'I---what are you doing here?' she demanded.

'I work here, Ms. Packer,' he replied rather patiently, but his dark eyes were smiling and full of mischief. Keri silently cringed, she should have guessed from his suave persona and that air of authority he seemed to discharge.

What does he do here?

'Yes off course,' Keri felt herself colouring. 'I mean ---that is why you picked me up from the airport. Why didn't you tell me you were not the chauffeur,' she asked feeling embarrassed.

'I didn't want to risk losing my tip,' he grinned.

Keri covered her face with her hands, 'oh I am so embarrassed.'

She's so pretty, if only she could smile just once.

Bentley admired the casual paisley print sundress, nice curves. She was too close to his desk he could not see her legs. Bentley laughed. She observed he sounded good when he laughed.

'You didn't show me how to use the air conditioner,' she accused. 'I was freezing my---. I was freezing to death,' she amended.

No doubt it is a cute butt too.

'You seemed in a hurry to dismiss me, Ms. Packer.'

'My name is Keri.'

'Pleased to meet you Keri,' he grinned, extending his hand. 'My name is Bentley.'

'Bentley---?' Tessa walked out of her office to see Bentley and Keri exchanging a greeting as if meeting for the first time. The smile disappeared off Bentley's face. He straightened his shoulders.

'Er---Ms. Keri Packer. Your nine o' clock appointment, Mrs. Blakely,' Bentley announced.
Never mind that it was now twenty past nine. Tessa studied the charged exchange between Bentley and Keri. She caught the look in Bentley's eyes before he became all "businesslike." Didn't she know only too well how to read those looks? Wasn't she a player of note in her heydays?

Wow Bentley is into Keri. That didn't take long! Now isn't this interesting?

'Hey Keri,' Tessa smiled, waving her hand, inviting Keri into her office. As if in a trance, Keri slowly made her way into Tessa's office. When Tessa closed her door, Keri leaned against it and covered her face with her palms again.

'Keri, you okay?' Tessa placed a concerned hand on her shoulder.

'I tipped him ten pounds,' she mumbled from behind her hands.

'What?' Tessa laughed.

'That guy---Bentley,' Keri pointed towards the closed door. 'He picked me up at the airport the day I arrived. I tipped him ten pounds, thinking he was a chauffeur,' she exclaimed totally embarrassed.

'I see,' Tessa grinned, leaning against the front of her desk.

'Just what the hell does he do here?' Keri whispered.

'I think you better sit down before I tell you,' Tessa laughed. In the same trance like manner Keri sat down in front of Tessa.
'Bentley is Brad's private secretary,' Tessa laughed softly.

'What!'

'Every regional head of the Global Reporter worldwide indirectly reports to Bentley. I, myself report to him.'
Tessa laughed. Technically she was not an employee, she only had to answer to the chairman who was her husband, but Tessa acknowledged and respected the office Bentley occupied.

'I can't believe that,' Keri finally laughed. 'You didn't do much reporting to Seth back home at Kern and Byron.'
In her defence Tessa was not insubordinate. She stood up for what she believed and aggressively defended her position.

'I guess you of all people know, I'm no push over,' Tessa laughed.

'So Bentley is the P.A. to the Chairman?'

'He is also about the highest paid employee of GR,' Tessa laughed softly. Tessa was a share holder, she did not take a salary.

'I wondered how a chauffeur could afford those designer suits,' Keri squirmed with embarrassment.

'You noticed his suits?' Tessa teased with a grin.

'I noticed Brad's sexy suits and Italian handmade shoes as well.'

'Eyes and hands of my husband,' Tessa warned.

Keri laughed. I can't believe Brad actually got you to the altar.'

'Why?' Tessa chortled.
Not that she got anywhere near an altar. Her marriage was a ten minute affair in front of a magistrate and then Tessa was back in her office thirty minutes later.

'I can't even count the number of hopeful men who stood in line wanting to marry you,' Keri smiled, shaking her head.
Tessa stood up and walked to her drinks cabinet. Most of those men Keri referred to, only wanted to put a ring on her finger because she was an heiress, her husband included. Granted her husband had not been interested in her wealth, but, initially, in the stocks and shares she'd possessed.

'What would you like to drink?' Tessa smiled.

'I'd love a soft drink please Tessa. I can't believe how formal the environment is around here,' Keri shrugged her shoulders. In New York everybody was on first name basis. Even the CEO was addressed by his first name.

