Page 40 of An Accidental Flatmate

What was she thinking?

Cas filled the kettle. “Black or more of the ginger?”

“Black’s fine.”

Once made, Cas carried it into the loungeroom. He took the armchair opposite the sofa. She nestled in her special corner. He’d like to nestle with her.

Stay right where you are, Cas.

She hadn’t used first person when she’d said Cas was attractive, whereas his resistance got lower the more time he spent with her. Time to change the topic.

“What do you know about Antonio?”

“Why would I know anything?” She sipped her tea, but the furrow between her eyes told him she was considering how to answer.

“C’mon, girls talk.” At her silent stare, he amended that. “Guys talk too, but it’s not the same.”

“You want to know if Antonio’s personally honourable?”

“Yeah.” His turn to stare into his cup.

“From everything Anna’s said, the answer is yes. No ifs, buts, maybes. No stray hand where it shouldn’t be, no promise of a better desk, or office or promotion in return for favours.”

“Has that happened to you?” Cas pushed himself up in the chair, suddenly alert.

“In the early days. Not so much now.”

“Because you’re old?

“That gave my self-esteem a boost.”

“You’re beautiful, Beatriz. You must know that.”

“Oldandbeautiful. That’s an improvement.”

“Older. Do I need to talk to someone?”

“Not on my account.” She studied him over her mug, then seemed to come to a decision. “I’m a fast learner. I changed companies. I swap stories with colleagues, especially new female employees, so none of us is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. TBR’s CEO is pretty good at sidelining the sleaze, but it means we have a faster staff turnover than some companies, and their recruitment practices need more work.”

“Are you talking about Jackson Smithers?”

“Heisa sleaze. He hasn’t made any moves since his promotion.” She hesitated.

“But?”

“He watches me, as if I’m a mouse who’ll walk into the trap he’s set.” She shivered.

“Don’t be alone with him.”

“I don’t plan to be. It’s okay, Casildo. If he lays a finger on me, I’ll scream. And I’m probably imagining things.”

“Is that why you want your own business?” He scowled. “To control recruitment?”

“I’d like to choose my own clients, decide where to put the emphasis in a campaign. Choosing my own staff is a plus, but I imagine I’d be working on my own for a while.”

“You’ll get there.”

“That’s a better compliment.” She toasted him with her empty mug. “But you were asking whether or not Antonio is honourable with women. I’d say yes.”

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