frowned and turned away, looking out of the window and down the road where a few minutes ago a taxi had driven off, taking the infuriating Amanda away.
Damn.
Because he’d liked her pitch. He’d liked the idea. And there was a part of him that wanted to give the job to that company because he wanted to see it succeed—not go under, swallowed up by the global advertising giants. He’d stepped in and stopped this juice company from being taken over by a large offshore firm; it was part of what had driven him to work the hours he had and take the risks he had. They’d paid off too, those risks. Now he was contemplating another.
Could he really work with her?
He frowned. Ridiculous. Of course he could. A little lust attack could easily be stamped out. Because no way could he follow through on the idea of a one-night fling with her if they were to be working together. That would be messy and Jared loathed messy. He worked most of the time, he played outdoors some of the time and he scored even less of the time. The three were kept very separate. So what if he wanted her? He’d wanted her before and said no; he could do that again no sweat. Definitely.
The question was, could she work with him? Could she keep her professionalism up?
And that, he realised, was what he wanted to know. Could the spoilt princess cope with him giving the orders? His mouth stretched into a smile, slow and wide. How funny for the boot to be on the other foot. Amanda Winchester answering to his call for once.
It shouldn’t matter. Jared was not the kind who liked to abuse his power—but in this case, in this unique case, the temptation was irresistible.
Chapter Four
AMANDA stared, too scared to believe as she, Sean and Danielle listened in on Bronwyn’s conversation.
‘Yes…yes…certainly…of course.’ Bronwyn glanced up and winked, then spun her chair away to look out of the window and control the big grin stretching wide across her face. ‘That won’t be a problem. Wonderful, Jared.’
Amanda watched as Bronwyn looked at the receiver and then carefully put it down.
‘Well?’ screeched Sean.
‘People—’ Bronwyn looked about to burst ‘—we have ourselves a client.’
‘All right!’ Sean did a jig. ‘Where do I buy? What do I buy? Radio, TV…Are we doing the web too?’
Bronwyn held up her hand and Sean, well trained, fell silent. ‘We’ll get to that in due course. Our Mr Jared James is one demanding customer and very particular about what he wants. He had a number of requests relating to the pitch, all of which I’ve agreed to. The first stipulation is that Amanda manages the account—she’s responsible for creative content and for liaising with the client. Obviously we’re here to help you, Amanda. You’re not totally alone in this.’ Bright-eyed Bronwyn was watching her too closely.
Amanda felt the blood rushing through her body—but none of it was getting to her brain.
‘Manage the account?’ Deal with Jared? Be responsible for it all? But she’d only been in this job a few months—only moved to Auckland when it became clear she needed to earn serious dollars.
‘I need you to do this, Amanda. Are you going to be able to?’ Bronwyn came round from behind her desk.
‘Sure,’ Amanda blurted. ‘Of course.’ She whirled away and went to her own workstation.
Oh, no. Shock and a sudden desperate need for something sweet—an edible distraction—filled her.
They’d got the contract but she was going to have to work with Jared—spend time with Jared. Food—quick!
Because of course this would all be fine if her body didn’t go on heat at just the mention of his name. She was melting inside…
Oh, no. She picked up the box of gourmet chocolates and stuffed the first one she grabbed in.
‘Hey, Amanda! Hey, stop!’ Sean screeched again. ‘They’re samples for us to build an ad campaign for.’
Amanda, still chewing the first, added a second to the mix. ‘Do I look like I care?’ She swallowed and immediately stuffed another in. ‘I need them now.’
‘But, Amanda, they cost a fortune and—’
‘I can buy more,’ she snapped as she devoured yet another.
‘Well, you could always get your grandfather to buy the company.’
‘Jared?’ She spun so fast that three of the chocolates flew from the box like renegade bullets.
‘I was talking to Bronwyn on my mobile.’ Jared casually picked up a chocolate that had landed on Danielle’s desk beside him. ‘Guess she hadn’t had the time to tell you I was here yet.’
‘I…’ Amanda glanced over his shoulder and saw Bronwyn’s face—the anxiety as she mouthed ‘sorry’.
‘Let’s just make it a quick meeting now, shall we? I don’t want to take up too much of your valuable time.’ He looked at the chocolate in his hand and then sent the box of chocolates an equally ironic glance.
‘Um. OK.’ Amanda shoved the box behind her and swallowed, certain she was all chocolate teeth.
He stepped closer, still holding the stray truffle. ‘Is there somewhere we could go? A meeting room perhaps?’
‘Um—’ But as she went to answer he put the chocolate in her mouth. Startled, she gaped, chocolate and all.
Laughing, he licked the small bit of melted chocolate from his finger and then shut her mouth with a nudge under her chin. ‘I was always good at the clown game at the fair.’
Unable to do anything else in front of their current audience, Amanda chewed—viciously.
‘Now I know how to get you to be a little sweeter to me.’ The devil glinted in his eyes. ‘Lead on, Amanda.’
Ignoring the gaping stares of Danielle and Sean and the sky-high brows of Bronwyn, Amanda stalked round the corner to the small meeting room. She paused outside the door.
His smile was about as trustworthy as a crocodile’s. ‘After you.’
She walked in, conscious of him shutting the door behind him. Far too conscious of how small the room was, how tall he was, how she still wasn’t used to seeing him in a suit—certainly not one as devastating as this. Even more magnificent than the one he had on at the pitch yesterday, this one was black with the thinnest of pinstripes and set off by a deep red tie. She stared at him. Lost, for a long moment, in the sheer infuriating attraction of him.
Then came the pep talk. Be professional. Ignore the chocolate moment and the way he’s looking at you. Just do the job and do it well.
She took in a deep breath. ‘Thank you very much for putting your faith in Synergy. We’re looking forward to working on your campaign and making it a successful one.’
‘Of
