

### Copyright © 2018 Eve Atkins

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## The right of Eve Atkins to be identified as the Author of the work has been asserted by her in accordance with Copyright, Design and Patents act 1988.

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## This book is a work of fiction. The characters, names, and events as well as all places, incidents, organizations, and dialog in this novel are either the products of the writer's imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

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## This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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##  **All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.**

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#  CONTENTS

COPYRIGHT

TITLE PAGE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE BOOK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

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#  POSSESSION

# **IS NINE-TENTHS OF**

# Desire

EVE ATKINS

## Also by Eve Atkins

##

## Possession is Nine-Tenths of Revenge

## Possession is Nine-Tenths of Love

## The Fire Inside

# ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised a Londoner, Eve Atkins now lives in the depths of the English countryside in Hertfordshire with husband David.

As well as a love of writing, Eve loves the waterside and longs to be close to the sea, she is also a musician and loves to spend time in music venues and clubs.

She has written for newspapers, online magazines and blogs and more recently she began to write full length novels. Once Eve realised that she had many stories in her head she set about drafting, planning and writing her various books drawing on her imagination as well as her life experiences.

All character driven, Eve's stories are often about the many complexities of love and relationships; stubborn men, independent women, from vulnerability to confidence from stupidity to arrogance and many things in between.

# ABOUT THE BOOK

Like so many relationships, it was a chance meeting that brought Josh and Eleanor together. They were lucky. Both in the right place at the right time, both pretending, playing it cool but soon their burning attraction meant that it was too late to stop. Now add an evil character on the edge of being a sociopath, throw in some bad history and a touch of jealousy mix it altogether and it's a recipe for some big problems

Passionate and fast moving the story of Josh and Eleanor twists and turns through the highs of luxury yachts and stunning penthouses to the seedy depths of human nature and human trafficking.

When, wealthy, Josh Walker finally gets away from his over possessive, dangerously jealous wife, he can't believe his luck as he meets feisty, independent musician Eleanor and their steamy love affair begins to blossom into a passionate love.

But past acquaintance, Bill Wilson has a deep loathing for Josh Walker as their paths have crossed badly and he wants revenge. Bill uses music to mask his new business of trafficking women in the Far East, and as madness and greed overtakes him, Bill plots and plans to have Eleanor for himself before making her another one of his unsuspecting victims.

Unaware that Eleanor is caught in Bill's trap the stubborn Josh is not prepared to accept her passions and not ready to believe her claims. As he waits in the wings, their connection begins to slip away until suddenly he knows that he must fight for what he wants as he accepts that Possession is Nine-Tenths of Desire.

#  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to David for all his help and support throughout this whole process and thanks in advance for the next one and the next one - I know you will be there for me. Also my thanks to Richard for his enthusiasm and his design expertise and then to all the Knights and the Princes who contributed in so many other ways.

#  PROLOGUE

He studied himself in the full length mirror and nodded, admiring the image that reflected back at him. To any onlooker, there would be absolutely no doubt that William Wilson was a rich man, he simply exuded wealth. He wore expensive well cut suits, his nails were manicured and his body was firm under his stylish dress shirts. The jewellery that he wore was gold or diamond and gold and he drove the most expensive state of the art cars. Bill was attractive in a clean cut school boyish way and the overall look that he had cultivated and achieved over the years belied the cold ruthlessness at his core, just as he intended it would. His self confidence bordered on arrogance, he had no family that he was prepared to admit to and he didn't care for any one in particular. His passions were all about achieving personal success and being respected and admired by his peers making him seem to some as pompous and overly self-assured.

William usually known as Bill started out like so many others as a good musician that simply failed to get a break. He had some good ideas and along with a college friend, Mike Tate, he became involved with music promotion developing a very successful business signing bands and artists arranging their tours and their music publishing contracts raking in big money percentages along the way. Over a few short years, _Wilson Tate_ _Music_ had become a very well known and highly respected music management company and the business provided everything that Bill could possibly want in life. Then quite by chance, he had an amazing opportunity to diversify in business and now, true to form, Bill Wilson felt sure that his new business associates, although all foreigners had quickly begun to respect and admire him.

The truth would turn out to be somewhat different.

He had met many women from the party set; a couple of heiresses, Lady this or that, all mostly beautiful and wealthy in their own right, although some were simply spending daddy's money, some were other men's wives. Bill enjoyed being seen with these women as it was good for his ego and helped to maintain his exclusive bachelor status. He always behaved impeccably with women from other cultures mindful of his standing with his new business associates and their respective families, and aware of maintaining his eloquence and his veneer of respectability.

Foreign women held an amazing additional allure for Bill But as much as he may desire some of these women for their beauty or for their stunning bodies, he never touched any sexually. He daren't. He wanted to, oh God, he had come so very close on occasion as these women were smart and tried to seduce him and sought to attract him and his wealth and status into marriage. But he held his nerve as it was common knowledge in these circles that if you touched and tasted the 'goods' even once, then you would become responsible for those 'goods' – and in these different cultures, that meant marriage.

Yet Bill Wilson arrogantly thought most of the women that he came into contact with in his own business bordered on stupid. He thought that most of them would do anything if they thought they could take advantage of his powerful position. Bill, a well known music mogul deceitfully offered success on a plate and most of the attractive young women never saw through it - they were too eager to please, too eager to get some special favour, too keen to get a shot at fame or celebrity. He told them that he would always help them in return for a favour from them and they always complied, many regretting it bitterly later when he cut them off with nothing after using them mercilessly.

Underneath his polished veneer, Bill Wilson was a twisted individual –distasteful and slimy, a nasty piece of work all round. He had no loyalty towards anyone but himself and he thought nothing of stripping someone of their last £1 even if it meant their financial ruin just as long as it meant he would come out better for it. He would almost happily send a pretty woman into the ownership of men who would make them slaves provided that he was well paid. He thrived on winning and it had become essential to his personal wellbeing that he came out on top of anything and everything that he touched or became involved with.

Back then, everything in his life had been just right; He was respected by other business men, he had more money than he knew what to do with, houses in all the best parts of the world, the very best and most expensive high-end gadgets, indeed anything he wanted he purchased. He had all the women he could want, whenever he wanted them and he could do just about anything he wanted whenever he wanted and no one would ever complain. He only had himself to please- and he made sure that he was always very, very pleased.

Then the Walker family had entered his life. Josh Walker had ruined his business, damaged his reputation and cost him respect as well as hundreds of thousands of pounds. The thought of destroying Josh Walker had become his main passion in life. Bill had considered so many angles even contemplating hiring a hit man. But although he had no intention of showing his hand or putting himself in danger, the thrill of making Josh Walker suffer was like an aphrodisiac for Bill and the thought of Josh Walker's demise all but consumed him.

Bill had watched and waited and now he had a plan to take his revenge. He had found out all about Josh; how he spent his time, who he associated with, his family, women that were special to him - particularly those people that might fit nicely into his trafficking regimes.

It would be all about possession. Josh Walker would be frantic and on his knees as he realised that he, Bill Wilson had beaten him. In the end, it would be because Wilson had possession of that which Josh Walker held dear... and clever people knew that possession was nine-tenths of everything.

# ONE

Eleanor Montague - Ellie to her friends, was almost 6ft tall, long auburn hair, long legs and a shapely body bordering on what some would call voluptuous. She was at last happy in her own skin – her husband – well ex-husband now whilst quite tall at 5ft 10ins was shorter than her and even though he always said it didn't matter, he made her feel that it did as he always had to comment about how tall she was. So to soothe his ego, she had taken to wearing low heels or flats. BUT now he had apparently found his soul mate - a 5ft 2ins female 'midget' called Megan and they were very happy he said. Ellie was happy too. Her marriage was over and so was dressing for other people – she wore 4 inch heels whenever she wanted to and she loved it.

These last few months the time just seemed to fly by. Her shop was always busy, there were always people that needed to be served or helped or spoken to. Every day there were new things to do, orders to put together, songs to write, emails to send, networking to do. Her days were full and she felt tired when she got home.

Tired meant she didn't question her life or what the hell she was doing with it. She didn't question why she felt sad sometimes, she didn't ask herself why she missed her parents so much. Tired also meant that that she no longer thought about all the hassles and crap that had gone down over her divorce from Patrick or the fact that because all the bad times seem to come at once, it had been a pretty awful period in her life.

But with all that water now under the proverbial bridge she felt that it was finally time to peek out from behind the wall of self protection that she had built for herself, she was beginning to get an itch and she knew that soon she would simply have to scratch it.

She realised with some surprise had she begun to look at the men that came into the shop, sizing them up – were they her type, did they speak properly, were they attractive, sexy and of course they had to be tall. Ellie had become almost celibate but suddenly those feelings of sexual need flooded back through her body with a vengeance and she remembered the joy of feeling passionate and horny, the thrill of being desired and she wanted it again.

. Everyone seemed intent on making a noise in the shop today and her head was really spinning for some reason.

Guitars were her speciality and the stocks carried examples from the cheaper end like Ovation and Ibanez for beginners all the way through to top of the range Gibsons; and then there was the second hand section which boasted a couple of old Les Pauls and a Gibson electric.

Yes _Musical Madness,_ her music shop, was good for guitars. She had a couple of electric pianos, some drum basics as well as electric pads, violins and trumpets and any number of amps and speakers, stands, microphones and the small stuff like capos through to strings and of course large quantities of sheet music. Thankfully, the shop had a huge basement so updates on stocks were never really a problem. Ellie often looked around and felt proud of how she had built the business from scratch - all from an ingrained love of music that she had got from her Dad.

She'd had hard times of course, and she remembered feeling annoyed at the number of ' _neggie nellies'_ as she called them who told her to forget it - a music shop was a bad idea they said, too small they said, she wouldn't survive they said. Well she had survived and she was surviving pretty well thank you.

These days there were always people in the shop. Thankfully most of them came in to buy something, but many came in for advice about what to buy, where to play, did she know any local orchestras that were hiring and so on, but Ellie loved it just the same. There was always coffee and tea on offer for anyone that came through the door. Sometimes they even had biscuits or cake to go with it!

She had a couple of really good helpers, good musicians themselves. Lenny and Mitch could always be relied upon to open or close the shop, they were friendly and knowledgeable and she knew that they would both do anything for her.

She made her own music with a couple of bands that she fronted up as lead vocalist and she still nurtured her dream to make it in the music business one of these days and currently she was still searching for a decent agent or manager who knew his way around a potential record deal.

Her very good friend, Lizzie Stevens was always there for her too and sometimes she would allow Lizzie to almost drag her out to some pub or club, as she told Ellie that it was simply unhealthy to hide herself away and that she would die a spinster.

'There are lots of hot and horny guys out there just itching to meet you,' Lizzie said, 'but how will they ever see you if don't go out? '

This time, when Lizzie said about going out on Friday night, Ellie had surprised her by accepting the invitation.

'Really?'Lizzie said, 'that's great, really great. Don't forget to wear your sexiest clothes.'

Lizzie told her that she had found a great new place for live music and that Robert, Lizzie's husband, would drive them and collect them later when they called.

Lizzie was so lucky to have a great man like Robert and it was easy to see how much he loved her and Ellie knew that he loved their two little children too. But Ellie wasn't jealous, she was just plain glad for her friend, and hugged Robert as he opened the door to his car for her and told him what a lucky man he was to have Lizzie. He always wisely agreed.

Although the reflection of its neon signs could be seen from the main road, _The Songbird_ Music Club was actually in a little side street. According to Lizzie, management at _The Songbird_ encouraged live local bands to play for the applause and the adulation _and Ellie thought to herself, the almost certainly terrible pay_. But she liked it already; it was great to have places that showcased live music and particularly local talent.

They sat at the quieter end of the bar and ordered a bottle of wine to share and the two friends began to sip and put the world to rights in their usual no-nonsense way.

'I'm going to try to find a proper agent,' Ellie announced, 'I want to get a music deal, I want to find someone to publish my songs and if possible I'd like to sing them, so a recording contract would be good too.'

'Okay,' Lizzie said, 'I'm delighted to hear it, but what's brought this on?'

'Well, it's something I've always wanted to do and life is just rushing by. Days turn into weeks, weeks to months and well, you get the picture. I want to get on with my life and live it properly before it all goes,' Ellie said. 'I mean, look at mum and dad, they had big plans and now they are dead, you never know what's around the corner, you've got to live for today.'

'Amen to that,' Lizzie said, 'finding a decent agent sounds like a good idea to me, there must be plenty of agents on the internet that would be mad not to take you on. Your songs are brilliant and you are a terrific musician, so just go for it.'

Lizzie was so pleased to think that her friend may be coming out of the malaise which seemed to have been affecting her for so long. Lizzie had never had much time for Patrick, Ellie's ex, and the bastard had put Ellie through a lot just when her parents had both died in a terrible car crash. Ellie had been sad, but she was strong and her music was important to her, so if she could get a deal, great, but really Lizzie wanted Ellie to find a decent man, someone to love her and take care of her. Coming out tonight was a great start and her talk of a music deal even better.

'Anyway, I'm going to the library tomorrow, there's some can't take it away reference book that has all the information that I need so I'm going to camp out there and do some proper research,' Ellie replied.

'And while we are on the subject of life being too short,' Lizzie asked, 'does that mean that you might finally open up to the possibility of finding a nice man, or even a bad man. I hear they can be very good too if you get the right one,' she said, giving Ellie a big theatrical wink.

Both women laughed.

'You are probably right, but one thing at a time eh?' Ellie said, still laughing.

The bartender suddenly came up with another bottle of wine and two fresh glasses, banging the bottle down in front of the two women.

'What's this Lizzie,' asked, 'we didn't order this, we've hardly started on the first one, so we don't want another.'

The Barmaid looked past the women and pointing said, 'I think that they want you to have it,' she said.

Both women turned to see the men she had pointed to.

'Hello ladies,' one of the men said, 'just couldn't help noticing your beautiful selves from a distance. My friend and I would love to join you for a drink and we hope that this bottle will mean that you say yes.'

Eleanor opened her mouth to say thanks but no thanks but Lizzie had other plans.

Her eyes raked over both men and deciding that they were hot enough she said, 'That sounds like a very nice idea, please do come and join us,' and she gave both men a winning smile. 'This is Ellie,' she said gesturing to her friend, 'and I am Lizzie.'

Ellie could have killed her. She wasn't interested in talking to any men tonight or any night, well not just yet anyway. Men could be just a damned nuisance, they just took your time and your money and most of them weren't even that good in bed.

'Pleased to meet you,' she said, and smiled a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes and turned to Lizzie and glared.

But Lizzie just laughed and said, 'Excuse my friend, she's still on the rebound from a messy breakup and has been living under a rock for a while, you know the way it goes. So gentleman, she needs help getting happy and you two look like just the right men to help with that, so what do you say?'

Was that really where she had been under a rock? I'm not on the rebound Ellie thought, I don't have any feelings for Patrick any more he's gone and life must continue.

The two men smiled at each other, both looking very pleased with themselves and began with introductions.

They both looked a bit short to Ellie, although one of them was quite cute and he introduced himself as Stephen while his friend was called Chris.

'We'd be delighted to help in any way we can, Stephen said, wouldn't we Chris?'

Chris nodded in agreement as he looked longingly at Lizzie.

'How about we start by talking about this place, what do you think of it?' Stephen said directing his question to Ellie.

'I like it,' she said without commitment, 'what do you think of it? '

'Okay, let me put it another way. How does it compare to other places that you go to, is it better or worse?'

'It's about the same,' she answered, looking over at Lizzie who seemed to be deep in conversation with Chris.

'Come on lady, help me out a little bit here, if you keep on with the very short answers we'll never get into any sort of conversation,' he said.

She felt a little bad. 'Yes sorry,' she said.

'I like it,' she continued 'I think the decor is good although the acoustics aren't that brilliant. The bar staff aren't very friendly either and there are no notices around saying who the band is and what or who is coming next time, which would be good to know if we wanted to plan to come again.'

Stephen looked a bit shell shocked but laughed. 'Well you did ask,' she replied, smiling a genuine smile back at him.

It turned out that Stephen and Chris were the owners of the club, which had only opened recently, so they were keen to get feedback.

She told him about her background and then couldn't help but give advice about the acoustics - it was her business after all. He asked her if he and Chris could meet up with her to discuss fitting the extra speakers and drop down mikes that she had suggested, and she said that they should come into the shop the following week.

Ellie had warmed to Stephen but she still wasn't sure that he was really her type, more of a friend she thought. Nice to make new friends although she had plenty of friends and Lizzie was right, it would be marvellous to meet a proper man, a tall man, someone to wine and dine her little, someone to flirt with, dream about, desire, get passionate about maybe... Whoa there, steady on she told herself - men like that are rare and you know that they might not even exist at all.

Anyway, maybe something more than a friend would be nice, but as they talked more about music and the club and which local bands he and Chris were considering, she knew that Stephen just didn't have what she was looking for. Although at that moment, she didn't really know what she was looking for, but she did know that somehow, whatever it was, Stephen didn't have it.

# TWO

For Josh - Josh Michael Walker, there was still so much he wanted to do with his life and now he was getting older so he simply had to get on with his life and just do it all. He had money, he wasn't bad looking, he'd had a few women in his time, but no one had really 'touched' him since Helena, his first wife. Isobel had obviously 'touched him' he thought with a wry chuckle. After all she had become wife number two, for a while at least.

He fleetingly thought about Isobel - his crazy ex wife, how she had simply gone off everything about him - just stopped loving him she had said. But the truth was he was grateful that it had come from her – he felt bad but he knew she had nothing to give him any more, no conversation, no excitement, no passion and certainly no sex. All she had was that crazy suspicious gene - that incredibly possessive streak that sometimes bordered on violence, on madness. He used to find it sexy and wanton to know that someone had such feelings of jealousy for him, but it had become far too intense, too overpowering. But now, according to her doctors, the delusional disorder that she had been treated for was all burnt out thank God and she could be considered as mentally stable again.

Anyway, whatever she was, Isobel was no longer his problem.

Now, he sat having a night cap on his boat, a 68ft single hull yacht. He'd bought it outright after the split with Isobel so that he could both indulge his passion for sailing and have somewhere to live that was on the sea. It was a clear cloudless night and as he looked out from the deck, the little boat lights that twinkled on the water in the distance and the bright stars shinning low in the sky appeared to blend almost seamlessly into the inky blue horizon.

He loved this lifestyle. And although, he enjoyed his work, it always felt good to get away from his office where there always seemed to be so very many demands on his time. This boat was just right. Not too big, not too flashy, just enough for him and the occasional company that he might invite back here. It was big enough to sleep six comfortably and two very, very comfortably and he couldn't actually imagine wanting more than one other person to sleep here. Anyway, if it came to it, he had the penthouse that had five bedrooms, so should he need to accommodate lots of people, well, he could.

He had a good business building and designing boats and selling top range Seahorse and Silverline cruisers and yachts to the rich and famous. He spent his time selling the dream or delivering it in person when he could, which took him to some fantastic places all around the world.

Despite his very best efforts, he'd made it to the Sunday Times Rich List for the first time last year which bizarrely seemed to create more interest in his business and in his life in general. He had offers to attend functions and parties, women seemed to throw themselves at him, which he hated and he was regularly invited to speak about his life and how he made his money. It was flattering at first, all the attention, but he knew that he was quite a private person, so now he only got involved with it all when absolutely necessary.

The single life was still new to him, but in general things were good. He did what he wanted, when he wanted, his new designs for the Water Walker twin engine catamaran had won the World Super Yachts award for innovation and orders were coming in thick and fast. So yes, life was good.

But Josh still had dreams, dreams that he had already put on hold once for his ex wife, Isobel. He wanted to sail to Australia, picking up small crews along the way with no deeds to do and no promises to keep, taking his time to get there. He had begun to build a bespoke yacht from scratch for himself, and he wanted to sail around the English coast, write a book or two and that was only his sailing dreams!

Isobel hated the water, got sea sick in the car, let alone on a boat, so it never was love me love my boat with Isobel because as much as he tried to persuade her that sailing was fun, for Isobel, it was love me on dry land or don't bother because I'm never coming on any boat – and she never did.

In the beginning the relationship with her had been incredible! Josh had never really liked blondes – but Isobel had knocked him off his feet - almost literally! Isobel had worked with Helena, his first wife, and so they had met once or twice at their company functions. She had been running and talking on the phone at the same time, arguing with someone he later suspected; she got distracted and ran straight into him, pushing Josh into someone else who fell over. By the time it was all sorted out, Isobel and Josh were firm friends and had arranged to date.

Back then, Josh had readily swopped his dreams for days of delight and nights of passion with Isobel, a bubbly blonde with the best set of knockers he'd ever seen. But once the passion began to wear thin he realised that the whirlwind romance with Isobel and the enormous wedding had been a sort of smoke screen, they had nothing in common, and they didn't even like the same music or films. He became more distant, she even more crazy and possessive.

Ah well – it was over now and he wasn't sorry.

When it came to love he knew that Helena, his first wife, had been his soul mate, the love of his life and when she had been killed suddenly in a horrible boating accident at a work function, he fell apart for a while and then on the rebound he had met Isobel and fallen quickly for her and her intense ways.

It was Oscar Wilde who said that everything is about sex except sex – sex is about power and there was no doubt that Isobel had put a metaphorical spell on Josh, she had him wanting her, desperate for her and that gave her the power and it wasn't a feeling that Josh was used to.

Control was something that Josh would not relinquish where sex was concerned; he wanted it his way, although paramount in that was his intent to ensure that his partner was always begging for more, literally if possible.

But sex with Isobel had been incredible. It was all mind games at the beginning as she got him hooked with tales of erotic liaisons, hot sex in public places just out of sight, and secret affairs in luxurious hotel rooms. She knew what she wanted and absolutely oozed a certain sex appeal coupled with an innate vulnerability and he could never quite work out how she did it, how she turned him on so much.

His mind went back to the first time with Isobel.

Josh had a client to see in London so he had suggested that Isobel get the train down so that they could meet for dinner and a show and then she could get the train back later or maybe stay the night afterwards he thought to himself. Josh told her that he had booked a hotel room so that they could shower and change before going out \- he also told her playfully that as the evening wore on he planned to seduce her if he could. Isobel had just smiled a knowing smile. She had later told him that she was desperate for him and had to try very hard not to give herself and her feelings for him away too soon.

Oh Isobel

So he had met her from the train and on the way to the hotel they started to kiss in the back of the taxi. Josh knew that she could feel the pressure of his erection through his clothes pushing into her leg. Perhaps he should have known then although it was probably already too late.

Once in the hotel room, as they started to kiss and get passionate again, his phone began to beep with an incoming call.

That bloody phone call, he thought now, that was the beginning of the end for me - I shouldn't have taken the call but it was business and it was important.

He remembered sitting at the desk with the big mirror forming a back drop, writing a few notes about engine design flaws – oblivious perhaps to the dangers that were Isobel, and then it started...

As he talked to a colleague on the phone, Isobel began to remove her clothes and as she slipped out of her dress, Josh looked up from his notes and caught a glimpse of her body in the mirror; her full breasts inside silky lingerie, lace topped stockings and the smooth creamy skin of her thighs.

She knew he was watching - she licked her fingers and let them slide inside the top of the lace bra, stroking the swell of her cleavage. She slowly pulled down the thin straps to expose her breasts, and continued touching and pinching her hard nipples - she knelt up on the bed, her eyes holding Josh's reflection with a wanton stare.

Josh still held the phone to his ear, but his eyes were fixed on Isobel now - his breathing becoming a little more ragged.

Josh was simply unable to drag his eyes away as he tried lamely to carry on with the phone conversation, and now, obviously distracted, he had started to um and eh quite a lot.

Staring at Josh's reflection Isobel mouthed the words, 'Fuck me.'

His already hard cock seemed to turn to stone and he knew without doubt that he had to have her, had to hear her begging him not to stop. But in reality, she had him. He lost all concentration, starting to babble into the phone and trying to regain his composure he forced himself to look away from the mirror and from the sweet torture of Isobel and her wonderful body wanting to be fucked.

The memory of it all had Josh feeling a little aroused even now.

_Scary_.

Josh and Isobel had sex at every opportunity after that first time and after their extravagant wedding celebrations, the lust had continued for quite a while. But all too soon, if he so much as looked at an attractive woman or if he commented about a woman looking good Isobel became unreasonably jealous and incredibly possessive. She loved him she said and she simply could not and would not share him. At first it was sexy that she should care so much for him, that she wanted to possess him, but soon it became a completely over the top kind of sickness in her. Josh recalled vividly the number of occasions that she would scream and shout at him, accusing him of affairs that he hadn't had or she swore that he had looked at a woman in a sexy way or he had flirted or winked with some woman or another or various other ridiculous imaginings that she was prone to.

Green eyed monster was a name that could certainly be applied to Isobel, well the monster part – anyway. The jealousy turned her into a savage and brought out a grotesque side to Isobel that Josh had never realised was present before they were married. Sometimes she became so angry that she would almost foam at the mouth, her rage was uncontrollable, she would throw things and occasionally she would become violent. More often Josh would just laugh at her accusations because they were so utterly ridiculous and this made Isobel even more unstable.

Of course Josh was an extremely attractive man and most of the women that knew him or those that came into contact with him looked at him and wanted him, they flirted with him and he was simply polite in return. Isobel saw his politeness as something more and good reason for her jealous outbursts.

But the more difficult Isobel became the more time Josh spent in his yard with his yachts and cruisers, working on his engine designs, or sailing. The sex became thin too and he began to realise the horrible mess he had got himself into.

But fate intervened and a long lost uncle died leaving Isobel a small fortune along with a house in Surrey. She quickly found William, some sort of business man and a new admirer, and her days of obsessing over Josh seemed all but over. Josh had often wondered in the beginning if his money had played any part in the relationship for Isobel but his ego had not allowed him to contemplate that for long, preferring to believe that they were just simply attracted like any normal couple. But when she told him that she didn't love him anymore, and that she wanted a divorce but didn't want his money, or his business or the properties, he felt thoroughly relieved and a little awed as it must have been a very big inheritance.

'I just don't need you for anything anymore,' Isobel told him, 'and I think it's best that we agree that we each keep our own assets and interests and that neither one of us has any financial expectation from the other. Agreed?' she asked.

Oh God yes – Josh had readily agreed to the divorce and as well as the financial separation forever, he also agreed to her request that they still be friends, although he secretly thought that they would not mix in the same circles and so were unlikely to see each other.

He wondered why he was thinking about Isobel, he really didn't have any feelings for her anymore.

Here he was, a single man once again, sure he had physical needs that needed relief sometimes, but he knew deep down that he was a loner, preferring to spend time with his engine designs and his ships and boats than actual flesh and blood.

# THREE

Isobel was cute at school, curly blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a pale translucent complexion. All through school, all the way up to the sixth form, she was popular. She was quite bright in an average sort of way; she did well enough, always feisty and never frightened of speaking up for herself. The teachers seemed to like her and she got on well with her class mates, with the girls and the boys too.

But by the time she got to seventeen years old, she began to feel lonely inside. Her mum had walked out on her and her dad when she was younger and she simply didn't remember her at all. She didn't even know what her mum looked like, there were no photos and her dad never talked about her. It was almost like she had never had a mum \- an immaculate conception!

Over the years her dad had been great, but he was just reaching the stage where he wanted to start again. Isobel could almost hear the cogs turning in his head - thinking that now she no longer depended on him, he could live a bit more, do a bit more, meet some new people.

At first it seemed like a good idea to Isobel, her dad deserved happiness. It would be good for him to meet new friends and she told him so, encouraging him to go out and spend time with friends. But when he met a woman he liked called Carla, he brought her home to introduce her to his daughter, but Isobel was furious. She was sullen and sulky and all but refused to enter into conversation with Carla.

The following day, Isobel argued with her dad. He wanted to know why Isobel had behaved so badly in front of Carla and why she had treated this new woman in his life he called her with such hostility. You said you wanted me to go out and make new friends, you said I deserved some happiness, he reminded her. Carla makes me happy. So what had changed, he demanded to know.

She shouted back at him that it was different, this was a woman and he was a man and she could see that he liked her, and they would have sex and ug, it was disgusting and he would run off with Carla and leave Isobel alone.

Her dad softened at this and told Isobel that he would always love her. He reminded her that she was a beautiful young, women with her whole life ahead of her, and she would have lots of attention from lots of people and she would find a nice man and settle down and have children of her own. Whereas he was getting older and his chances of meeting someone like Carla were limited, indeed he told Isobel he felt so lucky to have met Carla and he really wanted Isobel to get along with her.

Looking back she must have sounded just like a spoilt child and in fact that is exactly what she had been. But then Isobel thought it through and determined to keep her dad all to herself, she remembered something she had read somewhere about keeping friends close and enemies closer. Now that she had discovered that her dad was very serious about his feelings for Carla – Isobel set about making friends with her.

She spoke to Carla and apologised for her behaviour and suggested that they meet for a coffee. They met a few times after that and on the surface, they got along well and Carla began to think that Isobel might be a rather nice step daughter! Isobel had other plans.

Fairly quickly, Isobel learned that Carla really liked her dad. Carla told her that she was originally from Spain and had an extended family there. Carla told her, 'Your father and I have talked about moving out there to live together one of these days, wouldn't that be exciting?'

'Oh yes,' said Isobel - but she couldn't think of anything worse! Carla also confided to Isobel that she had mentioned her desire for children to Ray, (Isobel's dad), but he had apparently said that he wasn't sure. Carla confided that she simply longed to have children but couldn't quite broach the subject with Ray again at the moment.

'I'm sure he'll come around,' Isobel said in a comforting tone, 'you just wait and see.'

She could hardly contain her anger. Who the hell did this Carla woman think that she was? Running off to Spain and having babies with her father – no chance, she wasn't going to allow that for a single minute – she would have to do something about it and quickly she realised.

Sometime during the next week, out of the blue, Carla received an email from Ray explaining that he had thought things through and realised that he already had a family that he was very, very happy with and that he had no intention of starting another one. He thanked Carla for the good times that they had and suggested that she find someone else to live her Spanish and new family dreams with as he would prefer not to see her or hear from her again as it would be too painful for him.

Unfortunately, Ray knew nothing of this - he had no idea that his daughter had connived and schemed, to remove Carla from his life. So he couldn't understand why Carla would not return his calls or answer his emails. He went to her apartment only to find it empty and Carla had gone.

He was confused and lonely for a while, wondering what the hell had happened. Ray had thought that he and Carla had been so very compatible, so happy. They had even talked about starting a family together! Ray was very sad to think that he had got it all so wrong – again! He talked it over with Isobel, she told him she thought that it was better to know now perhaps, but don't worry dad, she said you've still got me – let's go out to dinner and have some fun. He was lucky to have such a lovely daughter he thought to himself and so perhaps it was all for the best.

It had been easy, Isobel simply logged in to her dad's computer, using his password and drafted and sent the email to Carla, careful to delete it afterwards. She simply could not allow 'that woman' to steal her dad from her. Carla could just go and find some other idiot to take to Spain. Her dad might be sad for a while, but he'd get over it, he had Isobel.

It wasn't long before Isobel discovered boys, although it would be more accurate to say that she discovered sex and that boys and men thought that she was sexy and they seemed to desire her.

She began to love all the attention bestowed on her by her admirers, from Jimmy Blake, the best looking boy in her class, to Mr Smallwood, Robin Smallwood, her English teacher.

She made it all count too, she made sure that she got under their skin as well as under their clothes, and she always insisted that they only had eyes for her. I don't share, she had warned them, ever, not once, so don't mess me around. The second best looking boy in school, Michael Murphy, had shown a lot of interest in Isobel and she really liked him but he made one big mistake. He told Isobel that he thought that her best friend Helena was hot. Isobel was furious and set out to get revenge. She waited until they had had sex and Michael had his pants around his ankles. She took a photo of him in all his naked, very small willy glory and pasted it up on every notice board in the school. They didn't speak to each other again.

The truth is that Isobel's best friend, Helena, was hot and over the years that followed, Helena turned into a real beauty; and she was nice and decent too, friendly and warm and everyone liked her.

Isobel, whilst still very blonde and very attractive, had a bit of a nasty side that became quite evident whenever she didn't get her own way. She had an acid tongue and frequently upset her colleagues. Her only real friend was Helena.

They worked together at a software company, Isobel in administration and Helena in the marketing department.

In general they didn't see each other much at work and they didn't really mix socially either although occasionally at work functions they would gravitate towards each other and reminisce about school days. When they did find an opportunity to talk, Isobel usually talked about wanting to get laid, while Helena talked about her boyfriend and how they were going to get married. She confided in Isobel that she was so very happy and usually missed her man terribly when they were apart. She knew that they were soul mates, Helena had said he loved her she loved him and they were very happy together.

Isobel was jealous – so very jealous, she wanted the seemingly perfect life that her friend had. But then she decided that the boyfriend was probably fat and ugly with no class and no money and so she wouldn't like him anyway! So she endured Helena's constant references to this man in her life and what a great man he was, how kind, how good looking and an incredible lover. Isobel so wanted an incredible lover - but she reminded herself that the boyfriend was most likely fat, ugly and penniless – and it always made her feel so much better.

It was almost a year before Isobel realised that she was so wrong.

# FOUR

The company that Isobel and Helena worked for was ten years old! - Twobyte Software Incorporated was successful, was well thought of, and very profitable. The staff were happy, career prospects were good and so the directors believed that they had lots to celebrate. They hired an events company for their birthday event to help things run professionally and efficiently whilst ensuring that everyone had fun at a bumper celebration weekend.

A black tie ball was scheduled for the Friday night and all staff and their respective partners were invited. Then Saturday and Sunday a team building weekend for staff only had been planned at Wilton Lakes in Derbyshire.

The whole place was buzzing with excitement as the celebration weekend approached and the women started to talk about what to wear who they would bring, what it would be like and so on. Isobel purchased a new red dress for the black tie dinner because she had every intention in seducing someone – probably one of the directors, she thought smugly, but she knew that she couldn't arrive alone and therefore she would need an escort for the night.

Isobel decided that it would be Robin Smallwood who would be the lucky man to escort her to the black tie dinner. Robin had admired her from afar since school days, frequently contacting her to invite her to dinner or the theatre, or for a weekend in the country – and when she needed company or sex, occasionally she accepted. Robin was attractive in a geeky sort of way and had a very slim athletic build - wiry she supposed would be a good description for him. He had a mop of blonde hair and blue piercing eyes and she remembered all the girls in her English class thought that Mr Smallwood, the teacher was very handsome – of course they had no idea what she and Mr Smallwood got up to behind the bike sheds, nor did they imagine that all these years later he would still be waiting around for Isobel or for any scraps that she might decide to throw him.

But now as the celebration weekend drew ever closer, the staff talked of little else... what to wear who was coming, what would happen on the team building, who would be in which team, would they share rooms, who would they share with, all the way back to what are you wearing - and on and on and on.

Helena spoke to Isobel about how handsome her husband looked in his dinner suit.

'I can't wait for you to meet him, I know that you will get along so well - I've told him all about you so he is keen to meet you too,' said Helena.

'Yeah, well, I'm sure he's very nice,' Isobel said with feigned interest, 'perhaps he and Robin will get along and leave us to check out some real talent,' Isobel said giving Helena an extravagant wink.

Finally the weekend arrived. Isobel had planned to arrive fashionably late in order to make a grand entrance. She hoped to turn heads in her beautiful gown and as ever she loved the thought of being centre of attention.

Robin looked rather good too in his black dinner suit and red velvet bow tie – the red perfectly matching the red of her evening dress. Just below the knee, the silk of the dress skimmed her curves in all the right places and showed off her breasts and cleavage to a very alluring effect. She could tell that Robin approved as his eyes constantly flicked to her cleavage and then up to her mouth and then back to her cleavage again.

She looked around for female co-workers - checking out their outfits, satisfied that the competition was no competition at all. Her eyes began to wander around the large hall looking for the directors.

Then she saw him. The most attractive man she had ever laid eyes on was standing at the bar. He was very tall, big broad shoulders, he looked fit and toned with a slight tan. He had very dark almost black hair that was slightly longer than the current fashion and a handsome squarish face that had an almost Romany look about it. He was somehow very sexual he was just what the expression, 'sex on legs' had been created for.

Isobel had to meet him, had to have him, who gives a damn about directors when there is someone like this around.

She made her excuses to Robin and made her way to the bar pushing in to stand right next to him.

'You OK there?' he asked her. 'I'm so thirsty and I have lost track of the person I'm with and find myself without a date or a drink,' she said.

'Please let me help you out then,' the man replied, 'would you allow me to order a drink for you?'

Oh my God, he had the most sexy, purring voice she had ever heard. He clicked for the attention of the bar man and ordered her the drink she had requested and as he handed it to her she looked up and into his eyes and she almost caught her breath - this man was gorgeous.

'So are you someone's partner?' she asked.

'Yes I am,' he said, 'and you?'

'No, I'm actually one of the workers,' she replied.

