Haley glanced at the unfamiliar faces around the room with curious interest. It was a high end fundraising affair, something about addressing the planet's threatened water resource.

The collective wealth in the room was easily higher than the GDP of any one of the smaller countries of western Europe. There were powerful men and women in the room. Confident, high achievers who in their respective fields; were at the top of their games. Not for the first time, Haley wondered why she'd allowed Xanthus to twist her arm into attending the prestigious, invitation only, gala dinner. She scowled inwardly wondering if what had been served did justice to what one termed as dinner. Implicit emphasis was placed on modesty of the meals because of the fund raising nature.

Having an obsession for food, especially free food, the meagre organically grown fruit and vegetable and miniscule low fat and protein titbits littering the grotesquely large plate put in front of her, had Haley's tummy hankering for sustenance...like a juicy hamburger with stacks of cheese.

Instinctively now her eyes scanned the room looking for the tallest figure, the broadest shoulders. They had been separated almost right at the beginning, without warning. When accosted, Xanthus had looked her way with concern. She had nodded as if to say, she would be fine. Little did she expect Xanthus, to be so popular that his arm had been tugged by this sports celebrity or that politician or that businessperson for more than an hour. Her lips pursed, having to settle for the rear view of the dark-suited Xanthus, albeit a very delicious looking rear view. She sighed softly, eagerly anticipating their amorous night together after this function.

The dress code for gentlemen had been white tie and black long tails. She thought he looked arrestingly gorgeous. Earlier at the sit down dinner, though he had been seated across her at their large table, they had hardly spoken. The only contact had been the two occasions; Xanthus had looked into her eyes and smiled appreciatively. That had given her enough confidence to go solo for a little longer. Although the kind gentleman to her right had been polite enough to engage her, until Haley had silently felt if he had uttered another word about extreme temperatures and the abnormal amount of snow New York had received, she was going to scream. Haley had attempted to make conversation with the disinterested lady to her left, but her silent do not talk me look in her eyes, had had Haley staring at the paltry contents in her plate, until the sit down dinner was over.

Now guests were mingling. Sipping inordinate amounts of red wine. Haley wondered if Xanthus would notice her absence if she discreetly slipped away and hailed a taxi home. She stared at the glass in her hand, smiling to herself thinking steam was going to come out of the glass any minute now. She had been cradling it for that long.

'I hope that sexy smile does not mean I have competition agape mou,' a possessive arm curbed around her waist, as impassioned lips pressed against her temple.

Haley gushed at the endearment and was equally surprised to find Xanthus beside her.

"Sexy?'' She laughed.

'Yes. Who is the benefactor of that sensual smile?' he demanded.

'Nobody. I don't know anybody here.'

'I apologise for my absence,' he looked deep into her eyes. It was unplanned.'

She held her breath. Feeling like Xanthus had transported them to a place where they were completely alone, and his smile...

It's okay,' she breathed heavily.

'Excuse the pun, but you are far too charitable,' he offered her a gracious smile.

Haley laughed and set her glass down.

'How about we attempt a clandestine escape?' he murmured in her ear. 'I have had enough of socializing for one night.'

'Sure.' Haley nodded with surreptitious satisfaction.

Xanthus took her hand. 'Come. I know that door, leads to an exit to a side street. I'll have the car brought around,' he spoke softly.

'You are rather popular,' Hayley murmured softly, as his limo manoeuvred through the evening traffic to her home.

Xanthus threw his head back and laughed. He drew his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. 'It is not I that am popular, but rather the benefit of my financial position. Every person that courted my attention was looking for some form of contributions to their respective charity foundations.'

She was enjoying their close proximity and the heat radiating from his body. 'They were lobbying you for finance!'

Xanthus smiled dismissively. 'Is that not what these extravagant socials are about?' He traced a finger sensuously down her cheek.

His caresses were nerve wrecking. She tried to keep herself distracted by making conversation. 'I don't know. I've never had to fork out a five digit price for my dinner previously!'

Xanthus smiled lazily. His finger moved progressively downwards, from her cheek to seductively outline the contours of her breast. Haley groaned softly.

'Speaking ___of dinner ___,' she panted breathlessly, 'I'm starving ___.'

'So am I,' he captured her mouth hungrily.

'Xanthus ___,' her arms snaked around his neck. She turned into him, snuggling up against his chest. 'Tell the driver to hurry,' she whispered. All thoughts of cheese burgers temporarily put on the back burner.

