Free Sapphire by Katie Price

worth giving you this deal to secure that.’
    At that moment there was a knock at the door and one of the bar staff walked in holding a tray of drinks. She set them down on the desk. ‘Anything else, Alfie?’ she asked in a thick East European accent. She was pretty, but she looked ever so thin and her dyed auburn hair badly needed the roots redoing.
    ‘No thanks, Larisa, we’re cool.’
    Larisa left the office.
    ‘Where’s she from?’ Sapphire asked, just making conversation.
    Alfie rolled his eyes. ‘The Ukraine, I think, somewhere like that. Ryan, my business partner, has got this thing going with Eastern European workers, an endless supply it seems.’
    Alfie appeared ill at ease talking about it and Sapphire was about to press him when there was another knock at the door.
    ‘Come in,’ Alfie called out and in walked one of the most drop-dead gorgeous men Sapphire had ever seen. He was just under six foot, with a powerful, muscular body, jet black hair, wickedly sexy green eyes, and a sensuous mouth. Hello! Instinctively Sapphire smoothed back her hair and sat up straighter.
    ‘Sapphire, this is Ryan.’
    ‘Hi,’ she said, looking at him from under her lashes as they shook hands.
    ‘Hi, I’ve heard so much about you from Alfie but he really didn’t do you justice.’
    Sapphire liked the flirtatious comment – very much, and not just because Alfie obviously didn’t. Ryan had the most gorgeous Southern Irish accent – Sapphire was a sucker for a lovely accent.
    ‘So, shall we get down to the matter in hand?’ Alfie put in, a little abruptly.
    Ha! Sapphire thought, this should make business meetings more interesting.
    As they talked about what bookings Sapphire had coming up, and in particular, Georgia’s hen weekend which absolutely had to go well, Sapphire found herself sneaking glances at Ryan when she thought he wasn’t looking. But every now and then their eyes locked. It seemed Ryan was as interested in her as she was in him. The feeling of apprehension she had about having to work with Alfie was now being replaced by one of excitement. As long as Ryan was in the picture, it even made dealing with her ex-husband bearable.
    At the end of the meeting Ryan offered to show her round the refitted club. Sapphire had no great interest in what Alfie had done but she was perfectly happy to spend more time with the gorgeous Ryan.
    In fact, although she hated to admit it, Alfie had transformed the club, which had been looking decidedly seedy, into a sophisticated, cool space. He’d made the most impact in the private strip club, which had been a homage to the eighties and not in an ironic good way. Now it was an altogether more intimate space with dark red walls, ornate gold mirrors, a mix of private red leather booths and gold tables and chairs, and a large mirrorball that threw out circles of light.
    ‘I love this,’ Sapphire exclaimed walking in. ‘It’s a massive improvement.’
    ‘Glad you think so,’ Ryan said, sitting on one of the tables. He seemed the kind of man who was at ease in anysituation. Sapphire found his confidence very sexy. ‘I designed it. In fact I came up with the design for the whole club.’
    Typical Alfie, trying to take the credit to impress her, she thought.
    ‘It reminds me of my own place,’ Sapphire continued, walking round the room, intensely conscious of Ryan’s gaze on her.
    ‘It should do – you inspired me. I took a look at your place a couple of months ago to get some ideas. You’ve created a fantastic business.’
    Sapphire glowed with the compliment; she liked nothing better than to be praised for her work. They stood looking at each other for a second longer than you would if you were only business associates. Sapphire was the first to speak, ‘I’ve really got to go now; I’m meeting some friends.’
    ‘I’ll see you out,’ Ryan said, walking her through the club. He paused at the door, ‘I still don’t feel I know Brighton very well as I only