The Unwilling Executive Read online

  “You have to tell me when it’s enough,” Ruby said. “I can get carried away and it might get too big.”

  “Well, you can make the grandest arrangement you’ve made in a while. I’m sure my friend would love it.”

  Ruby grinned. “I will, then. Lucas,” she said in a low voice. “Could you attend to that man browsing at the front? Just ask him what he wants, please?”

  “Sure,” Lucas answered, heading to the middle-aged guy and asking if he could help with anything.

  Although he didn’t work at the store, Lucas was able to answer the man’s questions about prices. Apart from improving the setup and systems of the flower shop, he’d also worked on the budget, including pricing for his mother’s products.

  The customer left, satisfied and promising to come back in three days to buy a big bunch for his wife for their wedding anniversary.

  Lucas walked back towards the counter, grinning. If his colleagues at Formula One learnt that he sometimes helped his mother sell flowers, he’d get the ribbing of his life.

  “Oh, Jade, that’s great! I’ll see you there, then!” he heard Ruby say.

  “Really?” Jade asked, her eyes rounding in clear surprise—or horror.

  “Yes! I’ve been invited and I’m also supplying the flowers. It will be my first time going to a Carmichael party,” Ruby said.

  Lucas inhaled sharply. They were talking about the surprise birthday party for Greg Carmichael that was being organised by Greg’s girlfriend, Gemma.

  “I didn’t know you were going to Greg’s party, Jade,” he said with a quizzical look. How on earth had Jade managed to get herself in this tangle?

  “Oh, I’m still not sure if I’ll be going,” she answered nonchalantly, although Lucas could see dismay on her face. “Rick did ask me to go with him, but I’m not sure if I could make it.”

  “Please try, Jade,” Ruby said excitedly. “It will be nice to have someone I know there. Unfortunately, Lucas won’t be attending because he has to work that weekend.”

  “You’d know plenty of people at the party, Mum,” Lucas interjected. “You’ve already met all of the Carmichaels. And a few of my other friends will be there, too.”

  “Sure, but I hardly know them, whereas Jade and I already get along well. We could chat with each other since we both won’t know many people there. You know how awkward I tend to feel at parties like that, especially since you won’t be there.”

  Lucas glanced at Jade, who looked guilty and apologetic.

  “You can’t force Jade to go if she doesn’t want to, Mum.”

  “And yet you force me to go,” Ruby said dryly.

  He sighed. Ruby was still trying to find an excuse not to attend. Oh, he knew she was excited about the party. She was just plain scared about mingling with the wealthy and influential Carmichaels and their friends.

  Life had been tough for his mum, not just financially but also emotionally. Thankfully, she was in a much better place now. But she still had the habit of putting herself down and thinking she was a nobody.

  Stuff it, he wasn’t letting her get away with that mindset again. “Don’t even think of pulling out, Mother,” he warned.

  “I don’t think they’d care if I go or not, Lucas.”

  “Yes, they will care, Mum. Besides, you’ve already said yes and it would be rude not to turn up.”

  “What do you think, Jade?” Ruby asked. “Isn’t it intimidating to go to a Carmichael party, especially when they hardly know you?”

  “Uh... yeah,” Jade answered. “But from what I’ve heard, they’re down-to-earth people so I’m pretty sure they’ll make you feel welcome. You should go. You’ll have fun.”

  “It would be nice to go...” Ruby said reluctantly.

  “But...?” Lucas asked.

  Ruby let out a nervous chuckle. “I don’t want to look out of place. I just don’t relish the thought of being like a wallflower because I have no one to talk to. And I can’t imagine myself chatting easily with the other guests. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ignored me, anyway. I’m not rich or famous.”

  Lucas rolled his eyes.

  “I hope you’ll decide to attend, Jade,” Ruby said almost pleadingly. “That would make two of us who won’t know many people there.”

  “I’ll let you know if I can,” Jade said with a thin smile.

  “Yes, please do. And I think this is done,” Ruby said, putting the final touches on her arrangement. “Do you like it?”

