Stephanie opened and closed her mouth in surprise. She was his secretary, not his personal analyst. But she knew better than to question the mighty Jonas Lockwood. She’d do as he asked and accomplish it with a smile. He’d have no reason to find fault with her.
They rode the elevator to the twenty-first floor of the Bellerman Building. The heavy doors slid open, and Jonas directed her into the meeting room at the end of the narrow hallway. Ten chrome chairs upholstered in moss green were strategically placed around a long rosewood table. Jonas claimed the seat at the end and motioned for Stephanie to take the chair at his side. She was faintly surprised that he wanted her so close at hand. Since she was a mere woman, and a young one at that, Stephanie had expected to sit in a corner and observe the proceedings from there.
Lunch was served, and what followed was a lesson in business that she hadn’t learned in her four years as an executive secretary. There was a layered feel to the meeting. She took meticulous notes of the statements that were made, but Stephanie wondered at the underlying meaning of the words. She was impressed by the role Jonas played. He appeared to be in complete charge of the subjects discussed without speaking himself, determining the course of the meeting with a nod of his head or a small movement of his hand. At first glance, anyone looking in would assume that Jonas was bored by the entire proceedings. The man was unnerving.
At precisely two, it was over. Stephanie looked up from her steno pad and flexed her tired shoulder muscles. As the other men stood, the sounds of briefcases opening and closing filled the spacious room.
“Good to see you again, Lockwood.” The man sitting on Jonas’s right made the comment, and his gaze slid over Stephanie with a familiarity that left a bad taste in her mouth. ‘ ‘Leave it to you to have the most beautiful woman in Minneapolis as your private secretary.”
Jonas’s cutting blue gaze left the man to rest momentarily on Stephanie. “She’s a substitute. My secretary is ill this week.” He didn’t give her a moment more of his attention as he stood and reached for his cane, leaving her to follow him.
Fuming that he would treat her so dismissively, Stephanie reached for her purse. He hadn’t noticed anything about her but her secretarial skills. She was a woman, and if Jonas Lockwood didn’t recognize that, it was his problem, not hers. Yet she was offended by his comment, and she stewed about it all the way back to Lockwood Industries.
The phone rang ten minutes after Stephanie was seated at her desk. “Mr. Lockwood’s office.”
“Steph, it’s Jan. I talked with Bertha Westheimer this afternoon, and I have good news.”
“I could do with some,” she grumbled.
“She’ll be back Monday morning.”
“And not a minute too soon.”
“How’d the luncheon meeting go?”
“I...I don’t know.” She hadn’t sorted through her notes enough to analyze what had transpired. “It was interesting.”
“See, he’s already having an affect on you.”
“He?” she said, teasing Jan. “I can’t possibly believe you mean who I think.”
Jan’s answer was a smothered giggle. “Don’t forget to meet me at five-thirty. On second thought, I’ll come up for you.”
“Fine. And thanks for the good news. I could do with a lot more.”
The remainder of the afternoon was surprisingly peaceful. Stephanie typed up her notes and observations and placed them on Jonas’s desk before she left.
He was writing something; he paused and glanced up. “Yes?”
“I just wanted to tell you that Ms. Westheimer will be back Monday morning. It’s been an education working with you for the past couple of days.”
He leaned back in his chair and looked at her steadily. “Not a pleasure? You filled in nicely. Quite a surprise, Miss Coulter.”
Stephanie supposed that this was as much of a compliment as she could expect from such a man. “Now that’s something I’m pleased to hear,” she said, smiling despite the effort not to.
“I’m convinced you’ll do well at Lockwood Industries.”
“Thank you. And if ever you need a replacement for Ms. Westheimer...”
“I’m hoping that won’t be soon.”
Not as much as I am, Stephanie mused. “Good day, Mr. Lockwood.”
He’d already returned to his work. “Good evening, Miss Coulter.”
Stephanie’s heart was pounding by the time she met Jan Michaels. For an instant there, she could almost have liked Jonas Lockwood. Almost, but not quite.
“I take it the afternoon ran smoothly.”
“Relatively so,” Stephanie confirmed.
“Are you ready to talk?’’
“It depends on the subject. Jonas Lockwood is off-limits.”
“Unfair,” Jan objected. “You know I want to discuss our infamous boss. Come on, I’ll buy you a drink and loosen your tongue.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
“Stop complaining. Don’t check the olive in a gift drink.”