'They do stand on ceremony here don't they?' Tessa laughed, handing Keri a soft drink. Although she remembered her father's P.A. was just the same. 'I'd love to show you around,' Tessa invited.

'Oh yes please. I'd love that so much.'

Tessa walked Keri through some of the various departments and facilities of GR. They started on the first floor. Tessa walked around greeting everybody and showed Keri GR's children's nursery. Some of the little ones gathered around Tessa. She picked up a little girl with chubby cheeks. Keri smiled to herself. Tessa had not changed much. She never treated others differently. She was humble even to those at the lowest levels. The children of the employees of GR had highly skilled practitioners and experts to deal with the various educational and psychological needs of children.

Her next visit was to the tenth floor to the operations centre that housed the GR war room; a flurry of noisy journalists; editors; and support staff. Again Tessa smiled, greeted staff, and offered a kind or encouraging word to others as they moved along. Keri was introduced to world famous journalists whose names she'd only seen credited to front page stories. She was then shown GR's fancy gymnasium on the eighteenth floor. The best was saved for last. GR's fancy restaurant and cordoned off from the restaurant was a heavenly recreation centre. It was huge. It had plenty of lounges, limited lighting, fancy gaming machines, ten pin bowling facilities, and various other entertainment. It also had a huge well stocked bar. There was so much more. It took up the entire nineteenth floor.

'Wow,' Keri exclaimed. 'I wouldn't mind working here if just to access the awesome recreation facilities,' she joked as they entered the elevator back to Tessa's office.

'You can,' Tessa stated as they returned to her office again.

'What?' Keri laughed. 'No-I was just joking.'

'I'm not,' Tessa smiled, Keri could tell Tessa was serious.

'What would I do here?' Keri asked, humouring Tessa.

'Exactly what you did at Kern and Byron, be my secretary,' Tessa explained.

'You don't have a secretary?'

'I did. She left three months ago to take up a job in Paris.' Tessa pursed her lips. 'I was just not happy with the candidates I interviewed, Tessa sighed. 'I just did not click with any of them and I've been so spoilt by Bentley.'

'But can't you carry on sharing Bentley with Brad?'

'Bentley really is Brad's right hand man. He knows how to manage Brad and understands Brad's requirements without Brad having to express it,' Tessa smiled.

Heck he dragged me back here to reconcile my marriage.

'I guess what I'm saying Keri, is whilst my husband has very kindly allowed me the use of Bentley's services, it does hamper Brad's effectiveness.'

'Tessa, I live in New York.'

The buzzer on her desk interrupted Tessa. She flicked the switch.

'Brad,' she answered.

'Tessa,' Brad sighed. 'I need a letter typed and faxed to Sydney before it closes for the day.

So? I am not your P.A. !

It was odd that Brad was calling her. If Bentley was out, he had two very able support staff that assisted him. Her husband had never called on her to do any secretarial functions previously. Tessa looked at her wristwatch, still wondering why her husband was expecting her to do his administrative work.

Keri watched Tessa curiously. She looked at Tessa's diary and saw Tessa had a meeting scheduled in the next ten minutes. Tessa could not possibly finish typing the letter and fax it to Australia before her next meeting could start. What the hell? She herself was not doing anything. After all Tessa had flown her here and provided her with the most  luxurious accommodation, all at her own expense, she could at least assist with that minor task. How difficult could it be for an executive secretary as efficient as herself to type something as simple as a letter?

'I can help,' Keri volunteered, just as Tessa started to tell Brad she was coming through.

'What!' Tessa exclaimed.

'Well I'm here. I can type. I don't have any plans. So I will help you,' she offered.

'Oh no. I mean I did not invite you here today to take advantage of you.'

'"Take advantage of me."' Tessa you have done more than enough for me. How difficult will it be for me to type the letter?'

'Keri, look I know how efficient you are,' Tessa laughed. 'Hell I want you to work for me, but I don't want to abuse you, when you've come to visit.'

'I insist.'

'Tessa,' Brad buzzed again. 'Are you going to make me type this letter with two fingers? Brad pleaded.

Feeling boxed in by Keri and Brad, she relented. 'I'm coming to your office,' she sighed.

Keri stood up and clapped her hands victoriously.
'Okay,' Tessa pointed one index finger at Keri. 'Remember what I said, eyes and hands off my husband,' she threatened as they walked to Brad's office.

