“Three, sir. There were actually three incidences on his record prior to this most recent one with Sarah,” pointed out Andrew. “But in regards to Tessa, I doubt that Mr. Baldwin will bother her under the circumstances.”

Ian frowned. “What circumstances would those be?”

“Tessa is married, sir. Hopefully that knowledge will keep all the males in this office at bay – whether they happen to be married themselves or not.”

Ian thought he’d received all the shocks a person could handle in one day, but the knowledge that the beautiful, golden girl – the one who had captured his attention like no other woman ever had before - belonged to another man was almost enough to knock him on his arse. “Married?” he repeated hoarsely. “How is that possible? I mean – she’s too damned young to be married.”

“I happen to agree, sir, but the fact of the matter is that she’s a married woman. Married to a Peter Lockwood. He’s evidently a journalist.”

“Children?”

Andrew glanced up from Tessa’s personnel file in surprise at the almost desperate tone of his boss’s voice. “No, sir. At least none that she listed as covered dependents for her medical insurance. And I’ve spent a good deal of time showing her the ropes these past two weeks so the topic of any children would certainly have come up. An unplanned pregnancy is most likely not the reason she got married so young.”

‘No,’ thought Ian with a sense of near-despair. ‘Her husband is probably as young and attractive as she is, and the boy wisely snatched her up before someone else could. Lucky little bastard.’

Andrew left his office moments later, leaving Ian to mull over everything they had just discussed. Almost without being aware of his actions, he pulled up the employee directory for the Tucson resort on his computer, and dialed in directly to the woman who’d once put the fear of God into his nineteen-year-old heart.

“I was wondering when I might hear from you, young Ian,” greeted the austere, no-nonsense voice of Francine Carrington. “I assume from this long overdue call to your former manager that you’ve met Tessa.”

Ian couldn’t help chuckling, recalling as though it were yesterday the first time he’d met the very intimidating and extremely daunting Mrs. Carrington. She had been in charge of the entire administrative staff at the company’s worldwide headquarters in London, and Ian had been assigned to work under her direction during his summer break from Oxford. He and his brothers had been required since the time they entered their teens to learn the family business from the ground up. That meant spending school breaks working at one of the hundreds of worldwide properties owned by the Gregson Group, and most assuredly not at a cushy, executive level position. Ian and his siblings – Hugh and Colin – had all worked a wide variety of jobs – bellhop, front desk clerk, gardener, housekeeping, janitor, hotel laundry, and busboy. As they grew older and graduated from university, they had moved on to desk jobs and began the long, gradual climb up the managerial and executive ladders until each had achieved the position of Regional Director.

Ian had learned a great deal from his formative years working in a variety of entry level and clerical jobs, but never as much as he had the one summer he’d spent under Mrs. C’s stern eye. She cared not a whit that he was the company founder’s grandson, and gave him zero leeway or tolerance. Like all of the employees under her direction, he’d been terrified of her and had done his utmost to abide by her strict rules of conduct and live up to her lofty expectations. But her Draconian-like rules had had the desired affect his father and uncle had hoped for – Ian and his siblings had emerged from their summers under Mrs. C’s direction as capable, steadfast employees, ready to take on any task.

He’d kept in touch with Mrs. C. over the years, visiting with her from time to time at the corporate offices in London. He recalled now that she had requested a transfer to the Tucson resort several years ago since her husband suffered from some type of pulmonary disease and would benefit from the drier climate of Arizona.

“Yes, I’ve met your dear Tessa,” agreed Ian. “For a few moments I found it hard to believe that the Mrs. C. I knew could ever write such a glowing recommendation for anyone. So initially I had to assume that either the letter was forged or that you’d gone soft.”

“Pah!” exclaimed Francine in mild disgust. “You know me better than that, boy. If anything I’ve become crankier and even harder to please in my old age. As for forging a letter, Tessa is the very last person who would think of doing something so unethical. The girl is the most timid little thing I’ve ever met, afraid of her own shadow half the time.”

Ian drummed his long fingers on his desk. “So everything you detailed in your letter is true, then?”

“Every word. She’s a good girl, Tessa is. Hardest worker I’ve ever seen, never slacks off, doesn’t gossip – which you know I detest – no excuses, never late. She dragged herself in once sick as a dog and wouldn’t leave until she’d finished some reports.” Francine’s voice quieted as she added, “You know how difficult it is to earn my respect, Ian, and Tessa has it in spades. She’ll make an excellent addition to your staff. You’re lucky to have her. Meanwhile, I’m left to deal with the nitwit who was hired to replace her. Useless, annoying girl – I give her two months tops before I have to fire her or she runs out of here crying.”

Ian couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “Go easy on her, Mrs. C. It sounds like your Tessa is going to be a hard act to follow.”

“She’s your Tessa now, my boy. And you’d better treat her well. She’s -” Francine hesitated. “Well, let’s just say she’s had a rough time of it in her young life. I admire her all the more for how she’s overcome her misfortune.”

“What sort of misfortune?”

“I can’t discuss that with you, Ian, as I’m certain you know,” admonished Francine. “Not to mention I’m not sure that even I know all of it. Tessa is a very private person, not one to broadcast her life’s story around the office. Another admirable trait that I value. Just – go easy on the girl, Ian. Trust me, it won’t take you long at all to realize her value. Not to mention,” she added slyly, “she’s quite easy on the eye, isn’t she?”