'What the hell? Where are you, Erisha? And why did it take you so long to pick up the phone?'
David's voice came loud and clear through the line, as Erisha connected the call.
She quickly turned her head, to see Treyton frowning, as he watched her from the sofa.

'Uhm..I..'
Erisha closed her eyes, wondering what to say. She didn't think telling him she had been in Treyton's arms, was going to go down well.

'I've gotten all the restaurant reservations checked. Elrod is not in any of them. So, where the hell are you having dinner?'
Erisha saw Treyton come towards her, and her pulse quickened.
What if he heard..

'Uhm..can I call you back in a little while?'

'The hell you will! Just tell me where you are. You remember what I told you..'

'Is everything okay?'
Treyton had reached her side, and was looking at her intently.

'I..I've got to go..bye!'
Erisha quickly cut the call, but she could hear David's shouting, as she did.
Lord help me!

Treyton saw her looking a bit nervous, and wondered whose call it had been.
'Is something the matter?'

'M..matter? No! But I need to go..'
Erisha moved in the direction of the hall, but Treyton wasn't just having that yet. He grabbed her arm, and turned her around to face him.

'What happened? Whose call was it?'
A thought came to his mind, as he saw her avoid his gaze.
'Huber! That's who it was, right?'
His eyes narrowed, as her face went a bit red.
'So! You are rushing from my arms to his, just like that?'

'What?'
She looked puzzled, then realised what he was saying.
'No, I..'

'Don't lie! He whistles and you go running!'
He pulled her closer, a bit roughly, so that their bodies touched.
'Even yesterday, he arrived and you were ready to have this dinner with me, because I agreed to hide..what hold does he have on you?'
Treyton was annoyed, and she could feel his taut body against hers.

'Treyton..'
She tried to get him to release her, but Treyton was angry now, and didn't let her go.
'You are hurting me..let go!'
Erisha was just as vexed by his behaviour.
But that got through to him, and he loosened his hold on her upper arms. Erisha took advantage, and put some distance between them.
'Who the hell do you think you are to tell me what to do and what not!'
Her eyes blazed, chest heaving, as she faced him.
'I'm not someone you can push around so easily, Mr. Elrod! I am my own woman!'

Treyton was quiet, watching her.
He wanted to shout back, and pull her back in his arms. Despite everything, he wanted to kiss her senseless.
But he stood there, and watched, as she reprimanded him.
When she saw that he was no longer sparring with her, she stopped, too. They looked at each other like adversaries, before Treyton finally spoke.
'I..'

Erisha put up a hand, as he moved towards her.
'I'll get a cab..'

'What?'
He frowned.
'I brought you here, I'll damn well take you back!'
When she would have protested, he walked to the elevator, and pressed the button.
The doors opened, and he stood waiting.

Sighing resignedly, Erisha picked up her coat, and joined him.
Treyton didn't say a word, just opened his car, as the lift opened in the basement.
Erisha got in, and so did he.
There was no talk, as he drove out of the building, and into the traffic.

Treyton was annoyed. More at himself, then at Erisha.
He had never given any of his women the right to talk to him like this, or asked them for any explanations. It was always a mutual, sexual relationship, that suited them both.
Then why was he feeling this emotion, like jealousy in his chest.
No! I'm not jealous of my rival! I just find this woman intriguing, that's all..no other explanations..
Yeah, right! Which is why it's irritating you that she is probably going to be with Huber tonight.
Damn it!
He swerved the car a bit more forcefully around a bend, and Erisha glared at him.

'If you are going to act like a petulant child, stop the car! I know my way around here!'
She told him.

'And then what? You will call for Huber to pick you up and take you home? Or maybe to his place for the night?'
Treyton was angry at himself, and lashed out at her.

'Just stop it, will you! You don't know what you are talking about!'
Erisha was seething, too.

Thankfully, her apartment arrived, and he stopped the car.
Before he could even pull the handbrake, Erisha was out the door, and walking away.

What the hell does she think of herself?
Treyton also got off, and hurried after her. But she had the advantage, and had already opened the front door of her building.
Just as she was about to shut it, he put a hand to stop it.
She looked at him wide eyed..a frisson of fear passing through her eyes, before she controlled it.
But Treyton noticed, and it made him stop to think.

'Please go away! I..I don't want to talk to you right now!'
She sounded resigned, and Treyton paused.

'Fine! But this..it's not over!'

'There is no 'this'! Please! Just leave me alone! Goodnight!'
And she shut the door on his face.
Just like that.

Treyton was left a bit stunned. No woman had dared to behave like this with him before. He had always been the one in control.
Then what was different with her? And why did he want to find out?
He was damned if he knew!

He was pensive, as he went back to his car and drove away.
You have more important things to do..just forget this mess!
Well..easier said then done!

***************************

Two weeks later, and he was still thinking about her.

Partly because Finn had confessed to taking the money from Erisha.
He had been pressurised, and threatened with dire consequences regarding his father's surgery. That had opened his mouth.
But, the daunting part was, that he swore, about not passing any information to the rivals.

