Nancy kept looking at him from under her eye lashes as she ate and drank her tea. She had had a dislike for coffee since she became pregnant.

'Nancy, I will not say that I am sorry for last night because I am not and do t tell me you were offering me comfort. We both know that isn't true.

It may have been true the previous time but not now. We have to talk about this thing between us' he started.

'Jason, there is nothing between us. It must have been a moment of weakness but that was all there was to it' she said quickly.

'Is it really? Can you sincerely say that you felt nothing when I held you in my arms in the pool last night?'

'Like I say, it was just a moment of weakness. Everybody has it but one must not take advantage of it. I was vulnerable last night. It was just my vulnerability acting. Nothing else. So, let's not make a mountain out of a mole hill', she said smiling to soften her harsh words.

'Then can you explain to me, your words about not wanting to be a play thing for a billionaire like me?'

'It was said at the heat of the moment but that is very true. I would not want to be the play thing to any man. I have had enough of that from my previous encounter to last me a lifetime', she said her voice trembling.

Jason heard the hurt in her voice and wanted to throw something at the man who had done this to her.

'Tell me about it', he requested.

'We had to get going to work, else we shall be late', she said.

'I'm sure we can spare a few minutes',

'Well, I can't ecause I am still an employee and not the owner and a few minutes would not cover it. It is a long story'.

'Do you promise then, to tell me when we get back home? ' he asked not wanting to let her off the hook easily.

When she hesitated, he said, 'But that is what friends are for. I am your boss but I confided in you as your friend when you asked me to. Well, it is your turn. A problem shared is solved or half solved already'

Nancy considered this. She did not know if she was ready to share this with a to e. She had not even shared it with Anna at the office and now sharing it with a man, and her boss too? Would he not think less of her when he heard the story of her gullibility? And that was what she did not want.

Why his opinion of her should matter, she did not know and did not want to delve into the reason at the moment but she found that it did matter, very much.

'I shall make no such promise about tonight but I promise to tell you when I am ready'. she said eventually.

Jason wanted to pursue the issue but decided against it. She was right. She would confide in him when she was ready and he knew that he would be waiting.

'About us?"

'There is no us, Jason. There could never be us.I am carrying another man's child and you have your lady friends and your ex wife is now in the picture as well. Let us forget that last night ever happened!' she said and it pained her to say those words be ause it had meant so much to her. Much more than she was willing to admit even to herself.

'I am promising you that you are not going to be a toy to me', he said seriously, 'and I do not mind your pregnancy'.

'Of course you will not mind until you get what you want out of me. Then you will remember that I am a used object and not fit for your attentions.But I am much wiser now.I will not be made a fool of by anyone anymore', she thought to herself bitterly.

But said aloud, 'You don't mind it now but what about later? And what kind of relationship would we have?' When he did not say anything, she felt sad knowing that she had been right all along but not wanting him to see how his silence had hurt her.Instead,she continued as though she had not waited for or expected any answer to her question,'Tongues will wag and I cannot compromise myself again. We are worlds apart. We are two parallel lines that cannot meet. Let's not go into a relationship that would hurt either of us again. You may have the heart to endure that but I do not think that I do. We are mature adults,we can control our emotions. Then let's do it.Control our emotions, that is! I shall get my hand bag so that we can get going.We are late as it is', she stood up hastily. She could feel the tears coming on. And did not want to break down in front of him. Why did she not meet him before her wretched boyfriend. Now, she had no faith in any man. She wanted desperately to be with him and it really surprised her to find that out but she would not allow herself to make that mistake again.

After the birth of her child, she would get I to a relationship with any ordinary man who would appreciate her and not thing that she was an object he could purchase with his money.

Jason felt there was no need arguing about it since she felt this way and he had no answer when she had asked what kind of relationship he wanted to have with her.

He had not thought that far. And he was not sure he wanted permanence just yet but he was ready to make sure that she and her child did not lack for anything.

But he had a feeling that that might not be what she wanted and he could not give her that which she wanted from him. Not yet anyway.

The drive to the office was a silent one and when they got there,she didn't wit for him to open her door for her but got out by herself and hurried into the building to start the day's work. Afterall that was what she was there for and not for encouraging impossible dreams like being the wife of the Lord of the manor.