Where the hell is Bentley?

'Brad, Keri has come to say "hi."'

Brad had his mobile cupped between his shoulder and ear. Two index fingers were responding to an email.

'I'll call you back shortly Alaister,' Brad hung up, and looked at the two visitors in his office.

Tessa knew Alaister was the Editor in Chief at the Australia office. Her husband looked busy. He could have done without the interruption, but he stood up and smiled warmly at Keri.

'Keri,' he smiled. 'I trust the air conditioning is behaving,' Brad grinned.

'Er yes---Mr. Blakely.'

'Brad,' he corrected.

'Brad,' Tessa interrupted. 'Keri heard your cry for help and has offered to rescue you.'

'Really? Thank you,' Brad smiled. 'I'd buy you lunch if I was a single man,' he laughed.

'I'll buy her lunch,' Tessa interjected, and they all laughed. Brad's eyes met his wife's.

Does this mean she's not cross with me anymore?

'So I'll leave you to it?' Tessa smiled at Keri. 'There's a work station just to the left of Bentley's office. You may type the letter there.'

'Er---yes,' Keri mumbled.

'Relax Keri my husband's not an ogre,' Tessa laughed. 'I do have a meeting now, but when I'm done we will have lunch,' Tessa promised.

'Okay,' Keri smiled.

'Bye,' Tessa looked at Brad as she exited.

'Thank you Tessa,' Brad called as she departed. He then relayed his instructions to Keri.

Tessa was just finishing with her meeting, she was at her door saying goodbye to the associate she was meeting with, when she observed Bentley back at his desk.

'Bentley,' Tessa called out to him.

'Yes, Mrs. Blakely,' Bentley mumbled uncomfortably and followed Tessa into her office.

'Sit down,' Tessa instructed. Obediently Bentley lowered himself into the chair opposite Tessa's desk.

'Where the hell did you disappear to?'
Bentley squirmed about uncomfortably, Tessa waited.

'Mr. Blakely asked me to lose myself for an hour.'

'I beg your pardon!'

'Perhaps you should talk to him,' Bentley mumbled.

Glaring at him, Tessa got up from her chair, and perched herself on her desk in front of Bentley. 'Out with it,' she demanded.

Bentley cleared his throat. 'Mr. Blakely said he wants the undivided attention of his P.A.' Bentley looked at Tessa and quickly looked away again. Tessa narrowed her eyes angrily. 'He said if I disappeared, and if Ms. Packer could see the need for additional help, ---she could be favourably influenced.

Tessa stood up, 'your boss is a scheming, manipulative---.'

'Please---Mrs. Blakely. Do not go to him. I should not have even repeated his comments.'

'So why did you?'
She knew her husband's faithful and trusted assistant respected Brad's obsession for privacy.

'Mr. Blakely knows you would very much like Ms. Packer to join GR. He will do anything ---to please you,' Bentley murmured.

Including feigning an urgent need for a secretary's help. Tessa lowered herself again on her desk. 'I guess I owe him then if Keri accepts my job offer?' Tessa grinned.

'I guess,' Bentley smiled.

'So what did you do with the ten pounds Keri gave you, Mr. Chauffeur?'

'Bought a tub of ice cream.'

Tessa smiled. 'If Keri accepts, I'd like you to assist her find an apartment close to our offices.'

'Do you think she will accept?' His curiosity was more of self interest than conversational.

Tessa knew Bentley was interested, but she was not going to play matchmaker. Keri was still coming to terms with her breakup with Max. She did not want to push Keri when she was on the rebound. Right now Keri needed space and supportive friends.

'She is single,' Tessa informed Bentley. 'Keri has no family here. It's a daunting challenge for somebody to move to another continent, not having family and friends close by,' Tessa pursed her lips.

'You did.'

'You practically hijacked me,' Tessa accused.

Not to mention, I was in love with your arrogant boss.

'I should get back to my desk,' Bentley stood up.

'Yes, go and earn your salary,' Tessa teased.

'Oh is this where you are hiding?' Brad raised an eyebrow at Bentley.

'Sorry sir, you needed something?' Bentley asked as he walked towards Tessa's door.

'Yes, I'll talk to you just now,' Brad kept his eyes trained on Tessa as he walked further into her office. Tessa stood where she was in front of her desk. She was supposed to be cross with her interfering husband, but she was admiring the way his hair looked all messy and unruly. He had obviously been raking his hand through it earlier. He stood in front of Tessa now, just a hair's breath away.

