Free The Game by Camille Oster Page A

guts,” he said as she stepped out of the lift.  She didn’t know how to respond, not that he gave her a chance to.   They were just about outside and there was a taxi waiting.
     
     

Chapter 6
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Jane made her way down to breakfast the next day.  It had become the norm that they ate together and there was a group already there before she arrived, including Damon, who was dressed more formally that he had been the previous evening. 
    The taxi ride back to the hotel had been uncomfortab le, particularly as she seemed so extremely aware of his physical presence.  She hated being accused of lying, it was untrue and unfair.  She was in an untenable situation trying to juggle the different directives and requirements.
    Damon acknowledged her with a nod.  He wasn’t smiling, but she hadn’t expected it as he didn’t smile that often, but she guessed acknowledgement was a step up from the scowl she normally got from him.
    There was light banter going around the group.  There had been a Rugby game on between Australia and Argentina, and these things required analysis in the aftermath.  She could watch a game, although she hadn’t in this c ase, but analysing it afterward was a step too far.  The chatter basically indicated that breakfast was coming to an end.
    “What are you doing today?” Damon asked her when they were moving to the entrance of the hotel.
    “I am finishing off the evaluation document.”  She got a small version of the sardonic grin.  She was amusing him in some way.  He obviously thought her work with regards to a formal evaluation was a waste of time.
    “Does it take into account lack of fidelity?” he asked, referring to his belief that Clarion was working with competitors as well.
    “It evaluates proposals, both the strengths and weaknesses, and weights them according to importance.”
    “But some things are just deal breakers.”
    “We cannot punish someone for standard operating procedures,” she said trying to deflect his scrutiny.
    “I can,” he said.
    Their taxi pulled up, and she ended up sitting in the middle between Damon and one of the architects.  She suppressed rolling her eyes as the seating arrangements became clear.  She didn’t want to get stuck sitting next to Damon on a squeezed in taxi ride while he ripped her work to bits.
    She tried not to touch him, but he was large for the cramped space.  Maybe they should have gotten a third taxi, she thought.  That way she wouldn’t have to touch him.  This trip was just full of uncomfortable taxi rides.  One shouldn’t have to touch one’s work colleagues.  No matter how she moved, she couldn’t escape touching his thigh.  It was firm and unyielding.  She also felt the material of his pants on her bare lower leg.
    She was mortified as she felt her body respond.  Her body was reacting to him being there, so close and touching.  She was even enveloped in his cologne even though it was very subtle.  She crossed her arms in front of her in case her nipples showed through the revealing silk dove gray blouse she was wearing.  Why had she chosen to wear this blouse?  Because it looked gorgeous with the dark navy pencil skirt.  It made her look professional and she needed to look professional at the moment.  He may not respect her or her processes, but she could look the part.  Although now there was the danger of her looking extremely unprofessional if she reacted like this every time he came near her, because this blouse would show it like beacons.
    She also didn’t understand why she was reacting like this, to someone like him, her biggest detractor.  He intimidated her and belittled her work, even her presence.  She must have a masochistic streak she didn’t know about.  She certainly didn’t believe in being attracted to men who demeaned.  She liked men with boyish charm, who loved to laugh and whose eyes just lit up when they saw her.  Ok, she had actually never met