Hostage to Fortune

That evening I put on my best dress and took extra care with my makeup. A beautiful woman was what he wanted and I was going to do my best to give him one.

At seven, `o' clock sharp the doorbell rang. I grabbed a wrap and answered the door. I'd expected to find Thomas, Will's chauffeur. Instead, I found Will himself.

'When I get this damned leg to work properly I'll offer you my arm until then I hope you'll be content to walk beside me.'

'I'll gladly walk beside you. You could have sent Thomas up, I would have understood.'

'I think my girl has every right to a personal appearance. I getting quite adept at using these crutches now. But the time will come when I don't need them.'

I took hold of his arm and we went down to his car. Thomas gave me a big smile as we got into the car, before driving us to the restaurant.

I'd been to that restaurant many times. We'd frequently entertained clients there. This time it was me that was being entertained and it was so exciting. Will insisted that I wait while he got out of the car and came round to meet me. We walked into the restaurant together, and were warmly greeted by Oliver the maître d'.

'Mr Wainwright, Miss Fletcher, how wonderful to see you again. I have your usual table ready for you, sir.'

'Thank you, Oliver. I'm afraid I've presented you with a little problem here. I need these things,' he lifted a crutch, 'to get around. Will we have enough room for me to get around?'

'It is no problem Sir I will personally escort you to your table, then I will take care of those while you enjoy your meal.'

True to his word, Oliver patiently took us through to our table. As Will was concentrated on making his leg move, I was studying the looks on the faces of the other diners. Some were sympathetic, some tried not to look at all and one or two stared as if he had no right to be there. I knew how hard it was for him to walk at all and I was proud to be with him.

We took our seats and ordered the wine and our starters, and Will started to say what was on his mind.

'I've missed you Steph.'

'Ha, I knew you would, having trouble keeping track of the office gossip are you?'

'Don't make this harder than it is, Steph. I'm quite aware of what you do for the company, but I'm not talking about work. I wake up with you on my mind, I go to sleep thinking of you. Things happen, and I think `I must tell Steph about that.' I work on projects we worked on together and I want to talk to you. I need you back in my life.'

I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing for years I'd been dreaming of something like this. I'd suffered the hurt of watching him pursue and marry Samantha. At the time I'd considered resigning, thinking that I couldn't stand being around him every day, knowing he belonged to someone else. As time passed, I'd learned to accept the situation. My love for him even allowed me to be happy for him when he and Samantha seemed to reconnect. Since Ryan's attempt on his life, I'd started to hope again that he might come to love me, but after the way he'd taken me for granted, I was taking no chances.

'Are you sure it's me you want. Are you sure, it's not just a woman, any woman? '

'I suppose I asked for that one didn't I. This is all new to me. I mean how can I be around someone, day after day and not realise what they mean to me. What does it tell you when I say that I miss you more than I miss my wife? I need you Steph, and not just at work.

Our starters arrived and we started to eat. As usual, the food was outstanding and for a while, it took the conversation away from any relationship we might have. Will started again as soon as he'd finished his.

'I don't know what it is Steph but something happened to me when I hit my head. It's as if I see things clearly for the first time. I don't even hate the old man anymore. --You've done things for me that no PA could be expected to do. You even saved my life. -- I've taken you for granted, but not anymore I promise you that.'

Our main course arrived, and once more, the food took us away from the conversation. I was still reeling from what he'd said. If he'd just come out and said, 'I love you' I would have been overjoyed, but he seemed to be struggling to understand his own feelings. As I finished my meal, I waited for him to continue. Before he did so, he reached out and took my hand.

'Steph, I've started divorce proceeding against Samantha.'

'Oh come on, Will. You can't seriously think that she was behind the attempt on your life?'

'No, no I don't. What I can remember of what happened makes me think that she was a surprised as I was. The police say she had ample opportunity to shop Ryan but didn't do it. That's why they want her. She's not the sharpest tool in the box, but I don't think she is a murderer. --It's not even because of her affair. As you said, I'm just as guilty as she is. We just don't love each other Steph. I thought we did but we don't. She couldn't have cheated on me if she loved me, and I know that I didn't give her a second thought before taking those other women to bed. We have fun together but it's not love.'

