The Paler Shade of Autumn (14 page)

Choosing a pair of knickers and sheer, black, thigh-high stockings, along with cosmetics to match her colouring, she heads back to the bathroom. Autumn blow-dries her hair, applies makeup and dresses. She finds her high heels near the couch where she left them, slips them on her feet and waits for Scott while trying not to stew in her discontent.

He arrives in the foyer of the hotel room and smiles when he sees Autumn ready and waiting for him.

“All ready?”

Autumn nods and stands, throwing her handbag over her shoulder. She strains a smile. “Yes. All ready.”

Strolling through the halls of the office, trailing Scott, Autumn anticipates ogling eyes from her knowing and equally judgemental staff. But no such thing occurs; they are all pleasantly indifferent as they greet her at this unusually late hour, none the wiser that she spent the entire night in the hotel suite of their boss. Scott leaves her at the door of her office and Autumn settles into her work as though no such evening ever existed.

The day rolls by, no word from Jethro Stark but, then again, she hasn’t had time to give him a second thought; not many anyway. At four in the afternoon, Autumn heads to Michael’s office, three doors down from hers.

Michael has been one of her closer friends at Stark Consulting. He is a head taller than she, and proportionately stocky, with light blond, curly hair. He’s an attractive man, early thirties and always dressed incredibly well; owner of the most stylish ties and suits.

She catches him at the tail end of a phone call. Noticing her at the door, he says his goodbyes and hangs up; smiles. “Hi, Boss.”

Autumn rolls her eyes and grins. “
Acting
boss.”

Michael gestures towards the chair opposite him. Autumn sits, smoothing the skirt of her dress.

“You look very elegant today. New dress?”

Autumn looks down to her dress. “Yeah. It is actually.”

“Burberry, no less!”

Autumn’s eyes widen. “It is?”

Michael bursts into laughter. “You should know the finer details.”

Autumn strains a smile. “I should and yes, it is a Burberry.”

“I guess with a bigger paycheque you can afford such luxuries.”

She scoffs. “Hardly. Hey, do you want to come downstairs and grab a coffee with me?”

Michael glances to his watch and smiles. “Your shout.”

They order lattes in takeaway cups, chatting about inconsequential topics that interest and distract concurrently; exactly as Autumn hopes they will. On their way back to the office, at the lifts, they are interrupted.

“Miss Leone.”

She spins to see Jet. If she thought he appeared tired yesterday, he exceeds that today.

“Hi,” she says coyly.

He looks to Michael and thrusts his hand towards him. “Jethro Stark. And you are?”

“Michael. Michael Richards.” He takes Jet’s hand and shakes it effusively. “It’s great to meet you, Mr Stark. I work in accounts.”

Jet nods. “If I’d known you’d be getting coffees, I would have called earlier to put in my order.”

“Well, Sir, I’d be happy to go and get you one if you like?”

“I would like that, Michael. Thank you. A flat white. Just tell them it’s for me.”

“Sure thing, Mr Stark,” says Michael, like an eager-to-please puppy dog as he spins and paces back towards the cafe.

Jet smiles at Autumn. “And then there were two.”

But Autumn can’t smile. She knows she should, but not when she is aware that he has only now arrived back from Melbourne, from seeing Blossom Banks, from sharing her bed.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there when you woke this morning. I hope Scott took care of everything,” he says walking beside her towards the lifts.

She presses the up button and nods. “The hotel was very fastidious.”

He laughs. “Yes. That’s what they’re paid for.”

The elevator dings and the doors open. They step inside; wait for the doors to close.

“I sense you’re upset?” he asks.

“You sense that do you?”

He laughs. “Loud and clear, I’m just not sure what you’re upset about.”

Autumn’s shoulders slump.
I am being absurd
. Jet doesn’t owe her any explanations, she doesn’t require any apologies. He has, as a boss, taken care of everything an employee could require. She strains a smile. “Don’t worry. Everything’s fine.”

He narrows his brows. “Are you sure?”

Her smile comes more naturally this time. “It’s fine. I’m a little tired. Late night, that’s all.”

He laughs. “I did manage to keep you well past your bedtime. That was obvious when I found you sound asleep on my bed. I didn’t think I was that boring.”

