Convenience

Part 69

Beatrice emerged from the building and walked toward her car. She intended to leave her satchel in the boot and then head for a nearby cafe, have a cup of coffee, hail a taxi and head for her hotel. She would collect her car after business hours. And they had better had unclamped it by then! She was actually grinning.  What a day! She chuckled beneath her breath.

By the time she had placed her satchel in the boot and slammed her car boot shut, David had nearly reached her. Somehow she wasn't surprised to see him.

"Meeting over already?" She asked with sarcasm dripping from every word. She pressed the fob to lock the car as she walked toward him.

Simply David nodded. Good job that he was the boss: He hadn't worked today! Because of her! But he was tempted to smile. It wasn't often he was bested. And his wife was certainly coming close to achieving that feat.

"Good." Beatrice took a breath, "So you can arrange for my car to be unclamped." She knew from his face, that she was going to become flustered!

His lips twitched as he banked the urge to laugh at her high dudgeon. His wife would not take kindly to that.  So, instead he nodded."Of course." His eyes twinkled.  "Arranged that." He informed her calmly, but his lips quirked.

"Good." She nearly rolled her eyes.

"You'll have to hang around." David said calmly.

Beatrice shook her head instantly. She chewed on her lower lip as she fought to repress the words ready to emerge. Swearing at him would be far too revealing. Silence descended for a few seconds. David watched her battle with herself. Finally, Beatrice  told David, "I don't need to hang around!" Beatrice narrowed her gaze.

David  corrected her assumption, and lied, "The clamping company needs you to sign a document." Of course there was a document to sign, but she didn't have to sign anything. She was his wife!

"Why?" Beatrice huffed. And she did roll her eyes. Annoying man! 

David shrugged, waited a heartbeat or two and then explained, as if it was normal practice to unclamp a car in his car park! "To say the car is not damaged in anyway." He said matter of fact and watched her eyes as fury danced through. How could a woman change so much in five years, he wondered. Five years ago he'd seen no strength or passion in her. Not a scrap of it. Not at their wedding. Not at the two funerals. Not in any of their limited conversations. Five years later and practically every meeting they'd had in the last few weeks he saw a passionate and strong willed woman.

Her temper escaped from her leash as she stormed and hissed indignantly at him, "You sign it!"

David nearly chuckled. He liked watched her emotions in her eyes. "Can't." David said without hesitation. He lifted his shoulders. "I own the car park." He pointed out, "Conflict of interests." He smiled. "You understand." A broad grin on his lips.

She had actually felt her heart skip when she saw that smile. Her heart refused to cooperate with her mind. It was thudding in earnest at the thought of spending time with him! Despite the fact she was cross! Really cross! She swallowed. "I promise not to sue you for damages." Beatrice countered.

David wiped a palm down his face, in an attempt to cover his chuckle. "Pleased to hear it." He nodded, then added, "Now, if you wouldn't mind waiting a few minutes, we will arrange for your car to be released." With a huge smile he said, "You can sign."

Enough. Beatrice had enough of these games today. Beatrice drew herself up to her full five foot eight inches height, narrowed her gaze at her aggravating, temporary husband and said, "Have I given you any reason to believe that I am the type to be easily manipulated?" Practically vibrating with temper, even if her words were even and low. At least now, her mind was in charge.

David folded his arms and shook his head. Though to be fair, had he been asked that question five years ago his response would have been in the affirmative! Now however, he knew for a fact she was not easy to manoeuvre. No matter what the pressure was. She'd all but ignored a letter from his solicitor threatening to take half of everything she owned. Given Elsa's tone, Beatrice had run rings around Elsa. And given the fact that he was standing in his car park in the middle of Friday afternoon attempting to stall his wife from leaving, suggested she was better than him at manipulative strategies.