He was dark, like Natalie herself, but without the startling blue-blackness of hair that made her so unusual. Everything about Neil was easygoing, warm, comfortable. As he walked forward she had to stop herself from raising her hand towards him. It was still too raw inside her for any light hearted teasing and to give him credit he has never attempted any. He was too considerate for that, even though he didn't realize what an effort it took to face him each day.
'Watch your step out in Madembi.' He stood close to her, looking down at her beautiful face, his expression serious. 'They may have a dam but the also have plenty of jungle, wild animals and disease.'
'I always watch my step. I'm not as dainty as I look.'
It sounded a bit coy and she blushed but he took it all seriously, watching her with a sudden intensity.
'I'm aware of that. Funny, I never worried about you when we were going out together; now am uneasy and it got nothing to do with me at all.'
'It never had,' Natalie said quickly. 'The boss sits right behind that door.' She nodded towards her father's office and was surprised to see Neil's fave darken close to annoyance.
'Yes. I wonder how long I'll last here?
'You're part of the team----the producer----and you just happen to have an exceptional television voice. We all double up. Where are we going to get anyone like you if you leave? Surely your not thinking about it?'
Her anxiety seemed to please him because he smiled and relaxed.
'I'm not. It didn't occur to me though that your father might be thinking of getting rid of me. He's been giving me some black looks.'
'Well, it's nothing to do with me,' Natalie said hastily. 'We all get our share of those.'
'And you never deserve them,' he murmured. 'You battle for all of us. Ray would have had the boot already if it hadn't been for you. He can't even seem to be serious for even a minute.' There was a certain amount of friction between Ray and Neil, nothing she could quite put her finger on. She used to imagine it was because she got on so well with Ray but of course it couldn't be that now that Neil was engaged to Paula.
'He's not likely to get anything of the sort,' Natalie assured him as his face set into lines of annoyance, glad that Ray had left the room for a minute. 'Dad's a business man he recognizes the best when he sees it.'
'Maybe we all do, sooner or later,' Neil said softly, with such an obvious change of subject she almost gasped. His hand touched her hair and then few away quickly as Paula walked in, her short fair curls bobbing about in that way they had. She was like a happy child, deeply in love with Neil, and Natalie hadn't had the heart to begrudge her the happiness. A small child settled over her. If Neil was going to be like this then the sooner she got away the better.
'I'm so excited about going to Africa,' Paula told Natalie, not even noticing that Neil moved away as she came in.
'You'll stay in my luggage and never be allowed out,' he said smiling at her with the look of astonishment that always came over his face when Paula appeared.
'Isn't he bossy? she appealed to Natalie. 'When we're married I have to give up my job. What do you think about that?
'I never interfere between engaged couples,' Natalie said smoothly. If she didn't get out soon she would burst into tears. Her eyes met Neil and his face softened. As Paula went happily on her way he moved close to Natalie again.
'Natalie.' she never heard what he had to say because he wasn't the only one calling her name.
'Natalie!' Her father appeared in the door of his office and she escaped gladly. She must never be close to Neil again and she knew it.
'What was he talking bout?' her father snapped out the question as she closed the door behind her.