HELEN BROOKS - A Boss In A Million

He was the sort of man who was intimidating even when he wasn’t intending to be, and she wasn’t sure if he was intending to be now or not. He was so big, that was part of the problem—so masculine and uncompromisingly virile. Everything he did, every little gesture or movement, was so controlled and disciplined and it was formidable. He had an aura of authority, but not in a comforting or reassuring way—at least she didn’t find it so, Cory told herself nervously. Hunter by name and Hunter by nature…

Oh, for goodness’ sake, girl, pull yourself together! The rebuke was loud and angry in her head. She’d be crediting him with supernatural powers next and wouldn’t he just love that?

The thought acted in much the same way as a douse of cold water on her fluttering panic, and Cory forced herself to take several silent breaths before she smiled and said, her voice as cool as she could make it, ‘I really don’t know what you are talking about, Max.’

There, she’d said his name without the slightest pause or hesitation, even giving it a slightly scornful intonation.

‘No?’ The gold was very clear around the bottomless black pupils. ‘You mean to say you weren’t considering whether you’d come back tomorrow or just call it quits?’ he asked silkily.

‘No, I wasn’t.’ And she hadn’t been, not really. Admittedly she had wondered whether he would pull the plug on her, but she hadn’t seriously considered leaving herself. Whatever else, she wasn’t a quitter, and she said so now. ‘I agreed to take the position for a trial period to see if things worked out and I would honour that whatever,’ she said firmly. ‘And it works both ways—you might decide I’m not suitable,’ she added reasonably.

‘I knew within the first five minutes whether you were suitable or not,’ he said softly. ‘In business you have to be able to determine the credibility of someone fast.’

‘Snap decisions?’ She raised disapproving eyebrows and hoped he hadn’t guessed she was acting a part—his previous admission had sent her stomach haywire and churned up that wonderful lunch.

‘No, measured appraisals due to years of hard experience and a natural distrust of my fellow man,’ he corrected her swiftly, his tone faintly mocking. ‘I never make mistakes, Cory. Not any more.’

‘Oh, you used to be just like the rest of us, then? Human?’ The second the words were out she was horrified. You didn’t speak to your employer like that, she told herself silently—not if you still wanted him to remain your employer, that was. Mr Stanley would have had a heart attack on the spot! But Max Hunter wasn’t Mr Stanley.

‘You see?’ There was a measure of amusement in the narrowed eyes and she knew her embarrassment was showing. ‘I’d rather have you in my corner than someone else’s. Besides which…’ He paused, swallowing the last of his coffee in one gulp before he continued, ‘As my secretary and personal assistant you’ll be working with me very closely and of necessity the days are often long ones—eleven, twelve hours. I couldn’t stand anyone who didn’t speak her mind and I don’t like boring women, Cory.

‘I can forgive anyone anything if they are honest and acting from the heart. I don’t like deception or hypocrisy and I don’t like prissy thinking along the lines of “the boss is always right.” I am—’ he eyes were gleaming with laughter now ‘—but if you thought so too, where would the spark be? And you don’t have to like me, so don’t worry your head on that score,’ he added abruptly. ‘Because you don’t, do you?’

It wasn’t a question, it was more of a statement, and one which Cory was utterly unable to answer.

He laughed out loud now at the look on her face and the sound was husky, rusty even, as though he didn’t do it too often.

‘Don’t get concerned,’ he said softly, his voice soothing. ‘Believe it or not I look on that as another of your admirable attributes. Part of Gillian’s amazing success all these years has been because she has her Colin whom she adores to distraction, and our working relationship has been just that…a working one.’

He was telling her he didn’t want her fancying him! Cory didn’t know whether to be relieved or furious, but she veered towards the latter. What an ego! What an outsize, monstrous ego!

‘Power and wealth can be a potent aphrodisiac to some women. Now, whilst that’s all to the good in certain situations—’ the deep voice held a note that suddenly made her shiver as her nerve-endings sensitised ‘—at work it’s just a damn nuisance and sometimes downright dangerous. You’ll be party to some very confidential papers as my secretary and the old adage of “Hell hath no fury” is still alive and well, believe me,’ he finished coolly.

‘Mr Hunter.’ She had probably been as mad as this previously in her life but she couldn’t remember it. ‘I would no more dream of acting in the way you’ve described than of…of flying to the moon,’ Cory snarled angrily. ‘Even if I thought you were the best thing since sliced bread.’

‘Which you don’t,’ he put in softly, his eyes gleaming.

‘No, I don’t!’ she affirmed with furious emphasis.

‘You see? The perfect solution for both of us. I get a secretary I can trust and who—from the references Mr Stanley among others supplied—is more than adequate not to mess anything up with misplaced emotion. You get a position which will only serve to further enhance your career, you get to travel a bit, see new places with the added advantage of it all being paid for, and a handsome salary to boot. Ideal, eh? And of course you’re out of the little home-town trap. Why exactly did you decide to leave Yorkshire anyway?’ he added with a suddenness that took Cory by surprise. ‘You were happy there for the last twenty-four years.’

She stared at him a moment, getting a bland, expressionless gaze in return, and then forced herself to speak quietly and calmly when she said, ‘It was time to spread my wings, that’s all. My qualifications are excellent—’ she raised her chin slightly at this point; it didn’t come naturally to blow her own trumpet ‘—and at twenty-four I felt the next stage of my career was overdue. I—’

‘I’m not asking for a résumé of what was written on your application form and CV.’ He was terse. ‘I mean the real reason. Was it a man?’ he asked with audacious coolness.

Cory was quite unaware of the shadow of pain that passed over her face in the second before the fury hit, but then her eyes were shooting bright green sparks and she straightened in her chair, her chin thrusting out and her hands clenched fists in her lap. ‘I think I ought to make one thing perfectly clear before we go on another minute,’ she said icily, her voice belying the fiery colour in her cheeks. ‘I do not discuss my personal life with anyone unless I want to. If you offer me this job permanently you will be entitled to all of my working days and the very best I can do, both for you and Hunter Operations, but you will not automatically have the right to take over my life. My private life is my own business and absolutely no concern of yours.’

So it had been a man. Max Hunter surveyed the taut, angry figure in front of him, his face betraying none of his thoughts. And she wasn’t over him yet, not by a long chalk. ‘You’re absolutely right of course.’ Gillian was making her way back to their table and now he stood, his voice merely pleasant and not at all put out as he added, ‘I think we’re all ready to leave? And Cory?’

She was in the act of rising, Max having pulled out her chair for her, and now, as she turned to face him, he was so close for a moment that she caught the scent of delicious aftershave on clean male skin and took an involuntary step backwards, bumping against the table and rattling the coffee cups. ‘Yes?’ she asked defensively.