Episode 2:

Sitting behind the desk at the hub of his newly acquired asset Gavin Cochran ran a hand over his newly shaved chin, after that period in jail and that debacle with his backstabbing solicitor he had felt the need for a change in image but even so it was still taking some getting used to; but of course it did have it's plus sides the incident in this building's very own lift had more than confirmed that. Resisting a chuckle Gavin sat back in his chair his thoughts once more returning to the enigma that was Meredith Gates.

There was undeniable chemistry there after all they had slept together within half a hour of meeting then there had been the restaurant where they had barely made it through the first course before the urge to dash off to the nearest hotel had overwhelmed them. That night had been one of the most satisfying and titillating experiences of his life and he was sure it had been for her as well, so why had she left without waking him? It was not an easy thing for a man in his position to admit, but he had been outfoxed by that woman, and it had been more than a slight dent to his pride that he had woken to an empty bed the next morning, no note, no sign that she had been there at all save the dent from her head on the pillow next to him.

For days he had considered calling her, but each time his pride had stopped him after all what right had she to treat him like that, didn't she realise who he was.... But it wasn't long before he came to realise that it was her lack of deference and fear and her ballsy attitude that made her so attractive to him.

Suddenly there was a sharp knock on the door and Gavin's right hand man Danny came waltzing in, the crisp tailoring of his Armani suit emphasising his broad shoulders and his dark hair slicked back into a pony tail, he looked good but the trouble was Gavin thought was he knew it. Coming into his office without waiting to be asked was just another sign; Danny was getting far too cocky for his own good and mores the pity he hadn't the brain to realise it!. Gavin on the other hand was far from stupid and was as meticulous as his psychological profile had made him out to be, like a master chessman he sized up the strengths and weaknesses of each and every opponent strategically manoeuvring his pieces to cut off every avenue of escape before moving in with the big guns for the kill.

"Hey Boss!" Danny greeted far too casually for Gavin's liking. "We got that artist chappy downstairs still, he keeps saying he won't leave till he sees you, we've tried telling him nicely and all but still the schmuck stays put, do you want us to take care of it properly this time?" Danny asked thuggishly pounding a clenched fist into his open palm, so as to emphasise his point.

"What did he want again?" Gavin asked distractedly.

"Something about wanting your help with some other gallery apparently they are refusing to release him from a long term exclusive contract and he wants you to help persuade them, like we're suddenly the Samaritans or something?" Danny replied, snorting at the irony and his own pathetic joke. "So you want me to deal with it? I'm sure the boys would like the exercise I mean since you've been out there's not been the usual..." Danny began shooting his mouth off, a blatant look of disapproval on his face.

"Not been the usual what? Bouts of thuggish behaviour, I told you before and I'll tell you again, it's too hot at the moment to pull anything so obviously illegal, there is nothing that DCI would like better than to catch us with our proverbial pants down so she has the excuse to bundle me back to jail!" Gavin retorted tersely. "Why don't you let me deal with things my way? Send him up I'll give him five minutes of my valuable time!"

"Sure thing." Danny replied, moving towards the door, slowly shaking his head he had never though he would see that day when the legendry Gavin Cochrane would turn away the chance to show his muscle, if he kept this up he risked alienating his entire operation. As he reached the door Danny had to smother a smile, but then again surely that would leave the way clear for a little internal reorganisation?

Meanwhile the other side of London a jet touched down skimming gently over the tarmac as it delivered its special cargo home. A few minutes later and Meredith Gates was fast tracked through customs to supervise the unloading of her new prize piece for her gallery, it had taken days of haggling but she had thrown herself into the task; if anything it had been a welcome excuse to escape the country. She had made her decision it had only been a one time fling, only sex, there couldn't be anything more to it! But even so at the back of her mind niggled a small seed of doubt, if it meant nothing then why had she found the need to place an entire ocean between them?

(Cut back to office)

"So Mr Montague what exactly do you want from me?" Gavin asked amiable as he surveyed the nervous young man who fidgeted in the seat in front of him.

"I explained all that in my letter to Mr Brady.. and then to your associates..." Will Montague began shakily, his nervousness only increasing as the new gallery owner continued to stare at him in that intense unflinching way that made him feel like he could see inside his head.

"Perhaps but I want to hear it from you...I mean I am hardly a lawyer how do you expect me to help you, and more to the point why should I?" Gavin asked smiling as he toyed with the young man in front of him, he was obviously harmless, perhaps a little highly strung but then most of these artistic types were.

