DISCLAIMER: I still own jack shit, I did buy a doughnut this morning but I got peckish.
AUTHORS NOTE:I thank phi4858 once again for reviewing, you opinion is always a welcome one, cheers.
O
Valencia, Spain (still)
Adan Delgado smiled broadly at her as he took her hand and kissed it. His gaze never quite reaching her face.
"Always a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman, Miss Phillips" His eyes met hers in a way he must have thought seductive, She smiled knowingly, this was a game she exiled at.
"The pleasure is mine Mr. Delgado, This is a fabulous place. I can see why it is so close to you heart." Sydney purred in mock admiration. She caught a brief glance of Brookes rolling his eyes.
"Oh where are my manners…" She laughed lightly placing a flirtatious hand on Delgado's arm. "…This is Jonathan Turner, My…Colleague." She gestured to Brookes dismissively.
"Mr. Turner" He offered an outstretched hand to Brookes, Who shook it and nodded back as way of bored greeting. They instantly came to the silent agreement that neither liked the other.
Sydney smiled linking her arm through Delgado's and steering him away. Leaving Brookes to id the possible buyer.
"You really must show me some more of this place of yours"
She pressed herself closer to him as they moved towards the stairs and away from the idle crowds of chattering people.
She doesn't like the building at all it is cold and sterile and far too modern to have any sort of soul. It reminds her of her high school for a reason she can't explain, but it's cooler on the stairs without the press of pretentious strangers.
"Is Mr. turner not interested in the tour as well?" He asked politely but the question is leading. She had purposely given him the impression that her and Brookes where more than colleagues, the fact that they had brought their own repressive tension with them making it easy to believe.
"Mr. turner doesn't appreciate the beauty that is before him." She remarked coldly earning herself a raised eyebrow from her host.
"Seems not" He replies so sure of himself. She had done her research. Delgado is an incorrigible womanizer, and she knew she would find her opportunity by exploiting the fact.
"I'm sorry could you excuse me" She tripped over the words subtly feigning distress in her voice she headed for the closest exit. It was a gamble, he may not follow her out into the cold night, but if he didn't there was always plan b.
He did follow her appearing beside her only moments after she'd left him.
"Shit" She rummaged through her bag angrily. She met his curious gaze. "Picked the wrong week to give up smoking," She explained lightly wiping crocodile tears from her eyes.
He Put his hand into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out the small beautifully crafted cigarette case she had been hoping for and offered her one.
She took one gratefully; He took one himself and lit both. She drew in a deep lungful, reaching out for his hand as he moved to put away the case.
"Do you mind?" She asked running her hand lightly over the exquisite silver case. Her fingers lingering over his a bit more than necessary.
He handed it to her without question watching as she examined it with interest.
"I'm sorry for running out on you, Jonathan and I were…close for awhile and working with him is trying sometimes."
"He's married?" It wasn't really a question, Brookes had been wearing a wedding band, his own.
"Yes, but it other things that get in the way". She smiled, in the brief period that he had looked up at her she had palmed the case and replaced it with the perfect duplicate that Francis had modified, She handed it back casually and drew another deep lungful of the damaging smoke.
She hadn't smoked for a long time but she could tolerate it.
She finished and stubbed it out with her two thousand dollar crocodile Avila Salvatore Ferragamo's.
"It's cold out here"She stated simply glancing back at Delgado whom she seemed to have disturbed checking out her form with great interest. She raised one elegant eyebrow and smiled leaving him staring after her.
"Okay got it "she hissed over comms.
"I'm heading to you Syd, no sign of a buyer here" Brookes replied swiftly.
She heard heavy footfalls of someone lightly running up the hallway towards her and felt fight or flight tension course through her now taut body, It was the wrong direction for brookes it had to be Delgado, had he realized she'd made the switch.
She was on the verge of running, when he rounded the corner meeting her stare intently.
"Miss Phillips, I'm very sorry but I have a meeting to attend to maybe we could arrange a tour for another time" She felt the tension dissolve from her.
"That would be lovely lunch tomorrow perhaps at my hotel…to discuss Phillips international's donation, then we can discuss a tour as well" She knew he would immediately take it to be an invitation for more than lunch. She was eager to get away from here, everything was going to well, and she was always waiting for a sting in the tail on such straightforward assignments.
"Ahh, Lisa there you are? "Brookes eyed Delgado warningly, Delgado instantly removing the hand placed lightly in the small of Sydney's back.
"Jonathan" She sighed as if the interruption was unwelcome.
"It was a pleasure Mr. Delgado, I look forward to our meeting tomorrow" she smiled warmly not unaware of the smirk Delgado shot at Brookes. She handed him a small white business card.
"My cell is on the back" She lent forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
She left him staring after her as she strolled away. Brookes shot her a questioning look as she passed and she casually blew him a kiss.
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Okay not one hundred percent sure of this chapter, doesn't have enough tension for my liking. So please let me know what you think. (Looking at you with big puppy dog eyes, please review).
In case anyone is wondering plan b is always the same. Kick their arse, take their stuff and scarper.
:) Raven.