Chapter Six
Lexi wasn’t sure what she’d expected from Josh’s business, but this wasn’t it. Maybe some sleazy back office where he…did what?
What did a security company do? She’d presumed it was something like a private investigator, and he spent his time trailing unfaithful husbands and wives, or acting as a bouncer at clubs.
Perhaps she was wrong. Anyway, whatever he did, it was clearly lucrative.
His offices were in a tower block on one of the new business estates on the Isle of Dogs—a big glass and chrome tower, and according to the plaque on the wall, Slater Security took up the first three floors, plus the basement.
Maybe she should have dressed up. She was still wearing her oldest “comfort” jeans, which she’d pulled on that morning, but at least she’d added shoes and a bra—she had noticed him staring at her nipples earlier. And she’d combed her hair, pulling it into a tight ponytail.
He’d told her to call, but really, this was better face-to-face. Wasn’t it? She took a deep breath and pushed through the revolving doors, then stood for a moment in the marble-floored reception area. A stainless steel counter ran along the far wall, with a handsome young man in a suit behind it. She wandered across and peered over.
“I’d like to see Joshua Slater, please.” Actually, that wasn’t strictly true. She needed to see him. She didn’t really believe he would go visit her grandmother, at least, not without talking to her again. He had obviously come to the conclusion she’d seduced him on purpose. And that had pissed him off.
“Do you have an appointment?”
Sometimes being small and cute helped. She gave him a smile. “Could you tell him Lexi is here?”
His eyes widened a little, but he picked up the phone. “Of course. Just one moment.”
He spoke quietly into the phone, and then he put it down a moment later. “He’s in the gym. Down one floor. Take the elevator and someone will meet you.”
She took the elevator down a floor. When the doors opened, a woman was waiting. “Lexi?”
She nodded.
“I’m Sally, Josh’s PA. Would you come with me and I’ll take you to him?”
The woman was tall, blonde, sleek, and sophisticated in a charcoal gray business suit. Everything Lexi wasn’t. This whole thing was making her insecurities rise to the surface, and she hated that. As she hesitated, Sally glanced back over her shoulder and then slowed down so Lexi walked beside her. “You’re Josh’s wife?” she asked.
Lexi wasn’t sure what to say to that one.Nowas probably the correct answer, though maybe now she did qualify for the title. Anyway, she had no alternative to offer, so she nodded.
“Sorry, I meant not to ask, but I couldn’t resist.” Sally gave a quick grin. “Then again, it’s my duty. I’m going to get a lot of questions, and I want to be prepared.”
“Questions?”
“Well, we really thought he’d invented you to keep us all at a distance. But here you are.Everyoneis going to want to knoweverything. ”
“They are?”
“Oh yeah.”
She was processing the information about keeping his distance. Perhaps he didn’t like to combine business with pleasure. “How long have you worked for him?”
“Four years.”
“And is Josh a good boss?”
“The best. Here we are.” She came to a halt in front of a door. “He’ll be finished soon. You can go in and wait if you like.”
“What’s he—”
But Sally was already gone.
Lexi hesitated for a moment, then turned the handle and pushed open the door. She blinked a couple of times as she took in the scene. The room was square, with white walls, no furniture, and one mirrored wall. Two men were fighting, doing some sort of kung-fuey thing. She recognized Josh and stood for a minute in the doorway, watching him.
He was dressed in black drawstring pants and nothing else.