Rose Blood (7 page)

“Well hello again Rose” … and what a different Rose she was!

“Hello again Marcus…” Her mind couldn’t quite take in the hot vision of male beauty that made his way through her door. Could anyone ever look any better in an evening suit than he did? The accompanying masculine fragrance tipped her senses over the edge. She was sure he could bring women to their sexual peak just by standing close to them… he was having that kind of effect on her right now. She took a deep breath and pulled herself together as a rush of guilt consumed her. She really shouldn’t be feeling this way… not so soon after Harry and she had got it together… It was quite obscene, to be enjoying her work this much. She must be a very bad woman inside.

“You look wonderful tonight…  I see I didn’t need to check up on you after all!”

“No, I’m quite capable of dressing myself up thank you”

“Well, I wasn’t sure”

“So, I’m suitably attired for your special occasion, am I?” she asked and smiled a little at him.

“More than that, you are quite sensational!” His eyes took in every little detail … her glossy hair with its curled ends, strong make up including the perfect shade of cherry red lipstick, the ankle length, low cut figure hugging black dress with its satin trim and the high heeled black satin fashionable shoes.  He couldn’t have put it together better himself. He’d seen a lot of beautiful women’s outfits in his time but this one was now firmly in the top ten in his mind. Maybe it was the person in it that made all the difference. His new fund manager was giving him a flash over.

She was starting to think she had overdone it way too much. She had wanted to look smart, sleek but feminine and unlike the person he had first met. She had wanted to surprise him and be Miss brains
and
beauty. Well she’d certainly done that by the looks of it. She felt her dress might be just a touch too provocative judging on his expression and where his eyes were now apparently fixed. But it was done now. She would just have to be careful tonight.

Work first… no extra duties coming up yet, if at all… a woman of her intelligence must surely be able to keep him at arm’s length.

She picked up her bag and jacket. She turned her phone off and put it in her bag. She didn’t want to get any upsetting little messages popping up from Harry tonight. She would deal with all that tomorrow. Tonight she had to focus properly.

She made her way to the awaiting car with Marcus and they sat together on the luxurious soft white leather seats. They set off for the Hilton and she was somewhat excited and at the same time somewhat nervous about what this evening had in store.

“Rose I am obviously very pleased about my fund… I can’t tell you how impressed I am… but can tonight be a more personal affair? How do you feel about that?”

“Well I was rather hoping this was strictly business Marcus. I want you to plug my company and my  top notch fund management services to all your rich friends actually. Personal won’t do much for my bank balance, will it?”

“Really Rose… you do have such a one track mind… do you think about money all the time?”

“Marcus it’s my job…! And you are my brand new client. Let’s keep it that way just now. I have a task to complete… remember the 3%?”

“So I don’t get to sample anything in advance?”

“You’re assuming I won’t deliver Marcus, you may never get a sample in fact… Anyway I don’t do samples” … whatever samples were…

“What do you do Rose? I’d like to know.”

“I’ve told you what I do. In your office yesterday.”

“No… Not your job description. What are you passionate about? Tell me.”

“Why would you need to know about that?”

“I’m interested in what my fund manager does to enjoy life, when she’s not making lots of money for me, that’s why…”

“Well there are quite a few things I like…” She rambled off listing her likes and loves “watching sci fi movies… skiing, diving in the coral reefs, ice skating, lying in the sun on a white beach, hiking through the beautiful countryside, sailing, cute furry little animals, watching formula 1 live, extremely hot and spicy food, drinking champagne, expensive perfume, reading romantic fiction, dancing, Justin Timberlake, chart music… and there’s more…”

“Well that’s quite a list Rose I must say and you like JT huh? I know him quite well. Perhaps you’d like to meet him sometime, when he’s next over here?”

“I’d say!”

“I can’t see the fascination with Justin myself. He’s quite ordinary really, isn’t he?”

“Are you joking? And it’s not just his looks at all… You’re not female anyway, you’ll never get it”

“Well apart from Justin, I like the sound of some of those. What your list is telling me is that you like a lot of action and you are preoccupied by your senses. Maybe we could indulge in some of your passions together, what do you say?” he couldn’t stop himself smirking as he said this.

