He dialled part of her number, hesitated and hung up, redialled and hung up again before it had a chance to ring, then he got out of bed, dressed in some casual clothes and headed out of his penthouse hoping that a walk around outside would clear his head.

Even at that time in the morning the traffic was beginning to build, many people started early in the city, newspapers would be rolling off the press, diary supplies would be arriving for the day, bakers would be up making bread.
Hands in pockets Elliot walked slowly knowing he was unprotected, having not notified his bodyguards of his intention to go out. Sometimes they oppressed him and he wished to be a ‘nobody’ again going about his business without having to look over his shoulder. The price of success was often too high.
He walked aimlessly along the sidewalk, the collar of his denim jacket pulled high against the morning chill, and wished he had worn something that came further down his hips, they felt cold and he missed his thick overcoat. Still the walk refreshed him but did not clear his mind perhaps it was because it was still relatively dark, though to the east slightly obscured by the tall buildings slim wisps of daylight could be seen amid the cloak of darkness. “Maybe in the cold light of day, my head will be cleared.” Elliot mumbled to himself hopefully.
Until then he asked and answered his own questions, ‘how had Catherine, a virgin become so experienced in things? Had Tom taught her?’ Elliot shuddered to imagine of her doing that to any other man. In no way, at any time did he condemn the fact that he had done something similar to her. It was a man thing, it was what men did, but no lady should taint herself with such repulsive behaviour however good it felt at the receiving end. “Oh Cathy, Cathy, whatever am I to do about you?” He asked out loud beginning to wonder if he should marry her after all. “I think I should have you watched, see what you do when I’m not around.” The decision made Elliot began to feel better, it wasn’t that he believed that Catherine slept around, but if as a virgin should could bring herself to do such favours, then he wanted to know who she did those favours for because he would not accept that was her first time, although no woman had ever done that service for him before, he felt that it had been too good, too wonderful for an inexperienced woman to have managed so well. “And I shall insist on that test.” He spoke aloud “just in case.”
His decision made Elliot breathed deeply of the morning air, his eyes felt gritty from lack of sleep but he was at peace with himself. Turning he headed back toward home feeling certain he could sleep now, at least he would have five good hours before he needed to get up again and he would have nothing to bother him upon waking. He could face his day and his meeting with a clear conscience knowing exactly what he was to do about his fiancée.

Riding the elevator up to the roof of Catherine’s building, Vincent paused as he noticed the thin wisps of daylight filtering across the dawn sky. He would have to be quick, he couldn’t stay long, or else he would be trapped there the whole day.

Jumping down to the terrace he listened at the balcony door, all was quiet within but through the connection he could tell that Catherine was awake and restless. He tapped gently and in the stillness of the fading night so far above the city streets, Catherine heard him at once and ran to fling open the doors, rushing straight into his arms. “Vincent, you came back!”

“Catherine…” He gathered her close inhaling her precious scent deep into his lungs.

“I’m so pleased you’re here,” She tugged at his hand intent on leading him inside. “I can’t stay.” Vincent told her, “It will soon be light.”

They stood staring at one another so many questions crying to be asked, finally Catherine launched the first one, “Why did you come back when you knew you couldn’t stay?”

Vincent looked at her a long moment before seeming to make a decision as he replied, “Catherine there’s something I have never told you.”

Guardedly Catherine looked at him, “What?” She asked nervously.

“The gift as you call it…it’s a connection…a bond…I can’t explain it any more than that, but Catherine whenever you are happy or sad I know…I feel it here.” He indicated the region of his heart. “I know you are unhappy now and that is why I couldn’t stay away, even though it is growing light and dangerous for me to be up top at this time of day.”

Catherine’s mouth dropped open, she stared at him remembering so many other times when he was suddenly there when she needed someone, “How much do you know?” She asked him, “How much can you feel?” Then moments later as the thought presented itself Catherine gasped, “Vincent, its impossible, no one can feel another like that!”

“I do. I don’t know why, but I do, and it is only with you, Catherine. Don’t ask me to explain it for I cannot, all I know is that whatever you are feeling I feel it too.” He told her simply.
“Incredible.” Catherine whispered then “and embarrassing too. Vincent can you feel everything?”” Her voice rose and though she had told him about what she had done with Elliot it was quite another thing knowing that he had felt it when she had. Had he felt as though she was doing it to him?

As if he knew her thoughts Vincent replied, “Its not like touch, whatever you do or say I cannot know, I just know the feelings you have when you are doing anything. I know if you are happy, or sad or frightened, and I know when you are distraught and need a friend, like now. What is the matter Catherine, is it the same thing as last night?”

Catherine nodded, “I can’t get it out of my head. Vincent.” Her voice caught on a sob, “What if I’ve lost him!”

