by Anne Ashby
Afraid she had not disguised her reaction, Debra tried to cover her surprise.
“I’m not what you expected, am I?”
About to deny this, Debra sucked in a breath as a radiant smile covered the other woman’s face.
Chloe leaned against Paul and giggled. “You could have warned her how ordinary I am, Paul.”
Paul’s arm snaked around her and he planted a kiss on his fiancée’s forehead. “Ordinary? You? You could never be ordinary.”
Envy stirred inside Debra at the by-play. Love glowed from this woman as she gazed up at Paul. The emotion lightened her face, sparkled from her eyes, and was conveyed with the tenderness of her touch. Deflated, Debra slumped into a seat. Paul didn’t need protection from this girl.
What had begun as an uncomfortable first meeting progressed into a relaxed evening as Debra and Chloe explored possible interests in common—other than the man present who had taken a back seat to the discussion. While friendship was a long way off, the foundations had been laid.
“Keep next Saturday night free.” Paul had walked Debra to her car. “Our engagement’s going in the paper and I’ve told Mum to make sure she’s in town. We’ll all go out to dinner to celebrate.”
Debra’s goodnight hug was a little desperate. “She’s very nice, Paul. Congratulations.”
Her words were insipid and she’d do much better next time, she promised herself. Driving back to her own apartment, loneliness slumped her shoulders. Soon Paul’s loyalties would be laying with his wife, not his sister. Their bond, created in their mother’s womb, would quickly change beyond recognition.
That didn’t matter; she had her work—very fulfilling work. She leaned back and remembered times of pure elation, of successful coups, negotiated takeovers, business triumphs.
Debra chewed her lip as she acknowledged the once-euphoric achievements now seemed very transitory. She needed to hurl herself toward another goal, she argued, some accomplishment to fill her with a sense of worthiness. Nothing came to mind. Nothing drove away the face haunting her.
Going straight to the study when she entered her apartment, with shaking hands she jammed on her computer. She forced herself to concentrate. She’d made her mark in the world because she was strong. She had power and influence and more money than she’d ever spend. She’d allow nothing to encroach on that strength—nothing.
****
The engagement party was larger than she’d expected. When Debra arrived late, after a frustrating few hours at the office, one end of the restaurant was crammed with people.
Chloe rushed to her side and proceeded to introduce her to parents, brothers and sisters, and friends. Debra lost track after the first half dozen.
Paul and Karin blended right in with the noise and frivolity surrounding the table, but somehow Debra couldn’t. She was relieved when later in the evening she spied some business associates in the bar and was able to excuse herself to go and talk with them. Business was much less stressful than the socialising she should be doing.
Thank goodness for large toilets with numerous cubicles. She could grab a few moments solitude before going back to the party. Debra slumped back against the wall and allowed her thoughts to drift away.
The opening and closing of the outer door made no impact on her until a scathing voice penetrated. “Can you believe it, Paul Laurie engaged?”
Sniggers shot steel into Debra’s back. “You’ll have to set your sights on someone else now, Janice.”
A third voice piped in. “I wonder what Madam Laurie thinks of the engagement.”
Debra frowned through more sniggering laughter. Karin was thrilled with the engagement and already adored her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, so they couldn’t be referring to her mother.
“I bet she’s spitting.”
“I notice she didn’t hang around for long.”
Debra’s mouth dropped open. They were talking about her!
“Can you imagine some little no-account like Chloe thinks she can keep Paul away from the office?” Another sniggering giggle preceded the next damning comment. “Debra Laurie would never allow that.”
“She’s a hard bitch. I’ve heard her at work, ordering her brother around.” Debra’s eyes bulged. “They’re at work all day, every day.”
Debra’s nails dug into her palms. At least one of these women worked for Debra. Not for much longer, Debra decided jumping to her feet. Debra reached for the lock. Finding herself without a job might still her vitriolic tongue.
Before her fingers made contact Debra heard the outer door open again. “Oh Chloe, hello.” It was the second voice again, now saccharine sweet.
“Janice.” Chloe’s tone warmed Debra a little. She was under no illusion about their friendship.
“We were just talking about your engagement.”
“I’m sure you were.” Water ran, but Chloe’s tone hadn’t warmed.
“Are you sure you know what you’re getting into? I’d hate to see you get hurt.”
Yeah, I bet.
“Paul Laurie might be a great catch. I mean he’s rich and handsome, but he’s tied to his sister’s hip. She’ll be worse than any mother-in-law.”
“You’ll never see him. Just because she doesn’t have a life, she expects him to work the same type of hours.”
“And when he’s not working, she’ll expect you to attend all the social functions that front for business meetings. You’ll be entertaining the wives while they discuss business.”
“You’ll have nannies for the kids...”
The third voice joined in. “You do know that poor Roger Tanner had to break his and Debra’s engagement? He said there were always going to be three in their relationship.”
Blood pounded in Debra’s ears weakening her knees. That bastard. More slurs against her character to cover his deceit. Humiliation turned to raw fury, her choking breath came in fast pants.
“She’ll never let go of the hooks she has in Paul.”