"Well its like this a year or so ago I stupidly entered into an exclusive contract that bound me to one gallery for five years, it seemed like a good deal at the time I would get a basic yearly living allowance in exchange for exclusivity and a higher commission rate for the gallery. I mean what new artist wouldn't jump at the chance a prestigious London gallery offering to support you and promote your work and for a while everything was going well, and sales and interest in my work were really taking off...."

"This is all fascinating!" Gavin cut in. "But what exactly does any of it have to do with me?"

"I was getting to that!" Will snapped angrily before catching the warning look in Gavin's eyes. "I'm sorry it's just I can't go on like this..." Will added running his fingers through his mid length greasy looking hair in desperation. "You're my last hope, I've approached dealer after dealer to help me out and all have refused, no one wants to take her on, but she's destroying me...."

"Who is?" Gavin retorted interest suddenly piqued.

"That satanic bitch Meredith Gates." Will retorted venomously. "I mean at first she's all charm and I mean you only have to look at her to see how most men would be putty in her hands, and she's not afraid to use any means to get what she wants...One minute you're her flavour of the month then suddenly she's bored of you and throws you out like last week's garbage! But if it isn't enough she chewed me up and spat me out she's determined to destroy me professionally as well, she's removed my paintings from her gallery and refuses to take more, and I can't sell to anyone else because of that god forsaken contract you're my only hope!"

Smiling as he sank down into his chair, Gavin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, perhaps this was the excuse he was looking for, either that or it would prove a satisfying way of getting even, either way the choice would be down to her... Glancing up he caught the young artist's eye. "Mr Montague I believe I may be able to help you after all, just leave it with me will you?"...

Later that day Meredith finally made it back to her gallery escorted by a sizable security force that would make have made even the most desperate thief nervous, anxious to escape to the relative privacy of her office whilst her minions carried out the tasks she paid them for, she strode past her assistant with barely a nod of acknowledgement. However as she marched into the room she stopped dead at the sight, glancing over to her desk she could barely make out the desktop as every available inch had been covered in arrangements of roses in a veritable rainbow of colours. Backing out of the room she glanced back over her shoulder at her assistant. "How did they get there?" She asked.

Stuttering nervously at her boss's almost friendly tone the secretary got to her feet. "Well they only just arrived Ms Gates about half an hour ago there was a delivery, I thought there had to be some mistake but I rang up the florist and they confirmed it but refused to reveal the identity of the customer, saying something about how he ordered the flowers over the phone and then a few minutes later someone arrived and paid for them all in cash....Apparently there was a note included..."

"Fine..." Meredith added cutting her off, as she strode back into her office, her curiosity piqued.

Walking over to her desk she quickly found the note, although technically it was more like a package, neatly wrapped and baring the hallmarks of one of the more exclusive London stores. Intrigued Meredith quickly ripped at the wrapping, lifting the lid of the box and gasping at what lay inside, who on earth would be sending her things like that? Seizing the note which lay nestled amongst the finest Italian silk underwear she quickly flicked it open.

'Let it never be said I don't keep my promises or pay my debts. G P.s. Any chance of a private showing?' and then a mobile number.

(Cut to Meredith's downtown apartment later that evening)

Meredith sat in front of her dressing table brushing out her long dark locks, but her thoughts were far from the task in hand, they were preoccupied with the events from earlier. Glancing over at her tabletop phone she reached out almost instinctively picking the receiver up from the cradle and dialling the first few numbers for his mobile, before slamming it down, taking a deep breath she picked the phone back up again and dialled the whole number letting it ring for almost a whole second before slamming it back down.

Shaking her head as if to dispel this uncharacteristic behaviour Meredith moved off to her closet pulling out the slinky red number she was wearing to the Tate Gallery re-launch that evening and gracefully stepping into it. Suddenly as she was slipping on her Jimmy Cho heels her phone began to ring shrilly, uncertain she allowed it to ring unanswered however too late she realised that her answer phone would pick up the call, dashing across the room she stumbled on her heels and aghast she heard her message service kick in.

'You've reached Meredith Gates, I'm not available to take your call at the moment but if you leave your name and number I'll do my best to get back to you...

Hi Meredith its Gavin glad to see you got my present, perhaps next time we can actually manage to talk in person, who knows it might be sooner than you think....'

Cursing under her breath Meredith realised that she had not only given away her home number but also the fact she was both interested and yet too nervous to ring him in person. However she had little chance to ponder the meaning behind the message as suddenly the buzzer for her door sounded, it would have to be John Raymont, the Guardian's leading art critic, they had met before at several high brow events and it had proved convenient and advantageous to allow him to become her standard escort to such affairs.

