Читать книгу Lucky in Love - Cheryl Ntumy S. - Страница 5

The next morning, Lucky and Randy weren’t the only early birds in the office. As Lucky walked past Eric’s office she was surprised to see light peeking out from under the door. She smiled, impressed, and a moment later the door opened, as if he had sensed her presence. Lucky turned around to greet him and once again she felt that funny weakness; the air was slowly getting thinner around her.

She put on her most professional voice. “Morning. I’m surprised to see you here so early.”

“Lots to do,” Eric replied with a grin. “Hey, since you’re here, do you mind coming in for a second? I’d like to discuss something with you.”

“Sure.” Lucky hesitated only briefly before walking into his office.

There was an awkward moment as she brushed past him and felt electricity crackle in the air. Her gaze shot to his face. He was looking at her with that half-smile again. She looked away quickly and cleared her throat. The office was very neat, without a single sheet of paper out of place.

“You don’t waste time, do you?” she said, slipping into the chair opposite his. “Straight to work already.”

Eric smiled and returned to his chair. “I like to stay on top of things.” He picked up a file and flipped quickly through it. “I understand you’re rolling out new products next month.”

Lucky nodded. “We have some new fabrics coming out; cutting edge stuff, and some great new designs.”

“Your budget this year was quite high.” He gave her an enquiring look.

“Well, innovation is expensive,” she remarked, a little defensively. “But it’s always been worth it. We produce the best fabric on the market.”

“I don’t think the people at Fabrico would agree.”

Lucky bristled at the mention of the competition. “Fabrico isn’t even in our league. They simply copy the latest trends and mass-produce them – they haven’t produced anything original in decades!”

“But they’re still the most profitable textile company in the country,” Eric pointed out. Then, suddenly, he grinned. “I’m sorry – it’s my job to focus on profit, and Fabrico makes more money than Chemtex. The shareholders would like that to change. I’m just trying to determine how we can make that happen.”

Uh-oh. Maybe Lucky didn’t like this new guy after all. “Are you planning to cut my budget?” She shifted forward in her chair, the mere thought of this sending her into a panic. “Because that would be a disaster. My team needs the freedom to –”

“I didn’t say anything about budget cuts,” Eric interrupted smoothly. “I’ve only just arrived. I still have to analyse the company’s current situation. Thanks for the chat; you’ve been very helpful.”

It was a clear dismissal. Lucky got to her feet, annoyed and confused. First he shot her flirty glances, then he turned around and got all heavy-handed! She couldn’t figure this man out. She returned to her office and tried to focus on work, but her mind kept wandering back to Eric. What was it about him that she found so intriguing?

* * *

Lucky and her brother had arranged to meet at his favourite fast-food outlet. She found him in a corner booth, flipping through a newspaper.

“Siza!” She rushed at him and he enveloped her in a hug.

“Have you gained weight, Lucky Packet?” he demanded, eyeing her critically as he took his seat.

Lucky made a face. “I hope not.” She slid into the chair beside him. “So? Unjani? How’s the family?”

“Everyone’s fine, sisi, how are you?”

“Tired,” she replied happily. “It’s so good to see you!”

“As always,” he teased, glancing through the menu. “Since I know there’s no point in asking if you’ve found Mr Right yet, I’ll stick to asking about work.”

“How do you know there’s no point in asking?” Lucky placed her order, then waited for her brother to place his.

As soon as the waiter was gone, Siza leaned forward. “Have you found him?”

Lucky smiled. “Not yet.”

Siza spread his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I rest my case. Back to work then. Have they made you CEO yet?”

“I wish. We finally got a CFO, though. Eric Rukhava.”

Siza frowned thoughtfully. He ran a small business consultancy and was always interested in hearing about Lucky’s work. “Where was he based before Chemtex snapped him up?”

