Erica! With Huber?

Erica..dressed like a dream in an aquamarine gown, that fitted her tiny waist and curves, just perfectly. Erica, who had her hair tied up in a knot on her head, like the last time. Erica, who was now staring at him flabbergasted.

Treyton saw something like guilt flit in her eyes, before Erica blinked, and looked away.
He turned his eyes back to David, who still looked stunned to see Treyton there.

Treyton pulled himself together first.
'Huber!'
He nodded.

David swallowed.
'Elrod!'

'Congratulations on your success!'
Treyton's eyes darted back to Erica, who was avoiding his eyes.

'Thankyou..'
David said, but his tone was of one who clearly didn't believe in the good wishes.
'I didn't think you would be coming tonight..'
David had gotten a hold on himself now.

'Well, honestly, I wasn't going to..'
Treyton's eyes narrowed slightly, as he saw David pull Erica to him by her waist.
But Treyton was not one to show any weaknesses, and kept a straight face.
'But, I was passing by, and suddenly thought to drop in..'
The lie rolled off his tongue with ease, with no one the wiser.

'Well..in that case, some champagne?'
David turned to Erica.
'Darling, won't you get our guest a drink?'
His hand slid to Erica's buttock, causing her pink cheeks to flush.

The action caused Treyton to grit his teeth, and he wanted to punch the man's face. But he just tightened his fists inside his pant pockets.
David let Erica shift away to call to a passing waiter, and Treyton let out a breath, he hadn't known he was holding.
Erica came forward to hand over the glass to him, and their fingers brushed.
The contact was electric, and their eyes met. He saw the realisation in her eyes, before she lowered her gaze.
David must have noticed something, because he put an arm on her back, causing her to step back from Treyton.

'Elrod, I'll like you to meet my very good friend..Erisha.'
His tone implied how good a friend she was, as he turned towards her.
'Erisha.. this is the famous Treyton Elrod..businessman extraordinaire..'

David was busy in the introduction, and didn't notice the reaction Treyton or Erisha had at that. Erisha's eyes shot to Treyton's face, as he realised that he had been lied to. He didn't look like he liked being crossed.

'Erisha? What a unique name..'
His eyebrows lifted, but his tone was not exactly complimentary. He almost clenched his teeth, as he pretended that they had never met.

'Yes, isn't it? As unique as she is! But apparently, according to her, its a common Indian name..'
David went on, unaware of the tension between them.

'Indian?'
Treyton couldn't stop himself from looking at the byplay of expressions on her face, as she tried to avoid looking into his eyes.
'Local Indian?'
Treyton now addressed her directly.

Erisha could feel his eyes boring into her face, and she finally looked up.
'No! I am from India..but have been living here for some time.'
She explained, while David and Treyton both looked at her.

'I see...'
Treyton did not let anything show on his face now.
'Nice to meet you, Erisha..'
He put emphasis on the name, and tipped his glass towards her, and she just nodded.
Taking a swig from the glass, needing the kick of alcohol,  Treyton put the glass back on a table.
'I'll take my leave now..I have other plans..'
Treyton said to David, not looking at Erisha any longer.

'But..'
David said, but Treyton just put up a hand, and nodding, turned around to leave.

Treyton could feel all eyes on him, watching him as he exited the ballroom, just the way he had arrived.

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

Treyton couldn't believe it, still!

The one woman who had been occupying his mind ever since he had seen her, had to be his rival's woman!
Verdammt! Damn it!
And her identity..she wasn't even Erica..she was Erisha, an NRI!
Somehow, finding about her nationality did not surprise him so much. She did have that ethereal, Asian look about her, which he had noticed, but just now had gotten confirmed.
After having talked to her the other day, and after seeing her reaction to him tonight, he wanted to know her. Even after knowing what he did now..he still wanted her. Yes! He wanted her..for himself!

Another thought struck him, just as this one ended.
Was she the link to the theft of information from his company?
Wait a minute..Julian Finn..the HR manager! Was he the one involved?

His thoughts were in turmoil, as he sat outside the hotel's parking lot, not having left yet.
Something is definitely off..what can it be?

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted, as he saw the car from the video, which he had been watching on and off, drive off.
Damn! How did I miss that?
'Follow that car! Right now!'
Treyton instructed the driver, who quickly followed his boss's command, being discreet enough.
Who's in that car? Did Julian arrive after I left? Was it just a decoy, so my attention could be diverted?

The car turned towards Favoriten, a district of the city centre, with the largest population. The largest train station was also located in this area, and the car moved towards several apartment blocks there.
It finally turned into a lit street, and stopped at the entrance of a building.

Treyton told the driver to stop some distance away, away from the street lights.
He saw someone get off from the car, and that person was wearing a khaki trenchcoat. Bang on!
Here was the person who had imparted information in the video.
Getting off the car quickly, before he lost them, Treyton crossed the road, his long coat flapping after him.
Huber's car left after dropping their passenger, and Treyton hurried before the cheater moved inside the building, barring his entry inside.

A single light was turned on at this time of the night above the entrance to the apartment building. It was quiet, no one milling about, people apparently having turned in for the day.
The person in the trench coat, moved to the stairs, leading up to the main door.
His shoes making no noise, as he reached behind him,  Treyton grabbed the man's arm just before he reached for the door handle.
'Not so fast, you don't!'
Treyton heard a loud gasp, as he yanked hard, turning the man to face him.
'You are not getting away this time, mister...'
Treyton's voice trailed off, his ferocious frown waning in the midst of forming, as the hood of the trenchcoat fell back, to reveal the person wearing it.
'Eric..Erisha?'
Treyton's eyes widened in shock, as he saw her.

