"Take other lift." Rebecca noticed he too had that East European accent. She had travelled throughout Europe, on business as well as pleasure and thought she could place this pair in one of the ‘stans'. Uzbekistan maybe. What was that one the Russians were having so much trouble with? Chechen? In any case, she was too shocked for the moment to be truly scared.
"Let me GO." She said vehemently. "You will regret this. Do you know who I am? My friend will deal with you."
Neither of the men spoke a word more to her as the elevator car sped down to the basement. They hustled her out when the elevator stopped, and almost carried her to a long black car that was idling in one of the darker parking bays. The windows were smoked glass, and she couldn't see who was sitting inside. She thought of screaming, but there was no one to hear her anyway down here. The rear window of the car slid down, and a deep voice spoke from the interior.
"You will after all go out to the cattle property of Mr Anders? Good. We require that you personally check him and his paperwork and report back to me with a positive result for the sale."
Rebecca realised in amazement that she knew the person inside. It was her client. She was totally confused for a moment.
"But, it's thousands of square miles. I can't possibly do that." Rebecca gasped.
"Not whole property Miss Boucher. Just the paperwork of ownership held there." The window slid back into place. Rebecca realised with a start that he too had that unmistakable Eastern European accent. The window slid down a fraction again. "Put her back in lift. Hurry. Goodbye Miss Boucher.”
The two body guards almost carried her back to the lift, and none too gently propelled her into it. She stumbled forward toward the rear as the doors whispered closed.
Rebecca frantically scrabbled for the button of the restaurant floor. Perhaps Cooper was still there. She had to find him and tell him what had happened. There was no way these people were going to get away with this. they had as good as kidnapped her, and told her she had to do something she had originally been going to do in the first place. This didn’t make a bit of sense.
Frustratingly the elevator sped her directly to her own floor and the doors opened. To her great relief and obvious surprise Cooper was about to step into the elevator. He looked at her with sudden concern.
"What happened?" He asked, holding the doors open. "I've been looking for you." She was white and shaking as she gripped his arm for support and stepped out of the lift.
Rebecca recounted the events since she had left him to return to her room just a short while ago. That she had decided as they spoke over dinner to call this whole meeting thing off, but now? What now?
Cooper paced back and forth, his face like thunder. The rage burning in him directed at the hooligans who had manhandled such a fine woman at this. He remembered the smallness of her hand in his, and his feelings toward her when he had contemplated that fact.
“Perhaps we should rethink that decision to end our discussion here Rebecca.” He stated as he swivelled toward her. “There is something very odd going on here, and I’d like you where I can keep an eye on your safety, while I delve into this a bit further. I will not have you rough handled by foreign thugs.”
Cooper wished he had taken a bit more notice of those two in the lounge bar earlier.
“I was looking for you to ask you to reconsider.” He added. “I really would like you to see where I live.” Cooper was almost pleading, and a hint of it showed in his voice, surprising Rebecca a little as it came across, even over her own current anxiety at her recent rough handling.
Rebecca had calmed down by now, and looked at Cooper. “I am not doing anything because those people want me to. Not now. And why do you want me out there, if you have no intention of selling? Especially after being bullied by those thugs, I do not feel at all like wasting my time on a fruitless journey into the outback, for what I now know to be no good reason.” Cooper reached for her as she had by now stepped back a little, regaining her composure.
“… And don’t touch me please. This has been a very strange day from beginning to end. I’m going into my room to rest. If you have any thing further to add, I will meet you again tomorrow in the business centre at 9am. Good night.” Rebecca turned on her heel and went to her room, closing the door forcefully behind her. ‘This was not the end of things, not by a long shot.’ She thought, grabbing up her laptop she flipped it open and opened Skype.
She didn’t care what time it was on the other side of the world; this could not wait. The first call was to her research assistant in her office in London. The girl, Kali Surinam, never slept it seemed, so Rebecca had no qualms about calling her. Finally, she answered the call,
“Yes Rebecca. What can I help with?”
Rebecca drew a small breath. “I want all the details you can get me on the business of New World Corporation. I don’t mean company names and the like. I mean the information that can’t be found easily by looking at company registration records. Anything at all that strikes you as… of interest to us. To me. Especially information about the company president, Usman Abbas. Can you get back to me within the next couple of hours? It is urgent.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem Rebecca. You look terrible. Bad flight?” Kali commented.
“No Kali, just something that has happened here since my arrival. This seemingly innocuous brief has just turned into something we may not want to be involved in. Thanks for asking. Get back to me.” With that, Rebecca ended the call.
The next call was to Charles Willet, the senior partner. It had been through him that the company had passed the brief to Rebecca in the first place.
Charles answered the call. “Good morning Rebecca. My, you look terrible!” He said with a worried look.
“Charles, you’re the second person in as many minutes to tell me that. However, it’s not why I’ve called. Well maybe it partly is. What do you know about New World Corporation? Do you have any background on them, anything that may have come to your attention when you considered the case for our firm?”