“Funny ha ha and yes, you are quite welcome to buy me a bottle of expensive perfume…” She had to admit Marcus looked raging hot when he had that naughty smiling expression on his face…

“Maybe I will… So I have to wait another two working days to see the real you, do I?”

“I guess so… maybe a lot longer, maybe never…. But what’s the problem? Call one of your super models if you’re lonely.”

“Perhaps I want more than a super model has to offer”

“Then double date two at once! Look Marcus, stop trying to chat me up. I’m not one of your silly besotted girls. I’m an educated business woman. I am out of your league.”  Maybe that last comment was a little over the top.

“My league is a very varied one actually. You have no idea what I’m like or what I want in life.”

“I’ve seen some of it in the online celebrity news.”

“That is just photographs and gossip. Most of it is pure fiction.”

“Okay… you tell me about the real Marcus then… what does a man with so much money do for thrills… I’m just dying to know”

“Much the same as anyone else. The size of my fortune has nothing to do with it. I live very well of course and I can do what I want when I want. But I have my passions too”

One very big passion in fact, which controlled and dominated his life, but he wouldn’t be able to tell her about that one just yet.

“Name one”

“Flying my own plane”

“You’re a qualified pilot?” That surprised her. It wasn’t what she expected to come out of his mouth at all…

“I am. Maybe you will come and fly with me some time… after the 3%?”

“Maybe I will…  any more hot playboy stuff on the list?”

“Gambling… in my own casinos…”

“Well I never… that’s cheating… and surely it can’t be that exciting?”

“I can still lose a lot in tax on the profits…”

“Oh yes, I suppose you can… ”

They continued to talk back and forth about their likes and dislikes and suddenly they were there.

Rose was quite disappointed when they finally arrived at Park Lane outside the Hilton. She had really enjoyed talking to him. He was actually very interesting as well as being exceptionally handsome and incredibly rich. It could be very difficult to resist in the long term, that massive combination of plusses… if he had a kind and sensitive side too she may as well give up and fall in love right now.

For God’s sake! She really mustn’t be thinking things like this! – Remember you love Harry, Rose. Keep focused.

“So Rose… here we are.” He linked her arm through his. “Stay by my side tonight. I will introduce you to my richest friends and plug your company shamelessly and maybe you will drop your business wall for me later on and let me into your personal garden for a short while…”

“Don’t hold your breath DeVere”

“You really are such a prickly little Rose, aren’t you?”

“Only around you – you bring out the best prickles in me”

“I could take that as a compliment. I arouse your feelings maybe…?”

“Or you wind me up, that’s more likely the reason…”

“A beautiful woman with a good sense of humour! What more could I want?”

He was absolutely delighted with his new Fund Manager. He hadn’t had such a fun filled verbal spar with a woman in ages. Especially one who looked like she did.

It seemed that he could actually make a small exception to his rules too. Women and business did mix very well, but only if their name was Rose.

He was very proud to have her with him tonight. Not only did she look like a dream, he could actually leave her alone now and then in the other guests company without being concerned that she or they may be bored. It seemed she had a lot to say, about everything…

The evening went very well. Marcus did introduce her to a number of his rich friends and acquaintances and she subtly networked and collected quite a lot of business cards for potential new funds…

She was absolutely delighted with her new client, he had risen highly in her estimation this evening. Her business wall was slipping away a fraction and a new tiny flower was budding in her personal garden.

The black tie function took the form of drinks, a buffet dinner and a few speeches afterwards. It was the 8
^th
anniversary of DeBar’s formation. Although he was still the majority shareholder in the publicly listed companies he once privately owned, he no longer took any part in running them on a day to day basis. Rose listened with interest to all that was said, in rapt attention as Marcus fulfilled his part of the evening’s agenda. What a confident and complex individual he seemed to be, quite different to her original good looking playboy impression. She was becoming quite fascinated.

