The Tycoon's Trophy Mistress

‘Yes. Yes, I did… I’m just surprised you remembered.’ Then boldly, ‘Does having a personal reason disqualify me?’

‘Of course not. The mere fact that you want to live there is a big plus.’

Her sigh of relief was audible.

‘In my opinion you’re the candidate best suited to the move and, though I’m sure they’ll miss you on the team, I’ll put your name forward to Mr Wolfe.’

‘That’s marvellous.’ She smiled at him brilliantly.

Blinking, he thanked the Lord that he was a very happily married man. Though she had been working for Wolfe International for almost two years, her beauty never failed to move him.

‘If he’s in agreement, which I’m sure he will be, all your travelling expenses will, of course, be met and you’ll have the use of a company flat. Any idea how long it will take you to get organized for the transfer?’

‘I can be ready as soon as you wish.’

The sooner the better.

‘With Christmas less than two weeks away, I imagine some time around mid-January should be fine. Will leaving your present accommodation give you any problems? I mean from a practical point of view?’

‘No. I share a rented flat with an old school friend. Carla should have no trouble finding someone to take my place while I’m away.’

‘Excellent… Then, as soon as I’ve had a word with Mr Wolfe, I’ll let you know.’

‘Thank you.’ Her legs not quite steady, Charlotte made her way back to her own office—one of a row of small offices, little more than cubicles, that made up Research and Analysis—and sat down at her desk.

Her thoughts were chaotic, tumbling over each other like clowns in a circus ring. She had succeeded in taking the first step.

So long as Daniel Wolfe raised no objections…

But why should he? She and Tim had different surnames and, out of the country when it all happened, she hadn’t been involved in any way, so he would have no idea there was any connection.

Charlotte felt her whole body tense as once again the hatred and anger rose up inside, sharp and biting, bitter as gall on her tongue.

After leaving college, and the somewhat wild bunch he had run around with, Tim had seemed to lose a lot of the feckless ways that had so worried her.

Settled in his new job with Wolfe International—a job Charlotte’s recommendation had managed to get him—and confident about the future, he had fallen in love with Janice Jeffries, a pretty young blonde who had worked in the next office.

Janice, in her turn, had been fascinated by the young fair-haired giant with sparkling green eyes and a winning smile.

Discovering that the attraction was mutual, within a very short time they had arranged to move in together and had started to make plans to get married some time in September.

With Tim to support money had been very tight and Charlotte had taken no holidays since starting in her present job. She had five weeks due to her, so when Carla and she were offered a two-berth, last-minute cancellation on a ‘roughing it’ sailing trip around the Greek Islands she had gone off happily, not at all concerned about leaving the young couple.

While they were away it had happened, coming out of the blue swiftly, shockingly, and by the time the news had filtered through to them, and they had arrived back from Athens, it was too late.

Apparently trying to drown his sorrows, Tim had swallowed a lethal cocktail of drink and drugs.

He was dead and buried.

There was nothing anyone could do.

Though the verdict had been an unequivocal Accidental Death, the gutter press had somehow scented a story. Discovering that there had been a fight in one of the offices of Wolfe International between the dead man and Daniel Wolfe himself they were enjoying a field day.

Having managed to dig up the fact that Tim’s fiancée had been involved, they were suggesting a love-triangle and hinting at possible suicide.

Blaming herself, Charlotte had bitterly regretted going away. If she had been at home things might have been different.

No, would have been different. If what the newspapers were suggesting was true, she would have been there for Tim, as she had been every day for the past five years…

The office door opening made her jump. She glanced up, her expression bleak.

‘Don’t look so anxious.’ Mr Telford smiled at her. ‘I’ve spoken to Mr Wolfe and he’s quite willing to go along with my recommendation. There’s only one thing; he’d like you to travel over to the States as soon as possible so you can get settled in before Christmas.’

Charlotte bit her lip to hold back the sudden surge of excitement.

Misreading her reaction, Mr Telford suggested, ‘But perhaps that’s too soon? I’m sure Mr Wolfe will understand if you’d prefer to be at home with your loved ones over Christmas?’

She shook her head. ‘I’ve no loved ones left to be at home with. That’s one of the reasons I applied for the move,’ she added quietly.

Recalling not only the break-up of her engagement but what had happened to her stepbrother, and upset by his own unthinking blunder Mr Telford looked distressed. ‘Please forgive me, my dear. I’m afraid I wasn’t thinking.’

‘That’s all right.’ Then, with a determined smile, ‘Christmas in New York should be wonderful.’

‘I hope it will be.’

‘You’re very kind,’ she said warmly.

He harrumphed before asking, ‘How do you stand as far as your work’s concerned? Can some other member of the team take over?’

‘That shouldn’t be necessary. I can finish my latest report this afternoon.’

‘So when do you think you can be ready to travel?’

Adrenalin pumping through her bloodstream, she told him, ‘All I have to do is pack, so I could be ready to leave by tomorrow… If it’s possible to get a flight at such short notice?’

‘Our company have a big stake in one of the transatlantic airlines so that shouldn’t prove to be a problem. I’ll ask Mr Wolfe’s secretary to make all the arrangements. She’ll give you any other necessary information and organize a car to take you to the airport, where a ticket will be waiting for you. Needless to say, the company will be happy to defray any other travelling expenses you may incur, and this month’s salary cheque will be paid into your bank as usual.’

‘Thank you.’

Well aware that she had had to cope with more than enough heartbreak, at the door Mr Telford turned and said, ‘You will take care, won’t you…?’

Though it was, strictly speaking, none of his business, he was uneasy about Daniel Wolfe’s barely concealed interest and his motive for what Telford was beginning to suspect had been a contrived move.

But, knowing how Charlotte felt about Wolfe, common sense told him that she was hardly likely to be in any danger.

Smiling, she answered, ‘Of course.’

‘And don’t forget to come back to us.’