Determined to confront the women, Chloe’s fiery response halted Debra’s exit from the cubicle. Instead she found herself leaning against the door, quieter than a mouse.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about. Go and pick someone else’s life to pieces. Create some other juicy gossip you can maliciously spread around. Just leave Debra Laurie alone.”
She might have shoved one of them because there was a thump and an indignant “Ouch.”
“Excuse me. I need to use the toilet.”
“Well, what do you think of that?”
“We were only trying to help.”
The outer door closed on more offended comments leaving silence in the restroom—silence soon broken by a hiccupping sigh which sounded very much like a sob. Was Paul’s fiancée crying?
Debra bit her lip, dithering with her hand on the door lock. Despite her championship of Debra, did Chloe believe the portrait those women had painted of her being a hard, domineering bitch?
She closed her eyes, bitterness a sour taste in her mouth. The truth of their words twisted and turned inside her like blades on a charging chariot, and inflicting as much damage. Arms clutched around her stomach she breathed through the pain.
Amidst their vitriol those women had got one thing wrong. The thing they’d been trying to use against Chloe. Debra swallowed a near hysterical laugh.
She didn’t dictate Paul’s hours of work. She and Paul worked long hours because they enjoyed their jobs, enjoyed the challenges, and enjoyed the success hard work brought.
With her heart hammering in her chest, Debra eased back the lock and crept out of the toilet. She couldn’t let Chloe find her there. She couldn’t let Chloe know she was privy to her distress.
What she had to do now was become the life and soul of the party. If bystanders had noticed her disappearance from the celebrations, Chloe most definitely would have. If those cats’ comments rang true to Chloe, even as she defended Debra...
Catching a concerned glare from her brother,
Debra had to do something to appease him—and reassure his girl. Debra watched for Chloe’s exit from the restroom and joined her as casually as possible with an apology for deserting the celebration. She avoided an explanation for her absence.
The spontaneous business meeting in the bar would reinforce the drivel Chloe had heard in the ladies’ room. The wobble in Chloe’s smile was enough to tell Debra she had some urgent fence-fixing to do.
Chatting vivaciously about any subject her listeners raised, Debra circled the guests, making doubly sure she spent extra time talking with Chloe’s family members.
As the evening drew to a close, Karin intercepted Debra with an invitation to lunch the following day.
“I’m sorry, Mother—”
“Don’t you dare tell me you’re going to the office. It’s Sunday.” Karin glared.
“I had to leave a pile of work on my desk to come tonight.” She wasn’t aware Paul and Chloe had wandered over to join them.
“What’s so important it can’t wait until Monday?”
Before Debra could respond, Paul touched her arm. “Have you started on the Collins portfolio?” His eyes gleamed. “I’ll come in, too. What time are we starting? Nine?”
It didn’t need Karin’s frustrated growl to alert Debra. The wave of shock across Chloe’s face halted Debra’s confirmation. A glance at Paul suggested he was unaware of his fiancée’s quickly hidden reaction.
“You don’t mind, do you, honey?” Paul asked offhandedly, patting Chloe’s arm. “This is big. We need to get everything right.”
“I guess if it’s important.” Chloe’s voice firmed. “No, I don’t mind.”
“Paul!” All Karin’s frustration went into the one word.
Three sets of eyes turned on her. She shook her head. “What did we do wrong? How did we raise such selfish and insensitive children?” Her glare encompassed both Debra and Paul.
“Paul.” Debra thought her mother might actually stamp her foot. “Chloe’s parents have invited you to spend the day with them tomorrow.”
Paul’s face darkened and his gaze flew around the room before settling on Chloe.
“I’m sorry, babe. I...” His gaze flew to Debra as he searched for a way to defuse his gaffe.
“If it’s important to be at work, I’ll tell them we can visit another weekend.” Chloe’s earnestness increased the embarrassment Debra now shared with her twin. “I don’t want to interfere with your work, Paul.”
Oh damn! Debra cringed. “Mum’s right, Paul.” Paul wouldn’t want her working without him. And she couldn’t allow him to put Chloe second, not this early in their relationship.
There were sure to be times in the future when they’d have no choice. But working tomorrow wasn’t one of those times. Her intention of going to the office was more about getting out of her lonely apartment than the need to complete any crucial work.
****
A copy of the Auckland yellow pages sat on Debra’s desk. It was open at the E’s. She wasn’t searching for an equine dentist or erosion control. But there between escalators and estimators was her target.
Her hand dithered toward the phone numerous times. Thinking about doing something so outrageous and actually doing it were two different things. Did the escort services offered in the phone book even have male escorts? A male escort who could attend her brother’s wedding with her and carry off the illusion they were a couple?
Would Auckland be a discreet enough distance away to employ such a male escort? The crazy fear someone could discover her plan and divulge the origin of her partner caused her to slam the huge book shut.
But her fingers started flicking pages again. It seemed an obvious way to reassure Chloe she wasn’t going to be an interfering sister-in-law. If she acquired a man of her own—a man who appeared to have taken her breath away—then Chloe would assume Debra’s mind was occupied elsewhere. She’d then accept Paul was safe from any interference from his sister.
