The Deal by Tony Drury

rider with her skirt riding up might not create quite the right impression.
    Oliver knew that his thoughts were drifting. Amanda was wearing a simple pink blouse and skirt and not much else. She had tanned to perfection in the early summer sun and her daily regime in the gym had toned her muscles perfectly. Her hair was natural. Her face was relaxed and her smile was gentle. She put her hand on his lower thigh.
    “Thank you, Oliver, for your work so far,” she said as her thoughts returned to City Fiction. She kissed him on his cheek.
    The contract was going to be signed on Monday and Oliver knew what was awaiting him when the two million pounds were raised. He lay back on the grass and felt Amanda by his side. She undid the buttons of his shirt and began to run her fingers across his stomach.
    “There’s not much doubt that you’ll raise the money now is there?”
    “None at all,” he spluttered, as he felt her fingers probing down towards his groin. He brushed his hand against her midriff. It was sensational. She made no move as his fingers reached her left breast. He squeezed her gently through the silk material.
    “Mmm,” she moaned softly.
    “A down payment,” laughed Oliver.
    “Yes, of course. Our deal,” said Amanda. “I never, ever, change my mind. You must understand that, Oliver.”
    He had now moved his fingers inside the edge of her panties and discovered that she’d had a Brazilian wax. He wondered if he dare go further.
    Amanda turned towards him, wrapped herself around him, reached his lips, thrust her tongue inside his mouth and left his hand exactly where it was. He moved his hand a little further down. She froze and pulled away. Oliver was utterly perplexed. And worse was to follow. Amanda went quiet and refused to answer his gently whispered questions. Within thirty minutes they were driving back to London in silence.
    Andrew Agnew met his partner, Rachel, outside the Prince Edward Theatre. They were going to see Jersey Boys. Within five minutes they were joined by Charles and Lucy Harriman. They were too late for a pre-theatre drink and were shown to their box almost immediately.
    Towards the end of the first half of the show, the four players broke into hit songs from the past, and they clapped along with the rest of the audience. It was truly electric.
    During the interval, Rachel and Lucy chatted happily. Rachel was full of enthusiasm for the flourishing corporate finance business.
    “Andrew is coming home a different man,” she said to Lucy. “What about Charles?”
    Lucy hesitated before replying. “He is, what can I say, happier… than I can remember for some time. He’s really pleased with the way people have merged together.”
    “I see he’s not drinking tonight,” said Rachel.
    Lucy hesitated. She surely must know. “He’s driving,” she said.
    The five minutes bell rang.
    “I’m so pleased the men suggested we should meet, Lucy. I just feel, well, excited about what’s happening.”
    “Yes,” said Lucy, “the signs are propitious. But – actually, you may not know – I’m a doctor and we’re taught to be cautious. It goes with the job, I suppose.”
    “But still, I want you to have a good time tonight,” said Rachel.
    “Yes, of course, and I am,” said Lucy, smiling. “We’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow,” and they both laughed as they headed back to their box.
    During the second half the hits just kept coming: ‘Beggin’, ‘Bye Bye Baby, Baby Goodbye’, ‘Can’t take My Eyes Off You’ and ‘Rag Doll’. They all left the theatre in an exhilarated mood.
    But, in the coming week, Lucy would have cause to remember her ominous words – for her daughter, Tabitha, was to vanish off the face of the earth.
    Oliver did his best to impose himself on the meeting between City Fiction and Harriman Agnew Capital. He also tried to avoid eye contact with Amanda. He was still puzzled by the turn of events on Saturday afternoon. Her sudden request that they