'Oh really, what do you then?' the man enquired.

'I'm on the management side,' Isobel lied smoothly. 'It's a very busy and demanding role, I'm always travelling, but it can get very lonely if you know what I mean,' she went on.

'Oh I'm sure that a beautiful woman like you is never short of admirers. I bet you have trouble keeping them away,' he said, smiling that 100 watt smile at her, and those eyes, my God, if they didn't say that he wanted to fuck her, well she was sure that was exactly what his eyes and his body were saying; and man she wanted him in return.

And then the spell was broken, he looked over her shoulder and behind her, and his look changed to one of complete and utter adoration for whatever or whoever it was that had caught his attention.

'Hello Darling,' he said, 'I've just been talking to the very charming....... '

'Isobel,' came a familiar voice, 'oh, I'm so glad that you two have met, this is Isobel who I've told you about,' the woman said moving in between them, 'and Isobel, this is my husband, Josh.'

Helena, Isobel's friend from work, and this God were married? Isobel couldn't believe it. Previously she had been almost jealous when Helena had told her how happy that she and her man were together, but that was when she had thought him to be bald, fat and ugly. Now she was positively green with envy!

'How marvellous,' she said, fighting to keep the disappointment and jealousy out of her voice. 'I've been wanting to meet you, Helena talks about little else.'

But now Josh only had eyes for his wife. It was so clear that he loved her, that they loved and desired each other and that anyone in their company probably felt like an intruder, just as Isobel did now.

But as the schoolboy Michael Murphy had seen all those years earlier, Helena was stunning. She was very slight in terms of build with long dark hair, she was slim, but her figure was shapely and alluring. Her eyes, a piercing blue in colour, were a stunning feature in her beautiful face.

'I really must go and find Robin,' Isobel said.

'Oh don't go,' Helena said, 'or if you do will you bring Robin back over here so we can all spend some time together?'

'Yeah sure,' said Isobel, 'will do.'

Isobel was so angry. Where had little Helena met such a sexy man and why hadn't Isobel met him first? She felt certain that if skinny Helena had not been around to fog the situation, then she, Isobel, would have caught the attentions of the wonderful Josh for herself. Damn it, damn Helena, damn everyone!!

The rest of the evening continued in a blur. Isobel watched them in the bar holding hands, dancing cheek to cheek and she was so jealous, so annoyed she could spit.

'What's wrong?' asked Robin. 'You look stunning in that dress, absolutely beautiful, but I can tell you are not happy about something – what is it?' he demanded to know.

'It's nothing,' she snapped, 'I'm just tired – let's go.'

***

The next day at midday Isobel hurried to the meeting place for the company coach to journey up to the Mason Hotel in The Lakes area of Derbyshire for their team building sessions the following day. She was excited, and despite her lingering jealousy from the night before, Isobel was determined to have a good time and would not allow anything or anyone to spoil it.

She found a seat next to Helena and quickly they started to talk about the events of the night before. Helena told Isobel that Josh had really liked Isobel. 'I liked him too,' confided Isobel.

'He is very good looking,' said Isobel as she laughed, 'I'm sure he was flirting with me before you came back.'

'Well he doesn't flirt often,' replied Helena. 'Well that's what he's told me anyway.' She went on, 'Josh said that he thought that you were attractive too.'

Isobel beamed, she felt pleased that he felt the same way that she did but now she just had to do something about Helena.

When they finally got to their hotel the two women went to their respective rooms, agreeing to meet in the bar before dinner.

Helena called Josh to tell him that they had arrived safely and that she missed him. He told her that he loved her more and more each day and that he was so glad that she was in his life – together forever they said almost simultaneously. He explained that he would be away for a couple of days to finalise some details of an engine design so they would meet up when he got back.

Isobel had no one to call, it certainly didn't occur to her to telephone Robin and what would she say to him anyway?

After a good dinner, the friends chattered with colleagues. A live band had been organised and they really were very good, playing covers of rock and roll songs. Everyone was up dancing and probably had far too much to drink considering that the day's activities the following day were set to start at 11 am sharp.

There was bridge building and boat building, navigating and searching, with twelve people in each team comprising pairs. Isobel and Helena chose searching which seemed to be the most straightforward.

***

It was beginning to get dark as Isobel began leaning dangerously out of the boat muttering, 'Come on little oar, come to me, come to me.'

'Sit down,' demanded Peter. He got up to move closer to her and the boat rocked wildly from side to side.

'Come on Isobel, please sit down,' said Helena, 'they will send someone out to find us soon, we just must sit tight.'

Somehow they had got separated from the other little boats and one of the oars from their boat had dropped over the side and into the water. Isobel had decided that she needed to reach out for the oar and she could grab it. She jumped up and moved to the other side of the boat and with Peter still standing the boat seemed to become very unstable. Isobel quickly got down and leaned out to get the oar which was now floating tantalisingly close. But then it all happened so fast, as the boat tipped to the left Peter lunged to reach the other loose oar that was about to drop into the water and Isobel now stood up and stamped her foot down on the base of the wayward oar, it flicked up and hit Helena in the head with a sickening thud. At the same moment, the boat finally rocked to one side, enough to take in water and flipped over plunging the three of them into the icy waters of the lake. Isobel went under the inky black waters and came up quickly spluttering for air, reaching out to grab on to a single rowlock where one oar still remained in place bobbing gently on the water. She could hear Peter moaning just as she spotted Helena face down in the water, drifting away from the upturned wooden hull in the gathering darkness.

'Help me, I'm sinking, reach out your hand, I can't keep afloat like this,' Peter called out. 'Help me Isobel, please help me.'

Isobel had never really helped anyone in her life, except perhaps herself and now she quickly weighed up her options. She realised that this next decision, this choice, could change her life. Visions of Helena and Josh laughing together, the happy couple, flashed through her head.

Was it possible to help them both, save them both? Should she try to get to Helena who seemed to be a lost cause or to reach out for Peter and become a hero – she chose the latter.

# FIVE

Eleanor hadn't been to the library for a long time and it had changed. Still lots of books of course, but more electronics, more computers and by the looks of it, less actual librarians. She remembered the smell of old books which still hung in the air around all the shelves. Not an unpleasant smell, just library bookish. Eleanor couldn't find the reference books on song publishers and record producers that she had been trying to find so looked around for someone to ask. Quite by chance Josh Walker had been looking for sea charts and reef maps for his trip to Australia. They both ended up standing in line waiting for the attentions of the chief librarian.

Eleanor had already noticed Josh in one of the aisles before he came to stand behind her in the queue. He was incredibly attractive with a powerful looking body, dark hair slightly too long in a rebellious tousled sort of style. Was it a beard or five o'clock shadow that gave him that dangerous sexual look? She didn't care. It looked good whatever it was. Suddenly, she felt quite surprised that she had noticed so much about him and realised that she looked too long as he caught her looking and smiled. Blushing, Ellie hastily looked away and went back to staring straight ahead.

Josh had noticed her too, how could he miss her? She was bloody stunning, very tall, long dark hair, tight skinny jeans tucked into high leather boots. She was sex on legs and he had made her blush - marvellous.

She felt the heat of him behind her and he seemed to move much closer to her once he knew she had checked him out. She thought she could smell his cologne or was it body wash? She longed to turn around to see if he was checking her out too. She kept her eyes dead ahead shifted her weight from one leg to another and flicked her long hair back over her shoulder.

'You should watch what you are doing with that' a dark voice said, 'you could have someone's eye out.' Instinctively she spun around to see where the voice had come from and it was him smiling sexily at her.

'Pardon,' she said, looking at him square on.

'Your hair,' he said, 'nearly gave me a nasty slash across the face. Well not that nasty,' he murmured under his breath.

'Oh God, I'm so sorry, I hadn't realised that there was anyone standing quite so close behind me,' she said knowingly. They both laughed. He stuck his hand out.

'Josh Walker,' he said, 'good to meet you.'

'Eleanor Montague,' she replied, flicking her hair over her shoulder once again 'yes pleased to meet you too, and sorry about the hair thing, I've been thinking about getting it cut, it's always in the way.'

'No please don't do that,' he said smiling 'I'm already looking forward to seeing it and you spread across my bed!' She pretended not to be shocked at his comment. Hell he was even more attractive up close, he just had that something about him, a sort of smouldering I want to have you look. She told herself that his direct approach was refreshing and accepted an invitation to have a coffee once they had finished in the library.

They had ended up staying in the library coffee shop until closing. Whatever had they talked about? Ellie stood remembering back to that first meeting and a broad smile lit up her face. They just seemed to have so much in common, particularly music and books, she learned that he was divorced and so single and he lived on a boat.

Looking for company he had said, but nothing more. That suited Ellie right down to the ground; she wasn't interested in towing the proverbial line any more, just keen to be her own person in charge of her own destiny. Ellie had always been independent; she was a fiery Aries woman, stubborn, challenging and optimistic. She knew what she wanted and usually had a plan on how to get it. She didn't always succeed mind you but she believed completely in the old adage better to try to do something and fail than try to do nothing and succeed.

She didn't have to try with Josh. She had decided not to have any plans with him; she had no intention of getting involved. Ellie had felt a little lonely this past year since her split with Patrick and she knew that Josh would be good company and as for sex, well a man that looked that good just had to be good in bed. But of course she wouldn't rush into sex. She would just wait until she knew a little more about this man and then... maybe.

Josh had invited her out for dinner. 'There's a splendid little Italian just off the marina,' he said, 'in walking distance actually so if things go well we can go back to _Hinewai_ for a night cap.'

' _Hinewai_?' she repeated.

'Oh yes, sorry,' Josh said, 'the most important woman in my life, that's the name of my boat, _Hinewai_ , it means daughter of the water.'

'How lovely,' Ellie replied, 'yes I would love to see your boat sometime, but let's see how it goes, shall we.'

_Must play at least a bit hard to get_ , she thought.

***

Her apartment had been in chaos earlier - she had to go out onto the balcony to get her head straight. It really was a superb apartment - big rooms with high ceilings, very modern in a traditional sort of way. Usually Ellie detested mess and that was reflected in her choice of furnishing - cream leather sofas, light wood and glass tables, bold landscapes mostly of water, ships and boats, or coastlines and the sea adorned her walls. The overall mix was one of calm quality and restful elegance. The kitchen was functional and full of the latest gadgets; she liked to cook and was very good at throwing a meal together out of practically nothing. She had a couple of bedrooms, a guest room and a main bedroom, her room, which had a really good sized bathroom and wet room attached as well as a separate walk-in wardrobe.

Ellie must have changed her clothes ten times before deciding to wear the first thing that she had tried; a button up black velvet dress with a deep V front finishing just above the knee, black suede high heeled pumps and a string of creamy pearls at her throat. She had already decided to wear the black silk basque to cinch in her waste and define a little cleavage. She added the lace top hold up stockings knowing that both made her feel sexy – just in case she told herself, well, you never know.

She drove to the marina gates just a little after seven and he was there waiting for her – leaning up against the double gates. He looked so dammed hot in a black suit and grey shirt - that tousled hair just curling over the collar.

Once she had parked and got out of the car, Ellie walked toward him. Josh waited and leaned forward to kiss her chastely on the cheek.

'You came' he said in mock surprise. 'I am delighted. You look lovely by the way; I love your erm – pearls,' he said, looking directly at her cleavage.

'Thank you,' Ellie replied. 'So where are we going?' she asked.

As they walked along the dock side, Josh began to tell her about the Italian restaurant that he had discovered quite by chance. 'A gem of a place, Mia Culpa it's called, but don't read anything bad into the name.'

Mia Culpa roughly translated means my fault. Josh laughed as he told her that the restaurant owners claim to have had many people, well couples, who have met and spent time in the restaurant and then gone on to fall in love. So they say it's because it's such a romantic place and therefore it's OK to say it's their fault.

'Oh come on that's a bit far-fetched isn't it?' laughed Ellie.

'Yeah I know, it's all crap, but hey you did ask?' Josh quipped.

'Did I?' Ellie replied.

The meal was delicious, traditional Italian food prepared by Italian people and the owners were right, it did have a certain romantic feel about it. Soft music, flickering candle light, red wine and now for Ellie, it all added up to her beginning to feel rather languid and a little sexy.

Josh was such a flirt, and he was flattering and seemed keen to hear her opinion about things. Unlike many men, he asked her questions and listened to her responses, it was very refreshing. But she could give as good in return; she knew that she was a tease. Although she was very out of practice, during the course of the evening, Ellie had slipped open a button of her dress to reveal a little more cleavage and she caught him more than once looking at her there. She made sure too that he got to see at least a little flash of a lace stocking top as she wriggled around in her seat.

Josh leaned in close to push a strand of hair back from her face, the smell of him, the feel of his fingers on her skin was almost electric and made Ellie imagine his touch in other places and she wanted it, craved it - but, patience, she told herself.

She bit on her lip as she wondered if he could possibly feel the same, and as her hand fleetingly brushed against his leg, she couldn't help but smile as she noticed or thought she noticed the beginnings of a bulge in his trousers. That was surely her answer.

She fought to control her body and its reaction to him, causing a small shiver to run through her, but if he noticed anything, he didn't say.

They talked. They laughed. He was intelligent, friendly, and playful even, but she thought that she detected a smouldering power beneath those long lashes and she wanted to coax it out of him.

She tried to shake the erotic thoughts from her head. But not for the first time, the images and thoughts came unbidden and remained in her head. She closed her eyes for a moment to conceal the thoughts that surely must be written on her face and as she opened her eyes, he was watching her, and God help her as he smiled, she blushed and she felt that somehow, he knew.

She wondered what was wrong with her; this was only a date and a first date at that. Was she so sex starved that she felt so much lust for this man or was it something more? No she told herself, it was just sex and what was wrong with that? But definitely not on a first date.

There seemed to be a natural rather than awkward pause in the conversation.

Josh shifted around in his seat. 'So let's talk about sex,' he suddenly blurted out, 'it's one of my favourite subjects.'

'Oh,' she replied coyly, 'I don't really know that much about sex,' she said, making a show of fluttering her eyelashes. Josh laughed, Ellie laughed too.

'I should tell you,' Josh said, 'that I like to be in control. I know that I will want to pin you down, I want to tease you, gently, make you beg me to do things to you.'

'Hah!' Ellie replied, 'and just what makes you think that you are that good? 'I don't think that you could ever make me beg.'

'Well most women...' he started to say.

'I've never been most women,' she interrupted him smoothly.

He ignored her. 'Most women don't know how to be sexy, but you,' he said, 'you are just so alluring.'

'You seem to bring it out in me, but I'm no door mat,' she said, 'and I'm not a submissive either.'

'Oh I can see that,' Josh teased.

'And anyway,' Ellie said, 'I thought we had just come out for a friendly dinner.'

'Of course,' he said, 'we have come out for a friendly dinner and I've had a great time. I can see us being great friends Eleanor, really I can, but you should know that I want to fuck you senseless, and, if you show me a sign, that is just what I will do and make no mistake, you will beg me when I want you to.'

'Perhaps you'll be the one doing the begging,' Ellie said 'has your arrogant overconfident self thought of that?'

Now we're getting somewhere, Josh thought to himself.

'Oh God, yes, I've thought of that, a lot actually and I freely admit that I can and have imagined you teasing me to absolute distraction, what a woman you are!' Josh teased.

Ellie was lost for words, she knew that she was beginning to feel a little aroused from hearing this man's talk of sex. God he was so hot, he made her feel so, so, what was it, desired? She wanted more and yes, somehow, she believed him when he said that he would make her beg. A shiver ran though her.

The air seemed to crackle around them with sexual tension and Josh's eyes seemed to darken now as he looked at her and she knew that he was beginning to think about how he could get her back to the boat.

'Have you had sufficient?' Josh asked her.

'Oh yes thank you, it's been marvellous,' Ellie replied. 'Thank you for such a lovely time.'

'It's not over yet,' he said, smiling. Ellie said nothing.

They strolled back along the dock walk to the gates. 'Come on, come in for a coffee,' he demanded, 'it's still very early – and anyway, I've got something that I want to show you.'

'Oh OK,' she said.

Did I just say yes, she thought?

They continued to stroll along in companionable silence, Then Josh abruptly stopped.

'Eleanor, look there is something that I've just got to say,' Josh said suddenly looking so serious.

'Go ahead,' Ellie replied wondering just what he was going to say. He took a deep breath.

'You have the most beautiful eyes and I am desperate to kiss your lovely mouth – can I?' he asked.

But before she could answer he was on her, his tongue deep in her mouth playing with her, nipping at her lips. She couldn't help but respond, her tongue playing with his, her hands went to his hair, fisting through it whilst he stroked her neck and kissed her with such passion.

Finally after what seemed like an age they broke apart. 'My God,' Josh said 'I've been wanting to do that, and lots of other things since I saw you this evening, actually since I first saw you in the library.'

# SIX

Josh just assumed after that kiss that Ellie had given her unspoken agreement to a night cap (and more) on the boat, so he grabbed her hand and just steered her in that direction as they walked back along the dock walk towards the marina gates. When they got within range, without hesitation, Josh smoothly reached into his pocket and pressed the button and the gates began to swing open.

Josh asked her if she liked brandy or rum, more to distract her from thinking about walking through the marina gates, than any real interest in her answer. But when she told him that she wasn't much of a drinker he pushed on with the subject as they got closer to _Hinewai_.

'Well you did OK knocking back the red wine over dinner,' he teased, 'so what do you drink after dinner? What about Port?' Ellie pondered for a moment.

'Yes,' she said, 'a small glass of port is rather nice.'

'Well you're in luck...'

I hope I am - Josh thought.

'It just so happens that I've been saving a rather good bottle of port for an occasion just like this.'

'An occasion? Well erm, I, um,' Ellie stuttered.

'Oh good here we are,' beamed Josh. 'Come aboard and say hello to _Hinewai_ ,' he said climbing onto the deck, 'you might want to slip your shoes off, easier to get about down below.'

Before she could have any further doubts Ellie took Josh's outstretched hand and climbed aboard. As she slipped out of her suddenly inappropriate shoes, Josh disappeared below decks. She saw lights coming on and soft music began to play and filter back up to the deck.

She took the opportunity to look around her. What a magnificent boat, it was neat and shiny, polished wooden decking, red furled sails and a very tall dark wood mast, brass posts, rigging and ropes were scattered around and a shiny chrome rail ran around the whole perimeter.

Josh came up to the join her on the deck and said, 'Welcome to my home.'

'It's lovely,' Ellie said, 'really lovely.'

'But you haven't seen it yet,' he said, 'come down to my living quarters.'

He turned around and descended a short flight of stairs sort of backwards and so she did the same thing. Josh stood at the bottom of the steps watching her wonderful legs take each step so carefully. God he wanted to touch her, run his hands up those long legs to that sweet, sweet spot above. But patience he told himself.

It was hard to take it all in. 'It's just like Dr Who's Tardis,' Ellie exclaimed. 'It's much bigger than I thought it would be. You've got proper furniture and a proper table and everything. Sorry that didn't come out right,' she said, 'I mean it's much more than I thought it would be, it's lovely and you have lovely taste too.'

Josh smiled and showed her the little galley kitchen which had all the necessary equipment to cook and wash pots and the spare cabin with its small double bed and finally the master suite.

The bed was huge, and there was room enough for a small table or dresser and a small worn leather armchair sat in the corner. There was a large porthole type window in the ceiling above the bed which meant she supposed that Josh could fall asleep whilst gazing up at the stars.

'I love that porthole up there,' said Ellie gesturing toward the bedroom ceiling, 'must be marvellous in the dark.'

'Oh yes,' he replied, 'it is, let's open the port.'

Ellie followed Josh as he moved back into the main living area pouring out two glasses of port and handing one to Ellie. 'Please make yourself comfortable Eleanor,' he said.

'You can call me Ellie if you want to,' she said.

'I'd prefer to call you Eleanor if that's OK, it's such a lovely name,' Josh replied, but he noticed she stayed standing, well leaning actually against the panelled wall.

'OK,' she said, 'whatever you like.'

'I like you,' he said. 'You're the first real women I've met in a long time that has something about her.'

Josh knew he had to be careful, he didn't want to frighten her away by coming on too strong too soon but he wanted her to know that he already thought she was rather special and whilst he really couldn't wait to undress her, to trail his fingers over that gorgeous body, he wanted her to know that he knew that once would simply never be enough.

'You've got your own life, your own business,' he went on, 'your own dreams and your own opinions. You're independent but so, so feminine and sexy as hell!' Josh moved closer to her.

Ellie felt good but a little shell shocked at his words and in that moment she looked him up and down again. What a body. He'd taken off his jacket at some point and his shirt was now pulled tight across his chest outlining the muscles of his abdomen and those big arms and he had such big hands and long fingers. Images of what he might do with those hands jumped into her head.

Their eyes met and his hands went to her arms to each side of her effectively trapping her against the wall. His mouth went to hers, as Josh slowly nipped her lips, his tongue lapping at her lower lip. Next he moved to her neck with small gentle butterfly kisses and bites. It was too much and a small moan escaped her and Ellie writhed and tried to push him away. Josh moved his mouth back up to meet hers and began kissing her again. She stopped resisting and kissed him back, her tongue pushing into his mouth, playing with his tongue - so much heat, so much passion. She tried to arch her back and push herself up against him. She guessed that he was hard but she had to know for sure. He stopped kissing her and looked at her holding her gaze.

'I want you,' he said, 'I really want you; I want to feel your body under me writhing with pleasure.'

How could he say such things, how did he know that these words were just what Ellie wanted to hear? Josh took her left hand and then her right hand brought them together and kissed her palms and then her wrists slowly, evocatively he raised her arms up and over her head holding her wrists there with one of his big hands.

Josh began his kissing again whilst his free hand wandered across her body, across her breasts. Ellie gasped as he pushed his hand inside her dress and found her breasts.

'No, no,' she whispered, 'no.'

He stopped and looked at her again for a moment. He released her hands and they dropped to her sides, their eyes locked, the desire flowing raw and strong between them. Ellie reached out then and touched his face, slowly stroking around his cheeks down to his chin. She ran a finger across his lips and then down onto his chest. That was the only sign that Josh needed - he grabbed her hand and spun her around so that she was in his arms - he held her in place as her back pressed up against him and Ellie could now feel his hard erection pushing into her back side as he began again the sweet onslaught of kisses to her neck, kissing and biting, gently licking and nipping at her so very sensitive skin as his hands roamed across the front of her body.

Josh was so hard that he could almost feel his cock throbbing with anticipation. He had imagined this moment; he knew that he had to have her at his mercy, but willingly. He turned her again and began to unfasten the buttons of her velvet dress revealing black lacy lingerie underneath and that voluptuous body. 'You are stunning,' he breathed.

Ellie reached up and began to kiss his neck, her hands in his hair. Then, when their mouths touched again, Ellie was sure that she felt an electrical charge, a spark between them and Josh took her mouth, biting her lips gently, pushing his tongue into hers.

He took her hand and led Ellie into the master suite.

Josh pushed the dress off her shoulders and she reached out and began to unbutton his shirt slowly, slowly, holding eye contact. She told him to stand still, 'My turn,' she said 'no touching now, just take it,' she told him. She moved her hands across his chest, across the small thistle tattoo and the light covering of hair down his torso to his waist, managing to undo the belt, the top button and the zip of his trousers. She pushed the clothes down his legs following their path with soft wet kisses on his legs, moving from side to side avoiding his big hard cock, now straining and pushing to get out of his tight boxer shorts as she continued her trail of kisses on down to his ankles. Ellie now stood and as he stepped out of his trousers, she walked him gently over to the leather chair in the corner and pushed him down into it. Josh's hand automatically moved to touch his cock. She batted his hand away. 'No touching means no touching, me or yourself. Delayed gratification is best gratification don't you think,' she teased, 'so you don't touch anything then, agreed?'

'OK, agreed,' Josh replied, 'as long as you know my time is coming.'

Now she stood in front of him, her dress fully unbuttoned, exposing the black lace basque and the holdup stockings. She began to touch herself. She used her fingers to play with her breasts under the silk fabric and as she lowered the straps of the basque to reveal her naked breasts, her eyes never left Josh's face.

Ellie saw the desire in his eyes, the lust for her was almost palpable, and it was so very erotic.

'You're going to have to restrain me if you expect me to sit through this and not touch you,' he said. 'OK,' Ellie replied, 'I'm sure that can be arranged.' She moved to a dressing gown hanging on the back of the door and extracted its chord. 'I think that this should do the trick,' she said.

Josh jumped up and was on her in a moment, pushing her down onto his big bed, grabbing her hands and pushing them up over her head. 'I don't think so, if anyone is to be restrained it will be you,' he chuckled, 'so lady get used to it.'

'That's not fair,' Ellie squealed, but she was as excited as hell.

'When ever did I say that I would be fair,' Josh replied.

This man was so bloody hot, so horny, the way he moved the things he said. She felt so hot and horny it burned in her.

Josh pulled down the thin straps of the basque further and started to lick and nip at her naked breasts, then he moved up to her neck - small bites and wet kisses made her moan and writhe

'Hell Eleanor, you are so sensitive,' he cried, 'I love it. You are having such an effect on my cock, I'm so hard for you, I can't wait much longer, I will explode. But I need both my hands free; I want to explore your body.

'OK?'

she nodded.

'And I want to feel just how wet you are, you are wet aren't you?'

Josh reached down to the floor to retrieve the dressing gown chord that had fallen there and quickly, skilfully, bound her wrists together, tying the end to the bedstead above her head. He moved down her body now, just kissing her through the fabric of the basque - she moaned and writhed, her body arched until he reached her pussy, kissing over the mound.

She could feel his hot breath.

'Please,' she said.

Josh pulled the silk panties to one side. 'God you are wet, so wet.' He pulled her panties down her legs and threw them on the floor. 'Do you want to feel my cock in you?' he asked her.

'Oh yes,' she said.

He knelt up on the bed now, removed his boxers and his huge cock sprang free. 'So do you want to feel my cock in you, or shall I lick that wonderful looking pussy of yours?' he said, just lightly blowing on her nakedness as he spoke. 'What do you want me to do Eleanor, tell me?'

'That's just not fair,' she replied.

She writhed and pulled on her restraints. Josh couldn't help but smile a wicked smile as he positioned himself so that his cock was just touching the outside of her sex, teasing her, coating the tip of his shaft in her wetness. He lowered his mouth to her nipple and sucked gently on the very tip, sending an electric shock right through her body.

'Oh please,' she said, 'please.' He licked his thumb now and rubbed it across her clit. 'Oh God,' she cried out, 'please fuck me.'

'Sure sounds like begging to me,' he said. 'Oh, and didn't you say something about delayed gratification is best gratification?'

'Bastard,' she whispered and at that, he slammed his cock into her hot welcoming pussy and then slowly, slowly sliding deeper, pushing her to the very edge. He was so big he stretched her but oh hell it felt so good, so good she told him, so, so good.

'You want more?' he asked and slammed into her again.

'Don't stop, don't stop,' she cried out, 'Josh, Josh please don't stop.'

# SEVEN

Ellie wanted to see Josh every day. They had seen each other a few times since that first night and she was beginning to think about him a lot and she really didn't want to but she liked him, she really liked him.

Today, Ellie was busy in the shop, as usual, she had a few gigs coming up as usual, she felt horny as usual but no, wait a minute, she thought, I'm sure that feeling like this is unusual. I'm sure that in the past I didn't feel horny all the time. But Josh just did things to her, said things, played with her, flirted with her, complimented her, and he was so dammed good at sex. The way he kissed her, his body, his mouth, his hands, the way he touched her. She shook her head to scatter the visions of his body hovering over hers - pushing his hardness into her making her call out.

Her phone buzzed to alert her that she had a text. _Hey Lover - thinking of you and your sexy body J x._ She beamed at the phone.

'I'm guessing that's good news boss?' asked Mitch with a smile on his face.

Mitch really liked Ellie; she was a talented musician and such a great boss too. She really knew her stuff in terms of instruments and music and what a voice, bloody attractive too.

' _Don't go there idiot,' he told himself, 'she is way, way out of your league.'_ But he knew that he had a bit of a secret crush on her.

'No, well, eh yes I suppose,' replied Ellie. 'Well, it's just a sweet message from a friend, now let's get these guitars moved shall we?' she said.

They had planned to move a section of the shop around so that a number of the better guitars could be seen from the window, particularly at night time when the shop was closed and the back feature lights were switched on. Now it would have quite a dramatic effect and hopefully encourage purchasers.

As she told her staff what to put where, she knew that she was a little distracted thinking about Josh and his message and considering all the women that he must have had in his life. Ellie was delighted that he thought of her as sexy. She was meeting her friend Lizzie later and so had decided to leave the shop early, go home and do that Josh Walker search online. She liked the thought of seeing his face again.

She had decided to trawl the internet for information about the famous Josh Walker but hadn't quite achieved it as she planned the night before. In all honestly she hadn't heard of him until her friend Lizzie had exclaimed, 'You don't mean Josh Walker the yacht millionaire?'

'Eh?' Ellie had replied.

'Very tall, staggeringly attractive, great body?' Lizzie went on.

'Well yes, actually, that sounds just like Josh,' stuttered Ellie.

'You bloody lucky thing,' Lizzie continued, 'where on earth did you meet him?'

Ellie went on to explain how she and Josh had met in the library and how it went on from there. Lizzie told her that Josh had been seen and photographed with lots of very attractive women, so probably best not to check him out online or you might just get a bit depressed.

'But,' said Lizzie, 'you're an incredibly attractive women yourself and would beat them all hands down anyway, so go on, look him up if you feel the need.'

It seemed a little like spying but she couldn't resist the temptation to look him up, just personal research she told herself. So after her shower, she roughly dried her hair and pulled on a black silk robe, but just as she sat down and booted up her lap top she heard a rap on her door. She looked through the little peep hole in the door to find that it was Josh just standing there in Jeans and a white shirt with a bottle of wine in his hand.

She turned quickly to check herself out in the hallway mirror, her hair was wild, but oh shit, she could do nothing about it now. Her heart began to race. Calm down she told herself, just breath. Ellie took a couple of deep breaths then opened the door a little and Josh turned his full smile on her.

'Hello,' he said, 'I was in the neighbourhood and I remembered you telling me about this wonderful view of the river you have, so I thought that I would come and see it for myself. You know, to make sure that you weren't exaggerating.'

'Oh really,' Ellie replied, 'in the neighbourhood?'

'Yes really,' said Josh, 'and I brought this,' he said, holding up a bottle of Rioja, 'as a sort of entry ticket. Does it get me in?'

'Well,' Ellie said, 'I've just got out of the shower, and I'm not dressed.'

'Hey, suits me,' said Josh, 'just save me time later.'

'Hey,' replied Ellie, laughing with feigned indignation, 'we'll have none of that chicken counting. You'd better come in.'

As soon as he was over the threshold and the door closed Josh spun her around and pinned Ellie to the back of the door with his body, his lips finding hers in a fierce, deep and demanding kiss. One hand went to her neck whilst the other went around and down to her backside pulling her into him. They broke apart, breathless. 'I've been desperate to do that all day, desperate for you all day. Woman, see what you are doing to me?' He gestured down below his waist and Ellie couldn't help but see an outline through the fabric of his trousers.

'Should I be sorry?' asked Ellie.

'Maybe,' he replied, 'maybe you should be, because I'm going to make slow, sweet love to you, and you will begin to lose yourself in me, just like I'm lost in you. 'He leaned forward now and pulled open the black silk robe that she wore, and began to kiss her neck.

How could he say such things? Ellie wondered, things that had an instant effect on her. She was wanting him already and they had only just said hello; and oh God, his hot mouth kissing and licking her neck, a small moan escaped her. Her neck was very sensitive, interesting how most men she had known didn't realise, didn't find that incredibly weak spot, but this man seemed to find every damned weak spot that she had.

***

Later, she told him to get some more wine from the kitchen and make himself at home while she finished dressing and quickly ran to her bathroom.

She felt like a school girl as she looked at herself in her bathroom mirror. She looked different, she felt alive. My God, she liked this man. Stop, she told herself, you don't know anything about him, and you're not supposed to like him. It's just for sex and company, remember?

But it was already too late.

# EIGHT

Josh found the kitchen and the glasses and wandered out onto the terrace carrying a couple of glasses and the wine bottle. He put them down on the little table and leaned on the ornate rail of the balcony, high up over the river, to check out the view.

The lights of the city stretched out before him, and he could see a couple of small boats bobbing on the water as well as bridges and cars in the distance. It was quite a balmy evening and still warm although the sun had long since disappeared over the horizon. She was right, the view was spectacular. Josh went back into her apartment now, looking around, trying to take it in. Wanting to get a feel for this woman, take in her style, and a little of her character from the way she decorated her place. It was elegant in an understated way, uncluttered but comfortable, A few tasteful pieces of furniture, sofas and tables and he noticed the artwork on the walls and was pleased to see that boating, ships sails and oceans were the subjects of most of the pictures and paintings. Surely that was a good sign, he thought to himself. What was it about this woman that had him so interested? He simply felt unable to get the thoughts of her out of his mind, and now as he surveyed the room, his eyes fell onto the sofa and his mind flashed back to earlier and he saw her there once again, those legs, that body and he couldn't help himself, he felt himself stir once more.

He went quickly out onto the terrace and poured himself a glass of wine. He turned his face to the air, hoping that the coolness of the slight evening breeze would cool his ardour.

Ellie now appeared on the terrace. 'Did someone say something about a glass of wine?' she asked.

'Yes of course,' Josh said, and jumped up to pour her a glass of wine. 'You look good,' he said, 'that colour is lovely on you.'

Ellie wore a dark green silk shirt dress, which buttoned from just above the knee to just about cleavage level. There was the merest suggestion of the curve of her breasts, and her legs and feet, still with a light summer tan, were bare, which somehow suggested to Josh that it was possible that the dress was the only item of clothing that she had on. The thought of her naked body under the dress tugged at his imagination. Ellie had tamed her long hair now and it hung in shiny tresses down her back. She wore a small amount of makeup along with her usual dark red lipstick, it was an overall understated, almost natural look and it suited her.

'You are right,' he said.

'I'm sure I am,' she teased 'but about what?'

'The view,' said Josh, 'it really is a stunning view, especially at this time of evening when the sun is just set and lights are twinkling across the water, it's lovely. I bet it's a lovely place to wake up in too,' he went on, 'breakfast with someone special on this very terrace.'

She smiled but ignored the innuendo of his words. 'Can I get you something to eat,' she offered.

Kicking himself for being too romantic, (he had heard that women like Eleanor didn't like men that were overly romantic), he said, 'Actually I did spot a rather good looking restaurant just around the corner, do you like French food?

'I do,' she replied.

'Well I'm starved,' he said, 'will you accompany me?'

Her legs still bare, she slipped on some green suede, high heeled shoes and they made their way to the foyer of her building and, as the concierge opened the door for them and Josh took her hand and pulled her into his arms, the flash bulb from a lone photographer captured them in what, later, would seem like an intimate pose.

Josh held up his hand and a car appeared out of nowhere to take them to the little restaurant, which Ellie loved immediately. Waiters with thick French accents dressed in black waist coasts, black trousers and long crisp white aprons, seemed to be rushing everywhere. The tables all had white cotton tablecloths, and were set with candles, crystal glassware and small mahogany serving tables were set beside each one. The walls were covered with images of famous people that Eleanor suspected had used the place at some point, and different frames, different shapes and sizes showed off the photos that were all in sepia or black and white. The overall effect of the whole place was warm and inviting, yet glamorous and exclusive.

And it was packed. The waiters ran around skilfully balancing plates and carrying glasses but, above the hum of conversation, Josh could just pick out the mellow tones of Etta James singing _At last_.

Josh urged Ellie forward as the maitre d' approached them and shaking his head he was saying to her, 'I am so sorry but...' when he saw Josh he stopped immediately. 'Ah Mr Josh,' he said in good pigeon English, 'ow wonderful to see you again, come, I ave just a the table for you,' and he led them to a private booth toward the back of the restaurant. He summoned a waiter, 'Pierre?'

'Qui Maitre?' the waiter replied.

'This eis Mr Josh, 'e and 'is - a beautiful lady are ze very special guests, s'il vous plait, make-a-sure a they ave all the very best that Auberge du Lac can offer qui, comprendez vous?'

'Qui, Bien Sur Maitre,' replied Pierre.

'Pierre, ee will look after you - bon appétit!' he said, and he was gone.

As they took their seats Josh was pleased that he had chosen this restaurant. He had told his old friend the maitre d' exactly what he wanted when he had called in the day before; he knew that Auberge Du Lac would not disappoint. Now as she excused herself to go to powder her nose he watched Ellie leave the table and make her way to the back of the restaurant and marvelling at her sexy body, his mind drifted.

He was determined to court this woman, she was just right for him, she was self sufficient which he liked, she liked her independence, she had her own life and her own interests, her own money and still they really did seem to have a lot in common. They liked similar music, similar books, films style and she was so damned sexy, and the great thing, the very best thing was that he was sure she didn't realise just how sexy she was.

