'If you are so sure that he is yours, why are you standing here speaking to me? If you have an issue we hy don't you discuss it with your lover, why involve me?'

Phoebe was shocked at what Nancy had said. She was right but that only served to incense her further.

'Jason is a very kind and generous man and most times, too trusting and I know the likes of you. You want to reap where you have not shown. Just a few days after moving into these quarters, you are already sharing breakfast with him and and soon, you would want to move into the main building. Gradually warming your way into his life but I warn you that I shall not allow that to happen. So you better stay in your limit and face your work as a secretary and not get any funny ideas because if you do, you do not know what I am capable of doing. If you sincerely do not have any such intentions towards him, then move out and find another apartment so that I do not show you the dark side of me', She threatened.

Nancy was so shocked that before she could think of any other thing to say to her, she had stormed off.

Nancy wanted to go after her and tell her that she got it all wrong and that there was nothing between her and her boss but a professional relationship and that she was not interested in any other relationship with him for that matter but she restrained herself.

'I do not owe her any explanation. If she does not know how to keep her so - called fiance, then that is her business and not mine. I shan't lose sleep over the fact that my presence here is making her feel insecure. If she is not comfortable with my presence here, then she should discuss it with Mr. Campbell and I will willingly leave if he asked me to. Apart from that, nobody was going to drive me from the quarters my boss has given me except I decide to move out of my own accord'. She thought to herself.

Phoebe on the other hand was fuming

imagine that non entity speaking to her that way. She couldn't blame her though. Jason was responsible for the girl's attitude to her.

She just didn't know what to do. To go steady with Steven and encourage him would be accepting defeat and she was not going to do that. She had been able to show Richard the stuff she was made of, a tough stuff. He had thought that she would not survive without him but he had been wrong and she wanted him to see how wrong he had been and that she had done better than him when he found her name linked with such a famous man as Jason Campbell in the papers. She wanted him to die of shame.

As she came round,preparing to go back to her apartment so that she could go out with any of her male friends who was available, she saw Jason coming in.

She decided to wait for him.

'Phoebe, you are still here?' he asked as he got to her. Sometimes rather than drive,he preferred to walk. It was a form of exercise to him. He wanted to remain fit. It was a hobby he had adopted since he recovered from Rebecca's betrayal and was not ready to give it up.

These days though, he was walking out more because of the attraction he had started feeling towards Nancy. She was everything that Rebecca was not and come to think of it,they had more than their love for their job in common.

They both had been betrayed by the people they loved but had survived in spite of that. So, Nancy was a survivor just like him.

True,he had been fed up with life at first and had wanted to end it all, albert in a cowardly way through alcohol but he had pulled through just like Nancy who had also tried to end her life by walking into his on coming car but she had also been able to move on with her life but she was pregnant and he knew that that singular fact would always remind Nancy of her love and she may never forget the villain enough to trust and love another. Though it was not his business if she did not.

She had not told him what had really transpired but she didn't need to. He could deduce it all.

He had sworn off women and so could not encourage this attraction. It had no future at all. He was not ready to go into a relationship where the feelings was not mutual. He had done that in the past and it had nearly destroyed him. Not anymore. So this attraction won't be encouraged at all.

Therefore to ensure that does not happen, he decided to go to a luncheon with Phoebe and thank goodness he found her.

'You are not happy about the fact that I am still around? You do not have to be afraid or think that I have become clingy. I just wanted to get to know your secretary better. So I went to have a chat with her. As a matter of fact, I am just from her quarters. I hadn't expected to see you. I thought you went out with some friends'. She said trying to dispel any suspicion he may have about her.

'Oh, I wasn't thinking along those lines. How could you become clingy when you can have your pick of the men in your life and anyways, we have both been keeping our agreement to have a no strings attached relationship. No Phoebe, I was not thinking that', Jason said and Phoebe seethed but forced a smile to her lips.

Jason continued, 'I am glad you are getting to know Nancy better', Phoebe bit her tongue. She felt that she was going to explode if she heard that girl's name one more time but she kept the smile pasted on her face but it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep it up.

'I am happy though that you are still here because I had wanted to call you. I would like for you to accompany me to a luncheon. Would you like to be my companion or do you have other commitments?' he asked.

Phoebe could not believe her ears. It had been long that Jason had taken her out on any social gathering and he had not thrown any himself as well since that first time they met. This was indeed great news.

The smile that spread through her face was genuine this time.

'Of course!' she blurted out and thinking that she sounded too eager, amended, 'I shall not mind being your companion for the luncheon, if you are sure'.

'I am. Why else would I be asking you if I weren't? It is for tomorrow Sunday'.

'So soon, why hadn't you informed me earlier?

'What? You are already engaged for tomorrow?' he asked, thinking of calling up another female companions of his.

