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He didn’t answer for several rings, by which ti

‘Bella!’ he said at last, anxiety in his voice ‘What is it? What’s happened?’

‘Nothing’s happened,’ she reassured hie to buy a few things and when I was there, I had this idea I thoughtyou then and there but I didn’t have ot so excited that I practically ran ho you at a bad time, have I? You sound stressed’

‘If you’d seen our sales figures you’d be stressed too You’re going to have to be a , to turn them around But I’m all ears’

Bella was so taken aback by his calling her his darling that she was speechless for a few seconds Not that he’dserious by it But it had thrilled her all the same Thrilled her to pieces The possibility that she was falling in love with hiio wasn’t ain love with He was, his concern for his ereedy Caring, not selfish As Luigi had said, he was a good man

But if she did fall in love with hiht fall in love with her in return That would be too good to be true It wasn’t going to happen Sergio would never let hihter of the woman who’d ruined his father’s life The truth was he fancied her for the reason men always fancied her Because they found her beautiful and sexy-looking Love had nothing to do with his feelings for her

Best you concentrate on just being his friend with benefits, that sensible inner voice warned her Because to start hoping for more is the way to a broken heart

‘Bella?’ Sergio prompted ‘Are you still there?’

‘Yes, yes Still here Just asse to be sensible

‘Is this idea of yours complicated?’

‘Not really Just hard to put into words’

‘What’s the basic thrust of it? Try to use as feords as possible’

‘Well, the bottom line is your products are too cheap’