A Mistletoe Proposal

‘You wanted to find out if you were getting what you paid for. Or if Charlie was getting what you paid for.’

‘Stop it!’ Roscoe snapped, suddenly finding his nerves fraying. ‘Don’t talk like that.’

‘I’ll talk as I like. It’s been “like that” ever since you hired me. Well, I don’t sleep with the men I date. None of them. Sorry to disappoint you.’

‘How dare you say that?’ he raged.

Far from disappointing him, Pippa’s words gave him a surge of joy so intense it was almost frightening. Until now, he hadn’t known how much it mattered. But the discovery left him more confused, even more angry. He wanted to roar up to the heavens.

‘Don’t ever say anything like that,’ he commanded, breathing hard. ‘It wasn’t our bargain, and you have no right to imply that it was.’

‘Maybe not in words, but it’s what you were thinking.’

‘Don’t dare tell me what I’m thinking. You know nothing. Nothing! ’

‘Perhaps I know more than you realise.’

‘Pippa, I’m warning you-’

‘Then don’t. What right do you have to warn me? You’re so arrogant, you think you can give orders left, right and centre, but not to me.’

‘I’m arrogant?’ Roscoe snapped. ‘What about you? You assume all men are slavering for you and you despise them accordingly. I only hope one day you’ll meet a man who’s totally indifferent to your charms. It would teach you a lesson.’

‘But surely,’ she said with poisonous sweetness, ‘I’ve met him already-in you. Haven’t I?’

If she’d been easily scared she might have quailed at the look he threw her.

‘You are indifferent to my charms, aren’t you, Roscoe?’

‘Totally!’ he said in a voice of ice.

‘And, since I’m equally indifferent to yours, neither of us has a problem. Just the same, I think it’s time this arrangement came to an end. Another lawyer will suit you better.’

She rose and made for the door, but he was there before her.

‘Don’t be absurd. You can’t just go like this.’

‘So anyone who disagrees with you is absurd? No, I was absurd the day I let myself get embroiled in this. I should have had more sense of self-preservation. Now, please stand aside.’

‘No,’ he said stubbornly. ‘I’m not letting you leave here.’

‘Roscoe, stand aside. I won’t be treated like this.’

Pippa thought he would defy her again, but then his shoulders sagged.

‘All right, I’ll stand aside,’ he said. ‘But I’m going to say something first.’

‘Then get on with it.’

‘Don’t go. Hate me as much as you like, but don’t abandon Charlie, please.’

‘Roscoe-’

‘I’m begging you, do you understand that? Begging.’

His eyes left no doubt that he meant it. They were brilliant, feverish, amazing her so that she couldn’t speak.

‘Well?’ he asked. ‘Do you want me to go down on one knee?’

‘Oh, don’t be ridiculous,’ she said, backing away. ‘Suppose someone came in.’

‘Then they’d see me as never before, and they’d think it was a good laugh. Is that your price? You want me to make a fool of myself, and then you’ll do as I ask? Is that it?’

‘Suppose I said yes?’ she asked. ‘Would you pay the price?’

‘Yes,’ he said simply. ‘Shall I? Go on, you’ve been wanting to take me down a peg since we met. Now’s your chance.’

‘No!’ she exploded. ‘That’s the last thing I’d want. I’m not that kind of harpy.’

‘Then what is your answer? Will you stay?’

‘Yes! Now get back behind your desk and stop talking nonsense.’

He gave her a wry look, but moved away behind the desk.

Suddenly the door came flying open and Charlie stood there. ‘I won!’ he carolled.

‘You don’t mean that three-legged hack came home?’ Roscoe asked ironically, and only Pippa noticed the strain in his voice.

‘Ten to one!’ Charlie yipped joyfully. ‘I made a packet. Hey, I’ll be able to pay you back the money I owe you- well, some of it, anyway.’ He gave Pippa a bear hug. ‘And it’s all due to you. Since you came into my life, everything has gone well. The sun shines, the world is beautiful. Isn’t that so, Roscoe?’

‘Miss Jenson is certainly having a beneficial effect,’ he replied loftily. ‘In fact I was explaining how pleased we are with her efforts when you came in. Now, if you’ll kindly sit down, Charlie, we can return to work.’

Pippa had to give him ten out of ten for a sense of wicked irony. She tried to meet his eyes, perhaps even encourage him to share the joke. But he wasn’t looking at her. The paperwork seemed to absorb him.

The rest of the meeting was conducted with strict propriety, with as few words as possible. Pippa asked questions, made notes and finally rose briskly, declaring, ‘I’ll be in touch when I’ve investigated some more.’

‘Tonight,’ Charlie said eagerly.

‘Tonight I’ve got some boring reception to go to. Don’t be in a rush. I’ll see myself out.’

She escaped.

CHAPTER SEVEN

PIPPA had spoken the truth about the coming evening. A client was giving a lavish reception to celebrate acquiring sole rights to a piece of valuable computer software and had offered several invitations to Farley & Son, whose work had been crucial in securing the contract in a bidding war. A little group of them were going, including David and herself.

‘Dress up to the nines,’ he told her. ‘Knock their eyes out. It’s good for business.’

She laughed but did as he wished, donning a shimmering white dress that combined beauty with elegance. The reception was held at London’s most costly hotel. They arrived in a fleet of expensive cars and were shown upstairs to the Grand Salon where their hosts were waiting to greet them effusively.

One of the younger wives, friendly with Pippa and new to this kind of function, was in transports. ‘Everybody who’s anybody in finance is here tonight,’ she said. ‘You probably know most of them.’

Pippa did indeed recognise many faces and began working the room, champagne in hand, charm on display, as was expected of her. As her friend had said, the cream of London’s financial establishment was gathered there, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise when her eyes fell on Roscoe Havering. Yet it was.

‘Good evening, Miss Jenson.’

‘Good evening, Mr Havering.’

‘I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here,’ he said, unconsciously echoing her own thought. ‘It’s the sort of gathering in which you shine.’

‘Strictly business,’ she said. ‘I can help to attract new clients here, and that’s what David expects me to do, so, if you’ll excuse me, I must get to work.’

‘Wait.’ His hand on her arm detained her. ‘Are you angry with me?’

‘Certainly not.’

‘Then why are you so determined to get away from me?’

‘Because, as I’ve tried to explain, for me this is a business meeting.’

‘Tell me the real reason. That’s not just efficiency I see in your eyes. It’s coldness and hostility. How have I offended you now?’

‘You haven’t.’

‘Little liar. Tell me the truth.’

‘You haven’t offended me, but I can’t pretend that you’re my favourite person.’