Betrayed(3)

Rafael stared at nothing. He thought he’d got over her. Seven years should have been enough. Now he wasn’t sure.

Through the window, sun bathed the land to the horizon. He’d grown up with this landscape, always thought it ordinary, yet suddenly it was appealing; the kind of place a man may well lose himself in, instead of doing this crap.

Damn Papá! Why had he turned something simple, into something so difficult?

He straightened his shirt cuffs, knotted his tie, and ran his fingers through his dark hair. He had it styled in Valencia nowadays. She’d once said he looked like a pirate, now people said he was suave.

The door opened quietly and Rafael heard Maria place on the table what he knew would be a steaming Colombian; thick and black just as he liked. Though early, she had insisted on being present to oversee his departure.

“El café negra, Señor.” Maria cleared her throat. “Then the flight, the plane will not wait, not even for you.”

He rubbed his forehead, annoyed at the interruption. He said, “The rooms are reserved?”

“Of course, a hotel in Hanley, as you asked. The office will be in one of the commercial suites of the hotel, we thought it would be more convenient.”

“Sounds good.”

“Your secretary is preparing things. She flew in last night.”

He gave a nod.

“And I checked with the hotel. They say it will take you just over an hour from Manchester airport. You can travel either along the A34 trunk, or the M6.”

“Thank you.” He already knew; it was familiar territory.

“May I advise the driver to make ready?”

Rafael didn’t answer, didn’t really want to leave his reverie.

“Señor?”

He gave a curt nod, and she left. He turned from the window and flopped into a seat.

The goddess had flitted into his life, then out again, just as easily. Dancing, giggling; a nymph with some absurd need to be mysterious even when making love. Even at special moments, she’d tantalised him with her elusiveness. The time had been wild, but too short. They’d discovered ways to excite each other, ways he hadn’t known existed; had they invented them? Sex had been inventive; nothing too daring, nothing too obscure. Nothing had been out of bounds for them. Jeez, he’d adored her. Yet, amazingly it hadn’t been mere sex between them. Their relationship had gone way beyond that.

Yet, as his emotions entered an unfathomable state, she’d told him it was over. He hadn’t known why. What had he done; what had he said? Had she been too young to cope with what was happening?

He’d mourned her passing. No one had warned it could hurt so much. It taught him to treat women with caution, not to get involved, taught him to keep his distance.

But the ghost was back; did that mean his ideas would change again?

Damn Papá! Why did they have to do it this way?

Rafael leaned his forehead onto the cool pane of glass. There had been women since, yet not one like that will-o’-the-wisp.

Her father’s factory was under scrutiny. He had to choose whether to invest. Papá would be furious if he made a botch. Papá said if it was as good as it seemed he wanted in. Rafael had to assess if they were to put in an offer. The responsibility lay with him. His job also required him to make certain if they invested in the factory, she would stay. No her, no deal! Papá was adamant! The designer must stay.

This should have been his deal, done his way, not Papá’s way.

Rafael scratched his nose. It still wasn’t too late for Eduardo to show interest, but what then? Could he wangle his way around Papá and make it alone? He would need to be uncompromising to pull off something like that.

He stared at the picture, wondered what she’d been doing. Was there a man in her life? Women had been part of his, too many, too much sex, until each blended with the other and they became the same. Most cast their nets at him because of what he was. They satisfied a primitive need so he permitted them, let them debase themselves, and allowed them to scratch his itch, nothing else.

He sighed. He would have to be objective; he could hardly put the business at risk. No matter what happened, it would not make sense to put Papá out of business. After all, what was Papá’s would one day be his.

Papá had toyed with the idea of expanding into the UK a few times, and saw this as an opportunity. Papá had become adamant, and it was Papá’s company, so they were going to expand. One day it would be his then he could do as he wished, but for now Papá had control.

Would there be a company left? Would this overstretch Papá?

Damn! This campaign might spell the end if it went wrong. He had to be ruthless. He couldn’t let sentiment get in the way, and he couldn’t take the soft choice either. If he said yes, and the deal went wrong, he would be to blame. If he said no, and a rival bought them out and made a success, Papá would absolutely kill him.

What a mess-up.

He stared into the distance. Sleepy hamlets dotted the valley, poked through the haze. Labourers would soon be hard at work before the insufferable heat drove them indoors for the afternoon.

He would have to play the game he supposed, but it would be a hard to remain impartial. The girl he’d known had been beautiful. She might make a fascinating digression, which might allow time for his people to do an investigation, but she might also make him take the wrong decision.

Damn Papá! Had it been done Rafael’s way, he’d have simply bought the company through an agent. No contact, no mess. He’d have made sure of the stuff first, of course, but no mess.

Rafael picked up the coffee then studied the photograph again. Could he really keep his distance?

A gull soared close to the window, shrieking. He watched it wheel away. She was out there even now, going about her daily tasks, not even aware of the danger she posed.

He exhaled noisily from the recess of his chest.

This time around things would be different. He’d been young, the feelings, overpowering. He was older, wiser. He would have to be on guard though. She could be a threat to brokering the best deal.

Dammit; were these thoughts crazy or what? Wasn’t he infamous for his cut and thrust? He wished to hell he knew how to handle her though. He still recalled the contour of her body, even her exciting woman smell. No one else was like her. The shape of her face; her unbelievable breasts; the way she moved; everything about her had excited him.

Rafael watched as the gull swept around again before veering away and finally disappearing.

He hated to admit, but like a siren of old, she still awakened those feelings in him

***

Katrina said, “It’s because I’ve been steam-rolled, that’s why.”

She glanced up. Francine looked dismal, which made her feel worse. Fran said, “I don’t see why you can’t wriggle out of it. This is the perfect excuse. Tell him you’ve run into a problem.”

“I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t have to.” Kat kicked the car door angrily. The damn thing refused to start; now she’d be late. She’d have to phone for a taxi, but she’d still be late. Why today of all days? She stuck her head under the car hood again. “I’m cheesed off.”

She’d already taken a pay cut to help dad out, and her beautiful, fast convertible had gone because she could no longer afford the payments. This piece of crap was sending her crazy. She’d wiped things that looked as if they needed wiping, sprayed with anti-damp, she’d even talked nicely, but nothing helped. Kicking hadn’t made her feel better; just scuffed her shoes.

Fran was fourteen years older than Kat, an elegant international model. Three years ago, Fran had marched away from the catwalk and started her agency.

Katrina straightened. Rain relentlessly dripped from leaves, ran down the hood, dripped on her neck, tapped on the metal roof of the car. She was thoroughly wet, thoroughly miserable.

“What time is this meeting of yours supposed to start?” Francine tried her best to keep the rain off them with the umbrella but with little success. Fran lived in the grand house next to Kat. The house had a secluded, leafy drive, with pillars at the entrance. She had steadfastly remained single despite several offers, and confided to Kat that she liked a regular change of partner, liked sex and wasn't frugal with it.

Kat said, “Three o’ clock.”

“This afternoon? I thought it was in ten minutes, the way you’re panicking.”

“I need to prepare. I have to be in the right frame. I’ve a dozen things to organize, and that includes me.”

“All right, all right, I get the picture.”

Katrina took a deep breath. “Dad has found a company interested in buying Finery & Frocks. That’s what the meeting is about.”

“Selling?” Francine looked stunned. “I didn’t realise he was selling. What’s happened?”

“The usual thing, money trouble.”