his own nakedness, he stalked out into the hall, heading for the stairs,
Elly watched him leave, bemused by the novelty of waking up with a man in her bed. She really had led a quiet life until Jess came along, she thought, yawning. All things considered it had remained fairly quiet for a couple of months after he had come along, too! Things had definitely changed last night.
She could hear his voice faintly as he responded to the caller. Elly was content to stretch grandly and take her time about heading for a shower, until she realized that Jess's muffled tones were sounding cold and impatient.
Frowning, Elly sat up and pushed back the comforter, trying to listen. When she heard the name Trentco , she was jolted into full wakefulness. Hastily she scrambled out of bed, grabbed her robe and started for the stairs. She was in time to catch the last of Jess's conversation with her Aunt Clara. He was speaking crisply, with more than a faint trace of aloof arrogance.
"That won't be necessary, Mrs. Gaines. I've got all the resources I need at my disposal. Advising people in situations such as this is my business and I'm good at it." There was a pause while Clara Gaines apparently tried to argue. "Don't bother. Elly will have me to consult. I'll be handling the matter for her, and I'll make sure she reaches the right decision. For the record, as her consultant in this deal, I'd like to point out that I don't want her hounded anymore. In other words, no more seven am. phone calls. We high-priced financial wizards get irritated by early-morning calls."
"Jess!" Elly stood clutching the lapels of her robe, trying to get his attention. "Jess, get off the phone. Let me talk to her. This isn't your concern."
But Jess ignored her as he responded to Aunt Clara's next remark. "I wouldn't worry too much about her offbeat life-style, Mrs. Gaines. It doesn't impact her ability to vote her shares in Trentco , and that's the only aspect of it you have to concern yourself with, isn't it? I'll look forward to meeting you next Monday at the stockholders' meeting. What's that? Of course, I'll be attending as Elly's adviser. Should be interesting. Good-bye, Mrs. Gaines."
He threw the phone carelessly back down into its cradle and turned to eye Elly with an indulgently lifted brow. "What's the matter, honey? You look as if one of those sharks you're always worrying about just swam ashore."
"Jess, you shouldn't have interfered. You have no right to involve yourself. What was all that nonsense about your being my consultant? This is very messy, very complicated family business and I really don't think you should just, well, invite yourself into it."
"I realize it involves your family, Elly ," he said pla-catingly , "but it also involves you, and it involves business finance. Both are areas in which I'm an expert. That gives me the right to act as your consultant."
"Expert! You're not an expert on me, for heaven's sake!" She gestured wildly, lost control of the robe and had to make a quick grab for it, which effectively ruined the impact of the gesture. "You think one night in bed somehow gives you the right to make my business decisions for me? Well, you're wrong. I've been dealing with this family for a long time, and I can handle the situation on my own. I don't need any high-priced financial consultant taking over for me. Stay out of this, Jess. If I want your advice, I'll ask for it."
He studied her for a long moment, taking in the ruffled chaos of her hair, the comfortable old robe and the militant gleam in her eyes.
" Elly , don't be ridiculous. Why should you walk into that meeting alone on Monday? It's going to be you against the rest of them, and they're going to be furious if you don't vote the way they want you to vote. Why face it all by yourself when you've got me?"
"It won't be just me. Harrigan's on my side," she reminded him huffily.
"Oh, yes, Harrigan . The CEO. That reminds me, I want to give him a call this afternoon."
Elly watched him leave, bemused by the novelty of waking up with a man in her bed. She really had led a quiet life until Jess came along, she thought, yawning. All things considered it had remained fairly quiet for a couple of months after he had come along, too! Things had definitely changed last night.
She could hear his voice faintly as he responded to the caller. Elly was content to stretch grandly and take her time about heading for a shower, until she realized that Jess's muffled tones were sounding cold and impatient.
Frowning, Elly sat up and pushed back the comforter, trying to listen. When she heard the name Trentco , she was jolted into full wakefulness. Hastily she scrambled out of bed, grabbed her robe and started for the stairs. She was in time to catch the last of Jess's conversation with her Aunt Clara. He was speaking crisply, with more than a faint trace of aloof arrogance.
"That won't be necessary, Mrs. Gaines. I've got all the resources I need at my disposal. Advising people in situations such as this is my business and I'm good at it." There was a pause while Clara Gaines apparently tried to argue. "Don't bother. Elly will have me to consult. I'll be handling the matter for her, and I'll make sure she reaches the right decision. For the record, as her consultant in this deal, I'd like to point out that I don't want her hounded anymore. In other words, no more seven am. phone calls. We high-priced financial wizards get irritated by early-morning calls."
"Jess!" Elly stood clutching the lapels of her robe, trying to get his attention. "Jess, get off the phone. Let me talk to her. This isn't your concern."
But Jess ignored her as he responded to Aunt Clara's next remark. "I wouldn't worry too much about her offbeat life-style, Mrs. Gaines. It doesn't impact her ability to vote her shares in Trentco , and that's the only aspect of it you have to concern yourself with, isn't it? I'll look forward to meeting you next Monday at the stockholders' meeting. What's that? Of course, I'll be attending as Elly's adviser. Should be interesting. Good-bye, Mrs. Gaines."
He threw the phone carelessly back down into its cradle and turned to eye Elly with an indulgently lifted brow. "What's the matter, honey? You look as if one of those sharks you're always worrying about just swam ashore."
"Jess, you shouldn't have interfered. You have no right to involve yourself. What was all that nonsense about your being my consultant? This is very messy, very complicated family business and I really don't think you should just, well, invite yourself into it."
"I realize it involves your family, Elly ," he said pla-catingly , "but it also involves you, and it involves business finance. Both are areas in which I'm an expert. That gives me the right to act as your consultant."
"Expert! You're not an expert on me, for heaven's sake!" She gestured wildly, lost control of the robe and had to make a quick grab for it, which effectively ruined the impact of the gesture. "You think one night in bed somehow gives you the right to make my business decisions for me? Well, you're wrong. I've been dealing with this family for a long time, and I can handle the situation on my own. I don't need any high-priced financial consultant taking over for me. Stay out of this, Jess. If I want your advice, I'll ask for it."
He studied her for a long moment, taking in the ruffled chaos of her hair, the comfortable old robe and the militant gleam in her eyes.
" Elly , don't be ridiculous. Why should you walk into that meeting alone on Monday? It's going to be you against the rest of them, and they're going to be furious if you don't vote the way they want you to vote. Why face it all by yourself when you've got me?"
"It won't be just me. Harrigan's on my side," she reminded him huffily.
"Oh, yes, Harrigan . The CEO. That reminds me, I want to give him a call this afternoon."
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