The Scottish Banker of Surabaya - By Ian Hamilton Page 0,58

the middle of the bathroom, water dripping from her body, and towelled her hair as briskly as she had washed it. Dinner tonight and then I’m out of here, she thought. And if this is my going-away party, then I’m going to look good.

Ava put on black lace underwear and a black push-up bra. She brushed her hair until she could see it gleam in the mirror, and then fixed it back with her ivory chignon pin. She had packed a pink shirt that was a particular favourite, and she secured its cuffs with the green jade links. She left the two top buttons of the shirt undone to show her gold crucifix. Then she slipped on her fitted black linen slacks and her Cole Haan black leather pumps.

She seldom used much makeup, but tonight she added an extra touch of red lipstick and a little more mascara than usual. The effect was still understated, but the lipstick created a nice contrast to her skin and the mascara magnified her eyes.

She put on her Cartier watch, the shirt cuff sliding over it. It was almost six o’clock. She debated taking her Chanel bag and decided against it. The notebook and her phone could stay in the room as well. She’d go to dinner au naturel.

( 20 )

“I’m with the two most beautiful women in Surabaya,” John Masterson said from the driver’s seat of his Mercedes.

“Well trained, isn’t he?” Fay said, turning back to look at Ava from the passenger seat.

They had been close to half an hour late getting to the hotel and Ava had been in the lobby, phoneless, at six. Fay had her paged, so rather than hanging around at the door, Ava sat in the lounge and had a glass of Meursault.

Fay came into the hotel to get her. Ava watched as she crossed the lobby, stilettos clicking. She was wearing a sundress, white with a delicate floral pattern. The dress came just above the knee and had a neckline that exposed the top of abundant breasts. Heads turned as she passed and Ava saw her smile, obviously aware of and enjoying the attention.

“You look absolutely gorgeous,” Ava said.

Fay nodded in agreement. “And so do you. I wish I had your elegance.”

“Don’t be silly,” Ava said, pleased all the same with the compliment.

They left the hotel side by side, Fay’s stilettos making her almost exactly the same height as Ava. The doorman bowed to the waist. “Bu Fay, Bu Ava,” he said, running to open the car doors for them.

“Sorry to be late,” Masterson said as Ava got in. “I was on a conference call with New York. And then Cameron got tied up at the bank and phoned to say he wasn’t going to be at the restaurant until seven anyway.”

They pulled out of the hotel, turned left, and then turned left again into the parking lot of Tunjungan Plaza. “Goodness me, we could have walked,” Ava said.

“We are going to walk,” Masterson said.

The mall was even larger inside than it looked from the outside, and Ava would never have found the restaurant by herself. Even with Masterson’s knowledge of the place it was still close to a ten-minute walk from the car to the restaurant. There was a long line outside that Masterson ignored, moving to the entrance and shouting something in Indonesian to a host. The host waved them inside and took them to a table at the back of the restaurant.

“No Cameron yet,” Masterson said as they sat.

“I owe you a couple of thanks,” Ava said to him. “Fay was a wonderful guide and hostess today, and you got Cameron for me tonight.”

“I’ll take the one for Fay. As for Cameron, let’s wait until the evening is over.”

“Speaking of whom . . .” Fay said, looking towards the door.

He was in a grey business suit, the large knot of his tie pulled halfway down his chest, the tail swinging right and left as he bounced across the floor. He was shorter than Ava had imagined, maybe not even five foot six, and with the belly that Masterson had accurately described he looked a bit like a garden gnome in a suit. His hair was streaked blond, cut short, and gelled into little spikes. His lips were compressed as if in thought, his eyes darting around the restaurant. Masterson raised an arm and waved lazily. Cameron saw them and a quick grin cut across his face.

Masterson stood and extended his hand. Cameron shook it,