Vincent reeled it was so difficult for him to stand by and hear Catherine talk about another man and sounding so desolate in her fear of losing that other man. “You should call him, find out the situation.” Vincent suggested with one eye on the sky. The clouds were changing colour now, the light insipid wisps giving over to pink and gold. “I have to go Catherine.”

She followed his gaze and saw his discomfort, “Thank you for coming, and for explaining your gift to me. I can’t say I like it Vincent, it is very disconcerting but also comforting to know that you will always be there for me like a protector. Elliot has his body guards and now I have mine.” She ushered him out and Vincent felt dismissed, she had missed the point entirely and he wished he had not come, least of all confided the truth to her, the truth of the bond. Back on the terrace Catherine did something Vincent had not had her do in a long time, she stood on tip toe intent on brushing her lips against his, but he turned his face at the last moment suddenly reminded of what she had done with her mouth the evening before. Appalled Catherine gasped, surprised by his action and the shame in his eyes, but he had hauled himself up to the roof above her apartment before she had time to question him about it. There, he hesitated a moment, stunned by his own behaviour, ordinarily he would have revelled in a kiss from Catherine, but disgust had swept through him the moment that her intention became plain and he could not stand the thought of her lips touching him. Traitorous lips, that not only did abhorrent things but also kissed the lips of another man, a man that was to be her husband. Vincent’s heart ached and he wished he had not returned to her so soon, but he had been powerless to resist and he wondered if it would always be like that now, even perhaps after she had married Elliot Burch. Why oh why, did he have the connection with her when it brought him nothing but pain?

Back down on the terrace Catherine looked down expecting to see a sight of Vincent at any moment dashing across the street and to the park opposite, but when none came she looked hesitantly up at the roof above, “Vincent, are you still there?”

Hearing her Vincent said nothing but slowly and quietly headed for the elevator mounted it and rode it down to the basement level, where he alighted and disappeared through an entrance that Catherine did not even know was there.

Back above Catherine awaited an answer that did not come, but she had been certain he had lingered, now though she was sure he had gone, and Catherine touched the region of her heart and drawing her brows together began to wonder about something that had bothered her on and off for a long time…and then shrugging it off as a flight of fancy she returned to her apartment and to her bed where, finally, finally sleep claimed her.

The sound of the doorbell woke Catherine some six hours later and she dragged herself from the bed wondering who was calling at this hour. “Hello,” she called through the door groggily, “Who is it?”

“Its me, Cathy. Its Mel.”

“Mel!” Catherine wrenched the door open, “Boy are you a sight for sore eyes! Come in.” Catherine told her old friend cheerfully. “Want a coffee, I need one.”

“Sure. Nice place you have here. Is that a balcony?”

Catherine laughed, “Feel free yes it overlooks Central Park.”

“Neat.” Mel slipped off her shoes and walked over to the balcony doors unsure about opening them, as the day was quite chilly and the apartment so warm. “Nice voiles, I’ve always wanted some like this, you know down to the floor. My pokey place only has small windows. I bet they look grand blowing in the breeze.”

Catherine laughed, “Yes when they don’t strangle me. They can have their drawbacks.” She remembered fighting them off during a particularly windy day when she had gone out and left the doors open being that in the morning there hadn’t been a breath of wind and it had been hot and sunny. Never again, when the wind had got up the voiles had been blown back into the room and had snagged on some ornaments sending them crashing to the floor. Now if Catherine knew the day to stay warm and wind free and had to leave the doors open she would tie the voiles back first.

“So how’s life treating you, Cathy?” Melanie walked back into the room and sat down at one of Catherine’s dinky sofas. “These are nice, bet their cosy for two?”

In the kitchen Catherine smiled smugly, she detected Mel’s questions as having never changed the other girl was still as nosey as she had ever been. “I wouldn’t know.” Catherine came back through with two steaming cups of coffee “I seldom have time to sit on them except for mornings like this when I’m drinking my coffee. Its about the only time I make for myself.”

“That reminds me, shouldn’t you be at work…Oh!” Mel’s eyes opened wide with astonishment as she caught sight of the diamond cluster on Catherine’s finger, “Is that an engagement ring?”

Catherine stretched her hand out in front of her loving the way the diamonds caught the early morning sunlight that streamed through the windows, “It certainly is, I have to admit I’ve not had a chance to look at it yet in the daylight.”

“So you got it what yesterday? Who’s the lucky guy?”

‘As if you didn’t know’ Catherine thought before replying suitably smugly, “Elliot Burch.”

“Elliot…No! Not Elliot Burch! Cathy, you lucky cow.”

Catherine laughed, “He is quite a catch isn’t he?”

“And then some.” Catherine almost gloated at the look of envy in Mel’s eyes. It had taken time but the retribution had been worth waiting for. And perhaps ordinarily she would have been guarded about what she revealed to Mel, remembering the old days, but Catherine hoped that Mel had grown out of her deceitful ways and would truly wish her well. Until her next question caught Catherine off guard.

