Saving Willowbrook (33 page)

‘You don't waste time on small talk, do you?'

‘No.'

‘Could we still meet?'

Cameron was signalling to her, so she said, ‘One moment please.' She covered the phone. ‘He wants to meet me.'

‘Get him to come here,' he whispered. ‘Let's show him the house he's trying to destroy.'

She nodded then uncovered the phone and held it between herself and Cameron as she spoke, so that he could hear everything. ‘I don't see any point in us meeting, because I'm not going to change my mind. But if you wish, you can come to Willowbrook.'

‘I was thinking of sending a limo to fetch you up to London. I'm a busy man.'

‘Not possible. I'm a busy woman, with a daughter and business to care for, and no subordinates to take over.'

‘Just a minute.' The phone went dead apart from a faint beeping sound, then there was a click and Ray said, ‘Very well. It's about time I looked at this place of yours for myself. How about I come down tomorrow?'

‘Weekends are my busy time. We have guests in the chalets.' She winked at Cameron and waited.

‘Monday, then.'

‘Very well. But you won't change my mind about selling.'

‘Perhaps you can give my secretary directions.'

‘Mr O'Neal will do that better than I could.' She handed him the phone.

‘Hello, Miss Bradley. This is how you get here . . .'

When he put the handpiece down, Ella let out her breath in a whoosh of relief.

‘You did well,' Cameron said. ‘It's not everyone who can make Ray come to them.'

‘I don't want to see him at all.'

‘I think it'll be good for him to see what he's trying to destroy. This place is very impressive, you know.'

‘Will that do me any good?'

‘I don't know. He does seem unusually keen to get this project up and running. Strange, really. He used to be quite interested in antiques and history. Or his first wife was. I don't know about this wife. It's worth a try, anyway.' He studied her face. ‘Time for you to rest now, I think. You're looking tired again.'

She smiled at him. ‘Yes. But I'm feeling much better today – and much happier.'

‘So am I.' It was a moment before either of them moved, then they went to find Stephanie, who was looking after Amy, to thank her for her part in bringing them together.

Afterwards Ella went upstairs and Cameron was despatched to the shops for more supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables, since another family had booked in.

When Ray put the phone down, Miss Bradley came into his office and closed the door. ‘I think I should go with you on Monday.'

He looked at her in amazement. ‘You don't usually get involved in DevRaCom's projects.'

‘I've heard so much about Willowbrook that I'd like to see it for myself.'

He looked at her suspiciously. ‘What are you up to, Sonia?'

‘Keeping my eye on you.'

‘Well, keep your eye on the main game as well. You know how badly we need that project to go ahead so that we can demonstrate that the company is still in expansion mode. And we don't want the project to cost us a small fortune, either.'

She gave him one of her bland smiles. ‘I'll arrange for a limo to pick us up on Monday and then I'll cancel your appointments for the day. Eight o'clock suit you?'

He shrugged. ‘It's a waste of time your coming, but I'll be ready.'

‘Will Mrs Deare be joining us?'

‘Why not invite the whole management team and make a party of it? No, Petra damned well won't be coming. Why should she? She's never even tried to get involved in the business side of my life because she knows I'd not stand for it.'

‘You seem to have been going out without her quite a lot lately. You're not exactly the world's most faithful spouse.'

He gaped at her. ‘My private life is none of your business.'

‘Just curious. I do field some personal calls. I've been with you a long time.'

His expression softened. ‘Best executive secretary a man could have.'

‘I won't go on working for you if you do anything dishonest to get hold of Willowbrook, though.' She turned and left the office before he could reply.

It was a full minute before he realized he was still gaping open-mouthed at a closed door, a further minute before he went back to sit at his desk.

He didn't take her words lightly. She never made threats she wasn't prepared to carry out.

But hell, a man couldn't run his business to suit his secretary. You could always get another secretary . . . though perhaps not one of Sonia's calibre. He thumped his clenched fist down on his desk. She knew his ways, dammit, could think on her feet, didn't need telling what to do half the time. He
needed
her.

He couldn't dismiss what she'd said, either. She had a way of making an observation every now and then that cut to the quick. And when he'd disregarded her rarely offered advice, he'd invariably regretted it.

He thumped his desk again to vent his annoyance but it did no good, so he flipped open his appointments diary. Meetings for the rest of the morning, even though it was Saturday, and there was no one on the list he really wanted to see. Suddenly he couldn't bear the thought of it. What was the point of being CEO if you couldn't do something for yourself occasionally? He pressed the intercom. ‘Cancel my meetings for the rest of the day, Sonia. I'm going to the golf club.'

‘Certainly, Mr Deare. I'll see you on Monday.'

He didn't look at her as he walked out, but could feel her eyes following him. Her words followed him, too.

What he was doing wasn't against the law. Not exactly. Hell, a man had to fight to stay on top, didn't he?

Nineteen

Miles spent the whole of Saturday, well into the long May evening, searching for other options to save his credibility and the future he desperately wanted with DevRaCom. By the time he got back to the hotel, he was exhausted and had found nothing. Since he needed to be careful with his money and had seen the prices they charged for meals at the hotel, he went next door to the pub and bought a substantial meal at a quarter of the price.

Then he went to sit in the bar, where he got chatting to a group of guys who were throwing back the booze like it was water. You could pick up a lot of information from locals so he lingered, eking out his drink but still imbibing more than usual. It didn't matter. He'd not see these guys again.

One of them knew the best jokes Miles had heard for years. Even as he laughed loudly, he mentally noted down the joke for future use. He'd definitely not heard that one before or the next few the guy told. This encounter would pay off at business meals.

