Convenience

Part 76

Beatrice sighed loudly when she saw the two men walking toward them. Of course they must have seen her and seen that kiss! It was hard to summon an ounce of equilibrium. She gritted through her lips, "Perfect!" Her hands fisted as she fought for composure. She hoped she could still manage this situation. Unlikely! She refused to drop her gaze as she watched the two men move toward them. Beatrice managed to keep her voice steady, "Who are they?"

"Security." He said calmly, watching her reactions.

Beatrice frowned. Security? Why? She wondered. 

In the second of silence he scanned her from head to toe again. Had she forgotten her car? David scratched the back of his neck and added, " To unclamp your car, remember?"

But his sentence reminded her about her car and the fact that her car was clamped. She groaned. How could she have forgotten about her car? She folded her arms, tilted her chin and adopted a defiant stance. This was going from bad to worse!

Don and Ern walked down, slowly, toward Mr and Mrs Cardoso. Smiling. Uncertain smiles. Don had the keys. Ern had the release form, folded and in his pocket. David took the initiative and nodded at them. His eyes had taken on a less stormy countenance and shoved his hands in his pockets and watched his security guards.

Ern and Don increased their pace. As if this was normal. Unclamping their boss' wife's car! 

Time to release Mrs Cardoso's car. Before Mr Cardoso resumes kissing his wife!

David introduced the guards, Don and Ern, to Beatrice. Ern wondered whether he should give Mrs Cardoso the paper to sign. But he decided to wait, to see if Mr Cardoso would ask for the form.

"Sorry Mrs Cardoso, I am..." Don began to apologise, about the clamp, but Beatrice interrupted.

"Not your fault." She told Don. Beatrice rolled her eyes at David, muttering, "I know that Mr Cardoso told you to clamp my car!"

David smiled happily, and shrugged. Don was relieved. Job still intact, he thought. Ern was relieved. He didn't have to give Mrs Cardoso the release form, he thought. Mr Cardoso was happy.

Thankfully Don and Ern managed to avoid any problems in unclamping Beatrice's car. At least their jobs were safe. Her car was unclamped. No need to loiter, they thought. They both smiled at David and Beatrice, and Don and Ern moved fast, abandoned David and Beatrice, quickly.

Beatrice just scowled at them as the two security guards walked away. She nearly squeaked, "What about signing..." She sighed. This had better not be another farce! Another manoeuvre, she thought. Beatrice was going to be ultra careful after their last encounter.

Keep it light, he told himself. "Don't worry." David said. "It is sorted. The car was not damaged." He asked, "In anyway?" Knowing the answer. Beatrice shook her head. "So, it is sorted. Done." 

Beatrice pulled herself together. She bobbed her head again. Best to just move, fast. With her mind made up, she moved closer to her car.

He sauntered closer. "We need to talk." David knew, when he set his mind to something he tended to ensure he gave it his best shot.

Talk? She wondered. Was that good? She wondered again. Probably better to do that. Rather that revisiting that kiss on her journey to the hotel. Before she made a total idiot of herself. In any case, she was happy to talk about that Trust. And it would take her mind off that kiss. She chewed on her lips. Hardly ultra careful, she thought, before she nodded, "Ok, let's talk about the Trust?"

David planted his feet slightly wider than his hips, jammed his hands in his pockets and he corrected quietly, "Let's talk about that kiss!"

She nearly groaned. Well, that wasn't what she had expected to hear. Embarrassed. How could he kiss her, in front of people? People, they don't even know her, and yet David had the temerity to kiss her in public. But she knew, she had an option about that kiss. It was her decision.

David said firmly, "Now." He waited.

Silently she groaned again. She couldn't afford to keep making mistakes. She wished she'd just gone to her hotel. Without her car. Without waiting for him. Avoid all of this. 

Beatrice looked over to David and she scowled at him. He was standing in close proximity. Not good. She took an unsteady step back. "Not now." She pressed the key fob and her actions showed her feelings.

But David was not going to allow that. Time to pile on the pressure.