Suzi put away her phone after Tex, who was obviously in a bad way, had hung up on her.  She sighed as she stored it in her bag. God, she was fed up of his moodiness and inability to do some of the simplest of things, without her input.  As for last night, he probably just opened his obnoxious mouth to the wrong person and they clobbered him one.  It was bound to happen sooner or later.

This morning however, she had other things on her mind. Namely, Domonic.  Turning to the window, she glanced out as her thoughts travelled back to the events of the day before.  Had it all been her imagination running riot?  Was it really his actions and words that had panicked her, or her own uncertainty of what she felt?  It had been such a long, long time since anyone had flirted with her.  So long in fact, that she thought she may have forgotten what it was like or how to react.  One thing she did know, without doubt...she was attracted to him.  If she was being honest, that was what scared her most.  After all, she was in a relationship, even though it was one-sided. Tex was once fun-loving, great company, passionate and very good to her, or so it seemed.  Somewhere along their journey though, he had become all that she despised; heavy drinker, heavy gambler, moody, secretive, arrogant, insensitive....So many negatives and absolutely no positives.  Yet, she didn't know how to get out of it.  She had tried, once before, but he'd managed to persuade her to take him back.  He had been full of promises, and they had all turned out to be empty, yet again.  

Domonic's note was now firmly emblazoned in her memory, but she liked looking at it all the same. She carefully unfolded it and read it for about the twentieth time that morning.

    "Ooh! Who's D? And what did he do to frighten you?"

Suzi wheeled round on her seat, almost knocking her files off her desk.  "Cat!! Stop sneaking up behind me like that!"

Catherine laughed at her friend's reaction, but her curiosity was peaked.  "Tell me!!! Who is he?"

Suzi stuffed the note inside her bra, without thinking.  "What makes you think it's a he?"

    "Well, you wouldn't have put it next to your heart if it was from a woman, would you? Or, would you?  God, has Tex' treatment of you turned you to the other side?"

Suzi couldn't stifle a giggle at Catherine's question.  "No, I'm still strictly men only, Cat."

Her friend pulled up the chair from the opposite side of the desk and sat practically nose to nose with her.  "OK then.  Spill the beans. If you don't, you know I will only badger you every minute of every day 'til...."

    "OK! OK. But promise me you won't say anything to anyone."

   "Not even Monique?"

   "Well, only her then, but no-one else!"

  "I promise.  Now, tell me all."

Suzi found herself doing precisely that as she told Catherine everything, from the moment she first saw him, up to the note being slipped under her door.  She felt a strange kind of relief in sharing her secret.  It was not something she normally found easy to do, for she was, by nature, a very deep person.  She seldom asked people for help, nor shared her burdens, it simply wasn't in her remit.  But, now, she was almost euphoric in sharing her thoughts and feelings about her neighbour-come-client.

Her openness also took Catherine by surprise.  Even though she had practically demanded to be told every little detail, she had not for a moment, expected Suzi to do just that.  Her smile widened as Suzi spoke with such enthusiam and passion about this mystery man.

   "So, what do I do now? Oh Cat! I feel so....underhand, naughty...guilty, not to mention foolish."

   "You're kidding, right?"

Suzi looked at her friend, not understanding her meaning.

   "For God sake, Suzi.  Lighten up!  Look at your life.  Are you happy?  Does the man....and I use the term loosely...in your life make you feel like a princess? Does he tell you how pretty you are? Or that he's proud you are his woman? Is he even interested in anything about you except your bank balance and what you're going to make for dinner?"

Suzi shook her head.  For all she knew it was the truth, it still hurt.

   "Well, then.  What the hell are you feeling guilty for?  I'm not telling you to go shag this Domonic..." Suzi gasped at Cat's blatant term. "...but what's the harm in finding out more about him?  Let him flirt with you, don't run away.  Enjoy it.  He doesn't sound dangerous to me.  Perhaps a bit odd in his approach, but god...look at that note!  That is not from someone who wants to hurt you. You call him, say your sorry for over-reacting and make another appointment."

Suzi smiled. Catherine always had a way of making her feel hopeful, confident.   It was as if she had been given permission to live finally. 

Cat got up and wheeled the chair back to its original position.  "I've got to go just now Suzi, got an appointment, but I'll catch you later. Let your heart rule for once, eh? And, erm.....if you get the chance to jump his bones, who the hell am I to say don't do it!"  With a giggle she waltzed out the office.

The rest of Suzi's day was clear.  She had made sure of that as she was supposed to have been heading to London the next day and wanted a clear desk before she left. She thought carefully about Catherine's advice on phoning him.  He had apologised for frightening her, even though she was now uncertain that he was to blame for her irrational behaviour in the first place.  So, in being polite, should she not apologise?   Count to ten, she told herself.  He was her client, she couldn't get out of that.  It would mean she'd have to come up with some very good reason to her boss for fobbing him off.  She didn't possess the imagination for that.  Neither did she want Mr Whellans to get the impression that Domonic was going to be an unsavoury client.

Receiver in hand, she started to dial the mobile number Domonic had supplied in his file.  Before she completed it though, she hung up.  Another count to ten.  Once more, she dialled.  Success!  Her hand was shaking as she listened to the whirr-whirr of the line connection.  Perhaps he wasn't in.  How long should she let it ring before......

   "Domonic Black," came the rather sharp reply.

Her breath caught in her throat.  Was he angry? Oh god! Now was not the time to freeze.   

   "Suzi? Is that you?" His voice had softened instantly . "Suzi?"

   "Hi."

