Star thanked Mrs Morris, who had obviously enjoyed sharing her cloak-and-dagger message, and collected Skylar from the climbing frame. Skylar was not disappointed to have a day off school, and asked if they could continue with her house project. Star only half-listened to Skylar’s busy chatter as she fired off a quick message to Lucas and Pam explaining the situation, promising that she’d be in as soon as possible. It was seven-thirty, so if Laura was going to be home in an hour, she’d hopefully be able to make the office by nine-thirty at the latest. In the meantime, she and Skylar would be able to have the breakfast they had missed this morning.
When Star arrived home, she checked her phone, not surprised to see she hadn’t received a reply. It was still early, and although Pam usually made it into the office for eight am, it wasn’t unusual for her to get caught up with other issues first. The joy of being the Boss Man’s PA, Pam always said.
To kill time and distract herself from the disaster of the morning, Star threw herself into breakfast with Skylar. Her daughter had requested fluffy pancakes, and Star had been only too happy to oblige. At eight-thirty, when the front door finally clicked, Star was a bundle of nerves.
∞∞∞
The train journey into the office was uneventful. It was half-empty, which allowed Star to get a seat and review the presentation for the last time. She checked her phone again and was surprised that there was still no call from Pam or even a message from Lucas. She hoped Lucas wasn’t unhappy with this morning’s events, he was usually pretty understanding when it came to all things Skylar and it was rare that Star’s personal life ever interfered with her work life. But today was important, and this was not the professional image Star wanted to portray.
By the time she arrived at the office, she barely registered anyone or anything, heading straight to her desk and then to Lucas’s office. She failed to notice the unusual quietness, and didn’t stop to speak to any of the team who were speaking in hushed tones. Her focus was on apologising and starting her meeting as soon as possible.
Pam was not at her desk when Star arrived, although that was not unusual. The woman was a one-person machine when it came to the office. Lucas Hunt’s door was closed, but she could hear voices inside. Star took a seat outside and waited. It was not long before the voices quietened and Lucas’s door opened. One of the Board Members exited, his focus elsewhere as he failed to even acknowledge her presence. She wasn’t the only one having a bad morning, Star thought. Standing up, Star headed towards the door and knocked before entering the room. Stepping into the room, Star’s body froze, her breath faltering.
“Come in Ms Roberts and shut the door,” came a voice Star hadn’t heard in seven years.
∞∞∞
Star froze, adrenaline racing through her system. A tightness gripped her chest as the past seven years melted away.
Cold features stared across the desk at her. “You’re late!” Damian’s icy tone was a clear sign of his displeasure. “I hope you don’t usually keep my father waiting this long.”
“Yes, I’m sorry,” Star felt her cheeks grow hot under the scrutiny. What was Damian doing here and where was Lucas? Damian had not set foot in the London office for over two years and hadn’t been a permanent fixture for seven. In recent years when he had visited, Star had made herself scarce, visiting clients or taking holiday.
Concern had begun pooling deep in her stomach. “I’m sorry, there was a family emergency. I left—”
Damian waved his hand, dismissing Star’s explanation, and gestured to the seat in front of him. Star sat, heart pounding, her laptop and presentation documents clutched tight like a shield in front of her.
“Where is Mr Hunt? Mr Hayes?” Star asked, her voice sounding strange, even to herself.
“I sent Mr Hayes back to his office. He had another account meeting to attend, and he didn’t have time to sit around waiting for you. My father is in hospital,” Damian stated, his focus now on his father’s diary.
“Oh my god, is everything—” Star stopped as Damian’s gaze clashed with hers. She suddenly saw the exhaustion in his eyes.
“He’s been taken in for some tests,” Damian said. “So, as you’ve probably gathered, my father is indisposed. Your meeting is now with me. Shall we begin?”
Caught once again in his dark stare, Star’s breath hitched, the fine hairs on her arms and neck rising. Her confusion and discomfort were evident, yet Damian appeared calm and unaffected after all this time. Shaking herself, Star decided that if he could be professional, then so could she. She placed the client presentation on the desk in front of him, and returned to her seat, watching as he flipped through the folder.
Damian’s once-boyish features were no more. His deep-set eyes had a new depth, a hardness that hadn’t been there before. His full lips now held themselves in a grim line, outlined by the twelve o’clock shadow darkening his jaw. At his temples, flecks of grey had appeared against his almost black hair, not aging him, but adding distinction and maturity. His shoulders were broader than before, as if he’d spent many hours in the gym, and he projected an undeniable air of confidence. Damian Hunt was still the most attractive man Star had ever seen, but he was no longer the quick-to-laugh, easy-to-smile man she’d loved. The man in front of her today was a cold, hard stranger.
“If you’ve finished staring, maybe you could set up your presentation and we can begin this meeting!”
A dark flush spread over Star’s cheeks. She dipped her chin, wishing the ground would swallow her up. Five years of professionalism, gone within two minutes of being in this man’s presence.
Gripping her laptop, Star connected it to the electronic whiteboard. A sense of warmth flooded her body as Damian moved from his desk to the sofa behind her. The familiar scent of bergamot and cypress invaded her senses, transporting her back to a time she’d long ago buried. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she took a deep breath and reminded herself that she was proud of herself and the presentation her team had produced. She had every right to be here, despite what Jackson Brown might think. She’d graduated top of her class against all the odds. Lucas Hunt had hired her, because he thought she had potential. It was time to reconstruct her professional mask and face her nemesis, showing him she was no longer the woman he’d left behind, but his equal in the work place.
∞∞∞
Over two hours later, Damian had gone through the presentation with a fine-toothed comb, questioning her on every little detail.
Star stifled a sigh as a loud knock interrupted Damian’s line of questioning. Pam entered the room. “Sorry, Damian,” she said, “I’ve set up your appointment with the Board for midday. I thought you might want some time to go through everything before then.” As Damian turned his back, Pam shot Star an apologetic look
Damian closed the presentation, which now contained all his scribbled notes and pointers, before handing it back to Star. “Make the changes we’ve discussed and we’ll meet again in the morning at ten. Try not to be late.” With that, Star was dismissed.
“I take it you didn’t get my text message,” Pam said.
As if on cue, Star’s phone pinged in her pocket. Taking it out, she saw the message Pam had sent and remembered she had put it on a timed “Do Not Disturb” while she was on the train, as she’d known she’d soon be in her meeting with Lucas.
Groaning, Star shook her head. The shock and panic she had felt after walking into Lucas’s office and finding Damian standing there was coming home to roost. If only she’d waited for Pam to return to her desk rather than barrelling into the room without thinking. A lesson learned for the future.