5 - Playing The Game

While it was amusing to tease the media, they also made serious headway with the more practical details. Donna went to her doctor to get tested for STDs and asked that the sealed results be mailed to Greg Marshall’s office. This had caused him to raise an eyebrow, but he did exactly as she asked anyway.

A week later she received an envelope of a similar nature from Gregory’s medical consultant and she was satisfied that they both had their heads screwed on right- it was safe to proceed with the engagement plans. She would, of course check up again closer to the wedding, but for now it was sufficient information.

Nine days before she was set to attend a dinner party at the Marshall’s home, Donna was out with Luke Darcy, a banker who was head over heels for her.

She thought he was sweet but he was rarely in America and she had no immediate plans of going to Europe. He had asked her to marry him once before and she had laughed at him.

He had professed love and later, she had gently told him she was flattered but sooner or later he would expect love back and she had none to give. While the image of marriage was appealing, she had no desire to be pestered with constant, needy affection- all she wanted was companionship.

At present he was telling her of his plans to conduct another take-over and up profits exponentially. Donna listened with genuine interest until she caught sight of a group men walking into the restaurant and forgot to listen as the well-dressed retinue made their way across the room. As the first man paused at a centre table, he looked around the establishment while his companions took their seats.

Their eyes met. The gray eyes never left hers as the man leaned to his left and spoke to a red-haired man. The second man turned and looked across at her with interest on his charming face.

She smiled at them and the gray-eyed Greg made his way over to her table in the corner.

When Donna stood up, Luke had no choice but to do the same. She gave Greg a kiss too close to the mouth for Luke’s liking but he greeted him civilly. They all sat down, an extra chair having been made available.

“When did you get back from New York?”

“This morning. How’ve you been?”

“Bored,” she said honestly, ignoring the affronted look Luke sent her.

Greg asked him, “How’s the bank, Darcy?”

“Fortified, since you renovated.”

Donna looked at them both, “You know each other?”

“I fixed up his New England branches last year,” Greg explained.

“Ah.”

“Me and the guys are just here for a bite. There’s a party at The Lunge later on, you want to join us?”

“I’d love to,” Donna said as Darcy declined.

Greg and Donna exchanged amused glances and Greg stood up, still looking at her. “See you.”

“I didn’t know you knew Marshall,” Darcy said when they were alone again.

“He’s an old family friend.”

“He’s notorious for his treatment of women. I’d watch out if I were you.” He was painfully aware that theirs was far from an exclusive relationship.

“He’s changed you know.”

Luke Darcy snorted in disbelief. “Sure and I’m Spiderman.”

“You’d be surprised,” she said almost smugly.

“What’s that supposed mean?” he asked.

“It means I’ve been out with him a couple times and I would know.”

The end of ‘bites’ coincided with the end of Donna and Luke’s meal.

At the door, Greg asked them again if they’d be joining him and his friends. Once again Luke said ‘no’ and Donna said ‘yes’, so the two of them parted ways at the door of the French restaurant.

That was the night Donna met Craig, Greg’s best friend, and he became her faithful follower. It was also the night a gossip columnist saw Donna part with Luke, go to The Lunge with the Terrible Two Craig Willis and Greg Marshall, kiss an old beau and then go home with Marshall. Well, at least they drove off together.

The following day her column had several socialites picking their phones to ask what was going on between Donna and Gregory. Nothing came up but Mrs Marshall got several calls from people RSVPing that they would definitely attend her party the following week.

Mothers with single daughters started going shopping for new evening gowns. Several of them went to Donna for theirs. While only a few of them had ideas of the kind of dress they wanted, all of them trusted the DQ designers would make them something glamorous.

A select few saw Donna herself and tried to pry some information out of her but she claimed ignorance.

“But your families have reconciled haven’t they?” one dowager persisted.

“Yes.”

“Is he over Diana’s disappearance?”

Donna’s pleasant expression faltered at the mention of her sister. “I don’t think he is still mourning, if that’s what you’re asking. It’s not an issue anymore.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing, Mrs Witt,” she said, smiling brightly.

As she ushered the lady out to the lobby, she almost bumped into Greg.