'Why are telling me all this Will. What has this got to do with me, with us?'

He squeezed my hand.

'I think I love you Steph. I think I have for some time, I just didn't realise it. You must have known that I admired you. I mean you are a beautiful woman and I've always known that having you in on a deal always made it easier. Hell, you learned the business so fast you could take over from me.'

'For five years now, you've always been there. Even though you didn't always approve of what we did, you always supported me, then suddenly you weren't there anymore. It was like I had a huge hole in my life. I need you Steph. I'm not explaining this very well, I know that. This has never happened to me before I don't really know how to deal with it.'

'I don't know what you want from me, Will. You want me to come back to work with you? I'm not sure I can do that. Things have changed for me too. The way I feel about you I can't watch you give up on things.'

'But I'm not giving up. I will walk without those damned crutches. I will be back on top in the business world, though it may not be the same as it was. I can do anything if you are beside me. We can take it as slow as you like. I want to give us a chance, and I think you do too. What do you think Steph, are you willing to give us a try?'

My heart was pounding so hard I thought he must be able to hear it. It's strange when someone offers you something you've wanted for a long time it seems almost unbelievable. Tears welled up in my eyes and I had to use my napkin to stop them rolling down my cheeks. I looked at his face and saw how worried he looked.

'Why are you doing this to me. You know what I want, have wanted for years. Why do you have to wait until I've given up and then taunt me? You'd just better be serious. I'm telling you Will if this is a wind-up you really will never see me again.'

'If this was a wind-up, don't you think I'd have made a better job of it? Wouldn't I have rehearsed it, tried to present it better? This is real Steph. This is me in virgin territory, talking about my feelings with someone who knows me better than I know myself. I'm deadly serious I really think I'm in love with you. I want to be with you.'

'You realise it will have to be just me, don't you. No more Annabels, no more Mai Lings, and definitely no more Helgas. If you really want me, then it's got to be only me. If you ever sleep with another woman, I'll be gone so fast the wind will knock you over.'

He sat back in his chair and slipped his hands out of mine. A smile spread slowly across his face.

'Remind me never to negotiate with you. --I won't need anyone else because you'll always be there.'

'I may not always be there.'

'Even if you aren't there in person you'll always be in here,' he said, tapping the side of his head.

I started to laugh.

'You'd better make sure I am, or there'll be trouble.'

A waiter, who'd been hovering nearby came over to take our sweet order. Will seemed more relaxed as he placed his order. As soon as the order was taken he smiled at me again.

'Well, at least there is one trial you won't have to face. --Meeting the parents. The old man already thinks you're fantastic. I'm not sure what yours will make of me though.'

'I think we'll leave that until we know where this is going.'

'Oh, so it is going somewhere then?'

'You know, I've dreamed of this for so long, and now it's happening it feels really weird. You are going to have to let me get used to it. I don't think I'm ready to jump into bed with you yet.'

'I'll give you all the time you want, we've waited five years a little longer won't make a lot of difference. --I would like you back in the office as soon as possible.'

'Well, I could possibly make it in tomorrow.' I smiled at him. 'If you really can't manage without me, that is.'

That night we travelled back to my flat seated side by side and hand in hand. When we arrived at the front door to my block Will and I sat in the car not really knowing what came next. I turned toward him and stroked his cheek.

'I'm not going to ask you to come up, not yet. All of a sudden, I feel like one of those people who dream about winning the lottery. They have carefully planned the spending of the money, yet when it comes they don't know what to do.'

I didn't get the chance to say any more. Will took my face in his hands, pulled me to him and kissed me. I felt his tongue stroking my lips, which parted to let him in. Our tongues entwined and he held me close to him. I slipped my hand behind his head and as he pulled away, breaking the kiss, I pulled his head down to start another. After several more passionate kisses, I pulled away from him. I put my fingers on his lips.

'I need to get some sleep if I'm coming in to work tomorrow.'

I reached out to open the door, I found it opened for me. I got out of the car to find Thomas holding the door.

