'I went to see this man, who was a new client for the Bank. Or at least my part of it! He was floating his successful business on NASDAQ and wanted the Bank's help with dealing with his new wealth.' She corrected herself, as in her view, the Bradfords were already wealthy! 'Or at least his new liquid and tangible wealth!'

'Lucky man!'

'He'd worked hard for a very long time. He deserved it! And he was what you would call a real gent! Just imagine my surprise when I saw his wife.' She replayed Catherine's image. 'Tall and slim, a short skirt, superb legs and a very small and very tight waist!'

'A doubly lucky man! Was she corsetted?'

'Yes! Most certainly!' She applied an imaginary tape to Catherine's waist. 'I doubt her waist was more than twenty. But it could have been less! It certainly wasn't more!'

'Did she know, you knew?'

'Her husband must have known how I was dressed.' He had not stared or commented on her dress at all, as they had sat together on a comfortable sofa. 'All he said later on the telephone was, that I didn't know how much he had enjoyed the meeting!' She had no idea, whether he had meant more!

'What does his company do?'

'It's their company.' She emphasised their, by putting it in capital letters. 'And I can't tell you much more, as they are clients and in some delicate negotiations before they float!' She could play the professional discretion tack. 'But I will tell you that they are basically an electronics company, that controls and monitors complex systems through the Internet! When it's all public, I'll send you the press cuttings. There may be a picture of the happy couple!'

'That's very similar to what my company does!'

She drew a sharp breath, as she realised she could have broken the Bradfords' confidences. Suppose he was a competitor and the information could be used to advantage. 'What's your company called? I'll take a look at the Web Site.'

'Search for Cambridge Total Control!'

Well at least she could check that they weren't direct competitors! 'So I can assume that's another reason for MrTC. Total Control!'

Copyright 1999 by Ewart Higgins