He glanced up as the waiter offered him the wine to try - and he realised that Ellie had been gone for too long. Then he saw her, leaning on the bar talking to a brown-haired man laughing and flicking her hair in that way that she had, and Josh was immediately jealous.

Then as if she could feel his eyes on her, she leant forward and gave the mystery man a chaste peck on the cheek and made her way back to her seat, smiling broadly.

Josh looked up at her quizzically - a silent 'so who was that' in his eyes. 'Oh sorry about that,' she said, 'just someone I know.'

'Really,' Josh responded, 'it seemed to me that you know him very well.'

'What does that mean,' she questioned.

'Well you were all over him, flicking your hair, kissing him.'

'Now just a minute,' she replied, a little angry now. 'Bill is a friend, a business acquaintance if you must know, and who I kiss and flick my hair at is really none of your business,' she laughed a little, now determined to lighten things, 'just as who you kiss and flick your hair at is not my business, now is it?'

Josh now smiled right back. 'I make it my business never to flick my hair at anyone but you,' he said. 'You make it an art form and it's very sexy, as I'm sure you know.'

'It's a habit,' she said, 'nothing more I assure you.'

'Well it does things to me and probably all the other men you talk to; you've got no idea how sexy you are do you? If only you knew,' he said. 'No, maybe it's better you don't know. There is something about you Eleanor Montague, and I think that you are beginning to capture my heart, but be careful with it won't you?'

That was a surprise. She stopped and looked at him, studying his face for the briefest of moments.

'I couldn't see the face of the man you were flirting with but I am certain that he wanted you,' Josh said, 'so I should tell you that I'm quite a territorial sort of man, and I don't like to share what's mine.'

'No problem then,' Ellie snapped, 'because that's not me, I'm not yours, I'm not anybody's but my own.'

# NINE

Ellie felt tired today and as she walked to meet her friend Lizzie for a light lunch, she felt a bit foolish too. Josh had definitely given her the idea last night that he wanted more from her than just sex. All that possessive talk about not sharing and the little jealous outburst about Bill at the restaurant contributed to that feeling, or had she just imagined it?

She had felt sure that she meant more to him than all the other women that he had and she thought that she was the only woman he was seeing, but her search on the net that morning had told her otherwise.

All those images of the very wealthy and wildly attractive Josh Walker, award winning yacht designer, entrepreneur, playboy, bloody millionaire and all those beautiful women hanging off his arm at this charity function or that celebrity bash. It was annoying, surprising, she didn't want to admit it, but she didn't like to share either.

She saw one photo of the two of them outside her apartment building, it was sweet but one image in a sea of him with other women, she suddenly knew that it could never be enough, and he would never be content with one women.

And who the hell was Shelly, anyway? She seemed to be in more photos than any of the other women. Handsome Bachelor, Josh Walker with supermodel Shelly Somersby at HAC Children's Charity Dinner, or Attractive Millionaire Josh Walker with the lovely Shelly Somersby at the Ladybug Ball. Shelly was stunning too, a tall slim exotic looking beauty. Then there were images of Josh with many famous celebrities, magazine editors, Vivien Chawler, the actress, Shannon Bailey the writer, presenter Gemma Jonas; the list of his various conquests she suspected was endless. Had he used the same lines on all the other women as he had used on her she wondered, bastard she thought, he had his techniques and he had that body and those gorgeous looks so why not? But not with her, not with Eleanor Montague, not any more.

The sex was great, it's true, but he had made her feel like a fool, but now she realised that he had told her what she wanted to hear, just to get her into his bed. How stupid was she? She had no intention of competing with all the others. Josh had played her, he'd had had his fun but that was the end of it.

So when she sat down at the table where Lizzie waited, anyone who knew Ellie could plainly see that she was upset, or annoyed, or at least not her usual happy self.

'What's wrong?' asked Lizzie.

'Nothing,' said Ellie.

'Oh come on,' pushed Lizzie, 'I do know you well enough after all these years to know when something is wrong.'

'I'm fine,' replied Ellie.

'Last time I checked, that type of fine just meant _Freaked Out, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional_ \- so just how fine are you, Ellie?' Lizzie replied in her usual no nonsense way. 'Could it be the very handsome Mr Walker that has pissed you off?'

'Pissed off is a bloody understatement,' replied Ellie, 'he has played me and like a bloody fool. I fell for it, but I've seen through him now and we are done!'

'But you like him Ellie,' Lizzie replied, 'I could tell, you come alive when you talk about him and from what youve told me he is so into you, you've changed since you met him, you seem happy, more alive, you and Josh are good together.'

'Well that's all complete bullshit,' Ellie went on. 'I'm not a machine, I can't just have sex and not have any feelings and I can't deal with all those images of handsome millionaire Josh Walker with fun loving Shelly bloody whatever her name is and all the others females he spends time with splashed all over the place.'

'So you looked on the net then,' Lizzie replied quietly, 'but remember, they are only images and probably don't tell the whole story.'

'No,' replied Ellie, 'don't you defend him, I'm nobody's fool, too old and too bolshie and too damned arrogant to fall for that, he'll have to have great sex with someone else or all of them for all I care.'

At that her phone buzzed with an incoming call. She looked at the phone and pressed the delete button. 'Josh?' enquired Lizzie.

'Yep,' Ellie responded. 'I'm too angry to talk to him at the moment. Do you know he had the nerve to send me roses this morning, red roses, loads of them?'

'What a nerve,' Lizzie said sarcastically, 'I'm sure he is blissfully unaware of what he has done wrong, so it's just a loving gesture I imagine.'

'Rubbish,' said Ellie, 'it's just more tricks to make me fall for him. I'm sure he sends roses to all his women. Anyway, that's where they went, straight into the rubbish bin!'

'Oh Ellie, what a waste,' Lizzie said. 'I'm pissed off talking about him so let's change the subject, OK?' Ellie responded.

'OK then, let's talk about other things. How's the shop and what about the new acquisition you were talking about?' asked Lizzie.

'Business is great as usual,' Ellie replied. 'I've got some new stocks coming in soon and we've relit the back wall in front of the window so the new stuff can be better seen at night time. Oh, and I've been talking to a really nice man I met called Bill Wilson. He's an entrepreneur financier, he owns Wilson Tate, the entertainment agency, heard of them?'

Ellie's phone buzzed again, and again she picked it up but rejected the call.

'Yes, well I've not heard specifically about Bill Wilson,' Lizzie replied, 'but of course I've heard of Wilson Tate, they are big in the city, so what's he like, this Bill Wilson?'

'Actually he's rather lovely,' Ellie said, 'very friendly and helpful and stunningly attractive too,' she said as she smiled, 'so I might just have a little space in my life for him after all.'

'So has he already chatted you up?' Lizzie asked.

'Well he asked me out to dinner, actually and like an idiot I refused,' Ellie told her, 'but I've had an invite to a black tie charity dinner so I might call him and invite him to come to that. It's on some big fancy yacht which is moored on South Quay.'

'What's the charity?' Lizzie asked.

'It's the Ladybug Children's Charity,' Ellie replied, 'and rather close to my heart.'

'Won't Josh be there?' Lizzie asked.

'Who?' replied Ellie.

'OK, OK,' laughed Lizzie, 'I won't mention him again. Let me tell you about the new Zumba dance class I've found, it's great fun but very, very energetic - you up for coming along?'

'Maybe,' Ellie replied.

***

Once she was back home she thought about Bill Wilson. He was well over 6ft in height and quite broad shouldered with shortish, brown hair and very piecing green eyes. He was toned and good looking in a boy next door kind of way, very smooth, dressed incredibly well and smelled of lemon and some other exotic scent that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Bill answered the phone after one ring almost as if he were expecting her call. 'Ellie, how lovely to hear from you, how are you?' he asked.

'I'm well thanks Bill, and you?'

'Yes, I'm all good,' he said, and there was a little pause - 'well, how can I help you Ellie, changed your mind about dinner?' he teased.

'Well it is something like that,' she said.

'Oh,' he replied, 'go on.'

'Well, I've had an invite to the Ladybug Charity Ball and I remembered you were quite interested in it when we talked recently, so I wondered if you would like to accompany me? It's black tie,' she added.

'Yes I'd love to,' he said without any hesitation, 'how marvellous.'

'But I haven't told you when it is yet, you might not be available,' she said.

'I don't care when it is,' he said, 'I'll make sure I'm available. It's the chance to spend some time with you and I wouldn't miss it.'

'You are such a charmer,' she laughed, 'well it's the twenty-ninth of this month.'

Soon then?' he replied, 'no problem, let me have your address and some details and I'll pick you up, OK?'

She rattled off the address and they agreed a time and as she said goodbye she couldn't help but notice the roses with their bright red heads sticking out of the bin. Lizzie was right; it was a waste because they really were so lovely and smelled beautiful like only fresh roses can. She retrieved them from the bin and filled a large crystal vase with water to put them in.

Then her phone beeped to tell her that she had a text, it was from Josh.

_Hey Lover, why aren't you returning my calls, did I do something wrong???_ _Maybe you didn't like the roses, but I should tell you their colour and their scent remind me of you, fiery and beautiful. J x_

Ellie couldn't help smiling, he was so good at this seduction game he played, saying and doing all the right things, except for his 'doing' of all those other women, she thought. Damn the man, she wouldn't be another idiot for his list. She just had to put Josh right out of her mind.

She turned off her phone and didn't reply to his text although she knew manners dictated that she would have to find a way to thank him for the flowers at some point.

So Ellie decided to switch her attention to planning what to wear for the charity ball and so she marched into her bedroom, full of intent, and threw open the doors of her walk-in wardrobe to see if she might have something suitable. But after trawling through her rack of evening dresses, she discarded most of them as not quite right for this occasion. Ellie was a big fan of velvet, she liked the feel of it as it always seemed like a special fabric somehow and so anything velvet seemed right for a black tie event. Ellie had bought a vintage dress at a show recently that was still in its covering that might work. It was inky black velvet with a low cut V plunge on the bodice - made from a transparent mesh it would definitely reveal the curve of her breasts. The mesh extended to the back yoke of the dress and the sleeves, which were covered in sequins and grey and white pearl beads at the shoulders. The dress had a long split almost to the thigh, finishing with three small buttons which threatened to expose even more thigh if unfastened. She removed the cover carefully and studied the long black gown. It was a rather sexy dress, she thought, but in a suggestive rather than trashy way - so decision made, she closed her wardrobe doors and went back to her kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine.

That night Ellie's dreams were vivid and wild - she saw Josh bare foot and bare-chested in tight worn jeans with his beautiful body covered in beads of sweat. He was holding Shelly, kissing Shelly, kissing Vivien, kissing Gemma, they were all lining up to kiss him and he was reaching out his hands to her, to Ellie, but she couldn't quite reach him and then he laughed and went back to kissing Shelly and then the images were gone.

She woke up panting and out of breath. For a moment the dream clung to her and she tried to remember more, but as it slipped away, she shook her head to rid herself of the fragments of images of Josh and all his women spinning around in her head.

# TEN

Bill Wilson had found it easy to make money because he knew that fundamentally good business was just supply and demand. You just have to find out what people want and give it to them and the more difficult that something was to get hold of, the greater it was desired and the greater the desire, the higher the price.

At the start of his career he had looked around at ordinary people and what they wanted and needed in their ordinary lives. Then he looked at their dreams, at their desires and he tried to find ways of cashing in on those dreams and desires.

Because he was a keen musician himself and knew a little about the desire to be a star and earn the money and adoration that went along with that, he started out with music as his base business. He knocked on lots of doors, trying to sell his musical skills, but eventually, he had to accept that he would not become a star after all.

Undeterred, he set about finding other people with lots of musical talent; bands and vocalists of all types and genres from rock to rap and classical to Indie and everything in between persuading them to allow him to manage them. He kept his finger on the pulse of what the crowds wanted and set out to give it to them. He teamed up with an old friend Mike Tate and offered management services developing connections with the right people - the right music publishers, the right record promoters, the right tour and merchandising people and of course the right labels. Wilson Tate grew and Bill became a powerful man and looked for attractive people knowing that's what the public wanted. He had many women offering themselves to him sexually in return for the guarantee of a record deal, or just his services which were a considerable benefit to any musician.

He loved the power he had over people and he began to abuse that power very early on in his career by simply taking advantage of people's dreams.

He had discovered that some women would do almost anything for the chance of a record deal, or a shot at being famous. Bill had wide sexual tastes which always sated his sadistic tendencies and encompassed bondage and dominance, so nothing he did was mainstream or vanilla.

He had a lot of sex with some very beautiful women and he particularly loved to restrain them and then whip them; he loved to see the marks he left on their soft backsides before he pushed his hard sex into them and made them beg for more.

It always delighted him that there seemed to be no shortage of volunteers keen to keep him happy again and again, sometimes in return for a chance of fame.

He met Alexa Walker by chance as she had sent him a letter and a CD of her performing a song that she had written herself. Bill knew instinctively that she was good so he arranged to see her and hoped to hell that she was attractive.

She arrived at the appointment with her brothers Josh and Sam Walker, who were clearly very protective of their younger sister. Bill explained carefully that he thought she had good prospects as her song was good, she had a great voice and she was attractive too.

'I know it sounds shallow,' Bill told them in his best music mogul voice, 'but it is unfortunately a bit of a requirement these days. People buy people as well as the music and looks do count, but no worries for you in that department,' he said smiling at Alexa.

She beamed right back at him.

Bill told them that the next step would be to cut a proper demo in the studio which he would arrange.

Josh and Sam Walker seemed content with Bill and his explanations and they all seemed to get along well. They shook hands as Bill said that he would contact Alexa with a date to make the demo.

Once they had gone, Bill took a deep breath as he thought about Alexa Walker. She was gorgeous, and those lovely curves and long legs in someone so young, she was as sexy as hell and he knew that he had to have her for himself. He imagined tying her across a big bed and whipping her and fucking her – delicious.

Bill arranged for the demo within the week and Alexa showed up again with her brothers who sat watching while Bill and the engineers got everything ready. They soon set about making a demo with Alexa singing her song and covers of three more songs.

Half way through the session the brothers seemed content that things were going well. They chatted to Bill for a while and then told Alexa they were going off to work. She confirmed that everything was fine and thanked them for coming. Josh and Sam both shook Bill's hand and thanked him once more for all the help that he was giving to Alexa and then they were gone.

They finished laying down the first two tracks by around seven in the evening and Bill said, 'OK that's it for today, any chance that you can come back tomorrow?' Judging by her day-long excitement, he thought that he already knew what her answer would be.

'Oh yes, try and stop me,' she said.

'Look it's late, and we haven't eaten much today, would you like to join me for a bite to eat?' he said.

'That would be great,' she replied, 'thanks.'

He took her along to a local Spanish restaurant and they had tapas and red wine followed by paella – it was delicious and Alexa was so impressed with Bill and his warm friendliness.

'It's so good of you to look after me this way,' she said, 'how can I thank you?'

'Don't worry,' he said, 'I'll get my rewards when we get you a recording and publishing deal.'

Alexa realised that she really liked Bill. He was very attractive, he was attentive and she knew that he liked her. She wondered why he hadn't tried to kiss her or asked her to go out with him more formerly. It knocked her confidence a bit and she considered that maybe he didn't like her really or perhaps it was all just business and she had made a mistake.

Bill played his game well - he had had a lot of practice with women seeking fame and knew from experience just how to get them on the hook. Not too fast, not too much, not too forward or pushy, just enough to make them think that he was interested and then - wham!

So the next day as they completed all the tracks and she wondered quite how to put her cards on the table and ask him directly. Bill played his hand and waited for Alexa to take the bait.

'Alexa, can I ask you something?' he said.

'Of course,' she said, 'what is it?'

'Well it's just that I'm very attracted to you and I don't want you to think I'm being unprofessional,' he said. 'It's just that I'd love to take you out for dinner properly, somewhere special, and I hope that you will say yes, but I completely understand if you think we should just keep things on a business level.'

'Oh Bill, actually, I'd love to come out for dinner with you, when are you thinking of?' she asked.

'Tonight,' he replied, 'I can pick you up about eight.'

'OK', she said, 'sounds good, I'll give you my address.'

And that is how it begun. Alexa thought that he was great company, they talked about music, and realised that they shared many of the same favourites. He told her about his love of keyboards and they talked about his favourite artists. She knew that she was attracted to him too and she soon found out that he was a great kisser.

Alexa told her brothers how much she liked Bill, she wanted them to approve as they were always so protective of her and it seemed that they were happy about it.

Bill took her to some nice places and generally wined and dined her and then one evening he invited her for dinner at his apartment where he plied her with alcohol. He made sure that he kept his sadistic urges in check this first time but unable to control himself fully he took her to bed and pinning her down with his big hands, he fucked her remorselessly again and again.

When she woke up the next day, she didn't remember that much about the evening before. She had a bit of a bad head, but she felt sure that she had had a good time. Bill had already left the apartment and so she sent him a text message thanking him for a great time.

When he didn't reply, she decided to call him at work to thank him in person, but she felt shocked to hear the chill in his voice when he told her that he was busy and he would call her sometime.

Alexa told Josh that Bill hadn't called her for a few days and Josh said, 'Come on, be sensible, Bill Wilson is a business man and a busy successful business man at that. But don't worry,' he said, 'he is clever too and he will know that it would be foolish for him to leave a beautiful young woman like you alone for too long.'

She loved her brothers; they were so good to her.

About a week went by and then Bill called her. 'Hey Alexa,' he said, 'how are you? I'm sorry that I haven't called you. I've been so busy promoting you and your music.'

'Oh,' she replied, 'no problem.'

'Can you come in today and bring some sexy clothes with you?' he said. 'Maybe a swimsuit or some sexy lingerie, a basque or something if you have one.'

'Sure,' she said, 'what am I coming in for?'

'Oh it's for the promo video to go along with the demo,' he said laughing. 'Didn't I mention it?'

'No, you didn't,' she said laughing too, 'it's so exciting, thank you so much.'

Alexa danced along to the songs, miming to the music that she had recorded. She wondered why there had to be so many people watching, but she was sure Bill knew what he was doing.

Bill didn't tell her that he had had sent her demo and photos out to all his contacts but had received no interest at all so far from anyone. He had tried to pull strings, tried to persuade a few people but he had failed until his assistant found Akeem promotions, a new company looking for new talent.

Bill told Alexa that some very important people had come to see her, Mr Akeem and Mr Akbar, who were the heads of a new company about to launch in the Middle East. The two foreign men watched Alexa intently, nodding and whispering to each other and after two tracks, they told Bill that they had seen enough and they would meet him later to discuss things further.

Later that evening the three men met at a London hotel where the foreigners told Bill that they were extremely interested in Alexa and if he would agree their terms, they felt that they could do business and tie things up quickly.

'She will obviously need to journey with us when we return to our country,' Akeem said, 'she is not in your family and you care nothing for her?'

'That's a strange question, she's a sweet kid,' Bill replied, 'but no, she is not family and I have no particular feelings for her, although of course I care that I get the best deal for her and all my clients, because that is where I make my money. But why does it matter if she is family?'

The two men looked at each other. 'We would just be more comfortable if that is the case, so you need to confirm that please,' Akeem said.

'OK, I confirm that she is not family and I have no feelings for her, apart from business feelings of course,' Bill replied. And they all chuckled.

'Then it's just a question of price,' Akeem said. 'How much do you want for her?'

'Well In this country,' Bill replied, 'it's usually based on an advance on anticipated record or CD sales; or downloads and then a percentage of actual sales after that. How does that sound?'

The two men spoke quickly to each other in a language that Bill didn't understand and he waited patiently for their response.

'We just want her,' Akeem said, 'we will pay you handsomely, a lump sum, no advance no music just the woman and then we will use her how we want.'

'What does that mean for fucks sake,' Bill shouted,' 'how can there be no music?'

'Calm down Mr Wilson,' Akeem said, 'perhaps there has been a misunderstanding.' The two men spoke to each other again.

'We seek western women for videos, sex videos. The woman we saw today is perfect. She is pretty with fair skin and has a good body and large breasts. She will be very well received by the men in our area and many men will pay to have her. That is why we can offer a large amount of money for her'.

The cogs turned in Bills head. He remembered the sex he had had with Alexa and yes, she did have a good body and would probably be great in sex videos. He hadn't got any other interest in her and so far she had just been a lot of money spent. Maybe her music wasn't that good after all, and maybe this was the best way that he could make money out of her.

'OK, perhaps that could work,' Bill said, 'what is your offer?'

'That is a good surprise, Mr Wilson, that you are willing to sell her to us for sex purposes, you are a clever business man.'

The other man spoke to Akeem.

'Ah yes,' Akeem said, 'Akbar has reminded me that there is one more thing. We must try the merchandise first. We are only interested in natural breasts and whilst I'm sure that you could give us the proper assurances, and of course you will be present but we must try the merchandise to see for ourselves. But let me assure you that if this goes well you will have many more customers.'

'How do you expect me to organise you testing the merchandise as you put it?' Bill asked.

'Do you see this?' Akeem said holding up a small phial of clear liquid. 'This will make her, shall we say, manageable and she will remember nothing after. '

Now looking back, Bill knew that that had been the beginning of his trafficking career. He had a readymade source of gullible but attractive women looking for fame which translated into lots of suitable females for his many Middle Eastern buyers.

Foolishly, he had underestimated the strength of family bonds.

Josh Walker had made big problems when he and his brother had managed to somehow rescue Alexa. Bill lost respect amongst his buyers. As a result he had been forced to hold back on his trafficking activities for a while and concentrate on music to ensure that he could avoid suspicion and prosecution.

But that was some time ago; now Bill Wilson was back with a vengeance. He had long nurtured a plan to get back at Walker and, having met Eleanor Montague, he knew that time was coming soon.

# ELEVEN

Ellie didn't like to be late, whether it was fashionable or not, she preferred to arrive on time and clearly Bill Wilson had similar standards, the call came from the concierge to say that he had arrived exactly on time.

She grabbed her evening clutch bag – double locked her doors and took the lift down the fifteen floors to the lobby of her building and looked around for Bill.

She caught the eye of the concierge who tipped his hat and directed her through the entrance to a long sleek limousine parked by the curb with Bill leaning nonchalantly against it in full evening attire. As the concierge pulled open one of the large double doors of the building's lobby Bill straightened up and came quickly across to where she stood. 'Wow,' he said looking her up and down, 'you look stunning, beautiful.'

'Oh thanks,' she said, 'you don't look so bad yourself – I love a man in a dinner suit - so very James Bond.'

'That's good to know,' said Bill, 'I'll just have to find some more of these events to take you to then, won't I? - give you an excuse to 'love me' in a dinner suit all over again.'

They both laughed.

The chauffeur opened the back door of the car for her, and Bill sauntered around to the other side as the chauffeur sprinted around to open the door for him.

As the limousine purred effortlessly away from the curb side, Bill said, 'Ellie, this is Simmons, my driver and personal assistant.'

'Good evening Simmons,' she said.

'Oh good evening, Miss,' Simmons replied.

'So tell me a little more about this charity,' Bill said, 'it does sound like such a good cause.'

Ellie went on to explain to Bill that the Ladybug Charity was started years earlier by a wonderful caring lady called Sheila Winters who wanted children to be safe from harm. 'She and her brother Charlie had been beaten and abused as children and had no extended family and so nowhere to go to be safe. So she said that she had been lucky in business and wanted to share her luck with others. She started this charity about thirty years ago. Now there are dedicated phones lines, and friendly places for help and care for any child in need throughout the United Kingdom.The charity arranges outings, and trips as well as safe houses and foster homes, it really is marvellous. So Bill, please give generously, won't you?'

As they arrived at the docks, the limousine soon pulled up to a red carpet walkway that led on to a wide roped off gangway, with the welcoming committee waiting at the entrance to _Morning Tide_ , the beautiful yacht where the Ladybug ball was scheduled to take place.

_Morning Tide_ was absolutely stunning and huge – it must have been around 100ft long with a gleaming white hull and decks filled with chrome and brass and glass and everything shone and sparkled. The easy to spot crew members in their smart white livery with gold buttons looked just a shiny.

Lights twinkled from the row of lanterns which were strung from the bow up to the top of the central mast and back down to the stern at the other end of the boat. They just added the finishing touch to this breathtaking floating mansion.

Ellie and Bill were introduced to Sheila and Charlie Winters and Sheila hugged Ellie and thanked her for coming. Ellie introduced Bill to Sheila who seemed genuinely pleased to meet him. They moved on to shake hands with John Frobisher, the finance man for the charity who appeared to know Bill and then Julia King CEO who ensured that the charity ran as smoothly as it did today.

They moved into the ballroom; what a room! Large, with full length windows to the sides enabling views of the rest of the docks and all the surrounding buildings which were lit up in all manner of ways with various coloured lights all standing out like beacons in the darkness – it was magical.

There was a small trio playing background music in one corner of the room whilst waiters wandered around with trays of champagne and canapés. Ellie saw a few people that she knew scattered amongst the various groups of people already chattering comfortably with each other. Bill reached for two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to Ellie.

'So Ellie, tell me, what made you invite me here tonight? I mean you gave me such an emphatic no thanks when I asked you to dinner, I thought that you must be seeing someone, so I was surprised to get your call, delighted I must say, but surprised.'

'Well, I just thought that you would enjoy it, that's all,' she replied, 'so can we just leave it at that for the moment?'

'Oh, of course, of course,' he said, 'as I told you, I'm delighted, but honestly I find that I don't know much about you. So come on, spill the beans, and I want your unabridged life story from the year dot to present!'

She laughed and said, 'Well I don't know much about you either, so better give me your life story too.'

'Hah,' he laughed – 'touché - but you first.'

'Now that's not fair,' she replied.

'I did ask first,' he replied. 'OK, I'll tell you what, instead of that, just tell me what sort of man you like and is there any chance for me?'

'Oh that's quite easy,' she said, 'I like a man who knows what he wants and knows how to go about getting it. Someone that's confident and charming, someone that is interested in more than just himself and someone that likes a good conversation and a man who appreciates nice things too.'

'That sounds like a tall order, but very fortunately, you have described me to a tee,' he replied laughing.

'You really shouldn't be so hard on yourself,' Ellie said grinning, 'I can see I'm going to have to help you out with your obvious self-doubt issues.'

'Oh don't tempt me Ellie, please don't tempt me,' he said.

A loud gong sounded and the MC called out, 'Ladies and gentleman dinner is served, please make your way into the Blue Room through the double doors on the right.'

There must have been about fifteen circular tables, each seating about ten people, laid out in the stunning Blue room. The tables were elegantly dressed with starched white table cloths and crimson napkins held in silver rings and crimson name cards with various Christian names confirming the table place for each guest. Silver cutlery for numerous courses was laid out along with crystal glasses for the many wines and liquors that would be consumed. Long stemmed crimson candles in silver holders and a small floral display of crimson and white freesias decorated the centre of the table - the overall effect was one of organised style and elegance.

As they took their seats, Ellie spotted Shelly Somersby, the women who she had seen in so many photos with Josh. As she took her place at the table diagonal to theirs on the opposite side of the room, Ellie found herself scanning the others faces that she could see at the table - was Josh there, she wondered? Then she spotted him, and her heart skipped a beat as he looked up at her and smiled. She hastily looked away. The host's party came in last and everyone stood to clap as Sheila and Charlie Winter, John Frobisher and Julia King walked to their table in the centre of the room to join their guests.

Once everyone was seated the room came alive with waiters serving the starters, pouring wine or water for their guests. Ellie had been seated next to someone called Sam on her left with Bill on her right and next to him a stunning blonde called Selina. On the other side of Sam was Vivien Chawler, another women that she recognised from the photos. Ellie realised that she couldn't seem to get away from Josh's women, but she hastily reminded herself that she didn't care anyway.

Sam turned to Ellie and introduced himself. 'Hi, I'm Sam,' he said, 'and you are Ellie, so very pleased to meet you, you are stunning by the way, I love black velvet on a women, especially a woman that looks like you do.'

'Oh,' replied Ellie, momentarily shocked by his boldness. 'Erm thank you, how do you know my name?'

'Forgive me,' he said, 'I'm no detective, it's on the name card here on the table,' he said holding up the card. Ellie blushed but hastily changed the subject.

'So what do you do Sam?'

Ellie watched his face as he answered. Sandy blonde hair, dark grey eyes and a square jaw line gave Sam an attractive look with the same hair as Josh, she thought, a little too long.

'I'm involved in marketing and promotions,' he said, 'and I do some work for the Ladybug Charity. That's why I'm here, they feel obliged to invite me I think, and of course they hope that I'll bring my wife.'

'And why is that?' Ellie asked. 'I'm sorry, I don't know your wife.'

'She's a famous actress - Vivien, Vivien Chawler.

'Vivien,' he said as he touched the arm of the women on his left, 'Vivien, meet Ellie.'

The woman looked across at Ellie and smiled a friendly smile that never quite reached her eyes. 'How are you doing?' she drawled, 'great to meet you.'

But before Ellie could respond, Vivien had turned back to the man who sat the other side of her at the table.

'You'll have to excuse her,' Sam said, 'she gets caught up in things and then can't leave them alone, and she is currently caught up in Peter Rosen, that man next to her.'

'Oh,' said Ellie, 'erm, no problem,' not quite sure how to respond. But Sam quickly filled the gap in conversation.

'So let's talk about you, I'm guessing that Ellie is short for Eleanor, it's a lovely name.'

They went on to talk about books and music and he seemed impressed that she was a singer. She realised with a jolt that she had been ignoring Bill and swiftly turned to find Bill watching her quite intently.

'Oh you're back,' he said, 'having fun?'

'Oh Bill, I'd like you to meet Sam, Sam, this is my friend, Bill.'

'Oh yes, I already know Bill,' Sam replied, 'he's a family... friend.'

The words were spoken with such vitriol it was almost shocking. Bill responded with peels of belly laughter, too loud and too much, Ellie thought, and she knew that she had missed something that had happened between these two men. She wondered, briefly, but for the moment she chose to ignore it, preferring to try to have a nice pleasant evening.

Sam spoke to her again and leaning in conspiratorially he whispered, 'Please watch him Ellie, Bill Wilson is one nasty piece of work. Whereas Josh is a proper man and he really likes you - I mean he really likes you – I haven't seen him like this over a woman for a long time!'

'Pardon,' Ellie replied. 'You know Josh?' she asked.

'Yes I know him, rather well actually,' replied Sam. 'Josh is my brother.'

# TWELVE

Last night as he lay in bed, Josh was thinking again about Ellie. He couldn't work out what he had done to provoke this women's wrath. He just didn't know why she was not returning his calls. As far as he was concerned, he and Eleanor just got along so very well on so, so many levels. He wanted her, he thought of her a lot. He wanted to spend more time with her, wanted to get to know more about her and hell he wanted her body again.

But she was so infuriating because she wouldn't speak to him, it was impossible to discover how or what mistake he had made, so how the hell could he put it right?

He tried calling, texting, emailing and he had even sent flowers but nothing he did seemed good enough to illicit any kind of response. Damn it, damn the women, he really needed to talk to her, he hated this situation.

He thought about her soft skin, especially when she was lying next to him naked and warm - skin on skin.... and now as he stretched out alone in the dark, Josh closed his eyes remembering her there and he reached out across the bed to find any sign of her.

He gently rubbed his fingers together, remembering how it felt to trail those fingers over her neck and body and over the soft flesh above the lace tops of her stockings - so close to the heat of her sex.

He remembered the taste of her, kissing her mouth, biting her neck, nipping and sucking on her breasts, and the feel of her wetness and her body writhing under his as she called out for him to take her.

His cock now tingled at the thought of it all and began to stand to attention - he so wanted her again, to feel that softness and that passion again; and the images of their love making filled his head and kept him awake for some time.

Now as he watched his brother Sam talking to Ellie from a distance, he felt a pang of jealously and quickly dismissed it as foolish. Sam is family but what the hell is Ellie doing with that snake Wilson – he knew that he had to try to get her away from him.

Josh marched over to the table where Ellie was sitting and interrupting her conversation with Sam – he said, 'Good evening Eleanor, how are you, I didn't realise that you would be here.'

'I'm sure that there are all sorts of things that you don't realise about me, ' Ellie shot back.

'Amen to that,' he muttered, 'you are quite right, care to enlighten me?'

'Not really, I'm just chatting to your very charming brother,' she said, 'and I think that I really should be spending more time with my date as it seems that he's gone off to talk to another women,' she said as she spied Bill in conversation with the hostess, Sheila Winters.

'Ah,' said Sam, 'I'm just going to see if I can get a word with Julia while she's free.' Sam got up from his chair, 'Keep Ellie company for a while will you Bro,' he said to Josh. 'I'll be back in a minute.'

Josh pulled out the chair and sat down in Sam's seat as Ellie made to get up.

'Please,' said Josh, 'hear me out.' She took a breath and sank back down into the seat.

'I thought that we got along so well, Eleanor,' he said. 'We have a lot in common and I like you, I really like you, and it's driving me crazy not knowing what I've done wrong. What's more, I'm sure that you like me too. Did I misread the situation? Did I misunderstand that passion that I felt, that desire to spend time with you to make you laugh, to make you feel good, to make you happy? Did I misunderstand, tell me please. And if you can look me in the eyes and tell me that you didn't feel it too, then just tell me and I'll stop calling you and I'll stop bothering you.'

Josh stopped talking and looked up at Ellie waiting she supposed for some kind of explanation.

'Well first of all,' replied Ellie, 'I should thank you for the beautiful roses, they were lovely. It's just that I can't be one of the many Josh. I can't be just one of the women who are available for you anytime you want someone to fuck. There are so many aren't there? Some of them are here tonight, Shelly, Vivien, Gemma and all the others whose names escape me. And yes, you are right, I did think we maybe had a special sort of spark, which is why I was so angry at first. But now I realise that is how you wealthy playboys operate, a different woman every night, a new one for each and for every function you attend, ramping up your star status for what effect I'm not quite sure – but I'm just an ordinary women and I'm simply not interested in that sort of competition or that sort of relationship.'

She stole a look at Josh as she finished what she had to say and Ellie couldn't help but notice the shock and sadness on his face, just as though she had slapped him.

'Is that really what you think of me?' Josh said. 'That I'm a playboy womaniser and only interested in you for fucking and I'm wanting to - what was is it, ramp up my star status so I can jump into bed with lots of celebrities. Oh Eleanor, I thought you knew me at least a little, but obviously not and I think that you've made it perfectly clear that you are not interested in getting to know me before jumping to conclusions. So I obviously did misjudge the whole thing and I'm so very sorry for both of us. Take care of yourself, and please, please don't hang around with Wilson, he's an evil man and will only do you harm.'

With that he walked away from her.

Ellie felt stunned and shocked that she felt so sad. Tears pricked her eyes and she swallowed hard. She made herself push them back and shook her head, looking up to see Sam standing a few steps behind her.

'You are being far too hard on him, you know,' Sam said. 'Josh really isn't a playboy at all, although there are some that wish that he were,' he said, shooting a glance at his wife. 'I didn't really know Helena his first wife, I was too young when they married, but he looks at you the same way that I remember he looked at her. He really loved her, she was the love of his life, his soul mate,' he said, 'and now he is the same with you. He is truly smitten - with you I mean.'

'I heard he has been married twice before,' Ellie said, 'so obviously the first wife wasn't that much of a soul mate or he wouldn't have given her up!'

'Ah,' said Sam. 'Sadly he didn't give her up, she died in a tragic boating accident when he was away on a business trip.'

'Oh,' replied Ellie a little sheepishly, 'I didn't know, I'm sorry.'

'Look Ellie, you strike me as an intelligent woman and I can easily understand why Josh has fallen for you, but you don't know enough about him to come to the conclusions that you have reached and I'm willing to bet that someone as clever as you doesn't make important decisions with only part of the information. So, if you want to know more about my brother, come around to The Barley Rooms coffee house in Farthing Square tomorrow, at about ten and we can talk there. You might as well know the truth about him then you can make a proper balanced decision, can't you?'

'OK,' she said, 'I'll be there.'

Josh was furious with himself for walking away from Ellie. He should have talked more to her, he should have found out what she had based all that playboy crap on instead of limping off like some wounded animal – he knew deep down that you have to fight for what you want in life and for some reason that he couldn't quite work out yet he was certain that Eleanor Montague was worth the fight.

He checked around the room and spotted Bill Wilson leaning on the rail of the deck just outside the door of the Blue Room. He walked out to him.

'Just leave her alone, Wilson.' Josh prodded Bill in the chest. 'She's far too good for you, don't get your dirty hands anywhere near her or you'll be sorry.'

'It seems to me that it's you, Walker, that will be sorry. But make no mistake, I intend to get my dirty hands all over Ellie, especially as you seem to like her. Yes, my hands and lots of other things too. She has a very sexy body don't you think?'