“Sorry Rebecca.” He answered. “The request came in through the front office. The company requested our services, we checked their bona fides and their bank, and accepted the brief. It seemed straight forward enough. Talk a reluctant owner into completing a property sale was the under laying brief, although it was presented simply as representing the company, New World in the transaction. Which for some reason had to be done face to face with the seller in Australia, by us. The brief landed on your desk.”
Charles hesitated a moment then asked.
"What's happened Rebecca? Anything we should know about?"
"No, not at this stage. However, New World Corporation may not be a company we can do business with. Just so you know."
"What about Mr Anders?" Asked Charles. "What's his position? Do you think he may have had some inkling as to the nature of the people he was dealing with?"
"Well I'm not sure, but if he didn't before, he certainly knows now, and I don't think he is any too happy about it. I have Kali doing some research for me on the company as well." Rebecca tapped her chin with one finger. She was thinking about Cooper and his reactions to everything that had happened, including his reaction to her.
"Charles, I'll get back to you. I have some reading to do." Rebecca poised he finger over the hang-up key.
"Ok Rebecca, keep me posted. We are happy to go with what ever your decision is regarding this brief. To proceed, or to drop it. Up to you." With that he hung up.
Rebecca left the laptop running, with Skype open. She hoped that Kali would get back to her sooner rather than later. She had to think about what to do next. So far, her role in this whole thing had remained as defined. Talk directly with Cooper Anders. The arrival of the client on the scene was totally unexpected, and she could not even begin to guess at his reasons.
Some thought was required. Rebecca poured herself a glass of red wine from the mini-bar, and kicked off her shoes. She sat on the comfortable arm c
hair by the window, and took in the night view, swirling the rich red wine around in her glass. First things first. She had to work out if she was even going to continue with this whole brief. The arrival of the client right there at the hotel, and with his thugs doing his work for him, put a whole new spin on the operation.
Then there was Cooper. What was his game really? As nice as he was, and Rebecca thought wistfully of some of those good points, in the end he too was here for a reason. A reason that she was sure hadn't yet been made clear to her. She didn't believe for a moment that he was here simply to tell a company representative to their face, that he wasn't interested in selling. Well, her researcher back in the office would track down any information on the client company that might prove interesting, so it was up to her to see what she could find out what Cooper was up to. This didn't seem like an unpleasant task at all, but Rebecca had to remember to keep her wits about her, because his good looks and natural charm could well act as a smoke screen to his true intentions regarding this deal that he was professing so much un-interest in. Rebecca opened Google and searched for the property name. She could only find a reference to a small town out in the same area. Presumably this was where the cattle station drew its name from. Innamincka, population twelve. And the surrounding region looked like pure desert. Well, Cooper did say it was a lonely outpost. She picked up the house phone. Maybe Cooper was in, and she need to talk to him. Tomorrow may be too late.
“Reception, could you connect me to Mr Anders room please?”
“One moment please.” Reception replied.
“Rebecca here Cooper. I’m glad you are in. I thought you may have been out on the town, and I only rang on the off chance. Do you have a few minutes?” Cooper replied he did. “Good, can we meet again in the bar? No wait. Can you come to my room please? I don’t want prying eyes or ears nearby.”
It wasn’t until Rebecca hung up that she realized what she had done. It was never a good idea to invite a stranger - and Cooper was a stranger - to her room. It was a rule she had had for years. Only very very good friends and family got to visit where she lived, even if it was only a hotel room.
Well I can hardly ring back now and change the location, and look like a complete fool.’ She thought to herself. She put her shoes back on, checked herself in the mirror, and straightened her skirt. This was a business meeting, and Cooper had better realize it.
A knock at the door and two paces to open it, and Cooper stood on the threshold. Rebecca stood back holding the door open. Still he didn’t enter.
“Come in please Cooper.” Rebecca beckoned politely. A small wave of a somewhat unsteady hand.
“Are you sure Rebecca?” Cooper looked at her steadily. What was in his eyes she wondered.
“Look, there are things we need to sort out. Not the least of which is why you are here at all insisting on a face to face meeting, regardless of who from our company turns up here.” Rebecca set her lips in a compressed line. She meant to keep this meeting formal and direct, even if as she spoke she was looking at his lips, slightly parted as though he was about to say something and thus formed into an archers bow that looked oh so irresistible. So… kissable. She spun about and stepped back into the room toward the sofa and comfortable lounge chairs that occupied the window wall side of the room. A wave of her hand indicating to Cooper to pick a seat anywhere.
Cooper was by now right behind her as she stopped. She didn’t dare turn around or she would find herself almost in his arms so close could she feel him. She could feel the warmth of his body emanating from him.
Rebecca found herself with only leg space to step around a chair to move across the open space to the single sofa chair on the far side of the little rectangle.
Cooper waited for her to sit down, then slowly settled himself into a chair about as far away from her as he could get.