'Not exactly. I just thought you should have told me about this earlier so that I could get a befitting dress for the occasion'. She pouted.

Jason thought that women could not do without these things. They were all the same.

'It is not taking place early in the morning. It will take place around 2pm. Do you could get whatever you need from now till then. Come in and I'll make out a cheque out to you. It escaped my memory and I have just remembered about it because I met one of my acquitance who reminded me a d that is why I am back this early. Do come in for the cheque. I trust you to look your absolute best'.

Phoebe looked at the cheque Jason had made out to her for the dress to be worn to the luncheon and though the amount was beyond what she would have asked, it still did not impress her the way it had done at first. Now, she wanted it all and the way to get it was to become his wife.

The next day, Jason drove to Phoebe's apartment to take her to the luncheon.

She had on a clingy long red designer gown which had a heart shaped opening behind that ended just on her waist, leaving her back bare.

The dress was very daring because the sides of her breasts were not well covered as well. Her full breasts and voluptuous hips were accentuated.

She looked really ravishing and knew it but she still wanted to know what Jason thought of it and got her answer from the appreciative smile that spread through his face.

He held the door open for her and said as she got in, 'You look tempting'.

She smiled her thanks but said nothing. She had wanted to ask if she looked tempting enough to be more than a bed mate to him, to be something more permanent like a wife but she knew that she dared not say that if she wanted to continue to be close to Jason. She knew his type. He would just break up with her if he as much as suspected her intentions.

He went round to the driver side, got in and got the car started. He had asked his driver not to bother driving them to the perty. He wanted to drive himself.

They got to the venue of the luncheon and were welcomed by the people who were already there. It was being held in honour of a business associate based abroad and they were expecting him to make his appearance anytime soon.

Not long after their arrival, Mr. Kim Kwon came with his entourage. He was a Chinese tycoon who wanted to invest in alot of business ventures, Jason's company included.

Discussions were held and of course some men threw glances Phoebe's way.But it could not be compared to the jealous glances Phoebe got from the women who had wanted to be close to Jason but had not succeeded. Some didn't even care that he was there with someone. They still came to him, being too familiar with him and Phoebe had to endure it. Consoling herself with the fact that Jason had brought her and not them to the luncheon.

'Jason, it's so good to see you. It has been so long that you have come to see me'. One said to him.

'Cassandra, you are looking as lovely as always. I missed you too. It is just that I have been very busy with work'.

'If you had really missed me, you would have done something about it', Cassandra said looking at him with a suggestive smile.

'Eh, this here is my friend and companion, Phoebe. Phoebe,this is Cassandra, a very good friend of mine'. Jason said quickly. He wondered why women could not observe decorum when it was needed.

Phoebe who had pasted a smile on her face,making believe that she was not affected by their chatter, offered her hands gracefully.

'It's a pleasure meeting you, Cassandra', she said. The lady called Cassandra barely placed her hands in Phoebe's and removed it almost at once as though she was afraid of contracting any disease from her.

'Same here', she said not even looking at Phoebe but at Jason who was already looking round and waving at some friends who just got there.

'Excuse me ladies, I will be right back', he said moving away from them. All of a sudden,he was feeling sofocated. For some reason, he remembered Nancy and wondered what she was doing. He regretted not having brought her. Then he caught himself. The reason he had got closer to Phoebe was to try and get away from Nancy and the growing attraction he was beginning to feel for her. Yet here in the midst of all these beautiful ladies and his beautiful companion for the evening who was willing to do anything with him,he was feeling lonely and thinking about the one person he was trying not to think about.

It was not going to be easy. He had got into the habit of asking the driver to stop Nancy off at the office while he came in layer or he left before she was ready,leaving the driver to bring her when she was ready.

Nancy had not made any comment and Jason felt that she had not realised that he was avoiding her.

They saw in the office of course and sometimes he brought her home but at other times, he gave one excuse or the other not to drive home with her.

But right now, he wished it was Nancy that had come with him to the luncheon and he could not understand the reason for the feeling. He may find her attractive inside and out. She was different from these women who cluster round him like vampires but she was pregnant with another man's child and though the fool had abandoned her, she may still have feelings for the rascal and the stupid man may come back into her life and then what would he do then?

The best thing to do was to keep his distance and see how things play out.

He walked into the open just to be alone but someone touched his shoulder from behind and he nearly screamed.

'Would these women not allow him a little rest?' he thought to himself in anguish.

He fixed a smile on his lips and turned round and indeed it was another woman but not any he had expected to see.

He was shocked to the bones as he stared at her face. Was he hallucinating?

He turned back, blinked before turning round again to make sure he was seeing the person he thought he was seeing.

The apparition was still standing before him. It was true then and not just the figment of his imagination.

'Good evening, Jason dear, how are you doing?'

Jason looked into the lovely blue eyes of his ex wife.

