Page 25 of The Surrender
“Ohhh,” I breathe. “And you?” Why isn’t Sue advising him?
“He’s a friend. I don’t mix friendships with business—it can be messy. Amelia, he’s worth a lot of money. Strike up a good rapport with him, he could push you way ahead, if you know what I mean.”
I scrunch my nose, flicking the card over in my hand. Steers has got those Liverpudlian twins on his radar, and that, I admit, is a concern. “I appreciate this, Sue.”
“I know you do.” She smiles and stands. “If anyone asks, I didn’t facilitate this, okay?”
“Understood.” I nod. I wouldn’t throw her under the bus and give Steers the opportunity to squeal favouritism. “My lips are sealed.”
She nods and leaves, and I waste no time calling Leo Lombardy before my scheduled calls start at ten. It rings and rings, and just as I’m about to ready myself for the voicemail to kick in, he answers. I sit upstraight. Italian? “Hi, Mr. Lombardy, my name is Amelia Lazenby. Sue Prescott passed on your details to me.”
“Ah, Amelia, yes, yes. Very good to hear from you. Let’s do a dinner meeting. Say tomorrow? What do you eat?”
I blink. Wow, this is moving fast. “I’m easy.” I wince. “I mean, I like everything.”
He laughs. “Do you like Italian? I know a special little place in Shoreditch. Nonna’s.Bellissimo!”
“I love Italian food, and I’ve always wanted to try Nonna’s, but it’s like a three-month waiting list,” I say, making him laugh again.
“Leave it to me. I’ll have my assistant make the reservation. Seven thirty tomorrow. Ciao, ciao.” He hangs up before I can say bye in return, and my phone immediately dings. Smiling, I open the message from Clark. There’s a picture of him and Rachel on a beach. I quickly reply.
Looks gorgeous. Have fun, and please please please let me be there when you tell Mum and Dad you got Rach up the duff out of wedlock
I get a rolling-eye emoji in reply, then a question.
Have you dropped the cake stand off with the cake maker? xxx
“Fucking hell,” I breathe.The cake stand!I get up and start walking circles round my office, calling the hotel to speak to Martina. She told me she’d found it. Was she lying, just to get me into a suite with Jude? When someone finally answers, I’m told Martina isn’t in until later today, so I leave a message for her to call me back before texting my brother to let him know the cake stand is safe, even though I have no idea where it is. “Shit,” I grumble, putting myself back at my desk and starting to clear my emails down. I falter when a new one lands. From Jude.
From: [email protected]
Re: You’re staying the night
Don’t argue with me.
Sincerely,
Jude Harrison
Arlington Hall Luxury Hotel & Spa
I smile, despite myself, falling into a daydream, feeling every one of his touches from last night on my skin again, every kiss still lingering on my lips. The way he looked at me as he made love to me. Slowly. I pout to myself, silently admitting that I miss him. I’m hooked. I can’t wait to see him later, squeeze him, eat him alive, smell him.Oh dear, Amelia.
A call comes through from Abbie on FaceTime, snapping me back to the present. “Hey,” I chirp, mentally ordering the heat in my cheeks to calm.
She frowns. “Why are your cheeks red?”
“It’s stupidly hot in this office.” I get up and walk to the window, opening it as far as I can. Which is about an inch.
“What are you up to?” she asks.
“Just worky things.”
“Gym after the worky things?”
Jesus, I can’t stop cringing today. “I’ve got to pass.”
