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way to the top. Kirsten knew he was well aware of Simon Kendrick's position and had decided that status gave him the right to be treated as an equal. Townsend was very astute when it came to sizing up others. It was one of the talents that was going to assure him future success at Silco. Kirsten was also aware that some people would have characterized his ability as skill in using others, not just sizing them up. She agreed with the assessment and privately thought he and Liz made a terrific couple.
    " 'Evening, Simon. I see you've managed to make yourself at home here in the hotel. I sometimes think Silco supports this place!" Roger said genially. "Nice to see you, Kirsten. Ben." He nodded with the proper degree of condescension toward the other two. Kirsten realized that, as irritating as Simon could be, he never conveyed the sense of "position" that Roger Townsend did so well. The touch of pomposity in Liz's escort made Kirsten forget her hostility toward Simon instantly. She found herself wanting to giggle instead. Fortunately, she managed to restrain herself, but not before Simon had noticed. This time when his eye caught hers she was quite certain he was smiling in those hazel depths. For an instant she stared, fascinated, and then Ben's casual conversation brought her back to reality.
    "Will the two of you join us?" he was saying, his brown gaze momentarily on the low neckline of Liz's clinging green dress. Kirsten couldn't bring herself to be bothered by his attention and realized with a small sigh that Ben probably wasn't going to be the man to make her fall head over heels in love, after all. Well, hadn't she realized that right from the beginning? Still, he was such a nice, safe man…
    "Thanks, but we're on our way to the booth over there," Roger replied before Liz could agree. Kirsten knew from the way her green eyes reflected the soft light that the other woman was more than willing to accept the invitation. Liz was the one who deserved to be called a cat, Kirsten muttered to herself, watching Roger guide his date away from the table after a polite good-bye.
    For a moment there was silence around the small cocktail table as Kirsten and her companions each waited for the other to make some remark about the sophisticated pair who had just left. Then Kirsten allowed the giggle to escape.
    "A perfect couple. They'll go far at Silco," she chuckled lightly, catching Ben's answering smile and knowing he was remembering their earlier comments on office romances. Liz and Roger's had been one of the hotter ones recently.
    "Both of them know exactly where they're going," Simon put in, lounging back precariously in his chair and favoring his guests with a mocking smile.
    Ben grinned at him. "I have a hunch you're next on Liz Wilford's list should Roger prove unable to sustain the pace!" he warned.
    "Surely the worthy Mr. Townsend will continue in first place," Simon responded with a touch of genuine humor that startled Kirsten. She didn't see him as the type to gossip with lower-ranking employees. Although he lacked Townsend's pompous condescension, there was no forgetting Kendrick's dominant presence.
    "Not if Liz decides you're going to rise farther and faster," she told him.
    "But then, how does she know I intend to rise any farther or faster?" Simon murmured half to himself.
    Ben, obviously thinking the answer to that was evident, asked Kirsten to dance again and she accepted willingly.
    "Do you think he's ever going to leave?" she demanded, stepping comfortably into Ben's arms.
    "Nope. He's prepared to share that table with us for the rest of the evening," Ben stated with great certainty.
    "But he only invited us for a drink," Kirsten protested, frowning at him.
    "Mr. Kendrick will, in the current business jargon, do 'whatever it takes' to get what he wants, love. And take it from a friend, he's got his eye on you!"
    "You're wrong! What could he possibly see in me? I'm not his type at all. Besides, I'm not the least bit