By Jackee C.

"Quick! Pretend that we're together."

Justine LeBlanc peered over her menu at the dark-haired man who had dropped into the seat across from her.

"Not very original," she observed dryly, giving her new companion a once-over. Elegantly cut deep brown hair was in a disarray, falling over a broad forehead marring her view of hazel green eyes. He was dressed in a white button-up shirt that was opened at the collar as if he'd pulled off a tie in a hurry. Not a bad package overall, she decided--if she were still interested in relationships, that was.

"The best I can do for the moment," he muttered, brushing the hair back over his head while attempting to glance unobtrusively from the corner of his eyes. "Did they follow me? I can't turn around."

"You're kidding, right?" Justine blinked. Surely he didn't mean to continue this little game. She didn't like games, and she wasn't going to play this one with him. It didn't matter that his hazel eyes were locked with hers as if searching for something.

Justine shifted for an uncomfortable moment, her senses disturbed immeasurably by his gaze. Fighting the unwanted emotion, she dropped her menu on the table and made ready to leave. She didn't need this. Not now. Not again.

"Wait." The man called softly, grasping her arm across the table. "Please don't go." There was something urgent and vulnerable in his gaze.

"I can't stay here," Justine told him gently, though she knew that she should have simply issued one of her standard put downs. But her heart wasn't quite into it. That alone was warning enough.

"Then let's leave together," he said, not releasing her arm, but rising with her.

Justine was ready to object.

"Please," he begged.

Justine nodded, and allowed him to take her arm and lead her the long way out of the restaurant. Once outside, she could get rid of him. But it didn't happen that way. When she was ready to turn toward her hotel, she was quickly steered in the opposite direction up the street.

"They may see us," was the abrupt explanation she was given. She allowed him to lead her around the corner and then she slowed, pulling her arm away from him.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked.

"Taking us some place safe," he answered as if it should have been obvious.

"And where is that?" She wanted to know. "I have a cellular phone--why not just call the police? Aren't they after you."

"They were," he told her. "But I think we've gotten away from them."

Justine blew out a breath, wondering just how it was that she became entangled in these things. "Listen, I don't know you, and you seem safe now, so I'll just be on my way." She turned to head back toward her hotel.

"Please wait," he said, taking her arm again.

Justine stopped and turned toward him, casting a warning look to the hand that grasped her arm. Despite the brave front she showed, she was beginning to realize just how alone she was. This man could conceivably do anything he wanted to her and she would be helpless to do much more than scream. Even if she ran, she didn't know a soul in this town aside from her business associates. And to make matters worse, the sun was beginning to settle over the horizon. She never learned.

The man seemed to take her unspoken hint, and released her arm as if he were holding a hot coal. "I'm sorry. It's just that I've only just meet you," he told her.

My point exactly," Justine turned and began to walk quickly. "You don't know me; I don't know you." The man must have taken her words as an invitation because he ran to catch up to her.

"I'll just make sure you make it back to you hotel."

Justine bristled, came to a stop. "How do you know I'm staying at a hotel?"

"This is the downtown sector." He told her easily. "Only people visiting on business are here this time of day. By the way, I'm Adam. Adam Chandler." He reached a hand to shake hers.

Justine was mildly appeased by his answer. She wanted to believe him. And he did seem to mean what he said. But hadn't that been the case the last time. Tentatively, she reached out a hand and shook his.

"I'm Justine," she said.

Adam raised a brow. "Just Justine?" he asked, with a curious smile.

"Just Justine," her eyes dared him to challenge her further.

"I apologize," Adam raised his hands in surrender. "You really can't be too careful in the city I suppose. There are all sorts of hidden dangers."

"So, what brings you this lovely city?"

Justine turned and began walking. "Like you said, business."

Adam nodded. "Okay. I understand your trepidation. To prove I'm not the bogeyman, how about I buy you dinner at your hotel. I won't ask anything personal, and I promise not to try to figure out what room you're in."

Justine eyed him.

"Okay, dinner at the hotel of your choice... There are at least seven of them in a three block radius." Adam looked at her, waiting patiently as she decided.

Justine turned away from him. Something about him was just too compelling by far. She'd been in town on business for four days and she was beginning to get lonely, which was why she'd set off on her own in the first place. What could dinner hurt---it wouldn't even cost her anything. She'd have dinner with Adam Chandler, and then never see him again. She would be going home in a couple days, after all.

She turned back toward him. "All right, I'll have dinner with you." She named one of the hotels in the area. He didn't have to know that it was her hotel. She would work out a way to hide that fact from him.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The Cabo Lionna restaurant was full when Justine and Adam arrived, but they were able to be seated right away. Adam was good company, and when by the time they were halfway through the meal he had her laughing, she began to relax.

"So, what do you do, Adam?"

"Ahhh, but I thought there was a ban on personal conversation," Adam said teasingly. "If I answer yours, you have to answer one of mine."

"All right," Justine agreed, his smile having become infectious. "But I get to decide which of yours I'll answer."

Adam seemed slightly disappointed that she was still being cautious, but he didn't comment on it. "Done," he said. "I'm in securities."

