in as she took his hand and responded.
‘Mr Drake. Good morning.’
‘Chris, please. Is everybody at EAS so formal?’
‘Mr Henderson feels that I should address senior people respectfully.’
He chuckled.
‘My PA’s the same, maybe we should swap? Shall we go inside? It’s a bit windy out here.’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘What are you having.’
The words ‘rough sex’ rose unbidden to Laura’s throat and she ended up coughing in her effort not to actually say them. He made her choice for her.
‘G and T. Have you been here before?’
‘No.’
‘It’s very good. Miles from anywhere of course.’
Laura smiled and nodded, wondering if any of his previous visits had been liaisons such as the one she’d just witnessed. He set up a tab and ordered the drinks, refusing to allow her to put anything on her own expenses. Taking a menu and the wine list, he led her to a table by the window. Laura sat down, completely abandoned to his easy assumption of control. He was absorbed in the menu and she took a moment to watch him, admiring the lean contours of his shoulders and chest, but particularly his face. There was something patrician about him, yet with a boyish cast, so that it was easy to imagine him not as a businessman, but perhaps as a wealthy young idler from between the wars, or a Spitfire pilot. Certainly it was easy to imagine him as the hero in a novel, and one with a dark side, one who would enjoy giving a girl a bit of necessary discipline across his knee.
‘Do you like spatchcock?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Spatchcock. You know, it’s a chicken dish.’
‘Oh … yes, of course. Yes, very much.’
‘Well I’m going to have it.’
‘So will I.’
‘And a bottle of Chablis, I think, or would you prefer Sancerre?’
‘Um … whichever you think best … no, let’s have the Chablis.’
Laura had forced herself to make a decision, sure that she was making an exhibition of herself. He took no notice, but went to the bar and quickly gave their order, speaking the moment he returned.
‘To business. I’ll be straightforward with you here. I’ve managed to persuade my bosses to upgrade our 36,000 volt system at the same time as the general one, hopefully saving money in the long run. This is my idea, and a lot rests on my being able to justify it, so I need a good price. Presumably old Henderson has given you some leeway?’
‘Some, yes.’
‘Good. Then name your bottom line to save a lot of tedious argument, I’ll accept, sign up to the deal and we can enjoy our lunch, how’s that?’
Laura hid a smile, having seen enough clients try to steam-roller Mr Henderson over the years to recognise the technique. Hoping that Mr Drake was so sure of himself that he’d assume she’d accept his offer without quibbling, she named a price ten per cent higher than the one Mr Henderson had suggested. Mr Drake gave her a sharp look.
‘Merlin Gerin can do better.’
‘Then you’d have two companies trying to install switchgear at the same time. Please Mr Drake, if I don’t manage to reach an agreement I’ll be in trouble.’
He laughed.
‘OK, I’ll take it, if only for that naughty schoolgirl impression.’
Laura found herself blushing, as if he’d read her mind, and quickly busied herself with the paperwork. Having reached a decision he signed up without further discussion, and Laura was soon left with a satisfying sense of a job well done, while it was clear he was keen to flirt, and perhaps more. He spoke easily, asking questions and making her laugh with his wry, slightly self-effacing style. By the time they’d finished lunch what little resistance she’d had left was gone. He made it easy to melt, and when the couple she had seen earlier came back she didn’t hesitate before leaning across the table.
‘Do you see the man in the green tie and the blonde woman?’
‘Yes.’
‘They arrived shortly before you did, in different cars, then went off together in his. That
‘Mr Drake. Good morning.’
‘Chris, please. Is everybody at EAS so formal?’
‘Mr Henderson feels that I should address senior people respectfully.’
He chuckled.
‘My PA’s the same, maybe we should swap? Shall we go inside? It’s a bit windy out here.’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘What are you having.’
The words ‘rough sex’ rose unbidden to Laura’s throat and she ended up coughing in her effort not to actually say them. He made her choice for her.
‘G and T. Have you been here before?’
‘No.’
‘It’s very good. Miles from anywhere of course.’
Laura smiled and nodded, wondering if any of his previous visits had been liaisons such as the one she’d just witnessed. He set up a tab and ordered the drinks, refusing to allow her to put anything on her own expenses. Taking a menu and the wine list, he led her to a table by the window. Laura sat down, completely abandoned to his easy assumption of control. He was absorbed in the menu and she took a moment to watch him, admiring the lean contours of his shoulders and chest, but particularly his face. There was something patrician about him, yet with a boyish cast, so that it was easy to imagine him not as a businessman, but perhaps as a wealthy young idler from between the wars, or a Spitfire pilot. Certainly it was easy to imagine him as the hero in a novel, and one with a dark side, one who would enjoy giving a girl a bit of necessary discipline across his knee.
‘Do you like spatchcock?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Spatchcock. You know, it’s a chicken dish.’
‘Oh … yes, of course. Yes, very much.’
‘Well I’m going to have it.’
‘So will I.’
‘And a bottle of Chablis, I think, or would you prefer Sancerre?’
‘Um … whichever you think best … no, let’s have the Chablis.’
Laura had forced herself to make a decision, sure that she was making an exhibition of herself. He took no notice, but went to the bar and quickly gave their order, speaking the moment he returned.
‘To business. I’ll be straightforward with you here. I’ve managed to persuade my bosses to upgrade our 36,000 volt system at the same time as the general one, hopefully saving money in the long run. This is my idea, and a lot rests on my being able to justify it, so I need a good price. Presumably old Henderson has given you some leeway?’
‘Some, yes.’
‘Good. Then name your bottom line to save a lot of tedious argument, I’ll accept, sign up to the deal and we can enjoy our lunch, how’s that?’
Laura hid a smile, having seen enough clients try to steam-roller Mr Henderson over the years to recognise the technique. Hoping that Mr Drake was so sure of himself that he’d assume she’d accept his offer without quibbling, she named a price ten per cent higher than the one Mr Henderson had suggested. Mr Drake gave her a sharp look.
‘Merlin Gerin can do better.’
‘Then you’d have two companies trying to install switchgear at the same time. Please Mr Drake, if I don’t manage to reach an agreement I’ll be in trouble.’
He laughed.
‘OK, I’ll take it, if only for that naughty schoolgirl impression.’
Laura found herself blushing, as if he’d read her mind, and quickly busied herself with the paperwork. Having reached a decision he signed up without further discussion, and Laura was soon left with a satisfying sense of a job well done, while it was clear he was keen to flirt, and perhaps more. He spoke easily, asking questions and making her laugh with his wry, slightly self-effacing style. By the time they’d finished lunch what little resistance she’d had left was gone. He made it easy to melt, and when the couple she had seen earlier came back she didn’t hesitate before leaning across the table.
‘Do you see the man in the green tie and the blonde woman?’
‘Yes.’
‘They arrived shortly before you did, in different cars, then went off together in his. That
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