Chapter 3

Phoebe's hand shook so violently that the ice cubes in her glass clinked together. She turned slowly, trying to gather her scattered wits. She should be unconcerned and urbane, she reminded herself, as if what had happened between them had meant no more to her than it had to him. She forced her gaze upward past his white shirt and striped tie, to his humor-filled eyes. "It's a lovely party," she commented.

"Is that why you're hiding out here?," he ask and walked over to the wall, leaned his elbow on it and studied her in silence. He watched the breeze blowing her shimmering hair across her bare shoulders before he shifted his gaze back to her face. "So, have you missed me?"

"I'm sorry?," Phoebe's own eyes widened.

"So," he said with a smile, "you haven't missed me at all?"

"I've been busy," Phoebe replied, but her composure slipped a notch and she added, "And why should I miss you? You aren't the only willing and and available man in New York."

His dark brow flicked upward in amused speculation. "Is that your way of telling me that after breaking up with me, you've been...ah...adding to your experience?"

Dear God! He didn't even care if she'd gone out with other men.

"Now that you've had other men to use as a basis for comparison, how do I rate?" he teased.

"That's an adolescent question," Phoebe retorted scornfully.

"You're right. Let's go." Tossing down the remainder of his drink in one swallow, he put his glass on one of the tables, took hers and put it beside him then caught her hand. He twisted his wrist and laced his strong fingers through hers, and Phoebe was so giddily aware of his warm fingers firmly clasping hers that she didn't stop to think until he had started to lead her toward an unidentified door around the corner of the building. They didn't notice Ted who stop to stare at them with two glasses of punch he was holding.

When he reached out to open the door, sanity returned, and she drew back. "Cole, what do you think you're doing?"

Cole looked at her levelly. "Taking you to bed"

Phoebe stared at him. "You're kidding right? What makes you think I'll hop into bed with you after a few years?"

He turned and looked at her. "For a smart girl, that's a very stupid question."

Phoebe's temper exploded. "You are the most arrogant, egotistical...!" She stopped long enough to draw a steadying breath and said tightly, "I don't handle casual, indiscriminate sex, and what's more, I don't like people who can-people like you!"

"You liked me rather well a few years ago," he reminded her coolly.

Her color rose and her eyes blazed. "A few years ago I thought you were someone special!" she shot back angrily. "A few years ago, I didn't know you were a licentious millionaire playboy who changes beds as often as you change clothes. You're everything I despise in a man-you're unprincipled, promiscuous and morally corrupt! You're ruthless and selfish, and if I'd have known who you really were, I wouldn't have given you the time of day!"

Cole's eyes raked the tempestuous young beauty standing before him in all her scornful defiance. In a dangerously soft voice, he challenged, " First of all, I thought you were someone special for me too! I don't even know what I did to you, all I know is, you want to break off with me without even giving me an explanation! So don't tell tell me that I'm ruthless and selfish when you're merely describing yourself!"

She turned on him and strike him hard on the face. "You bastard!" Phoebe hissed. She spun around and nearly ran down the stairs. She was busy trying to find the exit, she collided Keith whom was standing in from of her.

"Whoa, slow down! Where do you think you're going," he joked but stop when she saw how pale she was, "Hey, I was just joking, what's wrong?"

"I have to go," she whispered, then looks up at Keith, her eyes shining with tears, "I have to go." she repeated.

Keith cursed to himself, wondering what the hell did Cole said to her. "Sure I'll take you back. I'll call my driver"

"You don't have to-"

"Phoebe, you're not fit to get back on your own, so just shut up and let me take you home"

***

The ceiling above Phoebe's bed was a shadowy void as dismal as her heart as she went over the parting scene with Cole. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she felt fury. But curiosity got to her. Why is Cole pretending as if he didn't understand what I told him? He obviously know she cheated on me with Patricia and have the nerve to ask me whether I've missed him! He had brought Patricia to the party, but he must have desired her more than he desired Patricia. Perhaps she'd been a fool not to go with him.

Furiously she rolled onto her stomach. Where was her pride and self-respect? How could she even consider having some fleeting, unprincipled libertine! She would not think of him anymore. She would put him out of her mind. Permanently!

Across town, Cole was thinking the exactly opposite from Phoebe's thoughts.