“Do you see anything of Dev these days?”

“Devin? You mean Devin Wells?”

“How many Devin’s are there? It’s an unusual name, yes I mean Devin Wells.” Catherine caught the sarcasm in Mel’s tone.

“I haven’t seen him for about four months. He’s back in town but I don’t know how long for.”

“Back in town? Why where’s he been?”

“Europe. He was gone for two years.”

“Two years! My how time flies. Wondered why I haven’t seen him about. Where does he live, do you know?” Catherine shook her head not trusting herself to answer and Mel looked disappointed. “Always carried a soft spot for Dev.” She surprised Catherine by saying, “And I’m real sorry about what happened, you know.”

“Water under the bridge now Mel, don’t worry about it.” Catherine stood up “Look I have to get dressed for work, but stay here, if you’ve time. We can chat as I dress, I just have to take a quick shower.”

“Well yes okay, if you don’t mind.”

“No, why don’t you open the balcony doors and sit out in the sunshine, its quite pleasant to do that, the terrace gets so much sun.”

“Okay, I’d like that.” Mel got up too and did just that glorifying in the feel of the warm sun upon her face, even though the day was chilly, up here above the streets she could have been in a different country, it was that pleasant.

“Catherine always lands on her feet.” Mel whispered as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the sunshine and thought about that huge diamond ring her friend had been wearing, “Fancy Elliot Burch of all people…” Mel shook her head in wonderment, “Some people have all the luck.”

She’d been out there about ten minutes listening to the splash of water from Catherine’s shower when the telephone rang. Mel hesitated, should she answer it? Just as her hand reached the receiver to do just that the answer machine picked up the call. Mel listened with interest.

“Cathy! Just what do you think you’re doing? You have my brother running to you in the dead of night. You’ve got to sort your life out Cathy, this can’t go on, your running my poor brother ragged.” The call ended, and Mel stared down at it. She wasn’t certain but that sounded like Devin’s voice, and what did he mean about his brother running to Cathy in the dead of night? Mel listened to the sound of running water, happy that Catherine would be a few minutes more, then she rewound the tape in the machine back to the beginning knowing that future calls that day would wipe it clean. But just for good measure and just in case there were no more calls, Melanie flicked the switch to erase last call, and satisfied that it was done, set the machine back onto play for other incoming calls. Just in time too, for Catherine suddenly emerged from the bedroom her hair wrapped in a towel high upon her head. “Mel, was that the phone?”

“Yes, but I didn’t answer it? I thought about it, but then I saw the answer machine, however the caller just hung up.”

Catherine nodded, “Oh, well not everyone likes talking to a machine. Maybe they’ll ring back later. It might have been my father, I am running late.” She laughed, “But then I always am.”

Mel said nothing, just smiled and quietly fumed, ‘yeah Cathy had everything, even a rich daddy that didn’t mind what time she got into the office every morning.’

“I’ll just get dressed, make yourself another coffee if you like, you know where the kitchen is.”

Mel nodded, coffee was the last thing she had wanted, but a chance to nose around Catherine’s apartment was quite another thing, but she filled and switched on the kettle anyway and while she waited for it to boil she nosily read the notes pinned to the notice board searching for anything with which she could cause trouble by. But there was nothing substantial, just appointments and references to files at work. Mel wondered where Catherine kept her address book. Maybe Cathy had lied when she said she didn’t know where to find Devin for surely if she’d been seeing his brother then…Mel gasped…how could she be so dumb? If Dev’s brother was running to Cathy in the middle of the night…then did Elliot Burch know about it? Smiling gleefully, Mel poured herself another coffee and one for Cathy for good measure and came out of the kitchen just as an immaculate dressed Cathy came out of the bedroom. Mel felt dowdy alongside her, knowing that the blouse alone that Catherine wore probably cost more than all the clothes Mel had on put together.

“Thanks Mel mm don’t you just love coffee. Don’t know where I’d be without it.” Catherine laughed, “So come on don’t keep me in suspense what are you doing with your life?”

“Actually Cathy, I’ve got to dash, maybe we can meet for lunch one day, have to wait till pay day though, I’m always running short.” Mel laughed angling for an invite and it came swiftly, “Hey don’t worry about that, maybe you would care to join me and Elliot for dinner one evening, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. He’s always saying he would like to meet more of my friends. Leave your number and I’ll call you when he’s free and we’ll arrange something okay?”

Mel smiled sweetly and choked down bile that rose to her throat, she wanted to scratch Catherine’s eyes out. How could one woman have so much and another so little, it wasn’t fair! “That’ll be wonderful.” Melanie replied breathily “I’ll look forward to that. Elliot Burch…who’d have thought it…me having dinner with Elliot Burch.” Melanie went on dreamily.

“And me.” Catherine reminded, “Don’t forget I’ll be there.”

