Outbid by the Boss Read Online Free PDF Page B

Chas had said before he decided they should break for lunch. Still, Sam was glad they'd stopped. She'd had no time to eat before the auction and now her stomach felt uncomfortable after the rich food and wine.
    Her jeans seemed to have shrunk accordingly.
    She gave them a final tug, then gathered her belongings and headed for the sink. She would have to watch her step. In two short hours, Chas Porter had managed to finesse more information out of her than anyone else she'd met since she had arrived in England.
    While in exchange she had learned virtually nothing.
    Or had she? A definite chink had appeared in his armour when she’d quizzed him about his family. Perhaps he wasn’t as cold as he let on. Sam peered into the mirror. She’d certainly detected a touch of warmth when he’d held her hand…
    Enough already, Sam scolded herself. She had the candlestick, now all she had to do was wiggle her way out of her current dilemma.
    She delved into her bag for her mobile phone.
    It rang as soon as she switched it on.
    “Hey, Mia.”
    “Don’t ‘hey’ me! Where are you? And why didn’t you answer my text?”
    "I'm in Coventry," drawled Sam wrinkling her nose at her own reflection.
    “Where?"
    "Coventry. It's in Warwickshire, I'm told."
    "Whatever. You should see this place...there hasn't been this much action since Nigel smashed that vase." It was easy to picture Mia, headset on, arms flapping dramatically as she described the scene at Burton-Porter & Sons.
    Sam ran a finger over her eyebrow.
    "...your replacement tore out of here an hour ago looking like she'd just won the Grand National! And Chas’ secretary had to close her door. She never does that."
    “ Whoa, slow down," said Sam. It was worse than she thought. "Please tell her I am really, really sorry about the upset."
    "This is so not in my job description," Mia muttered. "Where are you exactly? ...You are still in England, yeah?"
    "Actually, I am in a very posh toilet...hang on..."
    She could hear male voices in the corridor. One of which sounded exactly like Chas. Unfortunately, she couldn't make out what they were saying. The conversation stopped, footsteps resumed and she heard the pneumatic sound of a heavy door closing.
    Sam retreated into the cubicle and locked the door.
    "Talk louder..."
    "I can't," hissed Sam. "There is one thin wall between me and you-know-who and I can't afford any more issues."
    "So it's true...you really did blow off New York..."
    And possibly my career, thought Sam. "...there was this country auction ...unfortunately; I wasn't the only one from Burton-Porter in the audience.”
    "Then the rumours are true..."
    "What rumours?" Sam scrubbed her forehead. It was full of creases which would turn into wrinkles. Next thing she knew she would be prematurely grey. Anxiety did that to a person.
    "The word is you've gone rogue otherwise you would have never have gone to an auction when you're supposed to be in New York and everyone thinks you're playing the boss cause you want a pay rise."
    "That is so not true." Sam's cheeks burned at the thought.
    "Ah, well. Don't worry about that,” continued Mia. “The smart money is on you and Chas having a romantic getaway somewhere in the wilds of Scotland."
    Sam rested her forehead against the wall of the cubicle.
    "While it is true that Mister Porter and I did bump into each other at an auction," she froze...there was a rat-a-tap-tap on the outside door. Had to be Chas. Sam covered the phone. "Go away!" she shouted.
    "And given," she continued her conversation with Mia through clenched teeth, "that we were already halfway to Derbyshire, Mister Porter suggested that I help him catalogue an estate in the Peak District."
    "Regardless," said Mia stiffly. "It would have been nice if you'd told your friends what you were up to...we thought you were already in New York."
    "Look, Mia. I am sorry but it all happened so fast."
    "Y’uh, huh. A guy I could understand...but an auction..." Mia's voice trailed