“Sure,” Nicole answered from the other side of the divider. “What is…”

But Rochelle was already hurrying toward the elevator, not wanting to have to make up an excuse to her colleague’s unfinished question.

In front of the building, the same dark limousine with which Zach’s chauffeur had once driven her home was waiting for her. Henderson stood next to it and opened the passenger door for her.

“Miss Wright.”

“Thank you.” She looked over her shoulder, reassuring herself that nobody was watching her, before she got into the dark interior.

Behind her, the driver shut the door.

Only once she leaned back in the comfortable leather seats, did she notice that she wasn’t alone. A gasp escaped her.

“Miss Wright, I’m Xavier Eamon, a friend of Zach’s.” The man offered his hand, and she shook it hesitantly.

The limousine started moving, and Rochelle quickly assessed the stranger. He had dark hair and was slim. He wore a tailor-made suit and appeared elegant and well groomed. His voice was deep and calming.

“What is this about?”

He smiled at her and looked at his watch. “We only have about fifteen minutes, so please listen carefully. Zach found out who’s trying to pin the insider trading on him. And my friends and I are setting a trap for the culprit.”

Then he started explaining the plan.

25

Zach adjusted his tie and felt the tiny microphone that was attached underneath the knot. A thin cable ran along the underside of the tie and then disappeared between two buttons of his shirt, where it led to a small receiver. Its reach wasn’t far, but it didn’t matter, because his friends were close by.

The Champagne Bar at the Plaza Hotel at Central Park was relatively empty this time of day. Only a few tables were occupied, and Zach had chosen one from which he could watch the entrance. He didn’t have to wait long.

Emily Grover, dressed as elegantly as ever, entered the large room and ignored the host, who stood at the entrance. Zach rose and waved to her, smiling.

When she saw him, she walked to him. A broad smile lay on her red painted lips and he could see that she’d added an extra helping of make-up today. A wave of expensive perfume reached him and robbed him of his breath, when she stopped at his table.

“Zach, this is really unexpected.”

“It’s nice to see you.” He kissed her on both cheeks and pointed to the chair opposite his.

She sat down. “What’s so important that you wanted to see me right away?”

Zach reached for the bottle of champagne that stood in an ice bucket next to the table. “May I pour you a glass?”

“Please.”

When he filled her glass, he noticed that she seemed to become more curious by the second.

“Well, just tell me already what this is about.”

He placed the glass in front of her and took a deep breath. “Emily, do you remember our last meeting, when we spoke in the coffee shop of my building?”

She nodded and stiffened somewhat because she obviously remembered that he’d rejected her attempt at getting closer back then. “Of course.” The smile on her lips disappeared.

“I’d like to apologize. I was under a lot of pressure that day, and you just caught me at the wrong moment.” He took a deep breath and reached for her hand, stroking his fingers over the back of it.

Emily’s eyes widened in surprise, but she relaxed visibly.

“I have to confess that your words made me think. During the last few days I’ve come to realize that we are alike in so many ways.”

“Zach…” A seductive smile spread over her lips, but her charm was wasted on him like on a piece of furniture. He was drawn to Emily as little as he was drawn to a rattlesnake.

“Please, let me finish.”

She batted her eyelashes at him. “Please.”

His throat was dry from all the lies he was dishing up. He reached for his glass. She lifted hers, and he clinked his glass to hers. Drinking from his champagne bought him a few seconds of time.

“Emily, I was very surprised to find out that you’re really interested in me. After all, I heard rumors that you were getting married again. And I didn’t want to step into anybody else’s territory…” He let the sentence hang there, and she swallowed the bait.

“Oh, Zach. Those rumors… people understood wrong.” She looked deep into his eyes, and he had difficulty keeping his friendly facade alive. “Of course I’d love to get married again…” She put her hand over his. “But only to the right man… a man like you.”