She laughs now. “You were perfect company last night.”

“But you would have preferred I be there this morning?”

Autumn lowers her eyes to elevator floor.
Yes
. But what right does she have to demand his time? It’s not like they slept together, or are in a relationship. He’s her boss, nothing more. “No. I understand you have
business
to attend to.”

Jet pales on hearing the implication. “Some business is unavoidable. Not always pleasant, but unavoidable.”

She narrows her eyes, completely at a loss as to what he even means by that comment and, either way, it’s none of her business. The elevator stops at their floor, dings, and the doors open.

“Come to my office. I want to let you know about a client who will be here,” he glances to his watch and frowns, “now.”

She nods and follows him down the hall.

He turns and grins at her. “Do you need me to carry that coffee for you?”

She feigns reproach, but her smile reduces the severity. “Very funny, Mr Stark.”

“It’s the lack of sleep you see. Makes me deliriously humorous.”

She nods. “More like, plain ol’ delirious.”

“Now, now,” he says, laughing. “That’s no way to speak to your boss.

She smiles, shrugs. “No it’s not. I’d better keep a lid on such cheek.”

“Jethro,” comes Scott’s voice as they round the corner. “Your four-thirty appointment is here.”

“Can you offer him a…?”

“He’s waiting in the boardroom with a coffee. He understands you will be with him as soon as you can.”

Jet nods and pushes through his office door, strides to his desk. He sits and lets out an audible sigh, deep frown lines creasing his forehead.

Autumn sits across from him. “Is everything ok, Jet?”

He strains a smile and nods, not elucidating any. Leaning across the table he says, “This next client, Mr George Randal, is the CEO of a multi-national company that sells parts for heavy mining machinery. He has offices in South Africa, Brazil, Australia and China, and, in such an affluent time for the mining industry in Australia, he is recording falling profits. We are the ideal consulting company for him and for us, he is worth a lot of money over the next five years. This meeting is a sales-pitch, letting him know why we are what he needs.”

“You want me to join you?”

He smiles. “Yes. I’ve seen your past results. You are as good as I am with selling Stark Consulting.”

“It’s easy when you believe in the product.”

“That’s exactly what I want to hear today.” He stands and concurrently Michael knocks on the door, Jet’s coffee in hand. “Ah, Michael.”

“Your coffee, Mr Stark.”

“Excellent. If you could just leave it on my desk, I’ll get to it in a few minutes. Thanks.”

When Michael leaves and his footsteps can no longer be heard down the hall, Autumn looks at Jet with one eyebrow raised. “You didn’t even want a coffee did you?”

Jet smiles. “No. I wanted time alone with you.”

Autumn’s chest rises with her full breath in. “That can be dangerous. Besides, what would
Blossom
think about me and you spending time alone together?”

“I suspect she would be most upset. But she no longer has any say or bearing in my life. I went to Melbourne today to finish it with her once and for all.”

Autumn is aghast, points to her chest. “Because of me?”

“I’ve wanted to end our relationship for months now, but it’s a very complicated situation and with Blossom comes the media and I fucking hate the media. But yes, Autumn. You were the final nail in the coffin.”

“How did she take it?”

He breathes deeply. “That’s my problem. I won’t concern you with it.”

A palpable silence fills the space between them until Jet brings up what is so heavily hanging between them. “So what of us now, Autumn? Do you want to start again where we left off in India?”

She ponders his question for a time and eventually says, “That’s impossible, Jet. You’re not the same man I met back then. I wonder if I even really know you anymore, if I knew you at all to begin with.”

Jet frowns deeply. “So, that’s a
no
?”

She shakes her head. “It’s not a
no
. It’s just a recognition that we’ll have to start afresh, not from where it ended in India. It means we have to take it slower and get to know each other properly.”

“I can do that. I’m happy to start afresh.”

She smiles. “So am I.”

He leans across the table and peers into her pale blue eyes. “Can you still feel it?”

Autumn knows what he is referring to, that undeniable attraction that cuts deeper than the physical. The undeniable attraction and connection she felt as soon as she peered into his eyes yesterday morning in the lift. “Yes. I still feel it.”

His shoulders relax and he grins. “Have dinner with me tonight?”

