An Heir for the Arrogant Billionaire

Sharon was late for her meeting with her boss and in a hurry, so she leapt out of her taxi and ran across the pavement towards the Mayflower restaurant too intent to notice the man in an evening dress who got out of a parked car on the other side of the road and headed in the same direction.

They collided in the revolving door, each in such a hurry that they had not held back for the other to go first. They had not really seen each other but had glanced briefly at each other.

As they both collided in the revolving door, the door jammed with the both of them crushed together in one session.

Sharon looked up, her eyes a stormy green and met with black cold eyes that looked irritated.

'If you back out, that will free the door', a deep voice said to her.

'If you had had the courtesy to let me go first, this wouldn't have happened. Step back!' she snapped.

Sharon did not like his tone nor the fact that she had been forced too close to him. Not even the thinnest sheet could pass through them and this made her aware of just how powerfully built he was.

He was six feet of muscle and bone and his skin was smooth and tan with a face that could have been carved in granite.

'There is no need arguing about whose fault it is. The most important thing is for us to solve this problem so just wriggle backwards', he said.

'You could do the wriggling', she said furious that she was about a foot shorter and perhaps that was why he thought he could boss her around like some helpless female but he had another thought coming if that was what he imagined that she was.

He looked down into her angry green eyes and Sharon got furious. He reminded her of her ex fiance who had walked out on her close to the wedding and went ahead to marry another girl.

It had been five years since and Sharon had dated men but had not fallen in love like that again and would not even allow it. She guarded her heart well. She had been deeply hurt once and was never going to allow that happen to her again.

'Why can't you just swallow your pride and anger and back out since that is the easiest way of freeing the door?'

Without saying anything to him, she backed into a more suitable position that would help her wriggle out easily.

She had high heels on and since his foot was in the way, she felt her heels sink into his polished shoe and he reacted violently, taking a sharp breath and swearing under his breath.

'Sorry', she said as she met his glittering black eyes.

'You did that delibrately, didn't you?' he asked.

'Don't be ridiculous. Your foot was on the way. How was I to know you would put your foot on the way?'

He eyed her with great dislike. Then turning sideways, he began to slide past her,his body pressing against her, his arm brushing her breasts.

Despite herself, she felt a sharp needle of sexual awareness stab through her and she tensed in shock.

'Watch it!' she said knowing instinctively that he was delibrately forcing his intimacy on her in male revenge because she had not accepted to back out.

He looked down on her in a condescending manner and said still standing close to her, their bodies touching, 'Don't flatter yourself, this isn't giving me any thrill at all, I assure you!'

Sharon blushed angrily.'Oh, just get a move on will you? We are attracting a crowd'.

Inside the restaurant, there were people who were waiting to get out and outside, there were others waiting to get in and they were all giving them knowing smiles that got Sharon angry but she hid it as she smiled back at them shrugging.

The annoying man finally squeezed backwards and Sharon immediately pushed the revolving door to emerge in the restaurant apologizing to the people as she slid out of her jacket and handed it to the waiter.

'Is Mr. Stanford here?' she asked.

'Yes, he is in the bar, ma'am'.

She and her boss frequently dinned in this particular restaurant with their clients.

As she walked towards the bar, she saw the tall frame of the arrogant man reflected on the glass lining the wall, as he walked behind her.

She walked into the bar confident that she was looking her best in her white short gown that displayed her long legs to perfection and her dark auburn hair.

She looked around but could not find David. She hoped that he had not forgotten that he had asked her to dinner here tonight.

He had flown in from New York that morning and had not been to the office but had stayed home, resting after the trip.

He had always been punctual but the death of his wife had really affected him so much that he had buried himself in his work giving himself time for little else.

She felt that he wanted her to discuss some important business proposals and innovations or perhaps to introduce her to some clients and when he wishes to do any of those things, he talks to her pit of the office in a place he feels more relaxed and comfortable in.

She sat on one of the empty chairs to wait for him.