Justine made a face. "Sounds serious." She'd noted the way his expression had altered when he'd said the word.

"It is," was Adam's cryptic reply. "Now...for my question." He seemed thoughtful for a moment, then. "Who hurt you so badly that you don't trust men?"

Justine's mouth opened, but she didn't respond. How could he have known about Michael? Was she so transparent? "I..." she finally got out. "I think it's time that I..." She reached for her purse, preparing to escape as quickly as possible.

"I'm sorry," Adam apologized, not attempting to restrain her this time. "I'm sorry... Justine," he continued while she pushed back her chair. "I didn't mean... It's just that you look so sad sometimes. I can see it in your eyes that you've been hurt--and badly. I didn't mean to upset you."

His words penetrated, and Justine looked across at him. People had always told her that she wore her heart on her sleeve. Maybe it was true. "I know you didn't mean it," she found herself saying. "It was a surprise to hear it though."

"You want to talk about it?" Adam asked gently. "You know... talking about it to a stranger sometimes helps."

Justine frowned slightly at his choice of words. It was odd, but she didn't really view him as a stranger anymore. Taking a deep breath, she smiled. "LeBlanc," she said. "My name is Justine LeBlanc." She thought she saw the light come on in Adam's face.

"Thank you," he said, warmth flowed across the table toward her.

She nodded and looked down at her hands and began to speak. She told Adam everything, of the small business that she had started and of the product that she'd produced. And then she told him about Michael--of course she left all of the names out, but she told of how he'd wooed her and off how she'd fallen madly in love with him only to find that he was stealing her blind. All of the hard work she was putting into her business was being funnelled into Michael's larger cooperation. Now, the product that she'd designed was trademarked under the name of Michael's corporation and being sold worldwide.

Through all of her story, Adam listened sympathetically, not once interfereing. He was so quiet, that she had almost forgotten that he was there; simply allowing the words to pour out of her. She hadn't dreamed how therapuetic it could be to simply talk about it, get it off of her chest. When she was finished, she looked across at Adam, seeing him for the first time in the twenty minutes that she'd been talking.

His eyes were locked on hers, and odd expression crossing his face. "Oh Justine..." he began, then stopped abruptly, his eyes darting behind her. "We've got to get out of here," he murmured, looking hastily around the room.

Justine turned, preparing to glance over her shoulder.

"No, don't look," Adam stopped her. "They may not have seen me yet. Why don't you get the waiter."

Justine turned obediently until she spied the waiter across the restuarant. "You never did tell me why they were after you."

"It's kind of a long, complicated story," he murmured. "I promise, when we get out of this, I'll tell you the whole thing. But for now, we need to get out of here as quickly as possible."

Justine turned just as the waiter approached the table, asking whether their dinners had been satisfactory. Justine assured him that they were while Michael laid out their bill in cash and slipped into the black folder that the waiter produced.

"Is their another exit?" he asked the waiter, slipping another bill into the folder.

The waiter's brows raised slightly, but he gestured toward a door labelled, 'Employees Only'. "If you walk through that door, there is an exit that will take you out of the service entrance. Shall I direct you?"

"Please," Adam said. "We'll join you there."

As the waiter set off as directed, Adam grasped Justine's hand and dragged her toward the exit. He seemed frantic to escape whomever was hot on their heels.

"Are these people dangerous, Adam?" she asked him.

"Uh...I don't know," he told her with a sheepish grin. "I'll get us out of this, don't worry."

"I've heard that before," Justine warned him as they reached the door. Their waiter was waiting there. He quickly entered the employee code and allowed them entry. "Just out that way," he pointed and led them down the narrow corridor to the dock. Adam held Justine's hand all of the way.

When they stood in the dark alley alone, Justine turned toward him "What now?"

"Well, maybe it is time that I ca--" Before he could finish the statement, a burly man dressed in dark clothing appeared. He punched Adam hard in the stomach. Adam's breath them him in a whoosh and he doubled over in pain.

Screaming, Justine jumped back, but not before someone grabbed her from behind. She kicked and screamed to no avail as the hand that clamped over her mouth would not allow enough sound to pass her lips to alert a fly, let alone a policeman or someone in authority. She was forced to watch for several seconds as Adam was hit again in the stomach and then knocked to the ground.

When he climbed back to his feet the burly man asked where it was. Adam merely stared back at the man, saying nothing. The man sneered at him, then turned to watch as a dark sedan pulled into the alley. Turning first to Adam and then to Justine, he pulled out handcuffs. Then, having secured them both he shooved them roughly into the back seat of the vehicle and scooted in behind them.

Justine gazed fearfully at him and then toward Adam. The intermittent lighting from streetlights shone into the car, playing across both men's faces. Burly guy looked furious, immovable. That Adam was in pain was obvious by the way he closed his eyes and grimaced.

Justine wanted to help him on the one hand, on the other, she wanted to yell at him for getting her kidnapped by a couple of... whatever these men were. She was too afraid to do either.

Adam seemed to have come to terms with his pain and began to speak. "Let her go, she doesn't know anything," he said.