“Oh of course Cathy, I hadn’t I’ll look forward to it, call soon huh? Here’s my card, it’ll tell you what I’m doing these days too.” Catherine took it briefed it and opened her apartment door letting Melanie out, “Accountant? Impressive.” And couldn’t help retorting exceedingly innocently, “But then you always were good at putting two and two together and making five.” She laughed as she said it but Melanie did not miss the barbed reply, and she seethed intent on revenge. Outside in the hallway with Catherine’s door closed behind her, Melanie walked toward the elevator her anger rising with every footstep upon the plush carpeting that was so different from the cracked lino and cockroaches that scuttled past as she walked toward her own bed sit in a building on the other side of town and she vowed she would see Catherine down before the month was out, or just as soon as that dinner appointment with Elliot Burch whichever was the sooner.

“Have you got everything Sir?” Elliot’s housekeeper asked as he looked at his immaculate reflection in the mirror.

He smiled, “Yes thank you Mrs Downy and I shall be eating out tonight, so don’t wait up for me.”

“Very good Sir.” Elliot watched the plump housekeeper move away toward the dining room where she would stack his empty breakfast plates en route to the kitchen and briefly wondered if Catherine would take her wifely duties seriously and whether Mrs Downy should be forewarned that her services might not be required a few months from now. Then he thought better of it, best not to jump the gun, anything could happen on that score yet.

Checking his watch, Elliot crossed to the study and closing the door firmly after him made the call he had decided upon in the early hours speaking brusquely as it was picked up at the other end, “George? Elliot Burch. I’d like you to do something for me. Discretion is the name of the day okay? There’s a lady I’d like some information on, just follow her that’s all I ask, take some photographs of who she meets and get a name if you can if they’re male, okay you with me on this one?”

Elliot smiled, showing the recipient of the call was in agreement, “That’ll be grand, usual fee plus a bonus do? Great, thanks George, I’ll have her details sent round to you later today will you be there? Good. Mick Clarke will bring them just let me know if the envelope looks tampered with will you? I have no need to distrust him but one can never be too careful. Yeah, same to you thanks George.” Elliot hung up brighter of spirit than he had felt since the evening before and picking up the things he would need for the day from the desk in the study, he pressed a buzzer that would announce to his bodyguards that he was ready to leave and then he walked toward the door speaking lowly, “There Cathy, if you’re genuine you have nothing to worry about, and if your not then I do. Either way honey, I’m going to find out about you, just hope there’s no more nasty little surprises like the one you gave me last night.” Elliot frowned, suddenly he wished he had made all his checks before giving her that diamond ring and wondered if she was wearing it. He’d call her from the office after his meeting, maybe he could pursued her not to wear it until their engagement was official, newspapers could be so tacky if they smelt a story somewhere, and he could well do without that kind of publicity.

Returning to the tunnels, Devin felt a heel. He shouldn’t have called Catherine he supposed, but he had been so mad when he’d found Vincent coming in just after four in the morning, knowing that it would be growing light above. Whatever Catherine was doing, though of course she didn’t know about the bond, it was sending his brother insane. Poor Vincent acting on Catherine’s emotions was being torn in two, and Devin could think of nothing else but to highlight to Catherine that the problem existed. If after all, they were best of friends, Catherine surely wouldn’t want Vincent to suffer unnecessary or take risks whereby he might be caught above. But by the time Devin reached the tunnels he wished he hadn’t called her. Not that he had given much away, he’d mentioned no names but hers, but supposing he had dialled the wrong number all manner of problems could have resulted had he been specific in what he’d said. But what rattled him more than anything was the possibility that Catherine might say something to Vincent, and Devin didn’t want his brother knowing he had interfered. Not that he was frightened of his brother, but because if Vincent knew about it, he might never confide in Devin about anything ever again.

Walking between his father’s chamber and his brother’s Devin jumped when Vincent rounded the corner looking for him “Devin? You’re back, heard you went up top?”

Devin nodded, “Needed some air. Do you need me for anything?”

“Not me, Father was looking for you. How are you today?” Vincent asked shrewdly.

“It should be me asking you that, aren’t you tired?”

“I don’t need a lot of sleep. You however do. I know we didn’t have time for many words when I got in this morning Devin, but I didn’t miss the fact that something was keeping you awake. Thoughts of a certain lady perhaps?” Devin sighed, “I made a decision Vincent. I’m going back to England I’ve got to see her one last time. Maybe after being away so long I can lay the ghost, maybe I’m just feeding on the memory.”

“And maybe it’ll be worse for you to see her again.” Vincent reminded him.

“I know, but I have to do this. I won’t be gone long, a couple of weeks tops, then I promise I’ll be back come what may.”

Vincent was convinced, but he knew what decisions were, once made if they felt right one went with them, good or bad for better or worse then one only had oneself to blame if it all went sour. “Then I hope it goes as you wish.” Vincent squeezed one of his brother’s shoulders. “When will you go?”