'What would you have ma'am? said a waiter that immediately came over.

'Just a glass of sparkling water', she said and crossed one slender, shapely leg over the other, her short gown ridding Up to her thigh and she had to stroke it down over her knee.

She glanced casually round the room and found herself looking into black eyes on the other side of the room. Eyes that had been watching her smoothing down her gown and coldly assessing her legs and coming up with an unimpressed expression on her figure and face.

She did not like getting stares like that. It made her feel that the person was considering her as an object and not a human and could even mean it as an insult and she was sure this man with the black eyes meant it as an insult considering what he had said to her when they had collided in the revolving door.

She gave him one of her coolest glacial states and he looked disinterestedly away, down on his gold wristwatch and frowning, got up.

Sharon stiffened, thinking for a moment that he was coming towards her but he went out of the bar without giving her another look and as he went, women watched him avidly.

She conceded that he had his points especially if you saw him in a good light.

She liked it all men especially those who walked that way and his tan was striking too and he probably stripped well, his body had interesting proportions,broad shoulders, slim hips and very long legs.

Catching herself, she grimaced.

'What am I doing thinking about him that way?' she thought to herself.

Men like him were nothing but disaster waiting to happen.

She had not had a man in her life for almost a year now, that was the trouble and no matter how hard she worked or the number of hours that she put in, she still felt blue at times.

But frustration and loneliness must be having a dire effect on her brain for her to look twice at that mannerless guy.

She consulted her watch.

'Where was David?'

No sooner had she thought of the question than she saw him hurrying towards her, a thing slight fair man in a well- cut dark suit.

'Sorry', he said sliding into a seat next to her. 'Am I late or were you early?'

'I have only been here a moment's, she lied looking at him anxiously as she absorbed the air of weariness that he habitually wore. She had not seen him for about a forth night and she was struck by the way he was aging.

He was just forty five but looked alot older. There were lines round his mouth and eyes and his skin had a grey tinge.

The waiter brought her drink and looked at Bryan expectantly.

'My usual, Tom', David told him with a smile.

'Yes, Mr. Stanford', the waiter said beaming. Very pleased that such a man remembered his name.

David aye here frequently, he lived in a luxurious penthouse flat, a short walk away. This was the nearest local restaurant and he liked the place alot.

He had a married couple who ran his home. Mr. Stevenson was his chauffeur and handyman and looked after his clothes.

Mrs. Stevenson cleaned and cooked in the flat but David let them have three evenings a week free and came here to eat.

David turned from the retreating waiter to smile at Sharon.

'That is my favourite dress. You always look lovely in it', he said and Sharon flushed.

She had put on this particular dress because he had always told her that he liked it

Working for him meant a constant succession of important social gatherings for which she required a large and very expensive' wardrobe. She got a special allowance for clothes and David encouraged her to buy from good designers because as his personal assistant, Sharon was always representing the bank and Bryan felt that she should look expensive and elegant at all times.

It was the image he wished the bank to convey: moneyed, sophisticated and cool.

'Thank you, David. You look very elegant yourself tonight', she murmured.

'Why, thank you'. He did not sound convinced as he smiled at her ruefully. He must know that the suit no longer fitted perfectly which revealed how thin he was getting with each passing day.

David had never been a heavily built man but after his wife's death three years ago, he list weight as though his flesh was melting away.

His hair which had been a lovely pale gold, now had a sprinkling of silver hairs and a haunted look in his blue eyes as a result of the shock he got from his wife's death.

He had been driving and had emerged unscathed himself with a few minor bruises and cuts and a slight head injury. Deborah had been killed instantly.

David had never quite got over it. He blamed himself and was guilty because he had not died too.

If they had had children, it might have been easier for him to recover from the shock but he and his late wife had not got round to starting a family.

'Thank you, Tom', he told the waiter as he took his scotch and soda from him.

'I'm expecting another guest to join us - would you keep an eye open for him? His name is Bryan Ferdinand'.