"Be quiet," the burly man replied coldly.

"Look, Igor," Adam started again.

"I said, 'Be Quiet!'," the big guy roared, he shoved Adam for good measure.

Adam grimaced, but remained quiet. Through the passing light, Justine occasionally caught his gaze. His expression was dark. "Did they hurt you," he risked speaking again.

Justine shook her head in reply. And burly guy shot Adam a warning look. Adam ignored it.

Moments later, the vehicle pulled to a stop in front of a darkened warehouse.

Both Justine and Adam was taken inside and left in a darkened storage closet.

"Are you okay?" Justine asked him from where she'd landed on the floor.

"Yeah," Adam grunted. She could here him trying to sit up.

"Good," she said. Then, "What the hell did you think you were doing?! You get me....kidnapped, and thrown into a closet! And...and..." she couldn't speak for the fury that bubbled up in her.

"It wasn't supposed to go this far," Adam assured her. "I thought it was all under control. But I promise, it will all be okay in the morning... I hope."

"You hope?!" Justine fumed some more. "What do you mean you hope?!"

"I told you I was in securities," Adam murmured. "I help companies prevent what happened to you. I'm a freelance industrial investigator."

Justine gaped in the darkness. "You what?"

"I help companies prevent industrial espionage. I test their security systems, help them find leaks in their security systems--that type of thing."

Justine felt weak. "You're kidding me."

"No, Justine, I'm not kidding you." She heard shuffling and then she felt Adam's shoulder against hers. "I never expected this, though. I promise you, I didn't."

Justine didn't know what to say. She only knew that in the space of a few hours, one Adam Chandler had turned her life topsy-turvy.

"I want you to help me," Adam was continuing. "When we get out of this, that is. I'd offer you a very competitive salary. You've experienced the type of thing I'm trying to prevent. I think it could work and I could really use the help."

Topsy-turvy turned to dazed. "Huh? We're handcuffed in a closet and you're offering me a job?"

"Well, yes." Adam said.

"Oh no," Justine moaned, turning away. Though it was dark, and he could only touch her with his shoulders and the sides of his body, she found herself wanted to say yes. What was wrong with her? She didn't know this man and she wasn't sure she should believe the farfetched story he was feeding her.

"Come on, Justine," Adam's voice was toned low, convincing. "I think it's meant to be. Don't you?"

She moaned again, fighting the things her fool heart was telling her. When was her brain going to kick in, anyway?

"Justine?" Adam called to her, scooted closer. She nearly jumped out of her skin when his shoulder touched her. "Justine," he breathed, close enough that she could feel his breath on the side of her face. "Say yes."

"Yes," she heard her fool mouth saying just before she felt Adam's lips on hers. The kiss affected her deeply, sending her fool brain completely out to lunch. Coherent thought was nowhere to be found.

A creaking sound and brilliant light flooded the enclosed space, sending Adam and Justine quickly apart. Justine squinted up at the well-dressed fifty-ish looking man who gazed stunned at the two of them. Then laughing, he directed one of the men with him to unlock them.

"Adam, Adam, Adam," he laughed, clapping the younger man on the shoulder. "I knew you were good, but this is... Frankly, I'm astounded."

Adam grinned at the older man before rubbing at his newly released wrists. He then looked toward Justine as she was released, and then reached for her hand, drawing her forward.

"I'd like to present Justine LeBlanc, Mr. Davichiana. She's going to be working with me in the future."

Mr. Davichiana threw back his head and laughed. "I'll say. Congratulations to both of you. And now, Adam allow me to apologize for my security forces. It's a good thing I returned early from Felicity's and got your message, else I might have missed this endearing scene. But, on the other hand, you might have had to spend the entire night with the lovely Ms. LeBlanc, not entirely a dismal proposition, eh, Adam?"

Adam looked supremely embarrassed, Justine simply wanted to vanish through the floor. Davichiana seemed to catch on to their discomfort.

"But, let us complete our business so that you may... seal your deal, shall we say?"

"Right," Adam nodded and reached toward the heel of his shoe. He quickly adjusted something and the heel slid opened. He pulled out a small compact disk and handed it to Mr. Davichiana.

"Thank you again, Adam. As usual you have done a wonderful job of flushing out that which sinks to the bottom." Bowing slightly, Davichiana turned to his man. "Take them wherever they want to go." Then turning back to Justine and Adam. "Have a very pleasant evening."

Thirty minutes later, Justine found herself in her hotel room with Adam Chandler. He was seated on her bed and she was wrapping his ribs. "You sure this does any good?" she asked.

"Not entirely," Adam told her, smiling through the pain. "But as long as you're here, it's worth it."

Justine cleared her throat. "Uh, you know... Um... This is going far too fast. I mean, I haven't even known you for 8 hours yet. I'm not even sure that this isn't some dream that I'm going to wake up from soon."

"Don't wake up," Adam encouraged. "If this is a dream. And don't wake me either."

Justine felt a falling sensation in the pit of her stomach as she realized that if this were a dream, she didn't want to wake up either. Her fool heart wouldn't let her. She closed her eyes and let Adam kiss her.

The End.