Free Swimming with Sharks by Nele Neuhaus Page B

at the museum, but she described in detail how she’d virtually knocked out the two men, how the police showed up, and her surprise when she discovered the identity of the woman she had rushed to help. She told him about the Downeys and their apartment, while Oliver listened with an impressed look on his face. Alex felt very close to him and decided to reveal a little more about herself.
    “I was embarrassed at how often she thanked me and how they treated me like a noble and selfless rescuer,” she said.
    “But that’s what you were,” Oliver objected. “I wouldn’t have dared to attack two guys. Honestly. That’s courage.”
    “No.” Alex turned to the side so that she could see him better in the half dark of the night. “It was more an impulsive reaction. I was so incredibly mad that it was simply an outlet for my anger. If I’d had a baseball bat instead of my purse, I would have beaten those guys to a pulp.”
    Oliver looked at her with sleepy eyes and stroked her arm.
    “It makes you furious watching helplessly while someone gets mugged,” he said. He didn’t understand.
    “It had nothing to do with the mugging,” Alex said as she shook her head. “I ran into the man I’d been…er…seeing for the past few months at the event.”
    “I thought that was me.” Oliver smiled.
    “I haven’t talked about him because I didn’t know exactly what to say,” Alex said. “It’s a strange thing with him, nothing serious. He’s married.”
    “Not good.”
    “I never planned on having a serious relationship with him,” Alex explained. “When I met him, I told myself that it would be fine to go outevery once in a while and have some fun. Besides that, he knows many important people, and I thought that I could benefit in some way.”
    Oliver was no longer sleepy. He looked at her with his full attention.
    “I admit that I was flattered by his interest in me,” Alex continued. “He once reserved an entire restaurant for us. We flew in his private jet to see a boxing match in Las Vegas and to the Academy Awards. It was totally crazy and exciting.”
    “He wanted to impress you.” Oliver put on his glasses.
    “Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s what he wanted to do.”
    “And why were you so mad at him tonight?”
    “Because he stood me up three weekends in a row while I sat at home waiting for his phone calls.”
    “Aha. And when you were really mad and hurt, I came along.”
    “You ran me over with your bicycle,” Alex reminded him and smiled. “But that night it became clear to me that I didn’t feel anything for him. It was simply exciting to be with him. An excursion into high society.”
    “Great.” Oliver acted unimpressed and sat up in bed. “But how could this man—for whom you supposedly have no feelings—make you so angry that you went after two men just to let off some steam? Wouldn’t you have to feel something for him to get so angry?”
    Alex looked at him in bewilderment. Was he mad at her now?
    “Would it have been better not to say anything?”
    “You show up here at two thirty in the morning, have sex with me, and then you tell me about another guy,” replied Oliver. “What should I make of that?”
    “Okay, then I won’t say another word.”
    She smiled and stretched out her hand toward him.
    “Does this Park Avenue guy also have a name?”
    “Yes. I’m pretty sure that you’ve heard it before. His name is Sergio Vitali.”
    “Holy shit!” Oliver suddenly threw back the blanket with a jerk. He fished for his boxers and jumped up. He turned on the light switch andleft the bedroom. Confused, Alex squinted into the bright light. She got up and followed him into the kitchen.
    “What’s wrong with you?” she asked. Oliver turned around quickly. There was no trace of a smile on his face, and his gray eyes were ice cold.
    “It would be better if you got dressed now and left,” he said, opening the refrigerator door. Alex instantly regretted her honesty, because