'There was a gentleman who asked of you previously. He is still in the foyer making calls. I shall find out if he is Mr. Ferdinand sir'.

'Thanks, Tom' David said smiling at him again.

'Who is joining us?', Sharon asked disappointed because she had been looking forward to a dinner alone with him but not entirely surprised because David used social occasions to smooth business deals.

'A cousin of mine', he said with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Sharon was shocked as she said, 'You have never mentioned close relatives'.

David had expected her to be shocked by the news and was not disappointed

He had always told her things about himself and his background and Sharon had got the impression that he had no near family because none had visited him even when his wife was alive.

His friends were mainly colleagues or business acquitance, most of them married with family commitment s.

He had the habit of taking Sharon to any private gathering he was invited to.

They were not romantically involved but we're very good friends as well as close colleague.

David had told her that he was an afterthought to his parents who had been in their Kate forties when they had him.

He was an only child, well loved and indulged perhaps being raised by his old parents made him more serious with his business and tied to duty and work.

They had died when he was still a young man leaving him as the heir to the family merchant bank and an enormous fortune.

It was not until he left the university did he see much of the world outside banking.

He had attended a conference and met a beautiful French model half his age.

Deborah had been raven haired, tiny and exquisite.

David fell for her like a ton of bricks and married her a few weeks later, only to lose her within three years. A tragedy which had turned him into a shadow of his former self.

She liked David alot and felt protective towards him.

'Bryan is the only close relative I have', David said now smiling ruefully at Sharon. 'And I have only met him a couple of times, he lives in Switzerland.? And he is in the banking business, of course ' she said.

'It doesn't really follow that way but you are right. He works for the Swiss Bank at the moment but I intend to ask him tonight to join us'.

Sharon's eyes widened.

'I am leaving my shares in the bank to him There is nobody to leave them to. I am telling you this because I trust you. I have not even told him what I intend'.

Sharon felt cold suddenly. 'You ate talking as though.... good heavens. You are only Forty. You will marry again. No girl can refuse you with all your prospects. I know you miss Deborah and it isn't easy to get over things like that but you sound like you have given up on life and you mustn't. There is plenty of time for making wills'

'After working in the bank for years,I'd think that you knew better than that. It is never wise to put off making a will'

'Bryan should have had some shares in the bank long ago because his mother was my father's only sister, but he didn't due to a little misunderstandings in the family.

My grandparents were not happy with her choice of a husband.

They had wanted her to marry a rich merchant or hotelier not the humble doctor she brought he.

They refused to accept Andrew but he must have been a good man and a great doctor, father and husband because he obviously made Cynthia very happy and she never once came home crying in regret nor did she divorce him but they remained together till they both died in a boating accident some years ago.

Her father never forgave her for marrying Andrew because he left all his fortune to my father', David said.

'This must have made her very unhappy and must have led to a family feud'. Sharon observed.

'You are right. Though my parents exchanged Christmas cards with her, they never visited Switzerland and they never visited us either.

Sharon felt this was just childish of the grandparents but had to fine out something from David.

She felt that this Bryan must have known that since David hadn't remarried after the death of his wife and did not have any heir, he had a chance of persuading him to leaving him most of the money being a senior bank executive himself.

'Did you invite him to London or is he here on his own?'

'He called me a week ago to tell me that he would be in London for a banking conference and I invited him over to talk some things over. You really have a very suspicious mind, Sharon.

'Why? I didn't say anything!'

'You do not have to utter a word. I can read your thoughts as loudly as if you had spoken them out aloud'.

He looked into her eyes and they laughed merrily together.

At that very moment, someone strolled up to the table and David glanced round, exclaimed and stood up holding out his hands.

'There you are Bryan. I was wondering if you had forgotten about tonight'.

'I've been looking forward to this evening the whole week', a deep cool voice said.

Sharon was shocked to her bones to hear that voice. She could not mistake it. In fact given their history, she would recognize that voice anywhere. She did not need to look up to know who was standing by the table and who David was addressing as Bryan.