She laughed bitterly at herself at the thought. How had she allowed herself to have fallen in love with Jason Campbell? Because she could not deny it. It had happened gradually that she had not known it was happening. She was a bigger fool than she gave herself credit for.

Phoebe had thought that what she would have with the stranger was going to be a one night stand and what a night that had been.

She was glad when she found him gone the next morning but later started missing him. He really had so much stamina.

He reminded her of her ex lover Richard, she thought again. She did not know why she could not seem to stop thinking about Richard.

She got up and washed up. Then as she prepared to go out, she found a note under her door.

She picked the note and read it.

It read:

Phoebe love,

I have wondered what became of you since the last time we saw.

The manner in which we parted did not please me at all. Afterall, we have known since forever.

If we were no longer going to be lovers, at least we could be friends.

Meet me at the pub behind the Catholic church.

And before you refuse, I have information that you would not want me to leak. I saw you in the celebrity column of a popular magazine with a renowned personality. Your name was linked to his. I just have a few questions I would like to ask.

See you there at 7pm.

Your love,

Rich.

Richard! How had he traced her to this place? She had thought that she would never hear from him again. Now this. She knew that all his talk of being friends was just superficial. He just wanted to blackmail her. Now that he knew that she was having a thing with Jason, the billionaire, he would want to blackmail her.

Why had she not thought about the possibil of Richard seeing her photo in a magazine when she had decided to go out with Jason but for how long was she going to keep hiding? Afterall,she had not done any evil or something to be ashamed of.

If anything, it was Richard who should be ashamed. He had committed so many atrocities but the society would not frown too much at his behaviour but would at hers.

How was she going to see him now and how would she respond to his demands if he was there for blackmail as she was suspecting.

She left at the appointed time to meet with Richard.

'Hello, pretty!'

'Richard, I do not have time for any pleasantries. Say what you have to say and let me leave', she responded cutting Richard's greeting short.

'Ho oh, not so fast. You have not seen me for a while and you say it isn't ideal for us to exchange pleasantries? Where are you learning this? From the company you have been keeping?'

'You are not fit to buckle the sandals of the company I have been keeping lately. So let's not go there. What information do you say you have for me?'

'I thought that perhaps you will take me to your house and shoe me some hospitality before we say anything. You know that I have missed you terribly'.

Phoebe felt that Richard must have totally lost it. How did he think that she would want to have anything intimate to do with him?

As though reading her thoughts, He said, 'I know that I hurt you terribly and you may not want to forgive me but I have never forgotten about you. No woman is quite like you, you know. None of them could take care of me the way you did. Do you suppose we could get back together?'

Phoebe was sure now that he had gone totally berserk.

It must have shown in her eyes for he laughed hysterically.

'Oh don't worry. You cannot blame a guy for trying, you know. I know that you are now moving in higher circles. So you might not want to give the likes of us the time of day. But you will have to pay for the luxury you are enjoying now. How serious is this Campbell man? Do you foresee marriage in the picture in the future?' he asked looking at her seriously.

,'What has all this got to do with anything?'

'A lot. A lot my dear Phoebe. You have climbed high in life and your circle of friends have changed but you have forgotten all about me and by the way, do you still remember Carol your friend who was instrumental to breaking us apart? She is now married to one young man's.

'Yes I know. She got married to Palmer. Palmer is one of the men who rescued her from your evil plot to degrade her. I was present at the wedding and Carol and I have kept in touch. You need not bother yourself about that's, she said impatiently.

'Lets get back to this Campbell guy. I learnt that his wife left him but that she is back now and your competition is higher now, isn't that right?'

'You seem so we'll informed. So why do you need any confirmation from me?'

'You know it is because I know what your intentions are. And if my guess is wrong, then you are foolish not to set your cap on him'. Richard said smiling.

She looked at him in surprise, not knowing what to make of his statement. He was confusing her. First he said something about her going to pay for riding in high circles and now he was telling her that she would be a fool not to do just that.

Richard looked at her and found that her confusion was bringing him great merriment.

But time for business.

'Since you would want nothing to exist between us anymore, You will have to pay me off. Whether you end up marrying the Jason guy or not is your business. But you will have to give me two million dollars to keep my mouth shut about what I know of you and another two hundred to say goodbye to me and all that we shared'.