“I, um.” She smiles. “Sure.”

Jet leans back against his chair and places his hands on his head. “Are you feeling social or reclusive?”

She laughs. “Both.”

He nods. “Let me handle this meeting. You go home and I’ll pick you up,” he looks at his watch, “at eight.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’ll see you tonight.”

“How should I dress?”

“Casual.”

Tae is in the kitchen preparing spaghetti bolognaise; onion peel, tins of tomato and various herbs are scattered across the bench top.

“I wasn’t sure if you would be home,” she says, raising her head from the pan of heavy sauce as Autumn strolls in. “I thought you may be spending the night with your
boss
again. I assume that’s where you were all night.”

Autumn had texted Tae late last night, when she finally gave her a thought, that she was with her boss having dinner and drinks. She hadn’t filled her in on any of the particulars though, like who her boss is.

“I’m curious. How is it exactly that one finds themselves sleeping at their boss’s place after innocently having dinner and drinks.”

Autumn smiles. “It is very innocent. I assure you.”

Tae places two bowls on the counter and starts dishing spaghetti onto the first. Autumn waves her hand over the second bowl. “Um, I won’t be eating here tonight.”

“Are you out with the boss again?”

Autumn nods. “You’ll understand when you know who he is.”

Tae shrugs. “So who is he?”

Autumn sits on a stool lining the bench. “Jet.”

Tae’s eyes widen, her eyebrows ending halfway up her forehead. “Jet? As in,
the
Jet, from India. He’s your boss?”

She nods.

“And you slept with him? Last night?”

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “We didn’t sleep together. I mean, I slept in his bed, but I was the only one in it and I didn’t mean to. I accidentally fell asleep.”

“You
accidentally
fell asleep, in Jet’s bed, in his hotel room. Oh, please. I’m not your mother; I’m your best friend.’

“It’s the truth. I promise it is.”

“How does that even happen?” asks Tae, spooning the meat sauce on the spaghetti.

Autumn scoffs. “I’ve been asking myself the exact same question. But how bizarre is it to run into him after all these years?”

“I know. It’s kind of like that movie …” she clicks her fingers, thinking. “
Serendipity
,” she says eventually. “Except real life. You honestly didn’t sleep with him?”

“I assure you nothing happened last night. He has a, or should I say he
had
,” she swallows hard, “a girlfriend.”

“
Had
a girlfriend?’

“They’ve broken up. Today. He broke up with her today.”

Tae’s eyes narrow. “He broke up with her today? Are you sure about that?”

Autumn nods. “I trust him.”

“Really, Autumn? You don’t know this guy. He’s probably got you both on the fly.”

“Oh, don’t be so cynical.”

“I’m not cynical. I’m just not sure about this. It took you so long to get this man out of your system, are you sure you want to go through that again? Every movie I’ve ever watched indicates that getting into a relationship with your boss to start with is dangerous, regardless of your past with him. You could jeopardise all your hard work getting where you are. Any advancement you make will no longer be respected. People will only assume you’ve been successful at anything because you slept with the boss.”

“For God’s sake, Tae. It’s not a bloody murder special I’m living in. I haven’t even slept with him, not since last time.”

“You slept in his bed though.”

“Accidentally.”

Tae shakes her head. “Don’t come crying to me because he has hurt you.”

“Where did the
Serendipity
references go? I liked those better. And besides, I thought you said you weren’t my
mother
?”

Tae rolls her eyes, but ignores the jibe. She produces a long, resigned sigh. “I am turning a little bit into my mum aren’t I?”

Autumn laughs. “Yes you are. But it’s ok. I know you’re just looking out for me.”

“Exactly. Like I’d expect you to do for me.”

Autumn’s stomach tumbles as she recalls the images she saw in Tae’s boyfriend’s mind. Images of her naked. She wonders if she has a duty of care to tell her best friend this little piece of information. “Yes. Like I’d do for you,” she says with little conviction.

“I’m happy for you, Autumn. But please, for Christ’s sake, don’t jump headlong into this. Feel the waters first.”

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do,
Mum
.”

Tae narrows her eyes, smirking. She lifts her bowl from the bench and nods towards the lounge.