  “It’s wonderful. I love it! Now how much do I owe you?” Jade asked as she pulled some cash from her wallet.

  “So this...” Ruby murmured, punching some numbers on the cash register. “Plus the card... less your usual twenty percent discount—”

  “Oh, no, Ruby. Full price for this one, please,” Jade said.

  Ruby shook her head and pointed to the amount showing on the screen.

  “I insist, Ruby. There are many of us sharing this. We can afford it. Please.”

  “I take it you’ve found a new job?” Ruby asked with a pointed look.

  Jade chuckled. “Yes. Why do you think I’m dressed in this corporate attire?”

  “That’s great! I’m glad for you,” Ruby said, adjusting the price accordingly and giving Jade the correct change. “Where are you working now?”

  “At a software development company where one of my best friends works.”

  “Oh, right. When did you start?”

  Lucas watched the interaction between Jade and his mother with interest. Obviously, the two shared a rapport that had developed over time.

  It was funny how coincidence happened when it was least expected. If his mother found out that Jade was working for the man she’d had a fling with thirty years ago, she’d be incredulous. And upset.

  “Thank you so much,” Jade said as she prepared to leave, picking up a heavy-looking shopping bag before trying to lift the extra-large arrangement.

  “Wow, this is so big I can hardly see where I’m going!” Jade said with a laugh. She struggled to balance the flower box with one arm while carrying her shopping bag with the other.

  “Are you going home now?” Ruby asked.

  “No. I’m going back to the office first.”

  “Will you be okay?”

  “I’ll be fine... I think,” Jade said, craning her neck to see where she was going.

  Lucas shook his head. There was no way Jade could walk far with her load. “We can get it express delivered for you. Your friend should get it in about two to three hours,” he said.

  Jade gave him a warning look. “No. We want to take it with us to the hospital tonight. And one of my friends drove today, so I only need to get back to the office.”

  “Why don’t you help her, Lucas?” Ruby said. “Carry it for her to her office.”

  Lucas gulped. Walk Jade to Bilton Machineries headquarters?

  “It’s okay, Ruby,” Jade said hastily. “I’m sure I can manage. I’ll see you next week for my usual fortnightly bunch. Bye, guys!”

  Jade made her way to the exit, only to bump against the corner of a low table, almost stumbling.

  Lucas exhaled gustily and went to take the flowers from her. “I’ll walk with you.”

  “Thanks,” Jade said, looking so relieved that he had to smile.

  He waited until they had exited the shop when he asked her the question that was confusing him. “How did you and Mum end up talking about Greg Carmichael’s surprise birthday party?”

  “Oh. She asked if Rick and I see each other often. Off the cuff, I said mostly at parties. Then she asked if I’ve heard about the surprise party in two months. Stupid me, I assumed it was one of Rick’s because you said he holds them often. So I said yes. She got excited and wanted to know if I was invited. After my previous comments, I felt I didn’t have a choice but to say yes to that, too. I had no idea that she was talking about Greg Carmichael’s birthday.”

  “You handled it well,” he said with a grin.

  “Se
e what happens when you make stuff up without knowing all the facts?” Jade asked wryly.

  He laughed out loud, then found himself relaxing and engaging in pleasant conversation as they walked together to Jade’s office.

  Before he knew it, they were at the Bilton Machineries building.

  “Do you think you can manage from here?” he asked as they got to the elevators.

  “Yes. Thanks so much, Lucas. You’re a lifesaver.” Jade took the box of flowers from him.

  “Thomas is bound to see Mum’s logo on that box,” he said gravely. “Do you think you can cover it up before he sees it?”

  Jade gave him a startled look. “Is that necessary?”

  “It would help,” he said quietly.

  “What would happen if he does notice it?”

  “He might recognise it or he might not. But I think it’s best that he doesn’t see it at all.”

  “May I ask why, Lucas?” Jade asked softly. “Especially when you’re asking me to lie and cover things up?”

