Part 19 (1/2)

”The b.i.t.c.h!” Jeff said angrily. ”The duplicitous little b.i.t.c.h!”

”Trouble in paradise?” Rick said softly.

”Drop dead!” Jeff snapped and, turning, went back to his house.

Rick turned, hiding his smile, and saw Carla hurrying across the lawn in the predawn light to the Seligmanns'. He sighed, and followed after her.

Heidi Millar's face was a disaster. One eye was blacked badly, and her nose was still oozing blood as she held a cloth tightly to it. Rina was clucking sympathetically and trying too soothe the semihysterical girl. She waved her husband and Rick out of the kitchen, where they had brought Heidi.

”Go back to bed, both of you,” she said. ”Carla and I will help here.”

The two men left, and they heard Sam climbing the stairs as the front door closed behind Rick.

”What happened?” Carla said, trying to keep the eagerness from her voice.

”Oh, Carla, it's wonderful!” Heidi said. ”And then I came back, and Jeff wanted to, well, you know, and it was terrible the way it always is, and I just lost it. I mean, why should I have to put up with him when I've got The Channel?”

”You told her about The Channel?” Rina said, surprised.

Carla smiled, and nodded. ”What happened?” she repeated.

”Well, I told him some home truths about how he was creatively dry, and I had been doing the campaigns his partners thought he was doing, and that I was going to tell them, and get a promotion, and that I didn't need him. Then he started beating me. I thought he was going to kill me. I honestly did.”

”You have to press charges,” Carla said softly. ”You can't let him get away with that kind of violence.” Her eyes met Rina's over Heidi's head.

”Yes,” Rina agreed. ”You really must press charges against him, my dear. I always suspected he was violent with Nora, though she would never admit it, poor woman. And Heidi, Jeff is what in my day was referred to as a tomcat, or a hound dawg. He never met a skirt he didn't lift, or try to lift. He wouldn't have been any more faithful to you than he was to Nora. I think you're well out of this. I'll call the police for you.”

Heidi thought a moment. That would really screw Jeff with his partners, wouldn't it? She felt a smile, and then winced because it hurt her face. She sighed dramatically. ”I guess I will have to press charges so he doesn't do this to any woman again. Do you think if his wife ever wakes up, she'll want him back?”

”NO!” Both Carla and Rina said with a single voice.

”Would you please call the police for me, Carla?” Heidi said.

”Rina will do it,” Carla said. ”Tell me what happened last night.”

”His name is Brad. He's big. All over. And I'm going back,” Heidi said. ”I can get it in the city, can't I?”

”Sure can,” Carla responded with a smile. Nora was going to be so pleased.

And Nora was pleased. She had imagined someone like Caleb Snow because she had known Carla would mention his attributes to Heidi, and Heidi would want someone like Caleb. And the elevator had opened to reveal Brad. She had given him his instructions. And of course he had obeyed her, but only after he had struck a deal with her of payment for his favor. He was a bis.e.xual, and had seen Rolf in the stud pool of The Channel. He wanted the blond Austrian. Nora had agreed. She knew very well that it wouldn't be long before Heidi was enjoying a threesome with both young men.

The elevator doors to the penthouse opened and Brad stepped out.

”Have you entrapped her?” Nora asked him as he entered her domain. ”Did you give her everything she wanted? I do want Heidi happy in The Channel. Will she be back soon?” Her questions came quickly.

Brad nodded. ”Yes, ma'am, I gave her just what she wanted,” he said with a wicked grin. ”She'll be back. I left her begging for more. Now, give me what you promised me.”

”Rolf,” she called, and the young blond arose from the couch and came across the room. ”I want you to go with Brad now. You're his.”

”Why?” Rolf asked.

”Because you make Kyle jealous, and I don't want him unhappy. Because Brad has done me a favor, and I'm repaying him.” She patted his cheek. ”You've been such a good boy, but I don't need you anymore.”

Rolf shrugged. His eyes were on the bulge in Brad's thong. ”Good-bye, Nora,” he said, and without another word he followed Brad into the elevator.

