Sidney Sheldon - Are You Afraid Of The Dark

THE LITTLE PIED-A-TERRE was a sumptuous apartment, beautifully furnished. Tanner looked around, amazed at how luxurious it was, and how elegant. The apartment suited her: an eclectic collection of paintings, a refectory table, a large chandelier, an Italian settee, and a set of six Chippendale chairs and a couch. That was all that Tanner had time to see before she said, "Come see my bedroom." The bedroom was done in white, with all-white furniture, and a large mirrored ceiling over the bed.

Tanner looked around and said, "I'm impressed. This is the most-" "Shh." Paula began to undress him. "We can talk later." When she had finished undressing Tanner, she started slowly taking off her own clothes. She had a body that was erotic perfection. Her arms were around Tanner and she was pressed against him, and she put her lips to his ear and whispered, "That's enough foreplay." They were in bed and she was ready for him, and when he was inside her, she squeezed her hips and thighs tightly together and then relaxed them, and squeezed again and repeated it, getting Tanner more and more excited. She kept shifting her body slightly, so that each sensation was different for him. She gave him voluptuous gifts he had never imagined, stimulating him to an ecstatic pitch of excitement.

Much later, they talked far into the night.

They were together every evening after that. Princess was constantly surprising Tanner with her humor and charm, and gradually, in his eyes, she had become beautiful.

ONE MORNING, ANDREW said to Tanner, "I've never seen you smile so much. Is it a woman?" Tanner nodded. "Yes." "Is it serious? Are you going to marry her?" "I've been thinking about it." Andrew regarded Tanner for a moment. "Maybe you should tell her." Tanner squeezed Andrew's arm. "Maybe I will." The following night, Tanner and Princess were alone in her apartment.

Tanner began, "Princess, you once asked me to say to you something I had never said to a woman before." "Yes, darling?" "Here it is. I want you to marry me." There was a moment's hesitation, and she grinned and flew into his arms. "Oh, Tanner!" He looked into her eyes. "Is that a yes?" "I want to marry you, darling, but-I'm afraid we have a problem." "What problem?" "I told you. I want to do something important. I want enough power to make things happen-to change things. And the root of that is money. How can we have a future together if you don't have a future?" Tanner took her hand. "There's no problem. I own half of an important business, Princess. One day I'm going to make enough money to give you everything you want." She shook her head. "No. Your brother, Andrew, tells you what to do. I know all about you two.

He won't let the company grow, and I need more than you can give me now." "You're wrong." Tanner reflected a moment. "I want you to meet Andrew."

THE THREE OF them had lunch the following day. Paula was charming, and it was obvious that Andrew liked her immediately. Andrew had been worried about some of the women his brother had been taking out. This one was different. She was personable and intelligent and witty. Andrew looked over at his brother, and his nod meant "good choice." Paula said, "I think that what Kingsley Group is doing is wonderful, Andrew, helping so many people around the world. Tanner's told me all about it." "I'm grateful that we can do it. And we're going to do even more." "You mean the company's going to expand?" "Not in that sense. I mean that we're going to send more people to more countries where they can be helpful." Tanner said quickly, "Then we'll start to get contracts for assignments here and-" Andrew smiled. "Tanner is so impatient. There's no hurry. Let's do what we were meant to do first, Tanner. Help others." Tanner looked over at Princess. Her expression was noncommittal. The next day, Tanner telephoned. "Hi, Princess. What time should I pick you up?" There was a moment of silence. "Darling, I'm so sorry. I can't keep our date tonight." Tanner was caught by surprise. "Is anything wrong?" "No. A friend of mine is in town and I have to see him." Him? Tanner felt a pang of jealousy.

"I understand. Then tomorrow night we'll-" "No, I can't tomorrow. Why don't we make it Monday?" She was going to spend the weekend with whoever it was. Tanner hung up, worried and frustrated.

MONDAY NIGHT, PRINCESS apologized. "I'm sorry about the weekend, darling. It's just that this is an old friend who came to town to see me." Into Tanner's mind flashed a picture of Princess's beautiful apartment. There was no way she could afford that on a salary. "Who is he?" "I'm sorry. I can't tell you his name. He's-he's too well known and he doesn't like publicity." "Are you in love with him?" She took Tanner's hand and said softly, "Tanner, I'm in love with you. And only you." "Is he in love with you?" She hesitated. "Yes." Tanner thought: I have to find a way to give her everything she wants. I can't lose her.

The NEXT DAY, at 4:58 a.m., Andrew Kingsley was awakened by the sound of his ringing telephone.

"I have a call for you from Sweden. Hold on, please." A moment later, a voice with a slight Swedish accent said: "Congratulations, Mr.

Kingsley. The Nobel Committee has chosen you to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics for this year, for your innovative work in nanotechnology…" The Nobel Prize! When the conversation was over, Andrew hurriedly dressed and went straight to his office. The minute Tanner arrived, Andrew rushed to tell his brother the news.

Tanner threw his arms around him. "The Nobel! That's wonderful, Andrew!

Wonderful!" And it was. Because now all of Tanner's problems were about to be solved.

Five minutes later, Tanner was talking to Princess. "Do you see what this means, darling? Now that Kingsley Group has a Nobel Prize, we can get all the business we can handle. I'm talking about big government contracts and huge corporations.

I'll be able to give you the world."

"That's fabulous, darling."

"Will you marry me?" "Tanner, I want to marry you more than anything in the world." When Tanner replaced the receiver, he was euphoric. He hurried into his brother's office. "Andrew, I'm getting married." Andrew looked up and said warmly, "That's good news. When is the wedding?" "We'll set it up soon. The whole staff will be invited."

WHEN TANNER WENT into his office the following morning, Andrew was waiting for him. He was wearing a boutonniere.

"What's that for?" Andrew grinned. "I'm getting ready for your wedding. I'm so happy for you." "Thank you, Andrew." The news spread quickly. Since the wedding had not been officially announced, no one said anything to Tanner, but there were knowing looks and smiles.

TANNER WENT INTO his brother's office. "Andrew, with the Nobel, everybody will be coming to us. And with the prize money-" Andrew interrupted. "With the prize money, we can afford to hire more people to send to Eritrea and Uganda." Tanner said slowly, "But you're going to use this award to build up this business, aren't you?" Andrew shook his head. "We're doing just what we set out to do, Tanner.

Tanner looked at his brother a long moment. "It's your company, Andrew."

TANNER TELEPHONED HER as soon as he had made his decision.

"Princess, I have to go to Washington on business. You may not hear from me for a day or two." She said teasingly, "No blondes, brunettes, or redheads." "No chance. You're the only woman in the world I'm in love with." "And I'm in love with you."

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Tanner Kingsley was at the Pentagon, meeting with the army chief of staff, General Alan Barton.