Love 'N' Marriage (2 page)

Her fingers fairly flew over the keys, her concentration total. Jonas interrupted her three times to ask for files, but Stephanie was determined to meet her own deadline. She’d have those letters ready or die trying.

Precisely an hour later, smiling smugly, she placed the correspondence on his desk. She stepped back, awaiting his response. Meeting the deadline had demanded that she stretch her abilities to their limits and she anticipated some sort of reaction from her employer.

“Yes?” He raised his head and glared at her.

“Your letters.”

“I see that. Are you expecting me to applaud your efforts?”

That was exactly what Stephanie had anticipated. After his derogatory remarks, she felt that her superhuman effort had shot holes in his chauvinistic view of the younger secretary, and she wanted to hear him tell her so.

“Listen, Miss Coulter, I’m paying you a respectable wage. I don’t consider it my duty to pat you on the back when you merely do what you’ve been asked. I have neither the time nor the patience to pander to your fragile ego.”

Stephanie felt her face explode with color. “If you require me to sing your praises every time you complete a task, you can leave right now. I have no use for you. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir,” she managed, furious. This was a rare state for Stephanie, who thought of herself as even-tempered and easygoing. Never had she disliked any man more. He was terrible. An ogre. A beast. She pivoted sharply and marched into the reception area, so angry she had to take in deep breaths to control her irritation.

Rolling out her chair, she sat down and took a moment to regain her composure.

She hadn’t been back at her desk more than fifteen minutes when the intercom beeped. For one irrational instant she toyed with the idea of ignoring him, then decided against it.

“Yes,” she said in her most businesslike tone. “Take lunch, Miss Coulter. But be back here within the hour. I don’t tolerate tardiness.”

Stephanie sincerely doubted that this man tolerated much of anything. Everything was done at his convenience and at someone else’s expense.

Grabbing her purse, she took the elevator down to the floor where the personnel office was located. Jan was at her desk, and she raised questioning eyes when Stephanie walked in the door.

“Hi, how’s it going?”

Slowly shaking her head, Stephanie said, “Fine, I think.” The lie was only a small one. “Is he always like this?”

“Always.” Jan chuckled. “But he doesn’t push anyone half as hard as he drives himself.”

Stephanie could believe it. “He gave me an hour for lunch, but I think I’m supposed to show my gratitude by returning early.”

“I’ll join you.” Jan used the phone to tell a fellow workershe was taking her lunch hour. Withdrawing her purse from the bottom drawer, she stood.

Although Stephanie hated to admit it, she was full of questions about her surly employer, and she hoped that Jan would supply the answers. For two years, she’d only seen him from a distance, and had been fascinated. From everything she knew about him, which wasn’t much, Stephanie wouldn’t have believed he could be so surly. Those close to him were intensely loyal, yet she had found him rude and unreasonable.

By the time they arrived, the cafeteria was nearly deserted. Stephanie doubted that many employees took this late a lunch.

They decided to share a turkey sandwich, and each ordered a bowl of vegetable-beef soup. Jan carried the orange plastic tray to a long table.

Stephanie tried to come up with a way of casually introducing the subject of Jonas Lockwood into their conversation without being obvious. She couldn’t imagine any secretary, even Bertha Westheimer, lasting more than a week. “Why does he find young secretaries so objectionable?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea.”

“You know—” Stephanie paused and took a bite of the sandwich “—he’d be handsome if he didn’t scowl so much of the time.”

Jan answered with a faint nod. “I think Jonas Lockwood must be an unhappy man.”

That much was obvious to Stephanie. “Why does he walk with a limp?” He seemed far too young to need a cane. She guessed that he was in his mid-thirties, possibly close to forty. Figuring out his age was difficult, since he’d worn a perpetual frown all morning.

“He had an accident several years ago. Skiing, I think. I once heard the story, but I can’t remember the details. Not that he’d ever let anyone know, but I’m sure his leg must ache sometimes. I can tell because he usually goes on a rampage when it hurts. At least that’s my theory.”

From the short time she’d spent with him, Stephanie guessed that his leg must be killing him. She’d noted the way he’d leaned heavily on the cane in the elevator. Maybe there was a chance that his temperament would improve. But she doubted that it would make any difference to her feelings toward the objectionable man.

