Man Trouble

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‘It’s a she, not a he,’ he said after putting the wine bottle back into the ice bucket.

The waiter brought their main course and Jade waited till he’d gone before asking, ‘Who is a she, not a he?’

‘Your new art director.’

A chill went down Jade’s spine. Knowing his tabloid reputation with the opposite sex, she was sure to have had an intimate relationship with him at one time. She might be his she! No, his fiancĂe certainly wouldn’t need to earn her own living.

“The boys aren’t going to like that!’ Jade exclaimed. All her art staff were men because the few women they had tried couldn’t keep up the pace.

“That sounds sexist.’

Jade shrugged and gave a small smile. ‘I suppose it does but I’m not sexist. Give me a girl who can stand the pace and won’t get pregnant and I’ll take her on.’

‘That is definitely sexism,’ Mel insisted.

Her smile broadened. ‘I was quoting my father, actually. You know, the one with the big mouth and the Draconian temperament?’

‘I never got around to the pleasure of meeting him,’ Mel grazed, and fixed her with an icy glare that wiped the smile from her mouth and brought a flush to her cheeks.

She shouldn’t have mentioned her father and, worse, tried to make a joke of him. Her intention had been to lighten the atmosphere between them but she had failed miserably, her choice of subject appalling under the circumstances. She regretted it deeply.

‘And I can personally guarantee that Nadia won’t get pregnant,’ Mel added with such conviction that it was like another whiplash to her senses.

Jade stared down at her fish, feeling as limp and as lifeless as the poor thing sprawled on her plate. He could only make a guarantee like that if he was very heavily involved. This Nadia was his intended, the woman he loved, the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with. And Mel Biaggio was about to install her at the heart of her company!

She tried to swallow but it was impossible. She was so choked up she thought she might as well roll over and die right now. She would never be able to cope with having this Nadia thrust at her from all sides. It was cruel and wicked and he knew exactly what he was doing—punishing her. But for it all to be effective he must think she still cared because there would be no point otherwise.

Nervously she reached for her wineglass. He must never know how she still felt about him. Never, but never would she allow him to have any idea that he was getting to her.

She smiled, forcing normality and genuine interest into her tone. She forced courage into her heart, too. “This Nadia woman. Is she the one—the one who is going to end your womanising ways?’

‘What do you think?’ His eyes were clear and unyielding and Jade thought she read cruelty in them. He was enjoying this, hoping he was getting to her.

‘I suppose she must be,’ she sighed wearily. And he had verbally guaranteed her childless state for the time being, obviously not ready for a family yet. Oh, it didn’t bear thinking about. She swallowed, fighting to sound normal. ‘Tell me about her. Do you really think she’ll be able to turn things around?’

‘She’ll be able to bring her own clients…’

Jade concentrated hard. This was awful—discussing his mistress joining her company. She wanted to walk out of the restaurant after telling him what to do with his help and advice, but then he would know she still cared and couldn’t face it. She took a deep breath.