“I have a bid for you to work on,” Natalie said, extending the folder.
Ethan’s gaze dropped to the papers, a frown appearing. “Is that the one I gave you this morning?”
“Yes.”
“I prefer that you work on it alone.”
“Danielle’s very thorough. I think—”
“Yes, I know. But this is important, and I want your full attention on it.”
Danielle visibly shrank, trying to make herself invisible. Natalie controlled her anger. Did he realize the implication of what he was saying and how it made Danielle feel?
“But—”
“In my office.” He gave her an unreadable look. “Please.”
She followed him, her lips set. He shut the door and didn’t bother to offer her a seat. She remained standing and would’ve crossed her arms if she hadn’t been carrying the folder.
“When I ask you to do something, I mean exactly that.”
“I understand, but Danielle’s at the point in her career where she should—”
“Natalie, I know. But there’s a reason why I asked you to do it. We have to win this. Rodale International’s bidding too, and it’s going to be competitive. There can’t be any mistakes.”
She looked at her boss. He seemed tired and irritated, which somehow surprised her. Ethan was the sort of debonair, lazy-mannered man who was difficult to upset.
“Furthermore, security on the project is very tight. The folder contains several proprietary technology specs we own. Only you and I have seen what’s in that folder. Danielle is too junior, even if she has her security clearance. She’s just not right for this particular job.”
If he felt this strongly about it, there was nothing Natalie could do. Maybe he was being this controlling because of the way his predecessor had gotten fired. “Okay. Sorry.”
He relaxed a bit. “Thank you. Let me know if you have any questions.”
As she was walking back past Danielle’s cubicle, her assistant rose. “Natalie.”
“Yes?”
“I…I’m sorry.” Danielle dropped her gaze.
Natalie smiled at her. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not your fault, and there will be other projects.”
“Sure.” Danielle shot her a grateful look. “I appreciate the support.”
* * *
Alex collapsed on the king-size bed in his hotel room, loosening his tie and feeling the muscles in his back unkink. Thank God he was done for the day. Since his arrival in Hong Kong, he’d had nothing but endless conference calls and meetings. It was already eight p.m., and he hadn’t had a single break.
Natalie hadn’t contacted him. He wanted to talk to her, but he hadn’t been able to get a moment alone, especially with all those pesky business dinners to attend. They normally lasted until one or two in the morning and filled his belly with more alcohol than he would have liked. The Chinese drank like fish, especially the older men, their faces shining and laughing.
Given how they’d parted, Alex wanted to be one hundred percent sober when he spoke with Natalie again. He stared at his cell phone and thought about giving her a ring but gave up on the idea. Maybe she was still upset with the way he’d left…even though she was the one who had made it clear he’d better let her be alone for a while.
He sighed. Women.
Two white envelopes on the nightstand caught his eye. He rolled across the mattress and picked one up. The discreetly embossed logo of a famous Hong Kong jeweler was in the upper left corner. Bless the concierges of the world. He always asked them to select and send expensive trinkets to whichever woman he happened to be involved with at the time. Some men liked to travel with their lovers on business. Alex preferred to keep women and work separate.
Until Natalie. She was beginning to blur some of the internal lines that had always been very clear.
He opened the envelope. Inside, there was a bill and pictures of a gorgeous ruby choker. It would look spectacular on Natalie’s graceful neck, complement her vivid coloring.