

  Sabrina kept her eyes on her plate as she listened, her professional mind already forming familiar patterns. ‘And your father—what about him?’ she asked lightly, trying not sound as if she was interviewing a patient.

  ‘Oh, no such hang-ups for Dad,’ Alexander said. ‘Even though Lydia wanted us to call him Angus. But he wouldn’t hear of it, and we never did.’

  ‘Was he at the party tonight?’ Sabrina enquired innocently, realizing that she was developing an almost clinical interest in the McDonald family.

  ‘Well, I didn’t see him,’ Alexander replied. ‘But then, my mother’s parties were never his thing. And as he works for an international bank he’s seldom at home. Which gives him the perfect excuse,’ Alexander added wryly.

  By now, the good food, wine and enveloping warmth of the place were filling Sabrina with an overwhelming sense of contentment, so that everything that had happened earlier was actually beginning to slip comfortably into the background. Perhaps the news wouldn’t get out and nothing would come of it, as Alexander had said, she thought. Then everyone, including herself, could forget the whole thing.

  ‘You’re thinking again,’ Alexander accused her lightly. She smiled across at him now, the candlelight making her eyes more sparklingly green than ever as she trapped his gaze, holding him spellbound for a second.

  ‘Sorry. I do rather a lot of it,’ she said. ‘Part of my training, I’m afraid.’

  Suddenly, abruptly, he said, ‘Is there a man in your life, Sabrina?’

  The unexpectedness of the question almost threw her for a moment, then she smiled crookedly.

  ‘Not any more,’ she said quietly.

  There was a long pause, during which neither of them spoke.

  ‘Stephen—my fiancé—was killed in a tragic, bizarre accident eighteen months ago.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  Sabrina shrugged briefly. ‘Time passes. One has to accept what life throws at you.’ She drained her glass. ‘I don’t expect ever to marry now,’ she went on casually. ‘For one thing, my sister comes first. And for another…’ Sabrina looked wistful as she looked across at Alexander. ‘I don’t intend placing myself at the mercy of fate a second time. It’s just not worth the risk. Or the agony.’

  Much later, after he’d dropped Sabrina back home, Alexander sat in his study, his legs propped up on the desk, and stared pensively into his glass of whisky. That had been quite an evening, he thought, and it hadn’t turned out as badly as he might have expected.

  To his own enormous surprise, he realized that he had really enjoyed being off-duty with Sabrina Gold, that he had not wanted the evening to end. His new secretary didn’t fall into the normal category of womankind he’d been used to—all of whom had very quickly bored him to death. Which was probably all his own fault, he reasoned. So, what? What was bugging him like this at gone one o’clock in the morning? He frowned briefly as his thoughts ran on. Why would such a young, beautiful woman declare herself out of bounds for the rest of her life? Why was she so negative about her possible future?

  He drained his glass, then swung his legs from the desk and stood up. What the hell was it to him, anyway? he asked himself. His mouth twisted. At least there was one good thing about it—with no man
on the scene, there wouldn’t be any occasional stupid, romantic emotional problems to deal with, to hold things up here. His work was the only important thing to be considered.

  He stared down at the shadowy garden below, at the street lights casting their gentle beams across the grass, then turned abruptly and strode from the room.

  Alexander McDonald knew exactly what was getting to him. For some reason, he was suddenly feeling emotionally out of his depth where his secretary was concerned. But why? Well, he’d soon put that right, he thought irritably. Tomorrow morning it would be Cinderella time—business as usual!

  Chapter Five

  AMAZINGLY, Sabrina managed to feel fairly normal when she arrived for work the next morning, even though she’d found it very difficult to get any sleep.

  Once again, Maria was just leaving the house, and the two women smiled at each other.

  ‘Hullo, dear,’ Maria said. ‘My, you do look smart. What an unusual-colour top you’ve got on: what do you call that?’

  ‘I think it’s taupe,’ Sabrina replied, thinking that she didn’t feel very smart this morning. She’d woken late and grabbed the first thing that had come to hand in her wardrobe. But she was glad of the compliment.

  ‘I’ll just pop along to the shop and get Mr McDonald his newspapers,’ Maria said as she went past. ‘I’ll leave them all in the kitchen, as usual. He’s already working in the study,’ she added over her shoulder.

  The mere mention of newspapers made Sabrina’s tongue go dry; there couldn’t possibly be anything in them about Alexander yet, surely?

  She tapped lightly on the door of the study before going in. Alexander looked up, angry at the rush of pleasure he felt at seeing her again, especially as he’d given himself a good talking-to last night before he’d eventually got to sleep. His unusual interest in his new secretary was totally unexpected, totally unlike him, and if he wasn’t careful it was going to intrude on his work plans. He was not interested in Sabrina Gold’s past life and loves or her future, he told himself. The only thing which concerned him was the present and her presence here as his personal assistant.