“In the morning. I’ve booked a flight for eleven o’clock.” Vincent nodded, and Devin turned toward his father’s chamber, “Wish me luck Vin, I’ve got to break the news to dad. He was hoping I’d help out next week on level G, guess you’ll be drafted in now, sorry about that.”

“Story of my life, Devin, story of my life.” Vincent chuckled and his brother could tell he meant no animosity, still Devin felt a pang of the usual regret, that he could come and go as he chose but his brother had no such privilege. Strange how the world was, one had so much and another so little, it wasn’t fair, it just wasn’t fair and Devin vowed to bring Vincent something wonderful back from England, even if, thinking of Kei-Anne, he wouldn’t be doing so himself.

“Notice anything different?” Catherine breezed into her father’s office later that morning with her left hand outstretched and under his nose.

“Uh? Oh morning Cathy.” He checked his watch, “Or should I say afternoon? No eleven thirty you’ve just made it, so what’s the excuse this time…” he paused suddenly noticing the rock upon her hand, “Cathy!” His eyes rose to meet hers and found her to be smiling from ear to ear, “He proposed?” Charles asked weakly.

“Yes daddy, I’m going to be Mrs Elliot Burch.”

“Oh Cathy, that’s marvellous. Give me his number quick I must call him, “Charles reached for the telephone but Catherine stayed his hand, “He’s in a meeting this morning daddy, don’t worry he said he’d call later, I’m sure he’ll meet us for a belated lunch.”

“I’ll have my secretary halt all my calls for this afternoon then, there will be a lot to discuss. Have you set a date for the wedding?”

“No, daddy you move too fast.” Catherine laughed happily, “I only got engaged last night.”

“Well there’ll be a lot to do. You are going to have the wedding of the century Cathy, Elliot knows a lot of people, and so do we, and the press will be involved oh Cathy…you and Elliot Burch…I’m so happy for you, honey.”

Catherine knew he would be, it had been the bright spark on her morning horizon but she was a little disappointed that Elliot had not called her yet even though he said he would call after the meeting, she thought he might just manage a little one, or send some flowers, anything like that. But when she reached her desk and found it empty Catherine was doubly disappointed. Other mornings she had come in to find a bouquet of red roses today after the best night of her life there was nothing and panic started to rise in Catherine’s heart. Elliot hadn’t changed his mind had he?

Across the city George Webster looked up as the door to his office opened and he instantly recognised his visitor, “You have something for me, Mr Clarke?” He held out his hand turning over the slim package that was placed therein with scrutiny.

“I haven’t tampered with it, that’s exactly how it was handed to me,” Mick Clarke told George who was quick to respond with, “Never doubted it for one moment Mr Clarke just always do that with a package.” He laughed derisively, “One never knows who ones friends are in this game.”

Mick gave him a slight smile, not quite following did he think his boss would send him an explosive device?
Before him, George opened the envelope, peeking inside, surprised at what he saw there, “Okay Mr Clarke everything is in order tell you boss I’ll act with the insight he knows me to have, and as soon as I know anything I’ll call him.”

Mick nodded and left the office, pausing outside of the door to let out a long low sigh of relief, he’d never noticed, George Webster had never noticed that the envelope had been opened and resealed. Now wouldn’t Charles Chandler be interested to know that Mr Burch was having checks made on his said only daughter? Mick hurried from the building if he was quick he might be able to catch Mr Chandler before he went out for lunch.

“You heard from Elliot?” Charles popped his head around Catherine’s office door a little after mid day. She shook her head, “He’s probably still tied up. Perhaps you shouldn’t have cancelled your appointments after all daddy.”

“That’s okay honey, a quiet afternoon is quiet appealing actually and the man’s got to surface sometime. Have you tied calling him?”

“Now daddy, taken from the horses mouth, a lady never chases after a man.”

“Ah yes, but when that man happens to have asked the woman to marry him that gives her certain rights. I should call him my dear, leave him a message to contact you ASAP.”

“No its okay daddy, I won’t bother him, he’ll call when he’s done. Oh!” Catherine noted her father’s secretary trying to catch his eye from just behind him, “I believe you’re wanted daddy.”

“What, oh Susan, for me? I’ll take it in my office.” He winked at Catherine, “Duty calls, my dear. Let me know if Elliot calls okay?”

“I will daddy.” Catherine smiled and watched her father hurry to his office where a telephone call awaited him then picked up the file she had been working on before he had interrupted her. She was just getting into it again when her door opened and he walked back through looking grave.

“Daddy, what is it?” Catherine hurried from round the desk to his side, “Are you ill? Susan!” She cried at the top of her voice and the secretary appeared in the doorway, “Get my father some water will you, he’s not well.”