'You!'
Erisha gasped, the fear in her eyes, turning to shock as well, as he continued pulling her arm.

'You! You did this? You are responsible?'
Treyton couldn't believe his eyes, his brain running ahead of him. He jerked her arm again, and saw her swallow at the discomfort that probably caused her. He might be a bastard, but he was not one for violence on women.
He loosened his grip, and she pulled it away immediately.

'What the hell do you think you are doing?'
She was suddenly on the defensive, surprising him into blinking, and taking a step back.

'What?'

'How dare you? You scared the hell out of me, you stupid man!'
She was suddenly angry, turning the tables on him.

'How dare I? How dare you! Lie to me! Give me a false alias..I..'
The fact that she had called him stupid rankled.

'I didn't lie!'
He hmphed.
'I just didn't tell you the truth!'

'That's the same thing!'
Treyton was seething. He had been, ever since he had seen her by David Huber's side, his hands over her.

'Why are you here? You followed me?'
She moved her head to look around behind him, just now noticing his car parked some distance away in the shadows.
'The great Treyton Elrod going around scaring women at night..what has the world come to?'

At any other time, Treyton might have enjoyed her sarcasm, but right now he was miffed.
'Stop changing the topic! And tell me why you lied to me! About yourself? And this..'
He touched the sleeve of her coat, and she jerked her hand back again.

'What's your problem? That I didn't tell a total stranger my real name, or that I didn't tell him about my personal life?'
She shot back, her eyes flaring under that one light overhead.

'Both!'
His anger on finding out she was his rival's girlfriend, hankered.

'Well, too bad!'
She turned to leave, but he caught her wrist.

'Don't mess with me!'
Treyton was getting infuriated further by her replies.
'You know what I mean! And Julian Finn..what lies did you tell him to get into my party?'

'I did not tell him any lies! Let go of my hand!'
Erisha tugged his hand off of hers, and Treyton let it go.
'He's a friend, and he invited me to a party. I didn't even know it was your party..'
She rubbed her wrist, where he had yanked.

'Yeah, right! You are involved with my rival, and you didn't know whose party it was!'
Treyton said sardonically.
'What did you do, to get him to give you confidential information?'

'What? What information?'
Erisha frowned.
'I have no clue what you are talking about, Mr. Elrod..'

'Oh, come on!'
His voice came out louder than he had wanted, and he saw Erisha flinch.
Treyton ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
'It can't be that big a coincidence that you came to my party, and then met Steven Huber, and tonight I saw you at their party...'

'Met Steven? What all are you saying? I'm really not getting any of it..'
Erisha looked puzzled, he had to give her that. She lied with such confidence.

'Yes! In this coat..the same car you came in tonight..I know all about it!'

There was a momentary silence, as they both just glared at each other. Then Erisha sighed.

'Look, Mr. Elrod..it's late, and I'm tired..'
She brushed away some tendrils of hair from her face, that had escaped her knot, as he had pushed and pulled her.
'You are not thinking straight. Maybe the champagne you drank went to your head..'

'A sip of champagne?'
Treyton lifted an eyebrow.
'A sip does not make one drunk, Erisha...and I do know how to hold my drink.'

'Well, then..you must clearly be tired. Such a busy businessman you are, it must be tiring just sitting there, giving orders and making money, no matter who gets in the way of what!'

This was the second time that she had said something regarding his wealth, and he didn't like her tone at all.
'You and your distorted opinions! I couldn't care less about them! I just need to know how you got Finn to cheat on me!'
Treyton's eyes flared with renewed anger.

'I did no such thing! I think you should leave!'
Erisha turned, and put her hand on the handle of the door, ready to open it. But his next words stopped her.

'Did you tempt him with yourself? Offer to sleep with him?'
She turned, and her eyes shot to his face, and saw him mocking her.

'You are sick! Leave, Mr. Elrod, before I call for someone. People know me here, and will come to help.'
Erisha was now angry herself.

But Treyton was not to be deterred. He grabbed her arm, and amid her protest, pushed her against the wall, pinning her.

Erisha immediately struggled against his strength, as his hands caught her wrists against the wall.
'Let go!'

'Women like you..know just how to tempt a man. Offer them your body, and they are done for!'
There was contempt in his tone, and an unknown sensation in his head, which he chose not to address, as he ran his gaze down her body, left visible in the gown, the coat parted. Her chest heaved up and down in annoyance.
'Isn't that what you did? Bed Huber, and then Finn..and voilà! Transfer of information..'

'Let go, I said!'
Erisha pushed against him, but he didn't budge.
She made to kick him in the shin, but Treyton pushed himself against her, not allowing her to move.

'No! I need to know..tell me! Why? Does it give you a kick..to have men tempted by your looks, by your body..'
Treyton was in a rage, uncaring that he was hurting her with more than words.

So it didn't really surprise him, when she suddenly pushed with all her might, and freeing her hands, slapped him. Hard. On his cheek.

Treyton staggered back with the blow, not having expected it.
His eyes caught hers, and saw a fear in them, before she once again made for the door.

But Treyton had gotten over the shock now, and pulled her back, pushing her back to the wall with his body.

'Leave me! I'll scream the place down..'
She saw fury in his eyes, as his head came close.

'Just try it! And you yourself will be responsible for the consequence!'
His tone was low, and angry, as he kept looking at her.

Nevertheless, Erisha did. She tried.
But as soon as she opened her mouth to scream, Treyton covered the remaining distance left between them, and bringing his head down, crushed his lips to hers.

To be continued...