A Strict Seduction (11 page)

‘Thank you,' she whispered, her eyes ablaze with gratitude and excitement. ‘This has been the best birthday present I've ever had. I'm so happy, so very happy.'

‘It's okay,' I told her, ‘I'll be here tomorrow morning too. If thing's aren't right I'm sure Alan won't mind if I put you across my knee.'

She turned to him excitedly, and he nodded his assent. ‘It seems to me that I've got a lot to learn too,' he admitted. ‘Anytime you think Maddy needs warming up, then be my guest.'

‘And this,' I said quietly, ‘is the best birthday present I've ever had.'

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‘You're not nervous, are you?' Todd asked me as we pulled up to the massive wrought iron gates that guarded the entrance to the estate.

‘A bit,' I lied, smiling because I could tell he was as nervous as I was. He'd been nervous about it all week, ever since he'd got the phone call from Jack Salter.

Todd smiled back, and was about to say something when the gates began to creak open. ‘Don't worry,' he said, looking away from me and towards the estate, ‘Jack's a nice guy, I'm sure you two will get on.'

He steered the car carefully between the black gates and on to the gravel drive that curved ahead of us into a dense copse that almost obscured the view of the grand house in the distance. Of course I was nervous, why shouldn't I be? Not only was Jack Salter extremely rich, powerful and well known, he was also Todd's boss. Now, out of nowhere, the two of us had been summoned to his estate to meet him. It was routine, Jack liked to get to know all of his employees, but it still made us nervous. What if I said something stupid? What if I embarrassed Todd? What if… All week I'd been going over the possibilities and all week I'd been hoping that something would crop up and we'd have an excuse not to go.

Todd drove slowly, the tyres crunching up the gravel, until we were through the trees and in clear view of the house. I'd seen it once on TV, but now, in the glorious summer sunshine and under a clear blue sky, it looked like a palace. Which it had been, once, before Jack had taken it off some down-at-heel aristocrat and restored it to its full, majestic brilliance. The acres of land around went with the house, a vast expanse of rolling green, woods, and stretches of water glistening in the sun.

‘It's like something from a film,' I said, my voice almost a whisper despite the fact that we were alone and in the car.

‘They say this place put him back a few million,' Todd said, a note of pride in his voice. That was the thing about Jack Salter, he seemed to inspire loyalty in everyone who came into contact with him. I knew Todd was the only one who felt a sense of admiration for a man who'd made millions from nothing and yet still came across as a normal sort of man rather than an accounting machine with a computer instead of a brain.

‘I wish we didn't have to do this,' I said quietly as Todd steered the car into a space near the entrance. Ours was the only car there, alone in the shadow of the great mansion, which only added to my nervousness.

‘Don't worry,' Todd insisted, trying to inject a relaxed note into his voice. He was tense, but I knew he couldn't admit that to me.

‘What if I say the wrong thing?' I asked.

Todd took my hands in his and looked at me. ‘Don't worry,' he repeated, ‘he doesn't bite. Look, forget everything you've heard about him, treat him as though he's just some other bloke.'

I shook my head. ‘But he's not, is he? I mean, he's your boss for a start. Our whole future depends on him, doesn't it? I mean, if he likes you then you'll do well, and if he takes a dislike to you then…'

Todd cut me off right there. ‘Don't think about it like that,' he insisted. ‘Just relax, okay?'

I nodded, though there was no way I could relax. ‘I'll do my best,' I promised, feeling once more out of my depth. God, here I was only just gone eighteen, and I was going in to meet one of the most powerful men in the country. What could I possibly have to say to him? I knew I was going to come across as some tongue-tied silly girl…

Todd was out of the car first, and he came round and opened my door. I stepped out and felt the cool breeze touch my thighs. I was wearing a summer dress, short, loose, cotton, and way too simple for the occasion. It was Todd's idea, and now I wished I'd dressed up a bit more.

‘You look fine,' Todd remarked, as though reading my mind.

