As Kathy caught the bus home from work the following evening, she was striving not to dwell too much on those unpalatable truths because, by finding her employment, Sergio had single-handedly contrived to transform her life. Her new job was in a busy advertising agency, which buzzed with activity at all hours of the day and she absolutely loved it. A quick learner, she had already been complimented on her work. It was the opportunity she had so badly needed to prove her ability and gain experience. But without Sergio’s intervention she knew that she would not have been given that chance. That did not mean she planned to sleep with him when she saw him that night, but it did mean that she would probably continue to hold back and not beat him if they ever played chess again.
Amused by that idea, Kathy donned the citrus-yellow dress. A car collected her on the dot of eight and took her across the city to a very exclusive residential block. Shown into the lift by the driver, she was tense and uncomfortable. Where was she being taken? Not unnaturally she had assumed they were going out. Maybe he didn’t want to take her anywhere. Maybe he was afraid that her table manners or appearance would let him down.
Bright coppery head held high, Kathy walked across the marble hall and through the open door facing her into a stunning reception room so large that it seemed to stretch into infinity. Her heartbeat was moving up tempo, colour warming her cheeks.
‘Kathy…’ Sergio strolled forward to greet her.
And the definitive word to describe him, she thought dizzily, was gorgeous. His fashionable suit was the colour of dark chocolate and, worn with a fawn T-shirt, it struck a wonderfully classic and casual note. Just one glimpse of the hard, masculine planes of his lean bronzed face unleashed the butterflies in her stomach. It took tremendous self-control for her to rise above those promptings and say out loud what was on her mind.
‘Is this your apartment?’ Kathy asked stiffly.
Sergio ran veiled dark eyes as cold as ice over her and, even though he was disgusted by what he now knew about her character, he still could not deny her stunning physical appeal. The bright yellow dress set off her glorious hair and her green eyes shone like polished jade against her pale porcelain complexion. He knew at a glance that the outfit was designer faux-vintage and had no doubt at all in deciding where she had got the money to buy it: from the sale of his watch.
‘Yes. Why?’ he tossed back smooth as glass.
‘Are we going out?’ Kathy asked tautly.
Sergio gazed steadily back at her. ‘I thought we’d be more comfortable staying here.’
‘Either we go out somewhere, or I go home.’ Kathy tilted her chin and sent him a look of disdain, angry hurt and strong pride powering her. ‘I’m not an easy option you call up when you feel like sex. If that’s all you’re interested in, I’m leaving. No offence intended.’
His dark scrutiny kindled to gold as though she had tossed a burning torch on a bale of hay and provoked a blaze. ‘You can’t leave until you’ve answered certain questions to my satisfaction.’
Kathy froze. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Let’s keep it simple. You stole my watch. I want to know what you did with it.’
‘I…stole your watch? Are you crazy?’ Kathy exclaimed, barely able to credit that accusation coming at her out of the blue. ‘I remember you asking about it before you left London but—’
‘You were the last person to see it in my office. It can scarcely be a coincidence that you should also have a criminal record for theft.’
Her delicate natural colour ebbed to leave her an ashen shade. Without warning he was plunging her back into the nightmare that she had believed she had left behind. He knew about her past. She felt sick and cornered, and under attack. He believed she was a thief and that only she could be responsible for the disappearance of his watch. For a few taut seconds her mind was in turmoil and her throat was so tight she could barely get oxygen into her lungs.
For an instant Sergio wondered if she might faint. She’d turned as white as snow, her pallor in stark contrast to her vivid hair and dress. She was terrified, of course she was. He did not regret choosing the short, sharp shock approach. He liked results and he liked them fast.
‘I didn’t steal your watch,’ Kathy framed shakily.
‘Are lies a wise move at this point?’ Sergio traded, unimpressed. ‘I could call the police right now and let them handle it. But I would prefer to deal with this in a private capacity. Keep two facts in mind: I have no pity for those who try to take advantage of me and I have never regarded women as the weaker sex.’