A REASON FOR MARRIAGE

“You really shouldn’t be in here.” Sara gave a derisive shake of her head as she moved past him to one of the porcelain sinks to wash her hands and face before filling and drinking a glass of water. Her face was still that sickly gray color.

He raised dark brows.” You are obviously unwell.”

“That’s still no reason-”

“The door is locked, and I will go where I want whenever I deem it necessary,” Simon declared harshly.

Sara gave a pained wince. He now appeared every inch the arrogantly forceful Simon Hamilton, joint owner of Hamilton. “And you deemed it necessary tonight to lock the two of us in a ladies’ powder room in Lincoln’s home?”

His jaw tightened. “Yes.”

That was what Sara had thought he would say. And he was right, of course;

she could imagine nothing worse than that anyone else should witness her humiliating reaction to being introduced to Bruce’s very pregnant wife. It was enough that Simon must now be wondering why she had reacted so strongly… She took another sip of water and deliberately avoided meeting Simon’s gaze in the mirror above the sink.

“I’m sorry about this. I suddenly felt ill-I must have eaten something earlier that disagreed with me.”

“Or met someone…?” he suggested dryly.

Sara gave a humorless smile. “Or met someone,” she acknowledged self-derisively.NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

Even in her distress Sara couldn’t help noticing how out of place Simon looked in this ultra-feminine room, with its rose and green floral wallpaper. Even the soaps next to the sinks were the same deep rose color, and several bottles of expensive perfume and pale pink toweling squares were arranged neatly on the onyx marble top. There were also two comfortable chairs covered in rose-coloured velvet.

“Could we possibly leave now, do you think?” He nodded tersely. “I have already asked for the car to be brought round.”

Sara tensed shoulders slumped with relief. “Have I mentioned before how wonderful you are?”

“I do not believe so,” Simon answered dryly. “But I will be happy for you to tell me so once we are well away from here.” His face darkened grimly.

Sara couldn’t even begin to imagine how awkward this situation was for him. How awful to have brought her here, expecting to spend a pleasant evening at the home of a business colleague, only to learn that business colleague was in fact her ex-fiance’s father-and, even worse, that her ex was also here with his new and very pregnant wife…

“Simon, I really am sorry.”

“As I said, we will talk about this once we are well away from here.” He continued to frown grimly as he took a firm grip of her elbow to hold her firmly at his side as he unlocked the door. “We will leave now.”

She blinked. “Without saying goodbye?”

Simon nodded abruptly. “Without speaking to anyone.”

Sara sensed the anger burning beneath the surface of Simon’s outwardly calm demeanor as they stepped out into the huge hallway, but she didn’t know him well enough yet to know who that anger was directed at: this uncomfortable situation or her.

“Simon-”

“Ah, there you are, angel. Feeling better…?”

Sara’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of Bruce’s voice. Simon’s fingers squeezed her elbow reassuringly before the two of them turned to face the other man in the otherwise deserted vestibule of the entrance hall. Sara breathed an inward sigh of relief as she saw Bruce was alone; she wasn’t sure she could bear to see the pregnant Emily again this evening.

“Simon and I are leaving now,” she said coolly.

Bruce raised blond brows. “You only just got here.”

“And now we are leaving,” Simon bit out coldly. “Please inform your father that I will call and speak with him some time next week.”

The other man’s cheeks became slightly flushed. He obviously resented Simon’s authoritative tone. “It would be more polite if you were to tell him that yourself.”

“As I am sure you are only too well aware, the current situation is beyond politeness.” Simon looked at the other man with coldly glittering eyes.

“Simon-”

“Stay out of this, angel!”

Simon released Sara’s arm and strode quickly across the hallway until he stood only inches away from the other man. He was slightly taller than Bruce. He was not touching him, but was still intimidating nonetheless.

“Her name is Sara. And you will not speak to her in that way. Ever again! Do I make myself clear?” he grated softly.

The other man’s jaw tightened. “You can’t just come into my father’s home and threaten me-”

“I believe I just did,” Simon purred softly. Dangerously.

“I called her angel because that’s what I used to call her when we were engaged,” Bruce met his gaze challengingly for several seconds before those deep blue eyes slid away and he instead looked at Sara. “It would seem that your marriage to me gave you a taste for powerful men, angel,” he drawled insultingly.

Simon drew in his breath sharply. “You-”

“I only see one man who fits that description, Bruce,” Sara cut in scathingly. “And it isn’t you!”

“Why, you little-” Bruce broke off warily as Simon placed a hand against his chest.

“I believe I have warned you never, ever to insult Sara in my presence again,” he reminded him in an icily soft voice.

“What on earth is going on here?” Sara turned a stricken face to see her Lincoln Bennet, stride forcefully into the vestibule. Shrewd blue eyes narrowed on his son and Simon as they faced each other challengingly. “Is there a problem…?”

Simon gave Bruce one last contemptuous glance before slowly stepping away from him to stroll back to Sara’s side. He faced his host. “Sara and I were just leaving.”

“So soon?”

Simon might have been more impressed with the older man’s attempt at regret if he hadn’t seen the look of relief in Lincoln’s eyes before it was quickly masked by polite query. It was a politeness Simon was too displeased to indulge at this moment.

“I am of the opinion that it would have been better if we had left some time ago,” he said dismissively, giving Lincoln a disapproving look as he took a hold of Sara’s arm, his mouth tightening with displeasure when he realized she was trembling again as she leant into his side. What could have happened between Sara and Bruce in the past to have caused this severe reaction in her? For her to be physically ill just from seeing him again?