Anna's point of view
Think, a tiny voice prompted in silent warming.
I had everything to lose if I walked away from him. What price pride in the face of wisdom?
Besides, marriage doesn't have to mean forever.
If I gave him an heir…
Yet how could I walk away from my own child?
The whole scenario was fraught.
'You can't expect me to give you an answer now?
'Tonight.
'I'm due at work. I spared a glance at my watch and stood at my feet. 'Oh hell, now. Staff were at a minimum, and I could ill afford to be late. I finish somewhere between eleven and midnight.
Eric signaled the waiter, extracted his wallet, and paid the bill. I'll drive you.
I was walking quickly. 'I can take a train.
'But you won't.
What was the point in arguing? A car would reach my destination more quickly than public transport.
Minutes later, he disabled the locking mechanism of a top-of-the-range black Lexus, saw me seated, then slid in behind the wheel and eased the car into the stream of traffic.
The Rocks area held numerous cafès and restaurants, and I directed him to double-park outside my own.
Eric handed me a card with his mobile phone number.
'I'll expect your call.
I slipped it into my purse, inclined my head, then sped quickly down a side alley to the back entrance, and used my key in the lock.
In the small back-room space I discarded my outer clothes, donned my chef's uniform, tied an apron, wound the length of my hair beneath a protective cap…and went to work.
There was one staff member down, which made for chaos in the kitchen, with delays and short tempers as three pairs of hands attempted to do the work of four.
Shontelle acted as maître d', making reservations, welcoming patrons, and ensuring they were seated.
Ruby held the position of head waitress, and both girls had been with me from the day the restaurant had opened.
Long-time friends who were equally dedicated to the success of the restaurant, like myself.
Together we enjoyed the good times and stayed on to help me battle through the financial mess left by my business partner.
Something which didn't take long, as Ruby lifted chairs onto tables while I vacuumed the floors.
There hadn't been time to give Eric's suggestion much thought, except in fleeting moments which in no way encompassed the big picture of marriage, children…intimacy.
How was I going to deal with that?
Being so aware of the man, his sensual chemistry, and the way it affected me. His sexual partner…and knowing, to him, it would just be sex.
That love didn't enter the equation, and never would.
Could I live with him and pretend?
I moved the vacuum cleaner with increased speed in an attempt to expend some nervous energy.
For heaven's sake!
Eric was offering a way out.
What other option did I have?
Disappear and assume another identity? Contact the police and report the loan shark for harassment.
Sure...like either of those scenarios would work!
Besides, it wasn't part of my nature to run from anything.
Marry a billionaire, enjoy an enviable lifestyle, and bear him a child or two.
A hundred…oh, why not go for broke and make it a thousand…women would jump at the chance.
So what was the big deal?
Just a little matter of emotional engagement…mine.
Eric Alexander affected me like no other man I'd met.
At seventeen, I had melted at the initial moment of introduction, almost frightened and aware of the degree of raw sexuality he exuded.
A teenage crush that had lingered long and almost brought me undone.
I'd moved on, matured, and indulged in a brief relationship or two…but no one'd come to Eric or the emotions he roused.
'That's it, we're done.
The sound of Ruby's voice brought me back to the present, and I switched off the vacuum cleaner, stowed it in the cupboard, and then changed into my outdoor clothes.
'I need to make a phone call.
I had three choices: using the phone here, a phone booth, or the phone in the hallway at my boarding house.
'I'll plug in some music and wait, Ruby directed, removing my earphones.
We had a steadfast rule—no female staff are left alone this late at night.
'I won't be long. I extracted Eric's card and crossed to the phone, all too aware the nerves in my stomach had twisted into a painful knot.
Second, later I cursed under my breath as I keyed in a wrong digit and had to start over.
Eric answered on the third ring, intoning, Alexander, in a voice that sounded deep and slightly more accented over the phone.
'Anna. I identified myself at once.
'You've reached a decision?
It was hardly the time or the occasion for small talk, and I didn't even try. Yes.
'And?
Heaven help me. I gripped the phone a little tighter.
'Yes.
I wasn't sure how I expected him to respond.
'I'll be in touch tomorrow with relevant details. There was a click and the line went dead.
It took a second or three for me to realize he'd cut the connection, and my fingers tightened momentarily before I replaced the phone.
He at least could have acknowledged my acceptance!
Oh, get real, silent voice chastised. What did you expect?
Forget sentiment…there was none.
So what did I care?
Even thinking about Eric in the role of husband accelerated my pulse and did strange things to my equilibrium.
Oh, for heaven's sake…get over it! He's just a man, like any other… And I knew I lied.
Ten years down the track I still retained a vivid recollection of his erotic kiss… Worse, the oral foreplay he'd metered out as a stark warning, and the way it had affected me.
What would he be like as a lover?
Don't go there. At least not now, not yet.
Because, if I allowed myself to go down that path, I'd never make it to the wedding.
Best not to think too deeply…and keep busy!
It was time to check the windows and external doors, set the alarm, lock up, then pull down the security grill and padlock it.
A nightly routine we executed in tandem before walking briskly to the nearest train station.
I took a deep breath, turned, and collected my bag, then I signaled Ruby I was ready to leave.
It wasn't until we'd boarded the train that I remembered a vital phone call I should have made to the loan shark, begging for a further twenty-four extension, and the promised payment of the total funds would be made in cash.
Something twisted painfully in the region of my stomach as I checked the time, and my heart began to pound.
The week's loan extension ran out at midnight.
I needed to make a call…fast. Explain, and give Eric's name as verification that the money will be paid.
Please hurry, I bade silently as the train sped towards their station, and as they disembarked I had to restrain myself from running to the boarding house.
The inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst contained some less-than-salubrious streets where numerous bedsits and boarding houses existed in old converted homes. The dark of night state of despair.
My relief was palpable as I entered the house via the front entrance, and I extracted the requisite coins from my purse to feed the payphone.
Seconds later, the phone rang out, and I redirected, hoping, praying, for an answer: but there was none, and a second later a male figure appeared out of nowhere, a hard hand angled beneath my jaw, and I was more left off my feet, then slammed against the wall.
Fear, stark and terrifying, almost made me pass out as the man's face came within inches of my own.
'Pay up by midnight tomorrow. Or else. His grip tightened.
'Blink if you've got the message.
I instantly obeyed, almost choking beneath his relentless grip, and then he released me and disappeared outside the front entrance as I subsided to the floor in a state of shock.
'Hey. You okay?
I looked up in dazed terror, recognized a male tenant, and tried to speak…except no sound came out.
'You need help?
Like you wouldn't believe!
'Want me to call someone?