Mistress of Deception

'I am now.'

'Good. Now what about your agency? What have you told them?'

'Just that I'm going on an extended working holiday overseas and won't be available for work for three months, starting next Monday. That way, I can leave my options open. Not that they were happy about it. They've had to cancel a couple of engagements I had, as well as turn down several new offers. Still, they'll survive. They have plenty of other good models on their books screaming out for work.'

'What about your flat?'

'I was going to put it in the hands of an agent to rent out, but I don't think I will now. I can't face the hassle. Besides, if I did that I'd have to store all my things, which would be time-consuming and expensive. I'm just going to shut it up and have the neighbours keep an eye on the place. If I decide to stay in Paris, I might have to fly back and sell up everything.'

'Yes, you could do that. As you say, no need to rush things. The main thing is to just get away for a while.'

'I can't wait,' she said with feeling.

'Good. Well, I'll ring you later in the week. We'll go to dinner somewhere.'

'I'd like that. Now I must away to the gym. I've a shoot on Monday for a fashion magazine. A swimwear layout, would you believe? In the dead of winter, of course. When else? Not that I mind, really. It's good to be busy. I've got a job every day this week.'

'I've a few appointments myself. Maybe we should leave the dinner till Friday night.'

'Yes, I think that might be wise.'

'How about dinner here in my room? We could have an intimate little candlelit meal and you could tell me all, without danger of being overheard.'

Ebony's laughter was softly rueful. 'You haven't given up on me yet, have you, Gary?'

'Oh, I think I have a realistic view when it comes to my favourite ex.'

'I hope so. One step out of line next Friday night and you might be having Security in your room, not Room Service.'

'You have my word of honour that I will honour your honour.'

'Gary,' she chuckled drily, 'you have no honour.'

'I realise that, love, but you have enough for both of us.'

'Do I?' Suddenly, her voice began to crack.

'You know you do. I can't think of another girl who looks like you, who was living alone and moving in circles you moved in, and who would still be a virgin at twenty. It took every bit of my worldly wiles to get you into bed that first time. And even then I remember you cried for a whole day afterwards. I'll bet my bottom dollar that other than that fool, Carstairs, there hasn't been another man in your life since then. Am I right?'

'Yes,' she choked out.

'Hell, but I feel like going over there and telling that bastard off. How dare he think wicked things about you? You're an angel. The man's a raving

lunatic, or blind, or stupid, or all three!'

'No, Gary, I'm not an angel,' she denied unhappily. 'I'm not an angel at all. In fact, I sometimes wonder if I haven't created most of my problems myself...'

'What nonsense! Now don't you start blaming yourself, sweetie. You're a good girl and, if the man's not smart enough to see that, then there's no hope for him. Forget the fool! Believe me, once you're out of his life he'll forget you. I know his type. He'll have some other sexy little thing he thinks badly of in bed with him before you can say lickety-split. He doesn't want love, Ebony. He only wants sex. Take my word for it. Now, off to your gym and don't give the crumb another thought!'

Not giving Alan another thought was impossible. But Ebony kept herself busy enough over the weekend to stop herself from cracking up. She ex- ercised, cleaned, gave her hair a special treatment, packed, forced some food down herself, listened to Jimmy Barnes, watched Pretty Woman for the third time, and tried not to cry too much. Puffy eyes did not look good on a model.

But always at the back of her mind was the fear that Alan would show up at any time, pressing her buzzer and pressuring her to see him again. And while she was determined not to—and quite confident that she would not give in—she knew such an encounter would upset her all over again.

Saturday and Sunday came and went, however, without any sign of him. Perversely, Ebony found this upsetting in itself. He'd implied he would not let her go, but it seemed he'd had second thoughts about that. Gary's assertion that Alan would quickly forget her seemed to be coming true. It underlined the shallow nature of his feelings for her, the lack of any real depth or caring. That should have been some comfort, some justification that what she was doing was right. Yet Ebony found little to feel happy about when she finally went to bed on Sunday night. All she felt was wretched and lonely.