The detective was back in his office, and back to his investigation.

'Herr Elrod! If you allow, we can check the computers and telephones again, to see if we missed anything the last time..'

'Didn't you do a thorough job the first time?'
Treyton gave him a sharp look.

'We did, but how about we get trained professionals..the kind that know how to hack a computer or a phone..'
Treyton had been leaning in his chair, but straightened up, as the detective suggested this.
'Maybe we missed things on the outset, but there could be some glitch that we didn't look at earlier..'
The more he spoke, the more Treyton liked the idea.

'Get on it right away then..because it's been pending for too long. We should have found the traitor by now. Huber can't be that smart! Plus, a new deal is in the offing, and I don't want any mistakes this time!'
Treyton's voice was firm, and not open to any arguments.

The detective promised to have the team come by from tomorrow, so that they could get answers.
As he left, Treyton buzzed Irma to get him some files. He needed to see to details regarding the new project.
It was a large property across the Danube, and he wanted to make sure it was his.

As he scanned through the papers, Treyton's mind wandered.
Was Erisha thinking about him? Their hot kisses, the combustive atmosphere, whenever they were together?
Why can't I get her out of my head?
Treyton pushed back his chair, and turned it towards the picture window.
He then got up, and went to stand by it, looking down at the streets.
The usual hustle bustle of traffic was going its' way, given the office hours.
His gaze went to the French cafè he had seen her in before, but at this time, only a couple of tables were occupied.
What am I thinking? She must be at work..
I should be doing the same..yet I'm here thinking of her..
Damn you, woman!

Treyton suddenly moved back, and shut the blinds against the sunlight, in an  attempt to shut his thoughts the same way.

***************************

'Anything I can help you with?'
Erisha smiled politely at a customer, who was browsing the shelves.

'Just looking, thankyou..'
Erisha nodded, as the woman moved ahead.

Going back to her place behind a counter desk, Erisha picked up some papers. She had several orders arriving today, and needed to check the details.
As her eyes skimmed over the items, they landed on a picture of an antique grand piano.
She was suddenly reminded of the piano she had seen at Treyton Elrod's place, and it set off a myriad of emotions.

She hadn't been able to stop thinking about Treyton..and what had happened..almost happened, after dinner.
His kisses, his touch, his words..
Stop it, Erisha! You went there for a reason..not to romance the man..get a hold on yourself..
She had been berating herself ever since she had come back from there.
But she couldn't stop herself. Day times were busy at work..but at night..
I don't even like his type of men..rich, arrogant, who think they are God's gift to women..just like David..
Erisha frowned heavily.
David? I was thinking about Treyton surely...so why am I having second thoughts about him? He's no different..isn't he..
And David..damn the man! Making me do..

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her shop's phone, and she came to.
'DREAMS, the house of antiques, how may I help you?'
She rattled out automatically, still shaken by her wayward thoughts.

'That's a very open ended question..'
A man's voice drawled across the line, and Erisha sat up straight, eyes wide.
'And one to which I have several answers..would you like to hear them?'

'YOU! How..what..I..'
Erisha was definitely surprised, as she sputtered.

'I can see you are very excited on hearing my voice.'
There was amusement in Treyton's tone, which had her bristle.

'How did you get my..never mind. Why are you calling?'
Erisha knew it was no difficult feat for him to find out her shop's number, it was easily available on the Internet.

'Would 'I was thinking about our kiss' be appropriate?'

'WHAT?'
Erisha flushed, and saw her assistant give her a weird look, as she passed by.
She composed herself, and lowered her tone.
'What rubbish? I was not thinking about that..'

'Oh..you were thinking about what followed that hot kiss..'
He said deadpan, and she felt her cheeks heat up, as the image immediately entered her head.

'Stop it! I was not thinking about you at all..'
She lied through her teeth.

'Then maybe you should..'
He murmured in a sexy drawl, and she felt a flutter in her stomach.

'I..I'm busy right now..'
She tried to regain some sense into the conversation.

'Sure...you can do it later..when you are at home..alone..'
He paused.
'In bed..'

'Goodbye!'
Erisha crashed the antique phone on its' cradle, and could swear she heard him laugh at her.
What the...
Her brain went into overdrive, at the thoughts he had provoked with just a few words.

The phone rang back immediately, and her eyes widened.
Picking it up, and without waiting for him to get in a word, she began to speak.
'I said, stop it! You..'

'Erisha? What are you saying?'
David's voice startled her, and she sat up to attention.

'David? What are you doing calling at the shop?'

'Because your phone is apparently switched off..'
He scolded her like a child.

'Oh..I didn't see..'
She picked it up and saw it was indeed off.

'Yeah! Well, I called you for a reason. Meet me tonight! There's something I need to talk to you about!'

'Tonight? Uhmm..I had plans..'
Like doing the laundry, and reading a book.
And thinking about Treyton Elrod..

'Cancel them! What I have to say is more important!'
He dismissed her excuses.
He rattled out the place and time, and disconnected the call.

Erisha was left with the engaged tone in her ear, and put down the phone.
What does he want of me now??

To be continued..