Without waiting for an answer, Bill strolled nonchalantly away, and walked back into the dining room and across to where Ellie sat waiting for him.

Now Josh was even angrier with himself - what an idiot, why did he show his hand that way to Wilson? His head was spinning with the dangerous possibilities. He knew only too well what that bastard Wilson was capable of and he realised that he had pushed Ellie virtually into his waiting arms.

He pulled out his mobile and punched in a number. 'It's Josh,' he said into the phone. 'I've got a small job for you, this is what I want you to do...'

# THIRTEEN

Ellie had seen the altercation between Bill and Josh and although she couldn't hear what had been said, Josh in particular looked very pissed off.

'Wow,' said Ellie, 'what was all that about? You two looked like you were going to punch each other any second?'

'No, it was nothing like that,' Bill replied. 'He is just rather jealous that you chose me to escort you here tonight. He is so used to being the playboy womaniser and always getting the beautiful women, I think he is angry because you've seen through him. We go back a long way, the Walker family and me. I had a thing with his sister for a while, anyway, just put it down to childish jealousy and you won't be far wrong,' Bill said.

The MC jumped up and announced the auction, which was fairly swiftly followed by a raffle, and when Sheila Winters stood up some time later to make her little speech, every one applauded very loudly.

'Good evening everyone, and thank you all so much for coming and I hope that you have enjoyed yourselves so far,' Sheila said. 'Before I announce just how much you wonderful people have helped to raise for the Ladybug Charity tonight, there are a few thank you's... First of all, thank you to Charlie, my wonderful husband, who has always put up with me wittering on about the Ladybug Charity and in the end he just had to join me and so we run things together these days.' everyone applauded. 'Then of course my thanks to John Frobisher and Julia King who between them make sure everything runs smoothly. What would we do without them?' More applause.

'Then the splendid food and drink this evening provided but definitely not cooked by the very lovely Sam Walker,' she said with a flourish. Those that knew Sam looked over at him. He briefly nodded his acceptance to yet more applause. 'And last but by no means least, our enormous thanks for the use of this incredibly lovely Yacht - _Morning Tide_ \- go to Josh Walker and we would like to thank him for trusting us with this floating palace as well as all the other work he does for the Ladybug Charity.' Again there was another round of enthusiastic applause. She looked for Josh who stood in the far corner; he nodded and smiled at Sheila.

Ellie was momentarily stunned to realise that Josh owned this boat? She knew that he was wealthy but wow, this was a seriously stunning yacht.

'The amount raised tonight,' Julia went on 'has beaten all previous records so thank you, thank you for your generosity; enjoy the rest of your evening.'

She sat down to tremendous applause.

Ellie looked over at Bill. 'I'm just about ready to go,' she said. 'I'm rather tired and I've got an early start tomorrow – but you stay and I'll catch a cab.'

'Don't be silly, I'm ready to go to too,' he said. 'What a splendid evening, wasn't it and such a worthwhile charity. I spoke to Sheila earlier and she told me about some of the work that she is doing at the moment and I'm certain that I can work with her on something - do some good somewhere.'

'Oh Bill, that's great to hear,' replied Ellie, 'and yes, Sheila is rather amazing.'

Simmons the chauffeur pulled up to collect them the minute they stepped off the yacht and Bill opened the door. Ellie scrambled inside and Bill followed in behind.

'Thank you so much for escorting me tonight, you have been such a gentlemen. I had a lovely time, and I'm really pleased that you are going to work with the Ladybug Trust on something.' Ellie said.

'The pleasure has been all mine, but you must allow me to return the favour sometime, and of course, I have made a mental note that I still haven't had even an inkling of your life story yet. But I won't give up, and I will work on it you know.' They both laughed.

All too soon, the car pulled up outside Ellie's apartment building. So does the charming escort get a nightcap?' Bill asked.

'Oh Bill, I hope you don't mind but I am rather tired. Can we take rain check this time?'

'Of course,' he said. 'No problem – but I am going to have to insist on a goodnight kiss, that is only fair is it not?'

He leaned over and slipped his hand behind her neck and starting slowly, he kissed her lips softly, gently and she kissed him back. Suddenly, his grip on the back of her neck became much tighter and he pushed his tongue into her mouth in a hard forceful kiss. As Ellie struggled, his grip just increased in firmness and his free hand began to move across her breasts. She tried to push him away but he was simply too strong for her. Finally, instinctively she bit down hard on his lip. He let out a yelp and released his grip. She was finally able to pull away from him.

'What the bloody hell are you doing,' Ellie cried. 'You are just like an animal.' She moved to open the car door.

'Ellie wait,' he said. 'I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me, it's just been so long since I've had a woman in my arms and you are so attractive and so sexy, I just lost it for a moment. Can you forgive me? Please say that you can forgive me.'

'We'll talk,' she said. 'I've got to go.' She wrenched open the door and ran to the building were the concierge opened the door.

'OK Miss?' he said questioningly.

'Yes, yes OK,' she replied.

And she walked quickly into the waiting lift. As the doors closed she let out a loud sob.

She just felt so shocked. She fumbled for her keys to open the door of her apartment, rushed in and without taking a breath, she locked and double locked the door and put the safety chain in place.

She went into the kitchen and with shaky hands she poured herself a glass of wine. After a big gulp or two, her breathing began to slow and she wondered what the hell had just happened. Oh my God, he was so strong, and he had her in such a tight grip, why would he do that she asked herself? A shudder involuntarily ran through her. He said that he had just lost control, perhaps no sex for a long time can do that to a virile man, she thought. But, it was rather frightening. She noticed her hand shook badly as she poured another glass of wine.

What a very strange end to a very strange evening, she thought to herself. Seeing all those women there, or all Josh's women as she now thought of them, meeting Sam and discovering that he was the handsome younger brother of Josh. She thought about her confrontation with Josh and the argument that she had witnessed between Bill and Josh. Then she remembered that both Sam and Josh had warned her to watch out for Bill.

Could his aggressive behaviour in the car be what she was supposed to be careful about? Despite it all, she felt inclined to give Bill the benefit of the doubt and thought that maybe it was, as he said, that he had just lost it because he was attracted to her and was rather frustrated sexually and that Josh was just being a jealous child.

Her usually astute and perceptive nature had deserted her on this night, as Ellie still believed in angels, something good in everyone. She couldn't know that as Bill drove away his handsome features became almost distorted by his rapacious smile.

# FOURTEEN

Sam Walker was beginning to have problems with his wife, Vivien. Who was he kidding? He had always had problems with Vivien. She was a great actress and so always in demand, and that brought troubles of its own. The 'troubles' were that all too often her many male co stars made demands on her and she was only too pleased to acquiesce.

But Sam couldn't help it, he loved her and he knew that deep down inside she loved him too in her way and she had just always needed more than he seemed to be able to give her, but Sam made allowances.

He sat slowly sipping his morning coffee in the Barley Rooms, famous for the strong Italian style coffee that Sam loved, thinking about Vivien. But now as he contemplated just what to tell Ellie about Josh, Sam saw her walking along Farthing Square towards The Barley and he realised just what an attractive woman she was. She had a cat like walk with long strides and her long legs were wrapped in tight jeans and red ankle boots which matched the shade of her elegant silk button-up shirt. She was a very unusual woman, according to Josh, and he had told Sam that Ellie had her own music business and that she was successful and independent, but for all that business sense she was bright and funny and very feminine and sexy.

Sam hadn't mentioned this meeting to Josh, but the sheer fact that Ellie was here to meet with him, in Sam's opinion, meant that Ellie was just as much into Josh as Josh was into Ellie, but Sam was first to admit that he was the eternal optimist. Just keep an open mind, he told himself.

As she neared his table, Sam got up to welcome her. 'Good morning,' he said, and he leaned in to plant a small kiss on each of her cheeks. 'Thanks for coming,' he said.

'Thanks for asking,' Ellie replied. They exchanged a few pleasantries about the weather and about the evening before, along with the impressive quantity of money raised for the Ladybug Foundation.

But eventually the moment came. Sam took a deep breath and said, 'OK, so Josh. I should tell you straight out that I am biased – he is my big brother and I love him. He looked after me and our sister Alexa for so long. When we were young he protected us and made sure that we were OK, usually at great risk to himself. He really is a reluctant millionaire. It's not that he doesn't appreciate money, he does, he's very talented and has worked very hard for it, but Josh doesn't really like all the attention and other things that go with it -particularly since he made the Times Rich List. His financial gurus were able to keep him out of it for some years but they were simply unable to do it any longer. Perhaps you can imagine that when people read that he is a millionaire many times over and then they see pictures of him, well he doesn't stand much of chance to keep out of the limelight does he?'

'I guess not,' said Ellie, realising that she hadn't considered it that way.

'Most of the women are like groupies around him, they want a piece of him, for his money or his body or both if possible. He gets regularly propositioned and people want to be photographed with him because it improves their profile and until fairly recently he didn't refuse because he is a decent man – I accept that he has got a mean streak or he wouldn't be where he is in business but he is basically decent, enigmatic mercurial even, but decent.'

'So you are telling me that all the women just happen to be around when and where Josh is around, just for a photo opportunity?' Ellie enquired.

'More or less,' replied Sam.

'He has been married twice, the first time to Helena - I told you about her, the accident and everything,' Ellie nodded. 'Then he married Isobel, pretty much on the rebound,' Sam said. 'Turned out she knew Helena. It was the rebound thing that got in the way and she was an incredibly jealous and possessive women. Anyway, she inherited some money and left Josh for someone else and Josh has been officially single for about eighteen months and glad of it, I think. He did have a short affair with Shelly Somersby but she went abroad for her career about one year ago and so they broke up, although she is back now.'

'Yeah, I saw the photos of them together all over the internet,' Ellie said.

'Did you check the dates?' Sam asked.

'What dates?' Ellie replied. 'The dates of the photos - I think that you will find that the ones of Josh and Shelly are more than a year old and, like so many of the other photos, they just get dredged up when for some reason Josh or one of the women are in the news. The pictures are there to win readers or browsers and the editors don't care if they suggest something scandalous. It's all about the story and who the playboy millionaire is going out with now that sells papers and gets browsers I suppose. So the photos of Josh with Shelly have probably been dragged up from when they were together about a year ago and are probably there now because she is back in the UK. I'm sure that she would love to get back with Josh – but, well the decision is yours, but I suggest that you don't let her do that.'

'Oh crap,' said Ellie, 'I think I might owe Josh an apology.'

'Yes,' said Sam, 'I think you might.'

***

'What the hell did you think you were doing?' Josh shouted at his brother, 'I don't need anyone to sell me and my qualities and I certainly don't want anyone making apologies on my behalf, especially when I haven't done anything wrong. The woman is infuriating beyond measure; she saw a few old pictures and became detective, judge and jury without a second thought? I mean, who does that? But she has got to see it for herself; I'm through with chasing her! I don't need your help, so do me a favour, Sam and just mind your own business.'

'OK calm down,' Sam replied. 'I was only trying to help. She had completely the wrong Idea about you, fuelled, I'm sure, by that fucker Wilson.'

'Don't talk to me about him,' Josh said. 'I was amazed to see her there with him last night. But she got away from him OK. She was shaken as she got out of his limo apparently but she got away unscathed.'

'Thank God for that,' Sam said, 'but how do you know?'

'I had Carl go over to her building,' Josh said, 'to keep an eye on Wilson's car and make sure she was safe.'

'So, it has nothing to do with you wanting to know if Bill Wilson went up to Ellie's apartment then?'

'Of course not,' said Josh smiling. 'But Sam, I know you thought you were helping but this really isn't your business, so keep out of it please.'

'OK,' Sam replied, 'I will, but I just want to say that I'm sure she will get in touch with you, she says she owes you an apology.'

'Well, we will see what happens,' said Josh.

# FIFTEEN

The glass fronted W building housed the offices for the Walker Marine Company and they spanned the top three floors of the impressive building. As she stepped out of the lift onto the executive floor, Ellie began to feel a little nervous. What if Josh wouldn't see her? What if he told her that he was too busy? What if he had already got back with Shelly? Oh my God, why didn't she phone first to gauge a reaction?

It was a week after her revealing conversation with Sam and Ellie had thought and thought about this, she'd put it off, she felt stupid, she felt bad and needed to apologise for the hurtful things that she had said to Josh and the stupid childish jealous way that she had behaved.

The lift doors opened onto a busy reception area, superbly furnished, simple and stylish with masses of flowers dotted along a large window sill in matching glass vases - a contrast to the views of the concrete jungle of the city beyond. She looked down at the small bunch of tiny flowers tied to the CD that she had brought with her as a peace offering and suddenly felt ridiculous.

An attractive blonde women in an immaculate black suit rose to greet her with a marvellous smile full of bright white teeth.

'Hello,' she said, with a very friendly and warm smile. 'My name is Preston and how can I help you?'

Ellie felt completely underdressed in the face of all this streamlined efficiency and she suddenly wished she hadn't worn the black jeans and gold ankle boots, and the black shirt suddenly felt wrong too -but it was too late now, no turning back.

'I'd like to see Josh, Mr Walker, if that's possible,' Ellie replied.

'Do you have an appointment?' the receptionist asked.

'Err no, I'm afraid not,' Ellie said, 'I only need a few moments.'

'I'm so sorry miss... erm,' said Preston, 'but you really do need to have an appointment.'

'My name is Ellie, Eleanor Montague.'

'Oh,' said the receptionist, suddenly flustered. 'Why didn't you say? Just take a seat a moment and I'll let him know that you are here.'

Preston moved quickly down a hallway across to a glass door and pressed a button and as the door slid gently opened she rushed inside. Within a few moments the imposing figure that was Josh Walker marched out to the reception area to where Ellie sat, and as Ellie got to her feet he took her hand and said gently.

'This is a nice surprise, what brings you here?'

'I wanted to bring a peace offering,' she said offering up the little package topped by the flowers, 'but I see that you don't really need any flowers from me.'

'On the contrary,' he said, 'they look lovely. Why not come in to my office and we can talk?'

Still grasping her hand, he led her along to the same glass door which he had come through and into another reception area and through an open wooden door into a huge office.

A big captain style wooden desk sat in the middle of the room to one side of the large space and two leather sofas and wooden cabinet with a brass inlay stood to the right whilst on the left there was a large table covered with what looked like drawings and plans of boats with the backdrop of a clear staggering view of the city sprawling below.

'Please Eleanor, take a seat,' he said gesturing to one of the leather sofas. 'Preston,' he snapped at the retreating receptionist, 'we'll have coffee please and ask Claudia to reschedule my next appointment and close the door on your way out.'

'Of course, Mr Walker,' she replied.

Ellie looked at him and wondered how she could have forgotten how he just seemed to command the space he was in. He was dressed in sharp navy suit trousers and a sky blue shirt with a cream and blue tie. It was easy to see the outline of his strong arms and she knew that she just wanted those arms to hold her tightly.

'It's so good to see you,' he said, 'and I'm so glad that you have come. I just...'

He stopped speaking as Ellie held up her hand.

'Please,' she said, 'I must just say what I came to say.'

'Of course,' he said, 'whatever you want.'

'I really want to apologise for behaving so badly, for ignoring your calls, for not giving you a chance, jumping to conclusions and saying all those awful things about you being a playboy. I'm so sorry that I've been such an idiot and I hope that you can forgive me.'

Josh just sat quietly listening.

'I've brought this little peace offering,' she went on, 'which is a CD of some of my favourite songs because something, probably stupidly,' she mumbled,' told me that you might like them too. And I thought the little Freesias smelled so lovely and looked so delicate that they would be better than a satin ribbon on the outside. But maybe in light of all the flowers that you have here already, those are probably not needed but anyway, here it is,' and she handed him the little parcel. 'Oh and you don't have to worry,' she went on, 'I understand that if you have moved on now and you have started back with your friend Shelly, I just wanted you to know that I am sorry.'

She looked up at him with big sorrowful eyes, her long hair falling forward around her face. Without a word, Josh stood up and held out his hand for hers and he pulled her up and walked her to the door of his office. _Oh God, this really is goodbye_ , she thought. _I waited too long to come._

He stopped at the door and turned to look at her and without taking his eyes of her, he reached forward and turned the key to lock the door and pulled her into his arms. His lips sealed over hers and in the most passionate kiss that she had ever experienced, he took her mouth as if he owned it. She kissed him back with the same passion, the same longing,

When they finally broke apart they were both a little breathless.

'I've been waiting for you,' he said, 'for longer than you know, so let's put all that behind us and get on with this good thing that we've found shall we?

'Oh God yes,' she said.

***

Now, a few days later, she sat in Josh's car as they headed for the little port on the coast. He wanted to show her something he had said, and would she come along to help him make a few decisions. She had readily agreed.

She loved being with this man. He was exciting and attentive, although she always felt he was holding something back or had some sort of secret that he wouldn't or couldn't share. She wanted to push him. She wanted to know everything about him. Not known for her patience, Ellie had struggled to control herself, but she knew that the right moment would inevitably present itself and so she waited.

Josh's car was a mean looking Ferrari California T and it suited him very well. It was clearly a man's car, a sports car with its soft top hood in solid black canvas and the gleaming deep black bodywork complimented by butter leather creamy coloured seats and a light wooden steering wheel.

As the car purred along at a great speed Ellie was pleased to hear the CD that she had given Josh playing on the sound system.... ' _What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you...'_ sang Chris Isaaks. Ellie had chosen the songs well.

They had paid a visit to one of his boatyards where it seems he was building a boat for himself and he wanted to ask her, he said, about the layout of the galley and what designs he should use for the main salon. Ellie had felt so flattered that he had asked for her opinion and she took her replies very seriously. They talked about the options and what his intentions were for the boat, how much cooking he would do, how much entertaining and so on and would he have staff or a crew doing all that.

Finally she had asked, 'What about _Hinewai_ , I thought that _Hinewai_ was your best girl, will you sell her?'

'Oh, I don't know,' said Josh, 'it depends.'

'On what,' she asked.

'Oh, this and that,' he replied rather evasively.

'Oh, OK,' she said, 'keep your secrets, I won't ask.'

They drove along for a while in silence. It was getting a little dark now.

'Hungry?' he asked.

'Yes, now you mention it, I'm starved.' she replied.

'That's good news,' he replied, 'because we are heading for a little restaurant I know, which is up in the hills in that direction,' he said pointing off to the left. 'The roads are a bit hairy, though, especially if there is something coming the other way.'

'Oh my God, sounds dangerous,' Ellie exclaimed.

'Oh,' said Josh, 'and here was I thinking that you liked a bit of excitement and the unpredictability of being with a playboy.'

'So I do, I do,' said Ellie, 'but I want to be alive to enjoy it.'

'Don't worry,' he said, 'it will be fine.'

They took a long, steep country lane winding around and around, eventually arriving at what looked like a little country pub. The Smugglers Inn was a very pretty looking building made of old mixed bricks dating back a few hundred years, she guessed, with a string of lights twinkling over the doorway and candles burning on tables, clearly visible through the old fashioned bullion windows.

They chose a table in the corner and shared a fish platter of prawns, smoked salmon, smoked trout and parsley butter with a few chunks of crusty bread washed down with a bottle of ice cold Chablis. A plate of fresh, red watermelon and pale Gallia melon served as a desert, it was all light but filling and thoroughly delicious.

'So then, tell me Eleanor, just how much excitement can you take in one evening?' he asked.

'Put it this way,' she replied, 'you don't have what I can't take!'

'Oh I see,' he laughed, 'throwing down the gauntlet are you? Well in case you don't know I rather like a challenge. Are you ready to go?'

Josh drove far too quickly around the winding country lanes but instead of going back down to the main road they seemed to be climbing further up.

'Where are we going?' Ellie asked.

'Just wait and see,' Josh said. But his hand reached over to stroke her leg, feeling for the soft skin above the lace stocking tops. 'Hell Eleanor, you are so bloody sexy. Back in the pub I thought I caught a glimpse of lace stocking top. You did that on purpose, didn't you, trying to get me going?'

'Certainly not,' she said. But there was no mistaking the gleam in her eyes.

'I love your long legs,' he sighed.

Ellie couldn't help but notice the bulge that was beginning to show through Josh's trousers.

'I don't want to distract you,' she said.

'Liar,' he responded. 'Anyway, it's too late now.'

'But you are driving,' she said.

'Just wait,' he instructed, 'just wait.'

Suddenly Josh swung the wheel and veered off to the left down another lane for a few hundred yards and stopped abruptly, pulling into a small parking area on the left and coming to a stop.

Josh got out of the car and moved around to Ellie's side and throwing open the door he virtually dragged her out of her seat and around to the front of the car, pressing her back against the bonnet of the car.

'I was going to suggest that you look at the view from up here,' Josh said, 'but frankly this is the only view I want right now - you, and I can't wait any longer Eleanor, I have to kiss you, I have to touch you, its driving me crazy.'

He began to kiss her neck while his hands went up under the dress that she wore just stroking her skin. A small moan escaped her lips 'Oh God Josh, kiss me please, please! Josh moved his kisses to her mouth, passionate, insistent kisses.

'You feel so good,' he said. 'I want you Eleanor, I really want you.'

It was erotic; it felt erotic out here in the quiet darkness with just the lights of the town below. Bloody hell this man was so hot. She loved his body, his strong arms and as his fingers worked their magic. Ellie closed her eyes and kissed him back, reaching down between them to feel him rigid through his clothes and she tried to unbuckle the belt of his jeans.

He pushed Ellie back onto the long phallic bonnet of the car, and pulled on his belt and unzipped his trousers.

Josh bent to lift the hem of her dress and pulling her panties to one side in one quick thrust he pushed his hardness into her waiting sex. 'God,' he whispered, 'you are so horny woman, so hot, so wet, you just feel like velvet.' Ellie moaned and closed her eyes. 'Open your eyes Ellie,' he demanded, 'look at me.'

'Eleanor,' he asked, 'can you feel me? Ellie, can you feel what you do to me?'

Ellie opened her eyes to see the dark look of lust and desire on his face and she knew that he was close to climax.

'Yes, oh yes,' she said, 'I can feel it, I want it... Take me Josh; I so want to feel you go deeper.'

She could feel the unyielding hard metal of the car bonnet on her backside and his hardness pumping and pushing inside her. He was so big, his hard shaft touching every bundle of nerves, every part of her sending electric shocks through her.

It was too much and she cried out his name as the feeling just pushed her over that edge to climax and Josh soon followed panting and twitching as if to make sure that he pumped every last drop of his semen into her. He pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her.

How long did they stay that way?

The night was so quiet and still and as their breathing slowed and the sounds of their own bodies in the throes of passion subsided, the background noises of night time in the country-side seemed to become louder.

'Hell Eleanor that was fantastic,' Josh whispered. 'Awesome. Now I guess we can look at the other view.'

Finally they pulled apart, tidied themselves up, straightening their dishevelled clothes and, holding hands, they walked across the quiet country lane to take in the view of the fields and the town in the distance hearing the sounds of the dew beginning to form on the grass and trees.

# SIXTEEN

She wasn't quite sure why she had received the elaborate looking invitation to the Summer Ball at Hallingbury Manor but Isobel told herself perhaps it was because she was new to the area and the locals thought that she should be there.

So, wondering what to wear and who she would take as her plus one, she poured herself a large gin and tonic and sat down to think things through.

She was really enjoying life at the moment, helped by the fact that she had no financial worries at all since Uncle Arthur, her dad's brother, had died and left his big house and all his money to her, and it was a substantial sum. Isobel was so pleased that she didn't have to rely on a man any more to get the things she wanted in life; she did what she wanted when she wanted. If she wanted to buy something she just went ahead – it was wonderful. She had decided to reinvent herself for her new neighbours and told them that she was a widower and that her name was Isobel, but she liked to be called Bella.

Whenever she ventured out, Isobel looked around at the locals wondering if there was someone amongst them who might be able to satisfy her sexually, someone that was a little adventurous, dangerous even but so far nothing.

Things were different when it came to sex, she had no intention of paying for sex – ever - and whilst Robin Smallwood was always there, sometimes she longed for someone new, something a bit more raunchy. Robin was so bloody vanilla.

She looked though her racks of clothes and decided that she would need something new for the Ball and called in her newly found dress maker/designer Chrissie who was already working on a couple of day dresses and a skirt and jacket that Isobel had ordered previously.

When Chrissie arrived, Isobel explained curtly that she wanted a black dress finishing just above the knee with a low cut front and lots of sequins – tasteful and elegant but sexy as hell.

Chrissie didn't care much for her new client but she paid top prices and she paid up on collection, so, reminding herself that all paying clients were good clients, she smiled sweetly and asked Isobel when the dress was for.

'It's for the Hallingbury Manor Summer Ball,' Isobel said.

'Oh dear, I've got lots of other orders that I have to finish by then, so I'm not sure you have given me enough time to complete yours in time,' Chrissie replied.

'You can fuck off then,' Isobel said, 'you are no fucking good to me if you can't make what I want in time for the Ball, I'll have to find someone else. But just so you know, If you can't do this dress in time for me, I'll have to cancel my current order with you,' she said harshly.

'You can't do that,' Chrissie said, 'the garments are all nearly finished.'

Isobel's expression was fixed as she said, 'It just wouldn't be fair on a new designer now would it. Like so much in life dear Chrissie, it's all or nothing, any way the choice is yours.'

Bloody unreasonable horrible bitch, thought Chrissie but she actually said, 'OK, don't worry, I'll make sure that I get it done in time.'

'That is good news,' Isobel said, 'I have been talking to some of my friends about using you and I'd hate to have to tell them that you let me down and were unreliable'.

Chrissie opened her mouth to protest and then closed it again, and told herself she would just add on 10% as the bitch had been so horrible.

Once Chrissie had gone, Isobel called Robin to invite him to the Ball telling him that he could possibly stay over, in the spare room of course.

'Of course,' he said, knowing that meant sex. 'No problem, I'd love to come. Is it black tie?'

Her mind fleetingly drifted back to William, the man that she had met just as she was splitting with Josh. William had been so attentive and he was very attractive and she really liked him, but after wining and dining her a little as soon as her divorce had become final, he had suddenly disappeared and she couldn't quite work out why.

But, shame, she thought to herself, there had been something rather mysterious about William, something dark and dangerous.

So when the evening of the Ball came and Isobel saw William leaning on the small bar, she thought that it was a happy coincidence that they should meet again and she looked over at him and smiled her most sexy smile.

She knew that she looked good in her new designer dress. Chrissie had done a fine job - just the right amount of show and the right amount of suggestion. It was perfect for Isobel and accentuated her cleavage and the curves of her shapely figure.

As he wandered slowly over to say hello, Isobel remembered how good William looked in a suit and what a smart and attractive man he was.

'Isobel, what a lovely surprise, how nice to see you again,' he said, and taking her shoulders in his big hands, he pulled her to him and kissed her on each cheek.

'Please call me Bella,' she said, 'and oh this is Robin.'

Robin stuck out his hand.

'Oh, in that case please call me Bill,' he said, shaking hands with Robin,

'Nice to meet you,' Robin said, 'how do you know Bella?'

'We've had dinner a couple of times haven't we Bella,' Bill said winking at her.

'Oh I see,' Robin said, not actually seeing at all.

'Can I get you two a drink?' Bill enquired.

Isobel glared at Robin who took the hint and said, 'No, no, I'll get them.'

'Isobel, sorry Bella, you look absolutely stunning,' Bill said. 'I had forgotten just how lovely you are. I've had dreams about you, you know, vivid passionate dreams.'

'Really,' she said, 'that sounds intriguing, can you remember what they were about?'

'Oh yes,' he said, 'every detail. They were rather erotic so we'll have to get to know each other a little better before I will feel safe enough to tell you without offending you.'

'So is Robin a permanent fixture in your life?' he asked.

'Not really,' she said. 'I've known him since school and he often comes with me to these 'plus one' events as my plus one if you see what I mean.'

'It's just that I could not help but notice that he is constantly looking at your breasts,' Bill said.

'Really,' she said, 'I hadn't noticed.'

'No, no, of course not,' Bill said.

'So he won't mind then if I ask you to dance?'

'If he minds or not it doesn't really matter to me. I do what I want to do, when I want to do it and people that know me tend to let me get on with that because I suppose I can be a bit of a hot head some times,' she said.

'I do like a women that knows her own mind, and knows what she wants,' Bill said, 'and a confidant woman can be very sexy.'

Bill knew that Isobel was desperate to know why he had stopped calling before and he wondered if she would ask him or wait for him to volunteer the information.

He decided he would tell her or tell her the reason that he had concocted on the way over here.

'By the way,' he said, 'I'm sorry that I didn't follow up on the splendid evenings that we shared before.' She looked at him almost nonchalantly; she was a fine actress he thought.

'It's just that I had a major business problem overseas and it has taken me out of the country for all this time.

'No problem,' she said, clearly thinking that his excuse was insufficient. 'Here comes Robin,' and as she took her drink from him, she reached for his hand in a show of affection which surprised Robin and almost made Bill laugh out loud it was so transparent.

'Oh Robin,' Bill said. 'I wonder if you would mind allowing me to dance with Bella, I really will take good care of her?' he glanced at Robin expectantly.

Robin looked at Isobel for a sign but there was none, so relying on lessons learnt over the years regarding the correct treatment of Isobel in a social situation he said, 'I think that you should ask Bella rather than me, but as you are asking me,' he quickly added, 'I don't mind at all.'

He looked over at Isobel for confirmation that he had said the right thing but he knew from her icy glare that he had made some sort of mistake and with that, he realised that any hope of sex later had probably vanished.

'Shall we?' asked Bill, taking Isobel's hand and leading her to the dance floor, 'I can't wait to get my hands on you. It's just that burying all those people that died in the factory fire out there really did have an effect on me,' he lied so smoothly. 'So it really would be wonderful if you say that you will forgive me and I can put all that out of mind and we can start again. Please say that you will forgive me?' he said with just the right amount of pleading in his voice.

It sounded genuine - why would he make up something like that, she thought to herself?

'Oh poor you,' she said, 'of course I forgive you, let's dance.'

One arm circled her waist while his other arm went to her shoulder and he pulled her in close so that her breasts were pressed up against his broad chest.

'You do feel good,' he said, 'really good and I do understand why Robin can't take his eyes off your cleavage. I must admit that I'd love to stroke your naked skin and lick your breasts, lick every inch of them actually. Am I being too bold Bella?' he asked.

She decided right there that Bill was indeed very bold and very dangerous, but she liked him. She was attracted to him and she thought that he would be marvellous in bed and suddenly she longed to be under him.

'The only answer I have for you at the moment Bill is maybe,' she said.

'Well at least you are not telling me that I am being too bold, you have given me the courage to carry on. I'll take you home later; I have my limo and chauffeur outside. Robin can come too. Do you have a spare room?' Bill asked.

'Why?' she asked.

'Well unless you want Robin to watch us, he will have to sleep somewhere,' Bill replied.

'You are very confident aren't you?' she said laughing and he laughed along with her.

Bill simply had to get Isobel into bed and he used all his charm and every ounce of seduction to lure her into a sexual situation and just maybe she would like it rough, she would appreciate a bondage fuck of a little light whipping, but not this time, he would introduce her to that slowly. She was feisty and sexy, attractive too and she liked him, he knew that for sure and he thought it was very possible that Josh Walker still cared for her as Bill knew that it was Isobel that had dumped Walker - and that thought made it all so very worthwhile and even better than just sex.

Robin sat opposite them in the limousine trying not to look as Bill kissed and fondled Isobel. Bill stroked her glorious cleavage and managed to unzip her dress enough to get his hand into the top of it to caress her breasts and squeeze her nipples. Isobel must have known that Robin was watching and Bill looked over at him and gave him a wink. Robin blushed and looked away.

Although he agreed to stay in the spare room, Robin could hear the sounds of sex coming from Isobel's room and crept out and along the hall to see if he could catch a glimpse of the action.

After a few minutes, the door flew open and Isobel stood in a scarlet basque looking so very sexy.

'Why not come in,' she said, 'you can sit in the chair and watch Bill fuck me, he is very good at it so you might just learn something,' she said and laughed.

Isobel and Bill spent quite a bit of time together, the sex was good and to Isobel, they seemed to enjoy each other's company although, unknown to her, Bill lied about almost everything.

He did, however, confess to a liking for rough sex. He told her that he wanted to restrain her and maybe whip her and he asked her if she felt that she might like a little pain.

In response to his honesty, she admitted to getting a little jealous sometimes and he told her that he had no intention of looking at anyone else but he could not stand jealousy, especially when there was no need for it as there wouldn't be with him. He told her that he didn't ever want to hear about her feelings of jealousy and he said that it was important to get her agreement on that and so she agreed. She also agreed to try rough sex with him sometime.

'Sometime soon?' he asked keenly.

'Yes, sometime soon,' she said.

Bill came around sometimes, and Robin was still around when she wanted him and so Isobel felt that she had the best of all worlds until she happened to see a photograph online of Bill with a very attractive woman - she felt sick with jealousy.

When she brought up the subject with Bill he said, 'I've told you that I'm not interested in other women, you agreed not to be jealous.'

'So what the fuck is she, scotch fucking mist?' Isobel demanded.

'Oh, you mean Ellie,' Bill said nonchalantly, 'that's a musician Ellie Montague, she is very attractive and a great singer. She just happened to be in the same place as me and we said hello and a photographer took a picture. It's nothing,' he said.

But Isobel didn't like it and she felt those dangerous old feelings swell up inside her again and she knew that she had to try to stay in control, but it was so, so, difficult.

'Oh OK,' she said calmly, 'so you don't know her then?'

'Not really, only a little through music,' Bill replied.

Isobel felt anything but calm, she would watch and wait, and she hoped that Bill wasn't playing her. She remembered the old adage that had helped her out all those years ago with Carla and her father; keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

She would find Ellie Montague and they would definitely be friends.

# SEVENTEEN

Wednesday mornings and the Zumba dance class turned out to be great fun. Ellie changed into her sweats and trainers, pulled her long hair into a pony tail, filled a bottle of water and made her way to the lift and then down to the foyer of her apartment building. Her friend Lizzie picked her up outside and they sped away to the health centre where Zumba -world, rhythms took place. It was so energetic and each piece of music was between four and five minutes long and each dance followed a pattern of steps which basically involved throwing yourself around, very quickly in a certain way in time to the beat of the music. It was fantastic, hard, sweaty work, but exciting and invigorating at the same time. Apart from the odd sip of water, it was a solid nonstop hour of pump and grind.

The friends showered and made their way to the coffee shop for a drink and a general relax. Lizzie's new friend, Bella, had joined them today.

'Good for the figure and good for the soul,' she said to them.

'Yep, almost as good as sex,' Lizzie quipped.

'Hey now, no need to go that far, but I guess it depends on just who is in your bed, eh?' Bella said with a smile. They all laughed out loud.

'Sounds just like you know what you are talking about,' Ellie responded.

'Yes, well I do believe that I do. I admit I have had some great sex in my time, and ladies, my time ain't over.'

They all laughed again. Ellie liked Bella, she seemed straight forward and down to earth. She appreciated that in people.

'I've found a really great man,' Bella confided. 'He is like an animal in bed, absolutely awesome. It's all so good he tells me that he never looks at other women. He says he never needs to and that is just what I like to hear.'

'Ellie has a new man,' Lizzie said. 'He is gorgeous and looks like sex on legs to me; very darkly attractive, terrific body and very wealthy too. Some women just get all the luck.'

'Now wait a minute Lizzie,' Ellie said, 'you can talk. You have the very lovely Robert. He is a good looking man, suave and sophisticated and he so obviously loves you and your lovely kids and he has been a loyal and loving husband, hasn't he?'

'Yeah of course,' said Lizzie, 'and I do love him too.'

'Well lucky you,' said Bella, 'don't knock that, it's just great to get a man all to yourself.'

The three women chatted on, putting the world to rights and the morning drifted by. They agreed to meet again the following week to go out for lunch and to share a bottle of wine next time.

***

Later, whilst working in the shop, Ellie picked up a call from Bill. 'Hey stranger,' he said, 'you told me that you'd call me. I have no plans to get all whiny but I am beginning to feel rather neglected, any chance of a conversation?'

'Oh, of course,' replied Ellie. 'I'm sorry, just been up to my eyes in work. What about you, how have you been?'

'Well, apart from feeling desperate to hear from you, do you mean?' he said, an obvious smile in his voice.

'Yes,' laughed Ellie, 'I mean apart from that.'

'Well, seriously, I've been talking to an Impresario friend of mine. He is looking for a singer to front up a show, might you be up for that?' Bill asked.

'I suppose it would be good exposure, but you know Bill, I really want a song deal with publishing and everything,' Ellie replied.

'Talking about exposure,' Bill continued, 'how about you and me going to the Blue Edge Club, that new French Blues restaurant? It's right up your street, Ellie,' he said. 'I've been invited to attend the opening night, it's a pretty exclusive event and you did agree that you would allow me to return the favour from our last evening out at the Ladybug Charity bash, remember?'

