Alright doctor. Thank you, Colten said.
I believe you are to thank for saving her, the doctor said looking at Robert.
I gave her mouth to mouth if that's what you mean.
Yes. Well, you did it very well. She's got a lot to thank you for. Does she have any relatives we need to inform? the doctor asked.
Robert didn't have a clue and looked at Colten. No, she's alone in the world, Colten said. Can we see her?
When we get her onto the ward, in an hour or so.
It was two hours before Avaline was on the ward by which time Robert was snoring in a waiting room arm chair, and Colten was checking his bank accounts on his cell phone. A nurse came and fetched them. Avaline was sitting up in bed with a bandage on her head. The first thing Colten noticed was how pale she looked.
So you didn't want to come back to the Endless Sinner? Colten asked jokingly.
No I decided to get myself bashed over the head instead, she replied. I'm sorry.
What for. It wasn't your fault. You'll be back in the saddle in a couple of weeks. You need some rest, Colten said. You're coming to stay with me. Robert flashed him and glance and mentally questioned Colten's motives.
No. I'll be fine at the apartment. Penny can look after me.
I'm not taking no for an answer. I won't have you sitting in some tatty apartment while you're ill. There's all you need at my house. You can swim, sun yourself, go for a sauna and walk in the grounds. It's very relaxing.
Thank you, Robert, she said. I heard you saved me.
It's nothing miss, I'm glad I was there. My army training came in useful for once. If you'll excuse me, I'll leave you two to talk. Robert left the room, and Colten pulled a chair up to the bed.
You've got one hell of a bump on your head, he said.
A hell of a bikini bump you could say. I'm not coming to your house to recover. It's not right. I'm one of your employees, not your wife.
I don't give a monkey's toss. You're coming back to mine, and that's the end of it. This happened when you were working for me, and I'll look after you. You've got nobody else except that porn star.
How do you know about Penny? Avaline hadn't told anyone about Penny's occupation.
I know everything. You are my PA, and you will be handling very sensitive information, did you think I'd employ you without doing some checks on you?
Jesus. I'd never given it any thought.
I also know you're alone in the world. I know you were left in a hospital baby hatch and brought up in three foster families. He looked at her and saw how amazed she was that he knew her most intimate secrets. I know you did okay in high school and well at secretarial college. I also know you're way to intelligent to work as a PA. But you underachieved at school because you found boys more interesting than Pythagoras or Shakespeare.
Avaline felt as if she was naked. Was there anything he didn't know about her? Do you know my bra size as well? she asked.
No that's still a secret I haven't got to the bottom of.
And you never will. I work for you.
That never stopped me before. You know you're very beautiful. I could give you all you want in life.
Do you think I'm stupid? You would soon get bored of me and discard me. Then what? Being fired without a reference wouldn't look good on my resume.
A nurse came into the room and checked Avaline's blood pressure and temperature. Your temperature's up a little. She's tired now; perhaps you can come back tomorrow? the nurse said.
Sure. Remember Avaline, you're coming back to mine. I always get what I want.
The nurse looked at him as he left the room and shook her head. Is he bothering you Avaline. He seems awfully pushy.
But hot wouldn't' you say?
Yes. I would say hot but dangerous, the nurse replied. They both laughed at the sisterly joke.
Yes the dangerous bit hadn't escaped me, Avaline concluded.
When Robert picked Avaline up, he was worried he was taking the fly to the spiders web. But those were his instructions. He knew what his boss was like. He'd ferried lots of women to Palmer Court, Colten's massive mansion in the hills around LA. None of them had stayed very long. He'd also taken most of them away again, in tears. Colten was a hard bastard. It didn't matter whether it was business or women, he applied the same principles. Robert remembered when Colten had told him about his philosophy. Colten saw life in terms of deals. He'd said a good deal is when you get out more than you put in. When Robert had told his wife what Colten had said she'd laughed. He recalled her exact words. That may work great for business, but it's absolutely the wrong attitude to relationships. But Robert was convinced Colten didn't give a damn.
'Here we are, Miss. Palmer Court. What do you think? Robert said pulling the Rolls up outside the mansion.
My God, it's huge, she said. I had no idea. Maybe it won't be such a bad place to recuperate after all.
Miss, Robert began. He had chosen his words carefully. I've brought a lot of young women here, to this house. None of them have stayed very long, and most of them left with a broken heart. Avaline listened intently to what he had to say. I like you. You're bubbly and beautiful; I don't want to see the same thing happen to you.