He still could not believe that he was seeing her. What was she doing here? He had thought that she would be travelling round the world with her husband Terry, enjoying herself and having the time of her life.

He looked round thinking that Terry must be somewhere behind but there was no one.

'Jason, I know that this must have come as a surprise to you, I mean seeing me again and here of all places, but that does not mean that you should not respond to my greetings now does it?' She asked smiling.

That smile had always been able to do things to his system. And he felt the smile drawing his close.

Rebecca was a really beautiful woman with a spell binding shape but why not, she had been a model when he had met and fallen in love with her.

He looked her up and down and Rebecca was glad she had worn the dress she had bought specially for this occasion and that she was looking her absolute best.She had known Jason would be here. He had confirmed from one of her friends and had come prepared to win him back or seduce him back into her life. She had realised that she could not find any that really loved her as much as Jason had done, even to the point of foolishness and extravagance.

His reaction flattered her. She had kept tabs on him and knew that he had not remarried since she left him.

He liked what he saw. Rebecca had not changed one single bit. She was looking even more beautiful and captivating and he knew that he not nearly as immune to her as he had thought.

'Rebecca, is that really you? You are looking really good. You are right you took me by surprise. I was not expecting to see you here, so pardon my bad manners.

How are you doing?'

'Very well thank you. And you do not have to apologise. I realise that I must have to taken you unawares and the shock of seeing me again must have made you speechless but that's okay, you have found your voice now and that's a good thing.I have always loved your deep masculine voice which grew deeper when we are alone in a loving embrace', she said smiling slyly.

Jason was disgusted. This fool would never change. She was coming on to him when she had left him and married his best friend? This was unbelievable. Was this how she had been carrying on behind Terry's back? He felt pity for the poor man stir in his heart and any attraction he had felt at seeing her after she had eloped with his best friend died instantly.

He immediately diverted her from whatever else she had been about to say by asking a question that he had wanted to ask since setting eyes on her.

'Where is your husband?'

'My husband? What do you mean,?' she asked perplexed.

'What do you mean? You got me to divorce so that you could get married to Terry who you loved so much, didn't you? Where is he?'

'You are mistaken. I could not have got put of one marriage only to get trapped into another. I loved Terry but I loved my freedom more and I was never going to get that freedom with you. So I got you to divorce me'.

Jason could not believe what he was hearing. He had obviously been mistaken. It was typical of Rebecca to think only of herself. He was sure that Terry had taken that step with the intension of making Rebecca his wife but must have been disappointed.

Not that it concerned him but he was curious to know where Terry was. But before he could ask Rebecca, someone interrupted.

'There you are Jason darling, I have been wondering where you had gone off to', Phoebe asked placing a hand possessively on his shoulder.

He did not mind one tiny bit that she was being possessive. Rebecca had to know that she no longer have a place in his life.

'Phoebe love, I had wanted to get away from a few of my friends and you were busy speaking to that lady so, I thought that I would come here. But if you are done, we can go home'. he said, linking her arm with his.

'So fast? Won't you at least introduce me to your companion?' Rebecca asked.

'Oh, Phoebe, meet my ex-wife Rebecca. Rebecca, Phoebe is a very close friend of mine'. Jason said.

Rebecca noted the linked arms and his use of close friend. She knew that she had no right over him anymore and she could not claim to love him but she still felt slighted. She was not used to that. She was always the centre of attention but she was willing to let this slide.

Both women shook hands, each assessing the other, Rebecca smiled smugly because she felt that this Phoebe lady was no match for her own ravishing beauty and class. And if Jason really cared for her as he was trying to show, then he would have been with her, being possessive and would never have left her to be alone here. It showed her their type of relationship and that she had nothing to be afraid of from the girl.

Phoebe thought that she had Nancy to contend with and now this beauty had come. Was she going to have to contend with her for Jason's attentions and affections too? And this woman had an edge because Jason had loved her intensely and had been devastated when she had left him. He may still be in love with her and with her looks and shape, who can blame him?

'Alright see you around Rebecca and please extend my greetings to Terry', Jason said pulling Phoebe away towards the party where they said their farewells and left.

All through the trip home, they were both silent. Phoebe had hoped that Jason would say something about his wife but he had kept silent and as much as she wanted to ask questions to satisfy her curiosity, she kept silent as well.

One moment there when he had called her his love, she had got a swollen head,thinking that he was beginning to feel more towards her but when he had introduced that woman as his ex wife, she realised he was just using her to make Rebecca jealous.

What did that tell her? That he was still in love with his ex wife? She hoped not because she did not want that kind of complication and why did the woman have to come back now?'

Author's note:

Dear readers,

I am honoured that you find my books worthy of your time. I shall try to endure that you are not disappointed.

Thank you so much for your patronage and compliments of the season.