'Oh yes,' she said, 'I remember.'

'But before you decide,' Bill said, 'it's on Wednesday. Oh, and they assure me that they've got some great blues musicians in for the night, Joss Stone has apparently promised a set and I do believe that Bonnie Raitt is in town too.'

'Sounds marvellous,' she replied, 'I'd love to come, and thank you for asking me.'

Ellie felt excited at the thought of the opening night of the Blue Edge Club, a bit of a dream come true, really. She liked music people, they were a little different somehow, and a little bohemian sometimes. There really was so much talent out there. She wondered who would be there in the audience and who would be on the stage. Joss Stone and especially Bonnie Raitt were personal favourites of hers – wow, now what to wear.

She needed classy, stylish and elegant but for a blues club she needed something a bit edgy too. She called her designer friend Vena to tell her about her invitation and that she needed something new to wear. She made an arrangement to call in at the store in the morning. Vena was more of an acquaintance than a friend, but someone that she had known for a few years, almost all the time that she had been properly involved with music. Vena had gone from designing from home to developing her own designer label and she had recently opened a small store to sell her designs and welcome new customers. Ellie liked to support women in business and Vena had been making Ellie's stage outfits for a few years now. Although Ellie usually knew just what she wanted, Vena seemed able to get exactly what was needed for that crowd or that venue, adding bows, creating splits, inserting mesh or creating something completely new. Ellie was convinced that she would do just as well with something stunning for the Blue Edge Club opening night.

The next morning Ellie and Vena sat on a Sofa in the little designer store looking at drawings and deigns that Vena had done with Ellie in mind over the years. Vena knew all about Ellie's love of velvet and tried to work that in where ever possible and today was no different.

'What about this?' she said, holding up a racing green velvet and lace dress with small green leather Godet style inserts at the hem and green leather laces which ran down the length of each long sleeve. The dress had a deep V framed with very fine and delicate green lace, provocative but not really revealing.

'I love that,' said Ellie, 'but how about having laces on the hem at the sides going up about say six inches, maybe instead of the inserts?'

'Yes, I think that you are right, that will work,' Vena agreed. 'Now when do you need it by?'

'The opening night is Wednesday,' replied Ellie. 'When would you be able to get it done?'

'Provided that you tell everyone that admires the dress on you, and I'm sure that there will be lots of admirers, so, as long as you tell them where you got it from, I'll pull out all the stops and get it done for you, agreed?'

'Agreed,' replied Ellie, 'but you know that I always sing your praises don't you?'

'Of course,' Vena said. 'I'm just joking around.'

Once they were finished, she thanked Vena and pulled out her phone to call Lenny at the shop, to check if the Vintage Gibson that she had bought had arrived with the other guitars.

Then she noticed a text from Josh.

'Hello beautiful, I've been thinking about you and your sexy body so I thought that I would tell you that thoughts of you and what you do to me have distracted me all day. I hope you've had a good day.'

She couldn't help but smile at his words, she had thought of him too, occasionally, so she responded.

'Hello You, I'm glad I'm in your head cos you're sure in mine \- my day has been good so far, how about yours?'

_Meet me for lunch?_ came straight back.

_Sorry got to see a man about a guitar?_ she replied. _Rain check?_

OK no worries x

She wanted to see Josh, she really did, but she did have work to do. She wanted to check out the Gibson and call some of her contacts about the Gretsch vintage guitar that she wanted to find for an interested buyer. Although she knew that she had a life of her own, she also knew that it would be so easy to get swallowed up in Josh's world. She had to try to keep a little distance.

Vena delivered the dress on the day of the Blue Edge Club opening. She wanted Ellie to try it on, she had said, so that she could ensure that it was a perfect fit whilst there was still a little time to make alterations if they were needed.

Ellie was thrilled with the dress. The green velvet gave it just the right amount of style and elegance with a nice touch of edginess provided by the leather ties and the plunging V neck. So it turned out to be exactly what she had been looking for, Vena was brilliant.

Ellie had resisted checking the internet profile for Josh again, wanting to know if he had been seen out and about with Shelly, but not wishing to jump to conclusions again, preferring just to take things steadily.

So she decided to try not to mind what he did and who he was photographed with. She had given Josh every opportunity to confirm that he had not gone back to Shelly, but as he hadn't confirmed anything, she thought that it was probably best to assume that he was seeing her, seeing them both.

And then there was Bill – attractive, attentive, music mogul, sexy Bill. Ellie remembered his aggressive behaviour in the limo the last time that they had met and his passionate, almost forceful kisses. She wondered if perhaps she had led him on a little and then been surprised at his reaction. She would have to be careful this evening.

It had crossed her mind to mention the opening night and who she was going with to Josh - but she knew that for some reason Josh and Bill didn't get along and it might cause a problem, and well, he was probably seeing Shelly again anyway, so she decided to keep it to herself. She hated that he was still seeing Shelly, and unexpectedly, a small stab of jealousy hit her, but, never mind, she would have to deal with her feelings for Josh some other time, tonight she would have a good time with Bill.

She showered and dressed, dried her long hair and deciding to keep it simple, she brushed it into a straight loose style. She applied some light makeup with darker than usual green eye pencil to accentuate her big green eyes and of course strong crimson lipstick. Satisfied, she slipped on her green suede high heeled court shoes, grabbed the matching clutch bag and headed out of her apartment and to the lifts as the concierge called to announce Bill's arrival downstairs.

As she stepped out of the lift in the foyer, Bill turned from his conversation with the concierge and he turned to greet her. 'Hey Ellie, you look stunning again,' he said. 'Wow, that green really suits you, it makes your eyes look even more green than usual, just stunning,' he said.

Bill looked the part too, and just right for tonight's opening, with black tuxedo trousers, black cowboy boots, and a white dress shirt with a few buttons casually undone topped with a black suede dinner jacket with silver piping over the lapels. It suited his big frame and was somehow edgy and stylish too.

'Thank you,' Ellie said, 'you do say the nicest things and you are looking rather suave too. I'm sure that you will fit right in with all the musos that will be there tonight.'

'I'll tell you a little secret,' he said.

'OK,' she replied, 'go on, I'm listening.'

'It's you I want to fit in with,' he said. 'I couldn't give a damn about anyone else, so if you think it looks good, then I like it!'

The street was packed with cars and people. Big search lights were set to wander up and down the street to create an extra dramatic effect, spotlighting the various cars and their guests as they arrived.

Bill's car pulled up at the special blue rather than traditional red carpet and Simmons, the driver, jumped out to open the doors for them. Bill was first out of the car and as Ellie took his out stretched hand, the flash bulbs popped all around them.

'Mr Wilson,' someone shouted, 'Bill, Bill.' These were shouts from faceless reporters and cameramen. 'Who's the mystery lady? Is she your new muse?' they shouted.

Bill completely ignored them as Ellie took his arm and they walked along the blue carpet to a man fully clothed in blue suede, who pushed open a door for them saying, 'Welcome to the Blue Edge Club.'

The Club looked amazing. Dark wood everywhere with sofas strategically placed covered in what looked like blue suede with silver or gold cushions stacked on each one. Small tables with candles or little lights were scattered around too and the brass and chrome on the dark wood bar shone like the bottles of alcohol that were lined up on the shelves behind it.

They were shown to a table close to the small stage where roadies must have set up a drum kit, guitars, a piano and a few microphones ready for the performers who were due on stage at some point in the evening. Ellie looked around and spotted a number of famous faces. She felt so very excited to be here and she chatted and flirted with Bill who seemed genuinely pleased to be with her.

The owner, Paul Greene, or Greenie as he was generally known, came over to welcome them and Bill congratulated him on the fantastic new club and the excellent promotions for the opening night. Bill introduced Ellie and Greenie told her that he had seen her perform at The Blue Note last year and he told her how much he had enjoyed her performance. She thanked him and he said, 'Maybe you'll do a set for us here at the Blue Edge sometime. Maybe Bill would help you out,' he said looking at Bill.

'Sure thing,' said Bill. Ellie thanked Greenie and congratulated him once more and wished him well for the rest of the evening.

Later, as the little blues band were in full swing, lots of couples were dancing on the small wooden dance floor, and Bill leaned forward and said to her, 'Ellie, please will you dance with me, this is one of my favourite songs.' Ellie suddenly listened more intently to the song and realised that it was a blues version of one of her favourites - Wicked game - how interesting that both Bill and Josh liked this song.

'The lyrics are great, don't you think,' Bill asked. ' _What a wicked thing to do, make me dream of you.'_

The singer had a good bluesy voice and made an already haunting song really stand out. Bill seemed to hold her tighter, as he pulled her in closer.

'You really do things to me Ellie,' he said, 'you do know that don't you?'

By now Ellie had had quite a few glasses of wine as well as some champagne and some sort of cocktail too. She was beginning to feel a little tipsy as well as a little bold and a little wanton.

'Well Bill,' she said, 'as long as they are good things, I suppose it's a compliment, so thank you.'

'Yes, all very good things, the first good thing is that you make me want to kiss you. Is that OK?' he asked.

'What do mean, OK if you kiss me or OK if you think it's good thing to want to kiss me?' Ellie replied.

'Either and both,' Bill said smiling. 'So is it? I mean is it OK to kiss you?'

'Let's wait a while and talk about it after our dance shall we?' she said.

As the song came to an end and their dance finished, Greenie appeared in a single spotlight holding a microphone and realising the music was over for the moment they began to walk back to their table.

'Let's hear it for _Sweet Baby Blue's,_ our marvellous band this evening,' he said, and everyone whooped and cheered and clapped including Bill and Ellie.

Now ladies and gentleman we have a rare treat for you. I would like to welcome Joss Stone to the stage. She will perform a short set just for me and she will be accompanied on piano by a very good friend of mine, Mr Bill Wilson. Everyone clapped and cheered. Ellie's mouth must have almost hit the floor as she stared at Bill and he smiled and gave her a sheepish grin.

'Oh my God,' she said, suddenly sober, 'Bill why didn't you tell me?'

'I'll explain later,' Bill said getting up from his seat to make his way to the stage.

They played six numbers in total and every single one was an excellent rendition of a classic. Their version of the song _Alfie_ that they performed Ellie thought was sublime, marvellous.

Then just as they launched into _Lover man where can you be_ \- and almost right on cue suddenly she noticed a tall attractive man leaning nonchalantly on the bar and he appeared to be watching her intently. As her eyes focussed fully in the dimly lit atmosphere of the club, she realised it was Josh. He lifted his glass in a gesture of hello and her heart skipped a beat and she felt her face get a little hot and her body grew even hotter. Ellie lifted her glass offering a similar gesture and just at that moment, the crowd erupted into loud applause as the set came to an end and the performers took their bows. Ellie turned to welcome Bill back to the table with applause of her own whilst Greenie thanked his talented guest performers and begged them to perform here again another day not too far from now.

'Wow,' said Ellie, 'Bill Wilson you old dark horse you, that was extremely good, bloody brilliant actually, very well done, what a performance, you must be so proud. How long have you been playing the piano like that?'

Bill explained to Ellie how he had been made to learn as a young child and hated it, so gave up playing just as soon as he could. That was just until he got into people like Ray Charles who really inspired him and he started to play again for himself for fun this time and he told her that he had been playing off and on ever since. They went on to talk about other musical heroes and were pleased to find that there were quite a few they shared like Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton; the list was a long one. So by the time Ellie looked around for Josh, he was no longer leaning on the bar and she couldn't see him anywhere. She kicked herself for not going over to talk to him or at least inviting him to join them when their eyes had locked earlier.

As the evening grew late, the people on the dance floor and sitting at tables or at the bar began to dwindle and it seemed like a good time to go home. They thanked their host Greenie and when Ellie said she needed the powder room, reaching for his mobile phone, Bill said he would call for the car and meets her in the back ally to avoid any lingering paparazzi.

As she washed her hands, Ellie felt a little light headed and a little fuzzy around the edges but she felt so good she had really enjoyed her evening and marvellous to see Bill perform that way. Who would have guessed, she thought to herself as she pushed open the door into the back ally.

It was all rather dark, a few people were hanging around talking or smoking cigarettes at the far end and there were a few cars parked up, presumably waiting for people to leave the club. Suddenly she felt arms on her grabbing her, spinning her around holding her very tightly, roughly kissing her mouth, a wet tongue plunging in to her mouth, big hands fondling her backside. It was a stranger and as she tried to get away, she realised that he was too strong. He was lifting her dress, feeling her skin above her stockings, pushing fingers along the base of her panties, she couldn't let this happen. She struggled and struggled and writhed, the man stopped kissing to speak.

'That's it baby,' the voice said, 'I know you want it, give into it, you know you want me as much as I want you.'

'Bill?' she questioned, 'Oh Bill, for God's sake stop this. No Bill, no, stop,' Ellie shouted.

'Now come on, don't play the innocent,' Bill said.

'No Bill, stop, I don't want this, we are just friends, please don't do this.'

'You said you loved my compliments, you said that you wanted me to kiss you, so I know that you want me. You've played hard to get for too long and now I can't wait any longer.'

His mouth was on her again, kissing her hard, bruising her mouth. She struggled and writhed to try to free herself but he just seemed to grow stronger and his grip tighter. She felt shocked as he slapped her face and then quickly moved his hands to her backside. He pulled her panties to one side and was trying to push his fingers into her.

Then, suddenly she could breathe again, and Bill was no longer holding her. He had been physically prised away from her body.

She heard a dark voice say, 'The lady said NO, take your filthy hands off her you fucking madman.'

Ellie recognised that voice – it was Josh.

Bill paused for a moment and began to rear up to respond to the voice and the hands that had dragged him away from Ellie.

As soon as he saw it was Josh he sneered and said, 'What the fuck do you want. You had your chance and you blew it, now I'm going to have the lovely Ellie. I'm going to have my way with her. I'm going to have my hands and my mouth on her and all over her, just like Isobel and you won't stop me.'

But as Bill made a move back to Ellie, a fist connected with his jaw with enough power to send him spinning to the floor. Bill was clearly stunned for a moment but then he jumped up and rounded on Josh - shouting out,

'Mind your own fucking business, Walker, I'm pissed off with picking up your crumbs, now you can pick up some of mine.' With that, Bill threw a punch back at Josh, striking a glancing blow to the side of his face and head, which knocked Josh's head back - but he stood his ground.

Ellie, still reeling from what had just happened saw two men running over from different directions, to intervene she hoped. One was Simmons, Bill's chauffeur, and another man who Ellie didn't recognise. She had pressed herself back against the wall to try to become invisible but suddenly Ellie found her voice.

'Stop it, stop it, that's enough,' she shouted, 'this is complete madness, stop it!!!'

Her words seemed to make an impact and everyone looked across at Ellie as if noticing her for the first time and for a moment there was a stunned silence'

'Eleanor, are you alright?' Josh asked.

She didn't reply.

'I'm sorry if I came on too strong,' Bill said, his voice softer and more conciliatory. 'I'm sorry if I was too rough but I thought that's what you wanted.'

Ellie didn't reply.

'Come on Sir, I think it's time to go,' Simmons said handing Bill a cloth, 'here, use this Sir, your face is bleeding.'

Bill looked directly at Ellie for a sign that everything was OK and that she understood.

Ellie remained silent.

The other man reached out to Josh and touched his shoulder. 'The car is just over there,' he said, 'come on lets go.'

Ellie began to visibly shiver in the cool night air.

'Eleanor, you are coming with me,' Josh said gently, but loud enough to ensure that Bill heard the certainty in voice.

Josh took his jacket off and draped it around her shoulders and then took her hand and with the other man on the other side of her, they led Ellie away to the car.

They didn't look back.

Josh opened the door for her and she slid into the back seat. Josh closed the door and walked around the other side and slid in next to her whilst the other man got into the driver's seat and the car pulled away.

'Carl,' he said, 'I think we'll go to the Reeds. It seems that Eleanor may be in shock and Maggie will be able to make us some nice tea.'

'Good idea,' Carl replied.

The Reeds was an apartment complex overlooking the park with one Penthouse occupying the top floor and two apartments on each of the other nine floors. Each apartment was luxurious in its own way but the Penthouse was significantly larger than the others and boasted a large, decked terrace which extended around the outside of the apartment. The accommodation included enough space for live-in staff quarters.

Maggie was the live-in housekeeper at Josh's dry land penthouse apartment and Carl was his driver, security man and personal assistant and he lived there too.

Maggie had made tea hot, strong and sweet. She wrapped Ellie up in a blanket and asked her to sip the tea carefully. She casually chatted to Ellie about nothing much until the tea was all gone.

'It's probably best that you lie down for a while,' Maggie said, 'and have a little sleep, get your strength back and then Carl can take you home, OK?'

Before Ellie had the chance to protest, Maggie had taken her hand and walked her down the hall to one of the bedrooms. The room she chose had a large bed and soft lighting, a set of striped PJs were on the bed and a couple of clean towels hung over a nightstand at the end of the bed.

'The bathroom is just through there,' she said pointing to the left. Just make yourself at home - here let me help you.' Maggie took the jacket that Josh had lent to Ellie earlier and helped her to undress. Once Ellie had put on the PJs she slipped into the bed and closed her eyes, but only for a moment, she thought to herself, and then she must get home.

# EIGHTEEN

Mario, the owner of the harbour side Italian restaurant _Mia Culpa,_ sat at a small table on the deck outside the restaurant with Josh as they both sipped their second cup of marvellous Italian coffee of the morning.

A typical Italian man, if there was such a thing, Mario was broad and dark with a broody masculine look, an expert on matters of the heart, or so he said, and he never shied away from telling Josh exactly what he thought.

'Look there really is nothing wrong with being romantic, women do like romantic, they just don't like soft and over the top romantic.' Mario said. 'You have to show them what's what and for goodness sake don't change for her. This Eleanor is the woman that you brought in here recently? Not the model from last year, she was hot, the model, very hot.'

'No no, not the model, that was Shelly,' Josh said, 'and Shelly was a long time ago.'

'Ah yes, Shelly, very hot, Shelly, I liked her,' Mario replied.

'The other woman, Eleanor, she seemed more, how do you say, feisty? So maybe she is more passionate eh? Sexy, curvy a handful, in and out of bed, not much wrong with that but you have to control her my friend, that is what she will want,' Mario said with a chuckle. 'You just have to have the desire to do it and of course the balls.'

Josh had known Mario since the first time he came to the marina and although they were very different in age, they had become firm friends. Josh liked and respected the older man. That said, he still wasn't quite sure how they came to be discussing his love life and his ability to control or otherwise the lovely Eleanor Montague.

'So do you have the balls, Josh?' Mario persisted.

'I'm not sure that she wants to be controlled,' Josh said.

'Trust me, she wants it,' Mario went on. 'But of course it must be worth it for her. She must know that you prize her above all else, and that you value her passion and her wildness. You must give her freedom, but tell her that you want to possess her, she will love the mix.'

'But last night I punched Bill Wilson because it seemed to me that he was molesting Eleanor. She tried to push him off, she asked him to stop more than once but he didn't stop, so I had to pull him off her and when he started shouting about having his hands all over her, I'm afraid I just snapped and I decked him. He went down like a sack of shit.'

'Oh, mio Dio,' Mario exclaimed laughing. 'You in a fight over a woman? So what did he do, this Bill Wilson?'

'Well it really wasn't funny -he got up and punched me back. I think the bruise is just starting to come out,' Josh said rubbing his face where he had been hit the night before.

'Is Eleanor alright?' Mario asked. 'Did he hurt her?'

'She was very shaken up,' Josh said, 'and I suspect that she will have a number of bruises over her body where he simply grabbed her and held on too tightly, but I haven't really spoken to her about it yet.'

'Why not?' Mario asked.

'I guess I was rather hoping that she would call me to thank me for saving her,' Josh said.

'Oh dear,' Mario said. 'Look, either you care about this woman or you are playing games. Earlier you talked as if you wanted to possess her, romance her, love her even but it is so easy to ruin things with a woman by playing it too cool.'

'I do want to possess her! Possession sounds wrong somehow, I just mean that I want her to be mine. She challenges me, pushes me to look at things differently, she's not interested in my fame or my money, and you are right, she is very passionate but she is so damned infuriating,' Josh said. 'She must know that I want her all to myself, yet she chooses to spend a high profile evening with that fucker Bill Wilson, although I've told her that he is dangerous and she should avoid him.'

'Oh I see, so you've told her to avoid him and that he is dangerous - are you mad Josh? That is like a challenge in itself to someone like this Eleanor lady that you have found. Surely you can see why she would want to do it anyway, despite your instructions? What a woman,' Mario said, 'and she is a very attractive, sexy looking woman, I don't blame you for falling for her but try not to muck it up, eh? Come let's eat.'

After lunch with Mario, Josh was thoughtful as he walked back to _Hinewai_ ; should he call Eleanor, visit her? Decision made, he drove to his office for a scheduled meeting and told himself that he would deal with it later.

# NINETEEN

As Ellie opened her eyes to look around the strange room, the memories of last night flooded into her head. Her backside and other parts of her body felt sore, she felt achy all over. Looking at the light through the window she guessed it must be after 8 am and she knew that she had to get up and get herself home, back to her own place.

Still wearing the PJs, she slipped out of bed, through the door and along the corridor toward the delicious smell of ground coffee and bacon. She vaguely remembered Maggie, the warm friendly lady who helped her the night before who was now standing at the cooker stirring eggs.

Maggie must have been in her forties, Ellie thought, short blonde hair, blue eyes and with a comfortable lived in face. She wore jeans and a pink polka dot T shirt and a pair of pink trainers.

'Good morning and how are you feeling today?' Maggie asked as Ellie made it into the kitchen.

'Better, thank you and thank you so much for taking care of me last night, I really do appreciate it, but I'd like to go home now, so if you could just tell me where my clothes are I'll get out of your way,' Ellie said.

'Yes of course Eleanor, but take a seat for a moment. Would you like a hot drink some tea or coffee while we are sorting that out and maybe a little scrambled eggs and bacon?' Maggie asked.

'Erm, well I'm sure I've been enough trouble already and thank you for allowing me to sleep in your bed,' Ellie replied.

'So I'll take that as a yes then to the eggs and bacon,' Maggie said. 'It's not my bed you slept in, it's Mr Walker's bed, and this is his apartment.'

'Oh,' Ellie said, 'I thought he had a home on his boat.'

'Yes, he does,' Maggie replied smiling fondly. 'This is his dry land home he calls it, I'm sure he'll tell you all about it when you see him next.'

'He is here?' Ellie asked.

'No, once he knew you were safe, he left and went back to _Hinewai_ ,' Maggie replied. 'Ah here is Carl, everything OK, Carl?'

Carl was the man from last night, a big imposing brick of a man - tall and wide with spiky hair, a single small hoop earring and tattoos all up one arm. He looked mean and dangerous and really was the type of person that you would not want to meet in a dark ally, well unless he was on your side that is.

'Yes everything is fine thanks,' Carl said as he turned to Ellie. 'I'm afraid we didn't quite get to official introductions last night, Miss Montague, but I'm Carl Hagan, Mr Walker's personal assistant, security advisor and driver, and I am very pleased to meet you.'

'Likewise,' Ellie said. 'Do you know what actually happened last night, and how did I get away from Bill? It's all still a bit fuzzy?' She shuddered involuntarily as the thoughts briefly flashed through her head.

'I'm really not sure about it all, seems I arrived on the scene a bit late so you'd be best to ask Mr Walker, he was the one that dealt with it,' Carl replied.

'Dealt with it?' Ellie asked, 'you make it sound like a business transaction.'

'Just a figure of speech, Miss. As I said, best to ask Mr Walker.'

I wonder what they are all so tight lipped about? Ellie thought.

A pair of jeans and a T shirt had been left on the bed she had slept in along with a pair of trainers and a new set of underwear. Her dress had been folded neatly and along with her underwear and shoes had been placed in a suit carrier also on the bed.

The breakfast had been delicious and now she quickly showered and dressed in the new clothes although she did wonder just how somebody knew her exact size.

As Carl drove her home she questioned him about where the clothes had come from and asked how they knew her size. He said, 'Just following orders, miss.' But he wouldn't be drawn further.

Once back at home, Ellie felt more comfortable and she looked again at the flowers that had arrived earlier - an enormous bouquet of hand tied freesias in a glass bowl - they were so pretty and smelled wonderful. There was a card with a simple message, _I'm thinking of you, too often these days, hope you are OK. J x_

Ellie dialled the number for Josh as she had decided to call him to thank him for the flowers and to ask him more about what happened last night.

'Walker,' he answered swiftly in a clipped tone, which immediately softened when he heard Ellie's voice.

'Hello Josh,' she said, 'I just wanted to thank you for the lovely flowers, they really are lovely and such an unusual arrangement, thank you so much.'

'You are very welcome, and how are you feeling today?' he asked. 'That was quite a night last night wasn't it?'

'I'm OK now, thank you, your people, Maggie and Carl, looked after me very well, so thank you again for that,' she said. 'Actually I wanted to ask you about last night, what actually happened?'

'You don't remember?' Josh asked.

'No not really, well some but I was hoping that you could fill in the blanks.'

'Well I'll try but not over the phone, please can we meet up tomorrow? Why not come to _Hinewai_ and I'll cook you some dinner and we can talk?' Josh asked.

'Erm, tomorrow?' she hesitated.

'Yes tomorrow, please say you'll come?' Josh asked.

'OK,' she said, 'I'll be there.'

'Great,' he replied. 'Come for about seven and call me when you are close by and I'll come to meet you at the marina gates.'

They said good bye and despite everything Ellie felt excited and decided that the next morning, provided she felt good enough, she would meet her friends, Lizzie and Bella at Zumba as planned.

The next day, after a full hour of very energetic dance, the three women had showered and changed and were now sitting ordering lunch and wine at the Marchmont Bistro, starting to laugh and share stories.

Bella told the women about the new man in her life. He was witty and attentive, he didn't look at any other women and she had said that although she had been married before, she really thought that this time she had found her real true love for life. She could hardly believe the things he said, he spoke so passionately. For instance, he told her that he would worship my body everyday in every way, he would never look at another women and no one else would have any meaning for him.

'That's a hell of a promise, Bella, how lovely,' Lizzie said.

'Yes, I thought so too,' Bella replied.

Lizzie responded by telling the others that she already knew that her husband was the love of her life because she loved him so much and they had a good solid and happy life together.

'I am such a lucky person,' Ellie said, 'because I have one man that seems genuinely interested in me, in my opinions and yes my body too. A couple of nights ago I was taken to the opening of The Blue Edge Club by Bill Wilson, who is another man altogether. It was fun right up until the end when Bill got me out in the back ally and virtually assaulted me. I didn't like that at all actually, it really frightened me.'

'Oh God,' said Lizzie, 'you poor thing, what happened?' Bella looked shocked but said nothing.

'Well I haven't quite got all the details straight in my head, but Josh was suddenly there in the ally and he stepped in, I think. I'm seeing him later so I'm going to push him for information on what he saw and just what happened.'

As the women talked further, Ellie took a call from Mitch at the shop and excused herself from the table to talk to him.

'So who is this Josh then that Ellie keeps talking about?' Bella asked.

'Oh that's who she is seeing, Josh Walker, you may have heard of him,' Lizzie replied. 'She likes him but he really likes her and he is gorgeous.'

'Josh Walker? Oh,' said Bella 'and Bill Wilson, isn't he the Bill Wilson that owns Wilson Tate? Sounds like she's stringing both of them along,' Bella went on.

'Well the truth is I think, that she is seeing Bill too, and I don't think that she is stringing them along because, from what she tells me, Bill really likes her too. Ellie is so attractive isn't she, and she is such a lovely person too and very talented. She gets lots of attention from people and these two both seem to be crazy for her.'

'Yes, well I suppose she is attractive in an obvious, standard sort of way,' Bella said rather nastily.

'Bella! That's not very nice,' Lizzie said.

'What's not very nice?' Ellie asked as she returned to the table.

'Oh, we were just taking about your men problems,' Lizzie said.

'Oh, let's talk about something else,' Ellie said. 'Let me tell you about the Blue Edge Club, it was so fantastic.'

'If you like that sort of thing,' Bella said with a sneer.

The other two women turned to look at her both surprised by her nasty tone.

'Don't you like music?' Lizzie asked and as she looked at her new friend, she realised that she knew so very little about her and fleetingly wondered why she would say that about Ellie.

'Yeah, I like music well enough, just not that into Blues I guess,' Bella said. 'I prefer these young boy bands and all they have to offer, if you know what I mean,' and she gave them a theatrical wink.

They all laughed.

Isobel was furious and the jealousy raged in her. How could this women been involved with Bill and Josh? She would have to do something about it.

# TWENTY

It's difficult to know just what to wear when you are visiting a very attractive man who has offered to cook you dinner - on his boat!

Any other time it would be easy but flat shoes – ugg – Ellie had thrown most of her flat shoes out with her first marriage, preferring to stand tall and get even taller in high heels.

She looked down at her painted toes and tanned legs and suddenly it was easy. Ellie decided to wear a dark blue pencil skirt that buttoned up the side and teamed it with a light green off the shoulder T shirt with green suede heels. The outfit made her legs look even more tanned and a couple of buttons strategically left open on the skirt added a little sexy twist, she hoped.

She sent Josh a text when she was a few minutes away and he responded, texting that he would see her at the gates.

Just like the first time she had met him at the marina, Josh was leaning on the gate post waiting for her – he looked so attractive in casual black trousers and a black and white striped shirt which seemed to accentuate his toned body underneath.

'Hello Eleanor,' he said, 'lovely to see you again,' and he leaned forward and draped one arm around her waist and kissed her gently on her lips, holding her there a little too long. Their eyes locked and that raw sensual energy was there again simmering, waiting to explode into a burning furnace.

Josh's eyes wandered over her body and stopped abruptly at her bare feet. 'So not bothering with shoes at all tonight then I see?' he said laughing, 'probably a very good idea.'

Ellie raised her arm and showed him her green shoes dangling there which she held by the heels. 'But I did bring some just in case,' she said.

'Just in case of what?' he asked. 'Actually don't answer that, I prefer to imagine.' They both laughed.

Once they reached the boat, 'I hope you like chicken?' Josh said, as they went down the companionway stairs into the saloon of the boat.

The table was laid for two with cutlery and napkins, crystal glasses, candles and a small bowl of freesias was set in the centre – it looked very inviting. Little lights that resembled candles were shining here and there and like before on her last visit, everything looked shiny and sparkling although something, the cooking chicken she suspected, smelled divine.

'Yes, I really like chicken,' she said. 'I'm guessing you are a very good cook and it really smells good, so that must be a good sign.'

'I don't know what you are like at guessing but you can tell me later if you enjoy my cooking.'

Josh served smoked salmon and hot asparagus with some sort of hollandaise sauce as a starter followed by chicken stuffed with soft cheese with herbs, little potatoes and green beans. Light and lovely, just the type of food that Ellie liked to eat.

As they ate their food, Josh talked about his new boat and how he had incorporated some of the design features that she had recommended when they went to look the boat over recently. Ellie asked about general progress and he explained that it was still a long way from complete but still very exciting.

'So what about gigs?' he said. 'Doing much or got much planned?'

'Not really,' she said, 'although Greenie, the owner down at the Blue Edge Club, did say that I could have a session there at some point, which would be really great.'

'So Greenie is the owner at the Blue Edge is he?' Josh asked.

'Yes, so Bill told me,' Ellie said. 'Oh Josh, what the hell happened with Bill the other night?'

'You'd better tell me what you remember,' he said, 'and why did you go to that club with Bill? You know that the man is a madman, I did warn you about him.'

'Well I don't know that he is a madman and frankly he seemed nice to me. He's got a lot of influence in music circles and I'm sure that I've told you I want a decent writing and recording deal and he may well be the man to help me get it.'

'Well I suppose it depends just what you are prepared to do for it, how much of yourself you want to give, doesn't it, and how far you will go to get that deal.'

'What the hell is that supposed to mean?' Ellie demanded.

'Oh come on,' Josh said. 'You know what I mean. Wilson is testing you I would guess, just to see if you will give in to him, be nice to him for the sake of the deal. But the man is a slime ball and he proved it the other night now, didn't he? Unless you are saying you would have preferred me to leave him to carry on clawing at you, who knows what he would have ended up doing but maybe you would have liked it.'

'Fuck you,' Ellie said, 'you don't know me. How dare you say that, who do you think you are?'

Josh ignored her anger and continued, 'He's got a reputation you know, he gets his women a bit tipsy, plying them with goodness knows what and then takes quick and often violent advantage. That's what gets him off apparently, the rough violent stuff.'

'And you think I want that?' she demanded.

'Put it this way Eleanor, I know that you have had a close call with Wilson before when he accompanied you to the Ladybug Ball – but you were able to fend him off and get out of his car that time. But knowing that you still went out with him again, he must have felt it was bloody Christmas. That is almost certainly what he would have thought - think about it - he tried and failed and so you more or less told him - here I am, I want you to try again by accepting that invitation to go out with him again.'

'But it was in a public place there was no danger,' Ellie replied.

'There is always danger with beautiful women and men like Wilson.'

'And how the hell do you know what happened the first time I was out with Bill? And if you think I'm so cheap and such a desperate tart, interested in sexual violence, I really think it's time that I went home.' She pushed away from the table and stood up and her chair fell backwards - she didn't move to pick it up.

'Thank you for a lovely meal,' she said and she rushed up the little steps out on to the deck of the boat, stepping over the gangway and on to the marina walkway.

_Fuck you pushed it too far you idiot, go after her_ , Josh thought.

The light wind hit her face and blew her hair up around her as she marched along with a purposeful angry stride. Who the hell did he think he was, how dare he call her a tart.

When she got to the gates, she realised with a sinking feeling that she didn't have her coat or bag or shoes and therefore no keys.

Damn, she thought, I'm going to have to go back.

She turned around and Josh was behind her. 'Please don't go,' he said. 'I'm sorry if I said too much but I never called you a tart – that was your word.'

'I've got no bloody choice as it happens,' she said, 'because in my haste to get away from you I've left my things on the boat including my keys - but I'm still very angry with you.'

When they got back to _Hinewai_ , Ellie jumped on first and rushed down the companionway stairs picked up her bag and began looking around for her coat and shoes. Josh followed her down and stood quietly watching her.

'Where's my coat?' she said.

'Stay a while longer so that I can explain more,' he said.

'No, perhaps we can speak another time,' she replied.

'Oh,' said Josh, 'but before you go there is something that I must admit to you.'

'Go on,' she said.

'Well, it's just that I'm not sure how long it took me to cut up all that fresh fruit for our desert but I think it was peeling the grapes that took the most amount of time and now you are telling me that you are not even going to try some, so I'm gutted.'

He looked at her with a straight face and although she tried to stay cross, she couldn't help but laugh.

'You don't need to peel the grapes for fruit salad, you Wally,' she said 'just wash them.'

'Oh God, now she is calling me a Wally,' he said and they both laughed.

'Sit down again, please' he said, 'we can't end an evening as good as the one we have had on cross words, now can we?'

Josh picked up the chair from where it had tipped over on to the floor and Ellie sat down again. He brought out a bowl of mixed raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and grapes and a large jug of thick cream.

Josh could feel that Ellie was still angry with him but he hoped to get the chance to explain things to her, although he couldn't decide how much to tell her. So they sat for a while in silence eating the desert until Ellie looked across at Josh and very seriously said, 'Josh, I think that I'm beginning to realise that you are inclined to make things up.'

'Oh, and just what makes you say that,' he said.

'I don't think that you have peeled these grapes at all,' she said and they both laughed, lightening the atmosphere once again.

'Look Eleanor, I like you, I want to protect you, especially from people like Bill Wilson. He could really hurt you, do you realise that?' Josh said.

'I'm a big girl,' she said, 'and I should be able to look after myself by now. I can look after myself. I don't need your protection. Anyway, I'm not your responsibility, so why do you feel that you have to protect me?'

'That is a good question,' Josh replied.

'Yes, I thought so,' said Ellie, 'so what's the answer?'

'It's complicated,' he said.

'Yeah right,' she said.

'Let's talk about the other night, you know that he attacked you don't you. He had a grip on you so hard and you were demanding that he let you go. You kept saying, 'No Bill we are friends don't do this _._ ' He was forcing himself on you.'

'Yes,' she said sadly, 'I do remember now. I tried really hard to push him away, but he was just so strong, so forceful, I couldn't move and I couldn't breathe. It was actually quite frightening but I knew that he would have let me go in the end. And why were you there anyway – just coincidence was it?'

'Something like that,' Josh replied. 'I must admit I was disappointed that you had chosen Wilson over me but I don't trust him since... well, I just don't trust him so it felt right to be close by. I was waiting for Carl and the car at the pick-up point and when I heard your voice I moved a bit closer. I was sickened hearing him say that you wanted it and you wanted him to kiss you and then you were pushing him away and meaning it. But when I saw him put his hands on you, on your legs and under your dress on your arse, I couldn't take it, I just snapped and I had to intervene.'