“He worked for an accounting firm in the UK. He came very highly recommended,” Lucky answered. “He strikes me as the kind of person who could get things done in his sleep. Smart, efficient, pragmatic …” She sighed. “In other words, exactly the type to make my life miserable. Except …”

“Except what?”

Lucky hesitated. “I think he was flirting with me a little.”

“Yoh!” Siza chuckled. “Doesn’t he know how you feel about people who work in accounts?”

Lucky laughed. She had missed her brother. They chatted until the food arrived and then the conversation twisted its way into dangerous waters. As much as Lucky loved her siblings, there was one brother she wasn’t very happy with at the moment. Xolani, the second-born, had recently confessed to cheating on his wife of ten years.

Although he said the affair had been very brief and was over, Lucky was devastated. She had never expected this to happen to her family and she certainly never expected the guilty party to be her own brother!

“I really think it’s time you forgave him,” said Siza cautiously.

Lucky looked up, her eyes wide with indignation. “I forgave him long ago!”

“Really? Then why haven’t you been in touch with him?”

“I’ve been busy.” Lucky pushed her plate away, her appetite gone. “How are things between him and Joyce?”

Siza shook his head sadly. “They had a huge fight two weeks back and she kicked him out.”

“What?” gasped Lucky.

“It was bad. He had to spend the weekend at my place and Zihle barely spoke to either of us. You know how close she is to Joyce.”

“Oh, Lord.” Lucky held her head in her hands. “Xolani was always a ladies man, but I didn’t expect this from him. Poor Joyce! Do the kids know what’s going on?”

“No one has told them the whole truth, but they know something’s up.”

Lucky traced little circles on the table. She had been planning on dessert, but there was no way she could stomach it now. The five of them had grown up in a close-knit, devout Christian family and she still couldn’t believe what her brother had done. When Joyce first came to her with her suspicions, Lucky had confronted Xolani. He denied it and she believed him. He kept up the façade for weeks, only confessing when their parents became involved. No one was perfect and Lucky didn’t expect the people she loved to be any different. She could handle mistakes. What she couldn’t handle was deception.

“Is he still staying with you?”

Siza winced. “He’s in a hotel now. He loves Joyce,” he added with certainty, beckoning to the waiter to bring the bill. “He’s just … confused.”

“Nonsense.” Lucky clicked her tongue in annoyance. “How do you get confused after a decade of marriage?”

“Lucky –”

“Let’s talk about something else,” she interrupted, reaching for her wallet.

Siza sighed. “Maybe we should go watch a movie. Something brainless and funny. What do you say?” He grinned. “Dinner is my treat and the movie can be yours, like old times.”

Lucky smiled. “As long as I get to pick the movie.”

“Hhayi khona, Lucky Packet – you picked last time!”

“That was months ago,” she said. “Besides, you picked the restaurant.” She laughed at his stormy expression, glad to be off the topic of Xolani. She hadn’t seen Siza in ages and she didn’t want Xolani’s problems to spoil the reunion.

* * *

Eric closed his office door and leaned against it, deep in thought. For some reason, he couldn’t get that pretty Head of D&T out of his mind. He shook his head and walked to his desk.

She was attractive, of course, but it was more than that. She had a certain quality about her, something he found irresistible. Eric sighed as he turned on the computer. Thinking like this was dangerous. He had come to Chemtex to do a job and the last thing he needed was to get distracted by Lucky, no matter how irresistible she was.

It had been a long time since he’d had a woman in his life. He was far too busy to think about relationships, and burying himself in work meant burying his desires as well. But something happened when he met Lucky. He couldn’t explain it; it was as if a switch had been turned on and suddenly all the emotions he had refused to feel came bubbling to the surface.

He wanted to spend more time with her, maybe take her out. He had the feeling that the two of them could be very good together …

“Get a grip, Rukhava,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “The world is full of pretty women.”

Eric took a deep breath. Dating Lucky was out of the question. He had to focus on his work at Chemtex – he was being paid an exorbitant sum to do a thorough job. Getting involved with a colleague could ruin everything and he couldn’t afford to let that happen. There was far too much at stake.

