'Bryan should have had some shares in the bank long ago because his mother was my father's only sister, but he didn't due to a little misunderstandings in the family.
My grandparents were not happy with her choice of a husband.They had wanted her to marry a rich merchant or hotelier not the humble doctor she brought he.They refused to accept Andrew but he must have been a good man and a great doctor, father and husband because he obviously made Cynthia very happy and she never once came home crying in regret nor did she divorce him but they remained together till they both died in a boating accident some years ago.Her father never forgave her for marrying Andrew because he left all his fortune to my father', David said.'This must have made her very unhappy and must have led to a family feud'. Sharon observed.'You are right. Though my parents exchanged Christmas cards with her, they never visited Switzerland and they never visited us either.Sharon felt this was just childish of the grandparents but had to fine out something from David.She felt that this Bryan must have known that since David hadn't remarried after the death of his wife and did not have any heir, he had a chance of persuading him to leaving him most of the money being a senior bank executive himself.'Did you invite him to London or is he here on his own?''He called me a week ago to tell me that he would be in London for a banking conference and I invited him over to talk some things over. You really have a very suspicious mind, Sharon.'Why? I didn't say anything!''You do not have to utter a word. I can read your thoughts as loudly as if you had spoken them out aloud'.He looked into her eyes and they laughed merrily together.At that very moment, someone strolled up to the table and David glanced round, exclaimed and stood up holding out his hands.'There you are Bryan. I was wondering if you had forgotten about tonight'.'I've been looking forward to this evening the whole week', a deep cool voice said.Sharon was shocked to her bones to hear that voice. She could not mistake it. In fact given their history, she would recognize that voice anywhere. She did not need to look up to know who was standing by the table and who David was addressing as Bryan.It was just her luck that of all the people in the world, she should pick this particular person to take an instant dislike to.It had not occured to her that the man who had been stuck with her in the revolving door could be the same person she and Bryan were waiting for.David introduced them.'Bryan, I want you to meet my personal assistant for the last four years, Sharon Smith'.Sharon numbly held out her hand.Bryan took it, her little pale hands engulfed in his large powerful ones.She risked a look at him and found his cold and mocking. She hoped hers was equally cold.He said something polite and distant. She answered with equal remoteness. He released her hand.'Sot down. Tell me what would you have? Their drinks here are wonderful.'I'm sorry. I don't take spirits'. He looked at Sharon's glass.'I'd rather have mineral water'.David called on Tom the waiter to get the drink and bring the menus as well.'You told me you had business in London. It has to do with banking I suppose. Can we talk about it or change the topic?''It is confidential since I can't speak about it in detail but it will be out soon in the financial times and you can read about it then'.'Alright then. How long are you planning on staying with us?' David asked.'A week or two, then I plan on taking a vacation to somewhere I can relax before going back to work.'You already have an amazing tan already. Sharon don't you think so?'Sharon threw another brief glance in Bryan's direction and allowed her lids to droop indifferently over her eyes again.'Amazing', she said offhandedly.She felt Bryan looking at her closely, considering her rich auburn hair, the fine- boned face with the warm curved mouth and fierce green eyes,before running his gaze all over her body in arrogant appraisal.Her flush deepened.'Where do you go for a holiday?' he asked her. She shrugged, unwilling to give him an answer.'Oh, Sharon does not like hot countries, her wonderful skin doesn't like too much sun but she and I had a terrific time in Sweden last summer, didn't we? And Switzerland was fun a couple of years ago'.'Hmmm, I see', Bryan drawled.He was making no attempt to hide what he was thinking. His gaze flicking from her to David and back again speculatively.He suspected her of having an affair with David, she realised. He couldn't be serious! David was almost old enough to be her father!David was still very goodlooking but he had no energy and alot of strains and aging traits. She was deeply fond of David and felt sorry for him but that was all.She resented Bryan's speculative stare, the cynicism in his eyes.'The head waiter came to their table and asked if they had ordered and David looked at them as he confessed