The Playboy's Protegee. Michele Dunaway

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СКАЧАТЬ “I absolutely would be delighted to participate.”

      And she was. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, the type of opportunity she’d been slaving for when she’d put in all those years in night school earning her MBA. Her mother and Bill would be so proud.

      “Of course, there is a little glitch,” Joe said. His blue-eyed gaze caught hers, and something about the tone of his words brought her back down a little to reality.

      “A glitch?”

      “A glitch,” Joe repeated. “Right now you are without a mentor.” He sighed and ran his finger thoughtfully against his white beard. “With your credentials and talent I want someone perfect, someone who can bring out the best in you. And I’ve found just that person.”

      Lyle McKaskill, Megan thought. The fifty-year-old man was a wizard in the company, and she’d love to pick his brain. He’d forgotten more than she’d ever learned. Maybe the glitch was that Lyle’s wife was having surgery in a month. Lyle would be taking family medical leave to be with her.

      Grandpa Joe leaned back in the chair and folded his hands. “But don’t despair. I have to admit I did spring the Jacobsen Stars program on him. Thus I expect that my grandson Harry will see the light in a day or two and agree to be your mentor.”

      “Harry?” The word, said in absolute appalled disbelief, came forth from her lips before she could bite it back. Please let her have heard Joe Jacobsen wrong.

      Not Harry Sanders. Harry hated her. He’d never seemed to like her, and ever since that meeting a year ago—when she’d questioned the validity and rationale of his ideas—he’d made it perfectly clear that he’d fire her the first moment he could.

      “Harry,” Joe confirmed without noticing Megan’s stunned silence. “Now don’t take it personally, but Harry turned down the idea of being your mentor. It has nothing to do with you; he’s just a little bogged down with this New York merger, the chain of Evie’s Pancake Houses that we’re bringing under the Jacobsen Enterprises umbrella.”

      Joe paused before continuing. “Harry has agreed to think about it, but if he can’t work you in, then I’m going to find a replacement mentor for you. However, let me be frank, I really don’t want to consider that as an option except as a last resort. I’ve learned in business that when you know a decision you’ve made is the right one, you stick with it.”

      Megan forced the smile to remain on her face. So there it was. Joe Jacobsen had handpicked his grandson Harry Sanders to be her mentor. The joy that had originally seeped through Megan had ebbed fully. Then she drew herself up. Lemonade from lemons. If Harry wouldn’t do it, Joe Jacobsen was prepared to find her another mentor. She’d hope for that.

      “Anyhow, the program won’t officially start for two weeks. That should give me plenty of time to convince Harry to change his mind. You two could really benefit each other.”

      Right. Of course they could. The only benefit Megan could see for Harry is that he could be one step closer to finding reasons to have her fired. As for her, the benefit to her career could be summed up in four words: nada, nothing, zero, zilch.

      Joe reached for Megan’s personal copy of the Montana report that she’d placed earlier in the middle of her table. “You know, I thought of sending Harry to Montana once,” Joe said. “Then I wondered what he’d do with all that fresh air. He’s such a city boy. Never wants to stray far from home. But he loves this company, I’ll say that for him. Don’t worry, Megan. He’ll just need a little convincing to be your mentor, that’s all. In fact, why don’t you pay him a little visit today? He never leaves until five, and perhaps if you go personally and tell him how excited you are about having him mentor you, he’ll understand how important I think this is.”

      Megan managed a faint smile. She’d go visit Harry all right, but only to convince him to back down so that someone else would have to be her mentor. Now there was a plan. “I could do that.”

      “Good.” Joe stood, his business suit hardly wrinkled. She wondered how he managed to do that. Within an hour of arriving at the office, her conservative blue suit had crumpled from simply sitting in her chair and doing her work.

      Joe Jacobsen gave her a big encouraging smile. “You’ll find the complete Jacobsen Stars program in a package that will be delivered to you tomorrow morning. I’m glad to have you on board. Have a good afternoon, Megan.”

      Megan watched him go. Then a thought hit her. She poked her head out the cubicle and started after his retreating figure. “Mr. Jacobsen!”

      He stopped and turned. She caught up to him. “What if Harry refuses and you can’t find someone else? Am I out of the program?”

      Joe gave her a reassuring look. “Oh no. I’ll find you someone. But don’t worry. I just know Harry will agree.” He turned and walked away.

      As Megan stared at Joe Jacobsen’s retreating back, determination stole over her. She didn’t want Harry Sanders as her mentor probably any more than he wanted her as his protégée. So all she had to do was convince him that it was in his best interest to say no. She went back to her cubicle to begin rehearsing her speech.

      GRANDPA JOE WHISTLED as he stepped into the executive elevator. He pushed the button for the twenty-fifth floor. Whereas most corporate headquarters went skyward, Jacobsen Enterprises had sacrificed height for width. Although this was the main building, the complex sprawled several city blocks. It was one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in the city.

      Not that he’d want a tall building anyway. He hated elevator rides. The trip to the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago, even though under two minutes, had about done him in. And to think he was a combat veteran.

      He stepped out on his floor, and headed toward Andrew’s office. Then thinking twice, he bypassed it. He loved his son-in-law as much as his own son, Blake, but unlike Blake, Andrew thought Grandpa Joe was a constant meddler. Perhaps he was, Grandpa Joe conceded, but after all he was so good at it. Andrew’s marriage to Lilly was a perfect example, as was Darci and Cameron’s.

      Megan and Harry were next. He’d watched each for almost the past year. They were perfect for each other. They’d just have to figure it out and needed a nudge in the right direction. He’d given them that nudge, although honestly he knew they’d need more than just one. He glanced at his Rolex, a gift from his wife on their fortieth anniversary. Right now Megan should be on her way to Harry’s office.

      How Grandpa Joe wished he could be a fly on the wall for that conversation. He didn’t expect it to go well, but that was okay. He had quite a few aces left to play.

      HARRY KNEW MEGAN MacGregor had arrived before she even knocked on his office door. He’d been expecting her since that morning, and it hadn’t made his lunch sit well. He hated to wait, especially for one as sneaky and conniving as Megan.

      The subtle floral fragrance of her perfume reached him as she approached. His nose wrinkled as his brain registered the pleasant scent. Harry steeled himself. It was imperative that he remain in control of the situation. Thus, he deliberately chose not to look away from the e-mail he was reading on the computer screen. “A bit tardy, aren’t you? Come to bring me the Montana report? It is complete, isn’t it?”

      Her tone hid her defensiveness well, but he still heard the echo of it. “Yes, as a matter of fact it is. Early, I might add. I put your copy into interoffice mail. I’m sure you’ll receive it tomorrow.”

      Harry СКАЧАТЬ