It was hardly a secret that he wanted to take their relationship further, but so far she had managed to dodge the bullet and keep things on a purely platonic level, however lately he had become more and more insistent even going to so far as to try to touch her up the last time before asking if he could come up for coffee. Normally such attention wouldn't phase her , in fact when she had been starting out she might even have looked on it as an advantageous move becoming the lover of such a influential figure in the art world, but things were different now and a part of her hankered for a man who could fulfil both her intellectual and physical needs. Grabbing her tiny Chanel bag she took one last glance in the mirror; who was she kidding, men like that only existed in a modern fairy tale.

(Cut to Tate Modern – The Swish opening gala for the new exhibition, a bold joint venture between the Tate and the Getty museum)

The gallery was packed with London's beautiful people, the rich hobnobbing with the talented, Gavin Cochrane prowled around the room, all this was new to him and made quite a contrast to those bleak few months he had spent inside, but even so he still felt completely at ease. Often he felt a few enquiring glances, some from the society crème de la crème trying to work who this stranger was and what he was doing here, after all he hardly fitted the role of struggling but talented artist nor that of a glamorous yet easy model who were the normal influx of bodies in the art world. The old vanguard of owners and dealers remained the same and they guarded their turf with the tenacity of a pit-bull terrier, so Gavin's presence a single man, obviously wealthy and apparently completely at ease was bound to stand out.

So far it had been a somewhat amusing evening he had walked round the galleries looked at the paintings but had spent most of the time watching the people who looked at the paintings; it didn't take long to establish who the main players were, they always had other people clustered round them, buzzing like bees round a honey pot. Nonetheless Gavin noted with amusement quite often some of the more lovely looking bees shot him interested glances over the shoulder of whatever rich old artist, dealer or owner they had themselves draped over at that moment.

However he had a specific reason for attending tonight's gala, moving towards the spiral staircase that led to the higher level Gavin paused for a moment ignoring the throng of people that pushed past him in order to scan the crowd below for one person in particular. At first it seemed like an impossible task but suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of red, turning so he could get a better look he caught his first glance of her as she entered the party and for a moment he felt a flash of something, possibly jealousy, as he saw her on the arm of another man. Well he thought to himself that was something he could soon deal with, and smoothing down his tux he carefully unfastened his bow tie letting the loose ends drape casually as he unfastened his collar, then appearing both relaxed and confidant he strode across the room seizing two champagne flutes as he went.

On the other side of the room Meredith was trying desperately to shake off John Raymont, he had been worse tonight than normal, trying to place his hand on her thigh in the car and then when they had arrived putting his sweaty hands on her bare back before trying to rest it on her arse as they walked around the room. It took all of her self control to stop herself from seizing his wandering hands and giving them a bone crunching squeeze, at least that way he might get the message but then she risked alienating a very important man. So instead she tried everything to distance herself but whenever she tried to dash off in a different direction he'd follow her, the obligatory possessive sweaty palm groping her through thin silk of her Versace dress.

She finally thought she had found an escape route when Sir Micheal D'Mimsy asked her to dance, but unfortunately for her before she could accept, John jumped in chiding his lordship for stealing away his date before he had had the chance to dance with her himself. So she had found herself in an even worse situation, now not only was she still trapped with her over-amorous escort but now he had an excuse to press himself up against her as they danced his free hand openly caressing the exposed skin of her back before moving to grope her behind once more.

It was at this moment as Meredith was contemplating physical violence that a strong deep masculine voice filled the air. "May I cut in?" He asked, but instead of waiting for John to reply he seized her hand that lay on John's shoulder and literally twirled her around. Stunned at the sudden and welcome intrusion it took a moment for Meredith to lock eyes with her rescuer and when she did she gasped out loud. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Would you prefer that I left? Returned you to your overly affectionate companion?" Gavin retorted an edge of steel entering his cheerful banter as he once more tried to suppress this un-used to feeling of jealousy and possessiveness.

"No defiantly NOT!" Meredith replied emphatically, practically sagging with relief. "Believe me if I never see that lecherous wretch again it will be too soon!"

"My sentiments exactly!" Gavin retorted a wry smile on his face as he felt a sudden flush of relief. "You are so out of his league, any attempt on his part is insulting, not only to you but also to his intelligence..."

"And you're not?" Meredith retorted.

"Somehow I think we're pretty evenly matched, what is puzzling me is why you put up with behaviour like that?" Gavin chided as he pulled her closer towards him, luxuriating in the feel of her in his arms once more, but being careful not to exceed too many boundaries.

