The phone rang and she grabbed it in a second. "Yes?"

"Dinner," said a man's voice. "Come to the bottom of the stairs and I'll meet you there."

"Yes," Gillian said breathlessly. She got up and grabbed her purse.

She recognized Dean Harper at once. He looked so handsome and commanding. His tall frame, broad shoulders, and dark hair seemed to loom over her, as he politely escorted her to the dining room. She shivered, as his cold gray eyes ran over her as she walked into the room.

The dining room was small. There was one table set and only Alda and another woman were at it.

"More people arriving later," Dean said as they sat down. "This is Rose Hudson; she's on the committee with me."

"Hello," Gillian said nervously, avoiding the other woman's eyes.

Rose was a stringy, good-looking blonde, whose hair had obviously been dyed. It was teased out around her face, lending a strangely sexual air to her whole look.

Gillian was almost too tense to eat. Both Dean and Rose asked her questions and she did her best to answer them, but she was constantly blushing and wishing she could hide behind her straight blonde hair. She played with it constantly, and even Rose remarked on how lovely it was.

"Genuine blonde hair," she whispered, "you're very lucky."

Gillian blushed and drank a little more wine.

Dean filled her glass again. "To make you relax."

Later, she refused a brandy and sat waiting for what was going to happen.

"Well," Dean said, "let's head for the conference room."

He led the way, and Gillian found herself between Rose and Alda. It was almost comforting to have two women there to protect her.

The hotel was fairly modern, but the conference room was done in a medieval style. There were suits of armor, and along the wall were swords and chains and whips. Along one wall, there was a cage, and a strange piece of apparatus that Gillian didn't dare go and look at. It had a frame and straps hanging all over it.