Special Relationship (4 page)

"And for my speech, I'd like to thank my mum and my dad...and
Manarola's mum and dad, and...err...that's about it."

Even Lord Ashton's bellow was muffled by loud laughter and the cheers of the other guests.

After he had greeted many of the people there, Nick Hensen looked at Alex, smiled and approached her.

"Alex, I'm really pleased you came. I've heard a few things about you today. "

"Oh dear, go on."

"Well, there's a rumour you won a lot of money on
Manarola."

"This is true," she smiled, her blue eyes sparkling.

"A rumour that you and Tavis drunk quite a large amount of very fine whisky?"

"Yes, we were partners in the crime," she admitted, laughing and holding her hands up.

"And..no... I'm not even going there with Tavis's reading of your body language."

Alex looked across the room
more urgently than she would have preferred and then back at him. "Well, I think that's wise. The joint charge for which I have already pleaded guilty, the drinking of the whisky with Tavis, also provides the evidence for why his person-reading skills were not at their best today."

"I heard you came back here with Lord and Lady Ashton. They are fun aren't they?" he said, sensing she was uncomfortable discussing
Tavis's theories.

"They were brilliant, a comedy double act. They should be on TV."

"Ha...maybe a business opportunity," he said.

"And, talking of business, maybe we ought to meet up for lunch or something to discuss how we take things along and see what more work you might be able to do for us?"

"Sure, that will be great. Anything we can do."

"Katherine will call you next week.

"Just one thing, you can call me Nick, Nicky or Nicholas, but never Mr Hensen."

Katherine half wondered whether he was flirting with her.

"OK, Nicholas," she said.

"I'd actually prefer Nick," he laughed.

"I've just got to do some business. If you need anything Katherine will sort it. I'll catch up with you later."

On the other side of the room, sitting on a sofa, were
Tavis Hamilton and Lord and Lady Ashton. Not wanting to strike up conversation with someone she hadn't already met, she moved towards them subtly, pretending not to notice them until too close to escape their attention.

"Alexander, dear girl. Please come and join us!" the Lord roared even though by now she was close by.

"Alexand
ra
, you fool," said the Lady.

"Oh, hi everyone. I could do with a sit down, it's a tiring business having a great day at the races and evening drinks in Mayfair."

"Tavis has just been telling us that you and him shared a very expensive bottle of whisky at the races."

"Guilty as charged, I'm afraid."

"She doesn't look too bad on it, especially when you consider all the wine and champagne as well," Tavis teased.

"You can talk!" she said while acting as if about to throw a cushion at him.

The four of them talked about Hensen Fund Management, known in the financial world as a 'hedge fund', an investment club for very wealthy private investors such as Lord and Lady Ashton.

Then the conversation turned to
Tavis's recent trip to Africa, where he had volunteered for an unpaid job to check the company's charity donations were being wisely spent. And then of Lord and Lady Ashton's country home in Sussex and their London apartment. "Nothing like as expensive as this one, dear," the Lord lamented about the latter.

Eventually, the topic turned to her. "And, you dear, you live in Shoreditch, own a company that works for
Hensen. And do you have family here?" asked Lady Ashton.

"No I don't have anyone here. I have a sister back in the States and the odd uncle and aunt scattered around the east coast."

Alex didn't mention that her parents were dead and the others, though wondering, didn't like to ask.

"And do you get to see your sister?" asked the Lady.

"No, I don't...well, I haven't for a while," she replied.

Lady Ashton went on: "Oh dear, London can be a lonely city at the best of times. Without any family here it must be very difficult. I guess you've got lots of friends."

"Oh, yes," she lied.

She wanted to change the subject and was waiting for an opportunity. But they kept asking questions about her life in both London and New York, and although aware that
Tavis was studying her and would have noticed any diversion, she felt she needed to get away.

"Blonde moment! I've left my bag on the terrace. Excuse me I must go and get it, it's got my phone in and everything." As she walked away she considered that her performance, as short as it was, was worthy of an Academy award. Her bag, she knew, was actually beside the sofa where they were sitting.

She opened the door to the terrace and, on seeing him there, didn't have time to close it and return inside before Hensen, who was smoking a cigarette and looking at the view, turned round.

"Alex, how are you doing?"

Oh God, he'll be thinking I'm out here to boost my business or that I'm a money-chasing seductress, she thought.

"Hi Nick, didn't expect you to be here, I was out here earlier and think I've left my bag."

"Don't worry about it. It's not going to rain and I trust the guests won't steal it. Well most of them, anyway," he laughed. "Come here and we'll have a chat."

Her stomach churned.

"Really, I've drunk far too much today and I really must be getting home soon. If I can find my bag..."

"Ten minutes."

"Oh, I do need to go."

"Ten minutes or I cancel your contract," he smiled.

"Oh, go on then, can I just get some wine first?"

She returned to the terrace a couple of minutes later. "Smoking is bad for you," she said.

"So is drinking," he retorted, looking at her glass.

"Oh no, that's unfair...I rarely drink at home...it's just that it's been such a good day. I've really enjoyed it, met some interesting people, and...well.. thanks for the invite."

"You are welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And what was the highlight of your day?"

"Oh, there were many. The countryside, the colours, the beauty of the horses, backing
Manarola, meeting Tavis and Lord and Lady Ashton..." She nearly added "and you" but stopped herself just in time. She rephrased the words to sound more businesslike. "It's also been good to get to know the people who work for the company, Katherine and you."

