'If Elyssa is planning to be your enemy, you may not have much choice,' Vanessa warned.

'Don't be so pessimistic.' Hope sighed. 'She may well think that I'm not good enough for her brother.'

'Oh, please, don't start making excuses for her!' Vanessa groaned in despair. Finishing the call, Hope returned the phone to her bag. She hadn't been able to bring herself to tell her best friend that she had been called a whore. She was too afraid that Vanessa might secretly think that Elyssa had had some justification for voicing that cruelly humiliating opinion. Emerging from the cloakroom, she saw that Ben was now lounging up against the wall a few feet away.

'Let's talk,' he urged, holding out a languid and rather wavering hand, which made her suspect that he was drunk. 'Who stole your big happy smile? I want you to tell me what's wrong. Van would kill me for walking by on the other side.'

Cheeks hot with self-consciousness as envious female eyes locked to her, Hope hurried over. 'Shush… there's nothing wrong… please keep your voice down.'

Ben locked both arms round her as much to keep himself upright, she suspected, as to prevent her walking away. 'Would you like me to take you home?' 'Thank you but no.'

'I got droves of women,' Ben confided lazily, bloodshot green eyes mocking her as she blushed and attempted to tug free of his hold. 'Do you think I could seduce you away from your Greek billionaire?'

'No chance. Nothing and nobody could,' Hope swore with fervour.

'Never say never… it's like challenging fate.' Scanning her pale, troubled expression, Ben sighed and dropped an almost paternal kiss down on top of her head. 'You're way too sweet and straight for Nicolaidis.'