He took my hand and we began to walk towards the house. In the distance I could see a group of men working in the fields, putting up fences, and beyond them a lake sparkling with jewels of light. It was so peaceful, a perfect summer's day, the sort that only the very rich can afford.

There was someone at the door to greet us, a ready smile to hand. She was tall, elegant and tanned, with long blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Todd had obviously met her before, they shook hands and said hello and then she turned to me.

‘You must be Elaine,' she said simply, speaking with the effortless diction that only those born to wealth can acquire.

‘Hello,' I replied, nervously returning her smile. She seemed friendly enough and I longed to know who she was. Jack wasn't married, we all knew that, but was this woman his girlfriend? Whoever she was she was dressed immaculately in long wrap-around skirt and a simple silk blouse. Simple but expensive, that was obvious.

‘I'm Amanda,' she said, ‘I work here at the house. Come on, Jack's out by the pool.'

We entered the house and followed her through a hall that could easily take our flat and still leave room for a party. The walls were lined with ancient portraits, coats of arms and the like. A wide oak staircase curved upwards to our right and left, heading up to a first floor landing that looked down over the hall. There were doors to left and right, and corridors leading off all over the place. I felt dwarfed by it all.

‘This place is amazing,' Todd remarked, probably impressed by the vast scale of things. He always seemed to take pride in Jack Salter's success; there was never any hint of envy in his voice.

Amanda laughed softly. ‘I don't know,' she said, looking over at us and smiling broadly, ‘I sometimes feel like I need a road-map to find my way around.'

I smiled because she had put into words exactly what I was feeling. ‘It's like visiting a stately home,' I said.

She laughed again. ‘I know,' she agreed, ‘but at least there are no crowds here.'

Although outside it was hot and sticky, inside the air was cool and still, as though the house was untouched by what went on around it. We walked in silence until we came to a door which lead out to the back. Amanda opened it and the bright light spilled inwards, offering us a view of the back of the house and the rest of the estate. The light dancing on the pool was dazzling, a shimmering gold vision that drew the attention instantly.

‘Go on through,' Amanda told us, perhaps sensing our nerves.

I followed Todd, stepping on to the paved path that cleaved a pure green lawn in two and which led directly to the pool-side. Jack was there, on his feet and waiting for us. He looked relaxed in pale cotton trousers, a short-sleeved shirt and deck shoes, the only sign of ostentation the gold ring that flashed in the light as he held his drink.

He walked over to meet us, flashing a smile that seemed like the real thing rather than a mask of politeness. He shook Todd's hand vigorously and then turned to me, fixing me with his grey-green eyes. My stomach did a somersault as I shook his hand and mumbled a hello to his greeting. I'd seen him on TV and in the newspapers, but in the flesh he was different. His dark brown hair was streaked with silver, his face slightly lined, and the expression in his eyes both intense and detached. I was blushing, I realised, and that made my face burn even more.

‘Looks like we've picked a good day for this,' Jack said, his gravely voice filled with good humour. He indicated that we should take a seat, and there were several arranged in a semi-circle facing the cool blue water of the pool.

‘You must be parched,' Amanda said, smiling at me in particular, ‘what would you like to drink?'

I hesitated, wanting Todd to sit down first so that I would know where to sit too. ‘I'll have anything cold,' I said, slightly flustered.

‘Mineral water for me,' Todd said, speaking confidently.

Amanda was still waiting for me. ‘Elaine?' she asked. ‘Would that be okay for you too?'

‘Yes, please,' I agreed.

Todd finally took a seat next to where Jack had been sitting and I sat next to him, reaching out so we could hold hands. I was trembling slightly and my nerves showed no sign of abating. I glanced at Jack and saw that he was looking at me. I lowered my eyes instantly and blushed again. For some reason I hadn't expected to find Jack such an attractive man, perhaps because in my mind I'd never seen him as anything but Todd's boss, some absent figure who had so much power over our lives but who hardly knew we existed.

‘This is great,' Todd said eagerly, looking across the cool expanse of the pool to the rolling lawn that stretched out into the distance.

