Her supervisor shrugged. ‘Could be. He didn’t say.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’ She picked up the receiver. ‘Yes?’
‘Lauren?’
‘Al—er—hello,’ she quavered, conscious of Carly standing a few feet away, able to hear her side of the conversation at least.
‘Is there someone in the room with you?’ Alexander Blair demanded to know at her restraint. ‘Carly Hammond, perhaps?’
Well, it was her office, for goodness’ sake! ‘Yes.’
‘Get rid of her,’ he growled.
She gave an angry gasp. ‘That isn’t possible.’
‘Of course it is,’ he snapped impatiently. ‘Just tell her to get out.’
‘I can’t do that,’ she refused firmly. ‘But thank you for calling. I—I’ll get back to you later in the week.’ When she would give him a piece of her mind!
‘Don’t put this phone down, Lauren,’ he warned. ‘If you do I’ll come down to the typing pool. Do you want that?’
‘No!’ she told him furiously. ‘You know I don’t.’
‘Then get rid of her. How the hell can I have a conversation with you with her listening to your end of it?’
‘Perhaps it would have been better if you hadn’t called here, I’m sure you have my home number.’
‘You know damn well I have, but you wouldn’t have liked my calling you there either. Carly Hammond may not have recognised my voice, but I can assure you your Aunt Jane would have no trouble doing so. Perhaps it’s as well Carly is there, you can ask her for the afternoon off.’
‘Don’t be stu—That’s impossible,’ she held on to her temper with effort.
‘I’ll make it possible. Put her on to me.’
‘No,’ she refused angrily. ‘I can’t get away. It’s too late in the day to make the arrangements.’
‘Put her on, Lauren,’ he ordered firmly.
‘No, I won’t.’ She gave Carly a resigned shrug and put her hand over the mouthpiece. ‘Sorry about this,’ she murmured. ‘Some people are so persistent.’
‘Do you need some time off?’ Carly asked sympathetically.
‘Well, I—’ She didn’t want to give in to this autocratic man, and yet she didn’t want him coming down here either.
‘Lauren?’ Alex queried tersely. ‘What’s going on? Have you asked her?’
‘No, and I don’t intend to.’ She put the receiver down. How dared he take that attitude with her! Her youthfully confident nature rebelled against such arrogance.
‘Something wrong?’ Carly was watching her curiously.
‘Some people think I have nothing better to do …’ she mumbled, scowling. ‘I—Would you mind if I went to lunch now?’ She knew she didn’t have much time to get out of here before Alex arrived. She had no doubt he would carry out his threat to come down to the typing pool.
‘Of course not,’ Carly agreed readily. ‘Are you sure you don’t need some time off?’
Not if it meant she looked as if she were giving Alex what he wanted. ‘I just need my lunch,’ she smiled.
‘Persistent boy-friend?’
She shook her head. ‘A forgotten dental appointment. I co