Meat by Opal Carew

during the meeting of the department heads, and that they’d left together. They’d seemed quite close.
    “Gretchen, isn’t it?” He slowed, and she stopped in front of him.
    “Yes. We haven’t actually met yet.” She offered her hand.
    He shook it. Her smile and twinkling blue eyes, along with the way she held his hand a little longer than was normal, made it clear she was flirting with him.
    When he drew his hand away, she moved a little closer.
    “We haven’t had a chance to discuss how we’ll coordinate our two departments.” She rested her hand on his forearm, her fingers squeezing lightly. “I’m looking forward to
cooperating
with you fully to ensure we have a long and harmonious relationship.”
    Her seductive tone and the slight emphasis she put on the word made it clear to him exactly what kind of cooperation she was interested in.
    “It’s Friday evening and I’m off work now,” she continued, “but I’d be happy to meet with you over a drink.”
    With the way she was coming on to him, he was surprised she didn’t suggest they have that drink in his room.
    Another time, he might be interested. She was beautiful and seemed like she could be fun to be around. But since he’d met Rebecca, she was the
only
woman he was interested in. The only woman he wanted in his bed. And in his life.
    And he knew he wanted that to be forever.
    “I’m afraid I have other things to attend to tonight.”
    “Oh, of course.” Disappointed, she started to turn away.
    “Gretchen, I’ve been looking for Rebecca. Do you know where she is?”
    A light seemed to dawn in her eyes, and he was sure she was drawing conclusions he hadn’t intended her to. Even if those conclusions were true.
    “I’m sorry, Chef, but she left a few hours ago.”
    “You mean she’s gone home?”
    “Yes. I know she usually leaves about now, but she was called up to the hotel manager’s office and”—she glanced at him, worry skittering through her eyes—“she seemed a little upset. She wouldn’t tell me why. We’re all so nervous about our jobs, you know. I just hope …”
    He squeezed her arm. “I’m sure it’s nothing like that,” he said. The fact that Gretchen was worried about Rebecca pushed her up on his list of valued people. “Let’s have that meeting at ten o’clock on Monday morning. I’d like us to get started on forging a sound relationship.”
    She smiled. A more genuine one this time.
    He turned and strode to the elevator.
    What the hell had Miller said to Rebecca?
    Rex strode into Miller’s office. The man glanced up, then his expression tightened at Rex’s scowling presence.
    “Mr. Keene. What can I do for you?” Miller asked.
    Rex sent the man a hard gaze as he closed the door behind him.
    “You can tell me what the hell you said to Rebecca.”
    “What did she tell to you?” Miller asked cautiously.
    “
She
didn’t tell me anything, but she left a couple of hours ago after talking to you and I heard she was upset about something.”
    Miller nodded. “It was nothing. I just wanted to see how she was doing after being away.”
    Rex’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t piss around with me. Tell me exactly what you said to her.”
    Miller held his gaze, then sighed. “All right. This is awkward.” He stood and paced across the room. “One of the staff saw Rebecca leaving a suite this morning—
your
suite—and reported it to me.”
    Ah, fuck!
    “This particular staff member,” Miller continued, “thinks there should be a rule against fraternization among employees.”
    “And do you?” Rex asked, steam nearly blasting from his nostrils.
    “If it doesn’t affect the employees’ work I have no problem with it. But I called Rebecca up here to warn her. I didn’t want her to be caught off guard by speculation and rumors.”
    Miller leaned against his desk.
    “Look, Mr. Keene, this might get me fired, but”—he shook his head—“I cautioned her about you.”
    Rex frowned. “Did you tell her