'Interfering again?' she spoke softly.

'Whatever could you be talking about?' he feigned ignorance.

'Do you eat with that lying mouth,' she whispered.

'Amongst other things,' Brad boldly placed his hands on his wife's hips.

'You should go back to your office.'

'Are you still cross with me?'

'No.' She bit on her lower lip. Brad watched with fascination.

'How about you give me a hug?'
Her eyes still locked to his, Tessa lifted her arms and wrapped them around his shoulders. Brad did the same. Tessa closed her eyes. She loved the warmth and strength of her husband's arms. It felt like the safest place in the world as far as she was concerned.

'I love you,' she whispered.

'Oh-I apologise,' Keri announced as she opened Tessa's door after knocking. 'Er---Bentley said I could come through.'

Tessa smiled and dropped her arms. Brad kept one arm around his wife.
'That's okay Keri. I was just leaving,' Brad smiled. He kissed Tessa on the cheek. 'I love you,' he whispered into her ear. 'Enjoy lunch darling,' Brad departed.

'Oh he's so cute,' Keri whispered.
Tessa laughed softly.
'Sorry to have interrupted,' Keri was contrite.

'No problem,' Tessa smiled. 'If you accept the job offer, you'll be seeing Brad do that often. I told him no hanky panky in the office but he does it anyway,' she laughed.

'He's amazing. He loves you so much.'

'Yes, I know.' Tessa acknowledged with a smile. 'He is amazing. So you hungry?'

'Starving,' Keri sighed.

'Okay with you, if we eat in the restaurant here?' Tessa enquired. 'The food is pretty amazing.'
It had to be. Tessa had hired a French chef, revamped the menu with his assistance, introduced healthier options as well as added more variety to it.

      'Bonjour Madame,' a gentleman in a chef's uniform approached Tessa's table.

'Francois hi,' Tessa smiled.

Keri was awestruck.
A French chef!
For a chef he was extremely skinny. Young, twinkling light blue eyes, baby face with a slim moustache. With his huge chef's hat, she could not tell the colour of his hair. He was smiling at Keri expectantly.

'Francois, meet Keri Packer. Keri this is our very own chef, Francois Bertrand.'

'Hi,' Keri smiled shyly.

'Mademoiselle,' Francois delicately lifted her wrist and kissed it exaggeratedly. 'Tse pleazure is mine.'

'Stop flirting Francois. What's on the menu today?'

'Ah Madame, I ghav se veal grilled in se testee moshroom sowis, ent gardane veshterbil grilled in se orlif oil.'

Keri used the napkin to cover her mouth, desperately trying to hide her grin.

'Any fish?' Tessa pleaded.

'Madame?' Francois was offended.

'Francois please, we're not having fish at home,' Tessa laughed. 'Lyndon has banned us from eating fish, so please,' Tessa pleaded.

'Viry well,' he conceded. 'I hav se salmon. Grilled wit se lemoan buttare?' He offered.

'Thank you. You can do the veal with fries and a green salad and send a tray up to Brad.'

'Hof coarse,' Francois nodded, and muttered something about only men knew how to appreciate good food.

'Er---,I'll try the veal with the garden vegetables,' Keri accepted.

'Ah mademoiselle, you ghar lark a brez hof fresh air,' he smiled profusely at Keri, and gave Tessa a narrowed glare. He tossed his tea towel over his shoulder and marched away.

'Traitor,' Tessa accused Keri with a grin.

'What a sexy accent. He can read me the menu the whole day,' Keri burst out laughing.

'I don't know about sexy, but attitude, indeed,' Tessa laughed.

'Wow this place is like a five star hotel,' Keri whispered.

Tessa looked around appreciatively, seeing it through Keri's eyes. 'Brad believes if the staff have an environment conducive to stimulate productivity, they perform better and I agree.'

Francois returned with a bottle of white wine and shoved it in front of Tessa's face. She loved white wine, but just to annoy Francois she replied, 'red please. The delicious Californian one Brad and I tasted two days ago.'

'Ghamerikins!' He sliced his hand in the air. 'Whit do zay know abit gud wine?' He snorted and stormed off again.

The minute Francois' back was turned, Keri laughed into her napkin until her eyes watered. 'You are cruel to the poor guy,' Keri charged.

