CHAPTER 1
Three weeks after Harley McDowell began work at Howell, Mason and Chan, investment consultants, he was given his first client, until then having teamed with another guy to learn 'the HMC way'.
At forty-two, Harley generally knew all there was to know about investment consultancy but what he had to learn was huge amount of data input into reporting modules that HMC management required to track each consultant's performance and to screen for possible fraudulent or illegal activities involving clients.
He greeted Mrs Linda Brooks warmly, already aware she was a 'blue' category client, meaning she was comfortable with medium risk investments.
"I'm not happy to no longer have Mr Snowden as my consultant."
"I can understand that and sympathize."
She smiled and said it was unexpected to have a financial consultant who possessed charm. "I know Mr Snowden retired and you were hired as his replacement but I haven't been told whether you are you any good at advising."
"Yes I am."
The 44-year-old wealthy widow pulled out a small mirror, examined her hair-line and pushed her fringe a little more sideways and returning her mirror to the bag and clicking the bag shut said, "Yes you are what?"
"I am successful, having built a solid career on solid results but the truth is that simply indicates a trend. Good investment advice is only good at the time it's given. You will be aware markets and opportunities are in constant flux."
"God listening to you is dry. Please give me a drink?"
"Coffee or mineral water?"
"It's almost lunchtime. I was thinking wine."
"Apart from the boardroom, this establishment is a dry ship. Come on, we'll go out and have lunch. If you don't eat lunch you may watch me eat."
"What if your superiors describe this as irregular?"
"My first concern is for my client."
And so, from that first encounter an intimate relationship development between consultant Harley McDowell and Linda Brooks. Although she was only a little older than him, the friendship had not have them racing to bed. She didn't require him because she had several boyfriends and Harley believed it was unethical to fuck a professional client. Even so, he met Linda for lunch every month to six weeks and she sometimes called and invited him to take her to a film. He usually obliged and assumed none of the other men in her life liked historic romance films.
Harley had a 38-foot yacht that was rigged so he could sail it single-handed comfortably and twice Linda had been out sailing with him. It was foreign to her and she loved it.
On the most recent occasion it was a hot day and the wind died on them. They lay in the aft-cockpit sipping wine and Linda said, "I'd like to sunbath topless. Are you okay with that or do you want me to do on to the cabin roof."
"No here's fine. I'm not scared of bared breasts and I won't think any less of you if I see they flop."
She hesitated.
He teased, telling her to get on with it, thinking she'd back down but she smiled and divested and looked okay.
Harley had been dressed just in shorts ever since they'd left the marina.
Not staring, he said quietly, "Why haven't you remarried. I reckon guys would be really pleased with your body shape and although your manner is somewhat abrasive I've never seen you irritated or behave irrationally. In fact you are a very pleasant woman."
"Is this a proposal?"
"I was married for eight years to an older woman before she tired of me. I think next time I'll marry an athletic, younger woman."
"Athletic? Well that eliminates me."
"Might I make a personal suggestion?"
"You may."
"If you wish to attract a suitable partner you should reflect your wealth in the way you look and the car you drive."
"But I love my Mercedes."
"Then trade it in for a soft top. Men find a blonde driving a sports car is compulsive viewing and that suggests you lighten the color of your hair."
"But this honey color is my natural color."
"I was only suggesting."
"Yes I acknowledge that. Anything else?"
"Then you are interested in what I'm saying?"
"Indeed."
"No serious contender will come forward while you associate with those divorcee guys."
"But they are my pals. A lady needs sex."
"I was only suggesting."
"As always what you say makes good sense. I'll think about it. This is good wine."
"We should only drink good wine. Oh you may be interested to know I can afford this boat because I don't have an extravagant wife."
Two months later Harley received a call from a very excited Linda Brooks.
"I met this guy a fortnight ago and he's in London at an international seminar for the type of surgery he's involved with. He wants me to fly over on Thursday and meet him in Paris for four days. It's not adultery because his wife died thirteen months ago in a boating accident. I met him through a girlfriend who rather thinks she excels as a match-maker."
"Great, just do it Linda if you feel he's right for you and you're confidence you'll be safe with him in a foreign land. Sometimes it can pay to take a red category risk.
"Like when you told me to invest in gold when most other advisers were saying the price had peaked?"
"Exactly. Sometimes red can be good."
"Look thanks for your advice but my real reason for calling is to ask for a favor. Could you meet my daughter off her flight on Friday night at 9:00? Since Claire completed her degree in marine biology she's been working on research on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia. She knows about Errol and me going to France to meet him and when I said I wouldn't go because I didn't want her arriving home without a welcome she said well in that case she wouldn't come home. I weakened and agreed to go and said I'd arrange someone to meet her. She said not to bother but when I mentioned it could be you she became interested."
Harley asked curiously why was that?
Linda hesitated and he growled she must tell him.
"I have mentioned you in emails, about being my new financial consultant and that you had introduced me to sailing."
Harley said doubtfully, "And why would that make her interested in me?"
He heard Linda swallow and he waited.
"I might have mentioned I was a little attracted to you... um sexually... but then last weekend you mentioned you were interested in younger women."
"So why would that interest her?"
"I really don't know. Um she usually admires my taste in everything."