'You intervened?' she replied.

'Yes, I pulled him off you, told him to take his hands off you,' Josh said, 'and when he continued to say explicit things about what he was going to do to you and how he was going to have you, I'm afraid I just decked him, punched him, I couldn't help it.'

'Oh God, Josh, I didn't realise, what happened next, what did Bill do?' she asked, clearly shocked by his words.

'He got up and swung a punch at me, still determined to drag us all into the gutter with his filthy talk.'

'Did he hurt you?' she asked.

'Just a glancing blow, nothing to speak of, but in the end it was you that stopped it,' Josh continued. 'You shouted out so loudly telling us both to stop. Then his driver pulled him away and Carl turned up for me and Carl and I took you back to the Reeds - my place on the Park where I knew that you would be safe.'

'Oh,' Ellie said, 'I hadn't realised it got that bad. I must admit I was probably a bit drunk but it's coming back to me a bit now. So I suppose that I should thank you then?'

Josh just shrugged his shoulders. He knew that he was the sort of person that would help anyone that was vulnerable and in a bad situation, especially a woman or a child but he knew that he had gone a lot further because it was Eleanor in trouble and probably because it was Bill Wilson who was dishing out that trouble. He fleetingly wondered if he would ever truly be able to put the past behind him and forget about what that fucker Wilson had done to his family.

'And what did you mean when you said I had a close call with Bill before but I managed to get away from him?' Ellie said.

'You know exactly what I mean,' Josh replied.

'I don't know what you mean,' she said. 'How could you know anything about it, you weren't there?'

'No, you are right, I wasn't there, but someone I trust was there.'

'You were spying on me?' she asked, incredulity in her voice.

'No, not spying, caring,' he said. 'I have previous history with Wilson, or should I say he has previous history with me. I was concerned for you and so I asked Carl to drive by your place, that's all, and he saw you getting out of Bills limousine in quite a rush looking a little dishevelled and flustered and he guessed the rest and as you say, I thought that you must know what you were doing.'

'I suppose I'm grateful for the outcome, but I don't much like the idea that you are watching me, so you really will have to stop that,' she said.

'Bloody Hell, Eleanor, for God's sake, why can't you listen to me. I'm only interested in your well-being here, it's not some kind of pissing contest, the man is dangerous and its mildly irritating that you won't take any bloody notice of me in this. Look, I know that you are fiercely independent,' he went on, 'and that is a really good thing, but you can't be too careful around some men. You are a very desirable woman, Eleanor, and I don't think you realise what lengths some people would go to try to take what they think is mine.'

'But we have been here before Josh, I am not yours,' she said.

'Oh, but God woman, I wish you were mine and then perhaps you would take some notice of me, do as you are told even and make no mistake, Eleanor, it's just time, because I intend to make you mine at the very earliest opportunity.'

'You bloody arrogant shit,' she said standing up. 'Make me do as I'm told, who do you think you are, my father?'

'No, not your father, but someone that is beginning to have strong feelings for you, and that makes me want to protect you; it's just a natural instinct. I'm falling for you Eleanor and there is nothing I can do about it – believe me I've tried.'

Ellie looked at him and knew that he meant every word he said and hell she liked hearing it, well most of it. She loved his words but this was all going rather too quickly. Slowly, she sat down again.

'I know that you will be the death of me,' he said, 'you are so infuriating, exasperating, too independent, too feisty, too arrogant and too fucking sexy.'

'Me, too arrogant?' she snapped back at him. 'You cheeky bastard, you are very arrogant, too arrogant and too stubborn too.'

'Don't forget too sexy,' he said.

They both laughed. 'No one can be too sexy,' she said, 'not even you.'

'So what is your problem and what is your history with Bill?' she asked.

'I really don't want to get into that now Eleanor,' Josh said, 'it's all very depressing and it will just put a damper on everything so I'll explain it all some other time. But for now I'd like you to take my word for it when I say that it would be best all around if you make sure that you are never alone with Bill Wilson - agreed?'

Ellie nodded in agreement - reluctantly.

'So I'd just like to be with you and see you smile a bit rather than being so damned angry with me all the time, OK? And do you know the best part of having an argument is the making up, especially the kissing part,' he said.

'Well, Mr Walker,' Ellie said in her best business like voice, 'I agree making up from a fight is definitely the best part although I must confess, knowing that you are so arrogant tends to indicate that you have probably had lots of practice at arguments and perhaps not so much practice at making up on account that you appear to be so stubborn and self righteous?'

'Well, Ms Montague, that is an interesting point,' he replied playing along, 'and I thank you sincerely for raising it. I will tell you, although it pains me to do so, that I have in my life suffered with a regular misconception in relation to the aforesaid matter of my arrogance and therefore, regrettably, it has indeed led to occasional teeny arguments, but I can assure you that I am practised in the art of kissing and seduction and therefore I do believe that you will not be disappointed if you are inclined to allow me the opportunity to make up with you?'

'Well how do I respond, Mr Walker, I must tell you that I am intrigued to know more of these seduction techniques that you mention. Do you really think that you can win me over after such, how can I say, blatantly arrogant behaviour?'

'Oh yes,' he said, 'I do,' and he leant forward and took her head in his hands and kissed her fully and gently on the mouth, moving a hand to softly stroke her neck with his fingers whilst his tongue pushed into her, slowly, deeply, passionately; she could only respond. He was right, bastard, he really was so good at this \- a small moan escaped her.

He stopped his kisses and took her hand and pulled her up from the table, his eyes never leaving hers, but the table was a barrier and he wanted it gone, he wanted to press his body against hers.

What was it about this woman that had him so captivated, he wondered? He felt that she had put a spell on him somehow, or put something in his drink to ensnare him. He knew that he had to have her now and as often as possible. He had to feel her soft skin and had to make her desperate for the pleasure that only he could give to her, had to make her call out his name.

'Come here,' he said in a throaty voice laden with lust and longing. She moved closer to him, oblivious to everything else. She wanted to please him, she wanted more of his kisses, more of his hands and fingers. She wanted his desire, absolutely craved it, yet knowing that he desired her so much was her undoing.

Josh first pulled the T shirt up over her head exposing the rise of her breasts in the black lace balcony bra.

'I just want you to stand still, will you do that for me?' he asked.

Ellie nodded in agreement.

'I've got to touch you, I want to trail my fingers over your warm skin, it's so lovely. I remember it's so very soft.' His fingers trailed lightly over her throat and neck and then to the mounds of her breasts. His fingers circled over her nipples through the fabric of the lingerie.

Next, he moved to her skirt and sinking to his knees he began to unfasten the buttons, one at a time, slowly, deliberately it seemed to Ellie, taking so long over each one, kissing the skin newly exposed with each unfastened button. Finally, her skirt dropped to the floor and she stood in her black silk and lace underwear, exposed and wanting him, desperate for his touch, desperate for his kisses, for his hands, for his mouth on her body, somewhere, anywhere.

For Ellie, the feel of his mouth and tongue on her lower legs was almost electric. He moved up her body with such finesse, progressing from one leg to the other with small wet kisses or long laps of his silken tongue, drawing ever closer to her secret place. She tingled and shivered with excitement.

'Try to keep still,' he said, 'I will get there just as soon as I'm ready,' he said. 'I'm going to make you scream for me Eleanor. I want to make you desperate for my tongue on you and for my hard cock in you. I hope that you are ready for me.' He pulled aside her panties and plunged a finger deep into her pussy. 'Oh Eleanor, yes, you are so ready, so wet, oh God I've got to have you.'

He stood up now and began to undress himself, removing his trousers and boxers very quickly. He sat down on the sofa, his hard cock sticking straight up waiting for her.

'Come,' he said, 'leave the lingerie on, we'll pull your panties to one side, come and sit on me.'

But Eleanor had some wants and needs of her own and she grabbed a cushion and knelt down on the floor and began to kiss Josh from his ankles up to his thighs.

'Fuck,' said Josh after only a few moments, 'I'm not sure that I can stand that.'

'That's too bad,' said Ellie, 'because I'm not going to stop and I know that you want to watch me, don't you? I want you to watch your big cock sliding in and out of my mouth.' She looked up at him whilst she licked his long hard shaft and sucked his length deep into her mouth, pumping with one hand and stroking his balls with the other.

'Oh Eleanor, you are so hot,' he growled. He pulled her up now and dragged her into the bedroom and pushed her down onto the bed. He positioned himself over her, just touching the outside of her pussy with his cock, teasing and threatening to push into her.

'Do you want it?' he asked her. 'Eleanor, do you want my cock in you?'

'Yes,' she whispered. Her hands fisted in his hair. She pulled him into her.

'Louder,' he said, 'do you want me inside you?'

'Oh yes, yes please, please Josh, now Josh.'

She writhed and moaned, splayed out on his bed, desperate at that moment to feel him inside her and without further warning, he plunged into her so hard and so deep she cried out with pleasure.

# TWENTY-ONE

Lizzie had always loved her Job as an interior designer and she had long ago realised that it was more of a calling than a job really. Five years ago, she had bought the business and now owned it completely outright and these days her clients mostly came from recommendation and word of mouth which was a truly marvellous position to be in.

It always surprised her just how many people couldn't use their imagination, couldn't see past a room with dark paint or mouldy walls or whatever although she was of course very grateful because it was that lack of imagination in most of her clients that kept her and her team gainfully employed. She loved working with traditional character all the way through to super modern – and it was always such a delight to be given carte blanche because a client trusted her to deliver the brief to their exact specification.

Today her latest client, Mr Sam Walker, had booked direct with Sunetra, her receptionist and the fact that he was Josh Walker's brother meant that he was able to jump through all the usual vetting procedures that the agency employed. Sensible, discreet security was something that was very important to the design agency and although she had never met Sam, she had heard a lot of good things about him from Ellie, not least that he was a thoroughly decent man as well as being tall and rather attractive. Just before she was set to leave her office, she picked up a call from Mr Walker confirming the address where they were to meet and she set off for her meeting with a little excitement, waving a cheery goodbye to her colleagues. 'Wish me luck,' she said.

Lizzie parked her car in the underground car park at the apartment block as requested and took the lift up to the top floor, the penthouse, and the doors opened just at the allotted time.

A man stepped forward to greet her and took her outstretched hand.

'Lizzie Stephens,' she said, 'from the Stephens Booth design agency. I hope that you are expecting me Mr Walker.'

He was tall and quite attractive although not really her type, which was probably just as well as despite all the invitations that she had received from various clients, she loved her husband so much she just wouldn't do anything to jeopardise their lives together and it just made it easier somehow if they weren't attractive.

'Oh yes,' he said, 'I've been looking forward to it, please come in.'

As she moved down the hallway into the large living space, she was sure that she felt a hand stroke her back and a small shiver rippled through her. Quickly she turned and looked at him but he simply smiled at her and said, 'Make yourself at home.' She must have dreamt it she thought.

They made small talk about the weather and what a great summer they were having until he said, 'What can I get you to drink; I think I have most things, vodka, and whisky?'

'Oh no, it's too early for me and I never drink while I'm working,' she replied. 'Tonic water or a coffee would be great.'

'Well I think you might just have chosen the two things that I don't have,' he said and laughed, 'but I'll have a look to see what I can find.'

'Well, just water if not,' she called after him.

He came back quite quickly and handed her a glass of clear sparkling liquid which she thought was probably tonic water. He had a similar glass in his hand and after a short moment, he sat down next to her, on the large corner sofa - right next to her, somehow, just too close.

Lizzie suddenly began to feel a little uncomfortable, her instinct told her that there was something that was not quite right and she took a rather nervous long swallow of her drink. She jumped up and began to wander around the large room.

'So Mr Walker, do you have something specific in mind? It's just that this is already a lovely room, but Sunetra, my receptionist told me that you wanted the whole apartment remodelled \- is that right?'

'I think it depends really,' he said.

'On what?' she replied.

'On how good you are, Ms Stephens. So how good are you?'

Now she felt a little more comfortable, on familiar ground, here was someone who didn't know her and it was up to her to prove to him that she knew what she was doing. Many of her clients needed to hear who she had worked for before and indeed that each client made the decision of what he or she wanted after they were satisfied with the design boards.

'The way that it usually works with most of our clients,' she said, 'is that they tell me the type of look they are hoping to achieve, for example, modern, traditional, contemporary, and then, if they have a particular preference for colour, bold or pale, stripes or plain and so on and then I come up with some sketches and we can take it from there. But please don't worry; I'll keep doing sketches until you are completely happy with the designs.'

'Well therein lays the problem I think Ms Stephens, or can I call you Lizzie?' he asked.

'Please do,' she replied, 'but tell me about the problem so that I can try to sort it out before we start.'

Now he got up from the sofa and said, 'Please do sit down Ms Stephens, it's just that you may be shocked at the way that I like to do things, or at least the way I am going to do this with you.'

'Oh and how is that?' Lizzie questioned, and as she moved to sit down on the sofa, she realised that she felt rather hot and a little shaky on her feet.

'The truth is Lizzie, I know that you are going to find that I'm not like most clients, you will find, I'm certain, that your experiences with me will be very, very different to any other clients that you have met.'

'I... I... I...' she replied, 'I'm sssso sorry,' she stuttered, 'what was that you said? I'm really not feeling very well, I can't seem to keep my eyes open and it's so hhhot in here.'

The man just caught the glass of clear liquid as it fell from Lizzie's hand and as her eyes closed and she slumped back on the sofa, he scooped her up and carried her to a door way on the side of the room. Then through a walk-in cupboard filled with mops and buckets and a vacuum cleaner where he reached up to a shelf, moved a few cleaning utensils to one side to reveal a small key pad. He punched in some numbers and the door swung open and still carrying Lizzie, he walked into a small room and he dropped her unceremoniously onto a bed inside.

He smiled to himself; no one would find her in his panic room, what a clever idea. Soundproof, fireproof, waterproof, everything proof and fully equipped with a bed, sink, toilet as well as food and water. She could last for a long time in there, he thought to himself - oh yes, if it became necessary, a long time.

# TWENTY-TWO

Josh still felt worried about Bill Wilson, the man was a madman and a monster and he had no intention of going into all the gory details with Ellie at this time, but he did need her to realise that Bill was dangerous, particularly if he didn't get his own way. Josh knew that Wilson would probably contact Ellie, invent some crap story to explain what happened the last time that they had met and why he had behaved so badly. He would try to get her alone again and if he succeeded, oh God, Josh just didn't want to think about the consequences.

So even though he knew she wouldn't like it, he told Carl to keep a watchful eye on her.

'Make it very discreet,' Josh told Carl, 'because if she gets even an inkling that we are watching her she will think of it as spying on her and then she will go nuts.'

'But boss, you are spying on her aren't you?' Carl said. 'Surely there is another way, why don't you just tell her? I'm sure that she would understand.'

'The thing is Carl, I know her well enough by now to know that she believes in angels – you know, something good in everyone and she'll be thinking that everyone deserves a second chance and that he's paid his dues and so on - I just don't want to take the risk with her.'

'You remember what that fucker did to Alexa don't you? I couldn't bare it if I let that happen again,' Josh said.

'That wasn't your fault, there was nothing that you could have done to protect your sister from him, she had a mind of her own, you know that,' Carl quickly shot back. 'Look, don't worry, I'll keep my eye on things, I can see that she means a lot to you and I want you to feel happy whilst you are away sailing across to the Balearics. Anyway, which island is it this time?'

'Menorca,' Josh replied, 'we're going to cast off about three in the afternoon tomorrow to catch the right tides.'

'Who have you got to crew this time,' Carl asked.

'Jack and my little brother Sam are coming with me so should be good fun too.'

'OK, I'm off to see Eleanor. She is cooking for me tonight and I'm not quite sure what to expect, she always seems so capable at things. I know that I am really terrible at eating anything that I don't like, I simply can't eat anything I don't like and I am a little concerned about insulting her cooking. I think that she must have a chink or two in that armour of hers somewhere don't you think, and oh dear, what if it's her cooking?'

'I really couldn't say boss,' Carl replied, 'but I'm sure that she'll let you know when she is ready, and think about it, I doubt that she's invited you to dinner if she thinks that she won't make it a success. Perhaps she'll order a take away.'

'Yes that's true, good thinking,' Josh said. But he still felt rather anxious.

Once Carl had dropped him off, Josh nodded to the concierge as he walked through the double doors of Ellie's building.

'Hello Mr Walker, how are you, all well I hope?' the concierge asked, tipping his hat politely.

'Yes, I'm well thanks George and how are the lovely Mrs Martin and the girls, everyone well?'

'Yes,' George beamed, 'they are all so well and they always ask after you - I hope you know that we are so grateful.'

'Well there's no need for that,' Josh said. 'I'm just so pleased that you are here George and it's a great comfort to me to know that you are overseeing things and I'm glad everyone is well.'

The lift arrived and Josh strode inside and pressed the button for Ellie's floor.

George had been very good to Josh when he was a school boy frightened of a violent father, desperately trying to protect his younger brother and sister from his father's anger. They had run away and were fortunate enough to meet up with George Martin who was a concierge of a cheap hotel on the outskirts of town. He knew of an empty room in the place and allowed them to stay there, keeping them fed and safe until they could get back to their mother. Josh had never forgotten his kindness and over the years, he kept an eye on George. Until a day came when George had invested all his money in some scam and promptly lost everything and with a wife and two young children to support, he was in big trouble.

So when Josh bought the Pantiles apartment building as an investment, he knew he needed a friendly head concierge and he approached George to fill the position. George, a decent but proud man, was reluctant to take on something he felt was a handout.

Josh persuaded him that he would be doing him a big favour as he'd heard of complaints about the other staff in the building and he wanted to make sure that the Pantiles was the best run, most friendly apartment block in the area. 'A much better investment then, you see,' Josh told George.

A three bedroom apartment and a good salary went along with the position and everyone was happy.

When he got to Ellie's apartment he buzzed on the door and held the bottle of champagne in front of the little peep hole so that was all she could see, and then he realised that was a stupid thing to do if he wanted to encourage her to be security conscious, so he quickly moved it and stood to show his face instead.

He heard a voice from the other side of the door saying, 'Not today thank you, come back next week!'

Josh just laughed and said, 'But Miss, I have a special invitation for dinner.'

The door opened wide and Ellie stood there with a huge smile on her face. 'So a special invitation eh? And who gave you this special invitation can I ask?'

'Well actually, it was you,' Josh replied. 'Have I come at a bad time?'

'I see you've brought your entry ticket, well done,' she said, looking down at the bottle he held. 'Just get in here,' she told him laughing. 'That champagne will always get you in as far as I'm concerned, I love the stuff, don't you? If you remember where the glasses are perhaps you can get a couple. I'm sure there are some champagne flutes in the cupboard somewhere,' she said as she dashed back into her bedroom.

Josh looked around her apartment, it looked lovely. Lots of candles burned in a green glass bowl on a small wooden sideboard. A dining table was set for two just by the large glass doors which opened onto the terrace and a green glass hurricane lamp burned brightly on the table outside.

The food, whatever it was, smelled delicious and Josh realised with a stab of annoyance that his tummy was rumbling with hunger.

He found the glasses in the kitchen cupboard and walking back into the lounge. His eyes fell on the big sofa and flashbacks of hot sex with Ellie came unbidden into his head. He took a deep breath and called out to her, 'Do you have a bottle cooler for the bubbly?'

She was right there. 'Yes,' she said softly, 'in the sideboard over there, I'll get it.'

'You look lovely, as ever,' he said. 'I love the clothes you wear.' She wore a purple silk shirt dress and strappy purple sandals.'

'Green really suits you but that sort of purple colour looks good on you too,' he went on.

'Well thanks, you always look good too,' she said.

'Tell me then.' he replied, 'do you prefer your men in suits or in Jeans, you know casual or smart?'

'My men?' she said with a smile. 'Well all my men are all different. My dad for example often wore a trilby hat and sometimes a flat cap when he played golf. He almost always wore a shirt and tie and I think that was because he felt the most comfortable like that. He felt that if he looked smart, he couldn't go wrong. Having said that, I like a man like you to look very smart in a good quality suit and a nice shirt, not so bothered about the tie, although ties do have their uses,' she said with a smile, 'but tight jeans and a well fitted white dress shirt can look good too, so I guess it depends on the occasion.'

'What do you mean a man like me?' he said. 'Do you mean that you have different dress codes for different men in your life?'

'Of course not,' she said. 'It was actually meant to be a compliment, but you're not very good at those are you, I mean taking compliments? A man like you with a body like yours looks good in virtually anything, or nothing as it goes, but there is something about Josh Walker in a smart suit that is particularly appealing.'

'Oh,' said Josh, not quite sure how to respond to her very flattering words.

'You did ask,' she said with a laugh. 'So where is this champagne, or have you just brought that along for show,' she said pointing at the bottle.

'Oh, yes, sorry, right,' he said. 'Might be best to open the bottle out there on your terrace in case it makes a mess.'

'Right,' she said, 'sounds good to me.' She grabbed the glasses and the bottle cooler and moved through the doors; Josh followed her outside. He opened the bottle with a flourish, expertly getting the right amount of pop and the right amount vapour without any mess at all. He proceeded to pour a glass for each of them, then picked up both glasses and handed one to Ellie.

'Here's to you,' he said, 'and here's to tonight and thank you so much for inviting me, it's great to be here. You probably have already heard my embarrassing tummy rumbles,' he said. 'I should probably tell you that any food smell does that to me. No, I didn't quite mean that how it sounded. What I meant was that the quality of the food doesn't matter, I can smell food of any kind and my tummy rumbles - oh dear, I'm making this worse aren't I, shall I just shut up.'

'Why are you so nervous tonight?' Ellie asked him. 'This just seems so out of character for you.'

'It's being with you I guess,' he said rather sheepishly.

'Yeah, yeah,' she said. 'Well let's eat shall we.'

Potted mackerel with granary toast was a marvellous starter and helped to calm Josh's food anxiety, at least a little and the main course of beef Bourguignon with dauphinoise potatoes and green beans was so delicious that he forgot what he was nervous about in the first place.

They talked about family, about dreams as well as what was around the corner. Josh told her about his short sailing trip to Menorca the next day and how much he loved sailing and that he was really looking forward to it, although he said he would miss seeing her. He told her that he would probably be out of contact for a day or two. 'Maybe one day you could come with me, on a short sailing trip I mean,' he said.

'Oh wow, I would love that,' Ellie said.

'Really?' asked Josh, 'you would like to come on a boat sailing with me.'

'Oh yes of course, I thought you'd never ask.' she said. 'I thought I'd dropped enough hints, but obviously got that wrong.'

'I thought that you wouldn't want to come,' he replied, 'it's just that most women...'

'You are not going to start with that most women crap again are you?' Ellie replied. 'I'm sure I've told you that I am not most women.'

'You, Eleanor Montague, are not like any women that I have ever known, but I'm still getting used to that and the truth is it's still a surprise, so sometimes I make the wrong call – OK? You make me feel that I can say anything and it will still be alright,' Josh said.

'When I was younger, my brother and sister and I had a rather strict upbringing and when alone at night times, as I grew older, I longed to be free enough to do something just for the sake of it. 'Do it like it doesn't matter,' I used to say to myself. We had to do everything properly, never break a rule, never allowed anything out of place, so much attention to the detail of getting something right and along with forever being told that I was completely useless, just meant that there was no attention to joy and happiness that you could get from just doing a thing... Do you see what I mean?' he went on.

'So now I find that with you I feel that I am free enough, you make me feel free enough - and I want to fuck like I don't care, make love like I don't care and then if I'm lucky, to love like I don't care and that for me will be the absolute epitome of caring.'

'Anyway, don't mind me,' Josh said. 'I'm rambling now - my passionate side peeps through sometimes, and I have to knock it down – back into its box.'

They were quiet for a few moments, lost in their own thoughts perhaps and then Ellie said, 'If it's any consolation, I've never met a man quite like you either. Just when I think I'm getting to know you a little, the next time we meet, you are a big surprise all over again. A man that is so willing to share what he feels about things is unusual and kind of disarming in a way. Then there's the way you talk dirty sometimes, that just blows me away.'

'Me, talk dirty? I'm sure I don't know what you mean,' he chuckled.

'Do you know?' he said, 'before coming here tonight, when I thought about this evening, I admit that I was a little anxious about it.'

'Why?' she asked.

'Well you are such an accomplished person I knew that there would have to be something that you were rubbish at and I was very concerned that it would be cooking. I know myself better than anyone and I know that I just cannot eat something if I don't like it, so I thought that I would end up insulting your cooking and you would throw me out and never speak to me again.'

'So is that some sort of back handed compliment?' she asked, 'does it mean that you enjoyed the food?'

'Well I wouldn't go that far,' he said.

'What?' she said. Ellie knew that she was a decent cook so pretended to be a little insulted.

'No, I'm joking really, the food was terrific, you are a great cook. I really loved it, delicious, although I am rather disappointed that there are were no grapes peeled or otherwise.'

'Ah, but we haven't had dessert yet,' she said.

'Oh damn, did my jokes peak too early,' he asked.

'On the contrary, I must have missed all the other jokes,' Ellie said, 'so I've assumed that was your first joke.'

'Really,' he said. 'Well, since we are discussing assumption, my assumption is that you will be dessert.'

'I see,' she said, 'that's a hell of an assumption.'

'I disagree, I think it's perfectly reasonable,' he said.

'How so?' she replied.

'You've told me that I have a good body.'

'Did I?' she said.

'Then you said that I look good in nothing at all.'

'I'm sure I didn't say that,' she said, smiling like a Cheshire cat.

He stood up slowly, picked up his chair and moved it next to hers so that when he sat down again he was very, very close to her.

'Oh, but you did,' he said.

'And do you know something else that I know?' he said.

'I'm sure that you are going to tell me,' she said.

He leaned across and unfastened the top button off her dress, then moved her long hair away and pulled the fabric of her dress back so that her neck was exposed.

'I know that you have a very, very sensitive neck,' he whispered.

He leaned forward again and this time he started to kiss her neck softly as he moved a hand and began to touch and stroke her neck on the other side of her body too.

Her eyes closed, involuntarily her head moved back, her breath began to quicken and her heart began to beat faster and she couldn't help but gasp. It felt so, so good.

'No,' she muttered.

Josh pulled back. 'Do you want me to stop?' he asked.

Her eyes flew open.

'Don't answer that,' he said, 'I don't know why I asked you that because I'm not going to stop. I love your reaction to me, Eleanor, to my kisses, to my touch, to my fingers, to my mouth. I want you every chance I can get.'

He pulled her up from her seat now and took her hand. 'Do you know I've been thinking a lot about kissing your beautiful lips,' he said. 'I have begun to wonder if I kissed you and you kissed me back how long we would last if we agreed not to use our hands at all. I think it would be almost impossible for me to kiss you without touching you in some way. What do you think could you manage without touching me?'

'Only one way to find out,' she said and she stood and blew out the candles then took his hand and guided him into her bedroom. Once inside, she closed the door and he turned to her and began to kiss her, lightly, softly at first, then as she responded, he kissed her even more passionately and deeply. His hands moved to her backside to pull her body sharply into his, she felt his arousal pressing into her thigh and his hands now moved up under her dress to feel for almost her naked ass inside her Brazilian style panties.

'I love your back side,' he said, 'as he abruptly stopped kissing her. 'Your skin is so soft.'

His mouth now went to her neck, briefly nipping and biting and she knew that she was wet for him.

'So much for no hands,' she said.

***.

They dozed a little, wrapped up in each other's arms until the light began to filter through the blinds. Josh pulled on a shirt and padded into the kitchen to make them some coffee and to look around for some juice. He found a tray and brought the coffee, milk, sweetener and two glasses of the juice that he had found back into the bedroom and kissed her gently and stroked her cheek to wake her.

They drank the coffee and juice and cuddled up. Josh began to feel a stirring deep in his core again as he looked at this gorgeous woman beside him and felt the softness of her naked skin under his fingers.

Suddenly she jumped up and wrapped herself in a black silk robe. 'I'm going to clean my teeth and have a shower,' she announced.

'Oh' he said, clearly disappointed. 'Can I borrow a toothbrush?'

'Give me a few minutes and I'll find you one,' she replied.

Once she had cleaned her teeth and washed her face and pinned up her hair she looked around and found him a toothbrush.

Her bathroom was more of a wet room, a large powerful shower with multiple jets at varying heights and a curved tiled wall obscured it from the basin and vanity unit.

'How are you doing in there?' he called. 'Did you find me a tooth brush or can I borrow yours?' he asked.

'Come in,' she said, 'there's a toothbrush by the sink.' He came in to the bathroom and picked up the toothbrush and began to brush his teeth as he heard her singing softly.

'If I didn't know better, I'd hang my hat right there. If I didn't know better, I'd follow you up those stairs.'

'The water is lovely and warm,' she said, 'maybe you could wash my back.'

'Oh God yes,' he said, 'that I would love to do.' And he was there, the water running over his naked body, his strong arms went around her and he kissed her tenderly. She moved to pick up a wash sponge and poured shower gel onto to it and moved it across his body. Their eyes locked together, he took the sponge from her and squeezed more soap into it. 'Let me see this dirty back of yours,' he said, 'so I can wash it I mean.' She turned around and he began to soap her down, slowly moving the sponge across her shoulders and down her back He turned her around again and gave her the sponge as this time he squirted soap straight onto his hands. They slowly washed each other. It felt so erotic, so sensuous as they kissed more deeply, the hot water running over their naked bodies.

# TWENTY-THREE

Josh was busy literally battening everything down, getting the boat ready for sailing. It was a very handsome sixty-four foot motor yacht sailing under the name of _Capische?_ Now, as it bobbed about in its temporary mooring, Josh was pleased at just how good she looked. The short journey would be a good test of her engines as well as the sails and whilst they would have to use all the facilities that the boat had to offer in order to survive the trip, the vessel had to look as good as new when it reached Menorca and the new owner who had paid handsomely for it. Hose Rodriguez, the manager of the Spanish side of the business had employed a cleaning crew to greet the boat when it docked in Menorca and they would clean it to bring it up to Walker Marine standards for a new vessel. After a final inspection and a short business meeting with Josh, Hose would finalise the handover to the new owners.

Sam and Jack arrived together, both carrying supplies of food and drink that, on closer inspection, actually looked like more drink than food.

'It's only a few days you two,' Josh said.' I know you haven't seen each other in a while but hey, we do have a sixty-four foot yacht to manage,' he said laughing.

'Aye, aye captain,' Sam said.

'Quite right boss,' Jack said,' I told him not to buy that much drink.'

'You little shit,' Sam said to Jack, swatting him around the head with a French bread stick that he happened to be carrying, which promptly snapped in half and fell on the floor.

They all laughed happily and the two helpers began to stow away the food and drink ready for the journey.

Further up along the jetty just out of sight, a lone figure stood watching the three men very carefully. It was hard to tell if the person was a man or a woman as he or she was dressed completely in hooded oil skins and boots. As a young seaman walked along the path, he detoured over to talk to the figure and after a short discussion; the seaman accepted a package and something else which he put in his pocket.

As the new yacht and the three friends were about to cast off, the same young seaman stepped aboard and called out, 'Hello down below,' and Josh came clambering up the steps to the deck. 'Hello there,' he said, 'how can I help you?'

'I've got a package for you,' the seaman replied.

'Oh really,' said Josh, 'where did it come from, who is it from?'

'It's a bit mysterious,' the young seaman replied, 'but someone asked me to deliver it to you when I thought you were about to set sail and I was to ask you not to open it until you were well out to sea.'

'Who was this someone?' Josh asked and the young seaman looked and pointed to the now empty spot where he had met the oil skin clad person earlier, but the space was now empty.

'They were just standing there when I walked past earlier,' the Seaman replied, looking a little embarrassed.

'OK, don't worry, and thanks for bringing it over,' said Josh.

He took the parcel and it didn't feel very heavy, so he carried it down below and set it down. As the others gathered around he cut away the outer wrapper and peeled it back to reveal another wrapper with a message scrawled in black felt tipped pen which read...

Don't spoil it – I did ask you to wait before opening it... x

Sam laughed, 'She's getting to know you then. Come on, do as you're told, Sam teased. 'You can wait till tomorrow can't you? Put it in the cupboard and you can get it out then.'

Josh looked back as he manoeuvred the boat out of the harbour and into the sea lane to cross the channel on their chosen route – the water was calm and clear and reflected the deep blue of today's sky.

Josh thought that life was good at the moment. How lucky can one man be, he thought to himself. Business was good, orders where coming in for the new designs, his own boat was coming along very well, things were good with Sam, and whilst he still worried about his sister, Alexa was improving every day and Eleanor was a beautiful, intelligent and wonderful new addition to his life.

She had really got to him, got under his skin somehow and he knew that he really cared for her and he was beginning to fall in love with her. When did that happen he wondered? It was daft, it was crazy, he knew that, but you couldn't deny your feelings although he wasn't sure how she felt about him. She seemed a little uncomfortable when he mentioned anything to do with the way he felt about her and so he tried not to mention it too much, but was that right, or was it best – that was one of Eleanor's sayings – sometimes you have to choose between doing what is right and what is best - and she was so right. Sometimes you had to choose, but it was still difficult and so for now he had decided it was best to keep his feeling to himself.

Josh began to concentrate on sailing and he trimmed the sails, easing the sheet until the leading edge of the sail began to flutter then pulled tighter to stop the flutter to ensure that the sail was trimmed properly and stood back to admire this marvellous yacht as it cut its way through the water.

***

A couple of hours out from Menorca Josh remembered the parcel and went below to retrieve it from the galley cupboard.

He put it up on the table and cut the string and moved off the wrapping to find a large shallow plastic container about two feet wide by about one foot long and a couple of inches deep. Sam suddenly appeared at this moment.

'Ooooooh the parcel, I'd forgotten about that, how exciting,' he said. 'Not exactly fancy packaging is it,' he said. 'I would have thought that Ellie would be more design conscious than that.'

Josh leaned forward to pop open the lid and immediately a very foul stench filled the air - as he pulled off the lid of a whole box of rotten dead fish, guts, mush and blood. 'Oh God what is this?' Josh said.

'Fuck,' he whispered as his eyes fell on to one of the dead fish where a piece of card with the name Ellie scrawled over it was secured by some sort of stick. Then he saw a piece of card secured in the same way on another fish, this time the word Helena was scrawled over it.

Sam rushed off and Josh could hear him retching in the little bathroom. Josh quickly put the lid back down on the plastic box.

'God what is that awful smell,' Jack said as he scooted down the stairs. He took one look at Josh and said, 'What is it, what's the matter?'

As Sam came out of the bathroom, Josh explained to Jack about the box and what they had discovered inside it.

'How horrible,' Jack said. 'Forgive me but what's the significance of the names - Helena and Ellie.'

Sam told Jack that Helena was the name of Josh's first wife and that Ellie was the name of the lady that he is seeing - not just seeing - that he has fallen in love with.

'Wow,' Jack said, 'of course you know the message that this is sending don't you? It's about sleeping with the fishes - death by drowning or at least death or dead in water.'

'Shut the fuck up,' said Josh.

'I'm sorry, I'm only saying,' Jack said.

'Helena was killed in a boating accident, she drowned,' Sam said.

'Bloody hell,' said Jack. 'What are you going to do? You've got to get in touch with this Ellie, she could be in some sort of danger. This is certainly a threat!'

'OK Sam, if you can watch the panel, Jack, go up on deck, make sure all is well, we should be quite close by now,' Josh said. 'I'll phone Carl.'

# TWENTY-FOUR

Lizzie's phone went straight to message again so Ellie assumed that she was just too busy at work and so wouldn't be coming to Zumba today. Ellie had missed a couple of sessions and so she decided to go along just the same, but she made up her mind to tease Lizzie about lack of effort and stamina the next time they spoke.

She saw Bella across the workout room and waved and Bella gestured upwards with a finger followed by the universal symbol for, let's have a drink, and Ellie responded with a big thumbs up.

So after her shower, Ellie found Bella at a table in the little snack area where they usually met and they immediately swopped stories about how unfit they were, how shattered they were feeling, how strenuous the routines were and so on.

'Where's Lizzie?' Bella asked. 'I think she must be busy at work,' Ellie replied. 'I left her a couple of messages and she hasn't responded.'

'She was here last time,' Bella said. 'She was going on and on about her Robert and how happy they are – God it made me cringe. But she didn't say anything about not coming or being very busy when we spoke afterwards. In fact she talked mostly about her concern for you and the fact that you had two men on the go and it was unusual for you.'

'Oh God, that sounds so bad – two men on the go is not really very accurate actually,' Ellie replied.

'Lizzie told me that one of the men - Bill I think, had virtually assaulted you. I know she is inclined to exaggerate a little, so what was that all about?' Bella asked.