“I’m okay, okay…” he waved his caring secretary aside, “Just need to sit and speak to my daughter in private.” Taking her cue Susan left and closed the door behind her, Catherine however remained close hovering by. “What is it daddy, you’re scaring me.”

“You should be scared. Cathy, who else knows that Elliot asked you to marry him?”

“Two others, why?”

“And would they be inclined to be vindictive?” Catherine thought of Mel, “one might, why?”

“Let’s pray that’s all it is then. Cathy, honey, I’ve just received a telephone call that informed me that Elliot is running checks on you. He’s having you followed honey. Now whether that’s true or not I don’t know…but why on earth would he feel the need to do that…now?”

Catherine paled before her father, “I don’t know.” Her heart thudded painfully and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her, surely Mel hadn’t stuck her untimely oar in so soon? And what would she tell him if she had, Catherine had no deep dark secrets, other than Vincent, and Mel knew nothing of that.

“If he had done so before proposing I could understand it, but the caller said that he made arrangements for it to begin today. Cathy, whatever you are involved in make it discreet or you are going to lose Elliot before you’ve even got him.”

“I’m doing nothing daddy, nothing underhand and nothing wrong. He’ll go un-rewarded if he thinks he can dredge up dirt where there is none!” Catherine was suddenly furious, how dare he!

“I suppose we shouldn’t be too surprised honey, Elliot has a lot at stake, but your reputation should have been enough. He’s making it sound as though you aren’t to be trusted. Catherine you have finished with Tom, haven’t you?”

Catherine laughed derisively, “Daddy you know the answer to that!”

“Yes I do, sorry honey, but Elliot must have his reasons. The thing is what should you do about it, confront him?”

“Do you think I should?” Catherine asked amazingly feeling optimistic about that, at least by so doing she’d have a valid reason for dragging him out of his meeting and finding out why he hadn’t called or sent her any flowers that day.

“Personally, yes. You should let him know that you know and disapprove. You should lay it on the line if he didn’t trust you then you have no future together. Cathy, if he wants you then he has to be worthy of you, you are just as much a respectable citizen of this city as he is. Something like this if it got out, and well it has already could prove detrimental to your reputation.”

Catherine could tell that her father was hurt and angry and would have words to say to Elliot on the matter the moment it were possible to do so, therefore it was as well she told him that she knew in light of that. “Okay, I’ll call his office.”

“Shall I listen on the other line?”

Catherine shook her head, “No I’ll fill you in afterward. You can stay here though, I don’t mind you eavesdropping who was it that told you, do you know?”

“Some scum bag. Wanted money for the information, but unfortunately he gave away too much for nothing.” Charles laughed little boys should not play big boy games. He’ll learn.

“He will when Elliot catches up with him.” Catherine told her father gravely. Charles nodded and watched his daughter dial the number to Elliot’s office with bated breath, would she get to the bottom of it? Or would Elliot be so angry that he would break off their engagement so soon? Whatever, Charles would be there for his daughter and whatever happened would only be for the best…half an hour ago he liked Elliot Burch one hundred percent, now the fellow had dropped in his estimation to fifty and Charles was sure his daughter could do far better for herself. Wealth and power had a lot to answer for. Sometimes it was better to be a poor man, at least then one had no doubts about love and where one stood.

Listening Charles heard his daughter speak to Elliot’s secretary and pieced together the conversation by what he could hear.

“In a meeting, what still? Buzz through will you, tell him its Catherine Chandler and its urgent.”

Across town Elliot swivelled round in his chair as his buzzer sounded, he’d been picturing in his minds eye a tower he hoped some day to build when he had the cash flow behind him, a tower that would touch the heavens and domineer the city with its presence. “Hello?” He answered the intercom, “Thought I said I wasn’t to be disturbed, Mrs Webb?”

“Sorry Sir, but Catherine Chandler is on line three, she says it is urgent.”

“Tell her I’m in a meeting.”

“I have Sir, but she is adamant.”

Elliot sighed, his meeting had finished an hour ago, and he had spent all that time trying to decide what to do about his recently acquired fiancé. “Okay, put her on, I’ll speak to her.” He sighed again raggedly putting on a brave face as he answered brightly, “Cathy…I was just about to call you.”

“Well let me save you the bother!” Catherine hadn’t meant to snap, but this whole fiasco had just about reached its limit. “Why are you having me followed Elliot?”

Anything Elliot might have been about to say, vanished and he frowned, “Followed?” He laughed somewhat nervously, “I’m not having you followed. Honey, baby, whatever gave you that idea?”

“My father’s just received a telephone call telling him that you sent some details to a private detective this morning…” Catherine looked up at her father he hadn’t said that, but reading between the lines…Charles nodded letting her know she was on track.

“Who? Who made the call? Cathy, I swear they are lying, why would I want to run a check on you?” Elliot laughed hoping she wouldn’t detect his anger through it. She did, “I’m sorry, I don’t believe you Elliot. I think I’d better take this ring off, do you want it back?”