Phoebe could not believe her ears. The guy has lost it totally it would seem. How was she going to get such an amount of money?

She knew she could raise it if she decided to task her wealthy lovers but she liked doing her things in a subtle manner. This would seem like enforcing her demands.

'And what exactly is it you know about me that is worth such an amount of money?'

'Oh, you don't want to know. I assure you.

Have you forgotten how we lived together and you decided that I was not rich enough and you started dating your married boss because of his money and when I found out about you, you decided to jilt me but unfortunately for you, your boss' wife hot wind of your affair and it caused so much of a scandal that if you had not run away to Lake District, it would have made headlines and once the wife knows you are here, it is possible she would bring the fight here to you and it would spoil the image of those you are currently having an affair with. And if they happen to be married men, I can assure you that they would not want to be exposed and invite the wrath of their wives'.

Phoebe's mouth hung open. How had he twisted what had happened between them this way? And the way he said it, if it had not happened to her, she would have believed him. He sounded so convincing.

'You know that was not what happened!' she exclaimed.

'Yes, but who else but you know what the real truth is and I can assure you that I would be believed. The women will look at you as a threat and the men would not want anything that would endanger their marriage or reputation. So darling Phoebe, you had better make your choice.The money or I squeal what I know'.

Phoebe knew that he was speaking the truth and that no one would believe her especially with the way she had carried on since she came to this town. The women would want to protect their husbands from her and alot of them are married as Richard had rightly guessed. And the men would no longer hold her in high regard anymore if they had before and they would start avoiding her. And if that happened,where would she be?

She knew she could raise the money but raising to pay a villain like Richard for what she was innocent of was what was infuriating her. But she knew that she had to be wise about this and find a way to do away with him.

'You and I know that your claim is false but like you said,nobody else knows it. I do not have a commitment relationship with the man you want me to set my cap on or on any other, not that it is any of your business but that does not mean that I would want to be painted in a bad light before them.

I also do not have that kind of money and do not know how to go about raising it. Could you bring it down a bit? say like a million each? It would still be high but two million would be a bit easier raising than four million' she said,her brain running riot.

'That is the amount I want. I know Jason is not the only person you are having an affair with and he alone can afford to give you that amount and though it does not concern me how you raise the money, you can ask all the other men for money and come up with more than the amount I am demanding'.

'Okay. But you will have to give me time to raise the money. But how sure am I that you will not come back and blackmail me for more money?' she asked. She knew that that was exactly what he would do. He could not be trusted. Someone who could stoop as low as this to blackmail another for what she was innocent of and even before then, who had deceived gullible ladies who were desperate for love and attention, to having a relationship with him where he fed off them and depleted their resources. That kind of person was capable of alot of things and she had to be careful where he was concerned.

'What is going on in that little head of yours? Are you thinking of double crossing me? You better not think about it. Because it will spell doom for you' he threatened.

'I was racking my brains on how to raise such a huge sum of money. It is not easy you know and I have to devise means to that'. she said.

'That had better be the case, my darling because I shall be watching you and any wrong step, I shall not think twice about doing away with you. But in the meantime, we could have a good time together. Remember how it had always been between us?'

Phoebe had had enough. She felt nauseated.

'Richard, one thing at a time. Let me see how I can raise the money. You already have many female friends that satisfy your basic need and If I tell you that I am in the mood for such rubbish, I would be the liar of the century'. she said walking off.

'I give you four days. We shall meet here at same time after four days. Be ready by then'. he said and winked at her.

She just kept walking away because she felt so furious and bitter that she could have said or done what she would have regretted.

Phoebe got home with the intention of locking herself up in her room and crying her eyes out. Life had not been fair to her at all. Just when she thought that her lot was about to change, Jason's ex wife resurfaced. It would not have been a problem if he had shown any animosity towards her or if her relationship with him had been a committed one. Then she would have exercised full tights over him and hastened their wedding and Rebecca would have found that she was late in trying to come back into his life except she wanted to be the other woman.

That seemed not to be enough, Richard had also resurfaced with his selfish demands and threats.

How was she going to overcome this?

