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Neither was he alone—there was a trio of suited, rather burly men behind him that made Mary feel nervous also.
The greeter had already taken her coat and umbrella, or she would have been tempted to grab them back as Ridgemont’s eyes ran disapprovingly down her grey tweed dress.
Plain at the front, with neat darts at the bust, it was pinched in at the waist, but the beauty was in its back—a subtle plunge that led into a long row of covered buttons that flared into a small pleated fish tail.
And it was entirely wasted on this night.
‘You’re late,’ he reprimanded.
‘My bus...’ She attempted to explain but he wasn’t really listening, just eyeing her up and down in a way that had Mary squirming in the pair of Coral’s rather too large stilettos.
‘Well, go and sort out some make-up,’ he prompted, peering at her face.
‘I never wear any.’
He hissed his irritation, then glanced at the time. ‘We’d better go through.’
‘Perhaps not.’ Mary cleared her throat and, though terrified to use it, somehow found her voice. ‘It’s obvious that I’m not what you were expecting...’
She turned on the borrowed unfamiliar heels, rueing her mistake and preparing to face Coral’s wrath, but fingers gripped her upper arm.
‘Oh, no, you don’t.’
As he halted her retreat Mary felt apprehension turn into white-hot fear as his fat fingers squeezed hard into sensitive flesh.
‘It’s far too late to do anything about it now. You’ll just have to do.’
His hand slid down to her elbow and Mary was rendered mute for a moment as they were led through the reception area and into a restaurant.
Under any other circumstances she would have stood a moment, simply to take it all in, for it was more beautiful than any place she had ever been. There were chandeliers laden with gorgeous crystals that danced light around the room, and Mary felt certain that this had once been or was even still used as a ballroom. But while the hotel was tasteful and sublime, the company was not.
‘Did Coral tell you who we’re dining with?’ Eric checked once they’d been seated.
‘Briefly.’ Mary nodded, though she was too nervous to recall the name. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten.’
‘Leventis.’ He saw her nonplussed expression. ‘Costa Leventis. He has a lot of property across Europe, though you’re probably more interested in the gossip sites. He frequently appears there...’
Mary blinked, a whisper of an image returning to her from the cover of a magazine. ‘Some scandal on a yacht...?’ she said, as she tried to recall. ‘Or in a casino...?’
‘There’s scandal wherever Leventis goes—though he’s gone to ground lately. He’s an arrogant bastard. New money...’ Eric sniffed. ‘Needs the occasional reminder about who gave him his start. No doubt he’ll have some siren with him. Just entertain her while I find out what the hell he’s up to.’
He leant in closer and gave Mary a look that made her shudder inwardly.
‘There might be a bonus in it for you tonight.’
She felt a trickle of sweat between her breasts and, despite the opulence of her surroundings, in that moment she would have given anything to be back at the small bedsit in the rear of the hair salon.
Oh, whatever have I let myself be talked into?
Mary desperately wanted out. ‘I only agreed to dinner,’ Mary said, determined to state it upfront.
But this man wasn’t listening. ‘The night ends when I tell you and not a moment before. Let’s not forget that you’re being paid very well. So right here, right now, I’m telling you to lose the attitude and damn well smile.’
It would be far too obvious if she were to get up and leave now, Mary decided, but in a few moments she would excuse herself and head to the restrooms. Then she would get the hell away.
Except the three men who had accompanied Eric were seated at the next table!
She suddenly remembered her old ballet teacher ordering her to smile, and somehow she did just that, while still planning her escape.