  He took a deep, ragged breath. “Maybe later, okay? But I can assure you that Mum would also prefer that Thomas doesn’t find out where you got those from. In fact, she probably wouldn’t have sold them to you if she knew who’d ordered them.”

  Jade stared at him, looking like she wanted to press further. “Okay,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll see what I can do to cover up the logo.”

  “Thank you,” he said sincerely.

  “I guess I’ll see you around, then.”

  “Yeah. Maybe,” he said. “I don’t often visit Mum’s shop. I was only there today because I’m leaving for Germany tomorrow.”

  “Germany?”

  “Yeah, for the Formula One race there in a couple of weeks.”

  “Wow. You’re going to Germany to specifically watch the race?”

  “I work for a Formula One team as a mechanic,” he said with an amused frown. “Didn’t you know that?”

  “Oh. No, I didn’t.”

  “Thomas or my mum didn’t tell you?”

  “I know nothing, Lucas,” Jade said with obvious frustration.

  “Right. Well, now you know.”

  “You’re away from home a lot then, I take it.”

  “I used to be. I’ll be back in two weeks, have a short break, then go again. I’ve started to reduce the number of races I work in this year. My friend Connor and I are in discussions about being partners in his car servicing business.”

  “So do you only work on fast cars? Or do you also work on slow vehicles like, say, tractors or cranes?”

  “Full of questions today, Jade Tully,” he said, smiling at her pathetic attempt to find a link between him and Bilton Machineries.

  Jade blushed. “Sorry. Between you and Mr. Bilton not telling me anything, I’m bursting with curiosity.”

  He smirked. “Speaking of Thomas, I better go in case I bump into the man.”

  “Okay. Thanks again for carrying this beautiful box for me.”

  “My pleasure.” It felt natural to kiss her goodbye on the cheek, so he did. Then he pressed the up button for the lifts before strolling to the exit.

  Strange how he didn’t have the compulsion to leave the Bilton Machineries building as fast as he could. Just the other day, when he had to walk past the premises, his whole body had tensed. He was pleasantly surprised at how relaxed he felt right now.

  Involuntarily, he looked back towards the elevators. Jade was still standing there, watching him. He grinned and waved. She waved back, missing the lift that closed its doors and left without her.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Lucas strained to hear Jade above the din created by the crowd in the packed food court. He was kicking himself for his stupid decision to take Jade here for lunch—a detour before he walked her back to her office with a big box of flowers for her officemate celebrating a fiftieth birthday. Surely he could have found a quieter place with speedy enough service that would ensure she got back to work on time?

  This was the first time they’d had lunch together, although they’d had coffee last week when they’d bumped into each other at his mother’s shop after he came back from Germany.

  He’d surprised himself by his actions. He certainly didn’t expect wanting to have coffee or lunch with Thomas Bilton’s PA. But in both cases he’d found himself simply blurting out the invitations.

  Jade was saying something about an open-heart surgery and he mentally shook his head to focus on their conversation.

  “Did you say your nephew had a heart operation?” he asked, leaning across the table to hear her better.

  “Yes. About three months ago. He’s doing well at the moment, so we’re very relieved. Would you like to see his picture?”

  “Sure,” he said. “I just realised that you’re the customer-friend with a nephew who has congenital heart defect that Mum talks about often. And the flowers you buy regularly are for your brother and sister-in-law, right?”

  “Yup,” Jade said, smiling as she scrolled through photos on her phone. “I was such a worrywart when my nephew had the operation. Your mum was a big help in calming my fears. Here he is.” She handed him her phone. “Isn’t he adorable? His name’s Michael but we call him Mickey.”

  “Yeah, he’s really cute,” he said, smiling at her. “How old is he?”

  “Nine months. Would you like to see more? Just scroll to the next pictures. They’re all Mickey.”

  He chuckled. She was clearly besotted with her nephew. He went to the next photo. It was of Jade beaming at the infant she carried in her arms.

  His gaze lingered on her image. He’d been trying hard not to gape at her since meeting her at the shop earlier. But now he allowed himself to enjoy focusing on her face in the photo.

