voice was all sweetness but Alix could recognise a put-down when she heard one. ‘That’s right. And you are…?’
‘Donna Temple.’
‘Oh, yes, Rhys’s little…’ She didn’t finish the sentence, just let it hang in the air. Behind her Kathy smothered an over-awed giggle, and the smile on Donna’s face changed, became fixed.
‘Perhaps you were going to say friend,’ Donna said curtly, breaking the silence. ‘I am a friend of his, yes. I suppose he told you about me?’
Alix shook her head. ‘No, he didn’t mention you.’
‘Well, he will. How are you getting on here?’ Donna asked, abruptly changing the subject.
‘Very well, thank you,’ Alix answered warily.
But it seemed that the older girl wanted to be friends because she gave a gracious smile and said, ‘Well, if you have any problems, just let me know. Rhys wants you to get on in the firm and I’d be happy to help.’
‘Thanks,’ Alix answered. ‘But I think I can manage on my own. And I don’t have any problems.’
The older girl nodded and walked out of the room, all eyes following her.
‘Phew!’ Kathy exclaimed. ‘I rather think our Donna wants you on her side. Probably hopes to get to Rhys’s parents through you.’
‘If Rhys had wanted her to meet his parents he would have taken her down before now. Anyway, he isn’t interested in marrying her,’ Alix said with certainty.
‘No?’ Kathy’s eyes grew round. ‘How do you know? Did he tell you?’
Belatedly remembering Kathy’s love of gossip, Alix thought she’d better be more circumspect, so said, truthfully, ‘I was with him most of the weekend and he didn’t mention Donna once.’
‘Really? How come you were with him?’
‘Our parents are the closest friends. We all had dinner together at my house, then his parents gave an open-house party for him on Saturday; one of those whole day things where people come and go the whole time. I was helping with the food and everything.’
‘You are so lucky, Alix,’ Kathy said soulfully. ‘How about inviting me down one weekend when Rhys is there?’ But then she said, ‘Donna must have been really curious about you, just like all the other people who’ve been wandering in here today.’
For a day or so people continued to be curious about her, but it all died down when Rhys didn’t come into the office again. Alix didn’t see him for a few days, but then he phoned her at home one evening. ‘How about lunch tomorrow?’
‘Of course,’ Alix agreed immediately, shelving a shopping hour with Kathy without hesitation. ‘Where and when?’
‘Meet you in the foyer at one. See you, urchin.’
Alix hadn’t expected him to meet her in the building, hadn’t expected him to take her out in London, if it came to that. Next day she wore a new outfit and was there early, eager to see him as always. But Rhys was a few minutes late, and when he came out of the lift Donna was with him.
The other girl had a possessive hand on his arm and was laughing up at him. Alix felt a harsh rip of jealousy, that was instantly gone as Rhys said, ‘Excuse me, Donna. I have a date. ‘Bye.’ And he smilingly walked over to Alix and kissed her lightly. ‘Hello, little one.’
‘Hi.’ She dropped her voice. ‘Am I being used?’
His eyes immediately filled with laughter. ‘You could say that.’
‘It’s going to cost you a really good meal.’
‘It will be worth it.’
‘She won’t let go, huh?’ Alix guessed.
‘Something like that. But I think she’s got the message now.’
‘Good,’ Alix said with feeling, which made Rhys laugh as he tucked her arm in his and took her out to lunch.
The rest of those six weeks were wonderful because Alix knew she had him to herself, socially, that was; he spent a great deal of time in meetings and conferences, and it was eventually announced that he had been made a director in the boardroom game of musical chairs. And he was still only thirty. When he took her out at first Alix thought it was merely to emphasise to Donna that he wasn’t interested, but after two weeks the company hummed with the news that Donna had got a new job and was leaving immediately. Whenever Rhys was free he took Alix to the theatre and concerts, to dinner in ethnic restaurants where he laughed at the doubtful face she pulled as she tried food she’d never heard of before, let alone tasted.
Although Alix had known him most of her life there were many things about Rhys that she had yet to discover; he had never treated her as an adult before, so their conversations were different, making her feel closer to him. And he seemed to have changed since she’d seen him last, become a little harder perhaps. For Alix these weeks became a period of learning about Rhys, and her own experience had broadened so that she was able to look at him with more mature eyes. And the same went for him, she supposed, but she had always been completely open and natural with him, so there was less for him to learn.
When he went back to Australia she went to his flat to collect him, so that she could drive him in his car to the airport and then drive it back to Kent, to garage it at his parents’ house. His flat was in a modern block with an entry-phone system. Because she was feeling unhappy at his leaving, Alix had bought a lurid witch mask and put it on when she rang the bell.
Rhys’s laugh crackled over the intercom. ‘A great improvement. Come on up, Alix.’
His bags were all packed and standing ready in the hall.
‘How long will you be away this time?’ she asked him.
‘Not sure. A couple of months, maybe.’ His eyes settled on her face. ‘Have you ever thought of getting yourself a flat in London instead of commuting every day?’
She thinned her lips expressively. ‘Flats in London cost the earth to rent.’
Rhys held up some keys. ‘How about using this one, then, while I’m away?’
Alix’s eyes widened with pleasure. ‘Rhys! Do you mean it? Oh, that would be great, great, great!’
He laughed and tossed her the keys. ‘Don’t have any rave-ups and don’t upset the neighbours. OK?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Let’s go, then.’
They reached the airport and he turned to her. ‘Goodbye, urchin.’
Alix swallowed and blinked hard. ‘I’m going to miss you, Rhys.’
He put a finger under her chin and tilted her face, looked down at her with strange intentness. ‘Then remember this,’ he said softly, and bent to kiss her.
At last it was a real kiss, not that of an indulgent friend, but the
