Morgan turned from the bar and walked over to watch the boys having a game of pool. He could feel eyes on him and did his best to avoid looking over at her. After half an hour of socializing he was ready for bed. Saying goodnight he headed out and ran up the stairs toward his room poking his head toward the office to see if there was anyone there. The door was shut and the lights were off. He continued to his room and an early night.
* * *
At breakfast the next morning she was absent again and Morgan started to worry. He asked Nigel where she was when his breakfast was placed in front of him.
"Having a lie in on doctors orders I believe."
"Tell her I need to speak to her about more rooms when I get back in tonight would you please? Tell her also that I won't keep her long."
"Sure."
He ate breakfast and grabbed his lunch box from the kitchen on the way out to work, noticing Stacey still hadn't come out of her room.
Drilling machinery was lined up when Morgan made it out to the mine site. The first couple of hours was spent going over the amended plans with staff before the explosives team was brought in and given free rein to start setting up their process.
The first blast rocked the office where all on site staff were waiting for the okay to return to work. The second followed close after and Morgan started the countdown to the all clear alarm.
"Congratulations boss, your new mine is now under way." One by one the staff celebrated the start of the new project now the ground had been broken.
He walked out and jumping in his vehicle he headed over to the mouth of the mine. Rubble covered a huge area and the men in their machines slowly made their way over to start clearing the mess. Giant excavators loaded oversized trucks with ore ready for the processing plant that was on the other side of the mine site.
The gold he expected to pull out of this initial area was what was left in the un-mined seams from between the old hand dug tunnels. There should be enough there to cover his production costs for the first twelve months if his calculations were correct.
Once the open pit started to grow he would bring in more drilling rigs until he had a contingency of eight. Working around the clock once they had the ball rolling they should be able to bring in the next round of staff. I just hope Stacey can find room for them.
When he walked into the pub that evening he was dirty, hungry and tired. His breath caught when he saw her talking on the phone at the reception desk and made a point of standing in her line of vision until she finished her call.
"Morgan, you wanted to see me about accommodation."
"Yes. We have more staff coming in shortly, in about a week. I wonder if you can put them up?"
"How many?" She glanced at him with cool blue eyes.
"I'm planning on bringing in about twenty four. If you have to put two or three to a room I don't care."
"I thought you were bringing in temporary accommodation dongas?"
"There has been a hold up and I don't know when they are going to arrive now. Can you fit in any more men or not?"
"Yes, I can. Just get your secretary or whoever she is to confirm it with an email and I'll sort out the rooms. I gather it will be the full deal, dinners and lunches too?"
Morgan noticed the way her mouth was turning white at the edges, her lips were pinched tight together.
"Are you alright, do you need to sit down?" He reached an arm out to her but Stacey moved back out of his reach. Her face paled more and she leaned against the wall.
Morgan was around the desk reaching for her before she fell to the ground.
"Bloody hell Stacey. What are you doing to yourself?"
He held her close in his arms and walked over to the kitchen, calling for Nigel.
"Stacey has fainted, give me some help here will you?"
Nigel came bustling out, throwing off his apron as he went.
"Take her up the stairs to her room. I'll go ahead and open the door for you. Poor pet has been busy again today." He tsk'd as he ran up the stairs and Morgan followed with Stacey nestled into his chest.
He walked into her room and pushed down the vision of them tangled in each other's naked limbs and lay her down on the bed. He sat on the edge of the mattress and brushed the hair from her face. Her skin was pasty white and she looked so vulnerable it tore at his heart.
She moaned and rolled over clutching her stomach.
"Stacey, Stacey talk to me."
Slowly she opened her eyes and focused on his face. Frowning she looked around the room before meeting his gaze again.
* * *
"What is going on? Why are you in my room?" She tried to sit up but her head swam and she closed her eyes moaning softly.
"Just stay there pet or I'll be calling Doc in." Nigel eased his large bulk down on the other side of her bed and patted her arm. "You passed out and Morgan caught you before you hit the floor, lucky he was there."
She glared at him. For some reason he seemed to sound pleased Morgan was around and now in her room.
"I'll be fine. Thank you anyway."
"Nigel, would you mind if we had a bit of a private chat?" Morgan smiled across her and Nigel stood smoothing down his trousers before he leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek winking.
"Sure take your time. She needs to rest so it's not like she can kick you out. Make the most of it. If