'Hell, I wish we were in your apartment already,' Xanthus groaned, against her ear. His tongue laved against the soft flesh of her throat.

'Oh...that's my phone,' Haley dragged her lips away.

'Do you have to answer it?' He remonstrated, attempting again to kiss her.

She laughed, pushing him away gently. 'I won't be long.'

Xanthus waited impatiently, whilst she read the incoming text message. His fingers fiddled with her dress, unbuttoning it.

'Oh goodie!' She exclaimed, excitedly.

'What's got you all revved up?' Xanthus smiled lazily.

I've been invited to a cocktail evening tomorrow and I get free samples,' she grinned delightedly.

'"Free samples?'''

Haley laughed. 'Okay __ I have this obsession with freebies. If it's for free ___ then I'm there.'

'Like tonight?' His tone changed from fiery hot to ice cold in seconds.

She looked up into his eyes and found the frosty expression disconcerting. 'No! __ I ___ I was with you. Tonight was not about freebies, even though, the ticket was astronomical... but you have to understand,' she glanced again at her message on her cell. 'These samples are from one of the most exclusive French cosmetic houses. There are limited editions of their products.'

'What if I wanted you to spend the evening with me?' He demanded, knowing he was being unreasonable, but damn it she didn't show that much enthusiasm for his attention as she did for "freebies!"

'Xanthus __' she laughed awkwardly. 'Look these cocktail events are generally about a two hour affair ... we could meet somewhere after that.'

'For more "freebies!"'

She stared into his eyes wondering what he was so uptight about, but his expression was blank she could not read anything in it.

'I will pay for dinner if that's what you're insinuating,' she spoke softly, wounded by his accusation.

'No thank you,' he hissed. 'I don't allow women to pay for my meals and I certainly have never had any inclination for "freebies!" I like to pay for what I want to acquire.'

'What's wrong with you? It's not like I'm committing a crime. It's your problem if you keep your billionaire nose in the air and feel too proud to accept free gifts. I don't have a problem with it and I enjoy them. Thank you very much.'

She could not keep the hurt out of her voice. Why was he judging her for enjoying the benefits of free samples? How does that saying go, The best things in life are free. Right? What was wrong with enjoying 'free things?' Why was he so adverse to it? It's not a crime, liking free things!

'You will excuse me. I have lost the desire to join you?' His cold tone cut into the eerie silence in the car

'What!'

Your stop.' Xanthus pointed out the window.

Only then did Haley realize that they were parked outside her apartment. Before she received the text message, they had both been combusting with passion, impatient to get indoors, now for some inexplicable reason it had be doused and Xanthus was not even offering to walk her to her door.

'You're not coming in?' she asked dejectedly in a small voice.

'No.' he answered in a lacklustre tone.

Disappointment knotted in her stomach 'Thank you then for the lovely evening,' she offered politely even though she had spent most of it alone.

He ignored the hurt in her eyes and the way her shoulders slumped.
'Good night.' He replied dismissively.

Haley dropped her head disappointedly as she walked the few steps from the car to her front door. She had been relishing some intimate time with Xanthus, some quenching of the raging lust still humming through her body.

Not going to happen girl...get over yourself.

Would he be taking another woman to his bed? She wondered jealously. Wasn't he as aroused as she had been in the car? She couldn't bear the thought of another woman touching him, or worse ... Xanthus whispering sweet erotic endearments in his sexy accented voice...

'Urgh!' Haley screwed her eyes tight and wished the image of a naked Xanthus with another woman in his arms would go away.

      Xanthus scowled at his butler in an unaccustomed manner. 'What's the matter Yuri? I look like an alien?'

'No sir.'
Yuri handed his boss a glass of scotch just as he liked it. A neat single shot with no water or ice.

'I was expecting you much later...' or not at all.

Xanthus glared at his butler as if it was his fault that he was courting Haley.
'A gold digger that's what I got myself entangled with this time. A gold digger! She's not interested in me. But what my wealth can do for her!'

Xanthus downed the scotch in one gulp and shoved the glass back into Yuri's hand, who dutifully refilled the glass.

Yuri wondered why this particular woman he's been dating was getting under his boss's skin. None of the previous lovers lasted more than a couple of months. So why didn't he just dump this one, like he so easily did the others?

Yuri always found it awkward when the previous lovers came knocking, pleading, sobbing for their lover to take them back, but once Xanthus made up his mind, it was curtains down and no repeat performance. Yuri knew that.

