Battle Lines. Read online

  She turned then and forced a sorry excuse for a smile on her lips as she watched the petite, well-manicured, blonde sway towards her in a cloud of frilly pink and silk lace. Extra thick heavy make-up and a cloud of perfume that could have easily sunk a battleship.

  Gloria reminded Amanda of an incarnation of the Barbara Cartland fan club. Stop it… she derided herself. “My dear, I am so glad you could make it. When I couldn’t find you I started to get a little worried.” Gloria leaned in to kiss both of Amanda’s cheeks, without actually kissing them.

  “Sorry, it has been a good turn out.” She said to the older woman.

  “Hasn’t it just. Not to worry I have found you now. These things are usually so boring without engaging company. Don’t you agree?” Wow, that perfume was something else. Amanda gave a delicate cough and raised a hand to her nose.

  “I agree. I wasn’t going to come. I have a barrage of work to do.” Amanda lied to the bubbly small blonde woman.

  “Oh darling…” Gloria shrieked out in a wail that split through Amanda’s ears painfully. “That would have been such a terrible thing. How could you think such sinful thoughts?” Oh how indeed. Amanda thought, but she did not say it.

  “I changed my mind.” She tried placating.

  “Amanda my darling girl I do not know what I would have done had you not been here tonight. I cannot believe that you would even think about abandoning your dearest friend in such a fashion.” Gloria playfully slapped Amanda’s arm.

  “Well… as you can see I changed my mind because here I am…” Amanda tried to appease the other woman again and then for good measure she gave her a flash of a false smile, a smile that showed her white even teeth, and all her own, unlike Gloria’s.

  Amanda winced and closed her eyes for a moment as a little voice inside her head told her off sternly. Put those sharp-ened claws away dear.

  “Of course you are. I knew of course that you wouldn’t let me down.”

  “Of course.” She agreed.

  “Pay no attention. I have been looking through this crowd all evening for you.” And it was a pity she found her, Amanda reflected.

  “Well you finally managed to find me.” She told the other woman with the biggest artificial smile that she could muster.

  “Yes I have and I am not disappointed. You look positively divine. You are as radiant as ever. That particular shade of blue is a fantastic colour on you. You are really working that dress.” Gloria exclaimed in animated excitement. “You must tell me where you got it from.” Did people really talk like that anymore?

  “Thank you.” Amanda tilted her head slightly in acknow-ledgement.

  The dress in question was of a turquoise blue. It was simply cut with no fancy detail. It’s low cut showing off her ample cleavage and it skimmed down her body clinging to her curves along the way and finished at mid-calf.

  After many attempts, Amanda had finally managed to, kind of, tame her wild flame red hair into a loose bun. But, within a short time, tendrils of her hair had escaped and had formed a frame around her face. She thought it looked untidy, many would beg to differ.

  She had grudgingly worn heels for the evening, she hated them with a passion and often avoided them whenever she could.

  Make up was another thing she often went without or used very little of. But tonight she had layered it on to create a good impression, it had been teamed with a small clutch bag in the same turquoise blue as her dress. The end result was elegant, maybe a little flashy, but not as flashy as most in this room tonight.

  “I must introduce you to a friend of mine darling, before I forget. You will simply love him sweetie.” Amanda was just about to protest. But, Gloria was already pulling her along in excited animation.

  She was completely oblivious that she was dragging Amanda along behind her. “Peter.” Gloria shouted waving her other hand erratically in the air. Her chest wobbling and almost falling out of, what there was of her dress, to get the man’s attention “Peter… Peter, sweetie, you must come and meet Amanda. She is simply divine. You are going to love her.”

  Talking of divine, Amanda wouldn’t have minded some divine intervention right about now. She held her breath… wait for it. No, it was not going to happen, lucky me. She thought acidly.

