Chapter 5

"And I should do that because...?," Cole asked.

Phoebe scowled. "Just do as I say!"

Cole takes a seat on her chair. "I don't know... it seems like you're the desperate one now"

The intercom buzzed. "Emm.. Kate? Tate is still out here..."

"Hold on, I'm coming out, Anna," Phoebe said then turns and scowl at Cole. "Would you please hurry up and play along?"

"What's in it for me?," Cole was flicking through a magazine, evidently not in the least interested about her situation.

"Do you want the contract anot? Do as I say, and you'll get it!," Phoebe swallowed hard. There goes her plan to keep him dangling..

Cole looked up and suddenly grinned. "Now, that's what I like to hear". He holds out his hand. "Let's shake on it".

She shook on it while thinking of evil things to torture him with.


"Tate, how nice to see you again," Phoebe said smiling. "What can I do for you today?"

Tate smiles. "Naughty Phoebe, what else? I'm taking you out for a date...". He stopped when he's eyes went larger as he saw Cole coming out of the room after her. His eyes went larger as Cole circles his arm around her waist. "Phoebe.."

Phoebe laughs. "Sorry Tate dear, you've caught me at a wrong time," she turns to hug Cole closer, "me and.. Cole are going out now"

They went in the elevator, leaving Tate's mouth gaping open. Once the elevator close, Phoebe quickly pull away from Cole. "I'm not given to public displays of affection, so I appreciate if you don't touch me"

He managed an expression of almost childlike innocence. "What? I'm not doing anything wrong. You're the one who told me to pretend to be your boyfriend"

Subdued, she rubbed her fingertips over the headache forming in her temples. Her plan isn't working exactly the way she plan it. It's going one step closer to the drain. "Well, I'll see you at the auction then, bye bye". As she turn to go, Cole grabs her hand and turns her to face him.

"I thought we were going out for a date?," Cole asked.

Phoebe gaped at him. "Do you seriously think I'll go out with you? That was just for Tate's sake!"

"Well, I happen to take everything very seriously, come on!," he drag her towards the parking lot.

"Cole! I don't want to go out with you!," Phoebe said angrily. "I have more important things to do than sitting down with you and staring goo-goo eyes at each other!"

He remain quiet as he took her to a dark Mercedes. He opened the door for her and bowed. "My lady, the car awaits you.."

Phoebe snort and step inside the car. After a drive in almost complete silence, they pulled up outside a small Italian restaurant with the sort of expensive cars outside that predicted a bijou menu with astronomical prices. She wasn't disappointed. The head waiter showed them to a table, one of only still unoccupied, with the sort of smiling subservience which Cole accepted virtually as his due. He also appeared to be known there, because as soon as they were seated out wafted a tall, well-groomed man-the owner, it transpired-who made jovial conversation with him for a few minutes and tentatively tried to arrange a game of squash, to which suggestion Cole replied that only his secretary could fix dates like that.

"My life is not my own," Cole said ruefully. "I virtually have to consult my office diary to find out whether I can have a bath!"

"Good to see that you still find the time to wine and dine a charming female, however," the man, introduced as Alessio, said. He turned to Phoebe and flashed her a smile which coming from anyone else would have seemed slightly offensive and patronizing, but it was so in character with the rest of him that she found herself smiling back.

"I'm afraid you've misread the situation," she corrected him, amused but anxious to dispel any picture he might have of her as Cole Turner's lucky dinner companion. "We're here just for dinner. We're just business acquaintance."

Alessio winked. "Whatever you say". He flashed both of them a brief, thoughtful glance before bustling off to his 'bubbling cauldrons', as he put it, and Cole turned to her with a look of amusement.

"I'm afraid I should point out that you've just my reputation down in flames," he said, picking up the menu and scanning it very quickly. He looked at her, and continued looking at her even while he beckoned the wine waiter across to the table and ordered a bottle of Italian white wine.

Phoebe smiles forcedly. "You should know by now Cole, I don't give a damn about your reputation"

After they ordered, she took a bread stick, broke it into half and ate it silently. They sat in silence for a few minutes. He huffed and made faces. She continues tearing the bread into small pieces. He finally stopped grumbling.

"Are you gonna stay quiet the entire dinner?"

"If I have to," Phoebe continued chewing.

The waiter sidled up with their starters, then sidled away again, and in between mouthfuls Cole remarked, that he was pleased that Phoebe has finally agreed to his contract.

"Yes, joyful," she said sarcastically, after they were done eating, she push away her half eaten plate in front her and linking her fingers on the table. She assumed an earnest expression. "Can I go home now?"

"We should discuss our contract," he commented, closing his knife and fork and relaxing back.

Phoebe stares at him. "I'll discuss it after the auction. I'm going to be very busy until the auction is over"

Cole stares at her silently until Phoebe started fidgeting. "What?"

"I... dunno.. you kinda remembers me of someone...," Cole squinted his eyes, thinking.

Phoebe paled. "You must be confusing me with someone. Let's go". She stood up. "I don't have time to play guessing games with you"

"Okay, okay," Cole paid the bill and they went towards the parking lot. Phoebe paused in mid-step. I can't let him take me home?! If not, he will know I'm Phoebe Haliwell! He knows where the Haliwell stays..

He turns to look at her questioningly. "Kate?"

An excuse Phoebe! An excuse! Anything will do! "Err... I.. could.. you take me to my office? I.. I've.. got some work.. to finish.., yes, I've got work to finish. So, if you could drop me at my office..?"

"Err.. okay," Cole said, looking at her weirdly. He drove her to the front of her company. He looks around. "Are you sure you can go in? It looks awfully dark.."

"You don't have to worry about me. Good night," as she turns to open the door, to her surprise, he leans over towards her, slips a hand under her hair and grasped the back of her head. His long fingers splayed holding her fast. Before she had time to protest, he kissed her.

His lips against hers shocked her to her toes. He held her head firmly and slipped his other arm around her waist. His kiss was tender, a sweet press of his closed mouth against hers. His warm, masculine, earthy scent overwhelmed her, flooding her body with erotic heat. She sighed in her throat and her mouth relaxed her lips parting.

He then pulled away, his heavy exhalation hot against her cheek. "Dream of me tonight, Kate"

Reality returned with a jolt. Phoebe noticed one of the night guard was looking openly at their car. She pulled away from Cole's embrace. Head high, cheeks burning, she quickly open the door and practically ran into the building.


"Phoebe, where have you been?," Piper asked. "You missed dinner"

"Whoa, something's wrong here," Paige warned. "Phoebe's blushing!"

Phoebe flush. "No I'm not!". She flops down on the couch. "Oh, today was a disaster! Cole came to my office today"

"That's not so bad"

"Tate decided to visit me today"

Both of her sisters flinched. "So what happen?," Paige asks.

"What was I to do? I see Tate everywhere! I think he's practically stalking me. Dating him was the most stupidest thing I've ever done.. besides thinking I was going to the prom with Cole..," Phoebe got up from the couch and started pacing the room. "I panic and... I ask Cole to act as my boyfriend till he got me out of the office"

"What!," both Piper and Paige shriek.

"And how did Cole agree to that?"

"Err.. I told him that I will agree to the contract. He took me out to dinner later," Phoebe sighs. And kissed me in the car..."There goes my plan to keep him dangling for the contract..."

"But.. he's not getting the contract anyway," Piper reminded her, "Remember the auction...?"

"Oh yes, the auction," Phoebe immediately cheers up. "Ooh boy, I'm going to enjoy Cole's reaction when he sees me bringing in the boss"