The Millionaire's Agenda

‘Yes…it’s Gina’s father. He’s been taken to hospital and she has to leave.’

‘But you’ve got another appointment with the director of Renaldo,’ Chloe said, aghast. ‘He said it was urgent.’

‘You’ll just have to apologise for me,’ Steven muttered. ‘I’ve no one to watch Beth. My mother is on holiday and—’

‘I’ll go,’ Chloe said impulsively.

Steven stopped in the process of opening one of the drawers to get his car keys. ‘You?’

‘I’m quite capable of watching a five-year-old,’ she murmured crossly. ‘And this meeting with Renaldo is important. It might just be the turning point you’ve been waiting for with this takeover bid.’

Steven’s eyes narrowed on her thoughtfully. As always her clear, confident tones dispelled any theory that lurking behind those scholarly glasses was a shy librarian-type.

‘It makes sense for me to go, don’t you think?’ she persisted when he didn’t answer her immediately.

‘Yes, I suppose it does. Did you drive to work today?’

She nodded. ‘My car is downstairs.’

He put his keys back in the drawer and closed it. ‘Thanks, Chloe, I really appreciate this. I’ll try not to be too long here, so I don’t take up the whole of your Friday evening.’

‘I wasn’t doing anything tonight anyway,’ Chloe said as she got up.

Steven watched her from the doorway as she quickly organised herself and then left. Then he sat back down behind his desk.

That phone call had rattled him. In the few garbled seconds as he’d tried to make out what Gina was saying he had instantly feared that something was wrong with Beth. And the memories of another call, the moment when he had known he’d lost his wife, had immediately flooded back. Maybe the recollection had been so vivid because it was coming up to the anniversary of Stephanie’s death and he had been thinking about her earlier this afternoon. It was almost three years ago to the day. Where had that time gone? What had he done with it? He felt as if he had been wandering around in a blinkered haze through most of it.

From nowhere he remembered his mother telling him in that sensible, no-nonsense tone of hers that he needed to find a wife and a mother for Beth. He had answered in an equally firm tone, telling her that he didn’t need a wife. But it was at times like this when he wondered if his mother was right. It was difficult being a single parent and running a big business. And he desperately wanted Beth to be secure and happy.

Steven shook his head, impatient with himself for worrying like this. Beth had a secure environment. Their lives ran smoothly. Gina was great with Beth and he had capable Chloe winging her way there now.

But if he did decide he wanted to settle down and get married again, there was Helen.

The notion crept surreptitiously from the back of his mind, where it had been simmering for a while. He was well aware that their relationship had come to a crossroads. She wanted more from him and he was hesitating. Steven couldn’t figure out why he was. Helen was beautiful and bright and, although she hadn’t been entirely relaxed around Beth at first, that was only to be expected…wasn’t it? She had never been married before, never had children, and she was a very high-powered career woman.

Anyway, she was a lot better around Beth these days…he told himself forcefully…a lot more at ease. But even as he said the words to himself he knew deep down that what he had with Helen wasn’t really enough…not for marriage.

The phone rang again and swiftly he picked it up. It was the accounts department again. Remembering that Chloe had said the information they needed was in her desk, he put them on hold and went through to her office.

He smiled to himself as he noticed how tidy and organised her desk was. To one side were lists of the day’s appointments, along with specific notes of reference so that she could brief him fully before each.

He slid open the top drawer; it contained blank stationery, and he was going to close it again when he noticed a letter tucked to one side. The printed heading was a company name he vaguely recognised. Curiously he took it out and read it.

It was from the managing director Chloe used to work for. He skimmed through it with a rising feeling of horror. They had recently expanded and were headhunting her, offering an increase on whatever Cavendish were paying!

Steven sat down in her chair and stared at the letter. Was this what she had wanted to talk to him about this afternoon? Had she been about to hand in her notice? He was stunned and then appalled as the full realisation of how much of a gap Chloe’s leaving would make.

