chapter 28. Her Message to him.
1208 Words
Everyone recognized her now as she went up in the elevator, for she had often met William for lunch.Surprised murmurs of "Good morming, Mrs
Stanton followed her, and she wondered for the first time if William was pursuing someone else now.
But it really made no difference if he was.
He could only turn her down if he was no longer interested,
and any other rival would eventually have to give way to the precious, innocent Elena.
The receptionist looked up as she entered, and smiled warmly.
"Mrs. Stanton! How nice it is to see
you again!"
The greeting seemed genuinely friendly, and Ursula smiled in return. "Hello, Irena. Is William in today?"
"Why, yes, he is, though I believe he's planning a trip this afternoon."
"Thank you. I'll go in, if I may. Andros is here?"
"On guard as usual," Irena said, and wrinkled her nose in a private little communication that actually
made Ursula laugh aloud.
Evidently Andros had not endeared himself to the rest of the staff.
Calmly she walked into the office, and immediately Andros rose from his seat. "Mrs. Stanton! he exclaimed.
"Hello, Andros," she returned as he eyed her with frank dislike. "I'd like to see William, please."
"I 'm sorry," he refused in coolly neutral tones,
though his eyes sparkled with delight at being able to turn her down. " Prince William has someone with him right now and will be unable to talk to you for
Some time."
"And he's leaving on a business trip this afternoon, said Ursula dryly
"Yes, he is," Andros said, his lips quirking in triumph.
Ursula looked at him for a moment, anger building in her. She was sick and tired of being treated like dirt, and from this moment on she planned to
fight back.
"Very well," she said."Give him a message for me, please, Andros. Tell him that I'm willing to agree to his terms, if he's still interested and he can get in touch with me. That's all."
She turned on her heel and heard Andros strangle.in alarm
"Mrs. Stanton he protested. I can't......."
"You will have to," she cut in as she opened the door, and had a glimpse of thc consternation in his black eyes as she left the office.
He had damsed.himself either way now, for if he passed on the message William would know that Andros had refused her entrance, and he would not dare withhold the message, for if William ever found out-and
Andros knew that Ursula would make certain he did-there would be hell to pay. Ursula smiled to herself as she walked back to the elevator. Andros had had that coming for a long time.
The elevator took its time arriving, but she wasn't impatient,The way she figured it, William would hear from Andros in about ten minutes, and he
would try to reach her on the phone when he had decided that she had had enough time to get home.
If she was late getting back, that was all to the good Let William wait for a while.
Several other people were in the elevator when finally did arrive, and it was necessary to stop every floor before she finally reached the entrance level.
She crossed to the glass doors, but as she reached out to push them open, a dark-clothed arm reached past her and opened it for her. She raised her head to thank the man for his courtesy, but
words stuck in her throat as she stared up into the leaping black eyes of William.
"You've terrified Andros out of ten years of life, he said easily, taking her arm and ushering her through the door
"Good He deserved it," she replied, then eyed him curiously He was carrying his briefcase, as if he had left for the day. "But how did you get down so fast?" "Private elevator," he admitted, and grinned dows at her
"I wasn't takinga chance of lettng you get away from me today and not being able to find you before I have to leave this afternoon. That's probably the
only reason Andros found the courage to give me.your message so promptly: he knows I'd break his neck if he waited until later. You were serious, Ursula?"
"Perfectly," she assured him
He still held her arm, his fingers warm and caressing, but his grip was unbreakable nonetheless.A limousine had drawn up to the curb and he led her to it.
The driver jumped out and opened the back door and William helped her into the spacious back seat, then got in beside her. He gave the driver her
address and then closed the sliding window between them
"My car is here," she told him
"It'll be perfectly safe until we return, he said, carrying her fingers to his lips for a light kiss. "Or did you think I could calmly leave on a dull business
trip after receivinga message like that ? No, darling,
it's impossible. I'm taking you with me And he gave her a look of such burning, primitive hunger that she shivered in automatic reaction to his sexuality
"But I can't just leave," she objected. "Samantha...."
"Don't be silly," he interrupted softly. Do you.think I can't arrange too have a small dog looked.after, or that I'd allow such a small thing to stand in my way? Samantha can be taken to an excellent
kennel. I'll bandle all the details; all you have to do is pack."
"Where are we going?" she asked turning her head to look at the passing city street. Evidently his desire had not waned, for there was no hesitation his manner.
"To Paris, just for a couple of days. A perfect city to begin a relationship," he commented.
"Unfortunately I'll be busy during the days with meetings, but the nights will be ours completely, Or perhaps I'll
simply cancel the meetings and keep you in bed the entire time."
"Not good business practice, she said lightly, "I won't nag at you if you have to go off to your meetings."
"That's not very good for my ego, he teased rubbing her wrist with his strong fingers. "I'd like to think that you burn for my touch as I do for yours. I'd nearly reached the limit of my patience, darling:
another week and I'd have gone to Cornwall after you."
Startled, she looked at him. "You knew where I was?"
"Of course. Did you think I'd let you simply walk out on me? If you hadn't come back to me, I was going to force the issue, make you mine even if you
bit and clawed, but I don't think you'd have resisted for long, h'mmm?"
It was humiliating to think that she hadn't been Out of his reach even in Cornwall; he had known where she was and been content to let her brood.
She turned her head again to stare blindly out thewindow, vainly trying to find comfort in the fact that he was, after all, still attracted to her. He might not
love her, not as she understood love, but she did have some power over him.
He lifted her hand again and gently placed his on her soft palm. "Don't pout, darling." he said softly.
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