“Cathy what are you saying? I love you. Look I’ll come straight over. This is all a big misunderstanding.”

“Give me some credit Elliot, I may be an innocent but I’m not stupid as well! Something is going on, I know it. Every other morning I would have arrived here to find a bouquet on my desk, but today after getting engaged, what do I find nothing!”

Elliot had an answer for that, “The ring cost a lot of money Cathy, flowers will have to wait awhile.” Catherine wondered about that, the ring was beautiful and it would have cost him a small fortune even so, he could have made allowances, one slender red rose would have conveyed his love after such a momentous occasion.

“Come over if you must, but I don’t think we have anything further to say, Elliot.” Catherine put the phone down, her head was reeling and Charles jumped up as he saw her tugging the engagement ring from her finger stopping her before she had pulled it right off, “Honey, don’t be hasty, it grieves me to say it but he might have an explanation. Maybe someone took him for a ride once, maybe he’s just covering all avenues, you know once bitten twice shy?”

“And maybe he’s just suspicious of everyone. Well if he was having me followed I wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of the guy that called you.”

Charles grinned, “Neither would I Cathy. Elliot has contacts all over this city and he’ll see to it that someone is buying flowers tomorrow I can vouch for that.”

For a moment Catherine felt sad, that was true, this time tomorrow some poor widow or mother somewhere would be buying flowers and all because their husband or son tried to make a quick buck at the expense of another. “Did he blackmail you daddy?” Catherine wanted to know. It would have been worse had he not.

“Yes honey, he said that if I didn’t pay him for information maybe the newspapers would.” Both of them gasped at the same moment realising that it was possible that he had done that after speaking delivering his demands and not receiving anything.

“What are we worried about honey? You’ve got nothing to hide, Elliot will have to do the explaining…don’t worry about it.”

Catherine hoped that was so, but something niggled at the back of her mind, had done ever since her father had told her Elliot was having her followed…no before that ever since she had got up that morning and Elliot hadn’t called…

On cue, as she was thinking that, Elliot arrived, looking flustered and apprehensive, Susan knocked, asked and showed him in when Catherine told her that she could and as he entered the office Elliot was surprised to find that Charles Chandler was with his daughter.

“Catherine…” Elliot crossed to her desk where she remained aloof behind it.

“You know my father, I believe?” Catherine indicated her father sat near to the door. Elliot nodded in the older man’s direction then eyes darting back to Catherine, began, “I swear to you, I’m having no checks run on you, Cathy believe me?”

Catherine looked to her father, he was a good judge of character, he understood mannerisms and body language, and when he made the sign of the cutthroat behind Elliot’s back, Catherine told her soon to be ex fiancé, “I think you’d best leave Elliot, and take this ring with you!”

“No, Cathy! Why this hostility? I can’t believe it. Would you have me hung and quartered without delivering my case? I love you.”

Catherine hesitated, “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.” She saw her father give her the thumbs up behind Elliot’s back and knew she had pleased him. “Can you take me for lunch?”

Elliot checked his watch, something that annoyed Catherine. Would this be a sign of things to come? Would Elliot never make time for her? Of course she knew all about meetings and appointments but there was such a thing as discretion. Elliot could have told her yes and then asked to use the telephone and rearranged his day’s schedule around her, who at that time should have been the most important thing on his agenda. Charles noticed it too, but said nothing except to decline the offer of joining them for lunch as Elliot asked politely on his way out with Catherine moments later.

Catherine smiled at her father as she passed him by and he winked at her, the gestures said it all, Catherine would be careful, she would be discreet and she would distribute marks out of ten as her father had taught her throughout the whole afternoon with Elliot. So far in the last four months Catherine had no need to score while out with Elliot, he had been everything she had ever wanted, but now with the distrust she had for him she made a mental note to count points. By the end of the afternoon if he didn’t score ten out of ten, she would have serious doubts about him and make her plans accordingly.

He’d almost reached eight points when Elliot dropped his bombshell. They had finished desert and were sipping coffee and nibbling mints when Elliot passed a slim white card across to Catherine at the table. “What’s this?” she asked brightly.

“Its an appointment. I have one scheduled at the same time with a different doctor, I took the liberty of booking you in as I know your family doctor is also a friend and you might have been embarrassed.” Catherine drew her brows together, “Why would we need to see a doctor?”

Elliot drew his seat closer and leaned toward her whispering, “Honey, it’s a precautionary measure for the benefit of both of us. The appointment is for an HIV test.”

Catherine’s mouth opened wide, “What?” She exclaimed. Heads turned at her outcry.

“Keep your voice down!” Elliot seethed through gritted teeth, then acting calmer repeated, “As I say it’s just a precautionary measure, surely you’d like to know that I’m clean?”

“Yes. But Elliot, I don’t need to take the test, whatever yours reveals will be enough for me. I’ve not been around like you have, remember?” she whispered back.