  What was it about Jade that pulled him so? He knew other women who’d be considered prettier than her in a conventional sense. He’d even had sex with plenty of them. But not one of those beauties had made him want to stare. Just stare.

  He sighed and returned her phone to her. He noticed that her cutlery was arranged in a way that indicated she was done eating her lunch.

  “Aren’t you finishing your food?” he asked, gesturing to her more-than-half-full plate.

  “I’ve had enough.”

  He gave her a questioning frown. Somehow he doubted it. She’d admitted she was hungry when she was deciding what to eat.

  “Actually, I didn’t like it much,” she said.

  He inhaled deeply, embarrassed. He should have taken her someplace else.

  “I owe you dinner then,” he said.

  Jade’s brows rose.

  “I’m sure I can find a better place to take you next time,” he said.

  “Okay. Sounds great,” Jade said, smiling prettily.

  Damn, he was itching to kiss her.

  “I have to go back to work,” she said, checking her watch.

  “Must you?” he asked, only half joking. Time seemed to have flown. He would have liked to hang around with Jade for a bit longer.

  She gave him a disappointed nod as she got up from her seat.

  He smiled, following her. At least he wasn’t the only one sorry that this lunch was over—even if the food had left a lot to be desired.

  They walked in companionable silence to the Bilton Machineries building while he carried Jade’s big flower box. He wished he was holding her hand instead.

  What? Hold her hand? Had he gone weird or what?

  He smirked at himself, shaking his head surreptitiously. Whatever was happening to him, it was all Jade’s doing. And he wasn’t sure yet whether he welcomed it or not.

  He had to admit, though, it made him feel good all over.

  He suppressed a snort. God, he needed to have his head examined. Maybe all this free time he’d had lately had turned his brain into mush. Or perhaps it was the effect of hanging around too much in his mother’s flower shop.

  Sooner than he’d wanted, they arrived at Jade’s office building.

  �
��Don’t bump into anything now,” he said as he handed Jade the huge bouquet of flowers.

  She giggled. “I should ask your mum not to make them so big.”

  “Are you sure you don’t need to cover that logo?”

  “Positive. Mr. Bilton won’t see it at all. He’s away from the office all day. And I want the guys at work to see Ruby’s logo when we present this to the birthday girl later.”

  He smiled. “Thanks.”

  “No. Thank you for walking again with me. I’m lucky you were at the shop today.”

  “We seem to have made it a habit to meet there,” he said with a grin.

  “I know,” she said shyly. “Well, have fun in Belgium and good luck with the race. I guess I’ll see you again when you get back.”

  “Yep. I’m back in two weeks.” He kissed her goodbye on the cheek—another habit he seemed to have developed—and sauntered out of the Bilton Machineries building, feeling more bereft with each step he took away from Jade.

  He guessed in terms of being physically attracted to a woman, he had it bad. It didn’t help that Jade responded to his attention. It was cute how a woman in her midtwenties could still blush over simple words and charming smiles. He bet it would be more fun if he turned on his naughty streak around her.

  He was starting to revisit his decision not to seduce her. After all, it wasn’t her fault that she was Thomas Bilton’s PA. As long as she wasn’t complicit in Thomas’ schemes, why should that be a problem? In fact, he could see the upside to it. Jade could be his source of information regarding Thomas’ plans involving him and his mother.

  As long as he and Jade were both fine with what he had in mind, why should he let his issues with Thomas get in the way? This was about him and Jade, not him and Thomas, right?

  He mulled that thought while he walked back to Ruby’s shop.

  By the time he got there, his mind was clear. He wanted Jade in his bed more than he wanted to avoid her because of who she worked for.

  Frankly, it wasn’t really a matter of choice. Jade’s pull was simply too strong.

  With a bemused shake of his head, he went into his mother’s shop. “I’m back,” he announced to Ruby.

  “Hello, darling,” Ruby said as she fiddled with a new bouquet. “Rick called. He wants you to call him back.”