The Millionaire's 'Friend' - Natasha's Story

Chapter 17 - Dinner At Natasha's

Fortunately, by the time I wandered back to the Hutch, Helena had taken herself, and her huge pregnant belly, home. Thanks to his verbal attack, Evan had managed to pass his bad mood onto me. It was lucky Ziggy had joined Helena and left; otherwise I may have ended up saying something I'd regret.

I returned to the list of office things he'd left for me, but by half two I was going stir crazy. How on earth do people spend day after day sat in front of a computer screen? Booking deliveries and scheduling the rota was doing my head in. The only respite I received was a brief call from an overexcited Fliss.

"Have you seen it?" She asked as soon as I opened my phone, not even giving a second for a hello.

"Huh? Seen what?"

"The photograph. You're famous."

"Famous? Fliss are you still drunk?"

"Yes. I bet you are too the way you were knocking them back last night." I rolled my eyes. "But, drunk doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. Check your e-mail, I've just sent you something. Oh, sod it, here comes my boss, I'll buzz you later." And with that she hung up.

Instantly intrigued, I logged on to my account and was confronted by a sight that made my jaw hit the table. Fliss had e-mailed me a link to the entertainment section of The Guardian. Their busy webpage was crammed with little snippets of celeb news and pictures, but my eye had been immediately drawn by the section on last night's gala. But not just that, there was a picture that practically jumped off the screen at me. My heart was already pounding furiously as I stared, disbelieving, at myself.

It hardly looked like me, so out of character, all glamorous and sophisticated. But I certainly recognised Evan. He was looking gloriously sexy in that irritatingly effortless way he had. Below the full colour picture was a caption that read 'Off the market at last? Businessman Evan Cole enjoying the evening with a stunning mystery brunette.'

Despite being on my own in the room, I flushed in embarrassment. Stunning mystery brunette? Two out of the three were definitely true. But stunning? Me? Though, I couldn't deny the fact that on this evidence we made rather an attractive couple. We both looked so happy, gazing into each other's eyes and smiling heartily at something I couldn't even remember. Damn hangover.

I wondered if Evan had seen it? Would he look at me in this picture and realise that I could scrub up as well as any of the girls he's previously been pictured with. My cheeks flushed increasingly hotly at the direction my thoughts were taking. Then I suddenly reminded myself of the Evan I'd seen today.

Damn that man, how could he be so changeable? Last night he was incredible. A true gent - generous, relaxed, kind - basically great company.

Today he was a bastard.

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I could barely get Fliss off the phone as I made dinner that night. She had me give her a full run down of what had passed between Evan and I, and she was especially interested by the mysterious Anastacia. I knew she would be.

Finally, sick of talking about the evening, I made an excuse and hung up; only two seconds later she knocked at the door. Surely, if she was coming around for dinner, her gossiping could have waited till she arrived.

Stretching full length, I managed to keep my hand on the pan that I was nursing, and reached across to flip the chain off the door.

"It's open." I yelled, when she still didn't come in. Slowly the door opened, just wide enough for her to stand in the gap, but then she didn't come any further in.

"Fliss what ar......" Oh god.

Evan stood in the doorway, a wary look in his eyes, apologetic smile on his lips, and a giant spray of lilies in his arms.