'I love ruffling his feathers, especially when Brad's not around. Brad generally orders for the two of us whenever we come down here,' Tessa laughed.

'No wonder his comment about men knowing better....' Keri smiled

'I suppose I dented his patriotic ego. He's passionate about his country's world famous wines.'

'So you're enjoying London Tessa? You've managed to settle in?'

'Yes, I love it surprisingly.' Tessa smiled. 'I have a group of girlfriends I hang out with.' Tessa did not reveal that her "girlfriends" were fashion magazine editors; some of the country's leading musicians; celebrity actresses, who all wanted the sought after A-lister, Tessa Blakely at their do's. Tessa had cemented friendships with some of them. She much preferred spending her free time with her husband and son, but occasional she hung out with them, taking in a movie; or a meal out. Tessa loved attending the Spring and Summer fashion shows with them.

'You were always the star attraction at any party,' Keri smiled.

Tessa wrinkled her nose, 'I've mellowed down now in my old age,' she grinned.

'You still look amazing Tessa. I swear you have not aged at all in the last four years,' Keri laughed.

'So my dad must be telling me the truth then.'

'Your dad?'

'Yeah my folks are here visiting. Lyndon called his grandfather, demanded he come over and they're here,' Tessa laughed. 'You will meet them tomorrow evening when you come over for dinner.'

'Perhaps I should take a rain check.'

'Why?' Tessa exclaimed.

'Well---I'd be imposing at a family dinner.'

'Nonsense my folks love being with people, and they will be especially pleased to see a New Yorker,' Tessa grinned. 'And I assure you my husband does not mind as long as I am happy.'

'Tessa, I can't tell you enough how happy I am for you. I always hoped you'd find love. I did not like some of those unscrupulous "hopefuls" that pursued you because of who you were.'

'I learnt at a very early age to read people,' Tessa's eyes smiled sadly into the distance. 'I never thought I'd ever marry. JeTag was my playground,' she brought her eyes back to Keri. 'In my wildest dreams I did not think I would ever marry a man who walked through the doors of JeTag,' she laughed.

And The One I could not read, I married.

Their meal arrived in the arms of a smiling Francois. It smelt heavenly. It tasted delicious. The ladies thanked Francois who beamed excitedly. He was not smiling when he had to serve the red wine. It was faux pas as far as Francois was concerned.

'I'm glad Brad came into your life,' Keri laughed, as Francois departed. 'You look so content and happy and Lyndon is so adorable.'

'He is,' Tessa chuckled. 'He knows who to browbeat and he would not dare to do so with his father.' Tessa cut into her delicious looking salmon.

'I can't believe Brad could be strict with sweet Lyndon,' Keri sipped on the red wine.

'Oh believe me, he does. I know a mother is supposed to be the chief disciplinarian,' Tessa shrugged her shoulders, 'but I'm hopeless and Brad cracks the whip whenever it is required, which thankfully is not often. Now enough boring stories about married life and babies, how are you doing and how are you enjoying London?'

'I have been a busy tourist,' Keri laughed. 'I have done a sunset tour of some of London on the opened top, double decker bus.'
Tessa smiled approvingly. 'Off course I just had to hop onto the London Eye. That was breadth taking.'
Tessa nodded, sipping on her wine.
'Then I wanted to visit London's world renowned museums. I was spoilt for choice,' she sighed. 'I could not make my mind up between the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert. So I settled on the V&A. Wow did you know it has 3000 years worth of artefacts from around the world?' Keri was astounded.

'Yes,' Tessa chuckled. 'Brad took me there a year ago. It has an amazing collection of art and design.'

'There's still so much more I want to see,' Keri moaned softly. 'I want to walk over the Waterloo Bridge, take a lifeboat on the Thames, and oh what about a night visit to St. James' Park as well.'

'Ah quiet the romantic aren't we?' Tessa quipped.
The far away adventurous gleam in Keri's eyes died. Tessa could have kicked herself.

'Oh Keri, I am so sorry. I did not mean to remind you of---about---.'

'It's okay,' Keri offered a brave smile. 'I know you meant no harm,' she inhaled deeply. 'I do occasionally think about Max,' she murmured, but it's over. I am not going back to him.'

'You still have a few more days to pack in some more sigh seeing,' Tessa reached over and clasped her hand over Keri's.

'Tessa if your offer still stands. I accept,' Keri's eyes met Tessa's unwaveringly.

        -end chapter ten-