COPY RIGHT: 2011 All Rights Reserved

'Bentley what's happened to my two o' clock appointment?' Tessa opened her office door and directed an impatient look at the P.A. she now shared with Brad. The secretary she'd hired resigned to take up a lucrative post with the government's Foreign Affairs as she was fluent in many European languages. Tessa was disappointed to see her go, but did not dream of standing in the way of her career aspirations. Tessa had been meaning to advertise for a new P.A. but she kept putting it off. She wondered if she could find someone as super efficient as her husband's private assistant was.

'Oh, you were not in your office Mrs. Blakely. I stuck a note on your keyboard.'

'What does it say Bentley?'

''The Orion rep is stuck in traffic, he's running thirty minutes late.'

Tessa groaned softly.

Bloody bad time management if you ask me!

'Is something wrong Mrs. Blakely?' Bentley stood up. He was unaccustomed to her being discourteous.

'Lyndon is with me today,' Tessa sighed. 'He's already irritable. He hasn't had his afternoon nap.'

'Er---Mr. Blakely is still busy in a meeting, though its running over its scheduled time. I could ask him to stand in for you. He had nothing else on his diary for this afternoon.'

The problem is what time is Brad going to be done? What if he's still busy when the Orion rep eventually gets here?

'Momma, momma, carry me,' Lyndon tugged his arms around his mom's legs. The dainty palm of one hand then rubbed at his eyes tiredly.

'Oh I'm sorry darling,' Tessa lifted Lyndon into her arms and kissed his chubby cheek.

'I am mummy's angel, daddy is mummy's darling,' Lyndon giggled.

Don't kids come with a built in mute button?

'You're my darling too,' Tessa whispered in his ear. 'I'll wait for Orion,' Tessa directed a quick glance at Bentley, before she shut her door again.

'Momma, Lyndon tired,' the little blighter cried again, tapping his little palm across his mom's mouth. She kissed his palm, and playfully bit on it. Lyndon gurgled delightfully, forgetting his tiredness.

'Have you run away from Stacy again Lyndon?'

Stacy was the full nanny employed to look after Lyndon. He normally stayed at home with her, but today he had a routine medical check up and Tessa had brought him to the office after the doctor's appointment. 'Can mummy ask Stacy to make you sleep in you pen? You can play with Jet the dinosaur and Mr. Penguin.'

'Can momma sleep with Lyndon too?' he pleaded.

'I have a meeting just now angel,' Tessa pressed the buzzer to Lyndon's makeshift pay pen. It was a tiny unused office that Tessa converted into a play pen with some of Lyndon's toys. Thankfully it had a connected telephone line.

'Yes Mrs. Blakely?' Stacy shyly sauntered into Tessa's office.

'Stacy my next appointment's running late,' Tessa heaved a sigh apologetically. 'Please put Lyndon down in his playpen to rest. As soon as I'm done we'll leave.'

'Sure,' she smiled, extending her arms to Lyndon. 'Come little one.' He gave her a half smile, his beautiful long lashes hiding his droopy eyes.

Tessa reread the Orion contract for the tenth time, attempting to pre-empt what they wished to review. This was just a preliminary meeting before the contract was up for renewal again in a year's time. Orion should be a happy customer. The two amalgamated companies of The International Reporter and Global Business Review were now known as the, Global Reporter (GR) with Brad Blakeley as its new owner and chairperson, having bought out Joseph von Biljoen's majority shares, when he married the media baron's heiress. GR was now delivering excellent market value to Orion.

'Come in,' Tessa responded to the knock on her door.

About bloody time they got here!

She readied a polite smile on her face.

'Brad!' she stood up disappointedly.

When the hell was Orion going to get here?

'Don't look so enthusiastic to see your husband, ' he looked at her curiously as he kissed her cheek. He admired his wife's spotless and very tidy office. That was one of the many things they had in common. Organized efficiency Brad liked to label it. She had a single file on her desk, that of the meeting she was about to hold.

'I'm sorry,' she tugged at the button on his blazer. 'Orion is late and Lyndon is so crabby,' she moaned.

'I just checked on him, he's fast asleep,' Brad smiled.

'Oh thank heavens,' she breathed a sigh of relief. 'I hate disturbing his routine.'

'You fuss too much,' he kissed her forehead. 'Is my button annoying you?'

'What?'

'You're tugging at it, like you want to strangle the defenseless thing.'

