Chapter 11

I wobbled as I exited the room, as the realisation hit me. Cleo grabbed my elbow with her hand to steady me.

“Are you alright?” She asked, concerned.

“I, he, familiar, I knew.”

I was so flustered that I couldn’t get my words out. Instead, I pulled Cleo into the client's toilets around the corner from the boardroom. Knowing not many people use them and we didn’t have any clients on site, we were unlikely to be disturbed there.

“Alright, what is it?” Cleo pushed.

“I know him!” I blurted out.

“WHAT!” Cleo exclaimed loudly.

I placed my hand over her mouth. “SHHHHH!”

“What do you mean you know him?” She asked, shocked.

“Remember the night out where we met Jack and Sam.” I started.

“Vaguely.” She laughed as she was so drunk; she struggled recalling part of that evening.

“Do you remember the guy trying it on with me and wouldn’t take no for an answer?”

“Vaguely. Didn’t some guy jump in and stop that?”

“Yes....” I waited for her to connect the dots.

It took a moment, but then I saw her face change.

“You think that’s him!?” She exclaimed.

“He felt familiar but when he spoke the tone in his voice, it sent me right back to that night and that moment. It must be him.”

“Well, this could be awkward. Do you think he recognised you?” Cleo asked.

“I have no idea but if he is doing one-to-ones, maybe he will. What do I do?” I panicked.

“Nothing, you have done nothing wrong. If it is him, he stepped in to stop some guy harassing you, that is all. Nothing happened between you. Maybe just pretend you don’t recognise him and see if he brings it up?”

I liked Cleo’s way of thinking. She was right; I had done nothing wrong. I didn’t even know his name, until now.

“Why do you think he asked Prue to stay behind?” I quizzed.

“I’m more interested in how he knew her name already when he hasn’t met any of us yet.” Cleo replied.

She was right, how could he know any of us. The only thing I could think of was that he had done his research and homework on each of us. If that was the case, then maybe some of us would have something to worry about. We headed back to our desks, and I jumped straight onto a call with a client. Prue came back into the office around half an hour later.

The look on her face was like her usual spark had been crushed and put out. My stomach sank. If after 30 minutes with him, he can cause Prue to return like that then he was definitely not someone to be messed with.

“He might be our worst one yet,” I whispered to myself.

“What happened?” Cleo asked.

“Nothing, it’s all good.” Prue responded sharply.

“Are you alright?” I asked concerned.

“I’m fine, let’s just get to work.” Prue replied.

I looked at Cleo with uncertainty. Something happened in there between them but if Prue was not willing to say, then there was not much we could do.

Damian entered the office and headed into the office at the back of the room. He settled in quickly; IT was there already setting up his office when we came back out of the meeting. There was no messing around like there was when Prue started.

I watched over the coming days as one-by-one people were called into Damian’s office. Cleo was yet to be called in either, and Prue was still not saying anything about her meeting. Although, she had returned to her normal happy self the following day.

There was some commotion as one of the men stormed out of Damian’s office. He grabbed his bag and walked out. We all looked at each other, shocked and unsure what to make. Just as Damian came out of the office, my phone rang with my main client, Dan.