that he was ready to order.Sharon and Bryan nodded to indicate that they were ready to order as well.They did and the waiter went to get their meals prepared and their table ready.While they waited for the waiter to tell them that their table was ready, David and Bryan engaged in business discussions and Sharon felt that Bryan was intentionally pretending not to be as knowledgeable as Charles just to get more information from him.She knew that if she tried to warn David, he wouldn't listen. There was no doubt about it. This Bryan guy was potentially lethal and Sharon suspected with a sinking feeling that he would run rings round David. The waiter came back to inform them that their table was ready.'Shall we go in?' David asked.As they stood up to go in, David put a hand under her arm in a gallant gesture to which she submitted smiling at him affectionately. She liked his chivalrous, old fashioned ways.Out to f the corner of her eyes, she saw Bryan watching her with Sardonic amusement. Her smile stiffened into anger. It was going to be an ordeal to sit through a meal with that man across the table.She wished that she couldn't read his mind but it was as if his thoughts kept across the table at her or maybe he was allowing her or willing her to pickup what he was thinking. But why would he really? She thought allowing Bryan to steer her into the room.She was seated between the two men but from then on, she practically ignored the other man and turned all her attention and body towards David, except of course when she had no option.Bryan leaned back in his chair, a brooding presence dominating the circle they made, she, David and he with his broad shoulders and chest and hard face round the table.It was towards the end of the meal that David finally asked Bryan the question, she knew he had been dying to ask.'How would you feel about leaving your present job, Bryan and coming to work for us in a rather more senior position?'If Bryan was surprised, he did not show it. There was a beat of time when he just stood there considering the idea and absorbing the possibilities.'That is a very flattering offer but I will have to know precisely what you have in mind and of course I will have to think about it but in principle, I am interested.David beamed. 'I hoped you would be.Youbwont regret the decision if you accepted, that I can promise you Bryan.You could have a splendid future with us that is far exciting than your prospects. Ours is s a family bank and you are my only male relative'.Sharon felt bad that David was staying the situation as clearly as that. She felt that he was betraying how weak his position was and knew that Bryan would take advantage of it. She looked at him with cold hostile eyes but he was looking at David.Sharon would have given anything to know what he was thinking but he gave no indication.'I'l get Sharon to prepare a proposition for you, stating all the terms', he called for th
It was already four months since Bryan Ferdinand started working with them and already he was a voice to be reckoned with. She had watched grimly as he became the director. At board meetings, he dominated, pushing David further and further away. This was what she had been afraid of but even now, David would not listen to a word against him.At the office it was as though everyone and everything revolved round him especially the female folk. Half the women were in love with him and the other half was fascinated with him except for her of course. Sharon still despised and distrusted him just as much as she did the first time they had met only now it was much more.Amanda one of the share analyst would not allow her rest with talks of Bryan.'I do not know why you detest him this way', she said. He is the hottest thing that has happened to this office. Look at the hot deals he has won for the bank since he started with us'.Sharon did not know how else to do away with this girl. She seem
Sharon swallowed her uneasiness and looked at the screen in front of her.'Have you seen the lastest Japanese figures?''More or less as I predicted', he shrugged.'Yes, right again, as usual', Sharon said with saccharine sweetness.He laughed. She couldn't even make him angry. It was infuriating. She wished he would go away. He was ruining her morning.'I am rather busy', She said, 'So unless you want to tell me something important....''David just rang me from home', he said, 'About the Rome Conference ....''Yes?' She was supposed to fly a road with David to Rome for an international banking conference and she was looking forward to it. It had been so long that she had been anywhere interesting and she wanted to get away from the office now dominated by Ryan Ferdinand for a little while.'His doctor has advised him to stay in bed for a week, so he won't be able to go', Bryan said coolly.'What's wrong? Is he I'll?' Sharon asked but Bryan shook his head.'Just tired, I gather. A tou