  The man up ahead turned at the sound of Gloria’s shrill voice, and he grimaced as Gloria and Amanda came closer. “Did I not tell you that she was the most exquisitely beautiful woman you have ever seen? Like a perfect china doll. I did tell you that I never exaggerate. And… what do you think of her dress? Isn’t it just to die for? Of course, Amanda has the right figure for it. Don’t you think?” Gloria smiled at the man and he visibly paled.

  “Ah…” which was as far as he got because Gloria was off on her tangent again.

  “Oh, where are my manners this evening? Peter…” Gloria patted his arm “… this is Amanda. Amanda this is Peter. This man is a financial whiz. I am sure the two of you will have so much in common. He has the most adorable little place and, to top it all, he’s single. What luck? Can you believe that this catch has not been caught yet, in fact, if I wasn’t already so very much devoted to husband number seven I might have taken a run at him myself.”

  Peter coughed and choked. The poor man, Amanda thought but then revised her thoughts to the lucky man. “Peter is only thirty-six, I know he looks much younger, and he simply loves children and animals.” Gloria turned to Amanda briefly. “Every girl’s dream is it not? I can tell that you two would make a fantastic couple. Oh, listen to me carrying on and not letting you youngsters get to know each other. My husband keeps telling me I need to slow down a bit.” Amanda groaned inwardly.

  Gloria was beginning to sound like one of those dating service advertisements. Or at the very least that she was trying to sell Amanda.

  Thank God the days of slavery were long gone. Gloria would have been so good at it, however, there was always e-bay she guessed, “Now seeing you both together I definitely think that you two would be the most perfect match for each other.” Subtle Gloria was not.

  “How do you do?” Amanda put out her hand gracefully and Peter took it in his own small hand.

  “Hello, Gloria has been telling me about you for weeks now. Finally, we get to meet.” He let go of her hand and he smiled warmly at her. She dutifully smiled back but it did not reach her eyes.

  “Well.” Gloria exclaimed impatiently. “Did I not tell you that you would not be disappointed?” she beamed at Peter.

  “Yes you did.” He agreed.

  “And.” Prompted Gloria.

  “And no, I am not.” He said.

  Amanda smiled again but deliberately made sure that it was devoid of all emotion. She did not want anyone getting the wrong idea. All she really wanted was to go home and go to bed… alone. On her own. With no one else.

  She certainly did not want to be set up on a blind date by some old superficial plump Barbie doll. Amanda winced at her own thoughts and she instantly berated herself.

  “So, why don’t I leave you two love birds to it?” Gloria smiled at them in turn and then winked at Peter before adding. “Just tell me the details tomorrow.” And then she was gone, swallowed up by the crowd leaving an awkward silence behind her.

  “This is a… little uncomfortable.” Peter acknowledge with a nervous little cough. You think. Amanda thought but she did not say it.

  “I have had worse encounters, trust me. After all Gloria is a friend of mine.” Peter smiled and his shoulders relaxed a little. “Don’t mind Gloria, she really cannot help herself. She is happy with husband number… seven… at least at the moment she is. She wants other people to be happy right along with her.” Peter nodded his head in acknowledgement. “So what do you do peter?” She asked him. She decided that it would be best to keep him busy with idle chit chat for a while and then leave.

  “Me, oh…” He cleared his throat. “Nothing special really. I work for Michelson Industries. Perhaps you have heard of us?” Amanda ears pricked
up at those words, her stomach lurched and plummeted painfully into her feet suddenly making her feel nauseous.

  Oh yes, she had heard of Michelson Industries. It wasn’t a name she ever wanted to hear again, Amanda swallowed hard. What was that thought she had had earlier about bad luck? Of all the rottenest luck, it could not get much worse than Mr Jake Michelson.

  “Michelson Industries… wow. That is interesting.” It wasn’t not to her, but she had to show some interest.

  “Oh I am just an accountant, one of many I’m afraid.” Peter continued avidly.

  “You should not put yourself down, I am sure you do a fantastic job.” Amanda assured him courteously and Peter blushed and shuffled from one foot to the other.

