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After a while she could stand it no longer and left them to it, going out into the gardens, which at any other time would have delighted her but which tonight left her cold.

She scarcely noticed the Chinese roses or viburnums, the exquisite azaleas, but walked aimlessly, ending beside the pool, sitting on the edge and trailing her fingers in the water.

A light footstep on the path disturbed her, and it was with a feeling of apprehension that she saw her employer approaching.

Without preamble he said, ‘Liz is upset. What made you rush off like that?’

Debra looked at him stonily. ‘I was in the way.’

‘I doubt she would ever think that,’ he returned steadily. 'She’s been telling me how good you’ve been to her since her parents died.’

Pushing herself up, Debra said, ‘She was heartbroken. I had hoped this change of environment would do her good.’

‘It brings back memories of the years she spent here when her father worked with yours.’

She looked at him sharply. ‘Not unhappy ones, I hope?’

He shook his head. ‘On the contrary. She says she’s beginning to feel at peace with herself.’

Was this simply because of her surroundings, or had this man something to do with it? wondered Debra. A brief frown flickered across her smooth forehead and she turned, staring down into the silver water, watching the golden carp slide gently between cream and purple water lilies.

‘I’m glad,’ she said quietly, but she was not sure she meant it. In accepting this job she had had no idea that Vane Oliver would become a part of their lives, and it troubled her.

She was naturally happy that Liz was recovering from her grief, but it was her relationship with this man that bothered her. She was quite sure he was simply amusing himself at her expense, no doubt getting a kick out of dating an innocent young girl instead of the sophisticates with whom he usually associated.

It appeared Vane Oliver also doubted the sincerity of her pleasure, because he caught her shoulder and spun her round. ‘Are you really glad?’ he demanded. ‘Or are you jealous that I’m paying Liz more attention than you?’

‘Take your hands off!’ cried Debra, stepping back and glaring hostilely up into his handsome face. He was devastating, she realised with surprise. She had known he was a good-looking man, but she had never looked at him closely until now. No wonder Liz was smitten. Those thickly fringed eyes were enough to set any woman’s heart fluttering— if she was stupid enough to let herself get involved.

Hardening her heart to such vagrant thoughts, Debra continued, ‘And that’s a ridiculous statement. Why should I be jealous? You know perfectly well how I feel about your attentions to Liz.’ His eyes gleamed derisively. ‘I think you’re lying, or trying to kid yourself. It’s because I’m making a fuss of Liz that you walked out. You couldn’t stand to see her receiving so much attention. Change your attitude and it could be you.’

Debra was furious. ‘My God, Vane Oliver, you’re the most conceited man I’ve ever met! I’m your employee and I know my place. I am not jealous of Liz, nor ever will be, it’s what you’re doing to her that worries me.’

‘I haven’t noticed her raising any objections.' The wide mouth quivered with undisguised humour. ‘Don’t you think you’re making a fuss about nothing?’

‘Not really,’ she said tightly. ‘Liz isn’t old enough to know what she’s doing. Besides, she’s been through a big emotional trauma and she’s very vulnerable. I wouldn’t like to think she's heading towards more suffering.’

The beautiful deep-set eyes regarded her steadily. ‘I think you misunderstand your young friend. She’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.’

‘Not where men like you are concerned,’ she snapped. ‘She’s had no experience.’

‘And you have?’ Mockery curved his lips, and she ought to have read the warning signals in his eyes.

But she was so incensed she carried on heedlessly, ‘At least I know more about men than she does. If you want my opinion you should choose someone nearer your own age. Liz is a baby—she ’

‘Like you, perhaps?’ He was taunting her now and enjoying it, and Debra was becoming more irate by the second. Precisely when he began to advance she had no idea, and she was alarmed when she felt his hands behind her back, pulling her determinedly towards him.

‘What are you doing?’ she demanded angrily, pounding her fists ineffectively on his chest. He was all muscle, hard and sinewy, and filled with a magnetism that she had not suspected.

‘Trying to prove, my little spitfire, that it’s not only Liz I’m interested in.’

She opened her mouth to protest, only to find it possessed by a pair of cool demanding lips that quite clearly were not going to take no for an answer.

There was only one way to deal with a man like this, she decided, closing her eyes and quite deliberately remaining cool and aloof.