* * *

Lucky looked up from her computer and yawned, then stretched. She had been sitting at her desk for hours and it was long after closing time. The office had grown quiet as everyone left and a quick glance out of the window told her it was later than she had thought. She glanced at her watch – twenty past seven.

She got up to go to the ladies’ room, making a mental note to organise some supper when she got back to her desk. Lucky didn’t mind working late and the silent, dimly lit building didn’t frighten her in the least. She had a lot of faith in the security guard at the gate and if he couldn’t protect her, she was happy to rely on a higher power.

She opened her door, stepped out and closed it again, then started down the corridor. After a few steps, she came to a halt. The light was on in Kgosana’s office. Lucky frowned. The CEO had left hours ago and she could have sworn the light was off the last time she passed this way. It was far too late for the cleaners to still be around; she couldn’t imagine who else would have a reason to go in there.

She inched forward, the carpet muffling her footsteps. There was a faint shuffling noise, like the sound of someone moving papers around on the desk. Her pulse began to race. Was there an intruder in the office? Should she investigate or call security for help?

She took a deep breath. Get a grip, Lucky chided herself. There’s no way an armed robber could have got in here without anyone noticing. She reached the door and stood in front of it. She reached for the doorknob, then pulled back. The person inside swore under his breath – it was a male voice. Lucky’s heart leapt into her throat and her fingers snaked into her jacket pocket for her phone.

One hand reached gingerly for the doorknob while the other scrolled through her contact list, searching for the number of the security post at the gate. She pushed the call button with her thumb and held the phone up to her ear. It rang for ages.

Just when she was about to give up, a gruff voice said, “Hello? Sizwe speaking.”

Lucky backed away from the door and whispered, “This is Miss Nthini on the top floor. Please come up now! There’s someone –”

The door opened. Lucky was so surprised, she almost dropped the phone. “Eric?”

For a moment he just stared at her, eyes wide, like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Then his features relaxed and he smiled. “You’re still here? I thought everyone had left.”

That much is obvious, thought Lucky, her head reeling.

The voice on the other end of the phone had grown anxious. “Miss Nthini? Are you okay? Hello?”

“I’m fine,” she replied shakily. “I thought there was someone in the building, but it’s only the CFO. Thanks, Sizwe. Sorry about that.”

“Ah, no problem, Miss Nthini.”

Lucky hung up and pocketed the phone. “I thought you were a robber,” she said to Eric in an accusatory tone. “What were you doing in Kgosana’s office?”

He held up a grey file. “I asked for the projections for the next quarter, but I suppose he was in such a rush preparing for his trip that he forgot.” He flashed a sheepish grin. “I suppose I should have waited until morning, but I really wanted a chance to look over them tonight.”

“Oh.” Lucky returned his smile, chiding herself for her paranoia. The man was clearly a hard worker and she admired that. “Well, just to let you know, he really hates people going into his office when he’s not there. It’s better to go through the secretary.”

“I’ll remember that,” Eric laughed. “Sorry if I gave you a scare. Do you always work this late?”

“No,” she sighed. “There’s just so much to do before the convention.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Is it your first big event as head of D&T?”

Lucky shook her head. “I just like things to run like clockwork.”

“We seem to have that in common.” This time there was no mistaking his flirtatious tone. “It’s quite late, Lucky. Aren’t you hungry?”

“A little.” She glanced at her slim silver watch. “I’d like to keep working and I’m waiting for Randy as well, so I’ll probably order something from the restaurant down the road.”

“Is the food any good?”

“It’s not bad,” she replied, before realising that Eric was dropping a hint. “Uhm, would you like to join me?”

His grin broadened. “Definitely. I hate eating alone. Why don’t you order for both of us and we can meet in my office later?”