'Good to have you back Miss.'

'Thomas, you weren't ...?'

'Watching? No Miss. If it's not on the road, the chauffeur doesn't see it. I felt the door catch release.'

'I see. Thank you, Thomas. Goodnight.'

'Goodnight Miss.' He said as he closed the door, walked around the car and climbed into the driver's seat. I found my key and let myself in. Looking back through the glass door, I saw that Will had opened the window and was blowing me a kiss as the car pulled away.

That night I got together with my battery-powered friend while imagining Will was with me. After the second orgasm, the absurdity of the situation dawned on me. I was lying there imagining something that was mine for the asking.

As sleep came over me, I wondered how long it would take to get used to the idea that Will really wanted me.

Chapter 11

As they left Tangier behind them, Ryan started to realise that things were not going to go the way he'd planned. Samantha had come out for breakfast but hardly said a word to him. When he told her of his plan for a Mediterranean holiday, she laughed at him.

'What sort of holiday is it going to be, if I can't go ashore?'

'Of course, you can go ashore. Tomorrow we'll put into Oran and we can go ashore and explore the city. I thought that we could go on to Algiers then Tunis, maybe Tripoli.'

'All Arab countries, do you speak Arabic or Farsi because I know I don't.'

'We'll get by with English and French in most places. Can't you see the positives in this we are together? We have enough money on board to last us for months and we've got non-stop sunshine.'

'What positives? There are no positives. I'm a prisoner on this boat. The only places I can go ashore are places where I can't speak the language and have no idea where to go for help.'

'Don't be so melodramatic Sam. You're not a prisoner, and yes, we can go places where you can get by with English.'

'Oh forget it. I'm going below to read. Call me if you need two hands for anything.'

That was the way things went. They called into Oman, but they found very few people who spoke English, and Ryan's French wasn't much help. Algiers and Tunis were a little better. Ryan did manage to buy some paint in Algiers and painted out the name of the boat In Tunis he set about giving her a new name. Samantha laughed at his choice of name.

'Billy Jean? I never took you for a Michael Jackson fan.'

'I'm not, but the life belts, cutlery, napkins and almost everything else on the boat are embossed BJ. The new name had to fit in with that.'

It had been ten days since they left Gibraltar and the relationship between Ryan and Samantha hardly improved. In desperation, Ryan set course for Malta.

The first stop in Valetta was for fuel. Lying at anchor all night had meant they'd been using the engine a lot to provide electrical power. Ryan paid two days in advance for the berth, then went back for Samantha. As they walked into town, side by side, he tried to hold her hand but each time he was rebuffed. Sam was desperate to get her hair done so after a pleasant lunch Ryan left her in a hairdresser's while he explored the town. As he walked the streets, in the warm Mediterranean sunshine, he passed several bars whereas many people spoke English as did Maltese.

This wouldn't be a bad place to settle. He thought to himself. Perhaps after he'd sold the boat he could come back here, Sam would love it too. Warm climate, no need to learn the language, it would be their own little paradise.

On the way back to the Salon, he found a newsagent that sold English Newspapers. They were a couple of days old but that was no real problem. An hour later he was back at the Hairdresser's and knew that he'd found enough in the paper to keep Sam onside. They went to a small bar by the quayside and after ordering drinks, Ryan unfolded the newspaper and opened it at page 4. Immediately she recognised her photograph. It was one of her publicity shots, quite flattering she thought. There was also a picture of Bee Jay II lying at anchor on a calm sea.

MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE SUSPECTED OF MURDER CONSPIRACY.

She gasped as she read the headline. The story went on to say that police suspect that she and 'her young lover' had planned to murder her husband, William Wainwright. The plan went wrong when Mr Wainwright miraculously survived and was picked up by a Motor Yacht owned by Sir George McMahon. If found guilty the couple would be facing a ten-year prison sentence. The rest of the article concentrated on the size of Will's fortune and the way he made his money. Toward the end of the article, it said that the couple had evaded arrest in Gibraltar and were last seen heading for Madeira.

'No! They can't believe that. I would never do anything to hurt him.' She said as the tears began to flow.