'Oh I'm sorry,' she laughed, and pressed her palm against his chest. 'Is your meeting over?'

'Yes I'm ready to go home and if Orion is not here in the next ten minutes, they must reschedule,' he instructed.

'But Brad the contract's up for renewal,' her fingers marked a pattern on his shirt unconsciously.

'We're in the enviable position to choose our clients, Tessa.'

'You're being arrogant Mr. Blakely,' her emerald rimmed eyes dueled with his.

He exhaled heavily, waving one hand into the air. 'We have an astronomical war chest invested with them, so I think it's fair game,' he rallied back. Hadn't Tessa used that very same leverage when she negotiated with Orion on Brad's behalf? Tessa had observed Brad in many negotiations since she joined GR. He was ruthlessly clinical during negotiations. He researched his clients and business associates with a fine tooth comb, found their weaknesses and exploited it to his advantage. Oh he could never be accused of being unethical. His opponent's weaknesses were merely their lack of insight and inability to close a negotiation with a solid strategy.

Brad's fingers feathered her cheek now. His head lowered and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. 'Perhaps I could entertain you till Orion gets here,' he murmured, as his lips trailed to her throat.

'Brad,' she fended him off, though her hands were still lightly on his chest, and as she spoke his name, there was a knock on the door and there stood the single representative of Orion. Tessa automatically stepped back.

The visitor's eyes locked with Tessa's as she was facing the door. Brad's back was to the visitor. An evil glint in Brook Connor's eyes registered as if he'd caught Tessa in a compromising position with her pants down. Brook's eyes seemed to relay a secret message to Tessa. Brad felt Tessa's whole body tense. It was not for nothing that her body tensed. The pathetic Brook had been calling on Tessa on more than a few occasions making a pest of himself, despite the fact that she'd informed him that she was married, and so was he, the infuriating pig. She hadn't bothered to inform Brad. She didn't approve of the vigilante approach she knew her husband would have used to remove her problem.

'Sit in on this meeting please,' Tessa whispered.

Brad curiously turned around to see who was at the door. Brook very quickly remembered his manners.

'Good afternoon Mrs. Blakely.' He pretended not to have noticed that Tessa and Brad were almost embracing. She had pushed Brad away, but her palm had been on his chest. When Brook's eyes had locked with hers, the message there had been dangerously threatening.

Damn perhaps I should have mentioned this vile pig to Brad.

'Good afternoon,' Tessa greeted politely.

'You're late,' Brad accused without preamble.

'My apologies,' Brook offered, not looking apologetic. 'There was an accident on Strand. It seemed to have gridlocked the city center,' he waved his hand carelessly. When neither Brad nor Tessa spoke, he cunningly extended his hand to Blake to identify who Tessa's accomplice was.

'Brook Connor. I manage the GR account for Orion.'

'Brad Blakely,' was all Brad uttered.

Something about Connor did not settle well with Brad, and he knew for some reason the creep unsettled Tessa. He could not fathom why Tessa had tensed up. She was generally very professional and confident. His wife was too professional he mused. He was "darling" at home and in the bedroom, but in the office and wherever they conducted business he was Brad. Brook's eyes narrowed almost infinitesimally. He very quickly regrouped and was all patronizing and businesslike again.

'Shall we get started?' Brad held out the chair for Tessa, and waved to Brook to take a seat where Brad intended to keep a watchful eye on him as he took the seat next to his wife.

'Thank you Brad,' Tessa opened her file.

'Thank you Mr. Blakely,' Brook shuffled into the chair. Tessa had never seen him look so clumsy before. Brad linked his fingers together and trained his eyes casually on Brook, who seemed to forget why he was there.

'Orion called this meeting,' Tessa reminded Brook. She was sure Brook would have been as cocky as a bull, if Brad had not been present.

'Er---yes. Firstly Orion wishes to congratulate GR on its efforts in increasing Orion's market share.'

Brad was surprised at the unexpected acknowledgement, but his face remained passive. Brook continued, 'Orion has studied your Asian business model, and wishes to extend its services in that market.'

'You're not here to review the existing contract? Tessa asked, somewhat surprised.'

Brook shook his head. 'No, there's still twelve months to that contract, it will keep for now,' he said soberly.