Vane was unfortunately a physically exciting man whom she found hard to resist, and it was impossible to check the sudden quickening of her pulses. She did her best to ignore their rapid beating, however, and stood quite rigid, assuring him that his attentions meant nothing.

It took a few minutes for him to realise that he was not getting anywhere, and then he held her from him, looking crossly into her eyes.

Before he could speak she said stiffly, ‘Mr Oliver, you more or less forced me to come to Hong Kong, you installed me in your villa against my will, but I’m certainly not going to let you make love to me against my wishes!’

His silver eyes gleamed. ‘Make love to you? Aren’t you rather jumping to conclusions?’

She felt swift humiliation, but defiantly tilted her chin. ‘I know what type of man you are, and I shall do everything in my power to stop Liz falling in love with you!’

His sigh was deep and impatient. ‘So we’re back to that again. Somehow I don’t think your friend will thank you for interfering.’

Debra shrugged. ‘I’ve no doubt she’ll tell me to mind my own business.’

‘Then why the hell don’t you?’ His voice was harsh and aggressive, and Debra felt a quiver of something approaching fear.

‘Because I’m worried about her—I feel responsible.’

His laugh was unexpected. ‘What a fierce little protector you are! But I fear you’re wasting your energy. Liz is quite safe, you have no need for anxiety.’

He took her hand and led her towards the house. Debra saw the blind move, and wondered uncomfortably whether her friend had seen Vane kissing her. Was she really upset because she had walked out on them, or had Vane been making that up?

Feeling that perhaps now was not the best time to tackle Liz about her deepening friendship with Vane, Debra went to bed, but as she lay there she could not help wondering why Vane had made a pass.

Was it automatic with him? Did he attempt to kiss any girl in whose presence he found himself? Or did he really think she was jealous of Liz and had not wanted her to feel left out?

It was the obvious solution, yet not one to which she took kindly. It was not flattering to think that a man had kissed her from a sense of sympathy rather than because he found her attractive.

Not that she had wanted his kisses, she assured herself, but no girl likes to think she is an object of pity. It did nothing at all for her morale.

When Debra went down to breakfast the next morning Vane had already eaten, although he still sat on at the table. Of Liz there was no sign.

‘Good morning, Debra,’ he said. ‘I trust you slept well?’ and there was an odd gleam in his eyes that suggested he knew otherwise. Perhaps he thought his kiss had bothered her!

‘Very well, thank you, Mr Oliver,’ she managed brightly.

He wore a lightweight suit in palest blue. It sat perfectly on his wide shoulders, complemented his dark hair and tanned complexion. Begrudgingly she had to admit that he was the most attractive man she had ever met, and much to her disgust a faint quiver ran through her.

Picking up the heavy silver coffee pot, Vane filled her cup and pushed it towards her. ‘Liz still asleep?’ he enquired blandly.

‘I presume so,’ she said tightly. ‘I haven’t checked.’

It was unlike her not to look in on her friend, but somehow this morning she had felt reluctant to speak to Liz.

Liz was growing up too quickly. Almost overnight, it appeared, she had grown from a bewildered girl into a woman, and it was alarming, and Debra was not sure she knew how to cope.

It was at a time like this a girl needed her mother’s guiding influence, yet, conversely, if her mother had not died none of this would have happened. She would still have been the same lovable child that she had always been.

Debra nibbled her toast and sipped her coffee, pretending not to notice Vane’s impatience. It was strange, she was loath to face Liz, yet somehow she did not want to leave without speaking to her.

She prolonged breakfast as long as she could, hoping the other girl would put in an appearance, but at length was compelled to announce that she was ready.

‘About time,’ Vane growled. ‘If you’re going to take this long every morning we’d best make our separate ways—and how about Liz, hadn’t you better say goodbye, or are you reluctant to face her after last night?’

So he too had seen the tell-tale movement of the blind! There was certainly not much that this man missed.

‘Not in the least,’ she lied defensively, ‘but it would be a shame to disturb her if she's still asleep.’

‘And how will you know without going in?’ he enquired crossly. ‘Really, Debra, you’re acting very strangely this morning. If you hadn't told me differently I really would believe you were jealous of your young friend.’