“Cathy, honey…you don’t need to have slept around to need the test. What you did for me…well you can catch things from that too.”

“What are you saying? That I’ve caught something from you!” Catherine asked wide-eyed.

“Honey, no. Not from me, that is not that I’m aware of, I mean from the others that came before me…” he chuckled, “Wrong choice of words, forgive me.”

“Forgive you?” Catherine’s voice was flat and dead calm, and for a moment Elliot thought she was about to agree to the test, and doing so would give him the answer he sought, so she surprised him when she pushed back her seat, tore the appointment card in half, and wrenching off her engagement ring slapped it down on the table in front of him shouting, “If this is a sign of things to come Elliot, I want no more of it! Do you always disbelieve everything that you are told?” She made to march past him but he caught her arm and seethed, “Only when the facts speak for themselves, honey what you did…that was not the work of a virgin…it was nothing short of a…whore!” he whispered the last and Catherine wretched her arm free and spat, “And you would know of course! No wonder that you need to take an HIV test, Elliot!”

Catherine marched away the glee she felt quickly disappearing by the looks of the other diners, they were horrified, ‘Elliot Burch needing a test for HIV?’ For Catherine knew she had gone too far, a quip like that could ruin the man, and Elliot knew it too. He raced after her, not caring if he made a scene “How dare you! Take that back! I demand that you take that back!”

Catherine relented, “I’m sorry, forgive me, it was just a joke.” Her eyes darted around at the other diners hoping they’d believe her. Elliot took the bait, “Some joke, and not one of your better ones, Cathy.” Inside he felt relieved at least she had tried to make amends an outburst like that could have ruined him quickly he glanced round at the other diners happy to note that they seemed to have lost interest but he held on to Catherine while he picked up her discarded ring from the table and then paid for their meal. Outside around the corner from the restaurant Elliot bundled Catherine into the back seat of his saloon where he slapped her hard on the bottom. “You vindictive little bitch! Do you know what you almost did back there?” He rounded on her.

“Almost ruined you. Yes I know Elliot wasn’t that what you were doing to me!”

Elliot glared at Catherine, ticking over her words in his mind, slowly calming to accept them, “are you telling me that what you did last night was the first time you’ve ever done it?” He asked her suspiciously.

“I sure am, and it was the last time too. I’ve never felt so degraded, so disgusted in my entire life…so you can get it out of your head that I’ll ever attempt anything like that ever again!” Catherine told him furiously.

“Why?” Elliot was amazed, now he was losing ground he wanted nothing more than for her to do that to him again. Men are strange creatures sometimes.

“Why? What do you mean why? Haven’t I made it plain enough? Elliot it was awful!”

“I thought you enjoyed it?” He sounded surprised and hurt.

“No it was abhorrent.”

“Then why did you do it?”

Catherine sighed, she’d asked herself the same question ever since it had happened, and she told him, “I acted impulsively I had a friend that used to talk about it all the time, I guess I was curious, well that soon changed.” Catherine laughed derisively and was surprised when Elliot chuckled then told her “Some friend I hope you don’t still see her.” Catherine shook her head not trusting herself to answer, she dared not tell him that particular friend walked back into her life only that morning and she had arranged for the three of them to have dinner together whenever Elliot was free.

“Good, because you can do without people like that.”

“I know.” Catherine wiggled her fingers in front of his face, “We still have these Elliot.” She reminded him. Elliot laughed, “All is not completely lost then? Okay Cathy, honey we’ll use our hands to take off the edge, but until we’re married that’ll be all. You will still marry me won’t you?”

Catherine sighed, it had all been a big misunderstanding after all, and so what if Elliot only scored nine out of ten, it was close and no one was perfect. “Yes, Elliot, I’ll still marry you.”

“Thank God!” From his pocket Elliot withdrew the ring, and just as Catherine expected him to slide it back on her finger he hesitated, “Tell you what honey, I’ll keep hold of this and we’ll arrange an engagement party and I’ll put it on your finger then with all our friends and relatives watching.” Disappointed Catherine reluctantly agreed, if she hadn’t of known better she would have thought that despite everything that Elliot had just said, he was stalling for time but Catherine forced away the feeling. It had been misunderstandings that had got them into this mess, so she smiled brightly and agreed and Elliot gave a secret sign of relief, for once he had dealt with Mick Clarke and spoken to George Webster he intended to continue with the charade of having Catherine watched, after all he only had her word for everything that she said, and he hadn’t got where he had in the world by trusting people too implicitly. So he replaced the ring to his breast pocket and leaned in to kiss Catherine, smoothing away all her doubts in that one delicious gesture. Catherine loved his kisses, they sent her, but even so at the back of her mind she remembered the kisses of another, kisses that Elliot had so far never matched, kisses that set her soul on fire.

To be continued in chapter seven