   "Hi there."  He fell quiet for a moment.  "You OK?"

She swallowed.  "Yes, I'm fine thanks.  Look.  I'm really sorry about....."

    "No, don't. There's no need.  It was my fault.  You have no idea how ashamed I am.  I'm just so relieved you've called."

     "You're my client."

There was a long pause at the other end.  "Of course."  His voice was flat.  Maybe disappointed even?

She instantly regretted having said what she did.  Another deep breath, and she found herself saying something she never dreamed she would utter in a million years.  "But, that's not the main reason I called.  Your note.  It was so heart-felt, Domonic, it....touched me.  I was hoping perhaps, we could start afresh?"  What the hell had she just done?  Had she gone too far?  Left it too late?  The receiver was slipping in her hand and her blouse was sticking to every inch of her slender frame.

The reply banished any worries she had on the subject.  "I'm on my way. Get your things, I'm taking you to lunch." 

She stared at the phone as the loud click from the other end told her he had hung up.  Butterflies were creating havoc in her stomach.  Smiling, she replaced the receiver and dashed out her office, and scuttled down towards Catherine's.  Please still be here, she was pleading.  Her wish was granted as she bumped straight into her friend as she was making her way out.

   "Whoa! What's the hurry?"  Catherine had no sooner asked the question, and she knew the answer. "Oh! You meeting him?"

    "Yes! Please say you still keep a spare blouse in your cabinet?  I need to change."

    "Sure, c'mon!"   They both went inside Cat's office and closed the door. Cat had always made it a priority to stock her cabinet, the kind normally used for files by most people, with extra clothing.  Cat's lunchtimes often involved something a lot more steamy than just  a bowl of soup, so she always made sure she was well-groomed after.  She pulled out not one, but three blouses for Suzi to choose from. 

    "God I hope they fit," Suzi said peeling off her own one and casting it down on the chair.

    "Of course they will.  There's not much difference between us, except your legs which go all the way up to your neck, you lucky bitch."

Suzi laughed.  She'd never thought much about her legs.  They were long, yes, but she thought they made her look gangly, like a circus performer on stilts. 

    "So what did he say?" Cat asked as Suzi tried the second blouse on.

    "He said I had nothing to apologise for, and that he was glad I'd called.  Then I nearly blew it by stating he was my client.  God you should have heard the tone in his reply, it was so...I don't know, upset maybe?"

Catherine was nodding, hanging on every word.  Suzi went on. "Then, and I do not believe I said this, but... I said that his note had touched me and I hoped we could make a fresh start.  Then he said...."  At that moment, Mr Whellans knocked once and walked in, just as Suzi was standing in her bra, going to try blouse number three.  She screamed, hastily covering her modesty, while her boss quickly stepped back out firmly closing the door and apologising profusely  from behind it.  Catherine struggled not to laugh out loud.  "I'll be with you in a couple of minutes Bri."

Suzi stared at Cat.  "You call him Bri?"

   "Uh huh. Just need a phone number for one of my clients." Cat replied as if it was nothing.

   "Jeez, I've been here longer than you and I still call him Mr Whellans."

   "Which irritates the hell out of him by the way.  Never mind that though...you were saying?"

   "It does?  He's never said."

   "Well I've said it for him. Now get on with your chat to Dominic."

Suzi quickly donned the third blouse.  "OK. Well, then he said, I'm on my way, get your things I'm taking you to lunch."  She decided the third blouse was perfect.  It was lemon, fitted, and lovely,soft and fragrant.

Catherine was jumping up and down clapping her hands like a little school-girl.  "Oh I simply cannot leave before I see this guy."

   "You're not going to embarrass me are you?"

   "How very dare you even think such a thing!" Cat said pretending to look offended.  "Oh of course I won't Suzi.  I'm absolutely thrilled for you."

   "Nothing's happened, you know."

   "Yet!"

   "Stop it.  This might be just...I don't know, just wishful thinking."

   "At least you're thinking about it! Just go with the flow. You know, a little something is better than a lot of nothing, Suzi."

The phone rang and Catherine picked it  up.  "Yeah, she's here June." A pause.  "Oh right, I'll tell her."  Then she hung up.  She smiled like a cheshire cat.  "He's here!"

   "Oh God! So soon?"

   "Don't start panicking now.  Go enjoy your lunch."

Suzi dashed back to he office, collected her bag and Domonic's file, ramming it into her briefcase.  She thought she better make sure she got some information on how his systems were to be set up.  As she left her office, Catherine came along the hall and walked beside her.

They entered the reception area.  June looked up from her desk and mouthed an 'Oh My God!' at Suzi, before letting Catherine know he was over at the side window, with a nod of her head.  Catherine followed June's directional nod and promptly nudged Suzi in the ribs.  "You were scared of him? He's fucking gorgeous!" she whispered.

Domonic turned at that moment, his eyes instantly lit up when he saw Suzi.  June and Catherine didn't miss a beat and a knowing look passed between them.  He strolled over and offered to take Suzi's briefcase. "Are you ready?"

   "Yes, thank you. Oh, this is June and Catherine, by the way."

He nodded to each in turn and said hello, then stepped back to allow Suzi passage to the front doors.  The two work colleagues snuck up to the side windows to watch them as they left the building.  "Did you see how he looked at her?" June said.

   "Yeah!  He's smitten. He couldn't wait to get her out of here."

   "Definitely.  I hope this one works out for her."

   "So do I, June. Somehow I don't think lunch is what he's hungry for."

June playfully hit Catherine in the arm.  "Cat!"  The two of them giggled as the Audi sped away.