'Well, thinking it through, the truth is I was a bit pissed and was most probably flirting outrageously and he got a bit carried away. It's just that he pinned me up against a wall outside that new blues club where we had been for the opening night and anyway, the more I struggled the more he seemed to like it. It was a bit scary if I'm honest.'

'So you mean that you encouraged him then,' Bella said.

'Maybe, but even if I did, he should still have stopped when I asked him to,' Ellie replied quickly.

'Have you heard from him since?' Bella asked.

'Well he has called quite a lot; he has sent some flowers and he is being quite sweet now.'

'Oh,' said Bella, 'so he is still trying hard to win you over.'

'But it's OK, I'm probably not going to see him again anyway.' Ellie said.

'And why is that, didn't you forgive him for getting carried away as you put it?' Bella asked.

'It's not that, it's just that the other man...'

'This is number two then?' Bella interrupted.

'Well I suppose so,' Ellie laughed. 'Well anyway, the other guy, number two – Josh, I am beginning to really like him and I think he likes me too. He wants to take me sailing; he sends me flowers and buys me presents for no reason. He is very attentive and he seems to want to see me a lot and sort of take care of me, which is all so very flattering.'

'You sure it's not just about sex?' Bella said coldly.

'Well I admit to start with that is what I thought,' Ellie replied, 'because that is what most men are interested in, aren't they, and we did agree that we wanted company and sex and nothing more.'

'I suppose if you think about it, why would he want you for anything else?' Bella said.

'Sorry?' Ellie asked, 'that' a bit harsh isn't it?'

'Well that wasn't my intention,' Bella said. 'I'm just trying to be realistic. That man, Josh Walker has got so much money and power he can have whatever he wants. Have you seen all the beautiful women he hangs out with? I know you can't believe everything you read in the papers or in the gossip columns and celebrity blogs and so on, but I'm sure I read somewhere that he had got back together with the love of his life, that stunning model Shelly Somersby now that she's back over here for good.'

'Oh,' said Ellie, obviously shocked, 'I didn't know that.'

'Yes, and apparently,' Bella continued, 'Shelly has gone sailing with him for a few days, she loves his boat.'

'Oh, I really didn't know that she was the love of his life,' Ellie replied, a little stunned now.

'Oh God yes,' Bella went on almost gleefully. 'I thought everyone knew that, he was a broken man when she left the country, apparently, so of course that's why he is so delighted that she is back.'

Bella looked up at Ellie. 'You look a little pale are you OK?' she asked.

'Yes, I'm alright, just feeling a bit stupid for thinking that there could be more to it than a quick wham, bam, thank you ma'am.'

'Well that's men for you,' Bella said bitterly. 'But they all get what they deserve in the end.'

'But I will have it out with Josh,' Ellie said, staring off into the distance.

'Why bother, hasn't he hurt you enough?' Bella asked.

'You are probably right,' Ellie said, 'but I made assumptions with him before and I got it wrong, so I promised him and myself that I wouldn't do that again. I wouldn't just run or shut him out without talking about it first.'

'Well I think you're nuts, you should just cut him off at the knees and let him stew and as for that Bill character - do the same to him, although he sounds like a more decent man than the other one if you ask me. So maybe cut him off at the ankles,' she said and smiled up at Ellie who couldn't help but smile back.

'Let's change the subject,' Bella said. 'You obviously like the water and so do I. There is a little lake close to where I live where they hire out row boats and little sail boats. We could pack ourselves a picnic and go out on the water have some fun – what do think - do say you'll come?'

'That does sound good,' Ellie said. 'OK, let's make a date.'

Bella smiled a triumphant smile as the next part of her plan clicked into place.

They said their goodbyes and Ellie was pleased to be getting to know her new friend a little better and mildly excited about going boating with her soon.

But she still went home feeling down and disappointed by the Josh thing. Ellie wished Lizzie had been around. Lizzie could always put a positive spin on things.

Where was Lizzie, Ellie wondered?

It simply wasn't like Lizzie not to return calls, so she decided to drop by to the offices of the Stephens Booth design agency in town.

The offices were quite plush in a classic minimalist way – white leather sofas with strong purple accents in desk chairs and sofa cushions. Wooden floors with a steel band around the perimeter which was repeated with a grey/silver border on the walls and modern art and sculpture was scattered around on the walls and tables and the overall look was striking.

As Ellie walked into reception, the pretty receptionist looked up and smiled warmly at her. 'Hello stranger, how are you?' she asked.

'Hello Sunetra,' Ellie replied. 'I'm fine thank you, and yes you are right, it has been a while since I've been in – but you are looking very well, been away?'

'Yes,' Sunetra replied, 'the Caribbean, it was marvellous. Anyway, what brings you here today?'

'I've come to make a surprise visit to Lizzie. Is she in and can she fit me in for five minutes by any chance, do you think?'

'Lizzie?' the receptionist replied, looking slightly embarrassed. 'Eh no, she's not in, she's on holiday. I'm surprised she didn't tell you although I think it was a bit sudden.'

'On holiday, Ellie said, where has she gone?'

'Well I don't know, she just left this note on my desk this morning,' Sunetra said, holding out the note for Ellie to read.

Something's come up and I'll be away for a few days.

Please move any appointments accordingly.

Thanks

L

To Ellie, the type looked rather cold and lost on the large sheet of white paper and somehow seemed completely out of character with the warmth that Ellie knew her friend Lizzie possessed.

'When did she give you this?' Ellie asked Sunetra.

'It was just on my desk when I came in this morning. I admit I was a little surprised and I wondered if it had anything to do with Mr Walker, he did sound so nice on the phone,' Sunetra replied.

'Mr Walker?' Ellie said quizzically. 'What about Mr Walker?'

'Lizzie had a consult with him yesterday. I spoke to him; he said that you recommended this agency and Lizzie. Lizzie said she had heard so many good things about him from you and so we skipped most of the security checks we usually do. Lizzie said it would be fine because you knew him.'

'Are we talking about Josh Walker?' Ellie asked.

'Oh no, it definitely wasn't Josh Walker,' Sunetra replied. 'Can't quite remember the first name but it will come to me, give me a minute.'

'Well that's a relief, I think,' Ellie said. 'Josh is on a sailing trip,' and with a sinking heart she remembered it was a trip with Shelly.

'Sam!' Sunetra shouted out, 'it was Sam Walker.'

'Oh right,' Ellie said. Yes, Sam, that made more sense now but had she mentioned Lizzie to Sam? She didn't think she had mentioned her at all and had she mentioned Sam to Lizzie? Well possibly as she did have that heart to heart with him, but why rush off on a trip. Maybe she just wanted to spend some quality time with her husband Robert. She'd get all the details when Lizzie was back from her trip.

'Oh well,' said Ellie, 'I feel happier now; I do know Sam Walker and I quite possibly recommended Lizzie to him as she is such a talented designer.'

When she finally made it back to the Pantiles, her apartment block, Ellie couldn't help but notice the black Mercedes parked at the curb outside and as she walked up to the large double doors of the building, Carl, Josh's assistant jumped out of the driver's seat.

'Hello Ellie,' he said 'how are things with you?'

She stopped and answered him politely. 'I'm very well thank you Carl and what about you, things OK with you?'

'Yes thanks,' Carl said.

'Good, then don't let me keep you,' she said and continued on toward the entrance to the building.

'Look I need to talk to you - Josh asked me to talk to you about something very important,' he replied.

She turned on him then. 'Look Carl, I don't mean to be rude because I know it's not your fault but frankly I can't believe that he would get someone else to do his dirty work for him.'

'But,' Carl said, 'you don't understand.'

She raised a hand to silence him. 'I understand very well, I don't need any messages from him, I'll talk to him when I'm ready, if I'm ever ready that is. So thank you and good bye.'

And with that she turned around and quickly entered the building and sprinted to the open lift, leaving Carl standing on the curb looking lost.

'Shit,' said Carl out loud. 'Shit, shit, shit. He won't be happy!'

She had already deleted a couple of messages from Josh and three from Bill, so when Ellie got back up to her apartment she called Mitch at the shop to check everything was OK and then logged on to check her emails.

Mitch told her all was well and that Bill Wilson had called a couple of times wanting to discuss some music contract. Sales for the week were good, Mitch had told her and one of the vintage Gibsons had been sold for full money. She congratulated him on the sale and thanked him for looking after things so well.

Next she started to check through her emails and was a little disturbed to read a message from Robert, Lizzie's husband, who said that he was worried about Lizzie and would Ellie call him as he wanted to talk.

Ellie phoned him right away but his phone went straight to message and so she left Robert a message suggesting they meet for lunch at the Barley Rooms the next day.

When she ended the call she wondered what Lizzie had got herself into and she felt a little trickle of worry drip into her head for a moment until she shook herself and told herself that everything would be fine.

Her eyes fell on the flowers, still bright and alive from a few days ago and she thought about Josh and the evening they spent together and now he was sailing out there in the dark somewhere with bloody Shelly Somersby; and who did he think he was sending his assistant to break the news to her? Well he could just fuck off, she wasn't interested in him anymore, she told herself, but to her dismay that thought made her suddenly feel very sad and alone. Ellie had really liked him, she could imagine spending time with him, lots of time, and her eyes filled with tears at the thought of that loss. She let the sadness wash over her for a short while, but then with her usual steely determination, she shook her head and loaded her work screen on to her computer to catch up on letters, orders and emails that she knew were overdue.

# TWENTY-FIVE

'Don't let her out of your sight,' Josh told Carl. 'I'm relying on you to keep her safe until I can get back there.'

'But boss, I tried to talk to Miss Montague, reason with her, but she won't listen. She's very angry about something,' Carl replied.

'Look, I know how stubborn she can be, she won't return any of my calls either. So keep her in your sights, but be discreet, if she doesn't know you are there, she won't get angry. Just take that white van, she won't notice that, and report back to me where she is and what's she's doing,' Josh instructed.

'Boss are you sure this isn't spying?' Carl asked.

'I've told you about the box of dead fish haven't I, and the one with Eleanor's name on it? I just want to be careful that's all. You get that don't you after Helena, surely you get that?'

And so Carl sat in the white unmarked company van, watching discreetly from a distance as Ellie sat at table with a smart dark haired man probably in his forties. Carl wondered whether to tell Josh about the man, knowing that Josh wouldn't be happy.

'Hey Robert,' Ellie called. She waved as she came down the street toward the cafe. Robert stood up to greet her, kissing her gently on both cheeks.

'What can I get for you to drink?' he said. 'I've just ordered a beer.'

'I'd love a cold white wine, Chablis or similar,' she replied.

Robert lifted his hand, a waiter immediately appeared and they ordered their drinks and a light lunch.

They exchanged a few pleasantries and then Robert said, 'Thanks so much for coming Ellie. I'm just not sure what to do about Lizzie. I'm so worried about her and you know I do love her so.'

As they ate their lunch, Ellie felt a pang of sadness as she saw the love and worry in Robert's eyes. 'Oh Robert,' she said, 'you know I love Lizzie too. Tell me about it, what has happened and how can I help?'

'She's been a bit flighty recently, working hard, wanting to get fit, asking me If I'm happy, asking if I thought that it was wrong to be happy when so many people out there were unhappy. She told me that she had met a new friend called Bella and I wondered if this Bella put these ideas into her head.'

'What ideas?' Ellie asked.

'Ideas like maybe she wasn't good enough and needed to change in some way,' he quickly replied.

'I must admit, I was surprised that she would go on holiday without you,' Ellie said.

'On holiday,' Robert said, 'I didn't know that she had gone on holiday.'

'Well truthfully it was an assumption on my part. It's just she told them at work that she was going away for a few days - I assumed with you,' Ellie said.

'Well to start with she told me that she had a new client that you had recommended, someone called Sam Walker. She was excited about meeting him and designing his apartment, mainly I think because it was a penthouse on the south side of the park. She said he was your boyfriend's brother, is that right? Then she told me that she needed some time apart, a couple of days to sort things out,' Robert said.

'For the record, Josh Walker is not my boyfriend anymore, he's gone back to someone he loved in a previous life, but that's irrelevant at the moment. Anyway, didn't you talk to Lizzie about her wanting time apart and about finding out where she was going,' Ellie asked.

'No, I didn't get the chance to talk to her at all; she left a note on my windscreen, he said sadly.

'On your windscreen? Oh Robert, that's a bit odd isn't it, a bit out of character, not like Lizzie at all.'

'Yes, yes, I agree, my Lizzie would never be so cold, so that's why I'm so worried. Where would she go? She's not picking up any calls either. Oh Ellie, when she didn't come home last night I was so worried. The thing is, we are happy, I love her and I know that she loves me and the kids. Oh God, I don't know what to do, what if she's found someone else to love – maybe this Sam Walker?' he asked and he put his head in his hands.

'OK Robert, now listen to me,' Ellie said. 'Maybe she is having a mid life thing. You know she has a lot to do, she is always busy with the design agency, and she has you and the children to look after. Perhaps it's just got a bit too much. Bella is a new friend for me too, she has a few strange ways but she seems basically nice, so I can't imagine it's anything to do with her. Sam Walker is a good man, he works with his brother Josh at Walker Marine and is already married and doesn't strike me as someone who would go off for a fling with someone he has just met; and anyway, it was only recently that Lizzie was telling me how much she loved you so I'm certain she doesn't have someone else. So I think that maybe we should just give her some space, give her a few days as she asked.'

'Yes, you are right, she deserves to have some of her own time, I just wish she'd talked to me about it - but maybe she knew that I would talk her out of it or suggest going with her.' He made a mental note to find this Sam Walker to see if he knew anything. If he was as nice a person as Ellie had implied then Robert was sure he wouldn't object to the call.

'No, you are right, if she needs a few days, than a few days is what we should give her. You're a good friend Ellie, can we talk again?' Robert asked.

'Of course,' Ellie replied. 'Let's stay in touch and when you hear from Lizzie, please do let me know.'

As Ellie and Robert said their goodbyes, they couldn't know that Lizzie lay drugged and alone on a sumptuous bed in a luxurious panic room in an apartment, not far from where the friends sat and talked about where she was and if she was OK.

***

Carl knew that he had to report back to Josh but he didn't like it. He knew instinctively that his boss really felt something strong for this woman Eleanor, he would never usually act this way using Carl to follow a woman he was involved with. Carl knew that he had never really got over the death of his first wife Helena. His boss was usually quite a serious, controlled sort of man and he didn't allow women to get under his skin. He just saw them as company and pretty things to have on his arm, to take to functions. He had escorted some extremely attractive women, even Isobel his second wife had been very attractive in a blonde, bubbly sort of way, but they didn't seem to do much together and Carl knew quite early on in their relationship that Isobel didn't make Josh happy. It was a marriage on the rebound from losing Helena, who had been friends with Isobel. Carl loved Josh, he had known him since they were youngsters together and Josh had always been there for him and more recently for Maggie. From the things that Josh did and said he could see that Ellie was special to him and so he dialled the number to speak to his boss.

'What's happening Carl, is everything OK? Josh said; anxiety loud in his voice.

'Yes, all is OK boss. She met with a man yesterday and they had lunch together, they seemed like friends.'

'Did she touch him?' Josh asked. 'Did they kiss?'

'Well as I said, they seemed like friends and I was a long way off,' Carl replied.

'So that's a yes then is it Carl? Look, I don't need protection, I just want to know.'

'Yes they kissed but I'm sure it was a friendship thing,' Carl said.

'But now, and please don't shoot the messenger,' Carl went on, 'she is walking down the street with Bill Wilson.'

'What? How has that Fucker got into her again? Oh my God, I've got to back there, I know what he is capable of. It was probably Wilson that sent me that box of dead fish. Don't let anything happen to her, just stay with her Carl.'

# TWENTY-SIX

The pieces were like blocks on a jigsaw puzzle, but now as everything came together, he knew it was almost time to play his cards, his ace, his winning hand - a hand that he knew she would not be able to trump, not be able to resist and there it was again that rapacious smile.

Bill called Ellie several times before he accepted that she was not going to respond to his calls and then he decided that he would just have to go to her.

She really was an infuriating women, but having tasted her and felt her skin under his fingers he knew that he simply had to have her, had to dominate her, had to make her his. He couldn't help himself, he knew that he had been foolish the last time, too forceful and out in the open, what was he thinking? This time he had planned it properly, she would be unable to refuse him, he would make sure of that.

He arrived at _Musical Madness,_ Ellie's shop, late morning and watched her arrive at around 11.30. Perfect, he thought to himself, I'll invite her for a harmless lunch at Luigi's so that we can walk there together and have a nice conversation and at some point I can explain things to her.

Just after midday, Bill walked into the shop to find Ellie holding a guitar, talking to a client about strings and tuning. She looked up at him and nodded hello. Bill wandered around the store, admiring the various pieces of musical equipment until Mitch approached him.

'Can I help you in anyway, or are you here for a look around?' Mitch asked.

I'm Bill Wilson, I'm sure we've spoken on the phone at some point. I'm here for Ellie,' Bill replied, looking Mitch squarely in the eye.

'Yes of course, hello Mr Wilson, I'm sure she won't be long. Can I get you a tea or coffee or something whilst you wait?' Mitch said.

'No, I'm fine; I'll just wander around until she's free. You've got some fine guitars here,' Bill said. 'Are they for sale or just for show?'

'Yes,' Mitch replied, taking an instant dislike to this rather arrogant man. 'We have lots of fine instruments and whilst it would be great just to keep them all for show, this is a business Mr Wilson, and musical instruments are what we sell here.'

At that moment, Ellie came over, 'Hey Bill, what brings you here, surely you are not looking for a new piano?' she asked laughing 'although we would be happy to sell you one of our Baby Grand Becksteins, or a nice upright Steinway or a Yamaha electric perhaps.'

'It's a lovely thought,' he said returning her smile, 'but no, I've come to see you,' he replied, flicking an eye at Mitch who was still hovering nearby.

'Thanks Mitch,' she said. 'I can handle Mr Wilson from here, perhaps you would just finalise things with Mr Day over there. He wants the Ibabnez.'

'Sure thing,' said Mitch, 'no worries,' and he walked across the store and effectively left them alone.

'So what can I do for you Bill?' she asked.

_God she was lovely,_ Bill thought. _That long hair, green eyes and long, long legs_. She wore tight dark blue jeans today, red high heeled boots and a dark blue velvet shirt. Bloody hell, Bill wondered at how easily she could arouse him.

'You can say that you forgive me for being an idiot, you can say that you'll listen to this fool apologise, you can say that you will come to lunch with me to show that you've accepted my apology. Please say that you will come.'

'I'm not sure Bill,' she said, 'I've got so much to do today.'

Ellie remembered her promise to Josh not to be alone with Bill, but what did that matter now, Josh had made his choice and she must make her own choices too.

'Oh please,' he said, 'I've booked a table at Luigi's. It's a lovely day, we can walk there - come on, the fresh air will do you good, do us good.'

As she stood hesitating, Lenny appeared from the basement where he had been sorting some of the sheet music stock. 'All done and correct downstairs boss,' he said.

'OK Lenny,' she said making a decision, 'I'm off out for a while. Mitch is just with a customer, keep an eye on things will you, I won't be that long.'

It was actually a beautiful bright day as they walked along the street together towards Luigi's restaurant. 'Thanks for coming out with me,' Bill said. 'There are a few things that I have to say as well as something that I hope that I don't have to say, but we can wait until we get to the restaurant to talk things through.'

'Bill, there really isn't anything much to talk through,' Ellie said. 'You have apologised, you've sent flowers and so perhaps we should leave at that.'

'Look we are nearly there now,' Bill said, 'you have to have a break, you have to eat and the food here is good isn't it?'

Before she could reply they were outside the restaurant and Bill was there holding the door open for her and she walked through. They were shown to a booth toward the back of the homely Italian restaurant and waiters rushed around to take their order.

After a brief look at the menu, with Ellie's agreement, Bill ordered a bottle of Tempranillo and Spaghetti Bolognaise for two.

'So Bill,' she looked up at him expectantly, suddenly anxious to get this over with. 'What is it that you want to say?'

'Firstly, I want to say that I am so sorry for being such an ignorant pig. For trapping you in the alley the way I did, trying to take advantage like that. I really don't know what I was thinking of because I know that you are not the sort of women that would appreciate that sort of behaviour.'

That ought to convince her, Bill thought to himself.

'My only excuse is that I was a bit tipsy, and was a little flush with my success on stage at the piano, the applause, your appreciation and you, you were so lovely, you are such an outrageous flirt you know.'

'So you are saying that it's my fault then?' Ellie replied.

Yes, he thought, it's all your fault for being so fucking sexy.

'No, not at all,' Bill went on. 'What I'm saying is that it was all my fault. I was just trying to explain how I got to that point, there are no excuses,' he said sweetly.

'I see,' she said, wondering if he really meant what he said. He did sound a bit over the top sweet.

'And I should tell you that I want you so much Ellie, I really have developed some deep feelings for you and I would like you to consider me carefully. I want to court you, to make you mine, and I want to make love to you. I'll worship your body everyday in every way, I'll never look at other women, and no one else will have any meaning for me.'

His words, though very flattering, were vaguely familiar somehow, as if she had heard them before.

'You are very quiet,' he said, 'say something, please.'

'Look Bill, first of all I accept your apology, it's no problem, we all make mistakes and that episode is over now, so let us both put it out of our minds, agreed?' she asked.

'Agreed,' Bill replied.

As to everything else that you've said, it really is very flattering, but it's a bit too much for me and too soon. I don't know you and you don't know me either. I'd like to think that we could work together, so it would never work being romantically involved in any way, now would it – it's just not professional. So can't we just be friends?' she asked.

'It's just too late for that, Ellie,' he said. 'I'm sorry. It's just too late. I had hoped that it wouldn't come to this.'

'What do you mean Bill, I don't understand how it can be too late to stay friends?' she asked.

'Because, being friends with you simply isn't enough for me, I've got to have you. I've touched you, kissed you and I have tasted you and I have to do it again at least once, then we could be friends, maybe. So what do you say? I'm more of a man than that wimp Walker will ever be and you won't know that until I can make love to you – just once Ellie, willingly and then I won't chase you anymore.'

'Oh Bill, what are you saying? You know that it doesn't work that way, it can't work that way. I can't just jump into bed with you; it's got nothing to do with Josh. You are a very attractive man Bill, and I am so flattered by your words; I like you, but not in a romantic or sexual way.'

'That's crap and you know it,' Bill replied rather coldly. 'You came out with me to the Ladybug Ball and I kissed you in the back of the limo. You felt my passion and I felt yours and then, when you agreed to come out with me again to the Blue Edge Club opening I knew when you said yes to that that you wanted me as much as I wanted you. But I rushed you and came on too strong too soon and that fucker Walker just got in my way like he always does, but not this time, oh no, not this time.'

Ellie couldn't help but notice a dreamy but somehow ugly look pass across his face.

'This time I'm going to get my way and nothing will stop me.' He reached across the table and grabbed her hand and pulled it up to his mouth and softly began to bite her knuckles and he kissed her fingers. She tried to pull away but it was impossible.

'I think I'm going to go back to work now,' she said to him. 'Thank you for your apology which I accept and also thank you for lunch.'

But Bill didn't let her hand go - if anything he held it even more tightly. 'Bill, let me go,' she said. 'We are done here.'

'I don't think so,' he said.

Ellie felt a trickle of fear way down inside.

'I've got your friend from Stephens Booth - Lizzie Stephens, delightful woman, very willing,' Bill said very quietly as he released his hold on Ellie's hand.

'What do you mean?' Ellie demanded. 'You've got her, got her where?'

'Well now that would be telling, wouldn't it? She is comfortable, I think, for the moment, anyway, if you do as I ask, then I will release her and she can go back to her family.'

'Are you mad?' she asked Bill. 'You can't just go around kidnapping people, Bill, I'll have to go to the police.'

'Yes, you can do that,' Bill said, 'but if you do, you will never see her again. They pay handsomely for petite women like Lizzie in the Far East; I could make a fortune at auction for her, but you I want for myself.'

'Bill, what are you saying, what is all this about? You must release Lizzie right away.' Ellie said, horror clearly written on her face.

'Yes, I will if you come to my apartment with me now and give me your body just for today and tonight, to do with as I please and then, if I am satisfied, I will let her go back to her family. She will remember nothing and you will say nothing about anything apart from the good sex that you chose to have with me, because if you do, I will take Lizzie again, not tomorrow, not next week but sometime and next time there will be no deal - I already have a buyer lined up for her.'

'You bastard,' Ellie cried, 'is it money. I can find the money, how much do you want?' Ellie demanded.

'Oh no, it's not money, I have more money than I can spend. Woman trafficking is something that I have been doing for quite a while now and it's made me a very rich man, so no, not money. It's you Ellie, having you naked under me, doing my bidding, that in itself is a very arousing and stimulating thought and of course, an extra bonus will be knowing that it will make that fucker Walker so insanely jealous and so mad and he won't be able to do anything about it. He will know that I have had you and I know that he wants you so much.'

'Hah' said Ellie, 'well that is where you are wrong. He has got back with Shelly, so if you are doing this to piss Josh off then you've got the wrong woman in me – it's Shelly that he wants not me, she is the love of his life apparently and he is away sailing with her as we speak.'

'Oh no, my dear, I don't know where you get your information but you are so wrong. Shelly Somersby has gone back to the States to be with the man that she became engaged to when she worked there and Walker is with his brother and some other loser delivering a boat to Menorca.'

Ellie suddenly felt sick - Oh Josh, could this be true? How could she have misjudged him so much - again? What an idiot she had been, but hell, what to do now, what choice did she have? And oh God, Lizzie, she had to help Lizzie. She had no choice she realised with a terrible sickening feeling that she would have to do as Bill asked. She felt trapped and stupid, idiotic pride had got her into this mess and her mind buzzed desperately for a way out, but there was none.

# TWENTY-SEVEN

As they landed in the UK Josh was anxious to get to Eleanor, he had to make her see that Wilson was dangerous but suddenly it was so clear why she still felt that it was OK to see him. It was because Wilson was a charmer; he was a good looking man and a musician too. All qualities that Eleanor could easily be attracted to in a man and all Josh had said was stay away he is dangerous, if only he had explained why he was dangerous, maybe then she would have been more careful.

He thought about his lovely gentle sister, Alexa. She had been so very beautiful, just like their mother, long dark red hair, attractive and sweet. Bill Wilson had befriended them all, he had courted Alexa, turned her head with talk of singing and publishing contracts and a music career, oh yes, he had them all fooled. Too late they discovered that he was grooming her for his seedy Arab auctions where old men would come from the Middle East to bid for and buy young British women to enslave. It was Carl who found her through his maze of foreign contacts and connections, but it took lots of money and big risks. Josh and Sam had finally got her back but not before she had been badly abused. God, the thought of it still filled him with rage and a deep loathing for Bill Wilson. Alexa had never been the same; she spent long periods in utter black depression wanting to take her own life, having feelings of worthlessness which had to be specially treated in private mental health institutions. She had good times, happy times, Sam and Josh made sure of that and they spent lots of times with her talking about the good times that they shared together when George helped them to run away and what fun they had hiding from the big baddy as they called their father back then.

They could never prove that Wilson had any part in it, but Josh and Sam both knew that it was Wilson who trafficked the women for money and organised the filthy auctions where so many innocents were bought and sold. Wilson taunted them with that knowledge sometimes, telling them he would be more successful next time, you won't see me coming and you'll never catch the traffic again. They all knew just what he meant, conceited bastard. Josh felt nothing but cold hatred for him. But Wilson had been out of their lives for years, only surfacing again recently.

He felt sure that if he had told Eleanor about what had happened to Alexa, she would have listened to him. He was angry with himself for holding back. He knew that he should have told her about what Wilson had done but too much pride and the feelings of failing Alexa had got in his way.

When he reached the Reeds, Carl and Maggie were both there in the kitchen and stopped talking as Josh walked it.

'You're back,' Carl said. 'You should have called, I would have picked you up.'

'I managed to slip away early.' Josh replied. 'Why aren't you watching Eleanor and Wilson?'

'I lost them boss,' Carl replied.

Josh was so angry. 'I give you one fucking simple job to do and you blow it. How the hell could you lose her, how did that happen?'

'They were in the restaurant, I waited for them to come out,' Carl said, 'and by the time I realised that they had been in there for too long, it was too late, they were gone. I'm so sorry boss, I wasn't sure what you would want me to do. I couldn't get you on the phone so I came here to wait for you to get back, or at least call me?'

'Well they couldn't have disappeared into thin air; did you go into the restaurant to check?' Josh asked.

'Of course I did boss. I didn't realise but there is a back entrance and a parking area, so Wilson must have had a car waiting there. I checked back at the shop but she didn't get back there.'

'Then he has her, he's taken her. Oh bloody hell, this is a nightmare.' Josh dropped his head in his hands and said, 'it's my fault, I could have prevented this.'

'Maybe we should look at who is to blame later,' Carl said. 'For now we need a plan of how we will find her.'

Josh's phone buzzed, it was Sam. 'I need you and Carl to come over here right away,' he said, 'there is something strange going on and you need to hear about it.'

'We are on our way,' Josh said.

'Before you go, this letter came for you by hand,' said Maggie, holding out a large brown envelope. Josh quickly tore open the flap and pulled out a photograph of a dead fish skewered like before with a stick pushed through a label with the name Ellie written crudely on it.

'What the hell is going on here, another fucking fish reference. This is getting serious. I've got to get the police involved. Who do we know that we can call on Carl?' Josh asked.

'Leave it to me boss, I'll find someone. But perhaps we should get over to Sam's to see what information he might have that could help us find Ellie.'

Sam opened the door for Josh and Carl when they arrived and quickly introduced Robert Stephens, who sat on one of the large sofas in Sam's luxurious apartment and now stood to shake hands.

'So what's going on,' Josh asked, clearly impatient to discover some connection with the current events and this stranger.

'Yes let me explain,' Sam said. When I got back earlier I had a message on my machine from this guy Robert asking me how I had got along with his wife when she came to discuss designs. Obviously I didn't know what the hell he was talking about but I thought it only fair to call him back to tell him so. But when he explained that Ellie had recommended me to his wife's design agency and Ellie and Lizzie were best friends I listened a bit closer. It seems that Lizzie has been AWOL for two days now.'

'And why hasn't he, sorry why haven't you,' Josh said turning to Robert, 'called the police.'

'Well it just seemed over the top at first. She left me a note, you see, explaining that she wanted a bit of time to herself and she would be back in a few days,' Robert said.

'And what has my brother got to do with it?' Josh asked. 'It's just that I called Ellie who is Lizzie's best friend and we had lunch together yesterday.' Josh exchanged looks with Carl, 'and she told me that when she had called in to see Lizzie at work the receptionist, Sunetra told her that Lizzie had left a note for her too which said that she was going away for a few days and it came out in conversation that apparently, on the day she went missing, she had an appointment with Sam Walker, someone that Ellie had apparently recommended and because of that and the connection to you, the agency waived the usual security checks.'

'And now Sam has told me that Ellie has gone missing too. Well I'm very worried that the two things are connected in some way,' Robert said.

'I agree,' Josh said, 'it seems that the fictitious Sam Walker may be the person that has abducted your wife,' Josh replied, 'and possibly Eleanor too. Did the agency have an address?'

'No, apparently Lizzie spoke to the client herself and she kept everything in her personal consult book which she always carried with her,' Robert replied.

'If you don't mind me asking, why are you involved in this?' Robert asked, looking directly at Josh. 'Ellie told me that you two were no longer an item you see. She told me that you had decided to get back together with someone that you had met in a previous life. I don't think she was that happy about it but that is what she said.'

'Bloody hell,' Josh said, 'the woman is so infuriating and she is wrong. But where the hell did she get that information from?'

'I'm afraid it's the internet boss,' Carl said, 'there are pictures of you kissing Shelly all over the place.'

'An innocent goodbye, good luck kiss. Oh fuck, no wonder she wouldn't speak to you Carl or take any of my calls. But we can't worry about that now; we've got to find them both.'

'Did Lizzie say anything about the consultation to you before or after, anything at all?' Carl asked Robert.

'Not really,' he replied. 'She talked about Sam Walker having a penthouse apartment in South Side Park. She said that was one of the incentives for handling the job personally was she would get to work on a penthouse overlooking the park.'

'Do you have any idea who would do this?' Robert asked.

'Yes, I'm afraid I do,' Josh replied, 'and he is very bad news.'

'Now you are scaring me,' Robert said, 'but if you know who it is let's just call the police.'

'Unfortunately it's not that simple,' Sam said, 'because this man is a trafficker in women and if we scare him he may just take the women and run.'

'Oh my God,' Robert said, 'are you serious?'

'Oh yes, we have previous history with this man,' Josh went on. 'He did the same thing to our sister but we could never prove it. I'm sure the police know about him but so far they haven't been able to touch him. He seems to have been abroad for a while but he runs a legitimate business, a consultation agency specialising in music, you see, and that I think helps him to cover up his criminal behaviour.

'I think he must have used Lizzie to lure Eleanor, to her defence, somehow and I know Eleanor well enough to know that she is not stupid, in fact she is very smart and she won't give in to this without a fight. So if that is what has happened she would want to see proof that Lizzie is still in this country and OK,' Josh said.

'We need a strategy,' Sam said. 'Let's get some coffee on the go. We can work out what to do and where they might be.'

'I'm going to contact my man in the police, 'Carl said, 'to see what he might know and I'll get back to you as soon as I've got something to report.'

'I've got a couple of contacts who are known to have Middle Eastern connections,' Robert said. 'I could make a couple of calls to see what might turn up.'

Robert looked around at the expressions of surprise on the faces of the other men.

'I'm a journalist in case you are wondering,' Robert said. 'A political journalist usually but I do get involved in some seedy stuff from time to time, and one builds up contacts and favours along the way, so maybe now is the time to call them in.'

They all looked at him with renewed respect.

'Absolutely,' Josh said, 'whatever you can do, but remember we mustn't flag up that anything is out of the ordinary yet. If I know him, he will want to have Eleanor to himself for a while just so that he can taunt me with it later. Oh God, we haven't got much time. Sam, let's think about penthouse apartments on the Park where could he keep someone unobserved?'

Josh stopped and looked at the men around him, all desperate to do something to find these two vulnerable women. 'Look Carl and Robert,' Josh said, 'can I suggest that you two make your calls to see what you can find out and Sam and I will brainstorm a bit to see if we can come with anything and then we can meet back here in say thirty minutes?' They all agreed.

'I've had a thought,' Sam said, 'wherever he is holding them, it would have to be with an underground car park or Lizzie's car could be spotted. Let's speak to George at the Pantiles, he knows all the local security guards and concierges in these luxury developments. He has always been there for us and I'm sure he will help us again now if he can.'

# TWENTY-EIGHT

'How do I know that Lizzie is OK and still on British shores?' Ellie asked Bill. 'How do I know that I can trust you to keep your word?'

'I suppose you don't,' Bill replied smugly, 'but I will keep my word Ellie as I have given it to you and as long as you do as I ask, things will go as I have said and no one will be hurt. I have Ms Stephens quite close by so I'll take you to her so that you can see for yourself. Come, let's go.'

Ellie moved to walk out the front of the restaurant, hoping beyond hope that the big Mercedes might be there with Carl watching. 'This way,' Bill said grabbing her arm, 'my car is at the back.'

At the back of the restaurant, there was a small car park and a gold coloured Mercedes SL500 with tinted windows was the only car parked there. Bill opened the door for her and with a heavy heart she climbed in. Not for the first time she wondered what was going to happen in the next few hours and how the hell she might get herself and Lizzie out of this mess.

As Bill drove, she looked at him with new eyes and realised for the first time that he probably wasn't her type; not that that mattered now. He was attractive though, she told herself, and he had a well toned body. She needed to feel that way if she was going to be with him sexually.

Oh God what a thought, how the hell am I going to do this, she thought to herself?

There really was no point in fighting it, she decided, it was a fait-accompli, a done deal. Bill held all the cards and he knew it, damn him. But she had her wits and she knew he wanted her and she felt that he would rather have her willingly, so she could use that to her advantage.

They drove around the park and she thought that she recognised the north side and just as she began to get her bearings, the car plunged down into an underground garage. Bill opened the car window and punched in a code and the barrier lifted to allow them access to a dimly lit parking area. Bill turned off the engine and came around to her side of the car to open the door for her.

They travelled up in the lift together in virtual silence all the way up to the penthouse. The doors opened onto a wide hall reception area where two large wooden and glass doors formed the entrance to the apartment. Ellie noticed a small keypad which sat neatly and unobtrusively next to the doors and she closely watched as Bill tapped in a number 7671, she made a mental note seventy six seventy one, seventy six seventy one she repeated it to herself.

'Please come in,' Bill said, 'make yourself at home.' As she stepped over the threshold and into the room she felt the door click shut behind her, too late to turn back, too late to alert anyone.

'I'd like to see Lizzie,' Ellie said. 'You told me I could see her with my own eyes. I need to make sure that she is OK. You gave your word Bill, remember?'