  “Perhaps…” he agreed reluctantly. “But… Jake Michelson, my boss, now he is a real whiz. He built the company from almost scratch. He inherited it from his father you know, but it was almost bankrupt when he took over the reins. I don’t think anyone else could have saved that company. He slogged over that place for years before he managed to turn it around.” Peter sipped at his drink.

  “Well… it’s nice when one’s boss is so dedicated. It gives the employees someone to look up to… and… for one’s boss to revel in the glory.” She said though clenched teeth. Jake was here to save the day, she thought waspishly.

  “Uhh… yeah… the company has even expanded over the last couple of years. We seem to be going from strength to strength. Nothing can touch us. Or so it seems.” Peter was saying in excited tones.

  “So business is doing well then.” She smiled dutifully. Of course it was. Nothing in the universe could function without Jake.

  “Oh yes, huge profit margin last year. Everything Mr Michelson touches seems to turn to gold. An absolute genius.” Of course he was. If there were no Jake in the world it would probably stop spinning on it axis and fall out of the universe. Oh stop it she derided herself sternly. You are beginning to sound like an old bitter twisted woman.

  “That is enthralling. So… is the mighty Mr Jake ‘Midas’ Michelson at this shindig.” Her venomous cynicism was completely lost on Peter.

  Probably just as well really. She really did not want to have to explain to some stranger about past afflictions. Most especially, when those afflictions involved Mr super Jake the wonderful.

  “Umm… he is around here someplace.” What. Amanda’s heart tripped over itself in its haste to break free from her body and she broke out in a cold sweat.

  She wasn’t counting on him actually being here. He never turned out for these things. He hated them with a resentful passionate vengeance.

  Oh that good old luck again. Why on earth had she asked? Why had she come? She wasn’t ready to come face to face with him just yet.

  She had to leave now before he saw her. She needed a way out and fast. Amanda’s eyes scanned the room frantically until she spied the patio doors across the other side of the room.

  She could slip out quietly, get a cab and go home. Jake would be none the wiser that she had been here, panic over.

  “Excuse me would you.” Her voice sounded weak and foreign even to her own ears. Focus on the patio doors, she told herself, nothing else matters right now.

  “Are you okay?” she heard Peter asked her. “You have become quite pale. Do you need to sit down?” Peter’s forehead creased with concern as his hand went to her upper arm to hold her steady.

  Amanda felt the room sway around her dizzily but she shook it off impatiently.

  “I’m fine…” she lied quickly “…I just have to go.” She cast her eyes down at her watch. “It’s late. Good night.” Amanda was just about to make a bolt for the door when a familiar deep raspy voice came from behind her.

  The honey richness seemed almost to slam into her body making her rock on her feet briefly. It ran over her over stretched raw nerves like barbed wire on sensitive skin. Not to mention that it did nothing to soothe away the butterflies that had now put on big heavy boxing gloves and were beating and thrashing savagely in her stomach.

  “Peter there you are. I will be leaving shortly. I think I have had quite enough for one night. Can you make sure that I have that file I asked for on my desk first thing Monday morning?”

  “Yes, of course Mr Michelson.” She heard Peter’s response but still she remained still, her back to Jake, her eyes on an invisible spot on the floor. Not even daring to breathe.

  “And I will be wanting to go over the Carter account some-time this week. I need to be up to speed before the meeting. We need to get a move on with it before someone else comes and takes the contract from under our noses.”

  “Yes Mr Michelson.” There was a pause. Amanda remained still. Don’t turn around, just keep your back to him, she told herself. She could not deal with this, with him, right now, she wasn’t ready.

  “I am sorry Peter. I did not realise you had company.”

  “That’s okay sir.” She heard Peter saying as Amanda’s heart danced around unhappily.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Jake enquired politely. Please god no, Amanda silently pleaded. She swallowed hard. Think… do something, her mind frantically begged her. But instead of doing something Amanda continued rooted to the spot.

  “Oh yes, sorry. This is Amanda, Gloria’s friend. Amanda this is my boss Jake Michelson.”