Part of the problem, Stephanie realized, was that she was keenly disappointed in him. For two years, she’d been studying Jonas from a distance. Perhaps she’d even romanticized him in the way that Jan and others did with the romances they read. Whatever it was that had fascinated her from afar had been shattered by the reality of what a hot-tempered, unappreciative beast he was.

Jan finished off her soup. “Will you stop in after work?”

“So you can hear the latest horror stories?”

“He’s not so bad,” Jan claimed. “Really.”

“He’s the most arrogant, insufferable man I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing.”

“Give him a day or two to mellow out.”

“Never.”

Finished with lunch, Stephanie deposited their tray and refilled her coffee cup to take with her to the top floor. When she arrived, the door between the two offices was closed, and she hadn’t the faintest idea if Jonas Lockwood was inside or not. Setting the coffee on the desk, she read over the financial reports and cost sheets he’d left on her desk, apparently wanting her to type them. Taking a sip of coffee, she turned the sheet over, her eagle eyes running down the column of figures.

“Welcome back, Miss Coulter.” The gruff male voice spoke from behind her. “I see that you’re punctual. I approve.”

Stephanie bristled. Everyone who worked with Jonas seemed to think he was wonderful. That wasn’t the impression Stephanie had. He made her furious, and she struggled to disguise it.

“I would suggest, however, that you stop wasting time and get busy.”

“Yes, sir.” She tossed him an acid grin. For just an instant, Stephanie thought she caught a flicker of amusement in his electric-blue eyes. But she sincerely doubted that someone as cold as Jonas Lockwood knew how to smile.

As the afternoon progressed, the one word that kept running through Stephanie’s mind was
demanding.
Jonas Lockwood didn’t ask, he demanded. And when he wanted something, he wanted it that instant, not ten minutes later. He tolerated no excuses and made no allowances for ignorance. If he needed a dossier, she was expected to know what drawer it would be filed in and how to get to it in the most expedient manner. And she was to deliver it to him the instant he asked. If she was a minute late, he didn’t hesitate to let her know about his disapproval.

The phone seemed to ring constantly, and when she wasn’t answering the phone, she was tending to his long list of demands.

Just when she started typing the financial report, the buzzer rang.

“Yes.” If she didn’t get the typing done before the end of the day, he would certainly comment. Jonas Lockwood didn’t want a mere secretary, he required Wonder  Woman.  Her  low estimation  of Bertha Westheimer rose quite a lot. “Bring me the Johnson file.”

“Right away.” She moved to the cabinet and groaned as her gaze located three files, all labeled Johnson. Not taking a chance, she pulled all three and set them on his desk. She noted that Jonas was rubbing his thigh, his hand moving up and down his leg in a stroking motion. His brow was marred by thick lines. He seemed to be in such pain that Stephanie paused, not knowing what to say or do.

He glanced up, and the steely look in his eyes grew sharper. “Haven’t I given you enough to do, Miss Coulter? Or would you like a few more tasks that need to be completed before you leave tonight?’’

Rather than state the obvious, she turned and stepped back to her desk. Sitting at the typewriter, Stephanie couldn’t get Jonas out of her mind. There was so much virility in his rugged, dark features, yet for all the emotion he revealed, he could have been cast in bronze. Jonas Lockwood wasn’t a man she would be able to forget.

Five o’clock rolled around, and she still had two short reports to finish. It didn’t matter how much time it required, Stephanie was determined to stay until every last item he’d given her was completed.

“Hi.” Jan stepped off the elevator at five-thirty and greeted her. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Sorry.” Stephanie rested her hands in her lap. “I’ve only got a bit more to do.”

“Leave it. I’m sure Old Stone Face doesn’t expect her desk to be cleared tomorrow morning.”

“It isn’t what she expects, it’s what Mr. Lockwood demands. I’ve never met anyone like him.” She lowered her voice. “Everything is done at his convenience.”

“It’s his company.”

Stephanie shook her head. “Well, listen, I’ll trade you bosses any day of the week.”