'It's what I've been trying to tell you, Sam. The truth is irrelevant, it's what people believe that matters. These people.' He tapped the newspaper on the table. 'These people already have you down as guilty, and they are the people that influence opinion. Now you see why we have to run.'

'They are looking in the wrong place right now, so we have a bit of time. We can wait until the fuss dies down, then work out a plan.'

Ryan already had a plan, one which he knew Samantha wouldn't like. He hadn't wasted his time when he'd been alone and within range, he'd been making calls. He knew they had to get Bee Jay down to Mauritius where an unscrupulous dealer would give them up to £1.5million for her. No questions asked.

'But I've done nothing wrong.' Sam sobbed as she repeatedly looked at the paper.

'For the people who read this newspaper, a married woman who falls in love with another man, doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. It's what I've been trying to tell you all along, the only one that believes you, is me. I've been trying to protect you, stop you doing something stupid. Trust me, Sam, I'll get us out of this. One way or another, I'll keep you out of prison.'

They left their drinks unfinished and headed back to Bee Jay. Ryan put his arm around her shoulders as they walked along the quayside. Once back on the boat Ryan decided to set sail once more. As night fell he started the engine and took her quietly out of the harbour.

I was surprised when I got to the office and found only Jean, our receptionist, there. I asked where everyone was.

'Gone. She said.

'What all of them?'

'Mr McInlay went first then Ms Anderton and Mr West, left. Mr Wainwright didn't seem too worried but it does make it very quiet around here. Tell me honestly Miss Fletcher, should I be looking for another job?'

'I'm sure your job is safe Jean. This is just a blip. People will soon learn that Mr Wainwright can function perfectly well from a wheelchair.'

The door opened and Will's voice boomed out.

'Come on Stephanie, I'm sure Jean has plenty to get on with. Get us both a decent cup of coffee and I'll bring you up to speed.'

I made the coffee and joined him in his office. He looked across the desk at me and smiled.

'God, you're a fine looking woman. How am I going to keep my hands off of you all day?'

'You've always managed it before, why should now be any different.'

'Because now I'm alive. I mean really alive, I'm starting to see things differently.'

'Is that why you let James, Rebecca and Robert leave without even trying to persuade them to stay.'

'They are yesterday's people, Steph. Yesterday's people with yesterday's skills. We are going to need different skills, you and I.'

'Now I really don't understand. I hope you don't mean what I think you mean, I've just told Jean her job is safe.'

'It is safe, well as safe as anyone's job is these days. We are going to fill those offices again, but we'll fill them with people with different skills. This is a new dawn Steph, things are going to change.'

I must have looked as stunned as I felt because he went on to explain.

'In the past, we've looked for asset rich, cash poor companies and we've relieved them of their assets. In many cases, these companies have been perched on a cliff and we took away the only thing that stopped them falling. I don't want to do that any more. I want to be able to pull them back from the precipice. We can still relieve them of some of the assets but we leave them as a viable business. We are going to need people with experience in turning around companies, not the fast buck people we've had up to now.'

I just sat there in shock. I thought I knew this man but even I didn't see this one coming.

'Come on Steph, say something, as long as it's not goodbye.'

'I don't understand. What has brought this on?'

'You have. You and the old man. You were ashamed of what we do. That's why you gave away the bonuses, isn't it? I nearly died Steph. If it wasn't for you I would be in Davy Jones' locker, and most people would have been happy about that. I would have left nothing behind but a lot of money and a lot of miserable people.'

'When my dad dies people will say that he was a good bloke. Several hundred people will have had jobs and been able to feed their family because of him. That's what I want. I want my children to be able to believe that the world was a better place because of me.'

'What about the firms we already own, what do we do about them?'

'Well some of them are salvageable and we save them, the others we do what we normally do. Take that company that made my life jacket. We would normally sell the rights to the products to the highest bidder and sell off the property and all the equipment. Now if we get a good manager in there and develop a worldwide marketing plan. We could set it on the path to recovery, then when the share price rises, we sell it off at a profit. Of course, we bill them for the manager we supplied. We won't make as much money as before but it will still be a good living.'