Aren't you dressed yet? We agreed we'd meet at Eight o' clock'. Bryan reminded her, his gleaming eyes roaming slowly over her dishevelled, damp could of auburn hair, her flushed face, the short black robe that she wore which left her long legs bare and revealed the deep cleft between her breasts.They had indeed agreed to meet to discuss and pull ideas concerning the conference that was going to take place the next day at nine o'clock am.The way Bryan was undressing her with his eyes made her self conscious and she instinctively put a hand to pull her robe lapels together to hide her breasts and saw Bryan's mouth twist in wry comprehension.'I must have fallen asleep', she said feeling disoriented. 'Why don't you go ahead into the bar and keep yourself busy with a drink, I shall be ready in a jiffy, I promise'.She shut the door quickly, afraid that he would notice that she was trembling, switching on the light, she leaned on the bed for a moment, to steady her nerves. What on earth
'This is probably good at this time if the year", he suggested pointing. Autumn is the best time for wild mushrooms and I love them served with seafood'.'Mushrooms and seafood?' Sharon asked.'Exactly'. Bryan's deep voice had a husky tone. She felt his warm breathing on her bate shoulder.'Okay, I'll have that', she said hurriedly, nervously aware of him and his body even closer to hers.'And I suppose that I'll just have pasta for the main course'.She would have moved away then but Bryan shook his head, pointing to the menu again.'Don't be so predictable!', he said softly, very close to her ear. 'Try the saltimbocca....''What's that?''It means...hmmmm...'Jump in the mouth'... it's veal escalope, rolled in harm, flavoured with sage, fried and then simmered in Marsala wine. Very rich but it's a Roman specialty. You must try it once at least. While you are in Italy and especially in Rome,you must be more adventurous, take a few risks for once in your life!'She tensed. Picking up t
They talked about the conference over the table at first then as the evening wore on, Sharon spoke less and less. She was feeling light headed, dreamy, a heat and excitement running through her veins.Across the table, Bryan watched her with those hypnotic eyes while they drank their coffee.'Liqueur?' he suggested as the wine waiter arrived with his rattling trolley of bottles.She hastily shook her head. 'I have already drunk too much wine. I don't want a headache in the morning', she looked at her watch. 'In fact, I think that I should be on my way to bed now, we have to get up very early and there's a very crowded day ahead of us'.On their way to the lift, she paused to look out through the main doors at the Rome night.'It's stopped raining.What I wanted to do this afternoon was take a walk round the city, but I couldn't go out in all that rain'.'Why not take a short stroll now?' Bryan suggested.'It's much too late and I haven't got my jacket with me', she said. But she was dra
Sharon felt cold indeed. What had she been thinking? How could she have allowed this arrogant man touch her the way he had? What a mess. He must think that he had her where he wanted her.She had always known that he was dangerous to her but she had not really known the extent of the danger.What weakness could have made her lose herself, her self control and all this way?She could not look at him, she did not know what she would find in his eyes, mockery? scorn? triumph? condescension? She did not want to know. She just did not want anything to make her feel lower than she was already feeling just then.'Come to my room, Sharon's, Bryan said with an urgency that made her stiffen.She turned on him, her face white now. 'I feel sick, do you know that?' she broke out. 'You got me drunk and you knew that I was not used to drinking and you kept pouring wine into me, right the way, through dinner. You had this in mind all the time, didn't you? You set me up and it nearly worked. I almost
Sharon had her breakfast in her room: black coffee,orange juice, a couple of rolls with black cherry jam.She may have slept badly but like she had already decided, it was nothing a careful make up job would be unable to hide.She made up and her make up hid most of the evidence of her bad night. She put on the clothes she had delibrately picked which was smoothly tailored dark grey suit, short jacket, straight skirt with a crisp white shirt under it, to make herself fade into the crowd, mostly men, in city suits who would be attending the conference.Even her auburn hair was pulled back austerely from her face but she could do little about her long legs in their sheer black stockings. Men always starred at them. a car was coming at eight-twenty to take Bryan and herself to the hotel where the conference would be held, so she left her room at eight- fifteen.Bryan appeared a moment later, elegant and formal in a dark city suit, red and white striped shirt with a stiff white collar an