“I was just coming in to see you,” he told Donna. “Hello, Mrs Witt, how’s your daughter?”

“Fine-”

“You don’t mind if I steal Donna, do you?” he flashed her a sexy smile.

Before she could respond, he said, “Thanks,” and steered Donna back into her office and closed the door.

“Hi.” He leaned against the door.

“Hey. What’s up with you, dude?”

“I think I just met half our country club ladies somewhere on my way here,” he told her, sounding slightly breathless.

“Yeah, thanks to the party they’ve all been here or in the stores ordering dresses and prying.” She grinned. “I don’t know whether to act besotted or entirely unconcerned.”

He chuckled. “You had best be yourself or they will start coming to conclusions. I’m actually here about the party though.”

“What about it?”

“Are there any men you think need to be there to witness the loss of sweet and sexy you to wicked and wayward me?”

“I can think of a couple.” She told him their names.

“Great, thanks. Oh,” his sexy smile flashed upon his face, “just so you know, your new bosom buddy Craig has convinced me to stay low on the ladies until after the engagement so that no one gets too much of a shock.”

“How sweet.” She batted her eyelids. “You’re going to court me?”

He burst out laughing. “You are the only woman Craig will let me delight in this coming week. Whatever you want darling.”

She laughed too. “You’re going to make a great husband, just keep saying those words.”

Instead of making his way out, he sat down at her work table, put a fresh sheet of paper in front of him. Donna watched him curiously from her desk before moving over to where he was.

“What are you doing?”

“Drawing the dress I want you to wear next week.”

She almost asked him what he knew about drawing women’s clothes, but remembered he was an artist in his own right as an architect and he knew enough about women and their clothes. She figured it would be interesting to see what he had in mind.

Eventually he stopped drawing and pushed the piece of paper across the table.

Her eyebrows shot up. “That’s sexy.”

He sat back, pleased with himself. “It is, right? I figured it wouldn’t hurt if I put myself in the zone so that others won’t be too sceptical. What better way to achieve than putting you in my fantasy dress, right?”

“Ah.”

“I guess my parents are still expecting us to act like more than just good friends on the day.” He pointed to the ruby red dress. “That should do it.”

“You like red that much?”

“Not particularly,” he said casually, “I just remember on our first date you wore red and I thought you looked sexy.”

“Now you tell me,” she teased, amused that he even wanted to make an effort to fool the world.

He stood up, ready to go back to his office now that his agenda was complete. “Let’s do lunch tomorrow.”

“Sure, whatever you say, dear.”

So they ‘did lunch’ and on the way back to her office, Donna was sitting in the passenger seat of Greg’s Jaguar, idly going through the press. She let out a little cry and the newspaper began to shake in her hands.

Greg turned to look at her. She’d gone deathly pale.

Pulling over to the side of the road, he pried the paper from her fingers to find out what had affected her so badly.

“What would Diana say about Donna and Greg?” he read the headline. With a small curse, he perused the article.

The writer considered what had changed since Diana had disappeared and whether Greg was seeing Donna just because she was Di’s sister. It also speculated on whether she was even dead or if she’d just disappeared or run away to ‘save herself’ from having to marry Greg Marshall.

He put the newspaper in the back, leaned over and put his arms around Donna.

“Why can’t they just leave her alone?” she cried.

“I don’t know.”

“How do they think we feel when they just make light speculation out of her disappearance like that? I miss- her- so much,” she sobbed.

“Shh. I know you do,” he soothed, stroking her hair.

A long moment passed and Donna dried her tears, Greg’s arms still around her. She realised how comforting it felt to be held that way. His body was firm, solid and warm.

Clearing her throat, she pulled herself out of his embrace, staring at her hands before glancing at his face. His eyes registered concern.

“I’m ok,” she sniffed.

He turned the key in the ignition and started to drive.

“Where are you going?” she asked as they drove away from her office building.

“Home.”

“B-”

“You can call Ginny from your cell and say you’re at my place. And tell her you won’t be coming in. You’re not well.”

Donna could see how he convinced women to do his bidding. He hadn’t ordered her to do anything, but she almost found herself complying.

She looked at his powerful profile and said feebly, “That will fuel gossip.”

