Free His Lordships Daughter by Brian A de'Ville, Stewart Vaughan

Handing one to Phyllipa he proposed a toast. “To beautiful women, wherever they may work.”
    “I’ll go with that.” Declared his Trouble-Shooter, happily sipping the golden liquid.
    “I thought you had gone off champagne.” Steven mused.
    “No! I didn’t say that. I said I wouldn’t buy any.”
    “If I remember correctly, you said it was a question of principal and you preferred not to drink it.” He persisted.
    Phyllipa frowned and sipped her wine again. She knew her boss was only pulling her leg but she couldn’t let him win anything verbally. “I know quite a lot about champagne.” She explained, modestly. “This is a good one. It’s a soft medium sweet, Louis Roederer.” Taking another sip, she hesitated. “Er… 82, I should think. How long have you had it?”
    Steven looked at the labelling on the bottle. “You’re dead right. That is exactly what it says here.”
    “How long have you had it?” she asked again.
    “I’m only guessing, but, about twelve months I should think.”
    “Ah!” Phyllipa said. “That would have been before I bought my principle into play. The price has gone up twice since then.” Her eyes stared mockingly into his . “So in answer to your enquiry.” She concluded.
    “I get your drift, Ms Gore.” Steven cut her off, drily.
    “Anything pre-principle.” She continued ignoring his interruption. “I will drink, but post-principle is out. It’s too expensive.”
    For a few seconds he went quiet and just gazed at her. He had only been having a little bit of fun, but if the exchange had been serious he got the feeling he would have lost the round by a mile. Picking up the bottle he topped their glasses up. “I’d like to thank you properly for what you have done.”
    Phyllipa’s eyes twinkled. “Forgive me if I seem labour to this point, but you kept telling me I wouldn’t or couldn’t get it.” She shook her head. “I gave you word on this and I don’t like to be challenged. It is very important to me!”
    “O.K but, in my defence Phyllipa, I still don’t know who you are, you are still a stranger who applied and got the job as a cleaner.”
    “Only because the position of MD wasn’t vacant.”
    He pressed his hands together as if in a prayer. “I still don’t know anything about you.”
    “Do you want to?”
    “Very much so, I want to know everything you will allow me to know.”
    “What had you in mind about thanking me properly.” Her voice was abrupt.
    “ Dinner , tonight?”
    “It sounds very attractive but not tonight.”
    For a moment he looked slightly hurt, but then cheered up. “How about tomorrow night?”
    “That would be ideal. But, there are two conditions.”
    “Anything.” He offered.
    “Dress will be formal and it will be my treat.”
    His face showed disappointment. “I am thanking you for landing the contract. It’s down to me.”
    Phyllipa shook her head and drank the rest of the champagne. “What I did was for the company. And to that end I will bring work in when I deem it necessary. Even if does mean my stepping out of line.” She looked defiantly at him. “I consider it my duty.”
    “Yes, well we are not going that road again.”
    “So what do you think? Dress will be formal and it will be my treat!”
    Steven sighed. “O.K you win.”
    “We’ll be sitting down at eight o’clock.”
    “We?”
    “You and I, At the Davenport Hotel, Just ask for me.”
    “And it has to be formal does it?”
    Phyllipa nodded. “Absolutely! I’m not having you sit at my table in working jeans and a scruffy old pullover.”
    “I don’t possess a scruffy old pullover.”
    “It’s just as well because I don’t want you to wear one. Phyllipa looked at him, waiting for a riposte, but, having been caught out before by his Trouble Shooter’s unusual debating skills, he preferred to stay silent.
    “That’s settled then. Eight o’clock it is, and don’t forget to bring a large appetite with you.”
    Steven laughed