Why did those words sound so suggestive? Lucky blinked, taking a second to compose herself. “Sure.” She watched him walk to his office, then continued on her way to the ladies’.

When she met Eric half an hour later, Lucky had barely done any work. Between ordering the food and trying to decipher his mixed signals, she had been far too preoccupied. The door to his office was open, so she stepped in and placed the food on his desk.

He got up to pull out the other chair for her. “Please have a seat, ma’am. Would you like a drink with your order?”

She grinned. “Do you have sparkling water, by any chance? Lemon and lime.”

“It turns out that’s exactly what we have here!” he declared in mock amazement, pulling her drink out of the plastic bag and handing it to her.

Lucky laughed. “I didn’t realise I was this hungry,” she admitted, opening her Styrofoam package and inhaling the aroma.

“I know. When you spend all day working, you forget about food until you stop, then the hunger hits you like a truck.” Eric opened his fruit juice and took a gulp.

Lucky said grace silently before tucking into her meal. “Mm,” she moaned, closing her eyes.

Eric laughed. “I think the CEO is overworking you. I should complain.”

Lucky swallowed. “No, Kgosana’s great. Best boss ever. He actually makes you want to work.”

“Do the two of you work very closely?”

She nodded. “We have to; my department is at the heart of the company. But he’s also very good at delegating; he’s not one of those bosses who micromanage. He leaves the creative work to us.”

Eric chewed thoughtfully. “Did you hate moving up the ladder? I know you were a textile designer for a number of years – one of the best, according to your file – and you’re an artist at heart. It must have been tough to leave that for an executive position.”

She smiled, pleased and surprised that he had taken the time to read up on the staff. “It was a huge adjustment, but Kgosana had complete faith in me. His support made it a lot easier.”

They talked shop until they had almost finished their food, and then Eric asked about her family. Lucky was amazed by how easy it was to talk to him; he seemed genuinely interested in her life, and he was charming and attentive.

“Wow,” he marvelled. “Four brothers?”

“My parents had a girl first, but she was stillborn,” she explained. “By the time Siza was born, my mother had given up hope of ever having another girl. My parents decided four kids was enough, but apparently God had other plans, and six years later they had me. My mother couldn’t believe her luck … hence my name.”

Eric laughed. “So you’re her golden girl – the favourite.”

“Nope. Lucas is the favourite. First-born son, successful lawyer, doting husband and father. Siza’s the youngest boy, and the one I get along with best. Nta­ndo’s the genius – he’s a physicist, working overseas, so we don’t see him much. I can’t understand half of what he says. And Xolani …” Her smile faded and she cleared her throat. “He’s the second-born. Works in logistics. But enough about me. What about your family?”

“Hold on,” said Eric. “You seem a little downcast all of a sudden.”

“It’s been a long day.” She stretched her arms above her head to make her point.

He gave her a knowing look. “Your mood changed when you mentioned Xolani.”

Lucky’s eyes widened briefly. Why did he have to be so perceptive? “Family drama,” she told him with a nonchalant shrug. “You know how it is.”

He put his head to one side, peering into her face. “Want to talk about it?”

“Nope.”

He nodded and changed the subject. The time flew by and before Lucky knew it, Randy’s usual SMS came through.

“Oops, that’s my cue,” she told Eric. “Randy and I live in the same building, so we carpool, and he’s just told me he’ll be out of the lab in five minutes.”

“Of course.” He got to his feet. “Thanks for the company. It was much more fun than eating alone.”

Lucky smiled. “I’m glad.”

He came around the desk and walked her to the door. Their bodies almost touched, and Lucky felt a little breathless. She turned at the door, then almost wished she hadn’t. He was standing so close to her that she caught a whiff of his cologne. He smelled good enough to eat. She took a wary step back, flustered.

“Good night, Lucky.” There was that flirtatious smile again.

“Night. See you tomorrow.” She left the office and walked towards the lift. When she reached it she glanced backwards, just in case. He was watching her and he was smiling.