When they had gone Kyle came from the bedroom. ”What have you done?” he asked her. ”And why did you give Rolf away?”

”Carla introduced Heidi to The Channel. I suspect she won't be so interested in Jeff anymore now that she's seen the kind of s.e.x she can have here. And once she dumps him, the question of my getting my house back becomes a moot point. I considered the type of man Heidi would like, using Caleb as a model. A rough, good-looking guy with a great big d.i.c.k. Brad appeared, and in exchange for Rolf he became Heidi's fantasy. Heidi's a lot more s.e.xually adventurous than my soon-to-be ex. Brad saw to it she had the best time she's had in years. By tomorrow when she wakes up she's going to be rethinking her options. I'd put money on it,” Nora gloated.

”Who's going to ma.s.sage you now, Red?” Kyle asked, smiling.

”You are,” she said. ”Get the oil out. I want you to spoil me, darling. I am feeling very happy tonight.”

”No more other men?” he asked.

”For now. I won't make you any promises, however,” she told him.

”You love me,” he replied.

”Maybe,” Nora responded. ”I still don't trust your gender, darling Mr. Gorgeous.”

”Then I'll have to spend eternity convincing you,” he said softly.

”Eternity is a long time,” Nora noted.

”Yes,” he agreed, ”it is.” He took her hand, and led her into the bathroom. ”I'm going to give you the best ma.s.sage of your life, darling,” he promised her.

Nora smiled. Variety was nice, but having Kyle so totally devoted to her was even better. And here in The Channel they would always remain the same. And he would always be exactly what she wanted him to be. It was a perfect world. And then the phone rang. ”Get it,” she ordered him.

Kyle picked up the handset. ”Yes?” He listened, and then he said, ”She'll be there, Margaret. Give me half an hour. Okay.” He set the phone down. ”Mr. Nicholas wants to see you, Nora. And I'm to come with you. We'll have to put the ma.s.sage off until later, Red. I'm sorry.”

”Pick something out for me to wear,” Nora told him, and he nodded.

When they were both dressed Nora found herself in a pair of b.u.t.terscotch-colored silk slacks, beneath which she wore a cream-colored silk thong, which emphasized her b.u.t.t beneath the trousers. Her cream silk s.h.i.+rt had a deep V neck and long sleeves. She had slipped a pair of leather sandals on her feet. Kyle was wearing beige linen pants and a white s.h.i.+rt with the sleeves rolled up. He had oxblood leather penny loafers on his big feet. He styled her hair in a tailored chignon. His dark hair was wet and brushed back. They entered the elevator, and pushed the red b.u.t.ton as the doors closed.

When they opened again the pair stepped out into the elegant office. It was quiet but for the two women at their workstations. Margaret was there to greet them. ”Come along, you two,” she said, moving briskly down the room to the double doors. ”They're here, Mr. Nicholas,” she said, ushering them into the elegant office.

He came forward, a smile on his face. ”Come in! Come in!”

Nora saw there was a bottle of champagne in a bucket on the butler's tray, as well as three slender flutes. She looked at Kyle, but he shrugged and shook his head.

”My dear Nora,” Mr. Nicholas said, taking up both her hands in his and kissing them. ”I am astounded! And very impressed, my dear. It was a brilliant plan. Flawlessly executed, and I never had the slightest hint of what you were doing. Of what you were capable.” He poured the champagne into the flutes, gave Nora one and Kyle one, and took the third for himself. ”I salute you, my dear Nora!”

”Mr. Nicholas, I have no idea of what you are talking about,” Nora said, confused. ”What have I done?” She set the crystal flute of champagne down on the butler's tray.

”My dear girl, please don't be modest. There is no place for modesty in a devious mind such as yours,” Mr. Nicholas said, smiling. ”Or perhaps there is.”

Nora sighed. ”I honestly don't know to what you refer,” she repeated.

For a moment he looked surprised. Then he set his champagne down. ”Did you not arrange to lure Heidi Millar into The Channel, my dear?” he said.