It was all over by ten and everyone started to leave. Marcus waited until all the guests had left and they were alone.

“Rose, would you like to stop by my place…  Just an interesting end to the evening for you… It’s not far and still quite early. Then Jeff will drive you home.”

“I don’t see why not? I’m very keen to see your butler, the Ferrari in the basement and your rooftop pool with its four jacuzzis…” she joked.

“How do you know about all this?” he asked with a serious expression

“…. I’m just guessing Marcus!”

“Oh right…. because there’s only one jacuzzi in actual fact!” he laughed out loud.

It was the first time she’d heard him laugh like that. She couldn’t help but join in….

A real Ferrari and a real butler? What a cliché!  But then again, of course he would have those things, why on earth not?

His car arrived at his penthouse apartment in Kensington in just five short minutes and they entered the underground parking area. She was feeling that perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all. What was the point of this little visit?

To impress her? No, she had 1.5 billion of his money in her hands already, that was impressive enough….

To seduce her?  Perhaps… but she was armed and ready for any sign of that.

Maybe it was to involve her… to make her feel part of his life, by showing her where he lived? That possibility was a little worrying.

Perhaps he just wanted to entertain her.

She wasn’t entirely sure he had a reason at all…

Whatever his reason
or not
for bringing her back there, she was a tiny touch impressed, involved and seduced by the time she climbed the stairs to see his final attraction, the rooftop glass covered heated pool.

She couldn’t help herself gushing aloud.

“Your place is quite simply amazing Marcus… so modern and black and white hi techy. I’ve never seen such a massive TV to be honest… I am in love with Benet your suave French butler and your ridiculously sexy black Ferrari with its white seats. And wow oh wow… this pool is pure heaven on top. If I lived here I’d never go out!”

“It’s just home.”

“No it’s not!”

“It is to me.”

“Well I can tell you, this is the most unhomely home I have ever been in. It’s a celebrity dream pad… no… actually it’s a very modern playboy’s love nest… that’s what it is… which reminds me… you haven’t shown me your bedroom yet, where all your super model action goes on… come on, show me that!”

“I’m not sure I want to Rose”

“But that’s one of the highlights of the tour, surely? Why can’t I see it?”

“Because when I take you in there, I want it to be for a reason other than curiosity about my love life.”

“Don’t start getting all personal on me”

“I’ve been personal all evening, I’m just waiting for you to admit you are.”

She ignored his comment.

“Not even a tiny sneak peek Marcus?”

“I’ll do a trade… you give me a sample and I’ll give you a sneak peek.”

“Don’t do samples sorry…”

“No sneak peek then.”

Curiosity really was getting the better of her, or was it the fourth glass of wine she had in her hand tonight?

“What’s a sample anyway, dare I ask?”

“Just a kiss”

“What kind of a kiss? There’s a lot of varieties. A peck on the cheek. A small kiss. A big kiss. A quite steamy kiss. A making love with your mouth type kiss… which type is a sample Marcus? Actually no, don’t bother to answer that as I know exactly which type it will be… the last one”

“Rose, is this really you talking, or is it the drink?”

“Well my tongue always loosens a lot when I have a few but no, I’m not drunk in the slightest… Look, this is against my better judgement, but okay then…  You get a sample of me and I get a very quick peek, sound good?” She definitely was feeling a touch worse for wear, but she wouldn’t admit it…

“Yeah, sounds good and I really like the idea of you having a loose tongue Rose. So, shall we go downstairs for our sample, or would you like it here next to my pool?”

“No we absolutely have to have that downstairs in your bedroom”

“Why’s that?”

“So I can peek some more whilst you’re doing it”

“Rose, I guarantee you won’t be looking around when I’m kissing you.”

“I bet I will, unless you’re some kind of super kisser”

“It has been said”

“Oh shut up, Mr I’m So Fucking Wonderful… Take me to your bedroom, I am simply dying for my peek”

“Rose Porter… Shut the fuck up yourself… and come with me”

He took her hand and led her back down the stairs into his apartment.  He took his jacket and tie off and threw them on the sofa.