stare, so hard that Knox himself was hard-pressed not to flinch. His scalp suddenly prickled with unease. What was it Chapman had said? She was on thin ice? Why? Knox wondered instantly. Why was she on thin ice?
“I understand Knox has asked you to accompany him on an extended weekend assignment and you have refused,” Chapman said.
She nodded. “Yes, sir. That’s correct.”
Chapman steepled his fingers so that they looked like little pork sausages. “I’m not going to ask you why you refused, because that would imply that I care and I don’t—that you have a choice, and you don’t. You will go. Understood?”
She stiffened. “But, sir—”
Chapman’s forehead formed a unibrowed scowl. “No buts.” He looked meaningfully at Knox. “Surely it’s not going to be necessary for me to remind you of why it would behoove you not to argue with me about this.”
Though she clearly longed to do just that, Savannah’s shoulders rounded with uncharacteristic defeat. She sighed. “No, sir. Of course not.”
Knox frowned. What in hell was going on? How had she managed to land her name on the top of Chapman’s shit-list? What had she done? he wondered again.
“That’s what I thought. Knox,” Chapman said, “see Rowena and have her tend to the necessary arrangements.” He nodded at Savannah. “The two of you should get together and make your plans.”
Knox smiled. “Right, sir. Thank you.”
Savannah didn’t say a word, just turned and marched rigidly out of the office. Knox had to double-time it to catch up with her. “What was that all ab—”
“That,” Savannah said meaningfully, “is none of your business, but that’s probably never stopped you before. Honestly, I can’t believe that you did that—that you went to Chapman.” She shook her head. “I knew you were a spoiled little tight-ass and a first-rate jerk, but it honestly never occurred to me that you’d sink so damned low.”
Knox scowled at the tight-ass remark but refused to let her goad him, and followed her into her cubicle once more. “In case you haven’t noticed,” Knox pointed out sarcastically, “it’s our job to make everything our business. That’s what journalists do. Besides, I gave you the opportunity to do the right thing.”
She blasted him with a frosty glare. “Wrong. You gave me the opportunity to do what you wanted me to do.” Savannah shoved a hand through her hair impatiently, mussing it up even more. She took a deep breath, clearly trying to calm herself but failing miserably. She opened her mouth. Shut it. Opened it again. Finally she said, “Did it ever occur to you that I might have plans for this weekend? That it might not be convenient for me to jaunt off to California with you?”
Prepared to argue with whatever insult she hurled next, that question caught him completely off guard and Knox felt his expression blank.
“I thought so.” She collapsed into her chair. “You pampered prep-school boys are all the same. Contrary to popular belief, Mr. Webber, the world does not revolve around you and your every whim.” She laughed, but the sound lacked humor. “We peasants have lives to.”
Peasants? Knox scrubbed a hand over his face and felt a flush creep up his neck. She was right. He hadn’t considered that she’d have any plans. He’d just assumed that, like him, work didn’t leave time for anything else. “Look, I’m sorry for wrecking your plans. That was never my intention. I just—”
“You didn’t wreck my plans, because I didn’t have any,” she said tartly. She turned back to her computer, doing her best to ignore him out of existence.
Knox blinked. Felt his fingers curl into his palms. “If you didn’t have any plans, then what the hell is the problem?” he asked tightly.
“I could have had plans. It’s just a lucky coincidence that I don’t.”
Knox blew out a breath. “Whatever. When would you like to get together and see to the details of this trip?”
She snorted. “Never.”
“Vannah…” Knox warned, feeling his patience wear thin.
“Savannah,” she corrected, and he could have sworn he heard one of her teeth crack. “You can brief me on the plane. Until then, get away from me and leave me alone.”
“But—”
She glanced up from her computer. “You might have won the battle, but you certainly haven’t won the war. You’ve forced my hand, but that’s all I’m going to allow. Do not speak to me again until we’re on our way to California or, Chapman’s edict or no, you’ll be making the journey solo.”
A hot oath sizzled on Knox’s tongue, but he bit back the urge. He’d never met a woman who infuriated him more, and the desire to call her bluff was almost overpowering.
But he didn’t.
He couldn’t afford the risk. This story meant too much. He knew it and he needed to keep the bigger picture in focus.
Instead, though it galled him to no end, Knox nodded succinctly and wordlessly left her cubicle.
SAVANNAH HAD SILENTLY PRAYED that Knox would screw up and talk to her so that she could make good on her threat, but he didn’t. Per her instruction, he hadn’t said a single word to her until they boarded the plane. Since then he’d seemed determined to treat this assignment like any other, and even more determined to ignore the fact that she’d been an unwilling participant.
A typical man, Savannah thought. If he couldn’t buy it off, knock it down or bully it aside, then he ignored it.
They’d flown out of O’Hare at the ungodly hour of five in the morning and would arrive in sunny Sacramento, California, by nine-thirty. At the airport, they would rent a car to finish the journey. The Shea compound was located in the small community of Riverdale, about fifty miles northwest of Sacramento. Barring any unforeseen complications, they should arrive in plenty of time to get settled and attend the Welcome Brunch. Classes officially started at two.
A volcano of dread erupted in her belly at the thought, but rather than allow it to consume her, Savannah channeled her misgivings into a more productive emotion—anger.
She still saw red every time she thought about Chapman’s hand in her humiliation. Quite honestly, she’d been surprised that he hadn’t taken every opportunity to belittle her in front of her co-workers—to make an example of her—and could only assume he acted on the advice of the paper’s attorneys. Chapman seemed the type to feed off others’ misfortune, and, frankly, she’d never liked him. She wasn’t the least bit surprised that Chapman had sided with Knox. Knox was the golden boy, after all.
But the Phoenix had an unparalleled reputation, and she would have been insane not to accept employment at one of the most prestigious papers in the States. She had her career plan, after all, and wouldn’t let a little thing like despising her boss get in the way. Though she assumed he’d never give her a glowing recommendation, her writing would speak for itself.
As for Knox’s role in this…she was still extremely perturbed at him for not taking no for an answer. Without a family or mentor to speak of, Savannah relied solely on gut instinct.
