Giorganni's Proposal

'I'm at the

airport and I couldn't leave without hearing the sound of your voice. How is my fiancée this morning?'

'Wishing you hadn't left last night,' Beth said boldly, his 'my fiancée' giving her the confidence to reveal her innermost thoughts.

'Now you tell me,' Dex groaned. 'And I'm leaving in a few minutes. Hold that thought until next weekend. Ciao.'

On Monday morning Beth glowed with happiness as she walked into the office. Everything looked different; she was an engaged lady, she thought, and, bubbling over with the joy of life and her marvellous love, she proudly displayed the diamond ring on her finger.

Within minutes, everyone in the firm knew; the female employees oohed and ahhed over the ring, and asked a million questions, until Beth's head was buzzing.

Linking arms with her Mend, Mary, she stepped out into the pale autumn sunshine and the two girls headed for the local delicatessen-cum-diner, where they usually ate lunch.

'Come on, Beth. Who exactly is he? What does he do? I want the whole story from the beginning.' Mary was a couple of years older than Beth, tall and slim, with cropped fair hair and blue eyes that saw far too much. 'Are you going to stay at work when you marry, and when is the wedding?'

The last question gave Beth pause for thought. She had not heard from Dex since his brief call on Saturday morning. They had never discussed a wedding date, or her work, and suddenly she was prey to all sorts of doubts. When she thought about it, Dex's proposal in the car had not been particularly romantic. In fact, she could not remember his exact words, except, 'Of course'.

For some reason she did not understand herself, Beth answered all Mary's questions very circumspectly. She simply said his name was Dex, and that they had met through mutual friends. But she had fallen in love with him at first sight.

Mary was genuinely happy for her. 'AH right, I'm convinced you love him. But marriage, Beth. Isn't it a bit quick? Whirlwind romances can be notoriously fragile.5

Beset by a host of conflicting emotions, by the time Beth got back home on Monday evening she was thoroughly despondent. After all, she hardly knew Dex. A few days was not a very long time in which to decide to spend one's life with a man, as Mary had reminded her as they'd left the office together.

But Dex's telephone call from America, half an hour after she got home, cured her blues in seconds. He was coming back early. His plane would arrive on Wednesday, at noon.

'That's marvellous news. I've missed you,' Beth said happily.

'Yes, well, I've missed you,' he returned flatly, without much enthusiasm. But as he continued Beth realised why.

Unfortunately, Dex explained, the purchase of the casino had not gone as smoothly as he had thought. The casino director, a married man in his fifties, had apparently been having an affair with his very clever young secretary, a devious young woman chasing after a much older man.

The thought crossed Beth's mind that Dex really had a thing about women who dated older men, but she didn't get a chance to speak as Dex continued.

Apparently, completely against company policy, the director had entrusted the girl with the combination of the safe. The secretary had not turned up today. When the director had made enquiries at her home he had discovered she had vanished at the weekend, and a great deal of money from the casino had gone with her. The police had been informed and the girl would not get away with it

'I'm sorry you're having problems, Dex.' Beth finally managed to get a word in, and she was almost sorry for the thief. Dex would be an implacable enemy. Dismissing the thought, she added, 'But I'm glad you're coming back.'

'No, Beth, I'm sorry for boring you with business, but don't worry, I'll have everything sorted out within a few hours of arriving in England.' His voice deepening throatily, he added, 'I'll call at your apartment no later than four. Be ready and waiting; we'll have an early dinner, and a long, long night together, hmm?'

Beth was glad he couldn't see her blush, but, at her mumbled assent, his sexy chuckle told her he knew exactly how she was feeling.

She looked around the small living room for the umpteenth time; not a thing was out of place. She had taken the day off work to prepare for Dex's arrival and the apartment was immaculate. The fridge was stocked with a selection of goodies, plus a bottle of champagne, she had washed and pampered her slim body with essential oils, her hair was styled in a mass of curls on the top of her head, and her make-up was as perfect as she could make it. There was nothing more to do but wait.

Glancing at her wristwatch, she sighed. It was no good; it was already five-thirty, and if she sat around her apartment another minute she would go mad. Without giving herself time to question if her action was advisable, Beth grabbed her purse, slipped on a tailored red wool jacket, the companion to her short straight skirt, cast one last look around her immaculate home and walked out of the door.

Signalling a cab, she climbed into the back and gave the address of the Seymour Club. She could hang about no longer. Dex had told her to wait for him but he obviously hadn't expected to be so long at the club, so why not give him a surprise and meet him there. . .?

She walked into the foyer and headed for the gaming rooms, then Mr Black appeared.

'You are a member, madam?' Not a flicker of recognition crossed his swarthy face.

Not an auspicious start, Beth thought, and for a moment she was hit by a sudden attack of nerves. She hesitated, then, remembering she was the fiancée of the owner, she said boldly, 'Mr Giordanni is expecting me, I am his fiancée.' Waving her engagement ring in front of his face, she added, 'If you remember, we met last week.' She was relieved to see the glimmer of a smile in the man's hard face.

'But, of course, Bethany Lawrence. Forgive me. Mr Giordanni is in the office. You know the way.'

'Thank you,' Beth said with a broad grin. Dex was here and in moments she would see him.

She pushed open the door of the outer office and walked in. Standing by the desk was a rather flustered- looking middle-aged woman, talking to someone on the telephone.