7

It was a warmth that was in no way reflected in Sara's incredible brown eyes, and she made no effort to echo her escort’s enthusiasm. "We’ll wish you a good evening, then, Mr Hamilton," 

His eyes laughed down into hers. "I believe you called me Simon earlier." 

"Did I?" she dismissed coolly. "How over-familiar of me!" 

Not familiar enough for Simon. He turned to watch Sara and her escort cross the room to make their excuses to their host before leaving. All without those eyes giving so much as a glance back in his direction. Simon continued to watch the sensuous sway of those curvaceous hips so lovingly outlined in that clinging red gown, and made a silent promise to himself as the doorman closed the door behind Sara's departure.

A promise that one day—or night; it didn’t really matter what time it was!— he would hear Sara scream his name as he made love to her.

 _________

Simon sipped his champagne after Sara and Mark left, and didn't know if he should be amused by Sara's dismissal or pissed about it. It wasn't something that happened quite often, and he found himself still thinking about her minutes after she'd gone. 

So much so that he didn't see Scott McCall, his long time friend from college and the reason why he had attended Senator Robert Ashcroft's party, approach him until he felt someone touch his arm. 

"I knew you'd show up," Scott said with a huge smile on his face. Beside him was his beautiful fiance, Vivian Sanchez and Simon returned his smile with a grin as they shook hands. 

"Well, you did say it'd be good for business," Simon replied. 

"And I was right, was I not? This is my fiance, Vivian Sanchez," Scott said, "And Vivian, this is Simon Hamilton. A long time friend from my university days. Although I haven't seen him for years. He recently moved to New York and we're hopefully going to be working on a project together soon," 

"Ah! So it is you who has charmed him so," Simon told Vivian with a smile, "It's very nice to meet you, Miss Sanchez," 

Vivian smiled at him, "It's nice to meet you too," she replied, "But please, call me Vivian," 

"As you wish, my lady," said Simon and he bowed in such a way that was so gentlemanly that Vivian chuckled. 

"Attempting to charm my woman, I see," Scott teased. 

"Oh but I wouldn't dream of it," Simon teased back, much to Vivian's amusement. 

She placed a well manicured finger on Scott's arm, "Excuse me, darling while I go freshen up," she told him softly, although Simon suspected that she just wanted to give them a chance to talk. 

Scott nodded, "Don't be long, dear," he replied. 

After Vivian left, Simon grinned at his friend, "Can't even bear to let her out of your sight for a few minutes, can you? You are indeed smitten… " he continued to tease him. 

"Shut up," Scott told him with a smile, and grabbed a glass from one of the trays held by a server, "How are you enjoying New York?" 

"It's been good so far," Simon admitted, "Seems like our plans are going well so far, although I haven't fully settled in yet. I still need to put the tower and my apartment in order… An interior designer would be good in fact. Do you have anyone you recommend?" 

Scott straightened as he sipped from his glass, "My sister is one. A professional," he said, "And believe me, I'm not just recommending her because we're related," he glanced around, "In fact, she's supposed to be present here but I can't seem to find her anywhere. I could give you her contact information if you'd prefer… I'm sure she'd be willing to offer her services," 

"That would be great," Simon agreed as he watched Scott pull out his phone to text him the number. 

"Sent," said Scott after a few seconds, "Just let her know you got her contact from me and I'm sure she will get things ready for you. Her name is Sara. Sara McCall," 

Simon raised an eyebrow in surprise for the second time that evening. He couldn't quite believe his ears because just how did stuff like this keep happening with this lady. Unless Scott was referring to someone else, but he doubted that was the case. "Sara?" he repeated, just in case he'd not heard correctly. 

Scott nodded, and looked around again, "I was actually hoping to introduce you two to each other tonight, but I guess some other time will do. Come on, let me introduce you to the Senator," 

Without another word on the subject, Simon followed him as he began to walk in the direction of the Senator. If his guess was right, then he'd be seeing the woman in red again. He grinned inwardly. Indeed things were about to get more interesting. 

_____________

"Well, well, well—if it isn’t Ms Sara McCall come to call at last!" 

Simon observed dryly from where he sat in his high-backed leather chair behind the mahogany desk in his office.

His assistant, Lena had shown the interior designer in at exactly five o’clock on Thursday evening, before quietly closing the door behind her as she left them alone together.

Simon and the interior designer Sara McCall.

The same Sara McCall who he'd run into in traffic. The same Sara McCall who had introduced herself to him as ‘Just Sara’ on Saturday evening, in the knowledge that she had cancelled two appointments with him earlier in the week.

Simon had wasted no time after she and Mark had left the party on Saturday in asking Lena to contact her the very next day and make an appointment. It wasn't so hard now that he knew her full name. An appointment that she'd canceled twice immediately she realized that he was one asking to meet with her.

Those brown eyes flashed her displeasure now, as she marched into the center of the spacious office, allowing Simon to see that she managed to look sexy even wearing a business suit—a fitted black jacket and knee-length black skirt, the latter revealing long and silky-smooth legs. Her silk blouse was the same color as her eyes; her long ebony hair neatly gathered and secured at her crown.