The Seduction Business. CHARLOTTE LAMB

a widower, remember, and as free as the birds.’

      ‘This is a business lunch! You don’t expect me to use sex to get Matt Hearne to sign over his business, I hope!’

      ‘Use whatever works,’ said Don, sounding highly amused. ‘How many times have I told you that there’s no place for morals in business? The bottom line is money. Nothing else counts.’

      ‘Don’t be so cynical!’

      ‘I’m rational, not cynical. If we can get hold of Hearne’s new technology we’ll be coining money soon. It’s essential we get Hearne himself, though. He’s a genius. None of our researchers can touch him. We want him as well as his company.’

      ‘Then you talk him into signing!’

      Don changed tack. ‘You know, the man must be pretty lonely. Since his wife died he hasn’t been seen with anyone else, I gather. That must mean he’s in need of some good sex, so I want you to be nice to him. Very, very nice, Bianca. If you know what I mean—and of course you do!’ He laughed uproariously.

      She gave him an icy stare. ‘You may think that’s funny, Don, but I don’t! I’m not sleeping with him just to get him to sign that contract!’ Anger made the hair stir on the back of her neck. ‘Sex may be your answer to everything, but it isn’t mine. I have too much self-respect.’

      They turned into the Savoy Hotel courtyard and the limousine slowed to a stop in front of the swing doors. The uniformed commissionaire moved forward to open the passenger door for Bianca to descend, so she leashed in her temper again as she got out of the car. She couldn’t have a row with her boss in front of a fascinated audience.

      ‘You’ve got no sense of humour,’ he murmured, following her through the hotel’s swing doors. ‘Lighten up, sweetheart! And keep smiling. We want to get Hearne’s signature on that contract, remember!’

      Matt Hearne and a couple of his executives had already arrived, they were told, and were waiting in the River Room bar, sitting right in front of one of the famous art nouveau mirrors, with their coloured urns of flowers reflecting the light of the great chandeliers in the centre of the room.

      ‘There’s Hearne,’ Don said, striding forward, past the white piano occupying the centre of the long, wide room.

      Bianca kept pace with him, aware of three pairs of eyes fixed on her but looking past them, into the mirror behind them. Her reflection moved to meet her in flowing graceful strides: the smooth blonde hair, the oval face, and then the pinstriped jacket, open to reveal the sexy way her waistcoat fitted her high breasts and slender waist. Across the front of it swung a gold watch-chain, moving with every step her long legs took.

      She looked calmer than she felt. Don had made her angry and agitated, she was breathing too quickly, her colour high.

      The waiting men rose to greet them. ‘Good to see you again, Matt,’ Don said, holding out his hand to one of them.

      ‘Hi, Don,’ the other man drawled lightly and derisively. Don was not one of his favourite people, Bianca instantly picked up, but then he wouldn’t be, would he? Matt Hearne had founded his own company which Don was now trying to acquire. They were hardly going to be friends.

      Don introduced her a second later. Matt Hearne’s hand swallowed her own. His skin was cool, his grip firm but brief.

      Bianca had seen photos of him but they had not prepared her for his physical presence, nor for the instant awareness of him she felt.

      He had… She hesitated for the right description, then settled for magnetism. Yes, that was what he had. It glimmered in those bright, blue, mocking eyes. This was a man with charisma as well as sharp intelligence.

      This was a moment she always felt deeply—the first seconds of a duel, facing the opponent over their drawn swords.

      Sometimes you knew you would easily win. It was going to be a push-over.

      But not this man. He was no push-over.

      He introduced his colleagues, who shook hands, staring at her in a way that was familiar but still irritating. Why couldn’t men treat a woman as if she was a human being first and a female second? Why did they always look like that, as if they were imagining you naked?

      A faint flush deepened on her cheeks. Would they look at each other like that? Of course they wouldn’t.

      The formalities over, they all sat down again and a waiter appeared.

      ‘What will you have to drink, Bianca?’ Don asked, playing the attentive host. He was paying for this meal, the three other men were TTO’s guests, which Don felt gave him the advantage, and he always looked for a chance to get the advantage when he was making a deal. Don was a bridge player, a man with a sharp, quick, clever mind but very little heart.

      When Bianca hesitated, Don said, ‘How about champagne? Shall we all have some?’ He glanced at the waiter and nodded. The waiter vanished.

      ‘How is your wife, Don? I met her a couple of years ago at a party,’ Matt Hearne said in a soft, deliberate voice.

      Don looked blank. ‘Did you? I wasn’t there?’

      ‘No,’ agreed Matt Hearne, his blue eyes drifting over to scan Bianca’s face in a way she resented. ‘You weren’t. Too busy elsewhere, I suppose?’

      Bianca stiffened. Was she imagining the pointed tone? What was he hinting at?

      ‘It was a charity function,’ Matt murmured. ‘Your wife was involved in raising funds for Czech orphans. A very nice lady with a lovely smile.’

      Yes, Bianca was sure he was needling Don, quite deliberately, and from Don’s sudden frown he knew it.

      Surely there hadn’t been anything between Matt Hearne and Don’s wife?

      The waiter returned with an ice bucket and two bottles of champagne. They all watched him set out champagne glasses. He opened one bottle, and filled the glasses.

      ‘To our closer understanding,’ Don said to Matt Hearne, raising his glass, smiling again, all warmth and friendliness.

      Nothing would ever interfere between Don and the making of money. Until he had achieved his deal he could put aside desire, rage, personal hatreds—any and every emotion. He had tunnel vision to an extraordinary degree.

      She wondered if Matt Hearne was the same. He had been intensely successful; he and Don must have a lot in common.

      ‘Oh, I already understand you, Don, don’t worry,’ Matt said, raising his glass, too, in Don’s direction, and again she heard the hidden note of mockery.

      Don’s smile was tight, his teeth white and pointed. ‘Good, I’m glad you do. I must say, your company is a little jewel, Matt, and I won’t hide the fact that I want it. And what I want I always get.’

      His eyes wandered on to touch Bianca, and she felt the insistence throbbing inside him, and tensed, her hands clenched at her sides.

      Sometimes he was positively scary.

      It was a difficult occasion from that moment. Oh, the men smiled a great deal, but the hidden weapons each carried showed more and more as the lunch progressed.

      How well did they know one another? wondered Bianca, watching them both. Were they older acquaintances than Don had ever told her?

      She became very curious but could pick up no real clues to whatever lay in the past.

      TTO had bought up over a third of the Hearne stock, which would mean that they inevitably had a considerable impact on future policy and planning in the company. But they had not yet managed to acquire control. Matt Hearne held too many shares and would not sell. His sister controlled a number of shares, too. Rumour had it that she and her brother weren’t speaking. If they had seriously quarrelled and TTO could persuade her to sell they would get control.

      The problem was, Ann Hearne had moved to the States a year ago