“Is that a fact, Miss Coulter?”

Stephanie managed to swallow a strangled breath. She turned and glared at Jonas, despising him for eavesdropping on a private conversation.

“That’ll be all, Miss Coulter. You may leave.”

She opened her mouth to argue with him, but decided she’d be a fool to give up the opportunity to escape when it was presented to her. “Thank you. And may I say it was a memorable experience to work for you, Mr. Lockwood.”

He’d already turned, refusing to acknowledge her statement.

“However—” she raised her voice, determined that he hear her “—I’d prefer working for a more mature male.” She wanted to remind him of his earlier derogatory comments about the fairer sex. “A man over forty is far less demanding, and a thousand times more reasonable and patient.”

“Stephanie...” Jan hissed in warning. “Good day, Miss Coulter.” If possible, the icy front he wore like an impenetrable mask froze all the more. “Goodbye, Mr. Lockwood.” With that, she retrieved her purse and marched out of the office, Jan following in her wake.

“Wow, what happened this afternoon?” Jan asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Nothing.”

“I can tell.”

“He wasn’t any more objectionable after lunch than he was before. Mr. Jonas Lockwood is simply impossible to work with.”

“Well, you two apparently didn’t get off on the right foot.”

“I’m a fairly patient person. I tried to work with the man. But as far as I’m concerned, there’s no excuse for someone to be so outspokenly rude and arrogant. He has no right to take out his ill humor on me or anyone else. There’s simply no call for such behavior.’’

“Right.” But one side of Jan’s mouth twitched as though she were holding in a laugh.

“You find that amusing?”

“No, not really. I was just thinking that you could be just the woman.”

“Just the woman for what?”

“For years the female employees of Lockwood Industries have been waiting for a woman exactly like you, and all the while you were right under our noses.’’

“What are you talking about?”

“Jonas Lockwood needs a woman with nerves of steel who can stand up to him.”

“For what?”

“To bring him down amongst us mortals. We feel that all he needs is to fall in love.”

Stephanie couldn’t help herself.  She snickered.

“Impossible. Rocks are incapable of feeling, and that man is about as emotional as marble.”

“I’m not so sure,” Jan commented. “He works so hard because this business is his life. There’s nothing else to fill the emptiness.”

“You don’t honestly believe a mere woman is capable of changing that?”

“Not just any woman, but someone special.”

“Well, leave me out of it.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely, positively, sure.” Although the thought of seeing Jonas Lockwood on his knees was an appealing one, Stephanie was convinced it would never happen. He was too hard. A man like that was incapable of any emotion.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” From the look on Jan’s face, Stephanie could tell she wasn’t going to like her friend’s next words.

“Bertha Westheimer telephoned this afternoon___”

“And?” Already Stephanie could feel the muscles between her shoulder blades tighten in anticipation.

“And she’s apparently recovering.”

“Good.”

“But, unfortunately, not enough to return to work. It looks like you’ll be with Mr. Lockwood another day.”

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Stephanie objected. “I’ll quit before I’ll work with that beast another minute.”

Jan didn’t speak for a moment. “In other words, you’re willing to let him assume everything he said about younger secretaries is true?”

Chapter Two

“Goodmorning, Mr. Lockwood.” Stephanie looked up from her desk and smiled beguilingly. After a sleepless night, she’d decided to change her tactics. Her mother had always claimed that it was much easier to attract flies with honey. In working with Jonas Lockwood that first day, Stephanie was guilty of giving him a vinegar overdose. Today, she decided, she’d fairly ooze with charm, and drive the poor man crazy. With that thought in mind, she’d dressed for work, humming.

“Morning.” Naturally, he didn’t reveal any positive reaction to her good-natured greeting.

“There’s coffee, if you’d like a cup.” She’d arrived an hour early to organize her desk and her day.

“Please.” He carried his briefcase into his office.

Stephanie noticed that his limp was barely noticeable this morning. Jan’s theory about his leg tying in with his disposition could well be proven within the next ten hours.

Jonas was already seated at his desk by the time Stephanie brought in his coffee. He didn’t look up. “I would have thought you’d consider making coffee too menial a task for a woman of your talent.”