Yeah, sounds good in theory. But I can’t quite make that phone call.
A soft tap at her door sent the phone book into the bottom drawer. Her assistant approached with a cup of coffee for Debra and numerous papers under her arm. After discussing various issues and noting Debra’s instructions, Rachel ran through the day’s diary entries. “Oh, your brother asked me to remind you not to be late for the managers’ luncheon at one.”
Debra almost groaned aloud. She’d managed to avoid the hotel managers’ annual conference so far this week and was hoping she might break a leg or catch some dreaded disease before her scheduled appearance as speaker on Thursday. Her avoidance had nothing to do with the recently promoted manager from Riversleigh being in attendance.
She was loaded down with more important matters which required urgent attention. Squirming in her seat she chided herself. That’s why I’ve just wasted fifteen indecisive minutes dithering about escort agencies.
I should have guessed Paul wouldn’t allow me to miss another luncheon. Damnation. He’d primed her personal assistant to make sure nothing prevented her presence.
Debra caught sight of Jase the second she entered the restaurant. She was able to watch him for a moment before anyone was aware of her presence. He could have been poured into his dark suit, he looked so good.
The breath caught in her throat as Debra remembered how it felt to be in his arms, to feel his hard muscles under her fingers...
“That hungry look isn’t fitting for a business occasion,” whispered a voice in her ear.
“What are you talking about?” she snapped at Paul’s speculative expression.
“You look like a starved person staring at a ten-course banquet. And yet, I doubt it’s food you were thinking about—”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She walked forward, but his hand on her arm stopped her.
“Did something happen between you two?” His voice lowered to a menacing growl. “If he—”
Debra plucked his hand off her arm. “I’m a big girl now, Paul. I can take care of myself.”
Paul caught up with her in a millisecond. “Can you?”
She felt the warmth of his concern and ran a finger down his cheek. A lopsided smile accompanied her response. “I sure hope so.”
****
Jase watched the by-play between the siblings with narrowed eyes, wondering what Debra would do if he bowled right on over there and kissed those pouty lips. That was nothing less than what she deserved. She’d ignored his phone calls. He’d even degraded himself into asking her personal assistant if she’d gotten his messages.
His expectation of spending time with Debra this week hadn’t materialised. She’d taken no part in the conference although her name had been listed as an attendee at some of the meetings already held. He’d wondered if she was avoiding him.
He’d actually hoped she was avoiding him, but seeing her glide around now—casually mingling—she showed no interest in singling him out. In fact when she joined the group he stood with, she shook his hand as calmly and dispassionately as she shook everyone else’s. His confidence plummeted.
This was not the girl who’d struggled to work in his dining room. The girl he’d reassured and held in his arms during their time in the lift. This was definitely not the girl who had melted in his arms in their Queenstown hotel.
Jase swallowed as she laughed at something. Even her laugh was different.
Disappointment dragged at Jase’s shoulders. Essentially she was his boss. She was the boss of thousands of people with God knows what sort of weight and responsibility on her slim shoulders. Why had he imagined she could be interested in a broken down hack like him?
He turned aside to answer a comment from the man next to him. He wasn’t in the same league as Debra Laurie. Time he came to grips with the fantasy he’d been weaving, and put it to bed. That’s all it was, a fantasy.
****
The idea struck her as she presented an address to the assembled conference on Thursday. It hit Debra with such force
she was robbed of words and stood dumb-struck at the podium for long enough to evoke concerned murmurs from those attending.
Dragging her gaze from a frowning Jase, she apologised and continued, although her mind was far from her presentation.
“Rachel?” she strode through her assistant’s office, barely pausing. “Ask Jason McEwan to join me on completion of today’s programme.”
She closed her door and slumped against it. The temerity of what she planned was robbing the strength from her body.
With nothing achieved in the ninety minutes before his arrival, Debra looked up from a pile of papers at Rachel’s knock and waved Jase into a chair. “I won’t be a moment.”
Her gaze returned to the papers, seeing nothing but a huge blur of black on white. “That’s all I need you for tonight. Thank you Rachel.”
A quiet goodnight echoed around the room as Debra fiddled some more with the papers before picking up a pen and slashing on her signature. She hoped these could be replicated when her brain began functioning again. Bundling them into a tray she lifted her eyes to Jase.
The breath left her body as soon as their gazes clashed. Her lungs screamed for air but she seemed incapable of doing anything but drinking in the sight of him.
The narrowed look he subjected her to didn’t hold any of the blazing desire she’d once witnessed in his eyes. Their detachment and the tenseness radiating from his body alerted her. Despite his attempts to contact her, she could see that he had not forgiven her.
Okay, that made her request easier. It would be business. An arrangement between two business associates with no emotion involved. It wouldn’t be much different from engaging an agency escort.
She could pay him for his time and be secure in the knowledge no-one would suspect her. Providing Jase was willing to play his part.
She chewed her bottom lip. Could I fire him if he refuses? “I have a task I want you to perform.”
She rose as coolly and confidently as her shaking body would allow and stepped toward the window. Swinging around, she faced him.