Chapter 2: David Stanford

No sooner had she thought of the question than she saw him hurrying towards her, a thing slight fair man in a well- cut dark suit.

'Sorry', he said sliding into a seat next to her. 'Am I late or were you early?'

'I have only been here a moment's, she lied looking at him anxiously as she absorbed the air of weariness that he habitually wore. She had not seen him for about a forth night and she was struck by the way he was aging.

He was just forty five but looked alot older. There were lines round his mouth and eyes and his skin had a grey tinge.

The waiter brought her drink and looked at Bryan expectantly.

'My usual, Tom', David told him with a smile.

'Yes, Mr. Stanford', the waiter said beaming. Very pleased that such a man remembered his name.

David aye here frequently, he lived in a luxurious penthouse flat, a short walk away. This was the nearest local restaurant and he liked the place alot.

He had a married couple who ran his home. Mr. Stevenson was his chauffeur and handyman and looked after his clothes.

Mrs. Stevenson cleaned and cooked in the flat but David let them have three evenings a week free and came here to eat.

David turned from the retreating waiter to smile at Sharon.

'That is my favourite dress. You always look lovely in it', he said and Sharon flushed.

She had put on this particular dress because he had always told her that he liked it

Working for him meant a constant succession of important social gatherings for which she required a large and very expensive' wardrobe. She got a special allowance for clothes and David encouraged her to buy from good designers because as his personal assistant, Sharon was always representing the bank and Bryan felt that she should look expensive and elegant at all times.

It was the image he wished the bank to convey: moneyed, sophisticated and cool.

'Thank you, David. You look very elegant yourself tonight', she murmured.

'Why, thank you'. He did not sound convinced as he smiled at her ruefully. He must know that the suit no longer fitted perfectly which revealed how thin he was getting with each passing day.

David had never been a heavily built man but after his wife's death three years ago, he list weight as though his flesh was melting away.

His hair which had been a lovely pale gold, now had a sprinkling of silver hairs and a haunted look in his blue eyes as a result of the shock he got from his wife's death.

He had been driving and had emerged unscathed himself with a few minor bruises and cuts and a slight head injury. Deborah had been killed instantly.

David had never quite got over it. He blamed himself and was guilty because he had not died too.

If they had had children, it might have been easier for him to recover from the shock but he and his late wife had not got round to starting a family.

'Thank you, Tom', he told the waiter as he took his scotch and soda from him.

'I'm expecting another guest to join us - would you keep an eye open for him? His name is Bryan Ferdinand'.

'There was a gentleman who asked of you previously. He is still in the foyer making calls. I shall find out if he is Mr. Ferdinand sir'.

'Thanks, Tom' David said smiling at him again.

'Who is joining us?', Sharon asked disappointed because she had been looking forward to a dinner alone with him but not entirely surprised because David used social occasions to smooth business deals.

'A cousin of mine', he said with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Sharon was shocked as she said, 'You have never mentioned close relatives'.

David had expected her to be shocked by the news and was not disappointed

He had always told her things about himself and his background and Sharon had got the impression that he had no near family because none had visited him even when his wife was alive.

His friends were mainly colleagues or business acquitance, most of them married with family commitment s.

He had the habit of taking Sharon to any private gathering he was invited to.

They were not romantically involved but we're very good friends as well as close colleague.

David had told her that he was an afterthought to his parents who had been in their Kate forties when they had him.

He was an only child, well loved and indulged perhaps being raised by his old parents made him more serious with his business and tied to duty and work.

They had died when he was still a young man leaving him as the heir to the family merchant bank and an enormous fortune.

It was not until he left the university did he see much of the world outside banking.

He had attended a conference and met a beautiful French model half his age.

Deborah had been raven haired, tiny and exquisite.

David fell for her like a ton of bricks and married her a few weeks later, only to lose her within three years. A tragedy which had turned him into a shadow of his former self.

She liked David alot and felt protective towards him.

'Bryan is the only close relative I have', David said now smiling ruefully at Sharon. 'And I have only met him a couple of times, he lives in Switzerland.? And he is in the banking business, of course ' she said.

'It doesn't really follow that way but you are right. He works for the Swiss Bank at the moment but I intend to ask him tonight to join us'.

Sharon's eyes widened.

'I am leaving my shares in the bank to him There is nobody to leave them to. I am telling you this because I trust you. I have not even told him what I intend'.

Sharon felt cold suddenly. 'You ate talking as though.... good heavens. You are only Forty. You will marry again. No girl can refuse you with all your prospects. I know you miss Deborah and it isn't easy to get over things like that but you sound like you have given up on life and you mustn't. There is plenty of time for making wills'

'After working in the bank for years,I'd think that you knew better than that. It is never wise to put off making a will'