Chapter 7: A Night Out With Mr. Arrogant

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 was wrong with her? Maybe she had picked up some bugs? The same one David had got? If that were the case, she wouldn't be surprised because that was exactly how she felt - I'll, feverish, weak- legged, shivery.

She didn't want to get dressed or do her hair nor even have dinner with Bryan Ferdinand. She did not feel strong enough But how could she get out of it? They were here, representing the bank, standing in for David. She couldn't simply duck out of her responsibilities. She would be letting David down.

She would just have to pull herself together.

With Shaking hands and nerves, she began to get dressed. She had picked out her dress before having a quick shower: a dark green velvet, figure hugging, with a deep scoop neckline along which ran a Greek key pattern in gold thread, a tight waist and very short skirt which left her legs bare.

It was formal and elegant but once she had put it on, Sharon had second thoughts.

She stared at herself in the mirror biting her lip. She had forgotten how tight the dress was, how short the skirt. It made her feel half naked.

It had never bothered her before and she wondered why it should suddenly do so.

Even David had loved the dress, that was why she had picked it but wearing it for David was one thing and wearing it when she was going to spend an evening with Bryan was a different ball game entirely. The very thought of it made her hair stand up on the back of her neck.

She looked at her watch and groaned. There was no time to change either. If only she hadn't fallen asleep on the bed!

She still had to do her hair and her face. She picked up her brush and began to work hurriedly.

When she walked into the hotel bar, she saw Bryan watching her from a table on the other side of the room and a shudder ran through her.

Deja Vu, she told herself hurriedly. That was what it was, deja Vu because this was almost a re run of the night they had met and she remembered with another shudder the way their reflections had shimmered in the dark glass behind the bar. It had seemed significant then, more so now.

He is dangerous to me, she thought. Dangerous to David and dangerous to the bank.

Yet there was something darker involved. Something she had not quite faced or didn't want to admit.

She did so now. I'm afraid of him, she admitted, ice trickling down her spine. He terrifies me.

She thought of David's pale face and tired eyes, the sadness in his heart and she hated Bryan Ferdinand. David didn't have the drive nor the desire to fight back if he was attacked but Bryan was going to destroy him irrespective of that.

But he wasn't going to destroy David if she could stop him and she was determined to do just that. So, she pushed her fears away and began to walk towards him through the crowded bar.

Her auburn hair glowed like a dark flame in the light if the chandeliers. Her oval face so classical with her green shadowed eyes, elegant nose, wide full generous red mouth. Her slender, rounded figure swayed under the tight green velvet, the low neckline drawing eyes to her high white breasts. Her pale legs moving gracefully, the green dress constantly sliding up to give glimpses of her slim thighs.

The lively hum of voices,the clink of glasses, the laughter died away as people's heads turned to watch her, although Sharon was unaware of the effect she was having on all the other people in the bar, she was too absorbed in trying to stay cool and getting herself under control.

The only watching eyes she was aware of was Bryan's. She did not raise her eyes to meet them but she could feel them fixed on her, black, brilliant, intent and the way they watched her made a pulse beat hard on her throat.

He stood up to greet her. She slid into the upholstered seat beside him and the noise in the bar broke out again.

'That was quite an entrance', he said drily. And then, 'What would you have to drink?'

She looked at his glass and was not surprised to see that it was mineral water with a twist of lime in it.

'The same as you, thanks', she said.

He ordered the drink and handed her the menu. 'I have decided what I want to eat but take your time and choose. The food is terrific here a d since this is a special occasion, I thought we might try a glass or two of their excellent wine. You do take wine, don't you?'

'Sometimes, not always', she said looking at the menu and realising that she was hungry.

She hadn't eaten on the plane because she hated unreal food and with shock, she realised that her last meal had been breakfast at the airport.

'What a huge menu, I do not know what half these dishes are'. Remembering that he had been in Switzerland for some time, she looked at him and asked, 'Could you recommend something?'

He shifted along the seat and looked over her shoulder. She felt his thigh touching hers,his arm against her, smelt his cologne.