‘On a day like this who could ask for more?' Jack asked.

‘That's right,' Todd agreed. I could sense his excitement, he was so pleased that we had been asked, and was dying to make a good impression.

‘What do you think, Elaine?' Jack asked.

I smiled shyly at him. ‘I think this is just so… Just such a perfect day…'

‘It is,' Jack agreed, flashing me another smile.

I returned the smile, our eyes meeting for a second, and then I glanced back at Todd. He was sitting on the edge of the seat, hunched forward slightly, still tense. He was all edgy, he had things to say and was just dying for the chance to get it all off his chest. For a moment we were quiet and all I could hear was the gentle lapping of the water in the pool, a sound so seductive in the summer heat. The deep blue water rippled gently, touched by the barest whisper of a breeze.

‘Here comes Amanda,' Todd said, breaking the silence.

I looked up to see her coming up the path, relaxed and beautiful, her hair catching the light, her long limbs outlined by the long, wispy skirt. She came over with a tray and we took out drinks, the glasses icy cool to the touch and filled to the brim with sparkling water and slices of lemon.

‘Would there be anything else?' she asked, turning to face Jack.

‘No, that'll be all, thanks,' he told her.

She smiled at me once more and headed back to the house. For a moment I had wondered whether she might have been Jack's girlfriend or something, but now it was clear that she worked for him.

‘Well, I suppose you're wondering why I've invited you out here,' Jack remarked.

Todd and I both smiled.

‘I've a lot of people working for me,' Jack continued, ‘and it's easy to lose track of who's who and who's doing what. That's why I like to take an interest in people, especially those people who look like they're doing well,' and then, after a slight pause he added, ‘and I've heard nothing but good things about you, Todd.'

Todd looked like he'd just won the lottery. He looked both shy, embarrassed and extremely happy all at the same time. ‘I just do my best,' he mumbled awkwardly. I was pleased too. I was glad that all those long hours at work, all that extra effort, had been noticed.

‘I know you do,' Jack said, ‘and I want you to know that it's not taken for granted.'

‘I didn't think it was,' Todd said hurriedly. ‘Actually, I've been thinking about the Anderson contract…'

Jack laughed and shook his head. ‘Let's just stop there,' he said gently. ‘No shop talk, remember Elaine's here.'

‘No, it's okay,' I protested, ‘you carry on, I don't mind.'

Todd squeezed my hand; I'd said the right thing of course. ‘It's just that I've had this idea…'

‘No,' Jack insisted. ‘This is a social occasion, no business talk, okay?'

Todd was reluctant to let it go but he nodded his assent. I felt a twinge of regret, because I knew that Todd had been building up for the chance to expound his idea for days. At work he was never allowed direct access to Jack, there were always layers of management in the way, and on the rare occasions he did meet Jack there was always something else to discuss.

‘So, Elaine, tell me about yourself,' Jack suggested.

I swallowed hard. What was there to say? Again I glanced into Jack's eyes and was surprised by what I saw there. ‘I… I'm going to college,' I mumbled hesitantly. My heart was beating so hard that I was certain that they could both hear it.

‘Studying what?'

‘Computers,' Todd replied for me.

Jack ignored him. ‘What exactly?' he asked me.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and then became aware that my short dress had ridden up and that my long tanned thighs were almost completely on display. I looked up and realised that Jack was looking directly at me. I felt too embarrassed to move, as though smoothing down my dress would bring even more attention to the fact that he was looking at my legs.

If Todd registered my discomfort he showed no signs of it. ‘Tell Jack what you're doing at college,' he urged.

‘I'm doing a course in computers in business administration,' I said, speaking quickly and keeping my eyes fixed on the swimming pool.

‘Is that a degree course?' Jack asked.

‘A diploma course,' Todd answered. This time I was annoyed, Todd was beginning to answer for me all the time.

‘Todd, come on,' Jack said quietly, ‘why don't you give Elaine a chance to speak? It's okay,' he said, turning to face me again, ‘there's really no need to be nervous.'