'Have you done your homework on the Asian investment companies?' Brad enquired. 'Their rates are rather competitive. Their labour is extremely cheap. Orion will not be able to compete with them. Many London companies are now vying for the Asian Stock Exchange.'

What Brook read loud and clear was that Blakely and GR were contemplating withdrawing their clientele from Orion and transferring it to one of the Asia investment firms. Brook swallowed nervously. He helped himself to one of the bottles of chilled water on the table and poured it into a glass. He could not allow GR to disinvest from Orion. That would be a nasty blow resulting in him losing his job.

'We will tailor make our products to suit our client's needs,' he started. 'We don't want the whole of Asia,' he spoke softly. 'We are just after their niche market. We are serving the niche market in three continents. We have a solid foundation to work from,' he concluded.

And they did, Brad silently agreed. It's why he still had most of his private money and GR's money still invested with them. He did not have all his eggs in one basket, but Orion protected the majority of his wealth.

'Brook, I don't see the Japanese and Chinese taking this lying down. They will defend their position aggressively,' Tessa cautioned. 'You will have to increase your spend at the expense of your shareholders just to keep your head above water. Surely that's not a feasible option.'

'We've done the math Mrs. Blakely. We know the strategy to attain critical mass,' he assured her confidently.'

'In that case, Brad concluded, 'have your legal division draw up a proposal for our perusal. As you are aware my wife is Head of GR's Legal Affairs. I'm sure both our legal teams can come up with an amicable agreement.'

'Thank you,' Brook smiled confidently for the first time since he sat down. 'I am already in possession of a proposed agreement,' he opened his briefcase, removed a very serious looking document and handed it to Tessa.

'Give me a week to go through this,' Tessa reached for the document, 'I will schedule a follow up thereafter.'

'Tessa please synchronize it with my diary. I would like to sit in on that meeting.'

Tessa nodded. Brook's eyes shifted from Tessa, to his briefcase.

'Thank you Brook,' Brad stood, extending his hand dismissively.

'Good afternoon,' Tessa extended her hand politely.

'I will see Brook out,' Brad spoke, and led him out before Tessa could utter another word.

'I take it Orion is pleased with our longstanding relationship Brook,' Brad probed as he swiped his card at his private elevator.

'Oh yes, Mr. Blakely.' Brook was thrilled to be escorted by the Chairman through his private elevator. 'GR is one of our platinum clients.'

'Good. If you want to keep my business Brook, stay away from my wife,' Brad warned. Brook's eyes turned into huge saucers. 'The next time Orion sends you to GR, ensure it's only business related, or I will make a call to have you fired, then I will file a sexual harassment charge against you. Do I make myself clear?'

'Y---yes sir. I do apologize,' he stammered.

'Apology accepted, now get out,' Brad hissed, as he opened the glass paneled doors to get rid of the pervert.

When Brad returned to Tessa's office, she had already rounded up Stacy and Lyndon. She had the sleepy Lyndon cradled in her arms and avoided looking at Brad. The shy nanny stood just behind Tessa, hugging Lyndon's stuffed toys.

'Ready darling?' Brad inquired casually.

'Yes,' Tessa looked around the room, still avoiding Brad.

'Here let me help you,' Brad took Lyndon, and gently placed his son's head on his shoulder. Lyndon snuggled closer and tucked his tiny arm around his dad's neck. It only managed to go half way around. Tessa switched the lights of in her office and walked out, followed by Stacy and then Brad. Brad had already dismissed Bentley. He would drive Tessa's car home.

Having had an affinity previously to Italian cars, when Brad had inquired on what car he should get Tessa, she'd opted for an Italian family car. So it could hold a baby seat. He had merely grinned and the next morning, her car was waiting for her in their driveway.

Brad opened the doors for Tessa and Stacy, strapped the sleeping Lyndon into his baby seat. He then got behind the wheel and drove them home. Tessa made the excuse to bathe Lyndon and escaped. Stacy retired to her room where she lived in, as Brad and Tessa occasionally dined out, or took clients out to dinner. On the occasions when Stacy enjoyed days or weekends off, a temporary helper under the ever watchful eye of Lauretta did the babysitting for Lyndon.

Amazingly Lauretta who previously held the title of Lady of the Manor gamely relinquished the title, when she saw how besotted her master was with his wife, and she was even more pleased when she saw how much Mrs. Blakely loved her husband and how her eyes lit up every time Mr. Blakely walked into the room.