'Yes, yes of course, come,' he said. 'Follow me and you can see her.'

Bill moved across the large sitting room to a door in the wall which seemed to lead into a large dark cupboard.

'I don't like this Bill, you can't be keeping her in a cupboard surely, and it's awful in here,' Ellie said in surprise.

Bill didn't respond. As they came to the back of the cupboard, Bill put his hand up to move some things and Ellie saw another key pad, this time though Bill was too quick and she was unable to see the buttons that he pushed.

'Welcome to my panic room, clever little room,' he said smiling to himself. 'You have to know it's here to know it's here, if you see what I mean.'

The back of the cupboard swung open and inside was quite a large room with a few sticks of furniture, a kitchen area and a large bed where Lizzie lay sleeping.

Ellie rushed over to her friend and she reached out to touch her. 'Lizzie, Lizzie,' she called, 'wake up.' She shook her friend by the shoulders. She felt for a pulse and found one.

'What is the matter with her, why doesn't she wake up?' Ellie asked.

'Ms Stephens is drugged,' Bill said, nonchalantly. 'Better that way, she won't realise her predicament and she won't get frightened.'

'What is she drugged with?' Ellie asked.

'Don't worry, it's a harmless drug, there are no long term effects. It's used a lot in my trade. It's easy to spike someone's drink and once they have passed out, as long as you keep the dose topped up they can stay that way for a while. They remember nothing when they wake up, so you see, it's perfectly ideal for my purposes.'

'Is that it there,' Ellie said pointing to a glass by the side of the bed.

'Yes,' he replied. 'That is water that has been spiked with the drug but I keep my supply in a cool place elsewhere so please don't worry yourself about that.'

'Now let's leave Ms Stephens to her sleep and get on with what you came here for shall we?' he said.

'Did you hurt her, touch her?' Ellie asked him quietly.

'I haven't raped her, if that is what you mean. I don't do that sort of thing and anyway, I've told you it's you I want, I only took her to get to you.'

'So she won't have any after effects then, I mean when she wakes up?' Ellie asked.

'She might have hangover like symptoms and a bit of a bad head,' he said, 'but that is all.'

'Please,' Bill said as they walked back into the main sitting room, 'please do sit down and tell me what I can get you to drink?'

'Nothing thanks I'm fine,' she answered.

'I hope you don't think for one moment that I will drug you, Ellie. I've told you I want you to come to me willingly and I want you to remember just how good it was so that you can tell that moron Walker all about it - so I would be stupid to drug you now wouldn't I?' he asked her.

'Yes, I suppose so,' she said.

'Tell you what,' he said, 'I've got a nice chilled bottle of champagne. I'll bring it in here to open it and we can share it, OK?'

'Sure why not,' Ellie replied as casually as possible.

She was surprised that Bill hadn't taken her bag from her and once he had disappeared into the kitchen, she hastily took her phone from her bag and sent a text to Josh.

Bill help 7671

She clicked send and thrust the phone back in her bag after deleting the message. Oh God, she hoped that Josh could decipher her code, hell what if it didn't send, what if he didn't get it, what if he didn't care?

Then she stood up in her attempt to look casual, and took the opportunity to look around the apartment and realised that it really was sumptuous. Three large sofas dominated the space along with big ornate lamps, gilt framed mirrors and some expensive looking oil paintings. A small glass dining table was set for two with a number of crystal glasses, cutlery and napkins and two dark red candles flickered as the light began to fade outside.

Bill came back into the room carrying two champagne flutes and a bottle of Bollinger. 'I've already prepared dinner,' he said. 'I hope that you like chicken.'

The question almost made her choke. Those same words spoken by Josh just days earlier seemed like a life time ago, so much water under that proverbial bridge.

Let me and Lizzie gets out of this unscathed and I'll make it up to him, I really will - it was a silent prayer.

'I hope that you are happy to do this in the conventional way,' Bill asked.

'What do you have in mind?' Ellie replied.

'Well no one is going to find you. In fact no one will be looking for you. Walker and his brother are away in the middle of the ocean somewhere, your best friend is asleep in the other room, the shop staff are used to you not reporting in, so I really do have you all to myself because you know, Ellie, I really don't want to rush.'

'So what do you want, Bill?' she enquired.

'Well I would like us to have a nice dinner. I intend to ply you with alcohol so that you drop your guard a little, and maybe even flirt with me a little. I want to seduce you Ellie, I want to make you hot for me, so that you really do want, no, need me to make love to you, to fuck you. Do you think I can do that?' he asked.

'Well all I can say right now Bill is maybe. Give it your best shot and we can see just what you are made of. Your seduction techniques will have to be good,' she said with bravado that she just didn't feel. 'Are they good Bill?' she asked.

Must make him think that I want him, and then he might not hurt me. Play for time, maybe he'll get pissed and fall asleep, maybe I'll be able to find the drug and spike his drink, maybe Josh will come back early from Menorca and get my message. She knew that all her maybes were massive long shots but she still believed that playing for time would give her the best chance of escape.

'Oh yes,' he said, 'my seduction techniques are not bad. I've had a lot of practice you see and Ellie, I really want to seduce you, I want to make you scream and beg for more.'

'What is it with men?' she asked. 'Why is it that they all want to make a woman scream and beg for more?'

'It's an ego thing I suppose,' he replied honestly. 'Most men haven't got a clue about how to please a woman and let's face it, arousal in a woman is not as visually obvious as it is for a man, so we need to be told when you feel good, I suppose.'

'Well I appreciate your honesty,' she said. 'Anyway, what is the chicken, I mean how are you planning to cook it?'

'Well,' he said, opening the champagne with a small pop. 'We have lobster with mayonnaise as a starter followed by chicken chasseur with baby new potatoes and mange tout. Does that sound OK?' he asked looking genuinely concerned for a positive result.

He poured them each a glass of champagne in elegant, tall stem crystal glasses and handed one to her and clinked the side of it with his own glass and took a sip, possibly to show Ellie that it was safe to drink.

'Yes it sounds lovely,' she replied, 'and tell me, when did you cook all this and were you so sure that I would come?'

'I was,' Bill said.

'That's a bit arrogant you know Bill, even for you,' she said.

'Well come on Ellie,' he replied smiling now. 'I really didn't leave you any choice did I? You had to come. Now it's my job to ensure that you submit to me and my desires willingly and wantonly. I know that I could force you, I could overpower you, tie you down and fuck you into next week, and believe me, that does have its attractions and I did consider that option.' His eyes were sparkling now at the thought of that perhaps.

'But please,' he said, 'don't look so worried. I've told you, I intend to seduce you, I have the time, and we have the time so why not do it properly?'

'Shall we sit down at the table,' he asked, 'we can talk for a while and then I can serve our starters.'

'Sure why not,' Ellie replied.

Ellie realised that this whole situation was somewhat surreal. She was about to sit and chat with her captor, who was clearly a mad man. He had kidnapped her friend who lay on a silk bed in a panic room high up in a luxury penthouse apartment in the park. If Ellie didn't submit to him willingly, sexually, he would sell Lizzie into sexual slavery forever and suddenly, sex with Bill Wilson seemed a small price to pay. He wasn't so unattractive, he clearly wanted her, desired her, although she knew part of it was to hurt Josh, but she had to think about getting her friend out of here along with herself and all in one piece. Josh would get over it.

She wondered briefly if Bill would keep his word, once she had had sex with him, would he really let them go. He seemed very sure that she wouldn't report him to the police, but then thinking it through he probably knew that she wouldn't jeopardise Lizzie's future or her own.

# TWENTY-NINE

When Josh Sam and the other men got back together, they all had a small amount of information to share.

Carl had discovered that the police in vice squad had their eyes on Bill Wilson; they knew that he was involved in trafficking but couldn't catch him and couldn't prove it. They needed to catch him red handed to nail him, Carl's contact had said. Detective Mike Knight, Carl's contact, had told him that if he could help in any way he would and to keep him posted on any developments.

Robert had called in a few favours and had discovered that the word on the street was that there was an auction scheduled for the next night and some far eastern government officials, a few sheiks and wealthy Arabs were flying in for it. His contacts didn't know where it was to be held, probably central London somewhere, but they had agreed to try to find out more.

Josh and Sam had spoken to George at the Pantiles who, after liaising with his network of friends that worked in the other luxury buildings around the park, had discovered that a few of the buildings had apartments with panic rooms. George suggested that a panic room might be a good place to hold someone prisoner without the world knowing anything about it.

'It seems to me,' Josh said, 'that it is likely that Bill Wilson has an apartment on South Side Park based on what Lizzie told Robert and that is really all we have to go on. On from that, our friend George at the Pantiles has discovered that some of the apartments in the two main blocks over on the Park have had panic rooms installed - are we agreed that a panic room could be a suitable prison?'

They all agreed.

Josh's phone buzzed and he looked down at the message casually.

'Bloody hell,' he said, 'it's a message from Eleanor.'

'What does she say?' Sam asked and they all turned to look at Josh.

'It's a bit cryptic, I'll read it out,' Josh said.

'Bill help 7671,' he read out loud.

'Oh hell, what does that mean?' Sam asked.

'Who bloody knows?' Robert said.

'OK let's think about it for a moment,' Carl said. 'Don't forget that Bill has taken her against her will, she is probably frightened and it's possible that he is watching her so she has taken a big risk to send some sort of message. So what does the message tell us?' he asked.

'Well, it tells us that she is OK,' Robert said, 'it tells us she needs help, it tells us that it is Bill that has her and she has given us some sort of number. Perhaps the code number is for the panic room that she is being held in?' What does everyone think?' he asked.

'I think you could be right,' Josh said. 'Carl, can you get back onto your police friends just to see if they have an address in South Park in Bill's name or maybe in the name of one of his businesses?' he asked.

'Good idea,' Carl said, 'he should at least be able to find out if he doesn't already know. Give me a moment and I'll call Mike Knight.'

Oh Eleanor, what are you trying to tell me, Josh thought to himself. 7671 what does that mean?

Please keep safe, whatever you have to do, Eleanor, keep safe.

Despair began to overwhelm him as he realised that Bill Wilson would want to have sex with Ellie, he would want to spoil her for Josh in some way. It was a frightening thought, Josh wanted Eleanor just the way she was and although he knew it was selfish, he couldn't take the thought of her with another man, particularly that fucker Wilson.

'Come on Josh,' Sam said touching his brother's shoulder softly and breaking into Josh's melancholy. 'We are going to find them, don't give up hope. She is counting on you; that's why she sent you that message, she knew that you would work it out.'

'Thanks Sam,' Josh said, 'I know that you are right, I'm just so worried, we both know what that madman Wilson is capable of don't we? He has no conscience; he is evil, what he has put so many women through.'

'Yes I know, but we can't let that cloud our vision,' Sam replied. 'We have to work this puzzle out for Eleanor and for Lizzie. Come on, let's sit back around the table and talk it through. Detective Knight, the vice squad man, has just arrived; he may have some news to share.'

The detective pulled up a chair to join the men at the table. 'Thanks for involving me in this, guys, but I should tell you right away this is police business. Wilson is a very dangerous and a very clever character. We have been close to a collar with him a few times but he has managed to get away somehow. So this time I want to make sure that we get him fair and square and if we can catch him in the act, that will definitely do it, but in order to do that, we have to be very careful.'

The police officer looked around at the men and knew that he had to give them at least some information about what they were all dealing with.

'Now I know that you all have connections with these two women in some way,' the detective continued, 'and I don't want to scare you, but I do want to give you some idea of what we are dealing with, so you realise just how bloody serious it is and how hard Wilson will fight to keep the women in his possession, OK?'

The other men all nodded.

'It's estimated that between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year,' the detective went on, 'with around 80% of trafficking involving sexual exploitation. It's the third biggest crime industry after drugs and arms dealing generating about 32billion dollars annually and it's not all third world countries, about half of that money is made by industrialised countries.

'The poorest most unstable countries do seem to have the highest numbers though as women are more vulnerable to being tricked and coerced into bad situations. Although it's illegal in almost every country in the world, widespread corruption and greed make it possible for sex trafficking to quickly and easily take place. There are some institutions that attempt to regulate and enforce anti trafficking laws, but often, it seems that local governments and police forces may actually be participating in sex trafficking rings.'

'It's a very lucrative business and there is still a fundamental belief amongst some that the lives of women are expendable and therefore worthless, so women are undervalued or not valued at all.

'The patterns of trafficking do tend to flow from East to West but make no mistake, women can be and are routinely trafficked from any country to another country at any given time, victims exist everywhere and Bill Wilson and his sex auctions are testament to that. But on average over the past few years, there have only been around twenty-five convictions per year for sex trafficking in the UK. Back in the day when slavery was common place it could be seen, but now it's hidden, in the shadows but no less prevalent because of that.'

'Trafficking victims experience various stages of degradation and are often unable to move about freely and are told that their families will be harmed or murdered if they try to escape.

'Often these women are forcibly raped by their captors in order to begin the cycle of abuse, some women are kept drugged to prevent escape but once the captivity begins, unless they are sold into the ownership of one man, they may service up to thirty men per day becoming vulnerable to sexual disease and all that goes with that.'

There was an eerie silence as the detective stopped talking and what he had said began to take hold of the imaginations of the other men around the table. A tear slipped down the cheek of Robert and he hastily wiped it away. The others averted their eyes, all feeling and sharing his terrible thoughts.

Detective Knight looked at the faces of the men around the table and felt a stab of sympathy for them all. He simply couldn't imagine what it must feel like to have women you cared for taken in this way and he hoped that he hadn't said too much.

'We are lucky here though,' he said. 'You are lucky because your women are smart, and Eleanor, the one that seems likely to be drug free at the moment as she sent that text, may be able to fool Wilson for a while especially if he wants her willingly, but sorry everyone to talk about your loved ones in this cold way.'

'Please don't worry,' Sam said, 'we understand, please go on.'

'Well, if he wants her sexually and willingly and she is as smart as you say she is, she might just have a shot at stringing him along and playing for time. The auction is set for tomorrow I understand, so Wilson will think that there is no rush. He thinks that he has tied up the loose ends, sent notes out to cover Lizzie's absence and he will know that you are away sailing and won't expect you to be back or make the connection between Ellie and her missing friend, so we may just have an advantage.'

'I have discovered that Wilson may have a penthouse apartment on the North Park in the Riverside development,' the detective said. 'It's leased in the name Alban Auctions which we believe is the name of one of his companies.'

'That's one of the blocks that have had panic rooms installed in some of its apartments, according to one of our contacts,' said Sam.

'This could be it, my Lizzie could be there. It's not far from here so what the bloody hell are we waiting for?' Robert said jumping up from the table.

'Take it easy,' Detective Knight said. 'Let's spend a few moments working out a plan. We want to make sure that he doesn't abscond with the ladies or panic and harm anyone don't we?'

Robert slumped back down in his seat.

'You are right, of course, so what do you suggest?' Josh asked. 'Clearly timing is very important.'

# THIRTY

As they ate the first and then second course, Ellie decided that the food was actually rather good. 'So did you cook this food yourself Bill?' Ellie asked, 'or did you buy it in readymade.'

'Ah, I think I've been rumbled,' he said. 'How did you know?' he asked.

'It's because everything has been cut and chopped so very precisely, probably en masse and by machine. But whatever, you have served it beautifully and why struggle with something yourself when you can pay someone to do it for you and do a better job too,' she said.

'Oh well, I am impressed with your understanding, and of course I agree with you completely.'

'Can I kiss you now?' Bill asked. 'I have been patient and I have waited a long time.'

'Well it is good of you to ask Bill, but come on, what about these seduction techniques that you promised me, you were going to make me desperate for you weren't you?. You are not losing confidence in your ability now are you?' she asked with a wry smile.

Oh God, she thought, I hope he is buying this slow build up or I'm in big trouble.

'Does that mean that I haven't broken down the barriers yet then Ellie?' he asked. 'Have another glass of Chablis, I'm determined to get you at least a little tipsy,' he said smiling.

'My seduction techniques work better if the women are a little tipsy.'

'Now wait a minute, you didn't say anything about me having to be tipsy in order for your seduction to work, and I thought that you were so confident in your abilities, but maybe not eh?' she said.

'OK that's enough' he snapped. 'I want to kiss you, I'm going to kiss you. Get up and come over here,' he said forcefully.

She stayed rooted to the spot.

'No actually, disregard that, stay where you are, I'll come to you,' he said more gently now.

He walked slowly around the table and pulled up a chair next to hers and sat down.

He moved his hand to her neck and began to stroke her neck quite tenderly, unaware that her neck was so very sensitive. She pushed her fingernail hard into the palm of hand to cause some pain and so divert her attention away from the feeling that he was creating in her. Bloody hell, even though she had begun to loath this man, she was so bloody sensitive, his touch in the right spot could still have a major impact on her. How was that even possible?

He stopped his gentle stroking and moved his hand to the back of her head and grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back sharply.

'What are you doing?' she protested.

His mouth was on hers and he kissed her with such a hunger and such force she felt her lower lip split and she tasted her own blood.

Then breaking away he said 'Bloody hell I want you Ellie. Oh and I know what you are doing, you are trying to stall for time but I've told you already that the cavalry isn't coming, no one is going to save you Ellie, it's just me and you and your little friend Lizzie in the next room. If you don't stick to our agreement, I'll move the auction forward and I'll have her myself first,' he said.

'So the decision is yours,' he went on; I've stuck to my side of the bargain so far. You've seen your friend, and confirmed that she is alive and well; we've had a nice dinner, we've had champagne and some lovely cold Chablis, and we've had some good and interesting conversations. I know that you are a very smart women and I'm sorry that you wouldn't come to me when I tried to court you before both at the Ladybug Ball and again at the blues club. We could have had a good life together, we could have made such good music and I could have shielded you from all this unpleasantness.'

He sighed heavily and began to stroke her cheek, while she sat as still as stone with her eyes closed still praying for the cavalry to arrive but almost accepting that there was no cavalry.

'Tell me Ellie, why didn't you let me court you?' he said with a sad lilt in his voice. 'I thought that you had realised when we were at the ball together that Walker was just a lucky womaniser. He could never look after you the way that I can, he couldn't love you the way that I would have loved you and you know of course that he doesn't have a musical bone in his body.'

Ellie said nothing.

'Now it's time to consummate these arrangements of ours. I want you to take your clothes off and I want you to do it because you want to. I want you to convince me Ellie that you are desperate for me otherwise I will be forced to hurt you or drug you in order to have my wicked way with you and I really don't want to do either of those things.'

'OK,' she said, 'pour me another Chablis and then kiss me again, a little more gently this time. Oh, and please do not pull my hair.'

'You're bleeding,' he said, smearing the blood on her lip across her mouth with his thumb and then he trailed that thumb down her neck and across the tops of her breasts.

'Did I do that?' he asked, 'did I make you bleed?'

'Yes,' she said, 'you were just a bit rough.'

'I am a bit of a sadist you know,' he said with a wicked grin. 'A little bit of pain or maybe a lot of pain can feel very good.'

'Do you like pain Ellie?' he asked.

'I prefer a gentle touch,' she replied.

'I can do gentle,' he said, 'in fact gentle is my middle name.'

He filled her glass with the cold liquid and handed it to her. She gulped it down gratefully.

He moved closer now and looked at her face as his eyes closed and his lips sealed over hers with his tongue licking and stroking almost passionately into her mouth. His lips were soft and rather than fight, Ellie had decided to respond and kiss him back. She wanted to convince him that she really did desire him and that his seduction techniques had worked. But now he was this close the smell of his cologne was almost overpowering. She put that out of her mind, and pretended it was Josh that she was kissing.

'Wow,' he said pulling away, 'I think that I may have got through to you after all, that was some kiss.'

'Well, you are a very good kisser,' she said, 'I just couldn't help myself.'

He looked at her body and hungrily, his glance fixed on the curve of her breasts, just visible at the top of her shirt but now dotted with blood.

'I've got to see what's under your top Ellie, you know that don't you?' Bill asked.

'Yes I know,' she said, and as he began to unfasten the buttons on her shirt, she batted his hand away but he grabbed her wrists very forcefully, and shouted, 'don't make me hurt you.'

'Ouch,' she said. 'I thought you wanted me willingly. I am willing, so let me unfasten the buttons myself, I want to show you.' Her heart was racing now.

He released the grip on her wrists.

'Oh OK,' he said, 'that sounds nice. Can I sit here and watch?' he asked.

'Of course,' she said, 'that's the plan.'

She began to slowly unfasten the buttons on her shirt to reveal jet black silk and lace lingerie.

'You are lovely,' he said.

When she got to the last button, she pulled the shirt tails free from her jeans and said, 'Bill, would you like to kiss me again? Would you like to kiss the top of my breasts and feel my soft, warm skin?'

'Would you like that?' he asked.

'Oh yes,' she said, 'I would very much,' and she closed her eyes as he moved closer to her again. He leaned over her and began to gently kiss the mounds her breasts. His eyes were closed and she reached out behind him to stroke his back with one hand, moaning lightly to show how much she was enjoying his attentions. Her free hand moved across the table blindly feeling for something and then she found it, the dessert fork that she knew was there and she picked it up carefully and moaned a little louder. 'Oh that is so good Bill, so good.'

She lifted her hand and with as much force as she could manage, she plunged the fork into his neck.

Bill stopped his kissing and shouted out, 'Oh hell Ellie, what have you done?' He staggered to his feet, blood pouring from his neck. His hand went up to the wound and he pulled out the fork and sat down with a thud back into his seat, in a slight daze looking at the blood covering his hand and now running down onto his shirt.

'That's it, now you stupid bitch,' he shouted. 'You've had your chance. I've tried to be nice, no more fucking games.'

Ellie closed her eyes tightly, as she realised she had failed to stop him. She had broken his skin, she had winded him, surprised him perhaps but she hadn't really hurt him. He was still conscious and still shouting threats. She knew she didn't have any more strength to fight him; she would just have to give in.

It was an awful scene: lots of blood on the floor, on the table on her and all over Bill.

He grabbed a napkin from the table to mop up the blood on his neck and shirt and as he threw the soaked material down, his other hand lashed out and caught Eleanor across the face. The blow knocked her back and her split lip started to bleed again.

'Come on bitch,' he said, 'stand up. I gave you the chance to do this nicely but you fucked that up so stand up, we'll do this my way now.'

Eleanor didn't move.

'If you do not stand, it will be my pleasure to smack that lovely face again, but harder next time. Is that what you want?' he asked.

She stood up.

'Good,' he said, 'it's time you started to do as you are fucking told. Keep that up and we can both have a nice time and then you and your friend can both go home as agreed.'

'Honestly?' she asked eagerly.

'Of course,' he said. 'I always keep my word. I'll even forgive you for stabbing me because I appreciate a woman with a bit of spirit and I do like a bit of fight – it just adds to the fun,' he said chuckling.

Eleanor was frightened now, and she dreaded what would come next; she felt that it would not end well for her and her friend Lizzie.

He took her hand and walked her into a room with a large bed in its centre.

'Stand very still,' he said, 'I am going to undress you.'

He slipped the bloody shirt from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor and then unbuttoned her jeans and pulled the zip open moving the jeans down her legs to her thighs.

'Sit on the bed,' he said, 'I want to get those boots off you.'

She did as she was told and whilst he was on his knees in front of her she looked around the room desperately searching for something, anything that might help her, but there was nothing except the large bed a small chest of drawers and an armchair.

He stood up again now and as he leaned in to pull her jeans down, she couldn't help but notice the ugly wound on his neck which was still seeping and a small but steady stream of blood trickled down his neck and she felt a spark of hope rise in her.

'Lie on the bed,' he said and he moved across to the drawers and took out a long piece of rope.

Oh God, she thought, he is going to tie me up, I can't do anything if I'm tied up.

'Please Bill don't tie me up,' she said,' I promise I'll be good, but please don't tie me up, I can't stand it.'

He thought for a moment.

'You know it's too late for that, don't you? I can't allow you to have your hands free after what you've done to me,' he said, touching his neck and looking at his fingers wet and sticky with his blood.

'I'll just tie your hands for the moment and if you behave like a good girl, I may decide to release you.' He was beginning to slur his words as if he was drugged or drunk somehow.

I'm happy with a little fight, but no weapons,' he laughed. 'I usually whip my women,' he said, 'and they seem to love it. Do you think that you would love it?' he asked her.

'Never mind, we have plenty of time so I'm sure we will get to that, I've got to leave you something to look forward to,' he giggled.

He is mad, Ellie thought, completely insane - why didn't I listen to Josh and stay away?

She said nothing.

He stretched out her arms and secured each wrist to the corner bedposts pulling the ropes so tight that she winced in pain. Next he pulled her legs apart and began to stroke them.

'Hmm,' he said, 'so soft and silky.' He began to kiss and lick first one leg and then the other almost tenderly. He continued moving up her legs to her thighs as the kisses became small sharp bites. She bit her lip and tried to ignore the pain.

Bill seemed slightly unsteady on his feet as he stood up and took off his shoes and his trousers and she looked for the first time at his body; broad and hard. But there was no bulge in his boxers, no sign of any arousal apart from perhaps the strange glint in his eyes.

'This is all so very tiring,' he said, I'm going to make myself wait to fuck you, it will be better later, I'm just going to have a little rest,' and he sat down with a heavy thud in the armchair.

'No more games,' he muttered as his eyes closed, 'I've got you now.'

You are so right you fucker, no more games you madman, we've got you this time and you are going to prison for a very long time.

Was it a dream, did she imagine it or was that Josh's voice that she heard in the distance?

***

George had persuaded his old friend Mickey, the concierge over at the Riverside apartments to allow the group of men to have access to the apartments as well as the lift to the penthouse.

And so it was that Detective Knight, Josh, Sam, Robert and Carl came to be standing outside the penthouse apartment where they believed that Bill Wilson was holding Eleanor and Lizzie.

But they had no way in to the apartment and although they could have broken the glass on the doors to gain access, they didn't have a warrant, and Detective Knight wanted to do things lawfully if possible to ensure that Wilson could not use broken protocol to get out of the charges that the police brought against him.

So the five men stood outside the apartment in the quiet hallway wondering what to do next.

'I'll knock on the door,' Detective Knight said, 'and if Wilson lets us in, then we have no problem.'

Josh was ready to fight Bill Wilson, to throttle him, to kill him if necessary. He knew he would do anything to save Eleanor, to save Lizzie and standing here like idiots wasn't getting them anywhere.

Echoing Josh's thoughts Robert said, 'This is ridiculous. Our women could be in there now and that evil bastard could be doing all sorts of terrible things to them and you are worrying about fucking protocol, we've got to go in there, now!'

'Look, I only agreed to allow this because you accepted that we would do it my way,' Detective Knight said quietly. 'You men shouldn't be here at all. I told you this is police business.'

'With respect, I don't think that you could have stopped us,' Sam said.

'Look, we want to get a conviction, we all want him locked up so let's see if we can get him to come to the door.'

There was no bell or door knocker that they could see, just a little key pad with a series of numbers.

'Wait!' said Josh, 'Ellie's code; let's see if that will get us through the door.'

Josh punched in the numbers 7671 and the doors swung open and the men crept in. But as Josh reached the main sitting room and took in the scene, he saw lots of blood everywhere and but no Wilson and no sign of Ellie.

Detective Knight held his fingers to his lips – 'Shhh,' he said, 'let's look around.'

As they walked down toward the other rooms in the apartment, the main bedroom was the first room they came to.

'Oh God,' Josh said as he saw Ellie tied to the bed seemingly covered in blood whilst Wilson, also covered in blood, was slumped in a chair muttering about games.

Carl moved forward to feel for Eleanor's pulse.

'She is alive, boss,' he said, 'can't readily see any wounds. Let's see if we can wake her and untie her hands.'

Josh took off his jacket and wrapped it around Eleanor as Sam stepped forward to untie the rope on her wrists whilst Carl, Detective Knight and Robert raced across to Wilson. The detective pulled out some handcuffs and pulled Wilson to his feet, dragging his hands roughly behind his back, cuffed him whilst reading his rights at the same time.

Josh walked over to Wilson and punched him hard in the stomach and Wilson fell back down in the armchair.

The detective pulled Josh away saying, 'Leave it, leave it, we've got him now, he'll pay legally through a long prison sentence for what he's done.'

'That's right, no more fucking games, we've got you now.' Josh said coldly and rather loudly

'The bitch stabbed me with a fork,' Wilson screamed appearing to come to his senses a little. 'She fucking stabbed me. I want to press charges.'

'Where is my wife?' Robert said to Wilson. He didn't reply.

Robert ran around the apartment opening all the doors, looking for Lizzie and calling out her name.

Ellie, looking dazed began to sit up and Josh came to sit next to her.

'Eleanor,' he said, gently 'Eleanor, come back to me, it's Josh. You are safe now, please come back to me,' he called softly.

'It is you,' she said opening her eyes. 'I thought I was dreaming, he told me that the cavalry wasn't coming and you were still in Menorca with Shelly and no one would miss me, no one was looking for us. I heard your voice and I thought it was a dream. How is Lizzie, you must save Lizzie,' she whispered.

'Where is she, where is Lizzie?' Josh asked gently.

'She is in the cupboard with the buckets 7671, 7671,' Ellie said and her eyes closed again.

'Open all the doors,' said Sam, 'there must be a cupboard here somewhere and I'm betting that is probably the entrance to the panic room.'

Carl and Robert moved around the place doing as he suggested, opening and closing doors. Sam ran across to the other side of the large sitting room to a door and flung it open to find mops and buckets and various cleaning material on a single shelf at the back. He pushed everything off the shelf onto the floor to reveal a small keypad. He punched in the same code 7671 and the small door bounced open and sure enough, a young woman lay on the bed.

'Robert, detective,' Sam called out, 'in here, Lizzie is in here.'

Robert came rushing in and immediately felt for her pulse which he found.

'Thank God she is still alive,' he said as he stroked his hand across her face and hugged her to him. 'Oh Lizzie, thank God I've found you,' he whispered. 'We are going to be OK, do you hear me we are going to be OK.' He looked around. 'Where is that fucking ambulance?' he demanded. 'My wife needs some help here.'

Within ten minutes, the place was alive with policemen and paramedics, as well as people taking photos and others with tape measures trying to work out God knows what. Josh had gone in an ambulance with Ellie and Robert had gone with Lizzie. Wilson was being taken down in the lift and was still muttering about being stabbed and pressing charges.

'One thing that I want to know,' Sam said to him, 'what the fuck was all that with the dead fish, Wilson?'

'What dead fish, what are you talking about moron, I want my lawyer, I want an ambulance. Fuck you and dead fish,' Wilson screamed as the lift doors closed.

# THIRTY-ONE

Ellie was discharged from hospital the next day and Lizzie was out the day after that. Both women had to be interviewed by Detective Knight and a female officer called DC Gambon. Ellie could remember almost everything whilst Lizzie could only remember going to Bill's apartment thinking that he was Sam. Wilson gave her something to drink and she remembered feeling hot and dizzy and then she woke up in the hospital.

Both police officers told Ellie that she had behaved very bravely and despite Wilson's claims, there would be no charges for stabbing. Bill Wilson was charged with false imprisonment of both women as well as sexual assault, although so far his lawyers were saying that he was completely innocent of any wrong doing.

Josh took Ellie back to the penthouse and she told him that she felt as though she had been gone for days instead of one day. He made them coffee and they sat talking for a while. She told him briefly what had happened and although he didn't ask directly at that point, it was clear to her that he was very keen to know if Bill had raped her or if she had had sex with him.

She told Josh that she didn't want to discuss it any further and that she just felt tired. To Josh, that meant that Wilson had got to her, it was an admission by omission he decided and that made him feel so very sad for Eleanor and for himself too.

'One thing I should tell you, I think,' she said with a grim smile, 'is that at one stage, I was so sure that Bill's next move would have been to get me completely naked and maybe to touch me in places where frankly I didn't want him to touch me. So I had no choice, you do know that don't you?' she said.

'Yes of course,' he said, 'you did what you had to do, I completely understand.'

Ellie looked up at Josh and at that moment she knew without any doubt that he didn't understand.

'So what was he like? I mean was he rough, was he gentle... and the actual act... did you enjoy it? 'Josh couldn't help himself, he had to know.

'You haven't been listening, have you? Forget your damned ego for a minute, will you. Look, I don't want to go through it all now, we can go through it all in detail another time. ' Ellie said.

'I've wondered why you actually decided that you wanted to be alone with Wilson. But then, when I thought more about it, I guess I could sort of understand that your decision to have lunch with Wilson may have been because you had felt attracted to him at some point in the past and I accept that he is a good looking, attractive and powerful man. Then, of course, I'm sure, with Lizzie there and everything, you felt you had no choice but to do things, anyway.' Josh was rambling a bit now, 'So I just want to know, in the final analysis, how it felt - you know, maybe it wasn't so bad... I mean, Wilson being an attractive man and you being an attractive woman, perhaps it was just a natural step. So just tell me, I can take it,' Josh said, 'Tell me straight and I won't ask again.'

Ellie was shocked at his words. 'I don't believe what you've just said, that you haven't listened to a word I've said, have you?' Ellie whispered.

'Look, it's ok, I won't hold it against you. I understand you not wanting to tell me, b,ut really I'm sure I'll get over it in time. Really, I'm not that upset. This horrible feeling that I have about another man, especially someone like Wilson having you, this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach will pass in time, I know it will.'

For Ellie it was just like a hard slap around the face, a kick in the guts. She couldn't have been more surprised at the complete selfishness and utter lack of understanding from this man that she had felt so much for. He didn't believe her. His ego had taken over and he simply didn't believe her. A single tear slipped down her cheek and she hastily brushed it away.

There was silence for a while.

'Look Josh, I'm tired,' Ellie said, 'I want to go home. Leave me to myself for a few days and we can talk again then, ok?' She leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek.

'I'll drive you,' Josh said.

'No, no it's fine, there'll be a cab outside,' Ellie said quickly, getting up gathering her bag and coat.

'Ok, whatever you want,' Josh said. Feeling a little angry as he felt sure now that he was right and Ellie was keeping things from him. She had obviously decided to keep the details to herself to protect their relationship, just telling him what she thought he wanted to hear.

Ellie felt stunned and surprised at the way Josh had acted. When she finally got in to the sanctuary of her own apartment, she allowed the tears to flow, wallowing for a short while in self pity over all that had happened and the terrible feeling of loss that engulfed her.

Then she splashed her face with cold water and thought about what to do next. She realised that she needed to escape this mess for a while and thoughts of Dean, an old musician friend flashed through her mind. He had said many times that if she ever needed to escape then she should escape to him. She made a few calls, booked a ticket and thought about how to say goodbye to Josh.

************************************

You have now completed " _Desire"_ Book One of the "Possession Series"

If you can't wait to find out what happens as the story continues, I will tell you that....

Wilson plots, Isobel schemes, Shelly flirts, Josh lies and

Eleanor finds another man. But will Josh and Eleanor rekindle their relationship?

To continue reading the story and to discover the answers to the questions below and much more, please purchase Book Two "Possession is Nine Tenths of Revenge"

In "Revenge" Book Two discover the answers to the following questions:

1. Will Bill Wilson go to prison for his crimes?

2. Who is sending the rotten fish to Josh?

3. Will Josh be able to get over what has happened to Eleanor?

4. Will Eleanor tell Josh the truth about Bill?

5. Can their relationship survive?

6. What about Isobel, will she stick by Bill?

7. Why will Bella remain 'friends' with Ellie and Lizzie?

8. How will Wilson's foreign business partners react to his arrest?

9. What is the surprise ending that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the last word of the book?

Have you enjoyed the book?

What should you do now?

May I suggest the following...

1. Buy Book Two "Revenge..." to carry on with the story

2. Go to Smashwords and write a review to tell people what you thought of the book now while it's still fresh in your mind.

3. You may want to sign up for my newsletter to get news of new books and special offers at www.eveatkins.co.uk/subscribe

A personal note from the Author

_Hi, Thanks for reading this novel, I'm so pleased that you chose one of my books to read from all of the many thousands that are out there and I really hope that you enjoyed it. It would be great to hear from you if you did. You can email me on eve@eveatkins.co.uk or from the contact button on my web site._ www.eveatkins.co.uk

I am a fairly new author so you may not have heard about me prior to reading this book. If you did enjoy the book it would be really great if you would consider writing a review on Smashwords for this book just to tell other people what you thought. All positive reviews can help books and new authors to succeed and it will help other people to decide whether or not to buy a book.

_It's easy to do so. Just go to the_ Smashwords _page where you bought the book and click on to where it says customer reviews: write a customer review._

If you want to know more about new books or special offers please take a look at my web site.

Best wishes

Eve x

To get a free gifted copy of Book Two _Possession is Nine Tenths of Revenge_ just leave an honest review of _Desire; Book One of the Possession Series_ at the retailer where it was downloaded. Then send a screen shot of the review including the title of the book and the retailer where it was downloaded to us at eve@eveatkins.co.uk

Thanks for reading

Eve