It was just her luck that of all the people in the world, she should pick this particular person to take an instant dislike to.

It had not occured to her that the man who had been stuck with her in the revolving door could be the same person she and Bryan were waiting for.

David introduced them.

'Bryan, I want you to meet my personal assistant for the last four years, Sharon Smith'.

Sharon numbly held out her hand.

Bryan took it, her little pale hands engulfed in his large powerful ones.

She risked a look at him and found his cold and mocking. She hoped hers was equally cold.

He said something polite and distant. She answered with equal remoteness. He released her hand.

'Sot down. Tell me what would you have? Their drinks here are wonderful.

'I'm sorry. I don't take spirits'. He looked at Sharon's glass.'I'd rather have mineral water'.

David called on Tom the waiter to get the drink and bring the menus as well.

'You told me you had business in London. It has to do with banking I suppose. Can we talk about it or change the topic?'

'It is confidential since I can't speak about it in detail but it will be out soon in the financial times and you can read about it then'.

'Alright then. How long are you planning on staying with us?' David asked.

'A week or two, then I plan on taking a vacation to somewhere I can relax before going back to work.

'You already have an amazing tan already. Sharon don't you think so?'

Sharon threw another brief glance in Bryan's direction and allowed her lids to droop indifferently over her eyes again.

'Amazing', she said offhandedly.

She felt Bryan looking at her closely, considering her rich auburn hair, the fine- boned face with the warm curved mouth and fierce green eyes,before running his gaze all over her body in arrogant appraisal.

Her flush deepened.

'Where do you go for a holiday?' he asked her. She shrugged, unwilling to give him an answer.

'Oh, Sharon does not like hot countries, her wonderful skin doesn't like too much sun but she and I had a terrific time in Sweden last summer, didn't we? And Switzerland was fun a couple of years ago'.

'Hmmm, I see', Bryan drawled.

He was making no attempt to hide what he was thinking. His gaze flicking from her to David and back again speculatively.

He suspected her of having an affair with David, she realised. He couldn't be serious! David was almost old enough to be her father!

David was still very goodlooking but he had no energy and alot of strains and aging traits. She was deeply fond of David and felt sorry for him but that was all.

She resented Bryan's speculative stare, the cynicism in his eyes.

'The head waiter came to their table and asked if they had ordered and David looked at them as he confessed that he was ready to order.

Sharon and Bryan nodded to indicate that they were ready to order as well.

They did and the waiter went to get their meals prepared and their table ready.

While they waited for the waiter to tell them that their table was ready, David and Bryan engaged in business discussions and Sharon felt that Bryan was intentionally pretending not to be as knowledgeable as Charles just to get more information from him.

She knew that if she tried to warn David, he wouldn't listen. There was no doubt about it. This Bryan guy was potentially lethal and Sharon suspected with a sinking feeling that he would run rings round David.

The waiter came back to inform them that their table was ready.

'Shall we go in?' David asked.

As they stood up to go in, David put a hand under her arm in a gallant gesture to which she submitted smiling at him affectionately. She liked his chivalrous, old fashioned ways.

Out to f the corner of her eyes, she saw Bryan watching her with Sardonic amusement. Her smile stiffened into anger. It was going to be an ordeal to sit through a meal with that man across the table.

She wished that she couldn't read his mind but it was as if his thoughts kept across the table at her or maybe he was allowing her or willing her to pickup what he was thinking. But why would he really? She thought allowing Bryan to steer her into the room.

She was seated between the two men but from then on, she practically ignored the other man and turned all her attention and body towards David, except of course when she had no option.

Bryan leaned back in his chair, a brooding presence dominating the circle they made, she, David and he with his broad shoulders and chest and hard face round the table.

It was towards the end of the meal that David finally asked Bryan the question, she knew he had been dying to ask.

'How would you feel about leaving your present job, Bryan and coming to work for us in a rather more senior position?'