The Playboy's Ruthless Pursuit (Rich, Ruthless and Renowned) by Miranda Lee

Author:Miranda Lee [Lee, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780373134571
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-07-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

‘COME IN, MADGE,’ Jeremy said when his PA knocked. It was just before five the following Friday afternoon, Jeremy’s mood not matching his new sales figures, which were great. Ken’s e-Books were going from strength to strength.

Madge came in, looking very well groomed, he finally noticed, and wearing a dress he hadn’t seen before. Jeremy wondered if dear old Kenneth had something to do with that as well.

‘I just had a rather surprising call from Alice,’ she said straight away.

‘Surprising in what way?’ he replied, taken aback that she’d called his office at all.

‘She thanked me for the work I’d done setting up the website, then said she would take it from there. When I asked if she wanted to speak to you, she said “no, thank you very much.” Then hung up.’

‘I see,’ he said, sighing. He’d refrained from ringing her all week, hoping that time would be on his side. Clearly, not.

‘Things didn’t work out between you and Alice last weekend, then?’ Madge asked gently.

‘How did...?’ Jeremy stopped, remembering their behaviour in that wine bar last Friday night. Anyone would have seen how taken they were with each other. But it hadn’t been enough to overcome her fears.

‘No,’ he said simply. ‘Things didn’t work out.’ Finally, he was beginning to accept that it was over before it had even begun. Never before had he felt so down. Or so alone.

‘What a shame. I thought she was perfect for you.’

Jeremy shook his head at Madge, not sure how she came to that conclusion. So he asked.

Madge shrugged. ‘Hard to put my finger on it. She just was.’

‘Thank you for your insight, Madge,’ he said drily. But he knew what she was getting at. Alice’s appeal was as mysterious as she was.

‘Why don’t you try again?’ she asked. ‘You know the old adage. If at first you don’t succeed...’

‘Maybe I will,’ he said, not very convincingly.

‘Maybes won’t cut the mustard, boss. Where there’s a will there’s a way.’

Jeremy had to laugh. ‘Enough of the sayings, Madge. All right. I’ll ring her. Tonight.’

‘Good idea. By the way, thought you might like to know that Ken and I have become an item.’

‘I thought there had to be a reason behind the new dress. Going anywhere special tonight?’

‘To a concert. A rock concert. Ken said we had to widen our horizons further. Then tomorrow we’re going up in a hot-air balloon.’

‘Good for you. Have fun, then.’

‘I will.’

She sashayed out, humming happily to herself. Amazing what a fun relationship could do for one’s attitude to life. He’d wanted to show Alice how to have fun. But he doubted that would happen now. Still, he did have to try again, or he’d never be able to live with himself. Yet by a quarter to eight that night, he still hadn’t rung Alice. No man liked constant rejection, and Jeremy wasn’t different from any other man.

‘Ring the girl, you coward,’ he lectured himself after the clock ticked over to eight.

Snatching up his phone from where it was sitting on a side table, he brought up her number and pressed.

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