As closing time drew near, the others started planning how to pick up a friend who was being given a hard time by his father.

Miles didn't pay much attention till a name he knew cropped up, then he set down his glass and fiddled with some spilled booze, listening carefully.

They didn't think he knew the district, so were only partly guarded about what they were saying.

After he left them, he walked back to his room smiling. He wasn't going to do a thing to stop them. Why should he?

The following morning Miles woke up with a start when his alarm rang, grimacing as his head began thumping with a hangover. He swallowed two painkillers and waited for the pounding to subside a little before picking up his mobile. He was definitely not interested in breakfast.

‘Ah good, it's you, Ella. Look, I'm still in the area, had another job to do, so I could come and see Amy this morning before I go back to town.'

Her voice was chill. ‘It's too soon to come at all, Miles. You need to give her more time between visits.'

‘It's not too soon for me.'

‘Come this afternoon, then. Morning really isn't convenient.'

‘All right.' He had an inspiration. ‘Look, I know you don't like me taking her away from Willowbrook, but how about I take her and Mum out for a drive? That way, you won't have to worry about her and we'll have something more interesting to do than sit and stare at one another.'

The silence went on for too long, but he waited her out.

‘Just a minute,' she said at last. ‘I'll ask Stephanie.'

He could hear the murmur of voices, Amy's shrill yelp of protest and his mother's deeper tones.

In the end his mother came on. ‘Miles, how about we do it next weekend?'

‘I have a right to see my daughter and I want to see her today, before I go back to town. Are you going to help me or not?'

She sighed. ‘Could you leave it till Sunday then? We're frantically busy here today because all the chalets are booked, so I'm needed. I definitely can't come out with you this afternoon.'

He scowled at the faded hotel wallpaper. Stay in Wiltshire for another day? Then he shrugged and decided to go with the flow. Maybe fate was giving him a nudge. The extra day would give him time to pursue the final lead from yesterday, the one the guy he was dealing with had reckoned wasn't likely to come to much. ‘All right. Sunday it is.'

‘Very well. Amy and I will come out with you for an hour or so. But no longer than that. Ella will still need my help.'

‘I'll pick you both up at about eleven thirty on Sunday morning. We'll have lunch somewhere then return.' He disconnected before she could argue, then phoned the real estate guy.

Rose set off with Oliver on the Saturday afternoon for an unspecified destination. All he'd told her about their trip was to pack an overnight bag and something smart to wear for dinner.

‘I don't like letting the pub down,' she grumbled as she got into the car.

‘I have something very important to tell you.'

‘You could have told me here.'

‘No. This is special. We need to get away from here to do it properly.'

‘Oh, very well.' But it wasn't well. She'd lain awake next to him worrying last night about what she was getting into. She'd been alone for three years, had lost the habit of being a couple. And now she was getting used to Oliver again, the man whose body and thoughts had once been almost as familiar to her as her own. He had something important to tell her. What?

What else could it be? Would he try to persuade her to go with him? Was that what this weekend was for? ‘Where are we going?'

‘It's a surprise. Wait till we get there.'

‘I don't like surprises.'

He gave her one of his warm smiles and she nearly went into melt-down inside. How was she to cope when he went away this time?

‘You'll like this surprise, Rose.'

She gave up protesting, leaned her head back and let him drive, allowing her thoughts to wander. He didn't interrupt. They'd always been able to enjoy silences as well as conversations.

When he pulled through an impressive gateway which had a name that was a household word for luxury discreetly carved into the stonework, she leaned forward in shock. ‘Oliver! I've read about this place. It costs a fortune to stay here!'

‘You're worth a fortune – or rather, our relationship is.'

She said nothing as they signed in at reception then went up in a lift filled with mirrors, soft music and even real flowers in a small vase on the wall. The mirrors showed her a woman in clothes that weren't nearly elegant enough for this hotel – and a man who was watching her with a faintly anxious smile. Why? What did he have to tell her?

When they were shown into a suite, not just a room, she couldn't hide her dismay. ‘This is costing far too much!'

‘Humour me. Just this once. Come and look at the view and stop counting the pennies.'

‘It's the pounds I'm counting,' she muttered but went with him to the big picture window to stare out across a stunning landscape that had her itching for her camera. It was undulating countryside, not grand but infinitely beautiful in a soft, English way, with delicate spring foliage and darker evergreens delineating the patchwork pattern of fields and copses. Closer to hand were flower beds, set with a blaze of colour that looked magnificent against the creamy Cotswold stone of the hotel and outbuildings.

‘They say the gardens here are rather special. We can go out and explore them later.'

‘I'd like that.'

He left her side and she swung round in time to see him locking the door of the suite.

‘Alone at last, my proud beauty!' he mocked.

She clasped one hand to her bosom. ‘No, no, my lord! You shall not have your wicked way with me!'

‘Shall I not?'

And heaven help her, she ran across the room and fell into his arms. It was love they shared, not lust, every touch, every kiss an offering. Passion rose slowly but surely in them both but they didn't hurry. If she was to have only this, then she'd seize the moment with both hands, because he was Oliver, her Oliver, the only man she'd ever loved.

As she lay in his arms afterwards, she realized her face was wet with the joy of their lovemaking.

He kissed her tears and she saw that his eyes were overbright, too. ‘I could stay in bed with you all day and all night, Rosie mine, but I have a few things planned, so I'm afraid we'll have to get up now or it'll all be wasted! We'll start with a spa, then we'll wine and dine in a restaurant that is world famous.'

‘I've not got the clothes for a restaurant like that.'