His face was immobile. Set like a mask. There was no sign of the smiling open man Rebecca had met at the airport. He was determined not to let this far too attractive woman undermine his resolve, and if she thought inviting him to her room would do it, she was sadly mistaken. He noticed her hands. Her right hand was still held slightly aloft from her lap, and was visible shaking. Not much, but it was. ‘So, she is not sure of something.’ He thought. He was a good reader of people he had found, although he was sure this skill did not apply to women in general. Perhaps not to this one in particular. He would wait and see.
Although he was determined not to give anything away in his expression, none the less he couldn’t help but look at Rebecca. If she wasn’t actually, well, opposition, he may find her company very pleasurable. As it was, he would just have to admire her from afar. But by the saints, she was beautiful. She was in fact everything he admired in a woman, and had as yet not found.
“Well let’s see, Rebecca. How can I help. What questions do you have for me?”
Rebecca hesitated before saying. “Would you like a glass of something? Wine, Whisky, Bourbon perhaps? Beer even?” She had heard Australians liked beer. She picked up her wine glass trying to steady her minutely shaking hand. “The mini bar is well stocked and you may feel free to help yourself. I am expecting a call back from my office in London, so don’t be concerned if you hear the computer making strange noises.”
"Nothing for the moment thanks." Replied Cooper.
Rebecca drew a breath. "It seems to me that you have an agenda of your own Cooper." She paused. "I know I'm on the other side of this deal, supposedly. Yet I have the feeling that both you and our client have placed me in the middle of something here. I don't like being in this position I can tell you."
"I don't know that I owe your client any leeway, and by implication nor you." Replied Cooper, his face still impassive, giving nothing away. His mind however was racing.
He added, "However, as you have obviously been sent out here, rather than someone else, to... distract me,” and he thought to himself ‘… and doing a fine job of it’, “this whole business is not your doing. With you I will be honest. Those thugs that man-handled you have really made me angry. They had no right to do that. Sit back and let me give you the full story. If you are still talking to me after, that will at least be something I can be thankful for.”
‘Distract me.’ He thought. That’s exactly what may have been the motives of the Corporation bent on acquiring his place. Was Rebecca party to that deception, to that distraction? He hoped not. He would find out. Now.
“Are you here to distract me?” He said aloud, his tone less than pleasant, before Rebecca could respond to his first statement. “Did you and your client think that by putting a beautiful woman in front of me I could be distracted into making foolish decisions? Decisions I would regret later on.”
“I can tell you Miss Boucher,” using her surname on purpose to distance himself from her. “I am indeed distracted by your beauty, but I am not and will not be distracted from my determination to retain my home and my property, and at least discuss its future on my terms. If you are indeed party to this idea, then we have nothing further to discuss. I already know that these people have been on my property illegally, prospecting for minerals I think, and I am interested in discovering what they are up to. Now this. What is your answer? Are you… a honey trap?”
Rebecca was speechless and on her feet. She stood with her mouth open, struggling for words. She was enraged at the idea that she had been thought of as a, what had he called it, ‘a honey trap’. She prided herself on her honesty and forthrightness in her craft of interpreting the law, and the idea that she would use her charms to persuade a man this way abhorred her. She struggled to regain control of herself. Her face was flushed and she could feel the burning in her cheeks.
The unsteadiness of her hand had disappeared. His pure magnetism had affected her badly as he had entered the room, and she was thankful now that that that had passed. It was replaced now by icy calmness.
“Mr Anders. If we must become so formal. I can assure you that I find such a suggesti
on abhorrent, and personally insulting. How dare you accuse me of using such underhand tactics to gain your trust and confidence. I can assure you that the firm I am a partner with is one of the oldest and most respected firms in London and New York. I represent that firm here and not myself. As a representative of that firm I can assure you that I am not a, a, honey trap, sent by either the firm or the client to distract you.”
Rebecca was looking directly into his eyes. Eyes that glittered with a steely light now. He too was on his feet, with his hands at his side, fists slightly clenched. So close to Rebecca that she could feel his breath warm on her hair as he too calmed his emotions.
He stepped close to her and held her by the shoulders. He towered over her, his masculinity such a powerful force that it broke Rebecca’s icy resolve and she could feel the butterflies in her stomach. Her face was turned up toward his as she searched his face for intention. His full lips, smooth and well formed, that archers bow that she recognized as purely him.
Slowly he bent down and placed those lips on hers, and gave her the gentlest yet most passionate kiss she thought she had ever had. She melted against him. He had his arms around her now, her own arms pinned to her side, his body like a granite cliff against her softness. The kiss lingered. She hoped it would never end. Slowly he lifted his head away. Looking into her eyes with a much softer light in them now. “Rebecca…” His voice husky with emotion. “Oh Cooper… Oh Cooper.” Rebecca’s voice caught. “Please, we can’t. What’s happening?” She struggled out of his arms, and he just stood there with a look in his eyes she had never seen before. She backed away slightly, almost stumbling over the corner of the lounge chair behind her. What on earth was happening to her? This was most unprofessional. Entirely unprofessional. Nice, but really no way for a partner in a prestigious company to behave. Suddenly she sat down with a thump in the chair. Her legs just didn’t want to go on holding her up at the moment.
The Innimincka Affair Page 4