That evening Brad and Tessa had a somewhat enjoyable dinner. They almost never talked shop at home, unless it was absolutely critical. Brad was informing Tessa now about circus tickets one of their clients had dropped of. Tessa's face lit up. She could not wait to see the expression on Lyndon's face, when he got to see the circus. Tessa then informed Brad she was going to have lunch the next day with Aunt Bertha who was very keen to see baby Lyndon again.

Whilst Brad was locking up and setting the alarm system on, Tessa sneakily snuck upstairs showered and slid into bed. She found economic journals rather boring, but that was the only bloody reading material in sight on Brad's side table and she'd grabbed it. She made a mental note to update her reading material for future reference. She pretended to be reading when Brad walked in. Her eyes shifted to the top button on Brad's chest for a second and was dragged back to the journal.

Cringing, she conceded, even if her life depended on it, she would not be able to repeat one sentence she'd read in the last five agonizing minutes, waiting for Brad to come to bed. Her heart began to pound in her chest uncontrollably when Brad walked to her side of the bed. Her head flew up. He lowered his head and kissed her full on the lips. 'Don't fall asleep. I'll be out of the shower before you know it.' With those words, she watched his back as he closed the door to the shower.

Damn this is nerve wrecking. I know he knows. Why the hell does he not ask me anything?

Brad smiled adoringly at Tessa as he returned with a towel around his mid drift. After three years of marriage. She still found his body arousingly attractive. She still had an insatiable desire only for husband. Oh they did not make love every single night anymore, but they did most nights of the week. When she needed Brad's loving she reached out for him and he acquiesced wholeheartedly and vice verse.

As Brad dropped the towel and slid into bed, he observed Tessa was on exactly the same page she was on ten minutes ago before he went to shower. He said nothing, just leaned over. Tessa let the journal fall. Brad draped his arm over her naked body under the duvet. She just lay there like a corpse, holding her breath. Brad kissed her lips. 'Good night,' he murmured.

That's it? You're not going to ask me a thing!

He kissed her lips again, then seductively trailed his lips to her earlobe. 'I said good night,' he repeated, 'unless you don't want to say good night right now,' he hinted.

'Good night,' she whispered.

Brad stretched out his arm and switched of his bedside lamp. Tessa did the same and in the dark she focused her eyes on his back facing her. She knew every square inch of his body, as he did hers. Even in the dark she knew exactly where the contours of his shoulders were. She knew every vertebra of his spinal cage. She knew the length and breadth of him from head to toe, as she knew he knew not only her body, but her mind, will and emotions completely.

Tessa switched her light on again, 'Brad?' she whispered.

Occasionally he was "Brad" in the bedroom, when her mind was doing battle about something. He turned around. He'd heard her huffing and puffing for the last five minutes even though he'd had his back to her.

'Aren't you---aren't you going to ask me about Brook Connor?' she mumbled.

Brad's eyes searched his wife's. 'I trust you. There is nothing I need worry about,' he spoke with confident sincerity.

'You are not mad at me, because I did not tell you he's been making passes at me?' Her eyes were glassy, her voice wavered a little.

"Passes?" I thought the bastard did it once only!

'Like I said, I trust you Tessa. You are a very sensually attractive lady. No sane man with a healthy libido can be immune to your good looks,' Brad let his fingers caress her cheeks. He used his thumb to wipe away the solitary tear that dropped on her cheek.

'Thank you for trusting me,' she whispered, placing her arm around his neck.

'What did you think I would do, if you told me?'

'Tear every limb of Brook's body. Disfigure his face and other parts of his anatomy.'

Brad laughed, 'perhaps if I did not know my wife was a woman of integrity and faithful to me, I would resort to those caveman antics.'

'Oh Brad, I love you. I promise I will not keep anything from you ever again,' she hugged him. Her petite breasts pressed into his chest. They had gone back to their normal size after the baby. He was so aroused and she knew it. Tessa looked up into his face and grinned. 'I don't know if I can be as trusting as you darling. If I knew you were spending time with a beautiful woman, I would be so jealous,' she murmured, cupping his face erotically. 'Make love to me,' she whispered, pushing Brad onto his back and straddling him.

And therein lay the reason why Brad had deliberately excluded Tessa from his sensitive negotiations with the Russians. If she saw how attractive the leading negotiator was, Tessa would start world war three. Succumbing to her impassioned plea, Brad