“Let it.”

She picked up her phone.

The gates of his apartment building swung open and he drove down to the basement parking lot.

Like her, he lived in a penthouse suite, so they rode the elevator all the way to the top.

With a hand under her elbow he led her to the living room. He made her some tea and she kicked off her heels and curled up on his couch.

“Nice place,” she told him.

“Thanks.”

He sat down on a chair opposite her and loosened his tie a little.

“Do you miss her?” Donna asked abruptly.

“Diana, you mean?”

She nodded and he shrugged, “At first I thought I would for a long time, because I had started planning my life with her in the picture. But we weren’t in love, so I think I missed what the Qs and Ms could have been.”

“You weren’t ever in love with my sister?”

“No.” Pause. “You sound surprised.”

It was her turn to shrug. “I guess when you’re sixteen, marriage means love.”

“I was not in love with Diana,” he said again, firmly.

She looked wistful.

He spoke quietly, but he needed her to understand the connection he used to have with her sister or else their marriage would be very weird. “It was kind of like being engaged to a cousin. I loved Di in a fraternal way.”

A ghost of a smile flickered across her face. “There was nothing fraternal about the way you used to look at her.”

He chuckled. “That was only natural. She was quite a good looking woman.”

“Yes, she was.” Tears pricked her brown eyes, her lips trembled and Donna began crying again.

“Hey, D. Don’t punish yourself like this.”

“I can’t help crying!” she protested sadly.

“I know, but you have to let go. Ten years is a long time.”

“I’m sorry,” she cried, regret clear in her voice.

“Why are you sorry?” he asked.

Suddenly she stopped crying and looked up at him. Fear flashed in her eyes.

“Why are you sorry, Donna?” he asked, confused.

“I-I shouldn’t be putting all my sorrow on you. It was selfish,” she said, carefully avoiding his eyes.

Her fingertips quickly brushed under her eyes. “May I use your bathroom to wash my face?”

He gave her directions but remained on the sofa. Something had just happened there but Greg had no idea what. He replayed that conversation in his head and couldn’t identify the turning point. He stood up and followed Donna to the bathroom.

The door was open and the water was running but Donna was just staring at her tear-stained face.

“Are you ok?”

She jumped. Their eyes met briefly in the mirror. “I’m fine.”

“Maybe you’d like to take a nap before dinner?”

“That’d be great.”

She turned off the tap and followed him to his room.

“Very nice,” she said slowly as she sat on the bed, unbuttoning her blouse. “Does your mother know that this is how you use the perfect manners she taught you as a child?” she teased. “Helping damsels in distress by lending them your bed?”

He had the grace to cringe, but then he smiled and looked at her, eyes reddish and nose pink. “Donna, I just want to say that you can cry on my shoulder. I’m your friend and I understand probably better than anyone what you’re going through. I know how close you two were- I think the fact that I knew her too counts for something.” The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, “And in a couple of months, I will be your husband. I’d rather you tell me than an agony aunt when you go through your dark moments.”

He stood up and ruffled her hair the way he used to when she had been a teenager. “I’m going to be working with a few guys here at home so if you hear voices, don’t freak out. I’m not going crazy.”

“Thanks.”

Donna slept in peace for a good three hours. She woke up and looked at the bedside clock. It was almost six o’clock. She lay still, listening for voices and soon heard the distinct male rumbles and tones.

She looked around the room she had just taken a nap in and she liked what she saw. Definitely a bachelor’s room, but tastefully so. No blatant hunter greens and the like. No. His walls were a pale grey with a silver and blue floral detail in the upper corners. His carpet was plush and white, complementing the wood panelling and silver furniture. The door to his shoe closet was open and she tilted her head to get a better look inside. She realised that he appreciated style and she was happy. They wouldn’t have too many problems with decorating a shared home.

Fifteen minutes later, she heard the front door open and she heard, “Goodbye, see you tomorrow,” from Greg and three other males said, “Bye” as well.

That was when she got out of bed.

Greg waited until the elevator was closed before he shut the door. He returned to the table, checking his watch. Donna had been asleep for a few hours.

“Oops,” he heard her say behind him, “I thought everyone was gone.”