Chapter 6: New Year's Eve on Sydney Harbour

'How was everyone's Christmas?' William asked when he made his appearance on the 27th. Everyone consisted of Noel, another account director and Bridget, the receptionist. The rest had taken the Christmas-New Year period as leave. As one they chorused 'Fine' knowing he wasn't interested in detail, and took his arrival as the cue to get back to their own desks and make an attempt to work, get organised for when business began moving in January. They attempted right through to New Year but it was hard to sustain concentration knowing that a good percentage of the population was out in the sun taking it easy. Noel was almost pleased when New Year arrived. William had said nothing further about Gem Techtronics and she was going to press it that night. Maybe with some liquor in him he would be amenable. He had changed since their dinner date. Had become nice, thoughtful to her in small ways; not as familiar and suggestive as she had grown used to expecting since starting work with him eighteen months before. It perplexed her. She had thought he would be pressing the advantage.

On the day William closed the office at three and stopped by Noel's office on his way out. 'See you tonight?' His face showed relief when she said 'Yes'.

Straight from work she went to the beach and swam and lay in the shade until the sun sank because her flat would be hot and uninviting. Its saving grace came from it being hers alone; she valued solitude, preferred above all her own company. Nearly three years ago she had moved in with a girlfriend, needing to be away from the noise of her brothers and the smothering sympathy of her parents. Sharing a flat had seemed a godsend. To some extent it had been. Her friend knew her problems and helped by ignoring them. But the flat was too small for two and after only a few months her friend had moved out. Noel had taken a loan, bought it, and gone without all but the essentials to avoid having to share again.

As expected the one-roomed flat was warm and airless when she entered and she threw back the curtains and opened the sliding door that led out onto the third floor balcony to draw in a large lungful of night air. William awaited her and she leaned on the balcony rail and breathed deep. She would have to get ready and go but delayed.

When she finally arrived at his North Shore home it was close to ten thirty and the party exuberant. Half a dozen or so guests were on the tennis court, playing or shouting commentary from the sidelines, and a crowd hung around and in the pool. William saw her immediately and strolled over in the peculiarly feline way he had.

He slid an arm around her waist. 'I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind. Come and get a drink. You look superb, I love the dress. You ought to wear those sort of things to work, you'd be a sensation.'

He drew her to the bar where she ordered a daiquiri. 'You've been drinking.'

'Not as much as you think.' He tightened his arm. 'I'm glad you've come.'

She looked around. The large black-tiled entertaining area spilled out through white french doors and continued to the pool and its surrounds. Large white sofas randomly placed provided plenty of seating.

'This is beautiful.' She doubted that he had done it himself.

'Would you like a tour?'

She resisted his urging. 'I should go and say hello to a few people. You don't have to stay with me, I'm happy to wander. Circulate; it's your party.'

He put both arms around her and pulled her to him. 'Now you're here the rest can go jump.' He put his lips to her collarbone where skin met dress and she shivered. One corner of his mouth stretched up. 'Affect you that badly do I? We could disappear. No-one would notice.'

Noel put her hands against his chest. 'Behave or I'm going home.' She meant it.

'Okay, babe, bring that drink and let's go talk to a few people.'

There were plenty from the industry as well as a gratifying number of clients and they spent time moving among groups, William holding possessively on to Noel, leaving everyone under no allusion as to whose property she was. She was well aware of the opinions being formed but didn't see, with what she had in mind, how she could avoid it.

William left her side only once that night, during a conversation with some guests he had been less than keen to introduce her to. Three men, all grey-haired and having seen better days, stood in a circle with Nick Donaldson, the now titular head of Gem Techtronics. Noel's ears had pricked when Nick addressed one as Colonel.

'It went through okay thanks to Bud here. I'm flying to Pakistan on Tuesday - I told the company we couldn't trust the locals.' He slapped Donaldson on the back. 'I'll have him replaced, nothin' surer.'

Noel had slewed around to William. 'Who're those men? The three with Nicholas Donaldson.'

He glanced. 'Friends of Ron Patton and Geoff Davies.'

'The original owners of Gem. Why's an American colonel here? How do you know them?'

William's glass came down. 'Friends of friends. What makes you think they're military?'

'They? Well, one sounds like an American, and Donaldson called him Colonel.'

William finished his drink. 'Patton and Davies were in Iraq together. From what I gather they got to know Bud Steiner and Chuck Halley there. I guess they kept up the friendship. I understand the Colonel is purely honorary now; they're retired.'

Noel choked on her daiquiri. 'Bud and Chuck. You're kidding.'

'Isn't that what all good Yankees are called?' William said, straight-faced.

Noel laughed out loud and the group of four turned appreciative looks in her direction.

'Who's the third?'

'I don't know. He came with the others.' William took her elbow. 'We should go talk to Fred Lacey.'

'You go talk to Fred Lacey. I want meet Bud and Chuck.'

William's grip tightened. 'They sound like they're talking business.'

'I'm sure it's all very interesting.' She batted her eyelids.

He capitulated with bad grace. 'All right, but I'm sure you're wrong. Gentlemen,' he said, dropping an arm over her shoulders as they joined his guests, 'May I introduce one of my account directors, Noel Valentine.'

Noel smiled. 'I heard your accents and had to come over,' she said, shaking hands. 'What part of America are you from? Are you here on holiday? No? You live here. Oh, for how long? An American accent must be one you don't lose then, because you all sound very American to me.'