Smiling broadly at him Meredith felt the thrill in the bottom of her stomach as his hand rested gently in the small of her back, his fingertips brushing softly against her skin. "Well my professional reputation is important to me and he's a powerful critic, I can't go around accusing people of being perverts all the time it might have negative impact on the prestige of my gallery, after all it takes is one bad review...."

"Somehow I think you could manage!" Gavin retorted.

"Yes well talking of managing how is your gallery doing, I heard you're having it refurbished?" Meredith replied.

"So you've been keeping an eye out for me after all I am flattered, I was beginning to think you had forgotten all about me..." Gavin teased, watching with delight as a slight red tinge entered her normally porcelain features.

"I've been very busy..." Meredith began defensively.

"Yes in America I know." Gavin retorted.

"So I'm not the only one whose been keeping their ear to the ground then I see!" Meredith countered victoriously a smug smile tugging at her scarlet lips.

"I never said I wasn't, as I recall it was a certain lady not too far away that did a moonlight flit from a certain hotel suite..." Gavin added tersely.

"I had a flight to catch..." Meredith retorted angrily.

"And you didn't even think to wake me or even leave a note; instead you left me to chase your shadow all over London, some people might think you were playing hard to get!"

"Oh for goodness sake, it was just sex, who do you think you are telling me how I should and shouldn't behave, just because for the first time the shoe was on the other foot!" Meredith replied pulling out of his grasp and storming off into the crowd seizing a glass of champagne as she tried to find somewhere quiet to regroup.

Pushing through the throngs of people, who had moved from all corners of the Gallery to congregate in the main foyer in anticipation of the speakers address, Meredith headed off into the now deserted corridors. Storming off she had no destination in mind, and all too soon she found herself in a darkened corner of the vast Gallery the only light coming from the moonlight that filtered in through the long glass slip of ceiling. Sighing deeply she leant back against the wall, struggling with the multiple and conflicting emotions that her spat with Gavin had surfaced. What on earth was she doing she should have simply laughed that comment off and swanned off to talk to other more important people; instead here she was alone and missing a perfect opportunity to network with her peers all because some nobody had had the nerve to chastise her.

Turning round she leant her forehead against the cool stone, pounding her free palm against it in an effort to exorcise these new and disturbing emotions that she felt bubbling up inside her. Then suddenly she felt a pair of strong hands settle soothingly on her arms caressing her skin softly, before their owner moved closer wrapping his arms round her waist and pulling her back against him as he liberally planted kisses along her exposed neck and shoulders. Moaning slightly Meredith leant back into his embrace, moulding their bodies together as she relaxed against him resting the back of her head against his broad shoulder as its owner moved to kiss his way up her neck and along her jaw.

"So this is just sex then?" Whispered Gavin as he moved to nibble her earlobe, before gently turning her round to face him.

For a moment Meredith opened her mouth to speak, to give voice to the small part of her that screamed out a denial, but instead she reached up and running her fingers through his hair pulled him roughly against her. Moving quickly to plunder his mouth with her own she did nothing to deter him as he pushed her up against the gallery wall stooping down so he could run his hand as far down her slender thighs as possible, caressing her skin through the dangerously high slit in her dress before wrenching her leg off the floor and encouraging her to wrap it round him as he began to make love to her.

An hour later a still slightly flushed Meredith Gates made her way through the now winding down party, grasping another glass of champagne she quickly downed it all the while searching the room for any sign of her so called escort. It didn't take long to find him as he was ensconced by the bar supposedly drowning his sorrows accompanied by some scantily clad and sympathetic talentless wonders, on spotting her he made a big pretence of being surprised.

"Oh so you're still here then? Not disappeared off home with that mystery gentleman of yours, I mean I turn my back for two seconds to talk to Lady Wympole and suddenly you've both vanished into thin air." John exclaimed loudly, causing a few less than subtle onlookers to turn and gawp. "So what's happened don't tell me he stood you up?"

"Look I don't have time for this are we leaving?" Meredith snapped suddenly realising what Gavin had said early rang true, she was Meredith Gates she didn't need this pathetic loser's support or approval.

"Oh so now you want something you come running all of a sudden, what if I'm not ready to leave?"

John began but this time Meredith didn't stay to listen to his rant, instead she sharply turned on her designer heels and marched determinedly towards the door, calling back at him over her shoulder. "Don't bother I'll get myself a cab!" And with that she disappeared out into the night.