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She forced a sive it, I should be able to take it’

‘It’s not always that easy, though, is it?’ Vaughan suggested, gently now ‘We all et up in theand read about them Most people can hide under the duvet for a few days and that’s the end of it’

Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out hisby now’

Eternally grateful for the change of subject, she smiled more naturally

‘Maybe no news is good news?’

‘Let’s hope so’

‘When will you know for sure?’

‘Next week Mr Cheng is flying into Melbourne to check over a few last- I should be able to announce it the following Monday Thanks for not saying anything, by the way’

‘You said it was off the record’

‘Which normally means zilch’

He watched her tongue bob out to lick her lips as the waiter placed her dessert in front of her Integrity was seerained in every one of her pores Off the record for once meant just that

‘The Japanese co with are shrewd businesshan explained, ‘andthe story over the papers without Mr Cheng being inforress I’d have hated to face hiot out’

A her spoon into theit was going to taste even better than it looked The thought was confirue

‘Nice?’

‘Heaven,’ A another spoonful ‘I don’t care how many meals you’ve eaten today, there’s surely a pocket of space for this You really don’t knohat you’re ’

As innocent as a child, she held out the spoon for hi his head, he stared into that elfin face Her loss had been lost sohan couldn’t have disagreed with her

‘Come’

If her teeth hadn’t been bound by nougat A stupid, like Where? But the chocolate gods were being kind, allowing a selass and washed down her dessert, forcing Vaughan to elaborate

‘Come to Melbourne with me next week’

‘Why?’

Even after a suitable pause, it wasn’t the most sophisticated of answers A real journalist would have murmured I’d love to; a real journalist wouldn’t nificent scoop But half a glass of chane and a couple of hours in this divine man’s company had eroded every last shred of sensibility

‘Well, if you’re going to do an in-depth piece on et the full picture Of course there will be a few exceptions—I can’t guarantee all of my contacts ant a journalist in the boardroo, given that I can’t swim and talk at the same time’

‘You swim?’

‘I do’ Vaughan grinned ‘And, yes, you can use that But, on a ratheryou to do this piece is the unbelievable fact that I haven’t got fifty calls inme to confirm the motor deal’

‘I passed, then?’

‘I guess so’ Vaughan sround rules I don’tan in-depth piece on me, but my clients’ names stay out of it’

‘Of course’ Amelia nodded

‘And, apart fro swim, I do have a personal life Every now and then I will have to disappear’

It came as no surprise to Aave a soleht kill her, even if she was putting doubts into Vaughan’s jet-laggedthe point that she’d let go earlier

‘Why now, Vaughan? You’ve never given a personal interview, never allowed anyone to get close till now What’s caused the change of heart?’

‘My advisors’ Vaughan rolled his eyes ‘Which sounds horribly affected, but no CEO worth his salt is without theuess I should try acting on soleefully dish out We both know that when—or rather at this stage if the motor deal’s announced I’ll be a hero A hero next Friday but a villain by Monday’