"I really enjoyed it too," he said, blowing some smoke into the night air. "And I'm glad that I got to see again the lady who stole my place in the lift."

Damn, he is flirting again, she thought. "Sorry about that. If I'd have known I was taking the place of the head of a company that had just given me a contract I would have used the stairs."

"Have you not heard, that you should be nice to people on the way up as you'll meet them again on the way down?" he replied.

She grinned.

Alex thought she could banter with the best, but in this company she realised she might have met her match.

The two of them then talked about their love of both London and New York. He visited Alex's former home city once a month on business and looked puzzled to hear she hadn't been back since moving to London. Eventually, he seemed to accept her explanation, the pressure of trying to keep her business afloat.

She was expecting another awkward question when they were joined on the terrace by a tall brunette, who seemed to have enjoyed the hospitality of the day's events even more than she had. Holding her glass high, and uneasy on her heels, she let out a high-pitched squeal as she approached them.

"Nicky, darling, I wondered where you were hiding."

"Hi
Liv," he replied a little coldly.

"I need a cigarette."

Waiting for her to gain her bearings so she might manage to pull one from the packet, he introduced Olivia Hartley, who looked like a model, or at least she would have done had she not seemed the worse for alcohol.

"
Liv, this is Alex Anderson whose company will soon be working for the fund."

Olivia was still struggling to remove a cigarette. Eventually he pulled one out and handed it to her.

"Thanks Nicky, darling, and nice to meet you Alex.

"Hope you two have been behaving yourselves."

"Alex, Olivia was my PA before Katherine," said Nick.

"I wasn't only your PA, Nicky, darling," Olivia said, looking accusingly at her former boss.

"No, you did plenty of work in various areas of the company and you are missed," he replied with no hint of a smile. "Maybe you should ask Katherine to get you a car home."

Alex felt uncomfortable. The last thing she expected in such surroundings was confrontation between Nick
Hensen and a drunken former employee. "Listen, guys, I really must go myself," she said. "I have got to find my handbag and get a taxi. Monday morning I start work on the contract and I'm going to spend tomorrow preparing.

"Lovely to meet you, Nick, and I'll speak to Katherine in the week."

"Yes, definitely. Ask her to call one of our drivers. It's been good to meet you and I look forward to us working together."

She didn't go through with the charade of walking round the terrace looking for a handbag that she knew was in the apartment but she kissed Olivia on the cheek. "Nice to meet you Olivia," and then, after shaking hands with Nick
Hensen, made a hasty exit.

"Quite a head turner," Olivia said to Nick after she had left. He didn't respond.

Inside, Lord and Lady Ashton and Tavis Hamilton were still engaged in conversation, although the latter looked bleary-eyed, finally succumbing to the whisky he had been drinking for many hours.

"Oh, here it is," she exclaimed, picking up her bag. "I'm so forgetful."

"Alex, dear, welcome back, come and sit down," said Lady Ashton.

"Oh no, Eleanor, I really must be going now."

"But stay here longer and then you can sleep over at ours. We are only in Bayswater."

"I'd love to Eleanor, but I'm starting on Nick's contract on Monday and tomorrow I need to prepare. All the stuff I need is back in my flat. And it's just ten minutes in a taxi.

"So lovely to meet you and Lord Ashton," she said, pecking both on the cheek. "And you Tavis...must keep in touch."

He rose with what little en
ergy he had left. "My darling, it has been a pleasure and if I didn't have such a wonderful wife you wouldn't stand a chance.

"Give me a call when you fancy an afternoon drinking whisky in some seedy Soho bar, and I'll pick up the bill," he added while handing her his card.

"Sure will," she replied.

She then went to find Katherine. In Park Lane there was no shortage of taxis to hail but how to get out of the apartment with the elevator that could have been in a James Bond film?

"Hi Katherine, I'm going now, I'll get a taxi downstairs."

"Oh don't be silly, we have a driver sitting all bored on the bonnet of his car, waiting for someone to take home. Let me give him a call."

"Do you mind. I've felt quite like I've been playing above my league all day. I think just getting in the back of a black cab and going back to my normal life would be...sorry, it sounds rude...but a bit relaxing?"

Katherine smiled. "Well, you are certainly not playing above your league but I do understand what you are saying. A bit like taking your boots off after a day at the shops.

"Nick has told me to call you in the week and I'll do that. Let me sort the lift for you."

A short walk up Park Lane, outside the Hilton, she got into a cab. "Shoreditch please." On the journey she wondered how she could be so relieved to escape one of the best days she had in ages.

What to make of everyone. There was Tavis Hamilton, witty, clever and friendly but clearly suspicious of her; Lord and Lady Ashton, adorable and funny; Katherine Price, ever so smart, lovely in looks and personality and amazingly efficient. And Nick, rich, attractive but easygoing...and a total flirt.

She opened the door of her flat with relief. Away from the beautiful people, she kicked off her heels and enjoyed a late-night snack of cheese on toast while watching a rubbish movie on T
V. "Bliss," she thought.

By the time she dragged herself into bed, it was nearly 3
am. As she drifted off to sleep, she planned the day ahead. She'd spend an hour with the Sunday papers and the afternoon working on the Hensen contract.

But as she dozed her mobile phone bleeped with a text message. It startled her to hear the distinctive tone at that time of the night. It read simply: "Beware Nick
Hensen." It was from a number that she didn't recognise but the end of the message carried an invitation to use a company that offered a free online SMS service.