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she did not see the person sitting on her doorstep.

She nearly bumped into him but missed her step as she caught sight if a shadow on the doorstep too late but he caught her and she ended up in his arms.

He kissed her thoroughly before setting her on her feet again.

'You'd better be careful where you step'. he said smiling.

Phoebe looked flushed. She had not known who was kissing her but she had responded all the same because she had not cared. She had just wanted to escape the feeling of desperation that was eating her up. Though she may have instinctively known that it was the stranger with whom she had had a marvellous one night stand.

'Who has done this to you? Why are you so distracted and anxious?'

She wanted to hide the whole issue from him but she didn't have anyone to confide in and did not want to disturb Carol with her problems. Carol must have her own issues to deal with.

She burst into tears.

The stranger took the keys from her and opened the door and ushered her gently in before going in after her.

In the distance, a pair of eyes watched them go in together.

He sat her down and got her a glass of water.

'You cannot tell me it's nothing. What is the problem be ause I do not need to be a fortune teller to know that something has got you so worked up that you seem confused.

Phoebe looked at him and saw that he was really handsome or maybe it was just that she was seeing beauty everywhere Richard was not present. He had really polluted the night for her.

'It is just me ex boyfriend's, she started trying for a neutral tone.

'Yes, what about him?'

'You know it is really none of your business. Why are you so concerned?'

'I know we are just strangers to each other. But that does not mean that I like people maltreating women'.

'Says the guy who picked up a woman and spent the night with her though he didn't know a thing about her'.

The man looked at Phoebe for a long time.

'I am Romeo. What is yours?'

'I preferred it when you were just a nameless stranger to me, you know!'

'What exactly do you want? You just a caused me of taking you the other night without even knowing anything about you and here I am trying to remedy the situation and you are still objecting'.

Phoebe burst into tears. She did not know if it was her hormones a ting up or if she was reacting to her lot in life. If only Jason or some of the other single wealthy male friends she had could act half as concerned as this stranger she did not want to have anything to do with anymore, then she would be very happy and consider herself lucky indeed.

'He wants me to get him $4m to keep his mouth shut concerning what he knows about me'. she blurted.

'And what is his thing he knows about you that is worth such an outrageous sum of money?'

'He saw me linked with Jason Campbell in the papers and assumed that we were having a thing and if I didn't want him coming between us and ruining my reputation before him, then I would have to give him that amount'.

'I know that it is none of my business but are you romantically involved with the man? Jason, I mean?'

'We are in an open relationship. Each of us is free to have other partners or see other people if we so desire. He has been weary of women since he broke off with his wife who eloped with his best friend. So he does not want any attachments'.

'But you would have wanted your relationship with him to be different, more involved!' he stated in a matter of fact manner.

Phoebe looked at him shocked. How had he been able to read her so effortlessly?

'I can see that you are surprised. Don't be. I have been with you for just a night but I could tell that you are not a bad sort at all. So, he does not want any attachments' but you want it but you would rather be with him till he realizes that he wants you for more than sexual gratification but for keeps?

There is a danger in it because he may still be secretly in love with his ex wife and if she comes back, then you will have wasted your time.

Secondly, he may already have someone else in mind. Though if that is the case, he would have stopped seeing you. Because a man who loves another would want to be with his love always and with no other especially if the love is strong and if it is novel.

But you have to be careful. If he does not love you till now, what is the probability he would love you later? And do you love him or the idea of being with him?'

'Not that it is any business of yours but I do not love him but I would like to be his wife'.

'And what plans are you making towards that?'

'I had thought of something but his ex wife suddenly resurfaced and the way he acted was as though he still had feelings for him. I had just come from a date with him the night I met you, where he met his ex wife again after their divorce and I was really sad and broken by what I felt was his residual feelings for her. He should despise her for what she had done. There should be no soft spot left in him for her'.

'Are you sure you have not fallen in love with this Jason guy? Because you sound very much like a woman in love'.

he said looking at her broodingly.

'I am not in love with him. I am just frustrated. All my plans seem not to be working and now, my villain ex boyfriend is blackmailing me!'

'That was why I needed to know if you are in love with Jason or not because if you are not, then what ever the fool wants to reveal should not affect you'.