"Isn't that Bob Schmidt?" She had only been out to the plant once in the last five years, then just to pick up her father. "I went to school with his daughter, Justine."
"It could be. I don't know his name."
Rolt's lack of interest in the man's identity was apparent in his indifferent response. Her father would have known. He prided himself on knowing the name of every man who worked for the company. But Alanna did not bring the fact u
p. She had too recently recalled her father's assessment of the qualities and traits needed to be successful.
It wasn't important that Rolt know the guard's name. As long as the payroll clerk and the computer knew, that was all that mattered to him. His attitude chilled Alanna regardless of its business merits. She admired her father more as a sensitive failure than she did Rolt's success as an unfeeling giant with physical needs and no human emotions. Thank God, Kurt didn't take after his hardhearted brother.
Inside the gates, the plant bustled with activity. Smoke billowed from pollution-controlled stacks atop the large buildings. Heavy trucks rolled to and from the large pits, kicking up dust clouds to choke the air and lay a film on everything in sight. The din was unceasing, yet within the luxury car, only a low drone of the noise could be heard.
Nothing was as Alanna remembered it. There were no cheerful waves from the workers as had always met her father's appearance in the yard. No one indicated a desire to chat, even among themselves. Efficiency and work reigned. There wasn't time for anything else.
"You haven't been here since your father sold, have you?" Rolt observed as he parked the black Mark V in a reserved space.
"Only once, briefly," Alanna admitted coolly.
He switched off the motor but made no move to leave the car. "A lot has changed since your father's time, hasn't it?" He watched her, a considering look in his eyes. "I don't think you like the change, do you?"
Her violet eyes swept over the scene again. Guessing that he had somehow already read her thoughts or that she had betrayed therein her expression, Alanna gave a short negative shake of her head.
"We're making a profit, which is more than your father ever did," Rolt stated.
"I don't think I like it when a man's worth is measured by the amount of money he makes," she retorted.
The expectant gleam in his eyes, partially veiled by half-closed lashes, indicated that he had anticipated her response. She was left with the feeling that he had mockingly invited her remark.
"It's the challenge. Making something out of nothing or taking something that is dying and making it live again that brings satisfaction," he told her quietly. "It's fighting and winning. Money isn't the goal, it's the scoreboard. A man works to obtain his goal whether there's money at the end or not. It all comes back to the challenge."
"You sound like an authority on the subject," Alanna said in a frosty manner.
"Let's say that I always get what I want."
There was something faintly pretentious about his statement that put Alanna instantly on guard. Suddenly the quiet elegance of the car seemed to close in around her. There were people everywhere around them, yet she didn't feel safe in the car with Rolt. Her pulse raced in silent alarm.
"This discussion is very enlightening, but I think I came here to see Kurt." The briskness of her reminder was brought on by her sudden attack of nervousness.
Her fingers closed over the door handle. She didn't want to wait in the car until Rolt walked around to open her door. Before she could release the latch, his hand had circled her wrist to hold her in the seat.
"Wait," he told her.
Alanna turned, apprehension rounding her eyes although she tried to conceal it. "Why?" She breathed the wary question.
Amusement glittered briefly in his eyes. She nearly flinched when his other hand moved, but its target was the sun visor above her head. Rolt flipped it down, revealing a lighted makeup mirror.
"You might want to do some repairs before you see Kurt." The gash near his mouth deepened into a mocking groove. "Unless you don't think he'll notice that your lipstick is smeared."
A scarlet stain dotted her cheeks as Alanna saw the smear of beige pink from her lips. He had deliberately waited until the last minute to point it out to her, thus forcing the memory of his kiss to the forefront just before she met Kurt.
Quickly she wiped away the smear with a tissue from her purse. Indigo blue eyes lazily watched her actions. His silent observation was unnerving, and her fingers began to tremble as she added fresh color to her mouth.
"Would you like me to blot it?" Rolt mocked.
"No, thank you." With hurried movements, she pressed the clean side of the tissue against her lips. "There," she said, indicating that she was finished and ready to leave the car.
"One more thing first," he insisted.
As he leaned towards her, Alanna tried to remain out of his reach, pressing her shoulders against the side of the car door. But it wasn't her arms that his hand sought, but the collar of her blouse.