Page 74 of Storm of Bells
He rang a bell on his desk. Moments later,Karim poked his beard into the room, along with the head that wasattached to it.
‘Yes,Sahib?’
Mr Ambrose handed him the sugar bowl. ‘Takethis back to the person it was purchased from and obtain a fullrefund.’
‘But…there is only half left,Sahib.’
‘Exactly. I rely on your creativity,Karim.’
Something shiny and white appeared betweenthe bristly carpet on Karim’s face. It looked almost like…no. Itcouldn’t be. Was hesmiling? ‘So good to have you back,Sahib!’ Bowing deeply, he rushed out, slamming the doorbehind him. God have mercy on the poor grocer who sold thatsugar.
‘Well?’
That voice. That cold, distant, deliciouslydangerous voice. I had been aching to hear it for days. And nowthat I finally was, I wanted to take the pretty vase of flowersblooming on my employer’s desk and crack it on his granite head. Iprobably wouldn’t even cause damage.
‘Well what?’ I snapped.
He gave a little imperious wave of hisfingers. ‘My shirt collars won’t starch themselves, Mr Linton. Getto it.’
I shook my head, not comprehending. ‘But…Ijust told you that I’ve seen through your plot! I know what you’reup to!’
‘Your knowing what I’m up to does not changethe fact that your services are by far cheaper than those ofAbney & Co, Laundry for Gentlemen of Modest Means.Besides…’ He focused his arctic gaze on me for the first time in along time, and I felt a familiar shiver go down my spine. Oh, how Ihad missed that! ‘Whether you know or not, the choice before you isstill the same. Quit your employment here, or continue as mysecretary with…expanded duties.’
My eyes widened, and a moment later, sparkedwith fire. ‘You mean you’re going to use me as your personal cook,cleaning lady and dogsbody forever?’
‘An admirably succinct way of putting things,Mr Linton.’
‘You…you…!’
‘…loving future husband?’
‘Cabrão! Pollas en vinagre!’
‘Sometimes I really think you have spent toomuch time abroad, Mr Linton.’
‘It’s not as though I’m going to go on anymore trips in the near future, is it?’
‘No.’
‘So, to make me concede defeat and go homewith you, you’ll just turn your workplace into a home, with me asthe housewife.’
‘Indeed.’
‘You…!’
Right then, even I couldn’t think of a goodenough insult. The sneaky, dastardly, fiendishly clever son of abachelor! No wonder I had fallen in love with the bastard!
Lacking suitable insults, I tried to nail himto his armchair with my gaze alone. Completely unperturbed, hebegan removing flowers, pictures and other stage props from hisdesk, returning it to the pristine wasteland it had beenbefore.
‘So this is it. Your ultimate plan.’
‘Indeed. All you will see until you haveconceded defeat and are married to me are the walls of this office,and plenty of work.’
I took a step forward. ‘And what makes youthink I’ll give up? What if I manage to work through all thedrudgery you throw at me during the next couple of days?’
One of his elegant eyebrows rose for aboutthe tenth of a millimetre. ‘That, Mr Linton, is highly unlikely. Iknow you. I know what you’re capable of, and what you aren’t.Sewing? Cooking? Making tea? Honestly, I’m surprised you’ve lastedthis long. I advise you to give up now, before you sever anyappendages.’
‘Oh really?’ Eyes glinting, I slammed myhands onto his desk and leaned forward until only a few inchesseparated me from his face. From his lips. His infuriating,beautiful, immovable, kissable lips! ‘Just you wait! I’m a strong,independent woman! You have no idea what I’m capable of!’