Her brown eyes flashed. ‘Jealous, because she fancies you? I’d be a fool! I have no interest in men.’

‘Why?’ he demanded abruptly. ‘It’s not natural.’

‘It irks you, does it,’ she demanded, ‘that you can’t get through to me like you do everyone else? What a pity! I’m a career girl first and foremost, and that’s all there is to it.’

He spun her to face him. ‘What if I say I don’t believe you? What if I say that beneath that calm exterior you show the world I know there lurks a warm passionate woman?’

‘You'd be deluding yourself,’ she snapped, trying to pull free. ‘And I’d thank you to keep your nose out of my private affairs. You’re my boss, nothing more.’

Her reply angered him. His jaw tightened and a hardness with which she was becoming familiar glazed his eyes. ‘Forgive me, I was forgetting. I’ll get the car.’

As they turned Debra was shocked to see Liz standing in the doorway, a frozen expression on her face. How much of the scene had she witnessed?

‘Liz,’ she began, but was interrupted by Vane instantly throwing off his black mood and greeting Liz with a smile that held more than a hint of intimacy.

‘Good morning, Lizzie, my sweet. We thought you were still asleep.’ He covered the few yards between them, arms outstretched. ‘I hope we didn’t wake you.’

Mollified by his genuine pleasure, Liz allowed herself to be drawn against him, glancing at Debra over his shoulder with triumph gleaming from her eyes.

Vane continued, ‘I’m so sorry, sweetheart, we’re just leaving. Will you be all right until we get back?’ He pulled a wad of notes from his hip pocket. ‘Here, go and buy yourself something nice, something pretty and feminine to cheer yourself up.’

Liz’s lips brushed Vane’s freshly shaven cheek. ‘I’ll be fine,’ she said huskily. ‘Thank you, Vane, you’re so kind.’

‘You can’t accept it,’ said Debra at once, face flushed with anger. ‘Give it back this instant! Mr Oliver, what are you thinking of, giving Liz money like that? You have no right. She’ll be perfectly happy playing records and reading, she has no need for new clothes.’

Liz pouted and looked as though she was about to burst into tears. Vane closed his hand over hers. ‘You keep the money. Whether you spend it or not is up to you. Let’s say it’s a gift from you to me, a sort of thank you for giving up your home to come out here purely so that Debra could begin her new job. It was a very unselfish thing to do, and I appreciate it very much.’

He held her close a moment longer, his hands gently caressing. All Liz wore was a nylon nightdress and matching negligee, and Debra could tell that Vane was aware of every curve in her body, and Liz was using her new-found sexuality to its best advantage, pressing close, lifting her chin, lower lip quivering.

Debra was furious and clenched her fists and teeth in an attempt to stop herself from shouting her anger. Were there no limits to which this man would not go?

Gently now he put Liz from him. ‘I’ll see you later, my sweet. Be happy.’

Debra walked out without saying anything. What could she say except call Liz all kinds of a fool, and in the bemused state she was in it would make no difference.

But in the car she attacked Vane. ‘How could you!’ she cried. ‘You’re encouraging Liz, can’t you see that? You're making things worse. Oh, God, I wish I’d never come here. I wish I’d never heard of you. I wish I'd never applied for that damn job!’

‘You’re getting all worked up over nothing,’ he said calmly.

‘Nothing?’
she raged. ‘You more or less molest Liz in front of me and you call that nothing? What are you trying to do, buy her friendship? You had no right giving her money. It’s ’ She searched for the right word and failed. ‘Oh, I’m so annoyed I could scream!’

He slanted her a glance, face calm and unmoved. ‘So why don’t you? Go ahead, if it’ll make you feel any better.’

‘Oh!’
She banged her fists on the dashboard. He was impossible! Nothing she said or did made any difference. She might just as well let them carry on in their own sweet way and say to hell with the consequences.

It did not improve matters when he sent for her shortly after she had settled into her office. Was this to be the normal procedure? she asked herself bitterly. Work was one thing, pleasure another, but never the two should mix.

She went along with misgivings, presenting herself before him rebelliously. ‘Yes, Mr Oliver?’ she said bitterly. ‘You sent for me?’

He frowned at her insolence but passed it over. ‘You haven’t told me how you got on yesterday at Yam Ling Kee. Did you manage to sort out the problem?’