my business life,’ he pointed out. ‘Serena’s my PA. You know that.’
‘Really?’ Megan allowed her finely shaped brows to ride smoothly upwards, her grey eyes totally disbelieving. ‘Is that all she is? It wasn’t the impression I got. And if you believe I’m going to move back into your life when she is clearly a part of it then think again. All I can say is thank goodness Serena rang because now I know exactly where I stand.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Megan,’ barked Luigi. ‘Serena means nothing to me. You and Charlotte mean everything.’
‘I wonder if you’d be saying that if I hadn’t walked out on you?’ she accused. ‘I wonder whether fatherhood would have made you change your lifestyle? Somehow I don’t think so. You feel cheated, yes, and because Charlotte’s lawfully your daughter you want her, but that’s as far as it goes.’
‘Are you suggesting that the last two nights meant nothing to you?’ he demanded, his brow thunderously dark, his whole body taut with suppressed emotions.
‘All they’ve done,’ she riposted smartly, ‘is remind me of what an expert lover you are. But good sex is all it was. It didn’t mean anything.’ She’d been love-starved, that was what, and she had enjoyed it, but it went no further than that.
His dark eyes flashed. ‘I don’t believe you.’
‘Believe what you like,’ she tossed back, ‘but I’m out of your life for good. Serena’s welcome to you.’
‘You’d ruin your daughter’s happiness?’ he accused. ‘Her life as well, by depriving her of the father she’s just found? Whom she needs, I might add, as much as she needs her mother.’ His eyes were glacial, as hard as the ice that had formed in the cracks in the paving outside.
Megan hadn’t looked at it from this angle. Would it be bad for Charlotte? Or would it be better to make a clean break now before her daughter really got to know Luigi? She knew the answer even before she began debating it. Charlotte needed her father. It was that simple. She’d been so happy when she discovered she did have a daddy after all. It would be cruel to deprive her of him now. Except that she didn’t want a part-time father for Charlotte. Nor indeed a father who bedded other women!
‘I’ll stay on two conditions,’ she told him stonily, reluctantly.
‘And they are?’ he demanded.
Who would have thought, Megan asked herself, that a few short hours ago they’d been making love? Where had all the pleasure gone? They were facing each other like two sworn enemies out for the kill. She lifted her chin. ‘Number one, that you cut your working hours. And number two, there are no other women in your life.’
‘Done,’ he said easily and far too quickly for her peace of mind.
‘I’m serious,’ she countered.
‘And so am I. You and Charlotte mean everything to me.’
‘And Serena?’
He gave a tiny shake of his head, as if to say, Why do you keep questioning me about Serena? ‘She’s my right hand,’ he told her calmly. ‘I can’t cut her out of my life, she virtually runs it—on a business level, of course,’ he added when he saw the accusing glint in Megan’s eyes.
‘And was business the reason she rang now?’ charged Megan. Because it hadn’t seemed like that to her. The woman had sounded sickly possessive.
‘Of course! Which reminds me—’ he shot back his cuff and looked at his watch ‘—I’m needed. I have to go. And when I return we’ll go to your house and collect the rest of your stuff. You will be here?’ he added when he saw the doubt in her eyes.
Megan realised with a pang that she had little choice. Charlotte’s future security and happiness depended on it.
As Luigi drove to his office he felt faintly uneasy. He wasn’t completely sure that Megan would still be there when he got back. On the other hand, the fact that she’d sounded jealous of Serena had to be a good thing. If she was jealous then it could mean that she still had feelings for him. It could be to his advantage, except that he would have to tread a fine line. He couldn’t afford to let Serena upset Megan.
Serena was excellent at her job, he didn’t know what he’d do without her, and he sometimes rewarded her by taking her to dinner or the theatre. That Serena fancied herself in love with him he was fully aware, but the feelings weren’t mutual. Even though he had lost all hope of Megan returning he’d never wanted anyone to take her place. He kept his lady friends at a distance and usually they got the message—except for Serena. He wondered exactly what she had said to Megan. Perhaps he should ask her?
But the opportunity didn’t present itself. He ran his whole empire from a top floor suite of prestigious offices in London’s regenerated dockland area, where the views on a clear day were far reaching. Today he didn’t have time to look out of the windows. A problem had occurred at one of his IT companies where a disgruntled employee had fed a virus into a software programme that had been released for Christmas. It had already begun to reveal itself and he needed to recall all copies before any real damage was done.
It was after eight by the time he arrived home. He had phoned Megan from his car on the way, half-expecting her to be gone, relieved when she wasn’t, and not surprised that she sounded angry.
He found her curled up in a chair in the sitting room, so deeply engrossed in a book that she didn’t hear him enter. Except that the book was upside down! He smiled faintly and spoke her name and she looked up with a very creditable start.
‘So you’ve finally torn yourself away from Serena,’ she accused, her magnificent eyes flashing daggers at him. Their usual grey had become a soft amethyst, reflecting the colour of the purple sweater she wore. He had noticed this before—whichever colour she wore, her eyes seemed to change with it. It fascinated him.
‘I did explain on the phone,’ he told her patiently. At least he hoped he sounded patient. She didn’t make it easy for him. What he would like to do was give her a good shake—except that it would get him nowhere. But patience never had been one of his virtues.
‘And was it only this morning that you promised to work less hours?’ she continued. ‘Such a short memory you have. Why am I surprised?’
‘There were extenuating circumstances,’ he reminded her sharply. ‘Weren’t you listening when I—?’
‘Oh, yes, I heard everything you said,’ Megan cut in with exaggerated calm.
‘But you don’t believe me? Well, you’d better because it will be spread all over the newspapers tomorrow. We’ve already had several reporters sniffing around. This could ruin the company.’
‘And do you know who did it?’
‘Actually, yes. Before leaving he bragged to one of his colleagues that he would bring the company to its knees. It’s a pity he wasn’t taken seriously. It’s going to be one big headache for the next few days, weeks, months maybe.’
‘Meaning you’ll be working all the hours God gave again?’
‘I’ll
