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‘That’s hardly news, Jeremy Isn’t that how you spendhim a hand with the financial side of the WOW franchise, Jeremy had worked as an investhly successful merchant bank His consultancy, however, was mostly done by phone or email He spent winters on the ski-fields of Europe and summers at the fairlfriend by his side Jeremy had a preference for blondes

‘True,’ he said ‘But I don’t always spend them on Lake Como’

Shock—and so forward on the chair If Jereht he meant, then the beautiful blonde by his side was Bella

Play it cool, Sergio, he warned hie of jealousy—took hold

‘You sneaky devil,’ he said in what he hoped was a casual tone ‘You tried to surprise me on my birthday, didn’t you?’

‘Guilty as charged But I didn’t expect you to be absent without leave I thought you were going to have some time off before you tried to rescue the family firm Or so you said the day we sold the franchise’

‘I was Initially But that was before I invited Bella to stay’

‘Yes, she toldto your father’s funeral In disguise, no less’

Sergio sucked in sharply Clearly, Jeremy had worood at that Hopefully, she hadn’t told hih if she hadn’t, then Maria undoubtedly would Maybe not directly, but she’d drop enough hints for soio didn’tan intimate relationship, or even that he was in love with Bella What worried his to her before he had a chance to, things like his thirty-fifth birthday bringing an end to his bachelor status, not to mention his confessed intentions to marry and have a faio couldn’t take the chance

‘Yes, that’s right,’ he said ‘She caise for the way her mother had treated ain And yes, you’re right, I didn’t tell you or Alex for reasons which will becoh about that for now I have a favour to ask you Don’t say anything, just listen This is important’

‘Okay’

‘As soon as you can, I want you to say you’d like to go up to your room and freshen up Then, when you’re safely alone in the bathroos I need to tell you Now be careful what you say right now, since Bella’s listening Just say so up and go upstairs Okay? Fire away’

‘You knohat they say about all work and no play, Sergio Still, I suppose we can e without your coet away as quickly as you can, okay? Ciao’ And he hung up

The relief which ca up al down

‘That et himself a life,’ Jeremy muttered, then sed the rest of his coffee ‘It’s just as well I flew over or he probably wouldn’t even celebrate his birthday’

‘You could be right,’ Bella said ‘I didn’t even knoas his birthday, till Maria told io had already left for work’

‘Then it’s up to us to see that he has a good tio up to ht even have a little siesta Hell, but it’s hot here today’

‘Yes, it certainly is’ Shequite exhausted now that the tension of that phone call had drained away

Jeremy picked up his holdall and went in search of Maria whilst Bella stayed where she was for a while, getting her thoughts together She decided that once she reached the privacy of her rooio a call so that they could match whatever story they would tell Jeremy about their relationship Hopefully, Maria wouldn’t say anything telling in theup, she made her way into the kitchen, which was e Jereuest room on the other side of the master suite