She couldn’t go—it was unthinkable!

CHAPTER TWO

THE clouds seemed unusually low in the sky; there was a strange yellow cast to them that reflected off the roads, giving London a sepia glow. A smoky shroud hung over the Houses of Parliament and swirled over the river Thames, and in amongst this eerie setting there was the usual chaotic, very modern Friday-night scramble for people to get home.

Usually Chloe would be amongst the crush of people heading down into the underground. Her flat was central and she didn’t generally bother with her car because of this traffic. Today, however, she had wanted the solitude of her own vehicle, which was just as well, she thought now as she switched on her radio to catch the traffic reports. Steven couldn’t have risked not meeting with Renaldo.

It seemed to take for ever before Chloe was out of the jams and heading south. She wondered if Steven ever got fed up with this long business of commuting every day. Then she turned her car into the picturesque village of Hemsworth, with its thatched cottages and village green, and remembered why he might think this journey was worth it.

As she turned into Steven’s driveway the light was fading fast and the first flurry of snow started to hit the wind-screen. The ivy-clad Georgian manor was a welcome sight, its mullioned windows alight with welcoming warmth.

She pulled the car to a halt and hurried up to the front door, battling against the sudden gust of a bitter breeze that blew snow into her eyes and mouth. She lifted her hand towards the heavy knocker on the red front door but it swung open before she could use it.

‘Thank heavens you’re here.’ Gina was already dressed in a heavy coat; she was pulling on gloves and a woollen hat over her thick dark hair as she spoke.

‘I got here as quickly as I could.’ Chloe stepped into the warmth of the house.

‘I know; Steven phoned me and told me how long you’d be,’ the girl murmured tearfully. ‘Thanks for coming, Chloe. I’m just so worried about Dad.’

‘I hope he’s OK.’

Gina nodded and hurried out of the door. ‘Try and phone Steven tomorrow some time; let him know how things are,’ Chloe called after her as she ran across the driveway towards her car.

Gina waved, but whatever she called back was lost in the wind.

Chloe turned her attention back into the house. Beth stood further down the hallway. She looked like a little lost soul: her long blonde curls were rumpled, as if she had been standing on her head, and she was wearing a pair of dungarees and a pink jumper and only one shoe on her foot; the other dangled in her hand as if she been in the process of trying to put it on. Chloe got the distinct impression that she had wanted to go with Gina.

‘Hello, Beth.’ Chloe grinned at her, putting a determinedly cheerful tone in her voice as she pushed the door closed behind her. ‘My goodness, but it’s cold outside. I’m glad I’m here with you in this nice warm house.’

‘Is Daddy coming home soon?’ The bright blue eyes gazed up at her solemnly.

‘Yes, Daddy will be home very soon.’ Chloe took off her coat and hung it up. ‘He’s just got one more meeting. Meanwhile, I’m going to look after you.’

Beth made no reply to that. Chloe crouched down so that she was on eye level with the little girl. ‘Have you had your supper yet?’

Beth shook her head. ‘Gina was going to make sausage and chips.’

‘That sounds great. Shall I make that for us?’

‘If you want.’

‘Come on, then. You lead the way to the kitchen.’

Beth was very quiet, Chloe thought as they walked down the hallway. She wondered if she was just feeling shy. Although Beth had met her on several occasions when she’d had to come out to the house on business, the little girl didn’t know her that well.

Chloe had never been in Steven’s kitchen before. It was enormous, with a huge refectory table at one end and so many cupboards that it took ages to find something as simple as a cup. She remembered Steven telling her that this house had once been the old vicarage, and a path led directly through the gardens to the picturesque church of St Mary. It wasn’t hard to imagine the vicar’s wife in here, baking scones for the village fête. The house had a lovely, homely atmosphere.

‘Gina was crying before you came,’ Beth said as she watched her filling the kettle and opening and closing doors.

‘That’s because she’s worried about her dad.’