She’d romanticised it of course. That was the problem. With the passage of time that hazy memory had become something more than it had really been.
Amanda glanced across to see Bronwyn’s glance resting on her—amusement mixed with chagrin swirling in her expression. ‘Well, it’ll be interesting anyway.’
‘I’m really sorry, Bronwyn. I’d never have come along today had I known.’
Bronwyn shrugged. ‘If your past is going to make as much difference as all that, then maybe we don’t want his business. If he’s unprofessional enough to allow personal issues into his decision-making processes, then we’re better off without him, right?’
‘Right.’ Amanda wanted to smile but couldn’t. No way were they better off without his business. They needed his business no matter what.
‘But for what it’s worth, I think your presentation was stellar. Whatever history you two do or don’t have, it certainly put fuel in your fire. You could have sold me a three-week-old wet newspaper.’
Amanda flushed once more—this time from pleasure rather than mortification. And then the warm feeling subsided. No matter how good she’d been she was sure Jared wouldn’t give them the job.
At that moment Jared was staring at the painting hanging in the far corner of his office, for once not getting any sense of calm from the vast landscape it depicted. He tugged off the tie and undid the top button of his shirt.
This was business. He had to make this decision based on what was best for the company. Which was the pitch more likely to work and which was in tune with his vision? And who could he work with closely to get what he wanted?
What he wanted or who he wanted?
He 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