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ignaling Gavallan in some way。 Then his eyes were on her。 Gornt followed his glance。 Now both men were looking at her。 She felt their magnetism。 It intoxicated her。 A devil in her pushed her feet toward them。 She was glad now that she had dressed as she had； more provocatively than she had planned； but Linc had told her this was a night to be less businesslike。
As she walked she felt the brush of the silk； and her nipples hardened。 She felt their eyes flow over her； undressing her； and this time； strangely； she did not mind。 Her walk became imperceptibly more feline。
〃Hello； tai…pan；〃 she said with pretended innocence。 〃You wanted me to join you？〃
〃Yes；〃 he replied at once。 〃I believe you two know each other。〃
She shook her head and smiled at both of them； not noticing the trap。 〃No。 We've never met。 But of course I know who Mr。 Gornt is。 Andrew told me。〃
〃Ah； then let me introduce you formally。 Mr。 Quillan Gornt； tai…pan of Rothwell…Gornt。 Miss Tcholok … Ciranoush Tcholok … from America。〃
She held out her hand； knowing the danger of getting between the two men； half her mind warmed by the danger； the other half shouting； Jesus； what're you doing here。
〃I've heard a lot about you； Mr。 Gornt；〃 she said； pleased that her voice was controlled； pleased by the touch of his hand … different from Dunross's； rougher and not as strong。 〃I believe the rivalry of your firms goes back generations？〃
〃Only three。 It was my grandfather who first felt the not so tender mercies of the Struans；〃 Gornt said easily。 〃One day I'd enjoy telling you our side of the legends。〃
〃Perhaps you two should smoke a pipe of peace；〃 she said。 〃Surely Asia's wide enough for both of you。〃
〃The whole world isn't；〃 Dunross said affably。
〃No；〃 Gornt agreed； and if she had not heard the real story she would have presumed from their tone and manner they were just friendly rivals。
〃In the States we've many huge panies … and they live together peacefully。 In petition。〃
〃This isn't America；〃 Gornt said calmly。 〃How long will you be here； Miss Tcholok？〃
〃That depends on Linc … Linc Bartlett … I'm with Par…Con Industries。〃
〃Yes； yes I know。 Didn't he tell you we're having dinner on Tuesday？〃
The danger signals poured through her。 〃Tuesday？〃
〃Yes。 We arranged it this morning。 At our meeting。 Didn't he mention it？〃
〃No；〃 she said； momentarily in shock。 Both men were watching her intently and she wished she could back off and e back in five minutes when she had thought this through。 Jesus； she thought and fought to retain her poise as all the implications swamped her。 〃No；〃 she said again； 〃Linc didn't mention any meeting。 What did you arrange？〃
Gornt glanced at Dunross who still listened expressionlessly。 〃Just to have dinner next Tuesday。 Mr。 Bartlett and yourself … if you're free。〃
〃That would be nice … thank you。〃
〃Where's your Mr。 Bartlett now？〃 he asked。
〃In … in the garden； I think。〃
Dunross said； 〃Last time I saw him he was on the terrace。 Adryon was with him。 Why？〃
Gornt took out a gold cigarette case and offered it to her。
〃No thank you；〃 she said。 〃I don't smoke。〃
〃Does it bother you if I do？〃
She shook her head。
Gornt lit a cigarette and looked at Dunross。 〃I'd just like to say hello to him； before I leave；〃 he said pleasantly。 〃I hope you don't mind me ing for just a few minutes … if you'll excuse me I won't stay for dinner。 I have some pressing business to attend to 。。。 you understand。〃
〃Of course。〃 Dunross added； 〃Sorry you can't stay。〃
Neither man showed anything in his face。 Except the eyes。 It was in their eyes。 Hatred。 Fury。 The depth shocked her。 〃Ask Ian Dunross to show you the Long Gallery；〃 Gornt was saying to her。 〃I hear there're some fine portraits there。 I've never been in the Long Gallery … only the billiard room。〃 A chill went down her spine as he looked again at Dunross who watched him back。
〃This meeting this morning；〃 Casey said； thinking clearly now； judging it wise to bring everything out in front of Dunross at once。 〃When was it arranged？〃
〃About three weeks ago；〃 Gornt said。 〃I thought you were his chief executive； I'm surprised he didn't mention it to you。〃
〃Linc's our tai…pan； Mr。 Gornt。 I work for him。 He doesn't have to tell me everything；〃 she said； calmer now。 〃Should he have told me； Mr。 Gornt？ I mean； was it important？〃
〃It could be。 Yes。 I confirmed； formally； that we can better any offer Struan's can make。 Any oner。〃 Gornt glanced back at the tai…pan。 His voice hardened a fraction。 〃Ian； I wanted to tell you； personally； that we're in the same marketplace。〃
〃Is that why you came？〃
〃One reason。〃
〃The other？〃
〃Pleasure。〃
〃How long have you known Mr。 Bartlett？〃
〃Six months or so。 Why？〃
Dunross shrugged； then looked at Casey and she could read nothing from his voice or face or manner other than friendliness。 〃You didn't know of any Rothwell…Gornt negotiations？〃
Truthfully she shook her head； awed by Bartlett's skillful long…range planning。 〃No。 Are negotiations in progress； Mr。 Gornt？〃
〃I would say yes。〃 Gornt smiled。
〃Then we shall see； won't we；〃 Dunross said。 〃We shall see who makes the best deal。 Thank you for telling me personally； though there was no need。 I knew； of course； that you'd be interested too。 There's no need to belabor that。〃
〃Actually there's a very good reason；〃 Gornt said sharply。 〃Neither Mr。 Bartlett nor this lady may realize how vital Par…Con is to you。 I felt obliged to make the point personally to them。 And to you。 And of course to offer my congratulations。〃
〃Why vital； Mr。 Gornt？〃 Casey asked； mitted now。
〃Without your Par…Con deal and the cash flow it will generate； Struan's will go under； could easily go under in a few months。〃
Dunross laughed and those few who listened covertly shuddered and moved their own conversations up a decibel； aghast at the thought of Struan's failing； at the same time thinking。 What deal？ Par…Con？ Should we sell or buy？ Struan's or Rothwell…Gornt？
〃No chance of that；〃 Dunross said。 〃Not a chance in hell！〃
〃I think there's a very good chance。〃 Gornt's tone changed。 〃In any event； as you say； we shall see。〃
〃Yes； we will … meanwhile 。。。〃 Dunross stopped as he saw Claudia approaching uneasily。
〃Excuse me； tai…pan；〃 she said； 〃your personal call to London's on the line。〃
〃Oh thank you。〃 Dunross turned and beckoned Penelope。 She came over at once。 〃Penelope； would you entertain Quillan and Miss Tcholok for a moment。 I've got a phone call … Quillan's not staying for dinner … he has pressing business。〃 He waved cheerily and left them。 Casey noticed the animal grace to his walk。
〃You're not staying for dinner？〃 Penelope was saying； her relief evident though she tried to cover it。
〃No。 I'm sorry to inconvenience you … arriving so abruptly； after declining your kind invitation。 Unfortunately I can't stay。〃
〃Oh。 Then 。。。 would you excuse me a moment； I'll be back in a second。〃
〃There's no need to worry about us；〃 Gornt said gently。 〃We can look after ourselves。 Again； sorry to be a nuisance … you're looking marvelous； Penelope。 You never change。〃 She thanked him and he willed her away。 Gratefully she went over to Claudia Chen