Yuri Hanno learnt a lot about the master he has been dutifully serving for more than five years. He understood the odd facial expression his boss was rarely given to expressing. He knew when his boss needed his meals. When he wanted his drink replenished. When he wanted conversations and when he didn't, like now. Sure his boss was venting. But he wasn't asking for opinions or counselling from the hired help. He could pay for that if he wanted it and Yuri doubted very much his boss could be found alive on the most expensive sofa of the wealthiest or most popular shrink in any part of the world.

Conversations with his employer centered around current news, the economy. Yuri's family or Xanthus' family back home, as they were both from Greece. Yuri knew the Laskaris family fairly well as he travelled with Xanthus constantly. Xanthus knew everything about Yuri. That he had an ageing mother and a teenage sister, who had a burning ambition to be a concert pianist. She was in her first year in college. Thanks to the financial assistance from Xanthus. One day his sister was going to become famous and make Yuri very proud. She was the apple of his eye and he made it his duty to care for his mother and sister, since his father was untimely taken away in a fatal car accident. Yuri hero worshipped his boss, who was a compassionate man, who took care of his employees and made it his duty to get to know each one individually. Yuri looked to see Xanthus opening and slamming drawers?

'Will you be going out again sir?' Yuri asked, seeing his boss hovering indecisively near the fireplace, still fully dressed in his tuxedo and tie.

Xanthus looked over his shoulder at his butler as if only now realizing he was in the room. The quality he appreciated most of this servant was his unobtrusive yet efficient manner. Yuri knew his place and knew his master well ... perhaps too well.

Was that Yuri's subtle hint to go out get shagged and loose the attitude?

Xanthus groaned inwardly. Would he be able to perform with another woman? He could not get that mágissa ... witch out of his system. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her plump lips begging to be kissed... her eyes burning with desire ...undressing him.

Earlier in the car, just before he callously threw her out, he could smell her desire for him. He shut his eyes now for a second, trying to erase his own pulsating, and aching need for her. kánei ta stravá mátia mágissa ...conniving witch!

Why the hell had he allowed her to seduce him that first night in the pub? Had he ignored her, had he sent her packing, had he walked away like he had meant to do outside the pub that night he would not be brooding like a love sick teenager right now. What the hell was he doing moping in his huge, lonely mansion, when he could have any woman he wanted? He could have her tonight if he went back to her apartment. He knew she'd take him with open arms. But something about her niggled him.
So her interest was not in him then? Only what "freebies" she could benefit out of being in a relationship with him. It left a sour taste in his mouth. He was all for spoiling and lavishing the women he dated with luxurious gifts, but it had to stem from his desire to gift them, not their blatant avarice. In due course he became aware his butler was still waiting for a response from him.

Xanthus smiled at his butler. 'No Yuri. I'll turn in. You're dismissed for the night.'

'Thank you sir. Good night sir.' Yuri nodded and left the room.

Xanthus left his unfinished drink on the table and climbed the stairs up to his private suite. He was not a man who sought solace from alcohol or any form of substance for that matter. He much preferred physical release like the gym or ... the supple limbs of a woman in his arms... He groaned loudly and marched into his study. Work was always a welcome alternative. Thankfully he had the acute ability to command his brain to submission at any time of the day or night

And after a few productive hours, it was early morning when he showered, climbed into bed and had a restful few hours of sleep until his biological clock alerted him to the demands of the brand new day. Xanthus sprang out of bed, relishing all the challenges and demands of the new day.

Whilst Xanthus was able to enjoy blissful sleep the minute his head hit the all too comfortable superior white Materials Down high microfiber pillow, Haley had had an uncomfortable night tossing and turning, unable to erase the cold and dismissive manner Xanthus had dished out to her. She was exhausted when morning came and she had to toss back the duvet and get out of bed. She wasn't sure she had the energy to get her through the day, yet she had deadlines; more importantly with the editor... on the next chapter of How to Keep Your Man.

Isn't that ironical? I can't even keep my lover's attention for one night!

She cringed silently, her ego still smarting from her highly anticipated non-event last night. Her mind reluctantly wondered to her editor's demand to produce the required draft for the next chapter. She needed more time. Had last night with Xanthus ended the way she had hoped for, she could have had delectable juicy titbits to reference...but their conversation about "freebies" had put a spanner in the works on that score. Now she had to find a way to get Xanthus interested again...

                                                                                      -end chapter 4-