  The loud music seemed to dim and fade, falling off into the distance somewhere. All she could feel, all that she was aware of was her own heart, her own fear.

  What did she do now?

  She would have to turn around and face him. She could try running for it. It was an idea, but Amanda instantly dismissed it. It would not work. Jake would surely follow her.

  He would want to make sure that she was okay, that she wasn’t ill or something. His curiosity would get the better of him.

  Besides, she had been intending to see him eventually right? Maybe this was a blessing in disguise. She could get it over with now and then she wouldn’t need to keep worrying about bumping into him every time she left the house each morning. Once it was done, it was done.

  Amanda took in a deep breath that did nothing to calm her and she sent up a silent prayer as she turned on her heel slowly to meet the familiar steely silver blue gaze.

  Amanda watched in fascinated horror as recognition swiftly gave way to shock and then something else she could not put her finger on dashed across his face before his expression closed and hardened.

  She could not breathe. She could not speak. Stupidly Amanda stood there, stock still, looking like a deer that had been caught in the headlights of an oncoming car as she stared into the sharp intense eyes of her stepbrother.

  Chapter 3.

  Endless moments passed by in slow motion. Nothing was said between them and no one moved. The two of them faced each other as if preparing to come out of their respective corners fighting.

  Amanda’s heart thudded harder against her ribs until she was so sure that it was going to be able to break free from her chest as she stood frozen spellbound by his concentrated stare.

  Jake looked confused, and then hurt. But it was slowly replaced by something much more intense, smouldering anger.

  Amanda could see his eyes darken until they were almost black angry stone. Her eyes were drawn to the hardening of his jawline. All the time his eyes glimmered menacingly at her.

  She could feel his anger from where she stood. It hit her in great waves of blazing heat that almost seared through her tender flesh. She knew that Jake would probably have had no trouble killing her at that moment. If he had been able to get his hands around her throat.

  Luckily for her there were far too many witnesses walking about the big room for him to contemplate such a thing. She noted his hands clenching and unclenching though.

  She had never been so relieved to be in a room full of people she did not know. She opened her mouth to say something, to say anything, but no sound came out and she closed her mouth again.

  Amanda�
��s eyes briefly touched the pulse ticking away in the side of his neck. Which, Amanda remembered, was often the only visual clue as to how angry he really was. Judging by how quickly it was beating he was unbelievably angry. She was in big trouble. If she hadn’t been so afraid she would have marvelled at how he was able to hide that anger behind such a blank impassive expression.

  She gave herself a mental shake but she still could not move. He was holding her prisoner just by the power of his gaze.

  Come on, Amanda snap out of it. Her mind shouted at her, you are not a weak pathetic teenager anymore. You are a fully grown capable adult.

  So why was it that she felt anything but capable or strong or even grown up? Then suddenly she was able to breathe. Air flooded her lungs as the shock began to relinquish its hold on her.

  The need to be free of his glare, free from his impressive body, free from him was overwhelming. She had to get away now.

  Amanda turned sharply on her heel with dizzying effect that she chose to ignore and she ran as if the hounds of hell were chasing her and taking large bites at her heels.

  She had made a total fool of herself in front of him, yet again. She always did when she was in his presence damn him.

  Amanda was only dimly aware of Peter calling after her and the shocked guests exclaiming in astonishment as she whizzed past them like some tormented demon.

  She pushed at the patio doors with shaky hands and they gave easily under the pressure. She spilled inelegantly out of them and into the dark cool garden that lay beyond the doors

  As soon as she was outside, the cool night air hit her tortured hot skin and she drew in a big shaky breath that hurt her lungs.

  Amanda’s legs threatened to buckle beneath her and she grabbed at a nearby fence to support herself as she tried to get her body, her heart, and her legs, under some sort of control.

  She had steeled herself for a dramatic first meeting, of course she had, but she had not prepared herself for the feeling that had thundered to the surface as if they had been riding on the backs of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.